Stefanik's U.N. ambassador nomination may be in jeopardy over House's slim majority
New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik may not be confirmed as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, CBS News has learned. This comes as concerns emerge among House Republicans that losing her seat could harm the balance of power in the lower chamber. CBS News' Jennifer Jacobs reports.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
JD Vance Flips the Bird at Trump Critics During GOP Dinner Party: ‘That Means We're No. 1, Right?'
In an effort to make a joke about anti-Trumpers, Vice President JD Vance decided to flip the bird at attendees during the Ohio Republican dinner party on Tuesday. The moment happened while Vance was delivering a keynote speech, during which he started discussing the challenges that come with being a political figure, as well as the slew of 'pink-haired' critics he claimed have approached and/or confronted him since his time in office. 'I know it's not easy to be a political candidate, trust me. In Washington, D.C. they have this thing where— I think it means 'we're No. 1' in Washington, D.C., but all the pink-haired people throw up this sign,' Vance said. He then lifted his hand to flip the bird to the listening audience. Keeping his middle finger in the air, he continued on, joking that the one finger up must mean naysayers are labeling the Trump administration as No. 1. 'That means we're No. 1, right? I choose to take that as that symbol in Washington,' Vance said in jest. LMAO! JD Vance throws up the MIDDLE FINGER live on TV"In D.C., they have this thing where – I think it means we're number one – all the pink-haired people throw up this sign… *throws up middle finger*" — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 25, 2025 Vance's crude behavior happened the same day Trump went viral for dropping the F-bomb while criticizing both Israel and Iran for their cease-fire deal. President Trump on Israel and Iran: "We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the fuck they're doing." — CSPAN (@cspan) June 24, 2025 'We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f—k they're doing,' Trump told media on Tuesday. As TheWrap previously reported, after speaking to reporters, the president told Israel on his Truth Social platform it would be a 'MAJOR VIOLATION' if it bombed Iran. He then called on Israel to 'BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!' About 40 minutes later, the president was seemingly in a much better mood, posting that Israel would not attack Iran. 'All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the cease-fire is in effect! Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Trump posted on Truth post JD Vance Flips the Bird at Trump Critics During GOP Dinner Party: 'That Means We're No. 1, Right?' | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Politico
35 minutes ago
- Politico
Bernal bows out
With President Donald Trump's July 4 deadline drawing near, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told POLITICO on Tuesday night he believes the Senate is 'on a path' to start voting on the megabill Friday. But he's got several fires to put out first. For one, he's under immense pressure to water down the Medicaid provisions the Senate GOP is counting on for hundreds of billions of dollars worth of savings. Speaker Mike Johnson is warning in private that Senate Republicans could cost House Republicans their majority next year if they try to push through the deep Medicaid cuts in the current Senate version, according to three people granted anonymity to describe the matter. That comes as Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) cautions GOP senators that those same cutbacks could become a political albatross for Republicans just as the Affordable Care Act was for Democrats. '[Barack] Obama said … 'if you like your health care you can keep it, if you like your doctor we can keep it,' and yet we had several million people lose their health care,' the in-cycle senator told reporters Tuesday. 'Here we're saying [with] Medicaid, we're going to hold people harmless, but we're estimating' millions of people could lose coverage. GOP leaders are trying to ease concerns by preparing to include a fund to help rural hospitals that could be harmed by the reductions, even as Thune insisted Tuesday 'we like where we are.' Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who's been pushing for the fund, said while that 'helps lessen the impact,' she remains 'concerned about the changes in the funding for Medicaid in general.' The other drama hanging over the bill are several imminent, critical rulings from Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough. Several committees that already have rulings in hand are due to release revised text as soon as this morning, according to a person familiar with the plans. And Republicans could know as soon as Wednesday whether MacDonough will clear major parts of their tax package. As of late Tuesday, the parliamentarian had not yet ruled on provisions linked to the so-called current policy baseline, an accounting maneuver that zeroes out the costs of $3.8 trillion of expiring tax cuts, according to two people granted anonymity to disclose the private discussions. Make no mistake: Adverse rulings could send Republicans back to the drawing board on making their tax plan permanent or otherwise force them to go nuclear and override or ignore MacDonough altogether. There's uncertainty from all sides about how that would play out, given the gambit has never been tried before with tax legislation. This much is already clear: With the tax package in flux and Medicaid savings under threat, GOP leaders have a major math problem on their hands. And House fiscal hawks are watching to see, regardless of the accounting method, whether the Senate sticks to the budget deal they agreed to with Johnson earlier this year. What else we're watching: — Bove on the Hill: Senate Judiciary lawmakers will convene the first blockbuster judicial hearing of the second Trump administration later Wednesday, where they will grill Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official and former criminal defense lawyer for Trump who has a shot at a lifetime appointment on the federal bench. Some even see him as a potential future Trump Supreme Court nominee. — Vought testifies on rescissions: OMB Director Russ Vought will testify in front of the Senate's full bench of appropriators Wednesday afternoon to justify the White House's request for $9.4 billion in cuts of previously approved money. Expect pointed questioning from various Republicans on the panel, including Collins, who has publicly opposed cuts to PEPFAR, the HIV and AIDS foreign aid program. — Iran briefings incoming: Senators will have a postponed briefing on the situation in Iran on Thursday, after which Democrat Tim Kaine (Va.) is aiming to call a vote on his resolution seeking to block further U.S. military action against Iran. On the House side, Speaker Johnson said that members will now be briefed Friday. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday there had been no Gang of Eight meeting yet. Jordain Carney, Meredith Lee Hill and Hailey Fuchs contributed to this report.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Smurl announces independent campaign for Scranton council
Scranton City Council President Gerald Smurl will seek reelection as an independent candidate after withdrawing from Democratic primary contention in March over issues with his nomination petitions. Smurl, an incumbent Democrat who's served on council since December 2022, announced his independent run in a news release. 'Thanks to the overwhelming support and encouragement from my family and friends, I am happy to announce that I am running for reelection to Scranton City Council as an Independent candidate,' he said in the release. 'I want voters to know that I am committed to leading the city's future with independence, integrity and a shared intent to continue moving Scranton forward by supporting economic development, restoring parks and pools, and promoting cleaner, safer neighborhoods.' He joins a field of council candidates that includes Virgil Argenta, Patrick Flynn, Sean McAndrew, Marc Pane and incumbent Councilman Tom Schuster. Flynn, McAndrew and Schuster are all Democrats who won Democratic nominations in May's primary election. Pane, the lone Republican council candidate in that race, secured a GOP nomination in the primary. Argenta, who finished last in the Democratic primary for council, received enough Republican write-in votes to win a GOP nomination and advance to November's municipal election. McAndrew, a Scranton school director and nephew of Democratic Councilman Mark McAndrew, also won a GOP nomination with write-in votes and will appear on the November ballot as having both Democratic and Republican nominations. Council appointed Smurl in December 2022 to temporarily fill former Democratic Councilman Kyle Donahue's vacant seat after voters elected Donahue state representative. Smurl won reelection in 2023 to fill the remainder of Donahue's unexpired term and has served as council president since the beginning of 2024. Smurl filed earlier this year to run for reelection as a Democrat but withdrew from the primary field in mid-March, citing an issue with signatures on his nomination petitions. 'It came to my attention over the weekend that some of my campaign people got a bit overzealous … and actually got signatures that were not verified,' Smurl told The Times-Tribune on March 17. 'All it means is they didn't actually see the people sign a few of these.' He described the signatures in question as valid, but said at the time he didn't want the mistake to become an issue. The release announcing Smurl's independent candidacy says he felt an obligation to run despite the setback 'in order to continue supporting Scranton's senior citizens and working families, as well as small business owners and laborers throughout the city.' 'I heard from so many folks, urging me to run, that I felt I just couldn't let them down,' he said. 'And even though elections are never easy, I have a great team of supporters and volunteers that I'm incredibly grateful to have by my side. We're looking forward to fighting the good fight for the people of Scranton.' Smurl lives in South Scranton, is well-known for his annual 'Christmas Lights House' display on Prospect Avenue and is the longtime proprietor of Smurl HVAC LLC. He's also generally seen as a political ally of Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and, as council president, communicates regularly with the mayor and her administration. Cognetti also seeks reelection this year. She comfortably defeated former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan in May's Democratic primary and will face Republican accounting executive Patricia Beynon and possible independent candidates for mayor in November. There are three council seats up for grabs in the November's election. The winners will serve alongside Councilman Mark McAndrew and Councilwoman Jessica Rothchild, both Democrats. 'I know that what I'm doing is working,' Smurl said Wednesday in a phone interview. 'Just look at what we're doing and how well the city is doing.'
