INSIDER
Want to follow election results like a pro? Here's what to watch in key states
Read full article: Want to follow election results like a pro? Here's what to watch in key statesAs thousands of U.S. counties and towns report vote totals, it can be hard to figure out when the results reported so far will reflect the outcome.
Vance exuded calm during a tense debate stage moment. Can he keep it up when he faces Walz?
Read full article: Vance exuded calm during a tense debate stage moment. Can he keep it up when he faces Walz?Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance has a reputation for being informed, articulate and all but unflappable.
GOP's lackluster fundraising spurs post-election infighting
Read full article: GOP's lackluster fundraising spurs post-election infightingRepublicans are engaged in a round of finger-pointing as both parties sift through the results of Democrats’ stronger-than-expected showing in the midterm elections.
'Democracy voters' delivered for Democrats in tightest races
Read full article: 'Democracy voters' delivered for Democrats in tightest racesPresident Joe Biden tried to shape the midterm elections not as a verdict on his time in office, but rather on the contrast between Democrats and Republicans on American democracy.
AP VoteCast: Midterm races a patchwork, not a national vote
Read full article: AP VoteCast: Midterm races a patchwork, not a national voteIf Tuesday’s vote defied the durable history of presidential parties taking heavy losses in a midterm election, it also reinforced an often-forgotten fact: These campaigns are a patchwork of thousands of races, not a nationwide contest.
GOP seizes on voter hesitancy to attack EVs as costly to US
Read full article: GOP seizes on voter hesitancy to attack EVs as costly to USMany Republican candidates are seeking to capitalize on Americans’ precarious financial situations heading into next week’s midterm elections to vilify a key component of President Joe Biden’s climate agenda: electric vehicles.
Democrats cautiously campaign on Jan. 6, democracy threats
Read full article: Democrats cautiously campaign on Jan. 6, democracy threatsDemocrats running for office this year in Republican-leaning areas or swing states are grappling with how much they should talk about the Jan. 6 insurrection, if at all.
Biden zeroes in on economic message as campaign winds down
Read full article: Biden zeroes in on economic message as campaign winds downPresident Joe Biden is focusing on economic issues as he fine-tunes his closing argument in upstate New York for voters trying to cope with raging inflation and fears of a recession heading into the Nov. 8 election.
JD Vance's firm invested in food company now facing lawsuits
Read full article: JD Vance's firm invested in food company now facing lawsuitsA high-tech sustainable food company in Appalachia that was promoted by JD Vance and financed with help from his venture capital firm is facing five lawsuits alleging it misled investors.
Trump super PAC reserves millions in airtime in key states
Read full article: Trump super PAC reserves millions in airtime in key statesFormer President Donald Trump is finally opening his checkbook and reserving millions of dollars in airtime for ads to bolster his endorsed candidates in key midterm races just one month before Election Day.
Drug companies in opioid crisis donated $27K to Ohio's Ryan
Read full article: Drug companies in opioid crisis donated $27K to Ohio's RyanA Democratic congressman who has made his opponent’s questionable record fighting the opioid epidemic a central theme of his campaign for Ohio’s open U.S. Senate seat has accepted campaign donations over the years from drug distributors blamed for key roles in the crisis.
Biden's mixed record forces some Dems into odd balancing act
Read full article: Biden's mixed record forces some Dems into odd balancing actSome Democrats facing tough midterm races are praising many of the Biden administration's top policy achievements even while distancing themselves from the president himself.
Schumer sending $15M to Democrats, Senate Campaign Committee
Read full article: Schumer sending $15M to Democrats, Senate Campaign CommitteeSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is transferring $15 million from his campaign account to his party’s candidates, incumbents and political committee for the fall election.
Vance's anti-drug charity enlisted doctor echoing Big Pharma
Read full article: Vance's anti-drug charity enlisted doctor echoing Big PharmaWhen bestselling author JD Vance founded “Our Ohio Renewal” a day after the 2016 presidential election, he promoted the charity as a vehicle for helping solve the scourge of opioid addiction he’d lamented in his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”.
'China threat' emerges in elections from UK to Australia
Read full article: 'China threat' emerges in elections from UK to AustraliaWhile inflation and recession fears weigh heavily on the minds of voters, another issue is popping up in political campaigns from the U_K_ and Australia to the U_S_ and beyond: the “China threat.”.
A second JD Vance book falls through, publisher says
Read full article: A second JD Vance book falls through, publisher saysA second book by “Hillbilly Elegy” author and U.S. Senate candidate JD Vance will not be released as planned by an imprint of HarperCollins, the publisher tells The Associated Press.
Primary takeaways: Trump passes test as kingmaker in Ohio
Read full article: Primary takeaways: Trump passes test as kingmaker in OhioThe primary election in Ohio stood as the first real test this midterm election season of former President Donald Trump's status as the Republican Party kingmaker — and he passed.
Election 2022: JD Vance wins Ohio's GOP Senate primary
Read full article: Election 2022: JD Vance wins Ohio's GOP Senate primaryPrimary elections in Ohio have set the stage for a more competitive phase of the midterm primary season, with closely watched races in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia scheduled for later this month.
Trump's bid to shape GOP faces test with voters in May races
Read full article: Trump's bid to shape GOP faces test with voters in May racesVoters across a dozen states are set to decide primary elections this month that will determine the people and priorities leading the GOP into the fall midterms and beyond.
Police chief: More officers needed to fully reopen Capitol
Read full article: Police chief: More officers needed to fully reopen CapitolThe chief of the U.S. Capitol Police says it was his recommendation to move forward with a phased-in reopening of the U.S. Capitol rather than a full reopening out of security concerns.
Russia business deals muddy GOP US Senate primary in Ohio
Read full article: Russia business deals muddy GOP US Senate primary in OhioSeveral Republicans competing for the party’s nomination to run for U.S. Senate in Ohio are facing scrutiny for their ties to Russia as the country intensifies its war against Ukraine.
Tim Ryan, not onstage, is early focus of Ohio Senate event
Read full article: Tim Ryan, not onstage, is early focus of Ohio Senate eventDemocrat Tim Ryan wasn’t onstage when two of his competitors in Ohio’s U.S. Senate contest came together Thursday night for an unconventional debate, but his stature in the race featured prominently.
2 US Senate candidates in Ohio to jump primaries and debate
Read full article: 2 US Senate candidates in Ohio to jump primaries and debateA Trump-aligned Republican and an underdog progressive Democrat are taking an unusually early step in their campaigns for the U.S. Senate: They’re holding a debate.
Biden eulogizes slain officer as Capitol Police mourn again
Read full article: Biden eulogizes slain officer as Capitol Police mourn againPresident Joe Biden says “never has there been more strain” on the U.S. Capitol Police as he honored Officer William “Billy” Evans, the second officer to die in the line of duty this year.
Latest attack pushes US Capitol Police further toward crisis
Read full article: Latest attack pushes US Capitol Police further toward crisisThe death of another U.S. Capitol Police officer has exacerbated problems for a department months after the worst moment in its history — the storming of the Capitol by violent insurrectionists — and placed new urgency on lawmakers considering proposals to bolster the agency.
Deadly breach could delay decisions about Capitol fencing
Read full article: Deadly breach could delay decisions about Capitol fencingThe latest deadly breach of the Capitol’s perimeter on Friday could delay the gradual reopening of the building’s grounds to the public just as lawmakers were eyeing a return to more normal security measures after the Jan. 6 riot.
House approves pro-union bill despite dim Senate odds
Read full article: House approves pro-union bill despite dim Senate oddsBut it faces an all-but-certain Republican blockade in a narrowly divided Senate and is unlikely to become law. Ad“I’ve heard Democrats argue that it’s the unions that built the middle class,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the senior Republican on the House labor panel. And what this bill does is take away their freedom.”Labor unions have long been a bedrock of Democratic support. “This far-reaching legislation is nothing more than an union boss wish list,” said Foxx, who led Republican debate on the bill. Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Good excoriated the bill, saying it would effectively “funnel money to Democrats” by allowing unions to collect additional dues.
House approves pro-union bill despite dim Senate odds
Read full article: House approves pro-union bill despite dim Senate oddsBut it faces an all-but-certain Republican blockade in a narrowly divided Senate and is unlikely to become law. Ad“I’ve heard Democrats argue that it’s the unions that built the middle class,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the senior Republican on the House labor panel. And what this bill does is take away their freedom.”Labor unions have long been a bedrock of Democratic support. “This far-reaching legislation is nothing more than an union boss wish list,” said Foxx, who led Republican debate on the bill. Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Good excoriated the bill, saying it would effectively “funnel money to Democrats” by allowing unions to collect additional dues.
EXPLAINER: What were the warnings before the Capitol riot?
Read full article: EXPLAINER: What were the warnings before the Capitol riot?Fencing and razor wire surrounds the perimeter of the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021. Scott Applewhite)Capitol Police leadership had plenty of intelligence warning that armed extremists were planning to target the Capitol over President Donald Trump’s election loss, according to new testimony Thursday. In an appearance before a House subcommittee, acting Chief Yogananda Pittman said none of the warnings forecast the mass attack that actually took place. “I cannot get past a glaring discrepancy between intelligence received and preparation,” Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., said during Thursday's hearing before the House Appropriations Committee. AdThe Capitol Police union issued a vote of no confidence last week against Pittman.
Chief: Police heeded Capitol attack warnings but overwhelmed
Read full article: Chief: Police heeded Capitol attack warnings but overwhelmedIn this Feb. 2, 2021 file photo, acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman pays respects to U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington. However, she denied that law enforcement failed to take seriously warnings of violence before the Jan. 6 insurrection. AdEven if it had reached the top officials, Pittman argued, Capitol Police wouldn't have done anything differently. Before she was named acting police chief — Sund, the former chief, resigned after the riot — Pittman was the assistant chief in charge of intelligence operations. In her testimony, Pittman denied that race played a role in the failure to heed warning signs.
GOP's Josh Mandel joins race for open Senate seat in Ohio
Read full article: GOP's Josh Mandel joins race for open Senate seat in OhioFILE In this Nov. 4, 2014, file photo, Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel speaks at the Ohio Republican Party election night celebration in Columbus, Ohio. AdMandel abruptly abandoned his last Senate campaign in January 2018, citing unspecified health issues being experienced by his then-wife, Ilana. He personally backed her takeover of the state party four years ago from a state chair allied with then-Gov. But Mandel enters the race as a tested statewide candidate, having won two terms as state treasurer following a stint as a state legislator. He has about $4.3 million remaining in his Senate campaign account, and about $500,000 in a leadership PAC.
Virus expert says she's exploring bid for US Senate in Ohio
Read full article: Virus expert says she's exploring bid for US Senate in OhioMike DeWine in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic made her something of a folk hero and role model for Ohio girls. Kasich has said he won't run, but Johnson warned Kasich would try to get an “elitist” elected to the seat. AdFormer Treasurer Kevin Boyce and state House Democratic leader Rep. Emilia Sykes, who both are Black, are among other potential Democratic contenders. Acton’s political experience is limited, and involves volunteering for former President Barack Obama’s 2008 Democratic primary campaign in Ohio. Cranley said the emerging prospect of a strong Democratic battle for the Senate seat is good news for other statewide candidates.
In Ohio, open Senate seat sparks debate on gender, diversity
Read full article: In Ohio, open Senate seat sparks debate on gender, diversityAn open Senate seat in Ohio has set off a round of jockeying among ambitious Democrats and a spirited debate over who is best poised to lead a party comeback in a one-time battleground that has been trending Republican. While Acton and Ryan are believed to be the furthest along in their deliberations, several politicians who are Black are also eyeing the seat. The group is working to recruit a Black candidate for the Senate seat, he said. AdStill, Ryan got a boost Saturday when Hillary Clinton, the party’s 2016 presidential nominee, declared on Twitter that she was “all in” for a Ryan Senate candidacy. For some Ohio Democrats the cautionary tale is 2018, when a group of female gubernatorial candidates all ceded their ambitions to former Obama administration consumer chief Richard Cordray, who lost the race.
GOP's Rep. Jim Jordan won't seek Portman's US Senate seat
Read full article: GOP's Rep. Jim Jordan won't seek Portman's US Senate seatRob Portman, R-Ohio, speaks to members of the media outside a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Portman said Monday, Jan. 25 that he won't seek reelection and plans to end a career in federal government spanning more than three decades. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)CINCINNATI – Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a fiery Donald Trump supporter, won't run to succeed Ohio Sen. The former star college wrestler's style doesn't reflect that of Portman, a career establishment Republican with a reputation for bipartisanship. AdTrump rewarded Jordan, 56, for his steady support by giving him the Presidential Medal of Freedom before leaving office this month.
Capitol Police chief apologizes for failures in Jan. 6 siege
Read full article: Capitol Police chief apologizes for failures in Jan. 6 siegeU.S. Capitol Police hold rioters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Yogananda Pittman, in prepared testimony before Congress, said that the Capitol Police “failed to meet its own high standards as well as yours." A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that authorities have detected ominous chatter about killing legislators or attacking them outside the Capitol. Five people died, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher. The Defense Department has said it asked the Capitol Police if it needed the Guard, but the request was denied.
Guard in DC forced to sleep in garages, sparking outcry
Read full article: Guard in DC forced to sleep in garages, sparking outcryAbout 25,000 Guard members from across the country deployed to help secure President Joe Biden's inauguration, which went off with only a handful of minor arrests. First lady Jill Biden visited Guard troops outside the Capitol on Friday, bringing them cookies and thanking them for protecting her family. She noted that the Bidens’ late son, Beau, served in the Delaware Army National Guard. All 25,000 Guard members were vetted by the FBI over concerns of an insider attack, and a dozen were removed from their posts including two who made extremist statements about the inauguration. Thousands of Guard troops from all across the country poured into D.C. by the planeload and busload late last week, in response to escalating security threats and fears of more rioting.
After deadly siege, lawmakers ask why police so outnumbered
Read full article: After deadly siege, lawmakers ask why police so outnumberedThe lawmakers who were voting to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory were forced into hiding for hours. One Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick, died Thursday night from injuries suffered during the riot. One disturbing video shows a bloodied police officer screaming for help as he’s crushed by rioters inside the Capitol building. The riot focused renewed attention on Capitol Police, a force of more than 2,300 officers and civilian employees that protects the Capitol, lawmakers, staff and visitors. And as the mob descended on the building Wednesday, Justice Department leaders reached out to offer up FBI agents.
Capitol Police officer dies after clash with Trump supporters
Read full article: Capitol Police officer dies after clash with Trump supportersOfficer Brian Sicknick died as a result of his injuries sustained while engaging rioters at the CapitolWASHINGTON – The police were badly outnumbered. One Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick, died Thursday night from injuries suffered during the riot. Another disturbing video shows a bloodied police officer screaming for help as he’s crushed by protesters inside the Capitol building. In one stunning video, a lone police officer tries to hold off a mob of demonstrators from cracking into the lobby. Still, the riot — and Sicknick's death — focused renewed attention on Capitol Police, a force of more than 2,300 officers and civilian employees that protects the Capitol, lawmakers, staff and visitors.
Capitol siege by pro-Trump mob forces questions, ousters
Read full article: Capitol siege by pro-Trump mob forces questions, oustersTrump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. The tragedy deepened late Thursday as a Capitol police officer injured in the melee died, the fifth death related to the riot. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that Officer Brian D. Sicknick died from injuries sustained responding to the riot on Wednesday at the Capitol. The procedure allows for the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. Black lawmakers, in particular, noted the way the mostly white Trump supporters were treated.
Capitol police chief defends response to ‘criminal’ rioters
Read full article: Capitol police chief defends response to ‘criminal’ riotersSen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., stops to look at damage in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. ”Make no mistake: these mass riots were not First Amendment activities; they were criminal riotous behavior. Both law enforcement and Trump supporters deployed chemical irritants during the hourslong occupation of the complex before it was cleared Wednesday evening. D.C. police said Thursday that 68 people were arrested, while Capitol police said 14 were arrested, most for unlawful entry. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., a former police chief, said it was “painfully obvious" that Capitol police “were not prepared” for what took place Wednesday.
Lawmakers vow to investigate police after Capitol breach
Read full article: Lawmakers vow to investigate police after Capitol breach(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)WASHINGTON – Lawmakers are vowing an investigation into how law enforcement handled Wednesday’s violent breach at the Capitol, questioning whether a lack of preparedness allowed a mob to occupy and vandalize the building. U.S. Capitol Police, who are charged with protecting Congress, turned to other law enforcement for help with the mob that overwhelmed the complex and sent lawmakers into hiding. Both law enforcement and Trump supporters deployed chemical irritants during the hourslong occupation of the complex before it was cleared Wednesday evening. Three other people died after suffering “medical emergencies” related to the breach, said Robert Contee, chief of the city’s Metropolitan Police Department. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., a former police chief, said it was “painfully obvious" that Capitol police "were not prepared for today.
Biden, Trump snipe from road and rails after debate chaos
Read full article: Biden, Trump snipe from road and rails after debate chaosLess than 12 hours after the wild debate concluded, Biden called Trump's behavior in the prime-time confrontation a “a national embarrassment." Trump proclaimed his debate performance a smashing success during a Wednesday evening rally in Duluth, Minnesota. I’m going to be an American president," Biden said at the Cleveland train station. While some Republicans feared that Trump's debate performance was too aggressive, he gave himself high marks as he left Washington. He had spent much of the day assailing Biden and debate moderator Chris Wallace on social media.