Gina Haspel’s evasive answers about CIA torture are disqualifying

President Trump's nominee for CIA chief, Gina Haspel, testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. When Gina Haspel, President Trump's pick to head the Central Intelligence Agency, appeared for her confirmation hearings before the Senate Intelligence Committee this week, she faced one crucial challenge - and it wasn't to convince the committee that she possesses the necessary experience and aptitude for the position.

Trump hits Sen. Donnelly hard on his home turf – and gives him a new nickname

ELKART, Ind. - President Trump made good on a promise last year to campaign against Sen. Joe Donnelly during a campaign rally Thursday in Elkhart, attacking the Democrat as "Sleepin' Joe" and a "swamp person."

Facing anti-Washington winds, Senate Democrats point to home

Feeling no relief from anti-incumbent Republican primaries, Democratic senators in GOP-leaning states are working to convince voters they're free of Washington's stigma. The Democrats seeking re-election this fall in states Republican Donald Trump carried - the battlefront in the fight for Senate control -are portraying themselves as independent actors and known entities in hopes of inoculating themselves against Republican accusations that they are lockstep obstructionists to Trump's agenda.

John Rizzo Fact-Checks Sen. Feinstein On CIA Nominee’s Background

Former CIA chief legal officer John Rizzo fact checked Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein on MSNBC Thursday after she made an incorrect claim about Gina Haspel's CIA background. During a Senate hearing on Haspel's nomination for CIA director, Feinstein incorrectly claimed that Haspel ran an interrogation program in the counterterrorism center of the CIA based off of a corrected statement by Rizzo.

Bill to Revive Nuclear Waste Dump at Nevada’s Yucca Mountain Passes the House

The House on Thursday approved an election-year bill to revive the mothballed nuclear waste dump at Nevada's Yucca Mountain despite opposition from home-state lawmakers. Supporters say the bill would help solve a nuclear-waste storage problem that has festered for more than three decades.

Congressional candidate can use campaign cash for child care Source: AP

A New York congressional candidate given permission Thursday to use campaign funds for child care expenses called the decision by federal officials "a game changer" for mothers as a record number of women run for office. The Federal Election Commission voted 4-0 to allow the expenditure by Liuba Grechen Shirley, who is running in a Democratic primary in the Long Island district currently represented by Republican Rep. Peter King.

Senate Dem to HHS Secretary: Should Government Tell Women Which Doctors They Can and Cannot See?

A Senate Democrat grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on his agency's efforts to exclude Planned Parenthood from receiving Title X family planning funds during on an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the agency's Fiscal Year 2019 budget request. "I want to ask about Title X. It is the only federal program dedicated to providing family planning and related preventative care, including birth control and life-saving cancer screenings to uninsured or underinsured and low-income people.

Facebook ads show Russian effort to stoke political division

In this March 29, 2018, file photo, the logo for Facebook appears on screens at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York's Times Square. Democrats on the House intelligence committee have released more than 3,500 Facebook ads that were created or promoted by a Russian internet agency, providing the fullest picture yet of Russia's attempt to sow racial and political division in the United States before and after the 2016 election.

Congressman Schiff: After turbulent period Armenia has emerged with new hopes for future

Congressman Adam Schiff, one of the most influential members of the US House of Representatives, has issued message of congratulations to Nikol Pashinyan on becoming Prime Minister of Armenia.  "Congratulations to Nikol Pashinyan, the new Prime Minister of Armenia," the message reads. "After a turbulent period of mass protests and political upheaval, Armenia has emerged with a new government and new hopes for the future.

Rep. Speier raises Armenian Genocide during House Armed Services hearing

U.S. Representative Jackie Speier , Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, speaking today at a full hearing of the influential U.S. House Armed Services Committee, underscored the importance of applying the lessons of the Armenian Genocide in preventing new atrocities across the Middle East, reported the Armenian National Committee of America . Noting that her own family members have been victims of the Armenian Genocide at the beginning of the 20th Century, Rep. Speier said: "I think that unless we help other countries understand the consequences of genocide, and how it could be prevented, our moral leadership is truly challenged."

Lawmakers release thousands of Russian Facebook ads

Democrats on the House intelligence committee have released more than 3,500 Facebook ads that were created or promoted by a Russian internet agency, providing the fullest picture yet of Russia's attempt to sow racial and political division in the United States before and after the 2016 election. Most of the ads are issue-based, pushing arguments for and against immigration, LGBT issues and gun rights, among other issues.

Report: Legal marijuana linked to opioid-use declines amid drug crisis

Some states allowing medical marijuana and recreational pot saw declines in opioid prescribing as authorities pushed urgent efforts to combat the historic American drug crisis. Medicaid patients, for example, are getting about 5.9 percent fewer prescription painkillers in medical marijuana states.

Dayton makes case for K-12 funding

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton shows a photo of his dog to students in Denise Ducharme's first-grade class while visiting Ben Franklin Elementary School Wednesday, May 9, 2018, in Rochester. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton responds to questions from first-graders from Denise Ducharme's first-grade class while visiting Ben Franklin Elementary School Wednesday, May 9, 2018, in Rochester.