Contributing Writers

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear unveiled a portion of his state budget proposal Tuesday that deals with infrastructure, including funding requests for improving drinking water, affordable housing and road and bridge improvements. Beshear, who is running for reelection against Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, said the state’s economy is “red-hot” and should use a historic budget surplus to make further infrastructure investments. KENTUCKY GOV.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom named Democratic strategist Laphonza Butler as Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s replacement in the U.S. Senate after the longtime Democrat senator died last week at the age of 90, Fox News confirmed late Sunday night. Butler will finish out the remainder of Feinstein’s term in Washington, D.C., ahead of the 2024 election.

Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday called on Congress to “limit” who crosses the border, saying it’s “too open right now.” Ironically repeating what congressional Republicans have long demanded from the Biden administration, Hochul made the plea during an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation.

A bid by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has earned scorn from some fellow Republicans, who fear the Florida lawmaker is handing leverage to Democrats in the continuing battle over the budget. “The only way he can be successful is if he has 200 plus Democrats,” Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., said during an appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures” with host Maria Bartiromo.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., blasted efforts to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Sunday, saying the move would be a “disaster” for congressional Republicans. Graham made the statement during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” with host Margaret Brennan. Graham endorsed McCarthy, R-Calif., as the “right guy” for the job and said he only faces opposition from a handful of House Republicans.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., shared her advice to Democrats on whether to support a potential motion to vacate against Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Sunday. Pelosi made the comments during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” with host Jake Tapper. Tapper asked the former speaker whether she would vote in favor of a motion against McCarthy or support him against more radical Republicans.

Likely Republican voters think Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had the best performance in the second Republican debate, according to a new poll. The poll was conducted by 538/Washington Post/Ispos and asked 2,262 likely voters in the Republican primary to grade each candidate’s performance during the debate, which was hosted on Wednesday night by FOX Business in Simi Valley, California.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer issued three subpoenas Thursday night for the personal and business bank records belonging to President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and brother, James Biden, as part of the House impeachment inquiry. Comer, R-Ky., who signaled earlier this month his intention to subpoena those records, did so just hours after the first hearing as part of the House impeachment inquiry against President Biden. Fox News Digital reviewed the subpoenas.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, confronted one of President Biden’s nominees for a senior Defense Department position on Thursday concerning another administration official who was implicated this week in an Iranian influence operation on the U.S. government. The exchange came during the Senate confirmation hearing for State Department counselor Derek Chollet to be the new DoD Under Secretary for Policy, when Ernst demanded answers on how Dr.

A man formerly known as a powerful Michigan lawmaker was sentenced Thursday to nearly five years in federal prison for accepting bribes as head of a marijuana licensing board. Rick Johnson admitted accepting at least $110,000 when he led the board from 2017 to 2019. “I am a corrupt politician,” Johnson told the judge, according to The Detroit News.

The North Dakota Supreme Court struck down a major budget bill for the state government on Thursday, likely meaning lawmakers must come back to Bismarck to do the massive bill over again. The court ruled the bill “was unconstitutionally enacted and is void” because it violates a provision of the state constitution that says bills can’t embrace more than one subject.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against a healthcare company last week after it provided puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors without a mental health assessment, as required by state law before sex reassignments were banned. On Aug. 28, Missouri’s Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act was implemented as law in the state.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., pulled out of plans to attend the 13th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in Union City on Sunday, just two days after he was indicted on federal corruption charges, according to reports. The New Jersey Advance reported that Menendez hosts the celebration every year in his hometown of Union City. The Democratic senator’s office did not immediately respond to inquiries seeking information on why Menendez bailed out of Sunday’s plans.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said he would finish what former President Donald Trump started at the U.S.-Mexico border and complete the wall construction if elected in 2024. Scott made the statement during a Sunday morning appearance on Fox News, telling host Griff Jenkins that Democrats don’t understand the border issue. He went on to blast the Biden administration for selling supplies that had been intended for the construction of the wall.

The wife of Iran’s president said in a new interview Sunday that the country’s new hijab law is being implemented “out of respect for women,” even as violators could face 10 years in prison.  Jamileh Alamolhoda, the wife of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, sat down for an interview with ABC “This Week” host Martha Raddatz.  It was reportedly recorded a day after her husband’s speech before the United Nations General Assembly.

The crisis at the U.S. southern border could become “worse” should the “dysfunction” in the House of Representatives block Congress from reaching a deal to prevent a federal shutdown, Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly said Sunday. Kelly, D-Ariz., appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and blamed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., for failing to get conservative Republican hardliners to agree with a conservative spending plan to keep the government funded.

President Biden announced a $325 million security assistance package for Ukraine after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday. Zelenskyy visited Washington, D.C., for the second time since the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Capping his visit, which included meetings and discussions with lawmakers and Pentagon officials, Zelenskyy met with Biden at the White House before the $325 million plan was unveiled.

President Biden committed his latest awkward gaffe Wednesday when it appeared he forgot to shake the hand of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as “Lula,” before leaving the stage after a joint event.

It’s take two for Dave McCormick in battleground Pennsylvania. McCormick, a former hedge fund executive, West Point graduate, Gulf War combat veteran and Treasury Department official in former President George W. Bush’s administration, on Thursday launched his second straight campaign for the Senate.  His announcement gives national and state Republicans a high-profile candidate with the ability to self finance.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., dressed down for an official meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Capitol, just days after the Senate dress code was altered. Zelenskyy traveled to Washington, D.C., on Thursday to meet with President Biden and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, a trip that marks his second visit to the U.S.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Gen. Eric M. Smith as Commandant of the Marine Corps in a 96-0 vote on Thursday. In July, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger relinquished his post, leaving the military branch without a confirmed leader for the first time in 164 years. Then assistant commandant of Marine Corps, Smith took over as acting Commandant. Just two months prior, President Biden nominated Smith to lead the service. Over the past 24 hours, the Senate also confirmed Air Force Gen.