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Sam Sacks - page 10

Sam Sacks has 859 articles published.

Rep. Lee Scores a Victory in Her 16-Year Crusade to Repeal the 2001 AUMF

A powerful congressional committee just threatened to repeal a military authorization used by Presidents from George W. Bush to Barack Obama to Donald Trump to fight the so-called global war on terror. The House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment on Thursday to an annual defense spending measure that would repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). The measure was introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.)—the lone “no” vote against the bill in both houses of Congress when the AUMF was first approved in… Keep Reading

Senate Intel’s Russia Probe to Last at Least Through 2017

The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee told reporters Wednesday that he’s eyeing an end of the year completion of his panel’s report into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C) provided the timeline on the same day his committee convened yet another public hearing as part of its probe—this one focused on Russian meddling in European elections. “I’d like to finish by the end of this year, but that’s aspirational right now,” Sen.… Keep Reading

At FISA Hearing, GOP Senators Outraged Over Spying on Me, But Not Thee

Privacy and civil rights groups have been warning for years about the potential abuse of surveillance authorities, but only now are certain Republican lawmakers waking up to that possibility—fearing that they’ve been targeted. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday focused on renewing Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) authorities, including Section 702, which expires at the end of the year, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) demanded to know if he personally has been spied on. “Is it possible to find out if I, Lindsey Graham, was incidentally… Keep Reading

Qatar Dust-up Prompts Sen. Corker to Restrict Future US Arms Deals

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) wrote a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday informing the top diplomat that future weapons sales to Persian Gulf coast countries would face more restrictions. The missive arrived at the Secretary’s desk as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) is dealing with a diplomatic crisis. Several of the council’s members, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, are posturing for conflict with fellow council member Qatar, over alleged support of terrorist groups.… Keep Reading

Most Potent Opposition to Senate GOP Health Care Bill Comes From Within

Only hours after it was revealed to the public, the Senate health care bill received a critical blow from the Republican Party’s right-flank, with four GOP Senators stating they won’t support it. The opposition among Republicans all but assures that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) expedited timeline to pass the legislation won’t work out. It also puts GOP plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in doubt. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is leading the opposition, alongside Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee… Keep Reading

Former DHS Chief Still Bitter About Lack of Access to Breached DNC Servers

The previous Homeland Security Secretary, Jeh Johnson, told senators on Wednesday that he recalled being frustrated over how his department was blocked from directly probing last year’s hack of the Democratic National Committee. Johnson appeared before the House Intelligence Committee as part of its ongoing investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential race. According to prior reporting, the FBI was denied access to the DNC’s servers after it became clear the systems were hacked. Johnson testified that the Department of Homeland Security was… Keep Reading

Interior Secretary Says Native American Education Program “Failed” to Justify Deep Cuts

The man charged with stewarding the nation’s public lands was called before a Senate panel on Tuesday, where he attempted to defend the Trump administration’s call for massive cuts to his own Interior Department, particularly programs for Native Americans. Secretary Ryan Zinke went to the mat for the White House’s austerity blueprint, despite receiving a stream of criticism from members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, over how the blueprint hits indigenous Americans particularly hard. Sen. Catherine Cortez Mastro (D-Nev.) grilled the Secretary over… Keep Reading

Democratic Resistance to GOP Senate Health Care Push Takes Shape

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is staking out this week as the time to obstruct Republicans’ still-secret health care legislation. Speaking to reporters, a Democratic aide revealed that beginning Monday night, Democrats would withhold consent on nearly every GOP request in the Senate. That tactic could slow down Senate business, including committee work. “If Republicans won’t relent and debate their healthcare bill in the open for the American people to see, then they shouldn’t expect business as usual in the Senate,” Sen. Schumer said.… Keep Reading

Bernie, Rand Lone Voices Against Iran-Russia Sanctions Bill

Every single Democrat in the Senate joined every single Republican but one to pass a new sanctions package targeting Iran and Russia. The vote was 98-2, with the opposition consisting entirely of Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.). The measure broadens sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile activity. It applies new restrictions to foreign entities that do business with known suppliers of Tehran’s missile program, such as banks and energy companies. In an amendment approved almost entirely by the Senate on Wednesday, Russian sanctions… Keep Reading

EPA Attempting to Stall Methane Rules to Death

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving to further delay implementation of a rule that would limit the release of methane—a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to the warming of the planet. In a notice of proposed rulemaking set to be published in the Federal Register on Thursday, the agency is seeking to grant fossil fuel drilling industries a two-year reprieve from complying with the regulation. The two-year delay would likely be followed by an action to completely eliminate the rule. Approved in 2016 by… Keep Reading

White House Impatience Pushing Senate Republicans Down Precarious Path to Obamacare Repeal

President Trump applied more pressure on an already rushed and secretive effort to pass a repeal of the Affordable Care Act before the Fourth of July recess. During a White House meeting Tuesday with a group of Senate Republicans, the President was asked what his timetable was for signing a new healthcare bill. “As soon as we can do it,” Trump responded. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has already set-up a fast track for a repeal bill. Last week he invoked Rule 14, which… Keep Reading

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