Latest news with #Republicans'
The Hill
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Obama leading Democratic redistricting fundraiser in Martha's Vineyard
Former President Obama is set to appear at a Democratic redistricting group's fundraiser next month in Martha's Vineyard, as the party looks to go toe-to-toe with Republicans' redistricting push in Texas. Obama is named as a special guest on an invitation for an event hosted by former Attorney General Eric Holder, the chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), according to an invitation obtained by The Hill and first reported by Politico. The invitation says the dinner and discussion will benefit the NDRC and affiliated groups on Aug. 19. Democrats are pushing for blue states to consider redrawing their House maps to offset similar efforts taking place in Texas, where President Trump has said he's looking to pick up five House seats. Ohio is also redrawing its maps, which is required this year because a previous plan didn't pass with bipartisan support in 2022. Republicans could make the maps more favorable to their party as they seek to win back seats held by Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio). California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is the only Democratic governor who so far has signaled he's open to redrawing his state's map to help his party. California uses an independent redistricting commission, however, and would have to overcome some hurdles in order for Democrats to do mid-cycle redistricting in the state. Other Democratic-led states such as New York or New Jersey that could see similar pushes, also have redistricting commissions and would likely need to have their state constitutions amended in order for Democrats to successfully redraw maps. The redistricting tit-for-tat could be previewing a tumultuous midterm cycle. Republicans are already bracing for an unfavorable political environment next year given the historic trends that run against the president's party in midterm cycles.
Axios
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
House to vote on kicking Rep. McIver off committee
The House is set to vote on a Republican measure that would censure Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) and remove her from the House Homeland Security Committee. Why it matters: McIver was indicted last month and pleaded not guilty to three counts of interfering with law enforcement officers over a physical altercation with ICE officers in May. Justice Department prosecutors have accused McIver of elbowing and grabbing an ICE agent outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. McIver has denied the allegations and said she was the one assaulted during a chaotic scuffle in which Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested. Driving the news: Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) on Wednesday introduced what is known as a privileged motion to force a vote on his McIver censure resolution. Under House rules, Republican leadership has to put the measure up for a vote within days of the House's return in September unless Higgins withdraws it. The three-page measure alleges McIver's actions "do not reflect creditably on the House" and that her continued service on the Homeland Security Committee "would represent a significant conflict of interest." The measure does not target McIver's membership on the Small Business Committee. What they're saying: Higgins told Axios in an interview at the Capitol that he waited until just before the House's five-week August recess to see if Democrats would remove McIver from the committee themselves. House Republicans' rules mandate that their indicted members must surrender all their committee assignments, but Democrats' rules only force them to give up committee leadership positions. Still, Higgins said, McIver "should not be participating on the committee that has oversight and voting authority over the branch of federal government that she's been indicted for committing crimes against." The other side: "Clay Higgins is a bigot who wants to be back in the news," McIver said in a statement provided to Axios through a spokesperson. "This resolution aims to kick me off the committee that presides over the Department of Homeland Security and shame me for doing the oversight work that is my job," she added. "Good luck, Clay." Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), who was with McIver at Delaney Hall, said her colleague is being "singled out" for "conducting Congressional oversight of an ICE detention facility which was so poorly maintained that an external wall collapsed and four detainees escaped." Both McIver and Watson Coleman alleged that the measure is an attempt to distract from Republicans' internal blowup over the Epstein files. What to watch: It is not clear how Republican leadership will respond, with a spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declining to weigh in.
Politico
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Politico
Dems accuse Trump of coverup after WSJ reports he was told he was in Epstein files
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung called the Journal report 'a continuation of the fake news stories,' while noting that Trump distanced himself from Epstein several years ago. Democrats on Wednesday quickly piled on, continuing their strategy of elevating Trump's previous relationship to Epstein and Republicans' turmoil over how to respond to the investigation. Some suggested the Justice Department — which in early July issued a memo concluding that there was no evidence that the disgraced financier was killed in his jail cell or kept an incriminating 'client list' — may have decided not to release the documents to cover up Trump's ties to Epstein. 'Wait, do you guys think this is why they are withholding the documents?!,' Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) said in a tongue-in-cheek social media post . 'Donald Trump is the biggest swamp monster of them all right now,' Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) wrote on X in response to the Journal story. 'Release the Epstein files.' 'Release the files,' former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on X . The new report comes as Trump has grown frustrated at the pervasive interest in the Epstein investigation files from both core supporters— who expected Trump to release information about Epstein's associates — and from Democrats seeking to capitalize on the Republican infighting. It has long been known that Trump and Epstein had a friendly relationship, with the latter at one point regularly visiting Mar-a-Lago. CNN reported on Tuesday new images of the men, including Epstein attending Trump's 1993 wedding. Trump — along with other prominent figures, like Bill Clinton — are referenced in documents released in court cases surrounding Epstein, but the now president is not accused of any wrongdoing linked to Epstein. But Trump has also maintained for years that he had a falling out with Epstein — Cheung said in his statement that Trump 'kicked him out of his club for being a creep' — and has sought to distance himself from Epstein.
19 hours ago
- Automotive
Tesla profits drop 16% as Elon Musk faces continued backlash
Tesla's profits fell 16% over a three-month period ending in June that overlapped with the end of chief executive Elon Musk's tenure in the White House and his ensuing public clash with President Donald Trump, an earnings release on Wednesday showed. The company's performance fell short of analysts' expectations. Total revenue decreased by 12% from one year earlier, to $22.4 billion, while revenue derived from car sales dropped 16% over the second quarter of 2025 compared to a year ago, the earnings showed. The fresh data covered a period following the onset of Trump's auto tariffs in early April. In a statement on Wednesday, Tesla touted a "strong balance sheet," but acknowledged a "sustained uncertain macroeconomic environment resulting from shifting tariffs." The company also faces "unclear impacts from changes to fiscal policy and political sentiment," Tesla said. The losses marked the second consecutive quarterly revenue drop for the company. Musk's position at the White House, which ended in May, set off demonstrations at Tesla dealerships worldwide in protest of his effort to slash government spending as leader of the Department of Government Efficiency. After Musk stepped away from the federal government, he sharply criticized Trump and stridently opposed Republicans' signature spending legislation. Recently, Musk has continued to slam the Trump administration over its handling of documents related to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier this month, Musk floated plans to launch a political party. Meanwhile, Tesla has faced heightened competition from domestic and foreign carmakers rolling out electric vehicles. Chinese EV-maker BYD outperformed Tesla in total car sales for the first time ever last year. As car sales have slowed, Musk has touted a future autonomous car service, dubbed robotaxis, as a growth area for the business. Last month, Tesla launched a limited version of the self-driving taxi service in Austin, Texas. The rollout marked a milestone for the company's self-driving taxi aspirations, but limitations placed on the vehicles and a series of apparent miscues suggest the technology remains far from wide adoption, some analysts previously told ABC News.
Politico
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Politico
Scalise: House GOP will pursue permitting reform this fall
Speaker Mike Johnson is on the defensive as he prepares to let the House leave early for August recess rather than allow his conference be hammered further by agitation on both sides of the aisle over votes to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. The Louisiana Republican Wednesday afternoon insisted, 'no one in Congress is blocking Epstein documents.' He also defended his decision to shut down the Rules Committee this week and cancel consideration of key legislative agenda items after Republicans on the panel rebelled over being forced to take more Epstein votes. 'Republicans are preventing Democrats from making a mockery of the Rules Committee process because we refuse to engage in their political charade,' Johnson said. 'That is what is happening, and nothing more.' Johnson reiterated that Republicans need to 'let the process play out,' and if more information doesn't come out over August recess then Congress 'will act' when lawmakers return. He added there was 'no point in having a vote today' on Republicans' non-binding Epstein resolution expressing support for the documents' release — or any other Epstein-related bill, for that matter — because the Trump administration is working on unsealing grand jury information. But he also cast doubt that a bipartisan bill from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), that would compel the files to be unsealed, would ever see a full House vote, saying it had 'problems.' GOP leaders believe they can kill Massie and Khanna's push for a vote on this legislation if more information comes out over recess. At the same time, Johnson appeared to cast doubt on his own party's movement toward subpoenaing Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein co-conspirator, to testify. Johnson said if Republicans want to go ahead and subpoena Maxwell, as they're planning to do, then 'that's fine.' But he quickly referenced past Justice Department allegations that she is a pervasive liar, adding 'can she be counted on to tell the truth…can we trust what she's going to say?'
