
Senate Democrats ask for answers from inspector general on Social Security cuts
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) and four other Senate Democrats are urging the Social Security Administration's inspector general's office to investigate the impacts of the U.S. DOGE Service's dramatic restructuring and sweeping cuts to the government agency.

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Miami Herald
17 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Search Broadens as Investigators Race to Track Down Minnesota Suspect
EDITORS NOTE: EDS: SUBS 2nd graf to update with possible found vehicle; TWEAKS graf 3 and graf starting "-- The suspect: ..." Investigators expanded their search across Minnesota on Sunday as they raced to track the footsteps of a man suspected of assassinating a Democratic state lawmaker and trying to kill a second. Police found what they believe is a vehicle belonging to the suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, in Sibley County, near a listed address for him and about an hour's drive southwest of where Saturday's shootings occurred. Officials have pleaded for help from the public, offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Boelter's arrest. At the same time they urged caution, saying that he was believed to be armed, dangerous and willing to kill. "He is someone that no one should mess with, except for law enforcement," Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said Sunday morning on NBC's "Meet the Press." Communities were on edge around the Minneapolis suburbs where authorities say the suspect went to the homes of two lawmakers early Saturday, pretending to be a police officer. Wearing a ballistic vest, gloves and an identity-disguising mask, investigators say he killed Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. The police almost caught the suspect at the home, but he escaped on foot after exchanging gunfire with officers. State Sen. John A. Hoffman, a fellow Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were also shot in a separate attack but survived. Klobuchar said Sunday that the couple was "hanging in there." Hoffman, she said, "may face some additional surgeries, but he is also in stable condition right now, from what I know." Investigators have been examining surveillance footage, bank records, Boelter's associations and his movements from before the shootings. He had been politically engaged: A friend said he opposed abortion and had supported President Donald Trump, and he previously served on a state workforce development board alongside Hoffman. Here's what else we know: -- The victims: Hortman served as speaker of the Minnesota House for a six-year period that ended this year and helped pass several key policies on abortion rights, marijuana legalization and medical leave. Hoffman is a fourth-term state senator from Champlin, another Minneapolis suburb, and leads the Senate's Human Services Committee. -- The suspect: Boelter and his wife run a private security company that promotes the usage of SUVs similar to those used by police departments, according to its website. The couple also appears to have run a religious nonprofit. An archived version of the organization's website described Boelter as an ordained minister who had preached overseas. It said that he "sought out militant Islamists in order to share the gospel and tell them that violence wasn't the answer." -- Political violence: Slowly but surely, violence has moved from the fringes to become part of the political landscape. Threats and even assassinations, attempted or successful, have become a steady undercurrent of American life. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025


Boston Globe
30 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith contemplates increased security after shooting of Democratic lawmakers
Advertisement 'These are real people, and before you start ascribing motives or going after them online maybe you should think about Melissa Hortman's life,' Klobuchar, a Democrat, said on CNN. 'This is a person that did everything for the right reasons. Regardless of political parties, look at her face before you send out your next post.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The attack that killed Hortman, her husband Mark and gravely wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife was a nightmare scenario for the thousands of American who serve as legislators across the 50 states and in Washington. They routinely attend public events with little or no security screening and live with their families in communities torn by the nation's political divides. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information on the suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, who was the subject of a massive manhunt Sunday. The attacks amid a recent flurry of political violence that appears to be coming from all ideological corners. Advertisement U.S. Capitol Police increased security for Klobuchar and Smith following the attacks, which occurred early Saturday morning. Minnesota's entire congressional delegation, both Republicans and Democrats, released a joint statement condemning the killings. 'Today we speak with one voice to express our outrage, grief, and condemnation of this horrible attack on public servants,' the statement said. 'There is no place in our democracy for politically-motivated violence.' 'Nothing brings us together more than, you know, mourning for somebody else who's in political life,' GOP Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said on NBC. 'Republican or Democrats. You know, we come together about this.' Paul said that he himself had been the victim of political violence when he was attacked by a neighbor in 2017, as well as at the Republican practice for the Congressional baseball game where a gunman severely injured several people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. Associated Press writer Gary Fields contributed reporting.


Hamilton Spectator
39 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith contemplates increased security after shooting of Democratic lawmakers
Lawmakers on Sunday continued to reel from the shooting of two Democratic Minnesota state legislators in their homes that led to the death of one and her husband, contemplating a previously unthinkable world where democratically-elected representatives need full-time security details to protect them from the public. 'I don't want to think that I have to a personal security detail everywhere I go, but I think we really have to look at the situation that we're in,' Democratic Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith said Sunday on NBC News. 'This is no way for our government to work when people, any number of us, feel this kind of threat.' The state's other U.S. Senator, Amy Klobuchar, directly addressed the increasingly toxic atmosphere around politics as she remembered state Rep. Melissa Hortman , who was killed in the attack. 'These are real people, and before you start ascribing motives or going after them online maybe you should think about Melissa Hortman's life,' Klobuchar, a Democrat, said on CNN. 'This is a person that did everything for the right reasons. Regardless of political parties, look at her face before you send out your next post.' The attack that killed Hortman, her husband Mark and gravely wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife was a nightmare scenario for the thousands of American who serve as legislators across the 50 states and in Washington. They routinely attend public events with little or no security screening and live with their families in communities torn by the nation's political divides. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information on the suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, who was the subject of a massive manhunt Sunday. The attacks amid a recent flurry of political violence that appears to be coming from all ideological corners. U.S. Capitol Police increased security for Klobuchar and Smith following the attacks, which occurred early Saturday morning. Minnesota's entire congressional delegation, both Republicans and Democrats, released a joint statement condemning the killings. 'Today we speak with one voice to express our outrage, grief, and condemnation of this horrible attack on public servants,' the statement said. 'There is no place in our democracy for politically-motivated violence.' 'Nothing brings us together more than, you know, mourning for somebody else who's in political life,' GOP Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said on NBC. 'Republican or Democrats. You know, we come together about this.' Paul said that he himself had been the victim of political violence when he was attacked by a neighbor in 2017, as well as at the Republican practice for the Congressional baseball game where a gunman severely injured several people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. Associated Press writer Gary Fields contributed reporting. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .