TikTok received help from President Trump but Senate GOP still wants ban
TikTok is back online for 170 million American users. The company restored service following President Donald Trump’s promise not to enforce a law banning the app.
The Chinese-owned social media app went dark Sunday morning to comply with a bipartisan law banning it since it did not sell to an American buyer. However, even with a reprieve from President Trump, TikTok faces a threat from Trump’s Republican allies in the Senate.
Top Republican senators, including Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rick Scott of Florida, met yesterday as they prepared to take a hard line against Chinese ownership of TikTok, according to reporting by Fox Business.
Cotton objected over the weekend to block the advancement of a Democratic-led bill to undo the TikTok ban before it took effect.
In a statement published Sunday, Cotton said, “Now that the law has taken effect, there’s no legal basis for any kind of ‘extension’ of its effective date.”
His colleague Sen. Graham also accused TikTok of having what he called a “golden share structure.” Graham alleges Chinese President Xi Jinping controlled the company. He said he would introduce a bill blocking any company with this structure from being listed on U.S. exchanges.
It puts both of them on the opposite side of the issue, compared to President Trump, who addressed it at a pre-election rally on Sunday.
“As of today, TikTok is back,” Trump said at a rally on Sunday, January 19th. “The United States will do what we call a joint venture. And there’s no risk. We’re not putting up any money. All we’re doing is giving them the approval without which they don’t have anything.”
The law banning TikTok allowed a president to issue one 90-day extension if there was a buyer. The Justice Department certified one bid, a $20 billion offer led by businessmen Frank McCourt and Kevin O’Leary.
It’s unclear whether TikTok is interested in selling to them or any other buyer. It’s also unclear what the app’s future looks like after the 90-day window.
Biden warns of ‘oligarchy’ and ‘tech-industrial complex’ in farewell speech
President Joe Biden’s farewell speech to America on Wednesday included several warnings. And a ceasefire deal to end more than a year of fighting in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas hit a snag. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
Biden warns of ‘oligarchy,’ ‘tech-industrial complex’ in farewell speech
Speaking from the Oval Office one last time, President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address Wednesday night, Jan. 15. Biden spoke on reforms he would like to see in Washington and issued a stark warning detailing his concerns about what he sees as a concentration of power among the ultra-wealthy and the risks of technology.
In what is likely his final address to the nation after a political career spanning five decades, Biden opened his speech with the ceasefire deal in Gaza announced earlier in the day. He said he kept the incoming administration fully informed during the process.
He said some of his top accomplishments in office include job growth following the pandemic, infrastructure modernization and Medicare reform, telling Americans it will take time to feel the full impact of what has been achieved.
With the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump just days away, Biden said he would ensure a peaceful transfer of power, but he did have a warning.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said. “We see the consequences all across America, and we’ve seen it before. More than a century ago, the American people stood up to the robber barons back then and busted the trusts. They didn’t punish the wealthy. They just made the wealthy play by the rules everybody else had. Workers want rights to earn their fair share.”
Referencing former President Dwight Eisenhower’s concerns about a military-industrial complex six decades ago, Biden said he’s equally concerned about the dangers of a potential rise of a tech-industrial complex.
“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power,” he said. “The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit. We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families and our very democracy from the abuse of power.”
Biden remarked on the rise of artificial intelligence, calling it the most consequential technology of our time. He emphasized that the U.S., not China, must lead the race.
The president also spoke of his hopes for change in the nation’s capital, calling for an end of hidden funding called “dark money” from campaign contributions, a ban on stock trading from members of Congress and for the U.S. to enact an 18-year term limit on Supreme Court justices. He also called for the U.S. Constitution to be amended.
“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president, no president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office,” Biden asserted. “The president’s power is not limit[less] — it is not absolute. And it shouldn’t be.”
In closing, Biden called on Americans to stay engaged in democracy. Telling the story of a veteran who worked at the Statue of Liberty, known as the Keeper of the Flame, he said America will always be defined by one word: “possibilities.”
“My eternal thanks to you, the American people,” Biden said. “After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands [for] — a nation where the strength of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure. Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith. I love America. You love it, too.”
Republicans, Democrats react to Biden’s farewell address
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on X, “Joe Biden discussing democracy, a free press, institutions and the abuse of power in his final farewell speech is rich.”
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., also weighed in, writing, “Joe Biden’s going out of office the same way he went in: petty, partisan and frankly not telling the truth.”
“President Biden’s ‘farewell address’ should have been a formal apology for the endless lawfare, inflation-fueling policies and reckless decisions made during his administration,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida added.
Democrats responded differently.
“Tonight, President Biden delivered his farewell address to a nation that is stronger because of his leadership,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “In doing so, he honored the vision of founders, the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and the aspirations of our children.”
Former President Barack Obama also responded to his former vice president.
“Four years ago, in the middle of a pandemic, we needed a leader with the character to put politics aside and do what was right. That’s what Joe Biden did… I’m grateful to Joe for his leadership, his friendship and his lifetime of service to this country we love,” Obama said.
Netanyahu says cabinet won’t meet over ceasefire deal with Hamas yet
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said his cabinet will not meet to approve the deal for a ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas ends a “last-minute crisis.” The decision comes after Netanyahu’s office said Hamas retracted on some of the terms of the agreement but did not specify which.
Even as a deal seems close or even imminent, Israeli strikes continued in the Gaza Strip, with the territory’s health ministry reporting at least 48 people killed over the past day.
Under the three-phase ceasefire agreement, fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days. Thirty-three Israeli hostages, including two Americans, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed during the first phase. It is set to go into effect Sunday, Jan. 19.
The remainder of the hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, are to be released during the second phase. Hamas said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza and many Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes — something many people took to the streets to celebrate. Israel is also set to allow a flood of humanitarian aid into the region.
The Associated Press reported Thursday morning that mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. will meet in Cairo on Thursday for talks on implementing the deal.
On Truth Social, Trump said his administration will continue to work closely with Israel to make sure Gaza never again becomes what he called a “terrorist safe haven.”
Crews work to control Los Angeles area wildfires as winds die down
The National Weather Service lifted the red flag warning for the Los Angeles area Wednesday night as winds died down. Strong winds have made it harder for fire crews to battle the flames.
However, dangerous fire and weather conditions are expected to return next week.
Good news: We are expecting a much-needed break from the fire weather concerns to close this week. Bad News: Next week is a concern. While confident that we will NOT see a repeat of last week, dangerous fire weather conditions are expected. #cawx#PalisadesFire#EatonFirepic.twitter.com/zhXmHUWtgp
This comes as firefighters still work to contain the two biggest, deadliest and most destructive fires in Southern California. The Palisades and Eaton fires continue to rage in the Los Angeles area.
Plus, a new vegetation fire broke out in the San Bernardino area Wednesday afternoon.
The Eaton and Palisades fires have not grown much over the past few days, but they are both still largely uncontained. Fire officials reported some progress in the desperate fight to extinguish the flames.
Meanwhile, the Little Mountain fire in San Bernardino spans over 30 acres at 0% containment. Police arrested a man in connection with that fire on two felony charges, including one of reckless burning.
Senate confirmation hearings continue as Inauguration Day nears
Senate confirmation hearings continue Thursday, Jan. 16, as President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for interior secretary, EPA administrator, housing and urban development secretary and treasury secretary answer questions from lawmakers.
“To my knowledge, Donald Trump has never acknowledged the legal results of the 2020 election,” Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said to Bondi. “Are you prepared to say today, under oath without reservation, that Donald Trump lost the presidential contest to Joe Biden in 2020?”
Bondi replied, “Ranking Member Durbin, President Biden is the president of the United States. He was duly sworn in, and he is the President of the United States. There was a peaceful transition of power. President Trump left office and was overwhelmingly elected in 2024.”
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, also had his hearing Wednesday. Straight Arrow News political correspondent Ray Bogan has a complete breakdown of what happened here.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifts off on first space flight
Thursday morning saw a big win for billionaire Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, as its New Glenn rocket blasted off into orbit.
The company’s first rocket powerful enough to launch satellites into space took off just after 2 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. All seven of its engines fired successfully.
Blue Origin marked the mission a success after demonstration technology on board, called the Blue Ring Pathfinder, was safely carried to orbit.
However, the company did not reach its bonus goal of guiding part of the New Glenn rocket back to a safe landing on a platform in the middle of the ocean after takeoff.
It took rival SpaceX four tries to get a similar maneuver right.
Still, Blue Origin stressed its most important goal was for the test satellite to reach orbit. NASA intends to use the New Glenn rocket to launch two orbiters to Mars in the future.
Thune, Barrasso, Cotton to make up Senate Republican leadership team
Senate Republicans have a new leader for the first time in 18 years. Sen. John Thune, S.D., will replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, Ky., who is the longest serving Senate GOP leader in history.
“This Republican team is united. We are on one team,” Thune told reporters. “We are excited to reclaim the majority and to get to work with our colleagues in the House to enact President Trump’s agenda.”
Sen. Thune was elected in a three-way race that included Sens. John Cornyn, Texas, and Rick Scott, Fla. Thune and Cornyn made a similar pitch, more aligned with McConnell. Scott, however, was the Trump candidate and wanted to shake up the structure of Senate leadership.
“I promise to be a leader who serves the entire Republican conference,” Thune said. “We’ll have an ambitious agenda, and we’ll take each and every Republican working together to be successful.”
One of the key issues in the race was the legislative amendment process. Many Republicans want to allow any senator to propose changes or additions to legislation. This will increase debate and give individual lawmakers more power to influence a bill.
They also wanted to get back to what’s supposed to be the normal appropriations process. Congressional protocol calls for 12 bills, specific to certain sections of the federal government, to be debated and written separately by the committee that has an expertise in that area.
As it currently stands, Congress has been passing continuing resolutions, omni- and minibus bills, which are massive in scope, difficult to read in full and don’t give senators an opportunity to debate and amend.
To round out Republican leadership, Wyoming’s Sen. John Barrasso was elected whip. He’ll be the No. 2 in charge of counting votes and trying to convince holdouts to support the party’s legislative priorities. Arkansas’ Sen. Tom Cotton will serve as conference chair.
Musk, Ramaswamy to lead Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency
President-elect Trump has created the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. And new details on a deadly massive explosion at a Kentucky food dye plant. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
Musk, Ramaswamy to lead Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency
Trump said Musk will be joined by entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in leading the department. The president-elect said the two businessmen will help his administration “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.”
Trump added the department will provide guidance from outside the government and “send shockwaves through the system.” The statement said Musk and Ramaswamy’s work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Musk, who also owns X, said on the social media site Tuesday night that all actions of the department will be posted online for “maximum transparency.”
Both Musk and Ramaswamy endorsed Trump during the 2024 campaign, with Ramaswamy doing so after dropping out of the race in January.
Along with meeting President Biden at the White House Wednesday, President-elect Trump is expected to also meet with Republicans at the Capitol as the GOP prepares to take control of both chambers of Congress, though some House races have still yet to be called.
The 44-year-old Army veteran is currently the host of Fox News channel’s “Fox and Friends Weekend.” Hegseth joined the network in 2014.
Hegseth is a Princeton and Harvard Business School graduate. He served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay and is still a member of the Minnesota Army Reserve.
In a statement, Trump said Hegseth is “tough, smart and a true believer in America first.” He added, “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — our military will be great again, and America will never back down.”
Trump also filled other roles Tuesday, including selecting lawyer William McGinley as White House counsel, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as U.S. ambassador to Israel, real estate investor Steve Witkoff as special envoy to the Middle East, and former Congressman John Ratcliffe as CIA director. Ratcliffe served as director of national intelligence in the first Trump administration.
Republican senators to choose new majority leader
While control of the House of Representatives remains undecided, the Senate is firmly in the hands of Republicans after last week’s election and now they’re getting ready for another vote.
House Oversight Committee holding second UFO hearing
The House Oversight Committee is meeting Wednesday to once again talk UFOs. The hearing, which calls the objects by their new preferred name, is titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth.”
Arrogant bureaucrats in D.C. spend your money and withhold information on UAP while our nation's best pilots give a different story. How does the government expect to gain our trust when they don't trust us with the truth? pic.twitter.com/un2RzRfwrE
2 dead in Louisville plant explosion, nearby homes damaged
New information is emerging about the explosion at a food dye plant in Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday afternoon. CBS and NBC News have reported two people have died, and at least nine others were badly hurt.
Authorities said two people had to be rescued from inside the plant Tuesday, but all employees have been accounted for.
The explosion, which happened in the city’s Clifton neighborhood, damaged nearby homes and residents were evacuated. One homeowner said it was a huge explosion and his entire house shook.
Today was a tough day for our city but we will get through this. I’m praying for everyone who was impacted and I’m incredibly thankful for the first responders who rushed in to save them. pic.twitter.com/cRbmqblph0
The mayor of Louisville said employees who were inside the building “reported normal activity when the explosion occurred.” The cause is under investigation.
This is not the first explosion to happen at that factory. One worker died after a tank exploded in 2003, when the plant had a different owner.
Kraft Heinz pulls school-approved Lunchables off the menu
The school-specific meals made their debut last school year. Kraft Heinz said they were protein-enriched and had reduced levels of saturated fat and sodium to meet the requirements of the national free and reduced-price school lunch program.
However, the meals got pushback from nutrition experts, who were concerned the school versions of Lunchables would confuse parents into thinking store-bought versions were healthier than they are. Then in April, Consumer Reports said it found the school-approved Lunachables actually contained more sodium than their store-bought counterparts.
In a statement, Kraft Heinz said its decision to pull school Lunchables was due to lack of demand.
Republican leadership in Congress shaping up ahead of key vote
Republicans won a majority in the Senate and believe they are on track to maintain their majority in the House. So once the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025, who will be in leadership?
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is vying to keep the gavel. Johnson wrote a letter to his Republican colleagues in which he laid out their top priorities: secure the border, promote investment through the tax code, prioritize domestic energy production, reduce regulations and expand school choice.
“We will operate from our well designed playbook, and execute those plays with precision, to put points on the board and win for the American people,” Johnson wrote in the letter.
Johnson has the support of President-elect Donald Trump, which is a key advantage. He even got a shout out during Trump’s victory speech.
“I want to thank Mike Johnson, I think he’s doing a terrific job. Terrific job,” Trump said during his victory speech.
With Trump’s support, it will be tough to challenge Johnson. However, Republicans are on track to have a one or two seat majority. If anyone decides to put up a fight like they did with former Rep. Kevin McCarthy in 2022, this could become a true battle.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., is also running to keep his job. He has consistently been elected unanimously to be House Republicans’ number two, there’s no reason to believe that will change.
The biggest question is Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. She’s the conference chair and if she runs again, she’ll likely win. She is also contending to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in the new Trump administration, which would leave an opening.
The Republican congressional leadership elections will take place on Nov. 13.
In the Senate, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is stepping down as Republican leader after the longest serving tenure in history.
Three lawmakers are running to take his place: Sens. John Thune, S.D., John Cornyn, Texas, and Rick Scott, Fla.
Thune currently serves as the Republican Whip, or the number two. He’s in charge of counting how republicans will vote on certain bills and trying to convince holdouts to support the party’s legislative priorities.
Cornyn previously served as whip but had to step down because he was term-limited.
Scott previously served as the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the party’s campaign arm. He also challenged McConnell for leader in 2022 but only received 10 votes compared to McConnell’s 37.
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., will take Thune’s place as whip.
Trump speaks of ‘incredible’ win after projected to be next US president
Donald Trump is poised to win the presidency again. How Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania helped put him over the top. And while Republicans have picked up seats in the Senate, will they also take the House? A look at where things stand. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.
Trump speaks of ‘incredible’ win after projected to be next U.S. president
Former President Donald Trump declared victory while addressing supporters in Florida early Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, as his lead over Vice President Kamala Harris grew. He picked up critical wins in key battleground states Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina.
“We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, and it is now clear that we’ve achieved the most incredible political thing,” Trump said. “Look what happened — is this crazy? But it’s a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this. I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.”
Harris’ path to the 270 electoral votes has become less of a possibility, with most media outlets projecting Trump as the winner Wednesday morning. As of the time this article was published, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ, a forecasting and analysis organization, have projected him to be the winner.
Donald Trump wins presidency for second time, completing improbable comeback https://t.co/VGPT8X5I88
Trump, who survived two assassination attempts during the campaign, was surrounded by family, Republican leaders, and his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance as he addressed the crowd inside the Palm Beach Convention Center around 2:30 a.m. ET Wednesday.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he told supporters. “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness and now we are going to fulfill that mission together.”
Vice President Harris, who picked up wins in California and New York, did not speak Tuesday night, Nov. 5, but earlier in the evening campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond spoke to supporters at Howard University. He said the vice president was not giving up the fight despite how the numbers were going.
“We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, so you won’t hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow,” he said. ”She will be back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only to address our supporters, but to address the nation.”
Multiple news networks have confirmed Harris is slated to speak Wednesday morning. However, it is worth noting there reportedly has been no concession call yet from Harris to Trump.
Ray Bogan recaps election night from Washington
Washington is going to look a lot different in January.
Donald Trump made an extraordinary comeback. He lost the electoral and popular votes in 2020 after stinging defeats in Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania. This time around Trump won back both Georgia and Pennsylvania. He also took Wisconsin.
Republicans also won a majority in the Senate, with key victories in Ohio and West Virginia pushing them over the top. This will give them a key advantage as they work to confirm Trump’s cabinet picks and judicial nominations.
It’s important to remember that the majorities in Congress are razor-thin and nowhere near filibuster-proof in the Senate. So passing legislation will require bipartisanship.
The big question now is – who will be the Senate majority leader? The three candidates are John Thune from South Dakota, John Cornyn from Texas and Rick Scott from Florida.
Balance of power in Congress shifts, GOP retakes control of Senate
As Ray mentioned, the balance of power is shifting in Congress. Republicans will retake control of the Senate for the first time in four years.
The GOP flipped seats in West Virginia and Ohio, giving Republicans at least a 51-seat majority in the Senate.
In West Virginia, Republican Gov. Jim Justice is slated to replace the outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin, an independent who caucused with Democrats. In Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno is projected by multiple outlets to defeat incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown.
How the House of Representatives will play out remains to be seen. Republicans are hoping to retain control of the chamber.
They currently hold a slim majority, yet there are still over 100 races yet to be determined as of the time of publishing. Going into the night, Democrats needed to flip four seats to gain.
Stein wins in NC governor’s race, Republicans see victory in other states
Voters in 11 states also chose their next governors. While Republicans won big, Democrats did manage to retain power in several states.
North Carolina remained blue after the state’s Democratic attorney general, Josh Stein, beat out controversial Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Robinson — who made history as the first Black lieutenant governor in the state — was already trailing in the polls, but his numbers took a dive in mid-September after CNN released a report detailing comments he allegedly made on a pornography website message board more than a decade ago on race, gender and abortion.
Thank you, North Carolina! I am honored to serve as your next governor. Tonight, we came together to resoundingly embrace a vision that is optimistic, forward-looking, and welcoming. I couldn't have done this without each of you. pic.twitter.com/3eeGGTVHed
In Delaware, Democrat Matt Meyer wins the race for governor. Meyer defeated Republican Mike Ramone and will take over from two-term Democratic Gov. John Carney.
Washington state will stay blue after Attorney General Bob Ferguson beat out Republican challenger Dave Reichert for the job. The seat was up for grabs after Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee said he would not be running again after serving three terms.
Indiana went from blue to red, with Republican Mike Braun defeating Democrat Jennifer McCormick. McCormick is a former Republican who split with the party after serving as the state’s schools superintendent.
Meanwhile, Republican Missouri remained red. The state’s Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe is set to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Parson.
North Dakota stayed red, as well. Kelly Armstrong is projected to succeed Gov. Doug Burgum, who also chose not to run again after serving three terms. It is possible Burgum will get a place in the Trump administration.
Republicans will now have governors in 27 states; Democrats in 23.
*Editor’s Note: This story has been updated since our recording to correct that North Carolina did not flip blue as the current governor, Roy Cooper, is a Democrat.
Voters in four states chose whether to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right. The measure did not pass in Florida, Nebraska or South Dakota, but did in Colorado and Nevada.
Nebraska voters actually had two abortion-related measures on their ballot. While the constitutional right to an abortion failed, the other measure, which would prohibit abortions after the first trimester, passed.
Five other states were deciding on the right to an abortion. The measures passed in Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, and New York and is expected to make it through in Montana.
3 newly elected senators, 1 congresswoman making history
History was made in three states on Election Day.
In Delaware, Lisa Blunt Rochester — who already made history as the first woman and first Black person to represent the state in Congress — will now become the first Black woman to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate.
Maryland Democrat Angela Alsobrooks will be the first Black candidate to represent her state in the Senate.
We just won our Senate race! As a son of immigrants, a public school kid, I never could’ve imagined I’d get to serve as a US Senator. I’m deeply humbled and grateful to NJ and for everyone who got us here. I promise I’ll serve with honor and integrity as a public servant for all. pic.twitter.com/qpuobm9Vf3
New Jersey Democrat Andy Kim will become the first Korean-American ever elected to the Senate. At 42 years old, he’ll also be the Senate’s third youngest member.
Finally, Sarah McBride, who won Delaware’s only open House seat, will be the first openly transgender person to be elected to Congress.
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Republicans claim Senate majority, end Democrats’ four-year hold
Republicans claim Senate majority, end Democrats’ four-year hold
Republicans secured a majority in the Senate following key victories in West Virginia and Ohio. The 2024 general election results ended Democrats’ four-year majority in the chamber, with the current balance of power now at 51-49.
The Senate was previously split 50-50 for two years, with Democrats holding a narrow majority through Vice President Harris’ tie-breaking vote. This shift will impact cabinet and judicial confirmations during the next presidential administration.
Senior Senate Democrats had indicated that, had they maintained the majority, they would reconsider ending the filibuster to pass voting rights and abortion legislation.
The big question now is who will lead the majority. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is stepping down as Senate Republican leader after serving as the longest-tenured leader in history.
Three candidates are vying for the position: John Thune, John Cornyn and Rick Scott. Thune, from South Dakota, currently serves as Republican Whip, managing votes and convincing holdouts to support party priorities. Cornyn, from Texas, previously served as Whip but was term-limited, while Scott, who led the National Republican Senatorial Committee and challenged McConnell for leadership in 2022, garnered only 10 votes compared to McConnell’s 37.
Florida Sen. Rick Scott, R, has won reelection, defeating former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla. The state is a key hold for Republicans as they try to take a majority in the chamber.
Scott was seeking his second term in the Senate. He was first elected in 2018 after serving two terms as Florida’s governor. Before politics, he was a healthcare executive, a career in which he made a fortune that allowed him to give tens of millions of dollars to his own campaign.
Scott is used to running extraordinarily close races. In 2018, he defeated Democratic incumbent Senator Bill Nelson by about 10,000 votes, or .2%. He won his 2014 governor’s race by 1% and the 2010 governor’s race by 1.2%.
Scott focused on issues he’s known to talk about in the hallways of Senate office buildings: low taxes, reduced federal spending and stricter border security.
Mucarsel-Powell served one term as a U.S. Representative, from 2019 to 2021. She immigrated from Ecuador at the age of 14 and has worked in higher education and nonprofits. She talked about border security and standing up to dictators, something Cubans and Venezuelans in Florida want to hear.
Given that they were vying to represent a state with so many retirees, both candidates said they’d work to protect social security and medicare.
Scott is also vying to replace Mitch McConnell as the Republican Senate leader.
According to OpenSecrets, the spending in this contest was nowhere near as much as some other close races. Scott raised more than $40 million and Mucarsel-Powell raised over $31 million.
Republicans want Biden to deny entry to leaders of Iran, Cuba, Venezuela
Five Republican senators are calling on President Joe Biden to deny visas to the leaders of Iran, Cuba and Venezuela for September’s U.N. General Assembly. The senators called the presidents of those countries a threat to U.S. national security.
“The United States must prevent the U.N. General Assembly from becoming a stage for the most evil leaders on Earth to gain credibility and promote their dangerous views,” Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told President Biden in a letter.
The U.N. General Assembly is a gathering of all 193 member countries. Every nation has an equal vote as they set the U.N.’s budget, appoint the secretary-general and select non-permanent members of the Security Council. The heads of each country are also given time to address the body and the world.
The senators said the U.S. has historically taken “principled stands” against welcoming foreign leaders who “threaten our values and interests.” They gave the examples of President Ronald Reagan denying a visa to Yasser Arafat in 1988 due to his support for state-sponsored terrorism and President Donald Trump’s denial of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in 2020.
The senators said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel is continuing the Castro dictatorship with brutal oppression, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to continue targeting the U.S. and Israel, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has committed human rights abuses and caused millions to flee the nation, many to America.
“Denying entry to the dictators and madmen would reaffirm our commitment to upholding the principles of freedom and democracy while sending a clear message that we stand firmly against oppressive regimes,” the senators wrote.
Maduro has not attended the General Assembly in a number of years, instead, the country has been represented by a minister. Maduro addressed the body remotely in 2021. Díaz-Canel attended and made an address in 2023. Pezeshkian was just sworn in in July. His predecessor Ebrahim Raisi addressed the assembly in 2023.
Arizona, 6 other states have abortion on the ballot, will it help Democrats?
Arizona voters will decide whether to enshrine the right to an abortion into their state’s constitution this November. The Office of the Arizona Secretary of State announced it certified a ballot measure after the Arizona for Abortion Access coalition submitted a petition with more than 577,971 signatures, surpassing the required 383,932 signatures.
The measure is called the Arizona Abortion Access Act. It amends the state constitution to say, “every individual has a fundamental right to an abortion,” the state shall not enact a law that interferes with that right before fetal viability or after if necessary to protect the physical or mental health of the pregnant individual.
The amendment defines fetal viability as the point in which a doctor determines there is a significant likelihood of the fetus’ sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures. That usually occurs by 24 weeks into the pregnancy.
In addition to the ballot measure and the presidential election, Arizonans will also be choosing who they want as their next senator.
The race between Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Republican Kari Lake, a former TV news anchor, could decide which party wins the Senate majority.
Other states are in a similar position to Arizona.
According to an NBC News analysis, 11 states have an abortion related measure either already on the ballot, or organizers are actively seeking ballot access. That includes Montana, Nevada, Arizona and Maryland which all have hotly contested Senate races.
Since the Dobbs decision in June of 2022, abortion ballot measures have gone undefeated. In August of that year, Kansas voters shot down a proposed constitutional amendment that said there’s no right to an abortion. During the midterm elections in November 2022, five states voted on abortion related ballot measures, in each one, voters chose to protect abortion access. In 2023, Ohio voters did the same.
Despite the momentum in favor of abortion rights, it doesn’t appear to be helping Democratic candidates. As an example, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, R, is considered a safe bet to win his reelection, according to the Cook Political Report. Incumbent Democratic Sens. Jon Tester, Mont., and Jackie Rosen, Nev., are both toss-ups.
An AP-NORC poll from July found that 6 in 10 Americans think their state should allow a person to obtain a legal abortion if they don’t want to be pregnant for any reason.