Top Republican lawmakers brushed aside questions about former President Donald Trump’s alarming vow to purge his political opponents, which he referred to as “vermin” in a Veterans’ Day message over the weekend. “Is that worse than ‘deplorables’? I don’t use that kind of language, but it’s a free country,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told HuffPost... Read More about As Trump Vows Vengeance Against ‘Vermin,’ Republicans Look The Other Way

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said there has been a “loud diversity” of positions about Puerto Rico’s political status among those in Connecticut’s Puerto Rican community. But he believes the island should decide its future and whether it is recognized differently than a U.S. territory. Murphy and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., helped announce... Read More about CT senators back bill on Puerto Rico deciding its political status

Legislators and housing advocates convened for the fourth annual Connecticut Affordable Housing Conference on Monday and Tuesday. The conference explores policy solutions at the state and local level. Chelsea Ross is the director of special projects for Partnership for Stronger Communities, the company that organizes the event. She said the... Read More about CT legislators and advocates push for affordable housing support

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said residents feel the effects of the Israel-Hamas conflict personally for both Palestinians and the Israelis, as advocates across the state held several rallies in response to the war. The U.S. government is staunchly pro-Israel, but Murphy told Connecticut Public’s "All Things... Read More about Murphy cautions Israel to show restraint in Gaza, citing lessons of Afghanistan

Nearly all of Connecticut’s congressional delegation is calling for “humanitarian pauses” in the Middle East as part of the U.S. strategy to ensure the flow of more aid into Gaza as well as the release of hostages captured by Hamas. That support for a temporary halt, which aligns with a growing number of Democrats in Congress and the Biden... Read More about Most CT lawmakers call for ‘humanitarian pauses’ for Gaza aid

The Biden administration pushed Congress Tuesday to approve its $105 billion national security supplemental request that includes support for both Israel and Ukraine as the House of Representatives prepares to consider legislation that would only support Israel.  Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that separating funding for Ukraine from... Read More about Blinken, Austin urge Congress to pass funding to support both Israel and Ukraine

A few things you can bet on when there’s been a terrible mass shooting in this country. One is that the heartbreaking stories about victims and chilling ones about the craziness of the shooter will not necessarily be followed by a strong bipartisan drive for significantly better gun laws. POP QUIZ After an assault-rifle-brandishing madman killed 18... Read More about Here’s What Doesn’t Happen After a Mass Shooting

New House Speaker Mike Johnson, as one of his first moves, is forcing a showdown over emergency aid to Israel. He's pushing a vote Thursday on a bill that would provide more than $14 billion to the American ally -- but not include $61 billion in aid to Ukraine as President Joe Biden, House and Senate Democrats -- and even many Senate Republicans --... Read More about New speaker's Israel funding showdown with Biden, Democrats -- and Senate Republicans

or those of us who work on US-Middle East policy, especially those with close friends and family in the Middle East, the last three weeks have been especially harrowing. Those of us sitting in Washington cannot know what our Israeli colleagues endured on 7 October, when over 1,400 people were murdered, and in the days since as the details of those... Read More about An Israel-Hamas ceasefire is in everyone’s best interest, humanely and practically

While mired in the thick of a war in Israel, electing a speaker and the possibility of a second government shutdown this fall, Congress is facing a harrowing issue impacting America's youngest: A 69% increase in child labor law violations since 2018. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., is the latest lawmaker looking to update the nation's antiquated child labor... Read More about Child labor violations are up 69%. Here’s what Congress is doing to address it.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) warned of potential harmful consequences to passengers, airline employees and small communities if a proposed merger between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines takes place. “When these mergers happen, it seems to be that the haves — geographically — have more, and the cities that are smaller and needed the presence of these... Read More about Sen. Chris Murphy warns of consequences to possible JetBlue, Spirit merger

An effort by Senate Republicans to overturn U.S. Department of Agriculture rules it says protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in federally funded nutrition programs failed in a narrow vote on Thursday. Connecticut Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy railed against the Republican-led resolution that he said would allow schools to refuse students meals... Read More about Murphy pushes back against Senate Republican resolution that targeted LGTBQ+ kids

Several senators seen as vulnerable in next year’s elections voted Wednesday for a controversial amendment to defend the gun rights of veterans who are in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs fiduciary program.   Sens. Joe Mancin (D-W.Va.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) all backed the amendment. The four all... Read More about Vulnerable Senate Democrats vote to protect veterans with problems from losing gun rights

Robert Card, An Army reservist with a history of mental health issues, is suspected of killing at least 18 people at multiple locations in Maine on Wednesday. Hours before the rampage, the Senate voted 53-45 to adopt an amendment making it easier for veterans with mental disabilities to get guns. The Department of Veteran Affairs is currently... Read More about Senate Voted to Let Vets With Mental Issues Keep Guns Hours Before Maine Shooting

Chris Murphy, a Democratic Senator from Connecticut, has advocated against gun violence at the federal level since the 2012 Newtown school shooting, which left 20 children and six educators dead. In light of Wednesday's mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, Murphy said on Thursday he's been in touch with his colleagues in the U.S. Senate to offer... Read More about Sen. Murphy calls on lawmakers to act after Maine shooting: 'We know how to solve this'

Twenty-five Democratic senators sign on to a statement calling for Israel to allow fuel deliveries to power hospitals and water treatment centers in Gaza. Israel has thus far resisted such calls, saying that Hamas diverts fuel for its own use in terror activities. “We condemn Hamas’s horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, for which Israel must... Read More about 25 Democratic senators urge Israel to allow monitored fuel deliveries to Gaza

President Biden’s steadfast support for Israel is facing increasing pressure as some of his staunch supporters from within his party are warning about the ways in which the Israeli response is being carried out. Biden has resisted calls to join other Democrats who are seeking a cease-fire, and has largely avoided commenting on how Israel is... Read More about More Democrats warn Biden about how Israel is conducting response

As Israel escalates its targeting of Hamas infrastructure in Gaza, there is growing concern in Washington about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the enclave. Calls from both the White House and congressional Democrats for humanitarian pauses in fighting to deliver aid and allow for the evacuation of hostages have been mounting since late... Read More about Growing calls from Democrats for humanitarian pauses in Israel-Hamas war

House Republicans on Monday unveiled a proposal to pay for emergency aid for Israel’s war against Hamas by cutting IRS funds aimed at cracking down on rich tax cheats and improving taxpayer service. The legislation, released by the House Rules Committee, calls for approving roughly $14 billion primarily in military aid to Israel and cutting about... Read More about House GOP demands IRS budget cuts along with Israel aid

Several Democrats expressed concern that the United States does not have a sitting ambassador for Israel amid the escalating conflict and attacks. Democratic lawmakers on Saturday aggressively pushed for a quick confirmation of Jacob J. Lew, who was nominated by President Biden last month, after the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel... Read More about Democrats push to confirm Biden’s Israel ambassador nominee