President Joe Biden's agenda hung in the balance as a predicted Republican wave failed to materialize in congressional elections fought against a backdrop of stubbornly high inflation and fears for US democracy.

US Midterm Elections 2022: Republican 'red wave' hopes fizzle in US midterm vote

Will a majority for the Republicans in the US House of Representatives mean a comeback for Former US President Donald Trump? Molly Gambhir discusses with Nicole Brener-Schmitz and Julianne Thompson.

Gravitas: Will a Republican win mean Trump's comeback?

Hours after appealing American voters to vote 'Republican Congress' in midterm elections due today (Tuesday), Twitter boss Elon Musk has released a clarification.&nbsp;

"To be clear, my historical party affiliation has been Independent, with an actual voting history of entirely Democrat until this year," tweeted Musk before adding, "And I’m open to the idea of voting Democrat again in the future."

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To be clear, my historical party affiliation has been Independent, with an actual voting history of entirely Democrat until this year
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1589722050998210561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Musk was attempting to counterbalance after his earlier statement about preferring Republicans in the polls created a furore.

As reported by WION, the tweet by the billionaire, addressed to 'independent-minded voters' fell just short of an explicit endorsement&nbsp;to the Republican Party.&nbsp;

"To independent-minded voters: Shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties, therefore I recommend voting for a Republican Congress, given that the Presidency is Democratic," said Musk in his tweet.

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To independent-minded voters: 
 
Shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties, therefore I recommend voting for a Republican Congress, given that the Presidency is Democratic.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1589639376186724354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-boss-elon-musk-asks-us-voters-to-vote-for-republican-congress-531962">Read more:&nbsp;US midterms: Twitter boss Elon Musk asks Americans to vote for 'Republican Congress'</a>

Musk shortly followed up the tweet above with another one attempting to explain his logic and stressing that he was speaking to 'independent voters'.

"Hardcore Democrats or Republicans never vote for the other side, so independent voters are the ones who actually decide who’s in charge!" he said in the follow-up tweet.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-midterm-elections-the-final-countdown-begins-532064">WATCH |&nbsp;US Midterm Elections: The final countdown begins</a>

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The US midterm election is crucial for both parties. With the opinion polls suggesting that Republicans hold the edge over Democrats in both Senate and House, an explicit endorsement from Musk can further change the tide.&nbsp;

The liberal faction of Twitter, which has been up in arms ever since Musk took over Twitter has been accusing the billionaire of turning the microblogging platform into his propaganda machine.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Hours after appealing American voters to vote 'Republican Congress' in midterm elections due today (Tuesday), Twitter boss Elon Musk has released a clarification.

Hours after appealing American voters to vote 'Republican Congress' in midterm elections due today (Tuesday), Twitter boss Elon Musk has released a clarification. "To be clear, my historical party affiliation has been Independent, with an actual voting history of entirely Democrat until this year," tweeted Musk before adding, "And I’m open to the idea of voting Democrat again in the future." To be clear, my historical party affiliation has been Independent, with an actual voting history of entirely Democrat until this year — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022 × Musk was attempting to counterbalance after his earlier statement about preferring Republicans in the polls created a furore. As reported by WION, the tweet by the billionaire, addressed to 'independent-minded voters' fell just short of an explicit endorsement to the Republican Party. "To independent-minded voters: Shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties, therefore I recommend voting for a Republican Congress, given that the Presidency is Democratic," said Musk in his tweet. To independent-minded voters: Shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties, therefore I recommend voting for a Republican Congress, given that the Presidency is Democratic. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022 × Read more: US midterms: Twitter boss Elon Musk asks Americans to vote for 'Republican Congress' Musk shortly followed up the tweet above with another one attempting to explain his logic and stressing that he was speaking to 'independent voters'. "Hardcore Democrats or Republicans never vote for the other side, so independent voters are the ones who actually decide who’s in charge!" he said in the follow-up tweet. WATCH | US Midterm Elections: The final countdown begins × The US midterm election is crucial for both parties. With the opinion polls suggesting that Republicans hold the edge over Democrats in both Senate and House, an explicit endorsement from Musk can further change the tide. The liberal faction of Twitter, which has been up in arms ever since Musk took over Twitter has been accusing the billionaire of turning the microblogging platform into his propaganda machine. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Hours after appealing to vote 'Republican' in midterm, Elon Musk releases a clarification

A man allegedly accused of hurling a beer can at Texas Senator Ted Cruz has been arrested by the Houston Police Department (HPD) on Monday. Reportedly, Cruz was on a float, attending the&nbsp;World Series victory parade when the incident transpired.

Cruz was facing the crowd gathered on both sides of the road when a person threw a beer can in his direction. The Republican leader reacted late but a person beside him quickly intervened and managed to lead the projectile astray.&nbsp;

HPD took to its official Twitter account to inform that the 33-year-old male had been arrested and that Cruz did not require any medical help.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-house-speaker-nancy-pelosis-husband-assaulted-with-hammer-529497">WATCH |&nbsp;US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband assaulted with hammer</a>

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"HPD made one arrest during today’s victory parade. &nbsp;A male, 33, threw a beer can at U.S. Senator Ted Cruz as the Senator was on a float in the 2400 block of Smith St. The beer can struck the Senator in the chest/neck area. &nbsp;The Senator did not require medical attention," tweeted HPD.&nbsp;

"Nearby HPD officers arrested the male without further incident. He was taken to jail and faces assault charges. We will release the suspect's name and booking photo here when formal charges are filed."

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HPD made one arrest during today’s victory parade. A male, 33, threw a beer can at U.S. Senator Ted Cruz as the Senator was on a float in the 2400 block of Smith St. The beer can struck the Senator in the chest/neck area. The Senator did not require medical attention. 
1/2
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/houstonpolice/status/1589735630216785921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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After the video of the incident went viral on social media platforms, Cruz also quote tweeted a post and said.

"As always I'm thankful for the Houston Police and Capitol Police for their quick action. I’m also thankful that the clown who threw his White Claw had a noodle for an arm," tweeted Cruz.&nbsp;

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As always I'm thankful for the Houston Police and Capitol Police for their quick action. 
 
I’m also thankful that the clown who threw his White Claw had a noodle for an arm. <a href="https://t.co/CRSfNHckA2">https://t.co/CRSfNHckA2</a>
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1589758574078570496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-senators-fist-bump-after-tanking-a-healthcare-bill-for-military-veterans-502061">WATCH: Republican senators fist-bump after tanking a healthcare bill for military veterans</a>

After the attack, Cruz received support from his rival peers as well. Democrat leader Eric Swalwell condemned the incident and said,&nbsp;"Don’t throw beer or commit violence against someone you politically disagree with. We are a country of voting not violence."

The attack on Cruz comes in the backdrop of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi being brutally assaulted by a suspect with a hammer.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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A man allegedly accused of hurling a beer can at Texas Senator Ted Cruz has been arrested by the Houston Police Department (HPD) on Monday. Reportedly, Cruz was on a float, attending the World Series victory parade when the incident transpired.

A man allegedly accused of hurling a beer can at Texas Senator Ted Cruz has been arrested by the Houston Police Department (HPD) on Monday. Reportedly, Cruz was on a float, attending the World Series victory parade when the incident transpired. Cruz was facing the crowd gathered on both sides of the road when a person threw a beer can in his direction. The Republican leader reacted late but a person beside him quickly intervened and managed to lead the projectile astray. HPD took to its official Twitter account to inform that the 33-year-old male had been arrested and that Cruz did not require any medical help. WATCH | US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband assaulted with hammer × "HPD made one arrest during today’s victory parade. A male, 33, threw a beer can at U.S. Senator Ted Cruz as the Senator was on a float in the 2400 block of Smith St. The beer can struck the Senator in the chest/neck area. The Senator did not require medical attention," tweeted HPD. "Nearby HPD officers arrested the male without further incident. He was taken to jail and faces assault charges. We will release the suspect's name and booking photo here when formal charges are filed." HPD made one arrest during today’s victory parade. A male, 33, threw a beer can at U.S. Senator Ted Cruz as the Senator was on a float in the 2400 block of Smith St. The beer can struck the Senator in the chest/neck area. The Senator did not require medical attention. 1/2 — Houston Police (@houstonpolice) November 7, 2022 × After the video of the incident went viral on social media platforms, Cruz also quote tweeted a post and said. "As always I'm thankful for the Houston Police and Capitol Police for their quick action. I’m also thankful that the clown who threw his White Claw had a noodle for an arm," tweeted Cruz. As always I'm thankful for the Houston Police and Capitol Police for their quick action. I’m also thankful that the clown who threw his White Claw had a noodle for an arm. https://t.co/CRSfNHckA2 — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) November 7, 2022 × WATCH: Republican senators fist-bump after tanking a healthcare bill for military veterans After the attack, Cruz received support from his rival peers as well. Democrat leader Eric Swalwell condemned the incident and said, "Don’t throw beer or commit violence against someone you politically disagree with. We are a country of voting not violence." The attack on Cruz comes in the backdrop of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi being brutally assaulted by a suspect with a hammer. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Man arrested for throwing beer can at US Senator Ted Cruz during a parade

Former US President Donald Trump will have to appear physically for a deposition and testify under oath next week after a US District Judge rejected his request in a rape defamation lawsuit.

Former US President Donald Trump will have to appear physically for a deposition and testify under oath next week after a US District Judge rejected his request in a rape defamation lawsuit. “The defendant should not be permitted to run the clock out on plaintiff’s attempt to gain a remedy for what allegedly was a serious wrong,” said Judge Lewis A. Kaplan while rejecting Trump's lawyer's request. “Mr. Trump has conducted extensive discovery of the plaintiff, yet produced virtually none himself. Given his conduct so far in this case, Mr. Trump’s position regarding the burdens of discovery in this case is inexcusable," the judge added. Read more: Biden says he can defeat Trump again; gets candid about Putin and the looming nuclear threat Reportedly, the case pertains to E. Jean Carroll, a writer who alleged that Trump raped him in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in late 1995 or early 1996. Carrol filed the lawsuit in November 2019 after Trump, who was in his third year of office at the time, told a reporter that Carroll made up the rape accusation and that he did not know her and "she's not my type". Trump has denied raping Carroll and charged that she invented the allegation in order to promote her book. Read more: Trump in trouble: Writer E. Jean Carroll plans new lawsuit after accusing Trump of rape After the judgement, Trump's lawyer Alina Habba said, “We look forward to establishing on the record that this case is, and always has been, entirely without merit.” Trump's side argued that he should have immunity under the Westfall Act. Under the said act, government employees are protected from civil lawsuits, if they are acting in their capacity as government officials. If Trump was indeed acting within the scope of his duties as a federal employee, which his side claims, then the US government becomes the defendant in the case. A 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled last month that Trump was a federal employee when he made the comment but asked another court to decide if the statements occurred during the scope of his employment. Meanwhile, Carroll's attorney welcomed the ruling and said they will be filing a second lawsuit next month to seek damages for the alleged rape. "We are pleased that Judge Kaplan agreed with our position not to stay discovery in this case. We look forward to filing our case under the Adult Survivors Act and moving forward to trial with all dispatch.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Donald Trump to sit for deposition in a rape lawsuit case

Republican governor candidate for New York Lee Zeldin said two strangers were shot outside his home on Sunday. Reportedly, the shooting took place around 2:18 PM local time when Zeldin's&nbsp;two 16-year-old daughters were inside the home.

Zeldin took to Twitter to inform that the bullets had landed just 30 feet from his daughters while he, along with his wife, was in a car en route to Morris Park.&nbsp;

"Thank you to all who reached out with your concern regarding the 2 people shot this afternoon outside my home. Mikayla and Arianna were at the kitchen table doing homework. One of the bullets landed just 30 feet from them. They acted very swiftly and smartly in response," tweeted Zeldin.

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Thank you to all who reached out with your concern regarding the 2 people shot this afternoon outside my home. Mikayla and Arianna were at the kitchen table doing homework. One of the bullets landed just 30 feet from them. They acted very swiftly and smartly in response. <a href="https://t.co/PMw3u5ic17">pic.twitter.com/PMw3u5ic17</a>
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) <a href="https://twitter.com/leezeldin/status/1579236446501998592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In a statement released by Zeldin's office, the GOP-endorsed candidate said his teenage daughters shouted after hearing the gunshots and instantly locked themselves in the bathroom. They later called 911.&nbsp;

"My daughters are shaken, but ok. Like so many New Yorkers, crime has literally made its way to our front door. My family is grateful to all who have reached out and we will provide another update when we can," read the statement.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-gun-violence-shooting-at-california-school-campus-leaves-six-injured-520747">WATCH |&nbsp;US gun violence: Shooting at California school campus leaves six injured</a>

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Zeldin added that the two strangers shot were found under the porch in front of his home and that his family was working with the investigators to get to the end of the issue. However, Zeldin did not know the identity of the two shot individuals.&nbsp;

"Law enforcement is currently at our house. My entire family is at home working with the investigators and providing the security footage from our home cameras."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-gun-terror-since-2009-274-shootings-1536-killed-says-us-group-481963">Read more:&nbsp;US gun terror: 'Since 2009… 274 shootings, 1,536 killed,' says US group</a>

The Suffolk County Police Department investigating the matter said they did not have information to release about who fired the shots or who first found the two people shot.&nbsp;

This is not the first time that Zeldin has come perilously close to harm's way. Earlier this year in July, during a campaign stop in Perinton, the Republican leader was attacked by an individual with what allegedly was a sharp object.&nbsp;

Notably,&nbsp;Zeldin has made the 'rising crime rate' in the city a poll plank for his campaign. He is up against&nbsp;Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and has called for a hardened stance on the bail laws among other measures.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Republican governor candidate for New York Lee Zeldin said two strangers were shot outside his home on Sunday. Reportedly, the shooting took place around 2:18 PM local time when Zeldin's two 16-year-old daughters were inside the home.

Republican governor candidate for New York Lee Zeldin said two strangers were shot outside his home on Sunday. Reportedly, the shooting took place around 2:18 PM local time when Zeldin's two 16-year-old daughters were inside the home. Zeldin took to Twitter to inform that the bullets had landed just 30 feet from his daughters while he, along with his wife, was in a car en route to Morris Park. "Thank you to all who reached out with your concern regarding the 2 people shot this afternoon outside my home. Mikayla and Arianna were at the kitchen table doing homework. One of the bullets landed just 30 feet from them. They acted very swiftly and smartly in response," tweeted Zeldin. Thank you to all who reached out with your concern regarding the 2 people shot this afternoon outside my home. Mikayla and Arianna were at the kitchen table doing homework. One of the bullets landed just 30 feet from them. They acted very swiftly and smartly in response. pic.twitter.com/PMw3u5ic17 — Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) October 9, 2022 × In a statement released by Zeldin's office, the GOP-endorsed candidate said his teenage daughters shouted after hearing the gunshots and instantly locked themselves in the bathroom. They later called 911. "My daughters are shaken, but ok. Like so many New Yorkers, crime has literally made its way to our front door. My family is grateful to all who have reached out and we will provide another update when we can," read the statement. WATCH | US gun violence: Shooting at California school campus leaves six injured × Zeldin added that the two strangers shot were found under the porch in front of his home and that his family was working with the investigators to get to the end of the issue. However, Zeldin did not know the identity of the two shot individuals. "Law enforcement is currently at our house. My entire family is at home working with the investigators and providing the security footage from our home cameras." Read more: US gun terror: 'Since 2009… 274 shootings, 1,536 killed,' says US group The Suffolk County Police Department investigating the matter said they did not have information to release about who fired the shots or who first found the two people shot. This is not the first time that Zeldin has come perilously close to harm's way. Earlier this year in July, during a campaign stop in Perinton, the Republican leader was attacked by an individual with what allegedly was a sharp object. Notably, Zeldin has made the 'rising crime rate' in the city a poll plank for his campaign. He is up against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and has called for a hardened stance on the bail laws among other measures. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Two unidentified men shot outside Republican leader's home with teenage daughters inside

Thousands marched in cities across the United States on Saturday to protest the Supreme Court's overturning of the federal right to abortion and to urge voters to turn out in a Democratic "blue wave" in next month's key midterm elections.

In Washington, a crowd of mostly women chanted "We won't go back" as they marched. They carried posters calling for a "feminist tsunami" and urging people to "vote to save women's rights."

"I don't want to have to go back to a different time," Emily Bobal, an 18-year-old student, told AFP. "It's kind of ridiculous that we still have to do this in 2022," she said, adding that she is concerned that the conservative-dominated high court might next target same-sex marriage.

"The majority of us are ready to get out and fight for democracy and fight for people's bodily autonomy, women and men," said Kimberly Allen, 70.

With Democrats battling to maintain their narrow control of Congress, the midterm elections could have a decisive impact on the future of such rights, she said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/usa-abortion-ban-halted-in-ohio-and-arizona-523663">Read more:&nbsp;USA: Abortion ban halted in Ohio and Arizona</a>

Several marchers wore armbands or scarves of green, a colour symbolizing abortion rights. Others wore blue, the colour of the Democratic Party and carried huge flags and banners calling for a symbolic "blue wave" of voters to go to the polls on November 8.

A few counter-protesters made their presence known, some of them urging the crowd to "find Jesus Christ," while others shouted that "abortion is murder." They were met with boos.

Similar rallies took place in cities including New York and Denver, Colorado.

"The #WomensWave is coming for EVERY anti-abortion politician, no matter where they live," Rachel O'Leary Carmona, executive director of the nonprofit Women's March organization, <a href="https://twitter.com/RachCarmona/status/1578745814364528640">said </a>on Twitter. She urged people to elect "more women" as well as male candidates who support abortion rights.

Polls show Democrats only have a slim possibility of maintaining control of the House of Representatives, but their chances are better in the evenly-divided Senate, where Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is the tie-breaking vote.

While Republicans have been campaigning largely on soaring prices, immigration concerns and urban crime, Democrats led by President Joe Biden want to shift the debate to abortion rights and the defence of American democracy.

The Supreme Court in June ended the decades-long federal protection of abortion rights, leaving it to individual states to set their own rules. Since then, several Republican-led states have banned or severely curtailed access to the procedure, provoking a series of legal challenges.

In the latest development, an appeals court in the southwestern state of Arizona on Friday blocked at least for now, a near-total ban on abortions.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Thousands marched in cities across the United States on Saturday to protest the Supreme Court's overturning of the federal right to abortion and to urge voters to turn out in a Democratic "blue wave" in next month's key midterm elections.

Thousands marched in cities across the United States on Saturday to protest the Supreme Court's overturning of the federal right to abortion and to urge voters to turn out in a Democratic "blue wave" in next month's key midterm elections. In Washington, a crowd of mostly women chanted "We won't go back" as they marched. They carried posters calling for a "feminist tsunami" and urging people to "vote to save women's rights." "I don't want to have to go back to a different time," Emily Bobal, an 18-year-old student, told AFP. "It's kind of ridiculous that we still have to do this in 2022," she said, adding that she is concerned that the conservative-dominated high court might next target same-sex marriage. "The majority of us are ready to get out and fight for democracy and fight for people's bodily autonomy, women and men," said Kimberly Allen, 70. With Democrats battling to maintain their narrow control of Congress, the midterm elections could have a decisive impact on the future of such rights, she said. Read more: USA: Abortion ban halted in Ohio and Arizona Several marchers wore armbands or scarves of green, a colour symbolizing abortion rights. Others wore blue, the colour of the Democratic Party and carried huge flags and banners calling for a symbolic "blue wave" of voters to go to the polls on November 8. A few counter-protesters made their presence known, some of them urging the crowd to "find Jesus Christ," while others shouted that "abortion is murder." They were met with boos. Similar rallies took place in cities including New York and Denver, Colorado. "The #WomensWave is coming for EVERY anti-abortion politician, no matter where they live," Rachel O'Leary Carmona, executive director of the nonprofit Women's March organization, said on Twitter. She urged people to elect "more women" as well as male candidates who support abortion rights. Polls show Democrats only have a slim possibility of maintaining control of the House of Representatives, but their chances are better in the evenly-divided Senate, where Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is the tie-breaking vote. While Republicans have been campaigning largely on soaring prices, immigration concerns and urban crime, Democrats led by President Joe Biden want to shift the debate to abortion rights and the defence of American democracy. The Supreme Court in June ended the decades-long federal protection of abortion rights, leaving it to individual states to set their own rules. Since then, several Republican-led states have banned or severely curtailed access to the procedure, provoking a series of legal challenges. In the latest development, an appeals court in the southwestern state of Arizona on Friday blocked at least for now, a near-total ban on abortions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Thousands hit the streets across US states for abortion rights ahead of midterm election

With the midterm elections just about a month away in US, migrant politics is once again taken Centre stage. In the last few days flights and buses full of migrants have been sent from the Republican states to the ones that are governed by the Democrats. Now, it is being said that half the Republicans believe that it's okay for the state officials to fly the migrants to areas governed by the Democrats.

29% of Americans back migrant flights; GOP governors fly migrants to blue states: Survey

Clara Sorrenti and her supporters are the faces of a campaign that attempts to take down Kiwi Farms, an internet forum that doubles as an image-sharing website where the users troll and harass anyone they like. However, over the years, the site has become a den of anti-trans harassment campaigns, forcing the likes of&nbsp;Sorrenti to launch a&nbsp;campaign to take down the fringe website.

Sorrenti is a Canadian trans Twitch streamer who Kiwi Farms and its deranged users targeted by releasing her personal information. Before Sorrenti, a Republican senator from Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene, was&nbsp;targeted in a 'swatting' incident linked to the website.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amtraks-one-word-tweet-has-started-a-trend-and-we-cannot-get-enough-of-it-512385">Amtrak's 'one-word tweet' trend picks up: Biden, NASA, Tendulkar, and more hop on&nbsp;</a>

Sorrenti and other trans activists have been calling upon&nbsp;Cloudflare, one of Kiwi Farms' internet security service vendors to drop the site. However, the company has so far refused to take any action.&nbsp;

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Statement from the Drop Kiwifarms campaign on our intent to protest at the Cloudfare Connect conference in Sydney, Australia. Please share widely. <a href="https://t.co/Ip5c4ZDdfD">pic.twitter.com/Ip5c4ZDdfD</a>
— keffals #DropKiwifarms (@keffals) <a href="https://twitter.com/keffals/status/1565568008424247296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In a blog post <a href="https://blog.cloudflare.com/cloudflares-abuse-policies-and-approach/">shared</a> earlier this week, Cloudfare CEO Mathew Prince and vice-president of public policy, Alissa Starzak wrote a feature-length article where they mentioned that the company will not drop security services for any of its customers. While the duo did not mention Kiwi Farms anywhere in the&nbsp;write-up, it was clear that the company was responding in light of the recent incidents.

“Just as the telephone company doesn’t terminate your line if you say awful, racist, bigoted things, we have concluded in consultation with politicians, policymakers and experts that turning off security services because we think what you publish is despicable is the wrong policy,” read the blog post.&nbsp;

Notably,&nbsp;Kiwi Farms or CWCki forum, as it was known then was launched in 2009 by its founder&nbsp;Josh Moon,&nbsp;a former administrator of 8chan.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-aviation-regulatory-body-to-allow-transgender-pilots-to-fly-the-planes-issues-guidelines-505786">India's aviation body to allow transgender pilots to fly planes; issues guidelines</a>

The site has a section called&nbsp;"lolcows" (wordplay of 'lol' and 'cows') where anyone can be 'milked' for laughs. However, the section has become a cesspool of constant hate campaigns against certain individuals belonging to the trans community.

Moreover, the site is a platform for hyper-right propagandists to peddle their misinformation and cult-like ideas.

The site has been banned in New Zealand after it hosted the ghastly&nbsp;Christchurch terrorist video. For the same reason, it was banned in Australia. However, after the site removed the video, it was allowed to operate.&nbsp;

According to a Vie report, at least three people have died by suicide after becoming targets of Kiwi Farms harassment campaigns.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

Clara Sorrenti and her supporters are the faces of a campaign that attempts to take down Kiwi Farms, an internet forum that doubles as an image-sharing website where the users troll and harass anyone they like.

Clara Sorrenti and her supporters are the faces of a campaign that attempts to take down Kiwi Farms, an internet forum that doubles as an image-sharing website where the users troll and harass anyone they like. However, over the years, the site has become a den of anti-trans harassment campaigns, forcing the likes of Sorrenti to launch a campaign to take down the fringe website. Sorrenti is a Canadian trans Twitch streamer who Kiwi Farms and its deranged users targeted by releasing her personal information. Before Sorrenti, a Republican senator from Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene, was targeted in a 'swatting' incident linked to the website. Read more: Amtrak's 'one-word tweet' trend picks up: Biden, NASA, Tendulkar, and more hop on Sorrenti and other trans activists have been calling upon Cloudflare, one of Kiwi Farms' internet security service vendors to drop the site. However, the company has so far refused to take any action. Statement from the Drop Kiwifarms campaign on our intent to protest at the Cloudfare Connect conference in Sydney, Australia. Please share widely. pic.twitter.com/Ip5c4ZDdfD — keffals #DropKiwifarms (@keffals) September 2, 2022 × In a blog post shared earlier this week, Cloudfare CEO Mathew Prince and vice-president of public policy, Alissa Starzak wrote a feature-length article where they mentioned that the company will not drop security services for any of its customers. While the duo did not mention Kiwi Farms anywhere in the write-up, it was clear that the company was responding in light of the recent incidents. “Just as the telephone company doesn’t terminate your line if you say awful, racist, bigoted things, we have concluded in consultation with politicians, policymakers and experts that turning off security services because we think what you publish is despicable is the wrong policy,” read the blog post. Notably, Kiwi Farms or CWCki forum, as it was known then was launched in 2009 by its founder Josh Moon, a former administrator of 8chan. Read more: India's aviation body to allow transgender pilots to fly planes; issues guidelines The site has a section called "lolcows" (wordplay of 'lol' and 'cows') where anyone can be 'milked' for laughs. However, the section has become a cesspool of constant hate campaigns against certain individuals belonging to the trans community. Moreover, the site is a platform for hyper-right propagandists to peddle their misinformation and cult-like ideas. The site has been banned in New Zealand after it hosted the ghastly Christchurch terrorist video. For the same reason, it was banned in Australia. However, after the site removed the video, it was allowed to operate. According to a Vie report, at least three people have died by suicide after becoming targets of Kiwi Farms harassment campaigns. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Activist wages battle against fringe website Kiwi Farms targeting trans genders

Truth Social, a social media app started by former US President Donald Trump earlier this&nbsp;year, is yet to have a proper liftoff. Reportedly, Google is not allowing the distribution of the app on its Google Play Store, much to the chagrin of Trump and his legion of supporters who want to take on big tech companies.

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google in a statement cited&nbsp;that due to insufficient content moderation and a host of other problems, Truth Social was not being approved.&nbsp;

“On August 19, we notified Truth Social of several violations of standard policies in their current app submission and reiterated that having effective systems for moderating user-generated content is a condition of our terms of service for any app to go live on Google Play,” said Google in a statement.&nbsp;

Read more:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-justice-department-releases-redacted-affidavit-on-search-of-trumps-mar-a-lago-house-510482"> US Justice Department releases redacted affidavit on search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago house</a>

After receiving the rejection, Truth Social also released a press statement where it said it has, "continuously worked in good faith with Google to ensure that the Truth Social Android App complies with Google’s policies without compromising our promise to be a haven for free speech.”

Further questioning Google's arbitrary policies, the statement added,&nbsp;“Moreover, some of our competitors’ apps are allowed in the Google Play Store despite rampantly violating Google’s prohibition on sexual content and other policies, whereas Truth Social has zero tolerance for sexually explicit content.”

Trump needs the android platform to host its app. After all, over 40&nbsp;per cent of smartphone market in America comprises Android phones.&nbsp;

Moreover, the financial situation of Truth Social is not rosy, which means that the rejection ought to hurt the fundamentals of the company further. As reported by WION, Truth Social owes approximately $1.6 million to a technology company RightForge which provides the social media app's internal infrastructure.

Read more:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/is-donald-trumps-social-media-platform-in-financial-trouble-510513">&nbsp;Is Donald Trump's social media platform in financial trouble?</a>

It is pertinent to note that Trump was banned from nearly every major social media platform in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots where Trump supporters allegedly attempted to overturn the election results.&nbsp;The Republican leader was accused of posting messages online to incite violence.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

Truth Social, a social media app started by former US President Donald Trump earlier this year, is yet to have a proper liftoff. Reportedly, Google is not allowing the distribution of the app on its Google Play Store, much to the chagrin of Trump and his legion of supporters who want to take on big tech companies.

Truth Social, a social media app started by former US President Donald Trump earlier this year, is yet to have a proper liftoff. Reportedly, Google is not allowing the distribution of the app on its Google Play Store, much to the chagrin of Trump and his legion of supporters who want to take on big tech companies. Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google in a statement cited that due to insufficient content moderation and a host of other problems, Truth Social was not being approved. “On August 19, we notified Truth Social of several violations of standard policies in their current app submission and reiterated that having effective systems for moderating user-generated content is a condition of our terms of service for any app to go live on Google Play,” said Google in a statement. Read more: US Justice Department releases redacted affidavit on search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago house After receiving the rejection, Truth Social also released a press statement where it said it has, "continuously worked in good faith with Google to ensure that the Truth Social Android App complies with Google’s policies without compromising our promise to be a haven for free speech.” Further questioning Google's arbitrary policies, the statement added, “Moreover, some of our competitors’ apps are allowed in the Google Play Store despite rampantly violating Google’s prohibition on sexual content and other policies, whereas Truth Social has zero tolerance for sexually explicit content.” Trump needs the android platform to host its app. After all, over 40 per cent of smartphone market in America comprises Android phones. Moreover, the financial situation of Truth Social is not rosy, which means that the rejection ought to hurt the fundamentals of the company further. As reported by WION, Truth Social owes approximately $1.6 million to a technology company RightForge which provides the social media app's internal infrastructure. Read more: Is Donald Trump's social media platform in financial trouble? It is pertinent to note that Trump was banned from nearly every major social media platform in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots where Trump supporters allegedly attempted to overturn the election results. The Republican leader was accused of posting messages online to incite violence. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Donald Trump's Truth Social app not approved by Google Play Store

Leaders and funders of the Republican Party are suddenly&nbsp;vocalising their concern about their election prospects.

It appeared certain that their party would win both the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-galan-knocks-out-tsitsipas-thiem-exits-511316">US</a>&nbsp;House and the Senate in 2022 five months ago. Republicans seemed prepared to extend their advantages over Democrats in terms of the number of governorships and state legislatures they now hold. And best of all, it appeared that they had subtly disregarded former President Donald Trump.

Their future seems uncertain right now. Price drops for gasoline have occurred. Since Roe v. Wade was overruled by the Supreme Court, pro-abortion voters have increased, including those nonreligious but otherwise conservative women who might have voted Republican.

Their chances of winning the Senate are over since Trump interfered in primaries and nominated a number of undesirable candidates in swing states that needed to win. Politico published remarks from the Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel's tense conference call with significant donors on Wednesday. Small-donation amounts to Senate candidates have dramatically decreased, despite a rise in Democratic financing, as per The Atlantic.&nbsp;

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-plans-to-ask-congress-to-approve-11-billion-arms-sale-to-taiwan-politico-report-says-511314">&nbsp;Biden plans to ask Congress to approve $1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, Politico report says</a>

Worst of all, in the eyes of Republican leaders, Trump's support among tribal Republicans has increased as a result of the execution of a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago. In a potential primary election in 2024, the search increased his fundraising to $1 million a day and contributed to his growing lead over Governor Ron DeSantis. According to a poll cited by NBC, Trump and DeSantis were neck-and-neck in a field of candidates. After the search, he outscored DeSantis 52–20. Republican leaders are aware that Trump is a loser in the general election, despite the fact that the Republican base loves him. Trump leading the ticket in 2024 is a recipe for disaster; simply a reminder that Trump is still at large in 2022 harms the down-ballot candidates. Republican leaders have begged with Trump to postpone any declaration of a 2024 election because of this.

Biden's plan to cut student loan debt will only make things worse for the GOP. The Democratic Party's biggest challenge going into this election was the lack of interest among younger voters. Only approximately 28% of voters under 35 indicated "strong interest" in the 2022 election earlier this year. That's the same as in 2014, a disastrous year for Democrats, and significantly below the 39% who indicated "strong interest" at this point in 2018, a good year for Democrats. Biden has now significantly benefited people who have student loan debt. They will act as a solid barrier against any red flood if they turn out to vote for him and reward him.

When it comes to purchasing votes ahead of elections, Republicans are not helpless victims. President Trump increased payments to farm families by almost quadruple, from $11.5 billion in 2017 to $32 billion in 2020, in order to ease the pain of his trade war with China before of the 2020 election. But compared to Trump's agriculture subsidy, Biden's initiative to reduce student loan debt is significantly higher, costing at least $330 billion over 10 years and maybe as much as $1 trillion.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/documents-found-in-donald-trumps-residence-possibly-covered-by-attorney-client-privilege-511318">Documents found in Donald Trump's residence 'possibly covered by attorney-client privilege'</a>

The message for Republican donors and leaders is that supporting Trump will cost money. The GOP's chances of winning the election are being harmed by Trump and pro-Trump candidates. Trump lost the 2020 presidential election. The GOP's control of the US&nbsp;Senate was lost in 2021 due to pro-Trump candidates. More Trump-supporting politicians are falling terribly.

In 2021, Trump tried one strategy to get out of this jam: he violently overthrew the results of his election. That did not succeed. 
State-level pro-Trump politicians have tried alternative strategies, such as altering election laws to their advantage. At the edges, that might work. Marginal advantages might not be sufficient in the event of a major event, such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade. A party needs a wide coalition in order to continuously win. A party that continues to disenfranchise large groups of voters by putting forth extremists, felons, and outlandish candidates is a party that has given up on governing. Republicans are currently assessing the price of such abdication in terms of dollars and cents. According to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, student debt relief will cost the typical taxpayer $2,000 on average.

The cost of Trump to the Republican Party and its supporters is much greater than just that one remark. Republicans won't understand that he and his faction won't go away on their own until more laws are introduced. They'll need to take hold of him and push him out the door with their own hands if they want to see his back. If they don't, their contributors should get used to receiving more significant donations for more Democratic candidates in the upcoming election cycles.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Also WATCH |&nbsp;Killing of al-Qaeda leader: Taliban claims US drones used Pakistan airspace</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/killing-of-al-qaeda-leader-taliban-claims-us-drones-used-pakistan-airspace-511105/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Leaders and funders of the Republican Party are suddenly vocalising their concern about their election prospects. It appeared certain that their party would win both the US House and the Senate in 2022 five months ago.

Leaders and funders of the Republican Party are suddenly vocalising their concern about their election prospects. It appeared certain that their party would win both the US House and the Senate in 2022 five months ago. Republicans seemed prepared to extend their advantages over Democrats in terms of the number of governorships and state legislatures they now hold. And best of all, it appeared that they had subtly disregarded former President Donald Trump. Their future seems uncertain right now. Price drops for gasoline have occurred. Since Roe v. Wade was overruled by the Supreme Court, pro-abortion voters have increased, including those nonreligious but otherwise conservative women who might have voted Republican. Their chances of winning the Senate are over since Trump interfered in primaries and nominated a number of undesirable candidates in swing states that needed to win. Politico published remarks from the Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel's tense conference call with significant donors on Wednesday. Small-donation amounts to Senate candidates have dramatically decreased, despite a rise in Democratic financing, as per The Atlantic. Also read | Biden plans to ask Congress to approve $1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, Politico report says Worst of all, in the eyes of Republican leaders, Trump's support among tribal Republicans has increased as a result of the execution of a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago. In a potential primary election in 2024, the search increased his fundraising to $1 million a day and contributed to his growing lead over Governor Ron DeSantis. According to a poll cited by NBC, Trump and DeSantis were neck-and-neck in a field of candidates. After the search, he outscored DeSantis 52–20. Republican leaders are aware that Trump is a loser in the general election, despite the fact that the Republican base loves him. Trump leading the ticket in 2024 is a recipe for disaster; simply a reminder that Trump is still at large in 2022 harms the down-ballot candidates. Republican leaders have begged with Trump to postpone any declaration of a 2024 election because of this. Biden's plan to cut student loan debt will only make things worse for the GOP. The Democratic Party's biggest challenge going into this election was the lack of interest among younger voters. Only approximately 28% of voters under 35 indicated "strong interest" in the 2022 election earlier this year. That's the same as in 2014, a disastrous year for Democrats, and significantly below the 39% who indicated "strong interest" at this point in 2018, a good year for Democrats. Biden has now significantly benefited people who have student loan debt. They will act as a solid barrier against any red flood if they turn out to vote for him and reward him. When it comes to purchasing votes ahead of elections, Republicans are not helpless victims. President Trump increased payments to farm families by almost quadruple, from $11.5 billion in 2017 to $32 billion in 2020, in order to ease the pain of his trade war with China before of the 2020 election. But compared to Trump's agriculture subsidy, Biden's initiative to reduce student loan debt is significantly higher, costing at least $330 billion over 10 years and maybe as much as $1 trillion. Also read | Documents found in Donald Trump's residence 'possibly covered by attorney-client privilege' The message for Republican donors and leaders is that supporting Trump will cost money. The GOP's chances of winning the election are being harmed by Trump and pro-Trump candidates. Trump lost the 2020 presidential election. The GOP's control of the US Senate was lost in 2021 due to pro-Trump candidates. More Trump-supporting politicians are falling terribly. In 2021, Trump tried one strategy to get out of this jam: he violently overthrew the results of his election. That did not succeed. State-level pro-Trump politicians have tried alternative strategies, such as altering election laws to their advantage. At the edges, that might work. Marginal advantages might not be sufficient in the event of a major event, such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade. A party needs a wide coalition in order to continuously win. A party that continues to disenfranchise large groups of voters by putting forth extremists, felons, and outlandish candidates is a party that has given up on governing. Republicans are currently assessing the price of such abdication in terms of dollars and cents. According to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, student debt relief will cost the typical taxpayer $2,000 on average. The cost of Trump to the Republican Party and its supporters is much greater than just that one remark. Republicans won't understand that he and his faction won't go away on their own until more laws are introduced. They'll need to take hold of him and push him out the door with their own hands if they want to see his back. If they don't, their contributors should get used to receiving more significant donations for more Democratic candidates in the upcoming election cycles. Also WATCH | Killing of al-Qaeda leader: Taliban claims US drones used Pakistan airspace

Republican investment in Trump and its increasing cost

A day after requesting the&nbsp;Department of Justice to return the documents covered under attorney-client privilege, Donald Trump on Monday claimed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)&nbsp;agents “stole” his passports during the raid on August 8.

“Wow! In the raid by the FBI of Mar-a-Lago, they stole my three Passports (one expired), along with everything else,”&nbsp;said Trump on his social media platform.

The Republican leader further added, “This is an assault on a political opponent at a level never seen before in our Country. Third World!”

<img alt="Donald Trump's statement" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f3190281-a612-478d-91f0-747c82c7770c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/FaOMTwuXwAAhUxZ.jpg" />

Trump, however, did not&nbsp;make it clear which one of his passports was taken away by the FBI. A blue passport is issued to regular civilians in the USA while a&nbsp;red 'diplomatic' passport is issued for official government travel.&nbsp;

Trump's insistence to compare the incident to World War 3 and an assault on him follows a similar line that he has been following ever since the raid took place.

FBI agents broke into my safe: Donald Trump

After the raid, Trump&nbsp;issued a public statement where he&nbsp;complained that the FBI officers had broken into his safe. He also added that the raid by the FBI on his house was a&nbsp;weaponisation of the Justice System.

"It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponisation of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, and who will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections." said Trump.&nbsp;

Read More: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-mar-a-lago-home-raided-by-fbi-505000">Donald Trump's Mar-A-Lago home raided by FBI, in first such action on an ex-US president</a>

After Trump's statement, the issue gained momentum, forcing Public Attorney General Merrick Garland to announce&nbsp;that his lawyers had moved a motion to unseal&nbsp;portions of the search warrant, observing public's 'clear' and 'powerful' interest in the case.

Return the boxes and documents, Trump pleads&nbsp;

However, on Sunday, trump claimed that&nbsp;Justice Department took boxes which were covered under attorney-client or executive privilege and requested them to return the documents.

According to Trump's side,&nbsp;boxes labelled A-14, A-26, A-43, A-13, A-33 and other sets of documents contained information that was protected under&nbsp;attorney-client privilege.

Read More:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/department-of-justice-to-unseal-trumps-search-warrant-attorney-general-releases-his-statement-506058">&nbsp;Department of Justice to unseal Trump's search warrant, says Attorney General Merrick Garland</a>

It is pertinent to note that the FBI also carried some document boxes marked as&nbsp;"TS/SCI". These documents come under top-secret and confidential labelling, meaning they could cause 'exceptionally grave' damage to US national security.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

A day after requesting the Department of Justice to return the documents covered under attorney-client privilege, Donald Trump on Monday claimed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents “stole” his passports during the raid on August 8.

A day after requesting the Department of Justice to return the documents covered under attorney-client privilege, Donald Trump on Monday claimed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents “stole” his passports during the raid on August 8. “Wow! In the raid by the FBI of Mar-a-Lago, they stole my three Passports (one expired), along with everything else,” said Trump on his social media platform. The Republican leader further added, “This is an assault on a political opponent at a level never seen before in our Country. Third World!” Trump, however, did not make it clear which one of his passports was taken away by the FBI. A blue passport is issued to regular civilians in the USA while a red 'diplomatic' passport is issued for official government travel. Trump's insistence to compare the incident to World War 3 and an assault on him follows a similar line that he has been following ever since the raid took place. FBI agents broke into my safe: Donald Trump After the raid, Trump issued a public statement where he complained that the FBI officers had broken into his safe. He also added that the raid by the FBI on his house was a weaponisation of the Justice System. "It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponisation of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, and who will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections." said Trump. Read More: Donald Trump's Mar-A-Lago home raided by FBI, in first such action on an ex-US president After Trump's statement, the issue gained momentum, forcing Public Attorney General Merrick Garland to announce that his lawyers had moved a motion to unseal portions of the search warrant, observing public's 'clear' and 'powerful' interest in the case. Return the boxes and documents, Trump pleads However, on Sunday, trump claimed that Justice Department took boxes which were covered under attorney-client or executive privilege and requested them to return the documents. According to Trump's side, boxes labelled A-14, A-26, A-43, A-13, A-33 and other sets of documents contained information that was protected under attorney-client privilege. Read More: Department of Justice to unseal Trump's search warrant, says Attorney General Merrick Garland It is pertinent to note that the FBI also carried some document boxes marked as "TS/SCI". These documents come under top-secret and confidential labelling, meaning they could cause 'exceptionally grave' damage to US national security. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Donald Trump claims his passports 'stolen' by FBI agents during the August 8 raid

Days after the FBI raid&nbsp;at his&nbsp;Mar-a-Lago club cum residence in Florida, former US President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that the Justice Department took boxes which were covered under attorney-client or executive privilege and requested them to return the documents.

“Oh great! It has just been learned that the FBI, in its now famous raid of Mar-a-Lago, took boxes of privileged ‘attorney-client’ material, and also ‘executive’ privileged material, which they knowingly should not have taken,” said Trump on his social media platform.
<img alt="Donald Trump's statement" data-caption="Donald Trump's statement" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="02aa1a62-87df-496a-85d8-32a5b4162e63" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/FaIi9C_XoAAUMlg.jpg" />
The Republican leader further requested the Justice Department by stating,&nbsp;“By copy of this TRUTH, I respectfully request that these documents be immediately returned to the location from which they were taken. Thank you!”&nbsp;

As reported by WION, after&nbsp;Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that his lawyers had moved a motion to unseal&nbsp;portions of the search warrant, a list of items was made public by a federal judge last week.

According to Trump's side,&nbsp;boxes labelled A-14, A-26, A-43, A-13, A-33 and other sets of documents contained information that was protected under&nbsp;attorney-client privilege.

<img alt="The documents" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e02fa327-5156-4a77-9a47-e4342dd83304" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Screenshot%202022-08-15%20011505.png" />

It is pertinent to note that the FBI also carried some document boxes marked as&nbsp;"TS/SCI". These documents come under top-secret and confidential labelling, meaning they could cause 'exceptionally grave' damage to US national security.

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/department-of-justice-to-unseal-trumps-search-warrant-attorney-general-releases-his-statement-506058">Department of Justice to unseal Trump's search warrant, says Attorney General Merrick Garland</a>

After the raid, Trump had issued a public statement where he&nbsp;complained that the FBI officers had broken into his safe. He also added that the raid by the FBI on his house was a&nbsp;weaponisation of the Justice System.

"It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponisation of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, and who will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections." said Trump.&nbsp;

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armed-man-attempts-to-breach-fbi-office-in-cincinnati-fires-shots-at-troops-in-pursuit-506043">Armed man attempts to breach FBI office in Cincinnati; fires shots at troops in pursuit</a>

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

Days after the FBI raid at his Mar-a-Lago club cum residence in Florida, former US President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that the Justice Department took boxes which were covered under attorney-client or executive privilege and requested them to return the documents.

Days after the FBI raid at his Mar-a-Lago club cum residence in Florida, former US President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that the Justice Department took boxes which were covered under attorney-client or executive privilege and requested them to return the documents. “Oh great! It has just been learned that the FBI, in its now famous raid of Mar-a-Lago, took boxes of privileged ‘attorney-client’ material, and also ‘executive’ privileged material, which they knowingly should not have taken,” said Trump on his social media platform. The Republican leader further requested the Justice Department by stating, “By copy of this TRUTH, I respectfully request that these documents be immediately returned to the location from which they were taken. Thank you!” As reported by WION, after Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that his lawyers had moved a motion to unseal portions of the search warrant, a list of items was made public by a federal judge last week. According to Trump's side, boxes labelled A-14, A-26, A-43, A-13, A-33 and other sets of documents contained information that was protected under attorney-client privilege. It is pertinent to note that the FBI also carried some document boxes marked as "TS/SCI". These documents come under top-secret and confidential labelling, meaning they could cause 'exceptionally grave' damage to US national security. Read More: Department of Justice to unseal Trump's search warrant, says Attorney General Merrick Garland After the raid, Trump had issued a public statement where he complained that the FBI officers had broken into his safe. He also added that the raid by the FBI on his house was a weaponisation of the Justice System. "It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponisation of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, and who will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections." said Trump. Read More: Armed man attempts to breach FBI office in Cincinnati; fires shots at troops in pursuit (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Trump 'requests' Justice Department to return seized 'privileged' documents

During their search of former President Donald Trump's Florida resort, FBI agents discovered "top secret" papers, according to documents made public Friday.&nbsp;

AFP reports that according to the warrant, the unprecedented search was prompted in part by concerns of violations of the US Espionage Act, including the unauthorised removal of classified records from the White House as the former President prepared to leave office in January 2021.

Watch |&nbsp;US justice department moves to unseal warrant for search of Trump residence

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">The warrant and supporting materials, which were unsealed by a Florida judge, revealed that agents retrieved&nbsp;a significant number of secret files.</div>

As per the unsealed seven-page federal court document stated that some of the documents were labelled "top secret" and were "meant to be only available in special government facilities."

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Unsealed FBI search warrant for former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. <a href="https://t.co/WwrMoDKXTs">pic.twitter.com/WwrMoDKXTs</a>
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Washington Post citing unidentified individuals close to the investigation reported that sensitive documents linked to nuclear weapons were among the files seized during the raid.&nbsp;Trump attempted to dismiss the claim. He said&nbsp;that the "nuclear weapons issue is a hoax" and even insinuated&nbsp;that the FBI was "planting information".

According to the Wall Street Journal, among the 20 boxes of items hauled away by FBI investigators were photo binders, a handwritten message, and Trump's grant of amnesty to Roger Stone, a former president's ally.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-searched-for-classified-nuclear-documents-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-home-report-506107">FBI searched for classified nuclear documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home: Report</a>

Trump declared in a statement on Thursday that his attorneys were "cooperating fully" and "the government could have had whatever they wanted, if we had it."

On Friday, the Justice Department sought a federal judge to unseal the search warrant, overruling Trump's objections.&nbsp;

Trump, who is mulling a presidential run in 2024, said he would not obstruct the release of the warrant while lamenting the "unprecedented political weaponization of law enforcement" by "radical left Democrats and possible future political opponents, who have a strong and powerful vested interest in attacking me, much as they have done for the last 6 years."

(With inputs from agencies)

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During their search of former President Donald Trump's Florida resort, FBI agents discovered "top secret" papers, according to documents made public Friday. AFP reports that according to the warrant, the unprecedented search was prompted in part by concerns of violations of the US Espionage Act, including the unauthorised removal of classified records from the White House as the former President prepared to leave office in January 2021.

During their search of former President Donald Trump's Florida resort, FBI agents discovered "top secret" papers, according to documents made public Friday. AFP reports that according to the warrant, the unprecedented search was prompted in part by concerns of violations of the US Espionage Act, including the unauthorised removal of classified records from the White House as the former President prepared to leave office in January 2021. Watch | US justice department moves to unseal warrant for search of Trump residence The warrant and supporting materials, which were unsealed by a Florida judge, revealed that agents retrieved a significant number of secret files. As per the unsealed seven-page federal court document stated that some of the documents were labelled "top secret" and were "meant to be only available in special government facilities." Unsealed FBI search warrant for former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. pic.twitter.com/WwrMoDKXTs — Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) August 12, 2022 × Washington Post citing unidentified individuals close to the investigation reported that sensitive documents linked to nuclear weapons were among the files seized during the raid. Trump attempted to dismiss the claim. He said that the "nuclear weapons issue is a hoax" and even insinuated that the FBI was "planting information". According to the Wall Street Journal, among the 20 boxes of items hauled away by FBI investigators were photo binders, a handwritten message, and Trump's grant of amnesty to Roger Stone, a former president's ally. Also read | FBI searched for classified nuclear documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home: Report Trump declared in a statement on Thursday that his attorneys were "cooperating fully" and "the government could have had whatever they wanted, if we had it." On Friday, the Justice Department sought a federal judge to unseal the search warrant, overruling Trump's objections. Trump, who is mulling a presidential run in 2024, said he would not obstruct the release of the warrant while lamenting the "unprecedented political weaponization of law enforcement" by "radical left Democrats and possible future political opponents, who have a strong and powerful vested interest in attacking me, much as they have done for the last 6 years." (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Top secret' documents 'linked to nuclear weapons' seized in raid on Donald Trump's home

For those looking in from the outside, the popularity that former US president Donald Trump commands might seem surprising and at times downright flabbergasting. The businessman-turned-politician has a knack for making bizarre comments and had his fair share of controversies. Yet he remains the Republicans' "chosen one" and even a huge part of the public continues to fawn over him. Have you ever wondered why this is the case?

An analyst may have an answer for us.&nbsp;Kyle Kondik, the managing editor of "Sabato's Crystal Ball," a nonpartisan periodical published by the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, thinks it's because of Trump's "enemies".

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Is Trump being subjected to a 'witch-hunt'?

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He says that Trump's standing in the Republican party remains strong and may even get a boost for the 2024 elections following the FBI raid on his Florida home,&nbsp;reports&nbsp;Reuters.

When the news of the raid first surfaced, a lot of Republicans jumped to Trump's defence, "even though we really don't know what the raid was necessarily about," which as per Kondik is one indication of Trump's popularity.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/was-fbi-raid-on-donald-trumps-residence-an-attempt-to-stop-him-from-becoming-president-again-505357" hreflang="en">Was FBI raid on Donald Trump’s residence an attempt to stop him from becoming US president again?</a>

According to Kondik, the FBI is one of Trump's "right enemies from the Republican perspective," which is why&nbsp;"so much of Trump's popularity and strength"&nbsp;stays&nbsp;strong within the Republican Party.

The government investigation into whether Trump improperly removed records from the White House as he was leaving office in January 2021 has intensified with the unprecedented search of a former president's house.&nbsp;

Ahead of the November midterm elections that will determine control of the US Congress, Trump attempted to portray the search of Mar-a-Lago as a politically motivated action by the Biden administration.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-to-testify-in-ny-investigation-on-wednesday-505637" hreflang="en">Donald Trump invokes the Fifth Amendment, refuses to answer questions in NY investigation</a>

Even though Trump has not made it clear whether he would run for president again in 2024, he continues to publicly toss around the idea.

Kondik claimed that because the FBI and Department of Justice frequently keep their investigations "tight-lipped," Trump has the advantage of being able to control the narrative surrounding the search.&nbsp;

"Trump and Republicans can fill that vacuum by basically casting this as some sort of witch hunt, which you know maybe it is, but in all likelihood it's not," he commented.

(With inputs from agencies)

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For those looking in from the outside, the popularity that former US president Donald Trump commands might seem surprising and at times downright flabbergasting.

For those looking in from the outside, the popularity that former US president Donald Trump commands might seem surprising and at times downright flabbergasting. The businessman-turned-politician has a knack for making bizarre comments and had his fair share of controversies. Yet he remains the Republicans' "chosen one" and even a huge part of the public continues to fawn over him. Have you ever wondered why this is the case? An analyst may have an answer for us. Kyle Kondik, the managing editor of "Sabato's Crystal Ball," a nonpartisan periodical published by the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, thinks it's because of Trump's "enemies". Watch | Gravitas: Is Trump being subjected to a 'witch-hunt'? He says that Trump's standing in the Republican party remains strong and may even get a boost for the 2024 elections following the FBI raid on his Florida home, reports Reuters. When the news of the raid first surfaced, a lot of Republicans jumped to Trump's defence, "even though we really don't know what the raid was necessarily about," which as per Kondik is one indication of Trump's popularity. Also read | Was FBI raid on Donald Trump’s residence an attempt to stop him from becoming US president again? According to Kondik, the FBI is one of Trump's "right enemies from the Republican perspective," which is why "so much of Trump's popularity and strength" stays strong within the Republican Party. The government investigation into whether Trump improperly removed records from the White House as he was leaving office in January 2021 has intensified with the unprecedented search of a former president's house. Ahead of the November midterm elections that will determine control of the US Congress, Trump attempted to portray the search of Mar-a-Lago as a politically motivated action by the Biden administration. Also read | Donald Trump invokes the Fifth Amendment, refuses to answer questions in NY investigation Even though Trump has not made it clear whether he would run for president again in 2024, he continues to publicly toss around the idea. Kondik claimed that because the FBI and Department of Justice frequently keep their investigations "tight-lipped," Trump has the advantage of being able to control the narrative surrounding the search. "Trump and Republicans can fill that vacuum by basically casting this as some sort of witch hunt, which you know maybe it is, but in all likelihood it's not," he commented. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Are his 'enemies' what make Donald Trump popular in spite of the many controversies?

The United States of America is struggling with the sophisticated level of infiltration by China in its myriad systems. From military to tech to finance, China has spread its United Front army everywhere.

According to a report prepared by the Republican staff of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, it has been revealed that the Federal Reserve does not have a system or the adequate resources to counter China, seeking to gather classified, inside information about USA's monetary policy and economy.&nbsp;The report revealed that China's efforts to infiltrate the US central bank had been ongoing for a decade at least.

The report came out on Tuesday and the central bank promptly discarded the findings. However, what's peculiar is that the major legwork for the report was done by the Federal Reserve itself in 2015.&nbsp;

In 2015, the Federal Reserve had run a counterintelligence operation and found 13 moles or 'persons of interest', whose relations with the Chinese government raised suspicions.

One of the former Fed employees highlighted in the report and identified as "Z" had questionable ties to a talent recruitment program in China. It is worth noting that China runs a '1000 talents programme', started in 2008 that attempts to steal Intellectual Property (IP) and other advanced technologies from foreign nations by poaching their experts.&nbsp;

The report by the GOP lawmakers merely builds upon the Federal Reserve report. By disputing the new findings, the central bank is contradicting itself and its findings from seven years ago.&nbsp;

How does China infiltrate a country?

Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler employed the subtle art of propaganda and deception to convince the masses to conduct the genocide of fellow human beings. Hitler knew the power of propaganda and thus wrote two chapters about it in 'Mein Kampf'.&nbsp;

In the present-day world, no one comes closer to beating China in this game. By using an intricate network of spies, individuals and coalitions, China has been able to raise an army which in popular parlance is called the 'United Front'.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The United Front has been described by Chinese President Xi Jinping as his secret 'magic weapon'. The operations of most of the members in the United Front are covert and spread beyond the middle kingdom.&nbsp;

WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-united-front-xi-jinpings-magic-weapon-305246">Gravitas: United Front | Xi Jinping's 'magic weapon'</a>

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&nbsp;

The think tanks, schools, media organisations and every other conceivable civil system are compromised by these workers. They tap individuals like former fed employee' Z' and shower them with gifts and make them a pawn in the long game.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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The United States of America is struggling with the sophisticated level of infiltration by China in its myriad systems. From military to tech to finance, China has spread its United Front army everywhere.

The United States of America is struggling with the sophisticated level of infiltration by China in its myriad systems. From military to tech to finance, China has spread its United Front army everywhere. According to a report prepared by the Republican staff of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, it has been revealed that the Federal Reserve does not have a system or the adequate resources to counter China, seeking to gather classified, inside information about USA's monetary policy and economy. The report revealed that China's efforts to infiltrate the US central bank had been ongoing for a decade at least. The report came out on Tuesday and the central bank promptly discarded the findings. However, what's peculiar is that the major legwork for the report was done by the Federal Reserve itself in 2015. In 2015, the Federal Reserve had run a counterintelligence operation and found 13 moles or 'persons of interest', whose relations with the Chinese government raised suspicions. One of the former Fed employees highlighted in the report and identified as "Z" had questionable ties to a talent recruitment program in China. It is worth noting that China runs a '1000 talents programme', started in 2008 that attempts to steal Intellectual Property (IP) and other advanced technologies from foreign nations by poaching their experts. The report by the GOP lawmakers merely builds upon the Federal Reserve report. By disputing the new findings, the central bank is contradicting itself and its findings from seven years ago. How does China infiltrate a country? Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler employed the subtle art of propaganda and deception to convince the masses to conduct the genocide of fellow human beings. Hitler knew the power of propaganda and thus wrote two chapters about it in 'Mein Kampf'. In the present-day world, no one comes closer to beating China in this game. By using an intricate network of spies, individuals and coalitions, China has been able to raise an army which in popular parlance is called the 'United Front'. The United Front has been described by Chinese President Xi Jinping as his secret 'magic weapon'. The operations of most of the members in the United Front are covert and spread beyond the middle kingdom. WATCH: Gravitas: United Front | Xi Jinping's 'magic weapon' × The think tanks, schools, media organisations and every other conceivable civil system are compromised by these workers. They tap individuals like former fed employee' Z' and shower them with gifts and make them a pawn in the long game. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China has infiltrated the US Federal Reserve for over a decade: GOP lawmakers allege in report

An FBI raid on Donald Trump’s palatial Florida residence on Tuesday marked an escalation of legal probes into the former US president. The raid, which came just as Trump was weighing another White House run, has sparked a political firestorm in the already bitterly divided country. Top Republican leaders have flung their support behind the 45th US president, and several former advisers urged him to immediately announce his candidacy for the 2024 elections.

Republicans were quick to allege foul play. Senator Lindsey Graham reportedly said that&nbsp;a probe into a past president so close to an election&nbsp;“is beyond problematic”. However, Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House Speaker, said “no person is above the law”.

Republicans disagree.

Watch |&nbsp;WION Fineprint: Former US President Donald Trump says his Florida home "under siege"

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Former vice president&nbsp;Mike Pence voiced “deep concern” and claimed the Justice Department’s raid reeked of “partisanship”.

Another Republican, Kevin McCarthy, accused the justice department of “weaponised politicisation”.&nbsp;Yet another Republican Elise Stefanik referred to it as a “dark day in American history”.

“If the FBI can raid a US President, imagine what they can do to you,” Stefanik tweeted.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tax-returns-of-donald-trump-must-be-turned-over-to-congressional-committee-appeals-court-rules-505341" hreflang="en">Tax returns of Donald Trump must be turned over to congressional committee, appeals court rules</a>

To which Democratic Representative Ted Lieu replied: “Why can’t the FBI investigate a US President? We're not Russia, where the law doesn't apply to the head of state and his cronies.”

Trump himself has also denounced the raid, which was conducted by the FBI that is currently headed by one of his appointees Christopher Wray.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/are-children-at-risk-from-elon-musks-self-driving-technology-group-claims-software-will-mow-kids-down-505353" hreflang="en">Are children at risk from Elon Musk's self-driving technology? Group claims software will 'mow' kids down</a>

Calling the raid a weaponisation of the justice system by "Radical Left Democrats who desperately don't want me to run for President in 2024," he said that nothing of this sort has ever happened to a US president before.

AFP reported that FBI chief Wray has declined to provide a reason for the raid.

However, US media said that agents were carrying out a court-authorized search in relation to the alleged improper handling of confidential information delivered to Mar-a-Lago after Trump departed the White House in January 2021.

(With inputs from agencies)

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An FBI raid on Donald Trump’s palatial Florida residence on Tuesday marked an escalation of legal probes into the former US president. The raid, which came just as Trump was weighing another White House run, has sparked a political firestorm in the already bitterly divided country.

An FBI raid on Donald Trump’s palatial Florida residence on Tuesday marked an escalation of legal probes into the former US president. The raid, which came just as Trump was weighing another White House run, has sparked a political firestorm in the already bitterly divided country. Top Republican leaders have flung their support behind the 45th US president, and several former advisers urged him to immediately announce his candidacy for the 2024 elections. Republicans were quick to allege foul play. Senator Lindsey Graham reportedly said that a probe into a past president so close to an election “is beyond problematic”. However, Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House Speaker, said “no person is above the law”. Republicans disagree. Watch | WION Fineprint: Former US President Donald Trump says his Florida home "under siege" Former vice president Mike Pence voiced “deep concern” and claimed the Justice Department’s raid reeked of “partisanship”. Another Republican, Kevin McCarthy, accused the justice department of “weaponised politicisation”. Yet another Republican Elise Stefanik referred to it as a “dark day in American history”. “If the FBI can raid a US President, imagine what they can do to you,” Stefanik tweeted. Also read | Tax returns of Donald Trump must be turned over to congressional committee, appeals court rules To which Democratic Representative Ted Lieu replied: “Why can’t the FBI investigate a US President? We're not Russia, where the law doesn't apply to the head of state and his cronies.” Trump himself has also denounced the raid, which was conducted by the FBI that is currently headed by one of his appointees Christopher Wray. Also read | Are children at risk from Elon Musk's self-driving technology? Group claims software will 'mow' kids down Calling the raid a weaponisation of the justice system by "Radical Left Democrats who desperately don't want me to run for President in 2024," he said that nothing of this sort has ever happened to a US president before. AFP reported that FBI chief Wray has declined to provide a reason for the raid. However, US media said that agents were carrying out a court-authorized search in relation to the alleged improper handling of confidential information delivered to Mar-a-Lago after Trump departed the White House in January 2021. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Was FBI raid on Donald Trump’s residence an attempt to stop him from becoming US president again?

The capital city of Washington DC is swarming with undocumented migrants who have arrived from the southern border states of Texas and Arizona. The influx of over 4,800 migrants has prompted DC's Mayor Muriel Bowser to call the situation a 'humanitarian crisis' that had brought the district to a 'tipping point'.

"The pace of arriving buses and the volume of arrivals have reached tipping points. Our collective response and service efforts have now become overwhelmed." wrote Bowser in a letter to President Joe Biden.&nbsp;

While city council members and migrant NGOs have asked the Democrat Mayor to devote city funds to the reception effort, she has refused saying that the federal government must step up.&nbsp;

With the situation turning worrisome with the arrival of buses, the district is running out of resources to manage the migrants.

Moreover, the security problems arising due to the migration crisis have forced Bowser to request for the National Guards. Reportedly Washington DC does not have its own guards and will have to rely on other states to offer their&nbsp;guardsmen.&nbsp;

Texas and Arizona have been sending migrant buses

Reportedly, Greg Abbott and Doug Ducey, governors of Texas and Arizona respectively, sent the migrants in buses over the course of the last few weeks to DC to show the Democrat hierarchy that illegal migration was a big problem in the southern states.&nbsp;

The influx of aliens into the soil of the United States, especially from the neighbouring country of Mexico is something which the Joe Biden administration has been unwilling and unable to manage.

The Republicans have grown restive over the reluctance of the Democrat regime in the White Huse and thus, they have taken matters into their own hands to make their voices heard.&nbsp;

"Texas should not have to bear the burden of the Biden administration’s failure to secure our border." Republican governor Abbott had remarked.&nbsp;

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-migrant-deaths-vehicles-driver-claims-he-was-not-aware-air-condition-was-not-working-493823">Texas migrant deaths: Vehicle`s driver claims he was not aware air condition was not working</a>

A record 239,000 undocumented migrants were detained crossing into the country from Mexico in May.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The capital city of Washington DC is swarming with undocumented migrants who have arrived from the southern border states of Texas and Arizona. The influx of over 4,800 migrants has prompted DC's Mayor Muriel Bowser to call the situation a 'humanitarian crisis' that had brought the district to a 'tipping point'.

The capital city of Washington DC is swarming with undocumented migrants who have arrived from the southern border states of Texas and Arizona. The influx of over 4,800 migrants has prompted DC's Mayor Muriel Bowser to call the situation a 'humanitarian crisis' that had brought the district to a 'tipping point'. "The pace of arriving buses and the volume of arrivals have reached tipping points. Our collective response and service efforts have now become overwhelmed." wrote Bowser in a letter to President Joe Biden. While city council members and migrant NGOs have asked the Democrat Mayor to devote city funds to the reception effort, she has refused saying that the federal government must step up. With the situation turning worrisome with the arrival of buses, the district is running out of resources to manage the migrants. Moreover, the security problems arising due to the migration crisis have forced Bowser to request for the National Guards. Reportedly Washington DC does not have its own guards and will have to rely on other states to offer their guardsmen. Texas and Arizona have been sending migrant buses Reportedly, Greg Abbott and Doug Ducey, governors of Texas and Arizona respectively, sent the migrants in buses over the course of the last few weeks to DC to show the Democrat hierarchy that illegal migration was a big problem in the southern states. The influx of aliens into the soil of the United States, especially from the neighbouring country of Mexico is something which the Joe Biden administration has been unwilling and unable to manage. The Republicans have grown restive over the reluctance of the Democrat regime in the White Huse and thus, they have taken matters into their own hands to make their voices heard. "Texas should not have to bear the burden of the Biden administration’s failure to secure our border." Republican governor Abbott had remarked. Read More: Texas migrant deaths: Vehicle`s driver claims he was not aware air condition was not working A record 239,000 undocumented migrants were detained crossing into the country from Mexico in May. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Washington DC overburdened with migrants; mayor says it has reached a 'tipping point'

A US conservative politician&nbsp;while speaking to college students at a gathering in Florida ridiculed the American pro-choice movement and said that ugly women shouldn't worry about an abortion. Matt Gaetz who himself is under federal investigation over charges of statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl and sex trafficking made the revolting statement while talking to a bunch of teenagers at a right-wing student conference in Tampa, Florida.&nbsp;Referring to the pro-choice rallies as "pro-murder" the Republican said: "Why is it that the women with the least likelihood of getting pregnant are the ones most worried about having abortions? Nobody wants to impregnate you if you look like a thumb."

Watch |&nbsp;YouTube removes misleading content on abortion procedures

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He went on to make degrading comments on the bodies of women and even resorted to fat-shaming.&nbsp;

"They’re like, 5’2”, 350 pounds, like, ‘Give me my abortions or I’ll get up and march and protest.’ And I’m thinking – march? You look like you got ankles weaker than the legal reasoning behind Roe v Wade."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/roe-v-wade-google-location-history-of-women-remains-vulnerable-youtube-to-censor-false-videos-on-abortion-499712">Roe v. Wade: Google location history of women remains vulnerable; YouTube to censor false videos on abortion</a>

He also gave unsolicited advice to the "odious" pro-life people: "A few of them need to get up and march. They need to get up and march for like an hour a day. Swing those arms, get the blood pumping, maybe mix in a salad.”

Feminist media outlet Jezebel slammed the speech and called it "cartoonishly misogynist". It points out that for Gaetz calling women unattractive is the "go-to schtick".&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/roe-vs-wade-overturn-10-year-old-rape-survivor-forced-to-travels-from-ohio-to-indiana-for-abortion-494457">Roe vs Wade overturn: 10-year-old rape survivor forced to travel from Ohio to Indiana for abortion</a>

Soon after the SCOTUS decision was leaked in May, he tweeted "How many of the women rallying against overturning Roe are over-educated, under-loved millennials who sadly return from protests to a lonely microwave dinner with their cats, and no bumble matches?"&nbsp;

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How many of the women rallying against overturning Roe are over-educated, under-loved millennials who sadly return from protests to a lonely microwave dinner with their cats, and no bumble matches?
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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A long-time ally of former US President Donald Trump, Gaetz as per a New York Times report paid a 17-year-old girl to have sex and travel with him.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A US conservative politician while speaking to college students at a gathering in Florida ridiculed the American pro-choice movement and said that ugly women shouldn't worry about an abortion.

A US conservative politician while speaking to college students at a gathering in Florida ridiculed the American pro-choice movement and said that ugly women shouldn't worry about an abortion. Matt Gaetz who himself is under federal investigation over charges of statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl and sex trafficking made the revolting statement while talking to a bunch of teenagers at a right-wing student conference in Tampa, Florida. Referring to the pro-choice rallies as "pro-murder" the Republican said: "Why is it that the women with the least likelihood of getting pregnant are the ones most worried about having abortions? Nobody wants to impregnate you if you look like a thumb." Watch | YouTube removes misleading content on abortion procedures He went on to make degrading comments on the bodies of women and even resorted to fat-shaming. "They’re like, 5’2”, 350 pounds, like, ‘Give me my abortions or I’ll get up and march and protest.’ And I’m thinking – march? You look like you got ankles weaker than the legal reasoning behind Roe v Wade." Also read | Roe v. Wade: Google location history of women remains vulnerable; YouTube to censor false videos on abortion He also gave unsolicited advice to the "odious" pro-life people: "A few of them need to get up and march. They need to get up and march for like an hour a day. Swing those arms, get the blood pumping, maybe mix in a salad.” Feminist media outlet Jezebel slammed the speech and called it "cartoonishly misogynist". It points out that for Gaetz calling women unattractive is the "go-to schtick". Also read | Roe vs Wade overturn: 10-year-old rape survivor forced to travel from Ohio to Indiana for abortion Soon after the SCOTUS decision was leaked in May, he tweeted "How many of the women rallying against overturning Roe are over-educated, under-loved millennials who sadly return from protests to a lonely microwave dinner with their cats, and no bumble matches?" How many of the women rallying against overturning Roe are over-educated, under-loved millennials who sadly return from protests to a lonely microwave dinner with their cats, and no bumble matches? — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) May 4, 2022 × A long-time ally of former US President Donald Trump, Gaetz as per a New York Times report paid a 17-year-old girl to have sex and travel with him. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Republican politician tells college students 'nobody wants to impregnate you if you look like a thumb'

In a passionate speech,&nbsp;Senator Cory&nbsp;Booker&nbsp;- the only African-American&nbsp;senator on the&nbsp;Senate Judiciary Committee, praised&nbsp;Supreme&nbsp;Court&nbsp;nominee&nbsp;Ketanji Brown&nbsp;Jackson, recalling the historical significance of&nbsp;her&nbsp;nomination and enthusiastically endorsing&nbsp;her&nbsp;candidacy.

As he spoke about&nbsp;her&nbsp;family and listed&nbsp;her&nbsp;career highlights, from Harvard Law School, to editor of the law review, to&nbsp;her&nbsp;legal internships, years as a public proseuctor, federal district judge and federal appellate judge,&nbsp;Booker&nbsp;beamed, saying he was embarrassed by the intense questioning by Republican&nbsp;senators and said he felt intense joy as he thought about&nbsp;her&nbsp;nomination.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-faith-are-you-asks-republican-graham-to-ketanji-brown-jackson-in-senate-hearing-464910">Republican Lindsey Graham draws flak after asking Ketanji Brown Jackson's religion during Senate hearing</a>

"I look at you, this is why I get emotional. I'm sorry. You're a person who is so much more than your race and gender," he said, as&nbsp;Jackson&nbsp;wiped away&nbsp;tears. "I see my ancestors and yours. Nobody is going to steal the joy of that woman in the street, or the calls that I'm getting or the texts. Nobody is going to steal that joy. You have earned this spot. You are worthy. You are a great American."

"It's not going to stop. They're going to accuse you of this and that. Heck, in honor of your person who shares your birthday (referring to former New York state&nbsp;senator Constance Baker Motley), you might be called a communist. But don't worry my sister. Don't worry. God has got you. And how do I know that?&nbsp;Because you're&nbsp;here and I know what it's taken for you to sit in that seat," he said.

Booker&nbsp;then compared&nbsp;Jackson&nbsp;to Harriet Tubman, a 19th-century escaped slave who risked&nbsp;her&nbsp;life to lead other&nbsp;slaves to freedom, saying&nbsp;Jackson&nbsp;was his "harbinger of hope."

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-black-woman-eyed-for-us-supreme-court-vows-to-uphold-democracy-be-independent-if-confirmed-464539">&nbsp;First black woman eyed for US supreme court vows to uphold democracy, be independent, if confirmed</a>

"I thought about&nbsp;her&nbsp;and how she looked up, she kept looking up. No matter what they did to&nbsp;her, she never stopped looking up. And that star, it was a harbinger of hope. Today, you are my star.&nbsp;You are my harbinger of hope&nbsp;This country is getting better and better and better. And when that final vote happens and you ascend onto the highest&nbsp;court&nbsp;of the land, I'm going to rejoice. And I'm going to tell you right now: the greatest country in the world, the United States of America will be better because of you. Thank you."

Jackson&nbsp;quietly responded, "Thank you," before the hearing took a short recess, before wrapping up&nbsp;her&nbsp;hearing Wednesday (March 23) night.

Outside experts scheduled for Thursday's final day of the hearing.

If confirmed,&nbsp;Jackson&nbsp;would be the 116th justice to serve on the high&nbsp;court, the sixth woman and the third Black person. With&nbsp;Jackson&nbsp;on the bench, the&nbsp;court&nbsp;for the first time would have four women and two Black justices.

Watch |&nbsp;US President Joe Biden arrives in Brussels, tighter sanctions against Russia likely

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In a passionate speech, Senator Cory Booker - the only African-American senator on the Senate Judiciary Committee, praised Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, recalling the historical significance of her nomination and enthusiastically endorsing her candidacy.

In a passionate speech, Senator Cory Booker - the only African-American senator on the Senate Judiciary Committee, praised Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, recalling the historical significance of her nomination and enthusiastically endorsing her candidacy. As he spoke about her family and listed her career highlights, from Harvard Law School, to editor of the law review, to her legal internships, years as a public proseuctor, federal district judge and federal appellate judge, Booker beamed, saying he was embarrassed by the intense questioning by Republican senators and said he felt intense joy as he thought about her nomination. Also read | Republican Lindsey Graham draws flak after asking Ketanji Brown Jackson's religion during Senate hearing "I look at you, this is why I get emotional. I'm sorry. You're a person who is so much more than your race and gender," he said, as Jackson wiped away tears. "I see my ancestors and yours. Nobody is going to steal the joy of that woman in the street, or the calls that I'm getting or the texts. Nobody is going to steal that joy. You have earned this spot. You are worthy. You are a great American." "It's not going to stop. They're going to accuse you of this and that. Heck, in honor of your person who shares your birthday (referring to former New York state senator Constance Baker Motley), you might be called a communist. But don't worry my sister. Don't worry. God has got you. And how do I know that? Because you're here and I know what it's taken for you to sit in that seat," he said. Booker then compared Jackson to Harriet Tubman, a 19th-century escaped slave who risked her life to lead other slaves to freedom, saying Jackson was his "harbinger of hope." Also read | First black woman eyed for US supreme court vows to uphold democracy, be independent, if confirmed "I thought about her and how she looked up, she kept looking up. No matter what they did to her, she never stopped looking up. And that star, it was a harbinger of hope. Today, you are my star. You are my harbinger of hope This country is getting better and better and better. And when that final vote happens and you ascend onto the highest court of the land, I'm going to rejoice. And I'm going to tell you right now: the greatest country in the world, the United States of America will be better because of you. Thank you." Jackson quietly responded, "Thank you," before the hearing took a short recess, before wrapping up her hearing Wednesday (March 23) night. Outside experts scheduled for Thursday's final day of the hearing. If confirmed, Jackson would be the 116th justice to serve on the high court, the sixth woman and the third Black person. With Jackson on the bench, the court for the first time would have four women and two Black justices. Watch | US President Joe Biden arrives in Brussels, tighter sanctions against Russia likely

Supreme Court nominee Jackson moved to tears as Sen. Booker tells her 'You are my harbinger of hope'

After a viral asset disclosure dust-up with the US top infectious disease expert. Republican lawmaker Roger Marshall has said that he plans to introduce legislation named after Dr. Fauci.

Republican lawmaker Roger Marshall says that he plans to introduce legislation named after Dr. Fauci

Former President Donald Trump returned Saturday to Arizona, a cradle of his political movement, to headline a rally in the desert that was a striking testament to how he has elevated fringe beliefs and the politicians who spread them — even as other Republicans openly worry that voters will ultimately punish their party for it.

Trump’s favored candidate for governor, Kari Lake, is a first-time office seeker who has threatened to jail the state’s top elections official. His chosen candidate to replace that elections official, a Democrat, is a state legislator named Mark Finchem, who was with a group of demonstrators outside the Capitol Jan. 6 as rioters tried to stop the certification of the 2020 election. And one of his most unflinching defenders in Congress is Rep. Paul Gosar, who was censured by his colleagues for posting an animated video online that depicted him killing a Democratic congresswoman and assaulting President Joe Biden.

All three spoke at Trump’s rally in front of thousands of supporters on Saturday in the town of Florence, outside Phoenix. It was the first stadium-style political event he has held so far in this midterm election year in which he will try to deepen his imprint on Republicans running for office at all levels.

When Trump took the stage in the evening, he lavished praise on the slate of election-denier candidates in attendance. And he suggested that perpetuating his grievances about being cheated would be a decisive issue for Republican candidates.

“We can’t let them get away with it,” Trump said. Then, he added, referring to Lake and her rejection of the 2020 results: “I think it’s one of the reasons she’s doing so well.”

But as popular as the former president remains with the core of the GOP’s base, his involvement in races from Arizona to Pennsylvania — and his inability to let go of his loss to Biden — has veteran Republicans in Washington and beyond concerned. They worry that Trump is imperiling their chances in what should be a highly advantageous political climate, with Democrats deeply divided over their policy agenda and Americans taking a generally pessimistic view of Biden’s leadership a year into his presidency.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, and other senior party officials have expressed their misgivings in recent days about Trump’s fixation on the last election, saying that it threatens to alienate the voters they need to win over in the next election in November.

Those worries are particularly acute in Arizona, where the far-right, Trump-endorsed candidates could prove too extreme in a state that moved Democratic in the last election as voters came out in large numbers to oppose Trump. The myth of widespread voter fraud is animating Arizona campaigns in several races, alarming Republicans who argue that indulging the former president’s misrepresentations and falsehoods about 2020 is jeopardizing the party’s long-term competitiveness.

“I’ve never seen so many Republicans running in a primary for governor, attorney general, Senate,” said Chuck Coughlin, a Republican consultant who has worked on statewide races in Arizona for two decades. “Usually you get two, maybe three. But not five.”

At the rally on Saturday, every speaker who took the stage before Trump repeated a version of the false assertion that the vote in Arizona in 2020 was fraudulent. Gosar, the congressman, did so in perhaps the darkest language, invoking the image of a building storm, a metaphor commonly used by followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory. And he called for people involved in counting ballots in Arizona in 2020 to be imprisoned.

“Lock them up,” Gosar told the crowd. “That election was rotten to the core.”

For Republicans who are concerned about Trump’s influence on candidates they believe are unelectable, the basic math of such crowded primaries is difficult to stomach. A winner could prevail with just one-third of the total vote — which makes it more than likely a far-right candidate who is unpalatable to the broader electorate can win the nomination largely on Trump’s endorsement.

Conservative activists in Arizona have long supplied Trump with the energy and ideas that formed the foundation of his political movement. In 2011, when the real estate developer and reality television star was testing the waters for a possible presidential campaign, his interest in the conspiracy theories that claimed former President Barack Obama’s birth certificate was a forgery led him to Arizona Tea Party activists and a state legislator. They were pushing for a state law to require that political candidates produce their birth certificates before qualifying for the ballot. Trump invited them to Trump Tower.

One of those activists, Kelly Townsend, now a state senator, spoke to the crowd Saturday and praised those who sought to delegitimize Biden’s win.

Arizona has been a hotbed of distortions about the 2020 election. Allies of the former president demanded an audit in the state’s largest county, insisting that the official outcome had been compromised by fraud. But when the results of the review were released — in a report both commissioned and produced by Trump supporters — it ended up showing that he actually received 261 fewer votes than first thought.

Still, the myth lives on. And those who question it quickly become targets of the former president and his allies. They have attacked two prominent Arizona Republicans — Gov. Doug Ducey and state Attorney General Mark Brnovich for their roles in Arizona’s formal certification of its election results.

“He’s never going to get my endorsement, I can tell you that,” Trump said of Ducey.

Even those who have resisted going along with Trump’s false claims have been unable to completely duck the issue when faced with pressure from the president and his supporters.

When a group of 18 Republican attorneys general signed onto a far-fetched lawsuit from their counterpart in Texas that sought to delay the certification of the vote in four battleground states that Trump lost, Brnovich did not join his colleagues. He declared at the time that the “rule of law” should prevail over politics. But as a candidate for Senate who still occupies the office of the attorney general, he has investigated claims of fraud at the behest of Trump supporters.

As speaker after speaker attacked the credibility of the vote Saturday — those with Trump’s official imprimatur were announced as “Trump endorsed” — several also called on the state Legislature to retroactively vote to overturn Biden’s win. Trump’s allies said they expect the issue to take on more urgency in the coming weeks, even though it would have no legal or practical impact.

“Arizona is a red state,” said state Sen. Wendy Rogers, leading the crowd on a “Decertify” chant. “We are not turning purple.”

Former President Donald Trump returned Saturday to Arizona, a cradle of his political movement, to headline a rally in the desert that was a striking testament to how he has elevated fringe beliefs and the politicians who spread them — even as other Republicans openly worry that voters will ultimately punish their party for it.

Former President Donald Trump returned Saturday to Arizona, a cradle of his political movement, to headline a rally in the desert that was a striking testament to how he has elevated fringe beliefs and the politicians who spread them — even as other Republicans openly worry that voters will ultimately punish their party for it. Trump’s favored candidate for governor, Kari Lake, is a first-time office seeker who has threatened to jail the state’s top elections official. His chosen candidate to replace that elections official, a Democrat, is a state legislator named Mark Finchem, who was with a group of demonstrators outside the Capitol Jan. 6 as rioters tried to stop the certification of the 2020 election. And one of his most unflinching defenders in Congress is Rep. Paul Gosar, who was censured by his colleagues for posting an animated video online that depicted him killing a Democratic congresswoman and assaulting President Joe Biden. All three spoke at Trump’s rally in front of thousands of supporters on Saturday in the town of Florence, outside Phoenix. It was the first stadium-style political event he has held so far in this midterm election year in which he will try to deepen his imprint on Republicans running for office at all levels. When Trump took the stage in the evening, he lavished praise on the slate of election-denier candidates in attendance. And he suggested that perpetuating his grievances about being cheated would be a decisive issue for Republican candidates. “We can’t let them get away with it,” Trump said. Then, he added, referring to Lake and her rejection of the 2020 results: “I think it’s one of the reasons she’s doing so well.” But as popular as the former president remains with the core of the GOP’s base, his involvement in races from Arizona to Pennsylvania — and his inability to let go of his loss to Biden — has veteran Republicans in Washington and beyond concerned. They worry that Trump is imperiling their chances in what should be a highly advantageous political climate, with Democrats deeply divided over their policy agenda and Americans taking a generally pessimistic view of Biden’s leadership a year into his presidency. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, and other senior party officials have expressed their misgivings in recent days about Trump’s fixation on the last election, saying that it threatens to alienate the voters they need to win over in the next election in November. Those worries are particularly acute in Arizona, where the far-right, Trump-endorsed candidates could prove too extreme in a state that moved Democratic in the last election as voters came out in large numbers to oppose Trump. The myth of widespread voter fraud is animating Arizona campaigns in several races, alarming Republicans who argue that indulging the former president’s misrepresentations and falsehoods about 2020 is jeopardizing the party’s long-term competitiveness. “I’ve never seen so many Republicans running in a primary for governor, attorney general, Senate,” said Chuck Coughlin, a Republican consultant who has worked on statewide races in Arizona for two decades. “Usually you get two, maybe three. But not five.” At the rally on Saturday, every speaker who took the stage before Trump repeated a version of the false assertion that the vote in Arizona in 2020 was fraudulent. Gosar, the congressman, did so in perhaps the darkest language, invoking the image of a building storm, a metaphor commonly used by followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory. And he called for people involved in counting ballots in Arizona in 2020 to be imprisoned. “Lock them up,” Gosar told the crowd. “That election was rotten to the core.” For Republicans who are concerned about Trump’s influence on candidates they believe are unelectable, the basic math of such crowded primaries is difficult to stomach. A winner could prevail with just one-third of the total vote — which makes it more than likely a far-right candidate who is unpalatable to the broader electorate can win the nomination largely on Trump’s endorsement. Conservative activists in Arizona have long supplied Trump with the energy and ideas that formed the foundation of his political movement. In 2011, when the real estate developer and reality television star was testing the waters for a possible presidential campaign, his interest in the conspiracy theories that claimed former President Barack Obama’s birth certificate was a forgery led him to Arizona Tea Party activists and a state legislator. They were pushing for a state law to require that political candidates produce their birth certificates before qualifying for the ballot. Trump invited them to Trump Tower. One of those activists, Kelly Townsend, now a state senator, spoke to the crowd Saturday and praised those who sought to delegitimize Biden’s win. Arizona has been a hotbed of distortions about the 2020 election. Allies of the former president demanded an audit in the state’s largest county, insisting that the official outcome had been compromised by fraud. But when the results of the review were released — in a report both commissioned and produced by Trump supporters — it ended up showing that he actually received 261 fewer votes than first thought. Still, the myth lives on. And those who question it quickly become targets of the former president and his allies. They have attacked two prominent Arizona Republicans — Gov. Doug Ducey and state Attorney General Mark Brnovich for their roles in Arizona’s formal certification of its election results. “He’s never going to get my endorsement, I can tell you that,” Trump said of Ducey. Even those who have resisted going along with Trump’s false claims have been unable to completely duck the issue when faced with pressure from the president and his supporters. When a group of 18 Republican attorneys general signed onto a far-fetched lawsuit from their counterpart in Texas that sought to delay the certification of the vote in four battleground states that Trump lost, Brnovich did not join his colleagues. He declared at the time that the “rule of law” should prevail over politics. But as a candidate for Senate who still occupies the office of the attorney general, he has investigated claims of fraud at the behest of Trump supporters. As speaker after speaker attacked the credibility of the vote Saturday — those with Trump’s official imprimatur were announced as “Trump endorsed” — several also called on the state Legislature to retroactively vote to overturn Biden’s win. Trump’s allies said they expect the issue to take on more urgency in the coming weeks, even though it would have no legal or practical impact. “Arizona is a red state,” said state Sen. Wendy Rogers, leading the crowd on a “Decertify” chant. “We are not turning purple.”

Trump rally underscores Republican tension over how to win in 2022

Hostilities between the Republican far right and its typically muted center burst into the open Tuesday, highlighting deep divisions that could bedevil the party’s leaders if they capture a narrow majority in the House in 2022.

Initially prompted by the anti-Muslim comments of Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, the Republican-on-Republican war of words Tuesday was remarkably bitter and an indication of a brewing power struggle between an ascendant faction that styles itself after former President Donald Trump and a quieter one that is pushing back.

First, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia called her freshman colleague Nancy Mace of South Carolina “trash” for condemning Boebert’s remarks in a television interview.

Mace then used a series of emojis — a bat, a pile of excrement and a crazy clown — to describe Greene, then kept up a steady stream of social media attacks, calling her a liar, a grifter and a nut.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, came to Mace’s defense, calling Greene “unserious circus barker McSpacelaser” — a reference to a social media post that she once circulated suggesting that wildfires in the West had been started by lasers owned by the Rothschilds, a Jewish banking family.

Kinzinger added that Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader and would-be speaker who has done nothing to discipline rank-and-file members of his conference for bigoted and violent statements, “continues his silent streak that would make a monk blush.”

Then Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, an ally of Greene’s, took to Twitter to amplify an attack by right-wing provocateur Jack Posobiec denouncing Mace as a “scam artist” for promoting coronavirus vaccinations on CNN.

The carnivallike behavior would amount to little more than a sideshow if it did not have real implications for midterm campaigns and, possibly, a fractured Republican majority in 2023. Party leaders again chose to remain mum as their backbenchers brawled, and Democrats took full advantage of the spectacle.

“The atmosphere is what it has been and what has been created by the Republican Party over the last 50 years, where they have continued to move down the path of divisiveness, of acrimony, of threats and accusations, which have demeaned the politics of America,” Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the majority leader, told reporters.

He again called on Republican leaders to discipline their members, referring to the episode that touched off the hostilities: public comments by Boebert in which she suggested that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a Muslim who wears a hijab, could be a suicide bomber and called her a member of the “jihad squad.”

The House’s three Muslim lawmakers — Omar and Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and André Carson of Indiana, all Democrats — suggested that their party was looking at options to sanction Boebert.

“Muslims in this country are proud Americans, hardworking members of our community,” Carson said. “And we are not anyone’s scapegoat.”

These should be heady days for House Republicans. Off-year elections in November showed real disenchantment with Democratic control of the House, Senate and White House. Redistricting in Republican-controlled state legislatures has given the party a running start to win the four or five seats it needs to control the House, and polling suggests that a narrow plurality of Americans would rather have Republicans in control of Congress. Given the party’s structural advantages on redistricting, access to polls and enthusiasm, that suggests a much broader victory would be at hand if the voting were today.

Michael Steel, a former spokesperson for Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, a former Republican speaker, said the party’s leaders should be working behind the scenes to calm dissent and keep members focused on building a platform and an argument for control.

“The top priority right now should be for everyone in the canoe to have their rifles pointing outward, not at each other,” Steel said. “And the focus should be on addition, not subtraction. That means keeping all the frogs in the wheelbarrow, even if some of those frogs are pretty ugly.”

Instead, Republicans are stepping on their own message. On Tuesday, CNN unearthed another video of Boebert from September, when she said she turned to Omar and referred to the “jihad squad,” again insinuating that she could be a suicide bomber.

Omar has said that no such confrontation occurred. During a call initiated by Boebert Monday — ostensibly to offer contrition — the situation only devolved further, as Boebert refused to apologize and instead demanded that Omar publicly ask forgiveness for “anti-American” comments.

Democrats were not the only ones who condemned Boebert’s behavior. Mace, a highly regarded newcomer and the first woman to graduate from the Citadel military college, appeared on CNN to say, “I have time after time condemned my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for racist tropes and remarks that I find disgusting, and this is no different than any others.”

Greene, who like Boebert is a favorite of Trump’s, criticized Mace on social media and on Steve Bannon’s broadcast, “War Room,” and condemned Republican leaders.

“They’re always all over us whenever we say or do anything, but it’s the Nancy Maces that should be called out,” Greene told Bannon. She added that she, not Mace, represented the Republican base, a comment seconded by others on the far right, including Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona.

Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., defended Mace.

“Nancy is a serious legislator who rolls up her sleeves and looks for solutions where they can be found, such as federal cannabis decriminalization, but also digs in and fights when progressives put politics above policy,” Meijer said. “I can’t think of a single credible thing those attacking her have even tried to accomplish.”

Republican leaders were left pointing fingers at their Democratic counterparts, who they said had also taken no action against members who had crossed lines, whether through anti-Israel comments or exhortations to protesters that they said encouraged violence.

Hoyer did say that McCarthy reached out to him to say Boebert wanted to apologize to Omar, an overture that Hoyer said would not end well. He was proved correct.

McCarthy finds himself in a delicate position. He does not know how large a majority his party might win in November, especially since much of the redistricting has focused on shoring up incumbent advantages than creating more competitive races. A sweeping Republican win would allow him to write off the votes of his party’s fringe.

But if Republicans claim a narrow majority, McCarthy would need virtually all of the conference’s votes to claim the speakership, a prize he has sought for nearly a decade. The far right brought down Boehner in 2015, and Republican divisions over the prospects of McCarthy’s speakership sunk his last run for the post weeks later.

A handful of members, including Greene, have been cool to the idea of granting him the gavel should his party claim the majority. 
&nbsp;

Hostilities between the Republican far right and its typically muted center burst into the open Tuesday, highlighting deep divisions that could bedevil the party’s leaders if they capture a narrow majority in the House in 2022.

Hostilities between the Republican far right and its typically muted center burst into the open Tuesday, highlighting deep divisions that could bedevil the party’s leaders if they capture a narrow majority in the House in 2022. Initially prompted by the anti-Muslim comments of Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, the Republican-on-Republican war of words Tuesday was remarkably bitter and an indication of a brewing power struggle between an ascendant faction that styles itself after former President Donald Trump and a quieter one that is pushing back. First, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia called her freshman colleague Nancy Mace of South Carolina “trash” for condemning Boebert’s remarks in a television interview. Mace then used a series of emojis — a bat, a pile of excrement and a crazy clown — to describe Greene, then kept up a steady stream of social media attacks, calling her a liar, a grifter and a nut. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, came to Mace’s defense, calling Greene “unserious circus barker McSpacelaser” — a reference to a social media post that she once circulated suggesting that wildfires in the West had been started by lasers owned by the Rothschilds, a Jewish banking family. Kinzinger added that Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader and would-be speaker who has done nothing to discipline rank-and-file members of his conference for bigoted and violent statements, “continues his silent streak that would make a monk blush.” Then Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, an ally of Greene’s, took to Twitter to amplify an attack by right-wing provocateur Jack Posobiec denouncing Mace as a “scam artist” for promoting coronavirus vaccinations on CNN. The carnivallike behavior would amount to little more than a sideshow if it did not have real implications for midterm campaigns and, possibly, a fractured Republican majority in 2023. Party leaders again chose to remain mum as their backbenchers brawled, and Democrats took full advantage of the spectacle. “The atmosphere is what it has been and what has been created by the Republican Party over the last 50 years, where they have continued to move down the path of divisiveness, of acrimony, of threats and accusations, which have demeaned the politics of America,” Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the majority leader, told reporters. He again called on Republican leaders to discipline their members, referring to the episode that touched off the hostilities: public comments by Boebert in which she suggested that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a Muslim who wears a hijab, could be a suicide bomber and called her a member of the “jihad squad.” The House’s three Muslim lawmakers — Omar and Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and André Carson of Indiana, all Democrats — suggested that their party was looking at options to sanction Boebert. “Muslims in this country are proud Americans, hardworking members of our community,” Carson said. “And we are not anyone’s scapegoat.” These should be heady days for House Republicans. Off-year elections in November showed real disenchantment with Democratic control of the House, Senate and White House. Redistricting in Republican-controlled state legislatures has given the party a running start to win the four or five seats it needs to control the House, and polling suggests that a narrow plurality of Americans would rather have Republicans in control of Congress. Given the party’s structural advantages on redistricting, access to polls and enthusiasm, that suggests a much broader victory would be at hand if the voting were today. Michael Steel, a former spokesperson for Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, a former Republican speaker, said the party’s leaders should be working behind the scenes to calm dissent and keep members focused on building a platform and an argument for control. “The top priority right now should be for everyone in the canoe to have their rifles pointing outward, not at each other,” Steel said. “And the focus should be on addition, not subtraction. That means keeping all the frogs in the wheelbarrow, even if some of those frogs are pretty ugly.” Instead, Republicans are stepping on their own message. On Tuesday, CNN unearthed another video of Boebert from September, when she said she turned to Omar and referred to the “jihad squad,” again insinuating that she could be a suicide bomber. Omar has said that no such confrontation occurred. During a call initiated by Boebert Monday — ostensibly to offer contrition — the situation only devolved further, as Boebert refused to apologize and instead demanded that Omar publicly ask forgiveness for “anti-American” comments. Democrats were not the only ones who condemned Boebert’s behavior. Mace, a highly regarded newcomer and the first woman to graduate from the Citadel military college, appeared on CNN to say, “I have time after time condemned my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for racist tropes and remarks that I find disgusting, and this is no different than any others.” Greene, who like Boebert is a favorite of Trump’s, criticized Mace on social media and on Steve Bannon’s broadcast, “War Room,” and condemned Republican leaders. “They’re always all over us whenever we say or do anything, but it’s the Nancy Maces that should be called out,” Greene told Bannon. She added that she, not Mace, represented the Republican base, a comment seconded by others on the far right, including Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona. Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., defended Mace. “Nancy is a serious legislator who rolls up her sleeves and looks for solutions where they can be found, such as federal cannabis decriminalization, but also digs in and fights when progressives put politics above policy,” Meijer said. “I can’t think of a single credible thing those attacking her have even tried to accomplish.” Republican leaders were left pointing fingers at their Democratic counterparts, who they said had also taken no action against members who had crossed lines, whether through anti-Israel comments or exhortations to protesters that they said encouraged violence. Hoyer did say that McCarthy reached out to him to say Boebert wanted to apologize to Omar, an overture that Hoyer said would not end well. He was proved correct. McCarthy finds himself in a delicate position. He does not know how large a majority his party might win in November, especially since much of the redistricting has focused on shoring up incumbent advantages than creating more competitive races. A sweeping Republican win would allow him to write off the votes of his party’s fringe. But if Republicans claim a narrow majority, McCarthy would need virtually all of the conference’s votes to claim the speakership, a prize he has sought for nearly a decade. The far right brought down Boehner in 2015, and Republican divisions over the prospects of McCarthy’s speakership sunk his last run for the post weeks later. A handful of members, including Greene, have been cool to the idea of granting him the gavel should his party claim the majority.

Republican recriminations point to a rocky path to a House majority

For the first time in over a decade, the US House of Representatives have censured a member on Wednesday. &nbsp;

The House criticised the Republican lawmaker over an anime video. In the clip, Representative Paul Gosar was depicted killing progressive Democrat Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and swinging two swords at US President Joe Biden. &nbsp;

In the Democratic-controlled House, Gosar was called to the stand in the well of the chamber to hear his censure. He was also stripped of two committee assignments after the 223-207 largely party-line vote.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/days-after-promising-to-fight-climate-change-us-auctions-off-oil-and-gas-drilling-lease-in-gulf-of-mexico-430125" hreflang="en">Days after promising to fight climate change, US auctions off oil and gas drilling lease in Gulf of Mexico</a>&nbsp;

This move got only two votes of support from Republicans. The party largely decried the action by the Democrats as partisan politics.&nbsp;This month, Gosar had posted the anime video. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In debate before the vote, Ocasio-Cortez asked, "What is so hard about saying this is wrong? Will we live up to the promises that we make our children, that this is a place where we will defend one another regardless of belief, that our core human dignity matters?" &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-will-soon-be-capable-of-launching-a-surprise-nuke-attack-on-us-warns-top-military-official-430166" hreflang="en">China will soon be capable of launching a surprise nuke attack on US, warns top military official</a>

Gosar, who is a staunch Trump ally and hardline conservative, rejected the accusations that the video was "dangerous or threatening." &nbsp;

"There is no threat in the cartoon other than the threat that immigration poses to our country," Gosar said, while adding that he did not also advocate violence towards anyone. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

For the first time in over a decade, the US House of Representatives have censured a member on Wednesday. The House criticised the Republican lawmaker over an anime video.

For the first time in over a decade, the US House of Representatives have censured a member on Wednesday. The House criticised the Republican lawmaker over an anime video. In the clip, Representative Paul Gosar was depicted killing progressive Democrat Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and swinging two swords at US President Joe Biden. In the Democratic-controlled House, Gosar was called to the stand in the well of the chamber to hear his censure. He was also stripped of two committee assignments after the 223-207 largely party-line vote. Also Read: Days after promising to fight climate change, US auctions off oil and gas drilling lease in Gulf of Mexico This move got only two votes of support from Republicans. The party largely decried the action by the Democrats as partisan politics. This month, Gosar had posted the anime video. In debate before the vote, Ocasio-Cortez asked, "What is so hard about saying this is wrong? Will we live up to the promises that we make our children, that this is a place where we will defend one another regardless of belief, that our core human dignity matters?" Also Read: China will soon be capable of launching a surprise nuke attack on US, warns top military official Gosar, who is a staunch Trump ally and hardline conservative, rejected the accusations that the video was "dangerous or threatening." "There is no threat in the cartoon other than the threat that immigration poses to our country," Gosar said, while adding that he did not also advocate violence towards anyone. (With inputs from agencies)

US House censures Republican Paul Gosar for posting violent anime video of killing Democrat

Former US president Barack Obama urged voters on Saturday to back the Democrat in a neck-and-neck state election touted as a test of the party's prospects in next year's midterm elections -&nbsp;casting the Republican as a threat to democracy.

Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who is vying for a second term as Virginia's governor, has seen his lead extinguished in recent polls and is in a dead heat with Republican Glenn Youngkin ahead of the November 2 vote.

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Obama told a cheering crowd of several hundred rapt supporters at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond that Youngkin would cut teaching jobs, restrict abortion access and back Donald Trump's fraudulent campaign to convince Americans that the last election was stolen from him by President Joe Biden.

"As far as I can tell, the big message of Terry's opponent is that he's a regular guy because he wears a fleece. And he's accusing schools of brainwashing our kids," Obama said,

"He's also said he wanted to audit the voting machines used in the last presidential election again. Really? Encouraging the lies and conspiracy theories that we've had to live through all this time? And yeah, we're supposed to believe he's going to stand up for our democracy ?"

The McAuliffe camp fears turnout among supporters in an off-year election may be low and has brought in some of the party's heavy hitters in the final stretch, including First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden won Virginia by 10 points in 2020 and the last time Republicans won a statewide race there was 2009.

But the McAuliffe-Youngkin battle has been tightening, with a survey released this week by Monmouth University showing the Democrat's earlier lead evaporating.&nbsp;

A McAuliffe win would boost Washington Democrats' push for twin infrastructure and social welfare mega-bills that are the cornerstone of Biden's vision for remaking the economy.

But a loss could spook moderates already nervous over the high price tag, which they are trying to chisel down from a combined total of almost $5 trillion to around $3 trillion.

Harbinger&nbsp;

Party chiefs hope Obama, still the most popular Democrat on the national stage five years after leaving office, will galvanize Black voters, a key constituency in Virginia.&nbsp;

"I'm here today because I believe Virginia will make the right choice. I believe America, ultimately, will make the right choice," Obama told the crowd of a few hundred cheering supporters.&nbsp;

"I believe you right here in Virginia are going to show the rest of the country, and the world, that we're not going to indulge in our worst instincts. We're not going to go back to the past that did so much damage, we're going to move forward with people like Terry leading the way."

The first genuinely competitive election since Biden took office is expected to be a harbinger of the national political landscape ahead of next year's midterm elections.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-warns-climate-poses-emerging-threat-to-financial-system-422957">US warns climate poses ‘emerging threat’ to financial system</a>

Wedged between the Washington suburbs in northern Virginia, a Democratic stronghold, and the state's conservative south and southwest, Richmond could go either way.

McAuliffe, 64, has tried to make the race a referendum on twice-impeached Trump.

Youngkin, 10 years his junior, has focused on the fight over schools, with Republicans railing against mask mandates and running ads showing McAuliffe saying he doesn't want parents involved in education.&nbsp;

&nbsp;'Resurgence of Trumpism'&nbsp;

In a delicate high-wire act, Youngkin has been trying to conjure the spirit of Trump while not specifically endorsing his false election fraud claims that are backed by the majority of Republicans. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The former president has not visited, although he called in to a pro-Youngkin "Take Back Virginia Rally" on October 13 featuring former White House advisor Steve Bannon and other prominent promoters of Trump's election fraud lies.

McAuliffe, who took the stage before Obama, pledged to work with "Reasonable Republicans" to improve the lives of Virginians.

"I'll work with you, but let me make one thing perfectly clear today. Glenn Youngkin is not a reasonable Republican. I call him Donald Trump in khakis," he told the crowd of a few hundred.

"Do we want a lapdog for Donald Trump to be our governor here in the Commonwealth? No we don't."

Former US president Barack Obama urged voters on Saturday to back the Democrat in a neck-and-neck state election touted as a test of the party's prospects in next year's midterm elections - casting the Republican as a threat to democracy.

Former US president Barack Obama urged voters on Saturday to back the Democrat in a neck-and-neck state election touted as a test of the party's prospects in next year's midterm elections - casting the Republican as a threat to democracy. Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who is vying for a second term as Virginia's governor, has seen his lead extinguished in recent polls and is in a dead heat with Republican Glenn Youngkin ahead of the November 2 vote. Also Read | Donald Trump, banned on Twitter and FB, to launch his own social network Obama told a cheering crowd of several hundred rapt supporters at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond that Youngkin would cut teaching jobs, restrict abortion access and back Donald Trump's fraudulent campaign to convince Americans that the last election was stolen from him by President Joe Biden. "As far as I can tell, the big message of Terry's opponent is that he's a regular guy because he wears a fleece. And he's accusing schools of brainwashing our kids," Obama said, "He's also said he wanted to audit the voting machines used in the last presidential election again. Really? Encouraging the lies and conspiracy theories that we've had to live through all this time? And yeah, we're supposed to believe he's going to stand up for our democracy ?" The McAuliffe camp fears turnout among supporters in an off-year election may be low and has brought in some of the party's heavy hitters in the final stretch, including First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden won Virginia by 10 points in 2020 and the last time Republicans won a statewide race there was 2009. But the McAuliffe-Youngkin battle has been tightening, with a survey released this week by Monmouth University showing the Democrat's earlier lead evaporating. A McAuliffe win would boost Washington Democrats' push for twin infrastructure and social welfare mega-bills that are the cornerstone of Biden's vision for remaking the economy. But a loss could spook moderates already nervous over the high price tag, which they are trying to chisel down from a combined total of almost $5 trillion to around $3 trillion. Harbinger Party chiefs hope Obama, still the most popular Democrat on the national stage five years after leaving office, will galvanize Black voters, a key constituency in Virginia. "I'm here today because I believe Virginia will make the right choice. I believe America, ultimately, will make the right choice," Obama told the crowd of a few hundred cheering supporters. "I believe you right here in Virginia are going to show the rest of the country, and the world, that we're not going to indulge in our worst instincts. We're not going to go back to the past that did so much damage, we're going to move forward with people like Terry leading the way." The first genuinely competitive election since Biden took office is expected to be a harbinger of the national political landscape ahead of next year's midterm elections. Also Read | US warns climate poses ‘emerging threat’ to financial system Wedged between the Washington suburbs in northern Virginia, a Democratic stronghold, and the state's conservative south and southwest, Richmond could go either way. McAuliffe, 64, has tried to make the race a referendum on twice-impeached Trump. Youngkin, 10 years his junior, has focused on the fight over schools, with Republicans railing against mask mandates and running ads showing McAuliffe saying he doesn't want parents involved in education. 'Resurgence of Trumpism' In a delicate high-wire act, Youngkin has been trying to conjure the spirit of Trump while not specifically endorsing his false election fraud claims that are backed by the majority of Republicans. The former president has not visited, although he called in to a pro-Youngkin "Take Back Virginia Rally" on October 13 featuring former White House advisor Steve Bannon and other prominent promoters of Trump's election fraud lies. McAuliffe, who took the stage before Obama, pledged to work with "Reasonable Republicans" to improve the lives of Virginians. "I'll work with you, but let me make one thing perfectly clear today. Glenn Youngkin is not a reasonable Republican. I call him Donald Trump in khakis," he told the crowd of a few hundred. "Do we want a lapdog for Donald Trump to be our governor here in the Commonwealth? No we don't."

Obama warns of Republican threat to democracy in US battleground Virginia

Business groups and some Senate Republicans — working at cross-purposes with Republican leaders in the House — have mounted an all-out drive to secure GOP votes for a bipartisan infrastructure bill before a final vote Thursday.

Although the measure is the product of a compromise among moderates in both parties, House Republican leaders are leaning on their members to reject the $1 trillion infrastructure bill by disparaging its contents and arguing that it will only pave the way for Democrats to push through their far larger climate change and social policy bill.

Their opposition has ratcheted up pressure on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has the more progressive members of her Democratic caucus threatening to withhold their support for the infrastructure package until Congress acts on that broader bill. If Republicans unite in opposition, Pelosi can afford to lose as few as three Democrats on the bill.

But some Republican senators who helped write the bill, along with influential business groups that support it — including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable — have started a countereffort to try to persuade House Republicans to back the legislation.

“It’s a good bill; it’s right there for the country, so I’m encouraging Republicans to support it,” said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and one of the bill’s negotiators, who said he was working the phones hard. “There’ll be some that have told me they will, but they’re under a lot of pressure.”

How the conflicting pressure campaigns play out could determine the fate of the infrastructure bill. On Tuesday, liberal Democrats accused Pelosi of a betrayal for abandoning her promise that the House would not take up the infrastructure bill until after the Senate secured passage of the larger measure.

While Democratic leaders are working hard to secure as many of those liberal votes as possible, they know defections will have to be made up by House Republicans.

“I’d say the bill is likely to pass, but it’s going to be a squeaker,” Neil Bradley, an executive vice president and chief policy officer for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who once worked for House Republican leadership, said Tuesday.

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., who runs his party’s vote-pressuring operation in the House, is closely tracking which Republicans intend to vote for the infrastructure bill.

“We’re working to keep that number as low as we possibly can,” he said.

A few House Republicans who are members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus have announced their support for the measure, including Reps. Tom Reed of New York, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Don Bacon of Nebraska. On Monday, Rep. Don Young of Alaska, the longest-serving member of the House, announced his support with an impassioned speech on the House floor.

But so far, such declarations are few. On Wednesday, Third Way, a centrist Democratic group with corporate backing, released a testy letter its president had written to 26 Republican “Problem Solvers” — only one of whom, Bacon, has indicated he is a “yes” vote — demanding they live up to their name.

“You have run for office and raised campaign funds on the promise that you are there to solve the nation’s problems and put country over party,” wrote Third Way’s president, Jonathan Cowan. “Anything other than declaring your support now and voting for the bill, in turn, would signal clearly to your constituents that you support nothing more than faux bipartisanship.”

Moderate Democrats say other supporters may surface — maybe as many as 20 Republican votes — if Pelosi can win over enough liberals to keep it close. But with a Thursday vote looming, time is running out.

Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican from Michigan and one of the “Problem Solvers” who received the letter, said he had heard from Republicans on both sides of the issue, and, “the consensus is: better both fail.”

President Joe Biden "saddling infrastructure with this $3.5 trillion albatross around its neck was a poison pill for those of us who wanted a bipartisan solution,” he said.

The infrastructure bill is an unusual phenomenon in a starkly polarized Congress: a truly bipartisan and significant bill, hammered out by Democrats and Republicans before it passed the Senate last month with 69 votes, 19 of them Republican, including that of the minority leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

With $550 billion in new federal spending, the measure would provide $65 billion to expand high-speed internet access; $110 billion for roads, bridges and other projects; $25 billion for airports; and the most funding for Amtrak since the passenger rail service was founded in 1971. It would also renew and revamp existing infrastructure and transportation programs set to expire Friday.

But because House Democratic leaders have at least verbally packaged it with a larger, $3.5 trillion climate change and social policy bill, it has been caught up in the politics of that measure — and broader Republican efforts to thwart Biden’s agenda.

Scalise put it in the loftiest of terms Tuesday: “This week, we’re going to see an epic battle play out between free-market capitalism and big-government socialism. That’s what’s at stake.”

With Democrats publicly feuding over Biden’s agenda, senior Republicans have little interest in having their rank and file bail Pelosi out of her predicament.

“The legislative crisis that’s before her is one of her own creation that she needs the progressives to bail her out of,” said Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee.

Supporters of the infrastructure bill are trying to stay cleareyed about the bill’s merits, not the broader politics.

“It’s true people have been rhetorically linking the two, but really they aren’t,” Bradley said. “If that vote passes, the bill goes to the president for his signature.”

And they argue that House Republicans are making the wrong political calculation about the infrastructure measure. GOP leaders have warned that the bill is a Trojan horse whose passage would only increase the chances of Democrats passing the more costly plan that Biden calls his Build Back Better agenda, which is packed with expansions of social safety net programs, initiatives to combat climate change and tax increases on corporations and the wealthy.

“I just think it’s not accurate,” Portman said.

Instead, some proponents of the infrastructure measure see its passage as a potential setback for the bigger plan. They argue that the enactment of the infrastructure bill could sap progressives of their leverage to dictate the terms of the more ambitious and costly piece of their agenda.

Joshua Bolten, a former White House chief of staff for George W. Bush who is president of the Business Roundtable, said the chief executives’ organization was pushing for the bill’s passage, running radio and social media ads in Republican districts and pressing for meetings with lawmakers.

“This is a really good bill. It’s urgently needed. It will have a dramatic effect on the productivity of U.S. economy. It’s investment really well spent,” he said Tuesday. “Pass it now and have the fight over the other bill later.”

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said he had lobbied every member of his state’s delegation to support the measure.

“I can’t predict where they will end up, but I’m certainly encouraging people to consider the merits of the bill as opposed to worrying about what outside observers have to say,” he said.

In this case, House Republican leaders appear to be heeding pressure from conservative groups, which have disparaged the infrastructure bill as bloated with spending that goes far beyond its stated purpose. And they predict that moderate Democrats who have pressed for its passage will be angered enough by its demise that they will exact revenge by bringing down the social policy bill.

“This is a desperate administration looking for a win to distract Americans from the Biden-caused crises, both home and abroad, while opening the floodgates to trillions more in spending to come,” said Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas.

Business groups and some Senate Republicans — working at cross-purposes with Republican leaders in the House — have mounted an all-out drive to secure GOP votes for a bipartisan infrastructure bill before a final vote Thursday.

Business groups and some Senate Republicans — working at cross-purposes with Republican leaders in the House — have mounted an all-out drive to secure GOP votes for a bipartisan infrastructure bill before a final vote Thursday. Although the measure is the product of a compromise among moderates in both parties, House Republican leaders are leaning on their members to reject the $1 trillion infrastructure bill by disparaging its contents and arguing that it will only pave the way for Democrats to push through their far larger climate change and social policy bill. Their opposition has ratcheted up pressure on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has the more progressive members of her Democratic caucus threatening to withhold their support for the infrastructure package until Congress acts on that broader bill. If Republicans unite in opposition, Pelosi can afford to lose as few as three Democrats on the bill. But some Republican senators who helped write the bill, along with influential business groups that support it — including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable — have started a countereffort to try to persuade House Republicans to back the legislation. “It’s a good bill; it’s right there for the country, so I’m encouraging Republicans to support it,” said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and one of the bill’s negotiators, who said he was working the phones hard. “There’ll be some that have told me they will, but they’re under a lot of pressure.” How the conflicting pressure campaigns play out could determine the fate of the infrastructure bill. On Tuesday, liberal Democrats accused Pelosi of a betrayal for abandoning her promise that the House would not take up the infrastructure bill until after the Senate secured passage of the larger measure. While Democratic leaders are working hard to secure as many of those liberal votes as possible, they know defections will have to be made up by House Republicans. “I’d say the bill is likely to pass, but it’s going to be a squeaker,” Neil Bradley, an executive vice president and chief policy officer for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who once worked for House Republican leadership, said Tuesday. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., who runs his party’s vote-pressuring operation in the House, is closely tracking which Republicans intend to vote for the infrastructure bill. “We’re working to keep that number as low as we possibly can,” he said. A few House Republicans who are members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus have announced their support for the measure, including Reps. Tom Reed of New York, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Don Bacon of Nebraska. On Monday, Rep. Don Young of Alaska, the longest-serving member of the House, announced his support with an impassioned speech on the House floor. But so far, such declarations are few. On Wednesday, Third Way, a centrist Democratic group with corporate backing, released a testy letter its president had written to 26 Republican “Problem Solvers” — only one of whom, Bacon, has indicated he is a “yes” vote — demanding they live up to their name. “You have run for office and raised campaign funds on the promise that you are there to solve the nation’s problems and put country over party,” wrote Third Way’s president, Jonathan Cowan. “Anything other than declaring your support now and voting for the bill, in turn, would signal clearly to your constituents that you support nothing more than faux bipartisanship.” Moderate Democrats say other supporters may surface — maybe as many as 20 Republican votes — if Pelosi can win over enough liberals to keep it close. But with a Thursday vote looming, time is running out. Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican from Michigan and one of the “Problem Solvers” who received the letter, said he had heard from Republicans on both sides of the issue, and, “the consensus is: better both fail.” President Joe Biden "saddling infrastructure with this $3.5 trillion albatross around its neck was a poison pill for those of us who wanted a bipartisan solution,” he said. The infrastructure bill is an unusual phenomenon in a starkly polarized Congress: a truly bipartisan and significant bill, hammered out by Democrats and Republicans before it passed the Senate last month with 69 votes, 19 of them Republican, including that of the minority leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. With $550 billion in new federal spending, the measure would provide $65 billion to expand high-speed internet access; $110 billion for roads, bridges and other projects; $25 billion for airports; and the most funding for Amtrak since the passenger rail service was founded in 1971. It would also renew and revamp existing infrastructure and transportation programs set to expire Friday. But because House Democratic leaders have at least verbally packaged it with a larger, $3.5 trillion climate change and social policy bill, it has been caught up in the politics of that measure — and broader Republican efforts to thwart Biden’s agenda. Scalise put it in the loftiest of terms Tuesday: “This week, we’re going to see an epic battle play out between free-market capitalism and big-government socialism. That’s what’s at stake.” With Democrats publicly feuding over Biden’s agenda, senior Republicans have little interest in having their rank and file bail Pelosi out of her predicament. “The legislative crisis that’s before her is one of her own creation that she needs the progressives to bail her out of,” said Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee. Supporters of the infrastructure bill are trying to stay cleareyed about the bill’s merits, not the broader politics. “It’s true people have been rhetorically linking the two, but really they aren’t,” Bradley said. “If that vote passes, the bill goes to the president for his signature.” And they argue that House Republicans are making the wrong political calculation about the infrastructure measure. GOP leaders have warned that the bill is a Trojan horse whose passage would only increase the chances of Democrats passing the more costly plan that Biden calls his Build Back Better agenda, which is packed with expansions of social safety net programs, initiatives to combat climate change and tax increases on corporations and the wealthy. “I just think it’s not accurate,” Portman said. Instead, some proponents of the infrastructure measure see its passage as a potential setback for the bigger plan. They argue that the enactment of the infrastructure bill could sap progressives of their leverage to dictate the terms of the more ambitious and costly piece of their agenda. Joshua Bolten, a former White House chief of staff for George W. Bush who is president of the Business Roundtable, said the chief executives’ organization was pushing for the bill’s passage, running radio and social media ads in Republican districts and pressing for meetings with lawmakers. “This is a really good bill. It’s urgently needed. It will have a dramatic effect on the productivity of U.S. economy. It’s investment really well spent,” he said Tuesday. “Pass it now and have the fight over the other bill later.” Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said he had lobbied every member of his state’s delegation to support the measure. “I can’t predict where they will end up, but I’m certainly encouraging people to consider the merits of the bill as opposed to worrying about what outside observers have to say,” he said. In this case, House Republican leaders appear to be heeding pressure from conservative groups, which have disparaged the infrastructure bill as bloated with spending that goes far beyond its stated purpose. And they predict that moderate Democrats who have pressed for its passage will be angered enough by its demise that they will exact revenge by bringing down the social policy bill. “This is a desperate administration looking for a win to distract Americans from the Biden-caused crises, both home and abroad, while opening the floodgates to trillions more in spending to come,” said Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas.

Republicans at odds over infrastructure bill as vote approaches

The Wisconsin Republican leading the state’s partisan inquiry into the 2020 election results on Monday took his most public step forward yet, warning election clerks that they would face subpoenas if they did not cooperate and defending the investigation’s legitimacy by declaring that he was not seeking to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in the state.

“We are not challenging the results of the 2020 election,” Michael Gableman, a conservative former state Supreme Court justice overseeing the investigation, argued in a video posted on YouTube. The inquiry, he said, “may include a vigorous and comprehensive audit if the facts that are discovered justify such a course of action.”

The five-minute video released by Gableman comes nearly three months after Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly, assigned him to look into former President Donald Trump’s false claims that the state’s election was stolen from him.

The Republicans’ continuing effort to re-examine the 2020 results in Wisconsin comes as Trump allies elsewhere have gone to great lengths to undermine Biden’s victory. Arizona Republicans are near the end of a monthslong review of ballots in Maricopa County; Pennsylvania Republicans last week approved subpoenas for driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers for every voter in the state; and 18 states, including Texas this month, have passed laws this year adding new voting restrictions.

In recent weeks, Trump-allied conservatives in Wisconsin have shown public frustration at the pace and transparency of Gableman’s investigation. This month, a group led by David A. Clarke Jr., a former Milwaukee County sheriff who has been a prominent purveyor of false claims about the election, held a rally at the state Capitol in Madison to protest what it argued was insufficient devotion by Gableman and the state’s Republican leaders to challenging the 2020 results.

Gableman said Monday that his investigation would require the municipal officials who operate Wisconsin’s elections to prove that voting was conducted properly. He said local clerks would be required to obey any subpoenas he might issue.

Election clerks in Milwaukee and Green Bay ignored previous subpoenas issued by the Republican chairwoman of the Assembly’s elections committee for ballots and voting machines. Vos had declined to approve those subpoenas.

“The responsibility to demonstrate that our elections were conducted with fairness, inclusivity and accountability is on the government and on the private, for-profit interests that did work for the government,” Gableman said. “The burden is not on the people to show in advance of an investigation that public officials and their contractors behaved dishonestly.”

Gableman added that he did not plan to release information to the public on a regular time frame but would do so when he found it appropriate.

“My job as special counsel is to gather all relevant information and, while I will draw my own conclusions, my goal is to put everything I know and everything I learn before you, the citizen, so that you can make up your own mind,” he said.

The chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Ben Wikler, said the Gableman video was evidence that state Republicans were at odds with one another over how far the election investigation should go.

“Robin Vos and his far-right ‘investigator’ Michael Gableman are clearly upset that the most extreme fringe doesn’t think they’re going far enough to entertain conspiracy theories,” Wikler said. “They’re wasting taxpayer funds to serve the political interests of a small group of Republican insiders who want to erode the freedom to vote. It’s a sham, a waste of time and money, and it’s damaging our democracy.”

The Wisconsin Republican leading the state’s partisan inquiry into the 2020 election results on Monday took his most public step forward yet, warning election clerks that they would face subpoenas if they did not cooperate and defending the investigation’s legitimacy by declaring that he was not seeking to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in the state.

The Wisconsin Republican leading the state’s partisan inquiry into the 2020 election results on Monday took his most public step forward yet, warning election clerks that they would face subpoenas if they did not cooperate and defending the investigation’s legitimacy by declaring that he was not seeking to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in the state. “We are not challenging the results of the 2020 election,” Michael Gableman, a conservative former state Supreme Court justice overseeing the investigation, argued in a video posted on YouTube. The inquiry, he said, “may include a vigorous and comprehensive audit if the facts that are discovered justify such a course of action.” The five-minute video released by Gableman comes nearly three months after Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly, assigned him to look into former President Donald Trump’s false claims that the state’s election was stolen from him. The Republicans’ continuing effort to re-examine the 2020 results in Wisconsin comes as Trump allies elsewhere have gone to great lengths to undermine Biden’s victory. Arizona Republicans are near the end of a monthslong review of ballots in Maricopa County; Pennsylvania Republicans last week approved subpoenas for driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers for every voter in the state; and 18 states, including Texas this month, have passed laws this year adding new voting restrictions. In recent weeks, Trump-allied conservatives in Wisconsin have shown public frustration at the pace and transparency of Gableman’s investigation. This month, a group led by David A. Clarke Jr., a former Milwaukee County sheriff who has been a prominent purveyor of false claims about the election, held a rally at the state Capitol in Madison to protest what it argued was insufficient devotion by Gableman and the state’s Republican leaders to challenging the 2020 results. Gableman said Monday that his investigation would require the municipal officials who operate Wisconsin’s elections to prove that voting was conducted properly. He said local clerks would be required to obey any subpoenas he might issue. Election clerks in Milwaukee and Green Bay ignored previous subpoenas issued by the Republican chairwoman of the Assembly’s elections committee for ballots and voting machines. Vos had declined to approve those subpoenas. “The responsibility to demonstrate that our elections were conducted with fairness, inclusivity and accountability is on the government and on the private, for-profit interests that did work for the government,” Gableman said. “The burden is not on the people to show in advance of an investigation that public officials and their contractors behaved dishonestly.” Gableman added that he did not plan to release information to the public on a regular time frame but would do so when he found it appropriate. “My job as special counsel is to gather all relevant information and, while I will draw my own conclusions, my goal is to put everything I know and everything I learn before you, the citizen, so that you can make up your own mind,” he said. The chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Ben Wikler, said the Gableman video was evidence that state Republicans were at odds with one another over how far the election investigation should go. “Robin Vos and his far-right ‘investigator’ Michael Gableman are clearly upset that the most extreme fringe doesn’t think they’re going far enough to entertain conspiracy theories,” Wikler said. “They’re wasting taxpayer funds to serve the political interests of a small group of Republican insiders who want to erode the freedom to vote. It’s a sham, a waste of time and money, and it’s damaging our democracy.”

Republican leading Wisconsin's 2020 inquiry defends its legitimacy

The US Senate approved <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden's</a> historic $1.2 trillion&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;plan on Tuesday, paving the way for a major victory to the president if it wins final passage in the lower chamber&nbsp;of Congress.

Some seven weeks after the Democratic leader stood with senators from both parties hailing a preliminary agreement to fix the nation's roads, bridges, ports and internet connections, the deal arrived on the Senate floor needing just a simple majority to pass.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-backed-12-trillion-infrastructure-bill-passes-key-hurdle-404062">Biden-backed $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passes key hurdle</a>

In the event, the package received rare bipartisan support among Washington's highly-polarized political elite, passing by 69 votes to 30 after winning the backing of a third of Republicans.

The measure now faces a make-or-break vote in the House of Representatives in the coming weeks, where its future is less certain as divisions have sprung up in the Democratic majority.

Democratic Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer credited Biden for winning approval of "the first major&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;package in over a decade on a bipartisan basis" after just seven months in office.

"It's been a long and winding road, but we have persisted," Schumer said. "The American people will now see the most robust injection of funds into&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;in decades."

The ambitious plan provides for $550 billion in new federal spending on transport&nbsp;infrastructure, but also for high-speed internet and efforts to fight climate change.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-senate-in-rare-saturday-session-on-1-trillion-infrastructure-bill-402098">US Senate in rare Saturday session on $1 trillion infrastructure bill</a>

The total price tag of the package, the equivalent of Spain's 2020 gross domestic product,&nbsp;relies on other public funds that already have been appropriated.

The passage looks less certain in the House of Representatives, however, where rifts have emerged within the narrow Democratic majority between the progressive and moderate wings.&nbsp;

Negotiations are likely to be drawn out, and a final vote in Congress may not come until the fall.

In a deeply divided Washington, the&nbsp;bill's approval would mark a resounding victory for Biden, a former senator who touts his ability to reach across the aisle.&nbsp;

Sweeping domestic agenda&nbsp;

The package is a primary element of Biden's sweeping domestic agenda aimed at transforming the United States with more than $4 trillion in federal spending.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/acknowledging-disagreements-biden-and-merkel-signal-warmer-us-german-ties-398544">Acknowledging disagreements, Biden and Merkel signal warmer US-German ties</a>

Democrats now are working on the next stage: a go-it-alone, $3.5 trillion budget framework that includes major investments in health, education, tackling climate change and expanding social welfare programs.

The budget resolution "will be the most consequential piece of legislation for working people, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor since (president Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and the New Deal of the 1930s," independent Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Budget Committee, said this week.&nbsp;

Democratic leaders intend to use a fast-track process known as reconciliation that allows budget-related legislation to pass by simple majority.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-senate-agrees-on-trillion-dollar-infrastructure-package-401313/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

With Republicans united against the broader budget&nbsp;bill, every Senate Democrat would need to support the package.

Biden has urged Congress to deliver on his priorities, saying in July that "we can't afford not to make these investments."

Making a last-minute plea for passage of the bipartisan&nbsp;bill&nbsp;over the weekend, the president tweeted that it represented a "historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's&nbsp;infrastructure."

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The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure. It will create good-paying, union jobs repairing our roads and bridges, replacing lead pipes, and building energy transmission lines. 
 
We can’t afford not to do it.
— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1424025037829464068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Former Republican president Donald Trump however called it a "disgrace," noting the victory it would hand Biden, and threatened political reprisals against Republicans who voted for it.

In the wake of that threat, three Republican senators who participated in the&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;negotiations announced they would not vote to support for the plan, one of whom was absent from the session.&nbsp;

But top Republican Senator Mitch McConnell voted for it, aware of the program's huge popularity among voters tired of historic neglect of the nation's highways.&nbsp;

The US Senate approved Joe Biden's historic $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan on Tuesday, paving the way for a major victory to the president if it wins final passage in the lower chamber of Congress.

The US Senate approved Joe Biden's historic $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan on Tuesday, paving the way for a major victory to the president if it wins final passage in the lower chamber of Congress. Some seven weeks after the Democratic leader stood with senators from both parties hailing a preliminary agreement to fix the nation's roads, bridges, ports and internet connections, the deal arrived on the Senate floor needing just a simple majority to pass. Also read | Biden-backed $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passes key hurdle In the event, the package received rare bipartisan support among Washington's highly-polarized political elite, passing by 69 votes to 30 after winning the backing of a third of Republicans. The measure now faces a make-or-break vote in the House of Representatives in the coming weeks, where its future is less certain as divisions have sprung up in the Democratic majority. Democratic Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer credited Biden for winning approval of "the first major infrastructure package in over a decade on a bipartisan basis" after just seven months in office. "It's been a long and winding road, but we have persisted," Schumer said. "The American people will now see the most robust injection of funds into infrastructure in decades." The ambitious plan provides for $550 billion in new federal spending on transport infrastructure, but also for high-speed internet and efforts to fight climate change. Also read | US Senate in rare Saturday session on $1 trillion infrastructure bill The total price tag of the package, the equivalent of Spain's 2020 gross domestic product, relies on other public funds that already have been appropriated. The passage looks less certain in the House of Representatives, however, where rifts have emerged within the narrow Democratic majority between the progressive and moderate wings. Negotiations are likely to be drawn out, and a final vote in Congress may not come until the fall. In a deeply divided Washington, the bill's approval would mark a resounding victory for Biden, a former senator who touts his ability to reach across the aisle. Sweeping domestic agenda The package is a primary element of Biden's sweeping domestic agenda aimed at transforming the United States with more than $4 trillion in federal spending. Also read | Acknowledging disagreements, Biden and Merkel signal warmer US-German ties Democrats now are working on the next stage: a go-it-alone, $3.5 trillion budget framework that includes major investments in health, education, tackling climate change and expanding social welfare programs. The budget resolution "will be the most consequential piece of legislation for working people, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor since (president Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and the New Deal of the 1930s," independent Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Budget Committee, said this week. Democratic leaders intend to use a fast-track process known as reconciliation that allows budget-related legislation to pass by simple majority. With Republicans united against the broader budget bill, every Senate Democrat would need to support the package. Biden has urged Congress to deliver on his priorities, saying in July that "we can't afford not to make these investments." Making a last-minute plea for passage of the bipartisan bill over the weekend, the president tweeted that it represented a "historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure." The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure. It will create good-paying, union jobs repairing our roads and bridges, replacing lead pipes, and building energy transmission lines. We can’t afford not to do it. — President Biden (@POTUS) August 7, 2021 × Former Republican president Donald Trump however called it a "disgrace," noting the victory it would hand Biden, and threatened political reprisals against Republicans who voted for it. In the wake of that threat, three Republican senators who participated in the infrastructure negotiations announced they would not vote to support for the plan, one of whom was absent from the session. But top Republican Senator Mitch McConnell voted for it, aware of the program's huge popularity among voters tired of historic neglect of the nation's highways.

US Senate passes Biden's massive infrastructure bill

In a rare example of bipartisanship in Washington, a $1.2 trillion bill aimed at improving the US' roads, highways, bridges, and high-speed internet gained the support of 18 Republican senators and 49 Democratic senators.

With the addition of Republican senators to Democrats, on Saturday, the&nbsp;massive infrastructure bill&nbsp;passed a key procedural hurdle, ensuring its final passage in the upper chamber.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-senate-in-rare-saturday-session-on-1-trillion-infrastructure-bill-402098">US Senate in rare Saturday session on $1 trillion infrastructure bill</a>

Republicans including Mitch McConnell, the party's Senate leader, supported the measure which was&nbsp;deemed historic by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">US President Joe Biden</a>.

The bill needs 51 votes to clear senate passage. So, Saturday's vote greatly boosts its chances for passage, although fierce amendment arguments continue.

A second procedural step must be fulfilled before the bill can go to a final vote. The timing of this remained uncertain on Saturday evening, with the vote to be picked up again on Sunday.&nbsp;

The bill, which has been in development for months, calls for $550 billion in new federal spending to help the nation's ageing infrastructure, as well as to address climate change.

Totalling $1.2 trillion, the price tag equates to the 2020 GDP of Spain. This includes funds already approved but not yet spent.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/acknowledging-disagreements-biden-and-merkel-signal-warmer-us-german-ties-398544">Acknowledging disagreements, Biden and Merkel signal warmer US-German ties</a>

Making a last-minute plea for passage, Biden tweeted Saturday that the bill represented a "historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure."&nbsp;

"We can't afford not to do it," he added.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure. It will create good-paying, union jobs repairing our roads and bridges, replacing lead pipes, and building energy transmission lines. 
 
We can’t afford not to do it.
— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1424025037829464068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Vice President Kamala Harris was also dispatched by Biden to Capitol Hill to shore up support for the bill.

The plan will move forward if approved by the Senate.&nbsp;

Next, it will go to the House of Representatives, where it is not guaranteed to pass. Democrats hold a slim majority there, and the liberal and centrist wings of the party have clashed over the bill's content.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-infrastructure-biden-tests-the-limits-of-having-it-both-ways-393986">On infrastructure, Biden tests the limits of having it both ways</a>

Final passage by both houses would represent a major victory for the Democratic president, who has been betting his political legacy on economic recovery,&nbsp;as well as fighting the destruction caused by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>.

The Republican predecessor of Biden, Donald Trump, called the legislation "a disgrace" in a statement on Saturday.

While in office, Trump was unable to bring an infrastructure bill to passage. He&nbsp;stated that it was "very hard" for him to "endorse anyone foolish enough to vote in favor of this deal."&nbsp;&nbsp;

His position could make a final vote more problematic for Republicans looking ahead to the 2022 midterm elections.

In light of the 2022 midterm elections, his position could prove to be problematic during the final vote.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-lawmakers-strike-deal-on-infrastructure-393877">White House, lawmakers strike deal on infrastructure</a>

Despite this, Republicans know that the spending contained in the bill is very popular with voters.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a rare example of bipartisanship in Washington, a $1.2 trillion bill aimed at improving the US' roads, highways, bridges, and high-speed internet gained the support of 18 Republican senators and 49 Democratic senators.

In a rare example of bipartisanship in Washington, a $1.2 trillion bill aimed at improving the US' roads, highways, bridges, and high-speed internet gained the support of 18 Republican senators and 49 Democratic senators. With the addition of Republican senators to Democrats, on Saturday, the massive infrastructure bill passed a key procedural hurdle, ensuring its final passage in the upper chamber. Also read | US Senate in rare Saturday session on $1 trillion infrastructure bill Republicans including Mitch McConnell, the party's Senate leader, supported the measure which was deemed historic by US President Joe Biden. The bill needs 51 votes to clear senate passage. So, Saturday's vote greatly boosts its chances for passage, although fierce amendment arguments continue. A second procedural step must be fulfilled before the bill can go to a final vote. The timing of this remained uncertain on Saturday evening, with the vote to be picked up again on Sunday. The bill, which has been in development for months, calls for $550 billion in new federal spending to help the nation's ageing infrastructure, as well as to address climate change. Totalling $1.2 trillion, the price tag equates to the 2020 GDP of Spain. This includes funds already approved but not yet spent. Also read | Acknowledging disagreements, Biden and Merkel signal warmer US-German ties Making a last-minute plea for passage, Biden tweeted Saturday that the bill represented a "historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure." "We can't afford not to do it," he added. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure. It will create good-paying, union jobs repairing our roads and bridges, replacing lead pipes, and building energy transmission lines. We can’t afford not to do it. — President Biden (@POTUS) August 7, 2021 × Vice President Kamala Harris was also dispatched by Biden to Capitol Hill to shore up support for the bill. The plan will move forward if approved by the Senate. Next, it will go to the House of Representatives, where it is not guaranteed to pass. Democrats hold a slim majority there, and the liberal and centrist wings of the party have clashed over the bill's content. Also read | On infrastructure, Biden tests the limits of having it both ways Final passage by both houses would represent a major victory for the Democratic president, who has been betting his political legacy on economic recovery, as well as fighting the destruction caused by COVID-19. The Republican predecessor of Biden, Donald Trump, called the legislation "a disgrace" in a statement on Saturday. While in office, Trump was unable to bring an infrastructure bill to passage. He stated that it was "very hard" for him to "endorse anyone foolish enough to vote in favor of this deal." His position could make a final vote more problematic for Republicans looking ahead to the 2022 midterm elections. In light of the 2022 midterm elections, his position could prove to be problematic during the final vote. Also read | White House, lawmakers strike deal on infrastructure Despite this, Republicans know that the spending contained in the bill is very popular with voters. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden-backed $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passes key hurdle

With Delta variant infections spiking across the United States, growing numbers of Republican officials and lawmakers have joined the chorus of support for coronavirus vaccinations, swatting aside conspiracies that have left millions of Americans unprotected.

COVID-19&nbsp;deaths and hospitalisation rates are rising nationwide, with the vast majority of new fatalities and serious cases among the unvaccinated.

With the political rift over pandemic response running deep, conservative messaging about masks, social distancing, vaccines and lockdowns has remained controversial.

And with polls showing that far more Democrats than Republicans are vaccinated,&nbsp;inoculations have become the newest coronavirus battle line.

For months conservatives suspicious of government and adamant about maintaining personal freedoms have held anti-vaccination protests in New Hampshire, California and elsewhere.

The anti-vax positions embraced by many Republicans are particularly curious given it was ex-president Donald Trump himself, still the party flagbearer, who claims credit for launching Operation Warp Speed to develop and distribute the vaccines in record time.

But with distrust of government churning, and stubbornly high vaccine hesitancy in states like Arkansas, Florida and Missouri fueling transmission of the virus, Republican leaders are redoubling efforts to win over skeptics.

On Thursday number two House Republican Steve Scalise joined the chamber's GOP Doctors Caucus, a group of 18 lawmakers who are licensed medical experts, to tell Americans to "get the vaccine."&nbsp;

"I have high confidence in it, I got it myself," he told a press conference.

Scalise had hesitated for months to get vaccinated, but he received a shot this week because "with the Delta variant I felt I wanted that extra level of protection."

Caucus&nbsp;member Mariannette Miller-Meeks has appeared in public service announcements urging people to get vaccinated, and said she has administered the jabs to residents in her Iowa district.

"There's not one doctor here that doesn't want people vaccinated," congressman Greg Murphy added about fellow caucus members.

Their comments followed those by higher-profile Republicans including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who made an unusually blunt plea to Americans.

"If there is anybody out there willing to listen, get vaccinated," the Kentucky Republican said Tuesday, urging people to ignore the "demonstrably bad advice" that has been circulating during the pandemic.

That advice -- often based on the premise that the vaccines have only been green-lighted for emergency use and not full authorisation, or baseless claims that the vaccines include microchips to track citizens -- has led millions of people to opt out.

&nbsp;'Enough people have died'

Several Republican governors -- including some who have expressed hostility to federal anti-pandemic efforts -- are now urging residents to get vaccinated.

In Arkansas, one of the states leading the country in new Covid cases, Governor Asa Hutchinson launched a seven-city tour begging skeptics to change their minds.

"The vaccine keeps people alive," he tweeted.

Some television commentators in the conservative media landscape have joined the trend, although their messages are often more subtle or nuanced.

On Fox, the top-rated cable station which has been accused of trafficking in vaccine skepticism for months, star anchor Sean Hannity, who once described the virus as a hoax, reversed course Monday.

"I can't say it enough. Enough people have died. We don't need any more death," Hannity said on his broadcast.

"It absolutely makes sense for many Americans to get vaccinated," he added. "I believe in the science of vaccination."

But the messaging is often mixed. Several Republican lawmakers still refuse to say whether they have been vaccinated.&nbsp;

Doctors Caucus congressman Ronny Jackson, Trump's personal physician when he was president, tried and failed to suggest Democrats too were refusing to reveal their status.

When he urged the media to ask Democrats whether they were vaccinated, a reporter matter-of-factly noted that 100 percent of House Democrats have announced they are protected.

"Do we have any evidence of that?" Jackson stumbled.

Other Republicans have expressed open opposition to vaccines, causing headaches for party leaders eager to halt Covid's spread.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, fined in May for not wearing a mask on the House floor, was temporarily suspended from Twitter this week for spreading Covid misinformation.

She had tweeted that there have been thousands of "vax related deaths," and that the virus is&nbsp;not dangerous for healthy people under 65.

With Delta variant infections spiking across the United States, growing numbers of Republican officials and lawmakers have joined the chorus of support for coronavirus vaccinations, swatting aside conspiracies that have left millions of Americans unprotected.

With Delta variant infections spiking across the United States, growing numbers of Republican officials and lawmakers have joined the chorus of support for coronavirus vaccinations, swatting aside conspiracies that have left millions of Americans unprotected. COVID-19 deaths and hospitalisation rates are rising nationwide, with the vast majority of new fatalities and serious cases among the unvaccinated. With the political rift over pandemic response running deep, conservative messaging about masks, social distancing, vaccines and lockdowns has remained controversial. And with polls showing that far more Democrats than Republicans are vaccinated, inoculations have become the newest coronavirus battle line. For months conservatives suspicious of government and adamant about maintaining personal freedoms have held anti-vaccination protests in New Hampshire, California and elsewhere. The anti-vax positions embraced by many Republicans are particularly curious given it was ex-president Donald Trump himself, still the party flagbearer, who claims credit for launching Operation Warp Speed to develop and distribute the vaccines in record time. But with distrust of government churning, and stubbornly high vaccine hesitancy in states like Arkansas, Florida and Missouri fueling transmission of the virus, Republican leaders are redoubling efforts to win over skeptics. On Thursday number two House Republican Steve Scalise joined the chamber's GOP Doctors Caucus, a group of 18 lawmakers who are licensed medical experts, to tell Americans to "get the vaccine." "I have high confidence in it, I got it myself," he told a press conference. Scalise had hesitated for months to get vaccinated, but he received a shot this week because "with the Delta variant I felt I wanted that extra level of protection." Caucus member Mariannette Miller-Meeks has appeared in public service announcements urging people to get vaccinated, and said she has administered the jabs to residents in her Iowa district. "There's not one doctor here that doesn't want people vaccinated," congressman Greg Murphy added about fellow caucus members. Their comments followed those by higher-profile Republicans including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who made an unusually blunt plea to Americans. "If there is anybody out there willing to listen, get vaccinated," the Kentucky Republican said Tuesday, urging people to ignore the "demonstrably bad advice" that has been circulating during the pandemic. That advice -- often based on the premise that the vaccines have only been green-lighted for emergency use and not full authorisation, or baseless claims that the vaccines include microchips to track citizens -- has led millions of people to opt out. 'Enough people have died' Several Republican governors -- including some who have expressed hostility to federal anti-pandemic efforts -- are now urging residents to get vaccinated. In Arkansas, one of the states leading the country in new Covid cases, Governor Asa Hutchinson launched a seven-city tour begging skeptics to change their minds. "The vaccine keeps people alive," he tweeted. Some television commentators in the conservative media landscape have joined the trend, although their messages are often more subtle or nuanced. On Fox, the top-rated cable station which has been accused of trafficking in vaccine skepticism for months, star anchor Sean Hannity, who once described the virus as a hoax, reversed course Monday. "I can't say it enough. Enough people have died. We don't need any more death," Hannity said on his broadcast. "It absolutely makes sense for many Americans to get vaccinated," he added. "I believe in the science of vaccination." But the messaging is often mixed. Several Republican lawmakers still refuse to say whether they have been vaccinated. Doctors Caucus congressman Ronny Jackson, Trump's personal physician when he was president, tried and failed to suggest Democrats too were refusing to reveal their status. When he urged the media to ask Democrats whether they were vaccinated, a reporter matter-of-factly noted that 100 percent of House Democrats have announced they are protected. "Do we have any evidence of that?" Jackson stumbled. Other Republicans have expressed open opposition to vaccines, causing headaches for party leaders eager to halt Covid's spread. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, fined in May for not wearing a mask on the House floor, was temporarily suspended from Twitter this week for spreading Covid misinformation. She had tweeted that there have been thousands of "vax related deaths," and that the virus is not dangerous for healthy people under 65.

As COVID-19 surges, more US Republicans urging vaccinations

Democratic legislators in Texas are fleeing the state in a bid to block Republicans from passing an elections bill that would impose new restrictions on voting.

Texas Democrats flee to Washington to oppose Republican voting bill

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