Congress nears dismantling of post-crisis bank rules

Congress was taking a final step Tuesday toward dismantling a chunk of the rules framework for banks installed to prevent a recurrence of the 2008 financial crisis that brought millions of lost jobs and foreclosed homes. The House planned to approve legislation to roll back the Dodd-Frank law, easing rules for banks and notching a legislative win for President Donald Trump, who made gutting the landmark law a campaign promise.

The GOP’s fear factor

To continue reading this premium story, you need to become a member. Click below to take advantage of an exclusive offer for new members: When President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," he could not have foreseen today's Republican Party.  A bill authored by Sen. Rand Paul that would require the federal government to balance the budget each year was soundly defeated last week in the Senate.

Lawmakers take first step in stopping a Trump deal with ZTE

A Senate panel on Tuesday said it would not accept efforts by President Donald Trump to ease sanctions on Chinese smartphone maker ZTE. In a vote of 23 to 2, the Senate Banking Committee overwhelmingly approved an amendment that would block Trump from reducing penalties on ZTE without first providing Congress proof the company is following US laws.

Laborersa union backs Tish James for Attorney General

Adding to her growing list of early endorsements, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James has added the support of the 40,000-member New York State Laborer's Union in her bid to become Attorney General, James' campaign told the Times Union. The endorsement is the latest for James from a labor organization that happens to have a good relationship with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who went to bat for building trades workers during the debate over renewal of the 421-a tax abatement for real estate developers in 2015.

Democrats Have Finally Found Their Midterm Message

In 2018, Democrats are confronted with a challenge that few opposition parties have ever had to overcome: The administration they are running against has too many scandals . To the extent that party messaging matters at all in midterm elections , a single, unifying narrative is more likely to connect with the electorate than a fusillade of discrete ideas.

Sexual harassment legislation deal reached in the Senate, a vote could come this week

A deal has been struck among Senate negotiators on the long-stalled sexual harassment legislation that would overhaul how complaints are made and handled on Capitol Hill and would hold lawmakers personally responsible for paying sexual harassment settlements out of their own pocket, rather than taxpayers. The Senate negotiators, Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt and Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the chairman and top Democrat, respectively, of the Senate Rules committee, briefed members Tuesday about the contours of the deal behind-closed-doors at each of their party's policy luncheon.

Ohio inmate claims innocence in slaying of 3, wants retrial

This July 14, 2010, file photo, shows Kevin Keith, who is on death row at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, Ohio. Keith, an Ohio inmate who has long maintained his innocence in the 1994 slaying of three people is asking the U.S. Supreme Court for a new trial based on evidence never heard by a jury.

Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk are camera shy as they sneak through …

EXCLUSIVE: Meghan's father is seen for first time since missing her wedding as he buys a Frappuccino after heart surgery amid family pleas to new Duchess to fly him to UK for Palace visit 'This was as set up and fake as it gets': Outrage over Kendrick Lamar calling up white fan to sing HIS lyrics and then kicking her off stage when she says the N-word Teen, 15, who started Eagle Creek fire and scorched 48,000 acres of forest is ordered to pay 'absurd' $36m - as judge issues him with payment plan 'We are beyond Watergate': George W. Bush's ethics czar says there is more 'abuse of power' evidence against Trump than there was against Nixon REVEALED: Pedophile and Republican fundraiser plotted to make millions out of access to Trump - by charging Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi for turning president against rival Qatar Do you need a break from your partner? Sexologist shares the rules to make ... (more)

Donald Trump orders ‘highly classified’ data for Congress on FBI’s ‘tactics’

President Trump ordered his chief of staff Monday to make sure Congress gets "highly classified" information from the Justice Department , intelligence community and FBI - including details that could shed light on whether the FBI had an informant investigate the Trump campaign. Mr. Trump also officially requested an inspector general's investigation into the FBI's "tactics" toward the Trump campaign in 2016, and the White House and Justice Department said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein agreed to convey the directive.

Barack and Michelle Obama sign multi-year production deal at…

Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have set a deal to create new programming with Netflix, the streaming service announced Monday. Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have set a deal to create new programming with Netflix, the streaming service announced Monday.

Hillary Clinton to headline NY Democratic convention

The former U.S. senator, secretary of state and presidential contender will speak at the gathering Wednesday. The party is meeting for two days this week at Hofstra University on Long Island to nominate candidates for governor, attorney general and other offices up for election this fall.

Senators press Pruitt for details on new legal defense fund Source: AP

Four Senate Democrats asked Scott Pruitt on Monday for details about a new legal defense fund to help the Environmental Protection Agency administrator as he weathers a series of federal ethics investigations. Pruitt confirmed at a Senate hearing last week that people he did not identify have created the legal defense fund in his behalf, but he gave no specifics on its operation.

Watchdog report to fault FBI for Clinton probe delay

In this Oct. 22, 2015, file photo, then-Democratic presidential candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the House Benghazi Committee. An upcoming Justice Department inspector general report is expected to criticize the FBI over a weeks-long delay in reviewing a newly discovered trove of Hillary Clinton emails in the days before the 2016 presidential election.