Ghislaine Maxwell wants immunity, questions in advance to testify for Congress
'Our initial reaction was that Ms. Maxwell would invoke her Fifth Amendment rights and decline to testify at this time,' her attorney, David Oscar Markus, wrote in the letter to Rep. James Comer (R-Kentucky), who chairs the House Oversight Committee. 'However, after further reflection we would like to find a way to cooperate with Congress if a fair and safe path forward can be established.'
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USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
An unusual six months in Congress of long days and short fuses
Just over six months in, this Congress has witnessed all-nighters, extra-long votes and flaring personalities. 'I will say again - I am tired of making history. I just want (a) normal Congress,' House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said. His comments to reporters in early July came as the House concluded a more than seven-hour vote, then the longest in the chamber's history (a milestone hit after the chamber had already broken the record a week earlier). Of course, the increasingly partisan, combative, and at times, chaotic atmosphere had infiltrated the modern Congress before Johnson or his Senate counterpart, Majority Leader John Thune, took the gavel. But more than six months in, the 119th Congress has seen its share of unusual or unprecedented moments, from extraordinarily long votes to all-nighter sessions. Here's a look at some of the notable moments of the not "normal" kickoff for the 119th. 'All by myself' House lawmakers this year first surpassed the record for the longest House vote while deliberating President Donald Trump's so-called 'big, beautiful bill' on July 2. The vote was held open for seven hours and 23 minutes. Members of Congress filtered in and out of the chamber, mostly congregating off the floor for deals and debates. But someone, by rule, had to supervise the chamber. More: Which way will Senate swing in 2026? Here are 11 pivotal races that will decide. That lucky representative was Arkansas' Steve Womack. Womack, a Republican, had the task of presiding over the floor starting at 11:45 a.m. and staying at the dais well into the evening. 'I'm told he is very very bored,' NBC's Melanie Zanona posted at the time, 'and singing the Eric Carmen song 'ALL BY MYSELF' to himself.' Meanwhile, House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, had his own way of killing time. 'Five,' Cole said, when a reporter asked him, around 5 p.m., how many cigars he had so far that day. 'Is that a lot or a little?' one reporter followed up. 'Certainly not a lot,' Cole replied. Senate burns the midnight oil. A lot. Senators also have plenty of time-consuming accomplishments to boast about, were such efforts to be lauded. The upper chamber kicked off July by barely topping a record set in 2008 for the longest 'vote-a-rama' – Washington parlance for a marathon series of votes on amendments to budget bills. Earlier this summer, Democrats were responsible for the bulk of the 45 proposals to revise Trump's sweeping tax, spending and policy bill. It was one more amendment than what senators almost two decades ago had spent hours voting on. The chamber has had three cases of a 'vote-a-rama' so far this year. Often, they mean overnight sessions that stretch more than a dozen hours. The series in early July was an unusual daylight occurrence, though, beginning a little after 9 a.m. on a Monday and lasting past noon the next day. Long days, short fuses After being elected majority leader by his colleagues, Thune promised more working days for a body of government that many Americans accuse of being allergic to work. That mostly meant adding Fridays to the work calendar (though the chamber has been about 50-50 on coming in those Fridays). More recently, there was talk of scrapping senators' typical summer break and instead staying in town to plow through a backlogged agenda. Some congressional correspondents who'd worked through the session thus far weren't so sure about the idea. More: All work and no play: House heads out while Senate eyes skipping summer break 'The Senate really, really needs a recess,' senior HuffPost Igor Bobic wrote online. But after a Saturday slog Aug. 2, lawmakers finally called it and fled the capital for their home states. The House and Senate are both set to return to town Sept. 2. And with a deadline to keep the government funded looming at the end of the month, a broiling debate over Jeffrey Epstein's case files ongoing, and overall tensions still simmering, Speaker Johnson and the rest of the legislative branch are not likely to see a 'normal Congress' anytime soon.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Dr. Mehmet Oz says applications for $50 billion rural hospital fund will go out "in early September"
Washington — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said Sunday that applications for a fund for rural hospitals will go out in "early September" in the wake of Medicaid cuts in President Trump's signature piece of legislation passed by Congress last month. "We're putting $50 billion. The president wants this, the Congress wants this," Oz said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." Mr. Trump signed the so-called "big, beautiful bill" into law last month, which included a number of his second-term priorities from tax cuts to increased spending on border security, defense and energy production. The legislation was paid for in part by significant cuts to health care programs, like Medicaid, which provides government-sponsored health care for low-income and disabled Americans. Among the cuts to Medicaid, the new law will lower provider taxes, which states use to help fund their portion of Medicaid costs. Lawmakers sought to supplement the cuts with a rural hospital stabilization fund after some GOP senators expressed concern over how rural hospitals could be impacted by the Medicaid restrictions, allocating $50 billion for rural hospitals. Oz outlined that rural hospitals will receive applications for the fund in early September. He said the money is designed to help with "workforce development, right-sizing the system and using technology to provide things like telehealth that can change the world." "Imagine if we can change the way we think about the delivery of health and make it more about getting people healthy who can thrive and flourish and be fully present in their own lives and as Americans," Oz said. The new law will also make changes to Medicaid work requirements for some able-bodied adults, along with more frequent eligibility checks. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the legislation would result in 11.8 million Americans losing health coverage under Medicaid over the next decade. Oz touted the work requirements, saying "every Democratic president and Republican president has said that the foundation of a healthy welfare system, a social system of support, is work." He outlined that the requirements can also be met through community engagement, education and in caretaking roles, and that the administration began pursuing pilot programs when the bill was signed to demonstrate how technology can support the changes. But Brennan noted that according to KFF Health Policy, 92% of adult Medicaid recipients already are working or are caregivers or qualify for other exceptions. Oz said "they're fine." "We want to help connect you to the job market and get you into work," Oz said of people who are considered able-bodied. "The goal of health care insurance is to catalyze action in the right direction, to get you healthier, to give you agency over the future, so you recognize you matter, and you should have a job, therefore, to go out and change the world."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Who is Charlamagne tha God? Trump reacts to radio host's Epstein-MAGA remark
President Donald Trump responded to Charlamagne tha God on Sunday, Aug. 3, calling him a "sleezebag" after the radio host suggested traditional Republicans will use rivaled interest in the Jeffrey Epstein files to take over the GOP again. Charlamagne tha God, whose real name is Lenard McKelvey, is co-host of the popular radio show "The Breakfast Club," which draws more than 4 million weekly listeners. The response from Trump came just days after McKelvey floated Jon Stewart as possible 2028 presidential candidate after former Vice President Kamala Harris said she won't run for California governor, leaving the door open for a potential 2028 run. "I think that traditional conservatives are going to take the Republican Party back," McKelvey said during an interview with the president's daughter-in-law on her Fox News show, "My View with Lara Trump." "I think this Epstein thing is going to be a way for traditional conservatives to take their party back, I really do." "I think they know this is the issue that has gotten the base riled up," he said, referencing the disgraced financier who died by suicide in August 2019. "The MAGA base isn't letting this issue go, and for the first time, they know they can probably take the party back and not piss off the MAGA base." After the interview, in a Truth Social post, Trump praised his daughter-in-law, called her "amazing and talented," and called the show "a big ratings success." The president then called McKelvey a "sleezebag" and discounted his intellegence. "He's a Low IQ individual, has no idea what words are coming out of his mouth, and knows nothing about me or what I have done," Trump wrote. "Just ending 5 Wars, including a 31 year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight." Trump went on to claim in the post that McKelvey did not know about a myriad of other topics, including India and Pakistan, Iran, the border or the economy. USA TODAY has reached out to McKelvey. 'Change agent': Charlamagne tha God floats Jon Stewart as possible 2028 candidate What is Charlamagne tha God's first name? Born in Charleston South Carolina, Charlamagne tha God's real name is Lenard Larry McKelvey. Epstein revival continues: Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell quietly moved out of Florida federal prison Who is Charlamagne tha God? Charlamange tha God, 47, is an American TV radio host and presenter. He is a co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show, "The Breakfast Club," which discusses a variety of topics including pop culture, celebrity gossip and politics. The podcast had been downloaded more than 1 billion times as of early June, iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network have reported. McKelvey is also co-host of the podcast "Brilliant Idiots" and has authored two books: "Black Privilege"and "Shook One." According to his website, McKelvey is slated to be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in October. What is 7-OH? Trump administration wants to products with it as 'an illicit substance' Who is Lara Trump? Lara Trump, 42, is married to the president's second son, Eric Trump. The Fox News host is also co-chair of the Republican National Committee. The president's daughter-in-law had been Trump's first choice for the U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina, where she was born. But late last month she opted out and endorsed Republican National Committee chair and former North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley. Trump also endorsed Whatley for the slot in a late July social media post. What did Trump say about Charlamange tha God? In his Truth Media post, the president questioned why McKelvey is "allowed to use the word 'GOD'" when describing himself. "Can anyone imagine the uproar there would be if I used that nickname?" Trump wrote in the post. The White House has previously shared a photo of the president dressed as a the pope on its official social media pages, sparking both outlash and glee. The photo was posted just days after Pope Francis died on Easter this year at age 88. Contributing: Phillip Bailey and Sudiksha Kochi Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump dismisses Charlamagne tha God after Lara Trump interview
