Harris, DeSantis and Giuliani are among politicians marking Sept. 11 terror attacks at ground zero
Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani joined New York politicians and mourners at a 9/11 memorial ceremony at ground zero Monday.
Federal assistance sought for northeastern vineyards, orchards hit by late frost
Vineyards and apple orchards across the Northeast are still gauging damage from a late-season frost in May that wiped out a third to most of the crop for some growers who say it's the worst frost damage they've ever seen.
US Army misses recruiting goal; other services squeak by
The Army fell about 15,000 soldiers — or 25% — short of its recruitment goal this year, despite a frantic effort to make up the widely expected gap in a year when all the military services struggled in a tight jobs market to find young people willing and fit to enlist.
Congress moves to end forced arbitration for sex misconduct
The U.S. House has passed legislation barring contracts that force people to settle sexual assault or harassment cases through arbitration rather than in court, a process that often benefits employers and keeps misconduct allegations from becoming public.
Democrats push for paid family leave ahead of critical votes
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi surprised advocates, and even many of her Democratic colleagues, when she revived a long-sought paid family and medical leave plan and said it would be part of a massive social and environmental spending bill in the House.
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For Biden, questions about Cuomo grow harder to ignore
Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., speaks during a virtual meeting of the National Governors Association, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Washington. But what President Biden said is, ‘We should do an investigation.’ I agree with him on that. When asked repeatedly about the allegations, White House press secretary Jen Psaki has recited the response that the women should be heard and the investigations should continue. But the constant drip of allegations from Albany has become harder for Biden to ignore. Their orbits are intertwined; a number of Democrats have worked for both men in their roles as senator, vice president, governor and housing secretary.
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Biden: Cuomo should resign if investigation confirms claims
Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations reached the White House on Tuesday, with President Joe Biden saying Cuomo should resign if the state attorney general's investigation confirms the claims against him. When asked by anchor George Stephanopoulos whether Cuomo should resign if the investigation confirms the women’s claims, Biden said “yes” and added, “I think he’d probably end up being prosecuted, too.”“It takes a lot of courage to come forward so the presumption is it should be taken seriously," Biden said. James last week named a former federal prosecutor, Joon Kim, and employment discrimination attorney Anne Clark to lead the Cuomo investigation. The sexual harassment investigation is in addition to scrutiny that Cuomo is facing from federal prosecutors who are looking into how his administration handled data on COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes. Biden has denied her claims, and multiple current and former Biden staffers have said they have no recollection of such an encounter.
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Biden declines to call for Cuomo to resign, awaits probe
President Joe Biden speaks to the gathered media members upon arrival at the White House in Washington from a weekend trip to Wilmington, Del., Sunday, March 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Sunday passed up an opportunity to join other Democrats calling for the resignation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is under investigation after multiple allegations of sexual harassment. However, his comments reflect the wait-and-see position the White House has taken regarding Cuomo's future. On Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki would not say whether Biden believes Cuomo should resign.
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Reports: Cuomo vaccine czar's loyalty calls raise concerns
Andrew Cuomo leading the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been calling county executives to gauge their loyalty to the Democratic governor amid a sexual harassment investigation, according to reports in The Washington Post and The New York Times. Andrew Cuomo leading the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been calling county executives to gauge their loyalty to the Democratic governor amid a sexual harassment investigation, according to reports in The Washington Post and The New York Times. The executive feared the county’s vaccine supply could suffer if the executive did not indicate support for Cuomo, the Post reported. AdSchwartz served as secretary to the governor from 2011 until 2015 and has advised Cuomo off and on since then. Schwartz told the Post that the calls he made to assess political support for Cuomo were distinct from the role he plays in the vaccination effort.
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How Cuomo investigation, possible impeachment could play out
Leaders in the state Assembly announced an impeachment investigation against Cuomo over allegations of sexual harassment, if successful, Hochul would would take over as governor. Leaders in the state Assembly on Thursday announced an impeachment investigation, a first step toward potentially removing Cuomo from office. The committee's work could result in the drafting of articles of impeachment against Cuomo, though that outcome is far from certain. There are seven appeals court judges and 63 senators, though not all would serve on the impeachment court. If Cuomo were to be acquitted in an impeachment court, he would return to office.
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Top Dems call on Cuomo to resign amid harassment allegations
FILE - This Monday, March 8, 2021, file photo shows New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo confronted a stunning series of defections Friday amid allegations of sexual harassment that left the high-profile Democrat fighting for his political survival, angry and alone. “Governor Cuomo should resign.”AdThe escalating political crisis has spawned an impeachment inquiry in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, and threatens to cast a cloud over President Joe Biden’s early days in office. Biden, a longtime ally of Cuomo and his father, former New York Gov. “The victims of sexual assault concern me more than politics or other narrow considerations, and I believe Governor Cuomo must step aside," Maloney said.
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Double standard? Gillibrand in spotlight after Cuomo scandal
Gillibrand became the first Democratic senator to call for her colleague Al Frankens resignation amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct in 2017. But Gillibrand and other top Democrats have stopped short of calling on New York's governor, Democrat Andrew Cuomo, to resign amid accusations of offensive behavior. Gillibrand paid a political price for her role in the Franken resignation and her tone toward Cuomo may reflect that. "They elected me.”A spokesman for Gillibrand declined to comment on whether the senator considered calling on Cuomo to resign. But Gillibrand has promoted herself as a feminist leader and champion of women's rights, and the Cuomo scandal concerns her state.
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Agriculture secretary nominee Vilsack endorses biofuels push
FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2020, file photo former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who the Biden administration chose to reprise that role, speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)WASHINGTON – Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden's nominee for secretary of agriculture, pledged Tuesday to focus on climate change initiatives and work to address racial inequities in agricultural assistance programs. Vilsack, who testified before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, would bring much on-the-job experience to the position. In addition to serving two terms as the governor of Iowa, he spent eight years as President Barack Obama's Agriculture Secretary. But if you don’t have a grocery store, what then?”AdVilsack seems to enjoy bipartisan support and faced no serious criticism from Republicans on the committee.
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Defense chief orders review of military sex assault programs
He had vowed to immediately address the problems of sexual assault and harassment in the ranks. “We will lead.”Senator after senator demanded to know what Austin planned to do about the problem, which defense and military leaders have grappled with for years. Reports of sexual assaults have steadily gone up since 2006, according to department reports, including a 13% jump in 2018 and a 3% increase in 2019. He was in the Pentagon again Saturday, making calls to defense counterparts around the world, and he signed the memo. The directive calls for each leader to submit a summary of the sexual assault and harassment measures they have taken in the last year that show promise, and an assessment of those that didn't.
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Booker, Democratic lawmakers introducing NCAA reform bill
The College Athletes Bill of Rights is sponsored by U.S. The College Athletes Bill of Rights is sponsored by Sens. Booker and Blumenthal's bill, however, goes way beyond NIL rights for athletes and is not nearly as NCAA-friendly. Bohannon said during the pandemic college athletes, who are tested multiple times a week for COVID-19, have become essential workers. — Establish a nine-member Commission on College Athletics, appointed by the president, that would include at least five former college athletes and individuals with legal expertise.
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Biden facing growing pressure over secretary of defense pick
WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden is facing escalating pressure from competing factions within his own party as he finalizes his choice for secretary of defense. And facing massive governing challenges once he takes office on Jan. 20, Biden can perhaps least afford to lose the backing of the Democratic Party’s fiery progressive base. Nearly 100 House Democrats belong to the Progressive Caucus, which may wield significant influence over Biden's policy agenda as Democrats cling to their narrowest House majority in a century. Flournoy, meanwhile, had been seen as the leading candidate for defense secretary under a Democratic president since Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 campaign. Biden has promised both to fight for big, bold policy changes and to compromise with Republicans.
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Biden facing growing pressure over secretary of defense pick
WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden is facing escalating pressure from competing factions within his own party as he finalizes his choice for secretary of defense. And facing massive governing challenges once he takes office on Jan. 20, Biden can perhaps least afford to lose the backing of the Democratic Party’s fiery progressive base. Nearly 100 House Democrats belong to the Progressive Caucus, which may wield significant influence over Biden's policy agenda as Democrats cling to their narrowest House majority in a century. Flournoy, meanwhile, had been seen as the leading candidate for defense secretary under a Democratic president since Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 campaign. Biden has promised both to fight for big, bold policy changes and to compromise with Republicans.
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Ginsburg is first woman to lie in state at US Capitol
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., left, talks with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., right, before a ceremony to honor Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she lies in state at National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. Ginsburg died at the age of 87 on Sept. 18 and is the first women to lie in state at the Capitol. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP)
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Ginsburg makes history at Capitol amid replacement turmoil
Ginsburg died at the age of 87 on Sept. 18 and is the first women to lie in state at the Capitol. Mourners gathered to honor Ginsburg under coronavirus distancing restrictions with the nation in political turmoil. Spectators booed and chanted “vote him out” as the president stood silently near Ginsburg’s casket at the top of the court’s front steps. She was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court and the first Jewish person to lie in state at the Capitol. As visitors paid tribute at Ginsburg’s casket, resting atop the catafalque used for Abraham Lincoln, the Bidens quietly joined.

Rand Paul stops unanimous passage of 9/11 first responders bill
(CNN) - Republican Sen. Rand Paul objected Wednesday to an attempt to pass the bill funding 9/11 first responders' health care unanimously, arguing that passing such a long-term bill without offsetting the cost would contribute to the national debt. I will be offering up an amendment if this bill should come to the floor, but until then I will object," added Paul, who voted in favor of President Donald Trump's $1.5 trillion tax cut. Paul was not the only senator who objected to the attempt to pass the bill by unanimous consent on Wednesday. Paul addressed his objection later Wednesday on Twitter, arguing that he was "not blocking the 9/11 bill - simply asking for a vote on an amendment to offset the cost." John Feal, a 9/11 first responder speaking alongside Stewart, called Paul and Lee "opportunists" and "bottom feeders."

How 2020 Democrats are preparing for the first debate
Candidates' schedules have been lighter than normal of late, with many dedicating weeks to prepare for the debate stage. Former Vice President Joe Biden has spent time studying his own record, preparing for it to be a point of attack. The lower-polling candidates are also preparing to introduce themselves to the country, in some cases by highlighting how they contrast with their Democratic opponents. Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan was skeptical that there won't be some jabbing on the debate stage. She's also been preparing to be asked about her rivals who aren't on stage -- namely Biden and Sanders, who will appear on the second night.