A recent revamp of Trump’s National Security Council cut former Breitbart News Chief Executive Steve Bannon’s role entirely.

Bannon’s role as a National Security Advisor was controversial from the get-go.

(more…)

Donald Trump moved fairly quickly in the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to fill the Scalia Seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The hearings have moved more slowly than many of us would have liked, but Mitch McConnell is promising an up or down vote by April 7, regardless of any attempts by...

Last week, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn acknowledged that he worked as a foreign agent with the firm Inovo, owned by Turkish-American businessman Ekim Alptekin, who has links to the Turkish government. The firm hired Flynn to investigate Fehtullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric living in Pennsylvania, that President Recep Tayyip...

Chuck Schumer thinks he has the votes to prevent 8 Democratic Senators from voting for cloture on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch, effectively creating a filibuster:

“After careful deliberation I have concluded that I cannot support Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court,” Mr. Schumer said, citing concerns over Judge Gorsuch’s...

According to Politico, Senate Democrats are hoping to strike a deal with Senate Republicans to ensure Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, is confirmed.

In exchange for confirmation, Politico reports, Democrats “are most likely” to request a deal that would exchange Gorsuch’s confirmation for the preservation of the filibuster...

President Trump’s second pick for labor secretary, Alexander Acosta, faced the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today for his confirmation hearing. The hearing lasted three hours. During that time, he defended his recorded as a United States attorney and promised to push back against Trump if he disagrees with ...

Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch will face the Senate Judiciary Committee for the third day starting at 9:30 AM EDT.

Today should be the last day of Gorsuch’s testimony. Hearings will continue after today but will feature witnesses both in favor and opposed to Gorsuch’s nomination.

Yesterday, Senate Democrats

Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation hearing today was blah, blah, (try to stay awake), (don’t let anyone know you’re snoozing), (Dem Senators made to look foolish), (trite platitudes repeated endlessly on media).

You still with me.

Sure, there were some real moments, but they were entirely focused on Democrat Senators who were made to look...

If you are looking for a run down on the morning sessions, Mary covered that here. The most entertaining moment, courtesy of Senator Durbin, who quickly found himself outmatched and outfacted.

Hearings went late into the evening.

(more…)

Today was Day Two in confirmation hearings for Trump Supreme Court Justice nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch.

Senators on the Judiciary Committee took turns spending thirty minutes grilling Gorsuch.

When it was Sen. Durbin’s (D-IL) turn to bat, he flamed out. Gloriously.

“Do you believe that there are ever situations where the cost...

Yesterday, we heard opening statements from the Senate Judiciary Committee and Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. Today, Gorsuch will face questions from the senators in 30-minute intervals. The hearing should last 12 hours.

Will Democrats soften their stance on Gorsuch? As CBS pointed out, the Democrats “stressed that Gorsuch has impeccable credentials”...

Wednesday, the Senate voted to confirm General H.R. McMaster as a National Security Advisor to President Trump.

National Security Advisor’s do not typically require Senate approval, but Senate confirmation is required when three and four-star generals change jobs or assignments. McMaster will remain in active duty.

Trump selected McMaster after Mike Flynn resigned...

Elizabeth Warren knows that both Obama and Bill Clinton dismissed U.S. attorneys after taking office. Yet she’s preparing to go to war over Trump doing it. Warren is just doing what she always does best. Playing to the far left base of her party.

Alan Yuhas reports at The Guardian:

Elizabeth Warren says...

Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked all remaining Obama-appointed U. S. Attorneys to resign.  This is standard procedure when a new president enters the White House, and despite some hand-wringing from the left, is rather unremarkable.  What is raising some questions is Preet Bharara, U. S. Attorney for the southern district of...

President Donald Trump’s nominee for Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta has filed his financial disclosure and ethics paperwork a week before his confirmation hearing. The paperwork has shown “an uncomplicated financial situation for the law school dean” and “very few financial entanglements.” The Wall Street Journal continued:

His only apparent encumbrance is tied...

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke caused a splash by riding a horse to his first day of work:

Honored to stand with the brave officers of @USParkPolice – these professionals put their lives on the line for us pic.twitter.com/QbtojcfvLV

— Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) March 2, 2017

The Hill reported:

He’s an ardent hunter, fisherman and...

President Donald Trump has picked U.S. Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster as his new national security adviser. Acting national security adviser Keith Kellogg will remain as chief of staff to the National Security Council:

“I think that combination is something very, very special,” Trump said of the pair.

(more…)