Senate confirms Christopher Wray to replace James Comey as head of FBI

Christopher Wray was confirmed Tuesday as the new director of the FBI , almost three months after President Trump controversially fired his predecessor James Comey amid the ongoing investigation into Russian election interference and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. Wray's confirmation passed by a 92-5 margin.

The Latest: Cornyn raises possibility of working with Dems

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, July 28, 2017, after the Republican-controlled Senate was unable to fulfill their political promise to repeal and replace "Obamacare." In this July 27, 2017, file photo, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas talks to reporters as heads to the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Reed, Whitehouse address failed Republican healthcare repeal

Following the defeat of the Senate Republican-led attempt to pass a "skinny repeal" of the Affordable Care Act by a 51-49 vote, Rhode Island senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse stopped by the press room at T.F. Green Airport to address members of the media about steps forward from here to resolve continuing issues with the country's ... (more)

Senate Democrats offer Republicans help on tax reform a ” with conditions

U.S. Senate Democrats offered to work with Republicans on a bipartisan tax reform package on Tuesday but only if it does not cut taxes for the wealthy, add to the federal deficit or allow Republicans to enact legislation on their own. The conditional offer may not attract immediate response from Republicans.

Senate race off to pleasant start

When last we wrote about next year's U.S. Senate race, we were warning Hoosier Republicans not to take the seat for granted. Incumbent Joe Donnelly is not just a lucky Democrat who drew a bad candidate in Richard Mourdock in 2012.

PEOPLE v. NAVARRA

Audrey R. Chavez, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Kamala D. Harris and Xavier Becerra, Attorneys General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Louis M. Vasquez, Lewis A. Martinez, Tia Coronado and William K. Kim, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Democrats plan to block possible Trump recess appointments

Democrats are worried President Donald Trump wants to remove the nation's top lawyer, Attorney General Jeff Sessions , during the August recess to make way for someone who would be willing to fire the special prosecutor leading the charge into the 2016 election hacking investigation without first being confirmed by the Senate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D- New York , said Monday on the Senate floor that "if such a scenario were to pass, we would have a constitutional crisis on our hands."

Photos: Southeast Minnesota Water Town Hall

From left and clockwise, Sheila Harmes, of Winona; Marilyn Morem, of Rochester; Ruthann Yaeger, of Rochester and Marie Kovecsi, of Winona participate in a breakout session during the Southeast Minnesota Water Town Hall held at Rochester Community and Technical College Heintz Commons Monday evening. Gov. Mark Dayton participates in a breakout session during the Southeast Minnesota Water Town Hall held at Rochester Community and Technical College Heintz Commons Monday evening.

invigorated with her new role of opposing President Trump.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a rally in Washington against the Republican healthcare bill. Even six months after Donald Trump won the White House, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi doesn't want to talk about election night, preferring to fast-forward to what happened the next day.

From Times Opinion pages: Why Dianne Feinstein shouldn’t run again

At age 84, Dianne Feinstein is the oldest of the 100 United States senators. And the word, both in Washington and around California, is that she plans to run for reelection next year to a six-year term that will end when she's 91. That would squeak her in under the actuarial wire.

Sean Spicer responds to tweet regarding Mike Pence inauguration

Spicer took to Twitter late Sunday to answer Rep. Maxine Waters' opinionated message about an imminent Trump impeachment. When and if @mike_pence runs in 2024 I would proudly play any role he asks Good to know you have already conceded that https://t.co/cHMSKHM07e Her tweet, from July 29, reads: "Mike Pence is somewhere planning an inauguration.

Sean Spicer would ‘proudly’ work for Mike Pence if he runs for president

Ousted White House press secretary Sean Spicer says he would "proudly" help Vice President Mike Pence if he launches a presidential bid. "When and if @mike_pence runs in 2024 I would proudly play any role he asks Good to know you have already conceded that," Spicer wrote late Sunday in response to Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.

Foreign policy challenges escalate amidst domestic turmoil

President Donald Trump's turbulent few weeks at home -- the palace intrigue of White House rivalries, sudden departures and legislative defeats -- have been echoed by a brewing storm of challenges overseas. North Korea is launching missiles designed to reach the US; Moscow is forcing a drastic reduction in US diplomatic staff in Russia; Venezuela is wracked by violence as its democracy dies; and Iran has been expanding its reach in Syria and Iraq.

We Cana t Live in Fear of Our Own Intelligence Community

U.S. intelligence agencies are telling us not to worry about the FISA Amendments Act, a 2008 law that allows the NSA to tap into the communications of "non-U.S. persons" who are outside the U.S., even though this law sidesteps the Fourth Amendment as it allows the NSA to record the emails and phone calls of U.S. citizens who happen to be communicating with people overseas. How many American citizens is the government listening in on? We don't know, as the intelligence agencies told Congress they can't say just how many American citizens they've eavesdropped on .

FILE – Chicago Police Board President Lori Lightfoot speaks on WBEZ’s Morning Shift.

Police Board President Lori Lightfoot's term is set to expire at the end of the day Monday, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel hasn't said whether he'll re-appoint her for the job. "I'm not especially worried about it just yet, but the longer this goes without resolution, this will potentially have an impact," she said.