Latest news with #D-RI
New York Post
7 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Education Secretary Linda McMahon stumbles on softball question during budget hearing
US Education Secretary Linda McMahon was tripped up several times during a Senate budget hearing on Tuesday, including when she awkwardly whiffed softball questions from Republican lawmakers. During the hearing, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) teed up McMahon with a simple question to tout the changes she's made to the department, only for her to stumble when she failed to answer correctly. 'What were we ranked in reading and math in 1979?' Mullin asked. 'I'm sorry, what?' McMahon replied. 3 Education Secretary Linda McMahon testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. Getty Images 'What were we ranked, nationally, in math and reading in 1979?' he repeated. 'We were very, very low on the totem pole,' the education secretary asserted. 'We were No. 1 in 1979,' the Oklahoma senator corrected. 'Oh, in 1979. I'm sorry. OK,' McMahon responded quickly, cutting off Mullin. 3 Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) pointed out an error in McMahon's math twice during the hearing. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY via Imagn Images 'In 1979, we were ranked No.1. Today, in reading, we are ranked 36th. In mathematics, we're ranked 28th,' Mullin said as he attempted to point to the education department's past failures. The gaffe wasn't isolated, as McMahon also found herself confused when Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) asserted that the government had been spending $1.5 billion a year, for 10 years, on federal grant programs for disadvantaged students. Kennedy claimed the math added up to more than a trillion dollars, to no objections from McMahon, who appeared to have trouble doing the math herself when asked to clarify by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI). 3 McMahon whiffed on softball questions presented by Republican lawmakers during the hearing. Getty Images 'Madam secretary, I'm not a great mathematician, but I think you were talking about a trillion dollars?' he said. 'I believe 1.5 billion times 10 is $15 billion. That's a little bit off from a trillion dollars.' 'I think the budget cuts $1.2 billion,' McMahon replied. 'Well, 1.2, that would be $12 billion, not a trillion dollars,' Reed said, noting that the math still doesn't add up. 'OK,' McMahon replied. The exchange was only the latest gaffe from the education secretary, with McMahon making headlines after she repeatedly referred to artificial intelligence as 'A 1' — rather than AI — during a conference in April.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Don't Take Instructions…': Kash Patel's Brutal Putdown Leaves Reed Speechless In US House
Tensions flared during a fiery Senate Appropriations Committee hearing as Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) grilled FBI Director Kash Patel on alleged access to DOGE-related intelligence. When Reed demanded, 'Did you get an instruction from the White House?' Patel's sharp glare and scathing reply sent shockwaves through the room. His blunt takedown silenced Reed and left the chamber in stunned silence — a dramatic moment that underscored the escalating political heat. Read More
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Rhode Island capital to hoist Palestinian flag at city hall, citing diversity
Providence, Rhode Island, officials have accepted a request to fly the Palestinian flag Friday at City Hall in the state's capital. City officials emphasized that no American flags are being displaced by the display, adding there have been several other flags raised over the government office in the past. 'Providence City Hall displays many different flags throughout the year to mark different occasions and honor the many ethnic and cultural backgrounds and traditions that make our city strong,' a spokesperson for Providence City Council told Fox News Digital Wednesday. The spokesperson added the city has also flown the Dominican flag, Irish flag, Armenian flag and the Israeli flag in recent months. 'Like those examples, this idea came to us from the community as part of a request to honor the important role Palestinian-Americans play in the fabric of our beautifully diverse city,' the spokesperson said. Council President Rachel Miller will display the flag during Thursday's city council meeting and then outside City Hall Friday. 3 A flyer created by the Providence City Hall promoting the flag raising on May 16, 2025. Providence City Council/X 3 Protesters wave the Palestinian and Lebanese flags on the steps to the Rhode Island State House on March 17, 2025. Getty Images When asked about the decision, a representative for Democratic Mayor Brett Smiley suggested the ceremony was the city council's prerogative. 'In Providence, the executive branch and City Council are two separate branches of government. The Providence City Council, not Mayor Smiley's office, will be raising the Palestinian flag on Friday,' said Josh Estrella, a spokesman for Smiley. A report from GoLocalProvidence added the Palestinian flag is reportedly becoming more prevalent at City Hall overall. Typically, the indoor chamber only flies the state and national flags, the report said. Fox News Digital reached out for comment from Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed, D-RI. 3 Buses pass by Providence City Hall on May 28, 2020. Boston Globe via Getty Images Fox News Digital contacted the State Department to ask where it stands on the flag debate given the ongoing Israel–Palestinian conflict. A request for comment was also received by the office of Rep. Gabe Amo, D-RI, who represents much of the Ocean State's capital region.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats need to focus on fighting 'real danger' which is Trump-Musk axis: Sen. Whitehouse
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joins Katy Tur to discuss the vote on the government funding bill to avoid a shutdown and to share what he believes Democrats need to do next to unite as a party.
Fox News
29-01-2025
- Health
- Fox News
'What a jacka--': Conservatives hammer Dem senator's 'droning monologue' during RFK Jr hearing
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., was blasted by conservatives on social media on Wednesday over his contentious line of questioning toward President Donald Trump's Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary nominee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "Frankly, you frighten people," Whitehouse told Kennedy while seemingly linking Kennedy's skepticism of some vaccines to the first case of measles in Rhode Island since 2013. "Americans are going to need to hear a clear and trustworthy recantation of what you have said on vaccinations, including a promise from you never to say vaccines aren't medically safe when they, in fact, are, and making indisputably clear that you support mandatory vaccinations against diseases where that will keep people safe," Whitehouse said. "You're in that hole pretty deep." Whitehouse, who attended law school with Kennedy where the two were friends, used the majority of his time to list concerns about Kennedy, allowing the HHS hopeful a small window at the end to address the line of questioning. Whitehouse's comments quickly drew criticism from conservatives on social media. "Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI) beginning his confirmation 'questioning' of RFK Jr. by saying 'I'm very experienced, so you're just going to have to listen,' then talking for 7 minutes nonstop is such a perfect picture of why Democrats are failing around the nation right now," Daily Signal columnist Tony Kinnett posted on X. "You know what would be good?" columnist John Podhortez posted on X. "Sheldon Whitehouse going away forever to an island. And not Rhode Island, which isn't an island. More like St. Helena." "Whitehouse delivers a droning monologue then tells RFK he's out of time, can respond in writing," National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin posted on X. "What a jacka--," editor Samantha Janney posted on X. "RFK Jr. should ask Sheldon about his membership at multiple whites-only clubs." Fox News Digital reached out to Whitehouse's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Opposition to Kennedy's nomination has been fierce, with advocacy groups running ad campaigns urging senators to vote against his confirmation mainly due to his past skepticism of some vaccines. "I want to make sure the Committee is clear about a few things. News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry. Well, I am neither; I am pro-safety," Kennedy said in his opening statement in front of the Senate Finance Committee.
