Political Headlines
Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick dead at 82
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in the disputed 2000 election and who almost became Republican John McCain’s running mate eight years later, has died, according to a statement issued by his family. Lieberman died in New York City on Wednesday due to complications from a fall, the statement said. He was 82. The Democrat-turned-independent was never shy about veering from the party line. Lieberman’s independent streak and especially his needling of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential contest rankled many Democrats, the party he aligned with in the Senate. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion ... Read MoreWhat states could vote on abortion access, reproductive rights in November?
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Advocates in as many as 14 states hope to get measures related to reproductive rights and abortion access on the 2024 general election ballot during a presidential election year, and as abortion access remains a major flash point in the United States, including at the Supreme Court.It's not the first time abortion has been on the ballot. A ballot measure that supported abortion access passed in Ohio in 2023, while initiatives in Kansas and Kentucky saying the state constitutions don't protect abortion were defeated, respectively, by voters in 2022. Observers have speculated that the issue of reproductive rights is galvanizing voters across the political spectrum.Here's a look at where reproductive rights might be on the ballot ... Read MoreDemocrats sound alarm on RFK Jr. and new running mate, Shanahan
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Democrats are leaving no room for doubt on how they view former party colleague turned independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his freshly minted vice presidential pick, deep-pocketed lawyer Nicole Shanahan: the pair are a danger to voters and present as a "spoiler" ticket, destined to siphon votes from President Joe Biden and deliver the White House to former President Donald Trump.In a Democratic National Committee press call on Tuesday night, several party surrogates called Kennedy's presidential bid "disgusting" and a ploy to reelect Trump."All he can do is take away votes from President Biden and make it easier for Donald Trump to win. And we simply can't afford to let that ... Read MoreThere’s a long road ahead to cleaning up Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapse: Not ‘quick or easy or cheap’
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- In the wake of the Francis Scott Key Bridge's partial collapse in Baltimore on Tuesday, "Rebuilding will not be quick or easy or cheap," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said."But we will get it done," he told reporters at a White House press briefing on Wednesday.Buttigieg reiterated the federal government's support for recovery, cleanup and construction efforts in the months -- and perhaps years -- to come but also acknowledged there will be logistic obstacles."It's not going to be simple," the transportation secretary said.The original bridge took some five years to complete, he noted."That does not necessarily mean it will take five years to replace, but that tells you what went into that ... Read MoreRNC won’t pay Trump’s legal bills, daughter-in-law Lara says, insisting 2020 election is ‘in the past’
Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Former President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, recently elected Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, said in a new interview that the national party doesn't plan to pay his ongoing legal bills and maintained that donors could opt-out of contributing funds for that if they want to.Lara Trump also differed with her father-in-law on the importance of early and mail voting while insisting that Republicans are moving past 2020 election -- though, like Donald Trump, she continued to raise doubts about the results without offering any evidence of widespread fraud.Appearing on NBC News on Wednesday, Lara Trump discussed a new joint fundraising committee linking the party and the Trump campaign.The fine print on how that new ... Read MoreIsrael agrees to reschedule delegation visit to the White House: US official
Caroline Purser/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to reschedule his delegation's visit to the White House after he canceled the trip on Monday, a U.S. official told ABC News on Wednesday."The prime minister's office has agreed to reschedule the meeting dedicated to Rafah. We are now working to find a convenient date," the official told ABC News.Israel pulled its delegation earlier this week after the U.S. allowed, through abstention, for the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza for the remaining days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan -- and potentially longer.The resolution called for the unconditional release of hostages being held by Hamas terrorists, though it did ... Read MoreFive takeaways as Supreme Court questions sweeping challenge to abortion pill access
joe daniel price/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard a challenge to the Food and Drug Administration's regulation of mifepristone, a widely used drug used in medication abortions.In what was the most significant reproductive rights case brought before the high court since its conservative majority overruled Roe v. Wade in 2022, most of the justices, across ideological lines, appeared skeptical of restricting access to the abortion pill nationwide and repeatedly questioned whether the group of anti-abortion doctors who brought the case had standing to sue and seek such a sweeping remedy.A decision in the case is expected by the end of June.Here are five key takeaways from the roughly two hours of arguments.Standing at center of debate: ... Read MoreAustin to Israeli defense minister: ‘Civilian casualties [are] far too high’ in Gaza
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday -- a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled the delegation to the United States that was going to discuss plans for an operation in Rafah.Israel pulled its delegation after the U.S. allowed, through abstention, for the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza for the remaining days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan -- and potentially longer.The resolution called for the unconditional release of hostages being held by Hamas terrorists, though it did not explicitly tie that with a temporary cease-fire. The resolution further urged that the humanitarian pause should then lead "to ... Read MoreTexas Rep. Troy Nehls’ campaign finances being investigated by ethics committee, he says
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The House Ethics Committee is investigating Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, the panel said in a statement on Tuesday.The committee did not specify what it is investigating and said it will make another announcement on the matter by May 10. The issue was first flagged to the committee by the independent Office of Congressional Ethics in December."The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee," Mississippi Rep. Michael Guest, the ethics chair, and Pennsylvania ... Read MoreRFK Jr. names Nicole Shanahan as his running mate
John Nacion/Getty Images(OAKLAND, Calif.) -- Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has named Nicole Shanahan as his running mate.Kennedy spoke glowingly about Shanahan on stage during his announcement event in Oakland, California, citing, among other attributes, her passion for health care.He also said choosing a young running mate was crucial. Shanahan, a lawyer and tech entrepreneur in the Bay Area, is 38.The announcement follows a selection process in which he vetted an eclectic group of high-profile people, including New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura and television host Mike Rowe.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. ... Read MoreBiden pledges support for Baltimore in wake of Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- President Joe Biden gave remarks Tuesday on the Baltimore bridge collapse, telling residents "we're going to stay with you as long as it takes.""It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstruction in that bridge. I expect the Congress to support my effort," Biden said from the White House."This is going to take some time," the president said, adding, "We're not leaving until this job gets done."Personnel on the ship alerted the Maryland Department of Transportation that they lost control of the vessel, and local authorities were able to close the bridge before it was struck, "which undoubtedly saved lives," Biden told reporters.A cargo ship crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott ... Read More13 protesters arrested near Supreme Court ahead of abortion pill arguments
ABC NewsCapitol Police on Tuesday morning arrested 13 protesters who were demonstrating against the Supreme Court's examination of restrictions to the abortion pill mifepristone.The Supreme Court justices on Tuesday are hearing arguments over whether the Food and Drug Administration lawfully relaxed restrictions to make it easier to access the drug to end a pregnancy. Mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen for a medication abortion, is the most common method of abortion in the country.Capitol Police said the 13 protesters were moving around the Capitol grounds and "illegally blocking roads and then a walkway.""Our officers warned the group to stop blocking the walkway or they would be arrested. They refused, so our officers arrested them,” a Captiol Police ... Read MoreTrump co-defendant Michael Roman subpoenaed, Kenneth Chesebro interviewed in Arizona 2020 election probe: Sources
Fulton County Sheriff's OfficeMichael Roman, a former Trump campaign aide who was indicted alongside the former president in the Georgia election interference case, has been subpoenaed as part of a separate probe in Arizona investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in that state, according to a source familiar with the matter.The subpoena, which has not been previously reported, comes as part of an ongoing investigation by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, whose office previously confirmed to ABC News she was investigating the so-called "alternate elector" plot in the state."We will announce something in the relatively near future," Mayes said recently of the investigation.Attorney Kenneth Chesebro, who is accused of helping devise the Trump campaign's fake elector plan, sat ... Read MoreTrump appears to blame Israel for antisemitism, says Israel ‘made a very big mistake’ and is ‘losing a lot of support’
... Read MoreWhite House ‘disappointed’ Israel canceled delegation to discuss Rafah after UN cease-fire vote
Caroline Purser/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The White House is "disappointed" and "kind of perplexed" that Israel canceled a delegation's planned visit to the U.S. to discuss the expected military invasion of Rafah, in southern Gaza, amid ongoing concerns from President Joe Biden, an administration spokesman said Monday.Israel pulled its delegation after the U.S. allowed, through abstention, for the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza for the remaining days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan -- and potentially longer.The resolution called for the unconditional release of hostages being held by Hamas terrorists, though it did not explicitly tie that with a temporary cease-fire. The resolution further urged that the humanitarian pause should then ... Read MoreTrump’s trials throw a wrench in his campaign schedule as Biden gets busy
Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- In 2020, then-President Donald Trump was hyper critical of President Joe's Biden campaign schedule dubbing his sparse event calendar and low-attendance rallies, a result of following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic, a "basement campaign."Now, as Trump lags in fundraising and faces a robust legal schedule, the Biden campaign is attempting to flip the term back at Trump as his court obligations put his campaign schedule in limbo."Is not campaigning -- as your opponent relentlessly campaigns in battleground states -- and hiding in your basement a good way to assemble a winning coalition of voters?" the Biden-Harris campaign wrote in a memo sent out to the press last week.Trump's ... Read MoreTop of page