For Trump foes, Democratic gains may remain elusive

Passionate protests against Donald Trump's presidency have swelled the ranks of Democratic activists, but their new enthusiasm faces a hard reality: Republicans remain well-positioned to retain their grip on power in the 2018 elections. While Republicans hold only a slim majority in the U.S. Senate, Democrats occupy most of the seats up for election in two years.

Milwaukee sheriff’s star rises, but he remains polarizing

In this Nov. 28, 2016, file photo, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke gets on an elevator after arriving at Trump Tower in New York. With a brash, unapologetic personality reminiscent of President Donald Trump, Clarke is positioning himself as an in-your-face conservative firebrand who has some Republicans swooning over his prospects for higher office.

Cumulative effect of taxes, regulations hurt small business

This fact may be more apparent in rural towns that often have few or no large businesses to help generate the economic energy that funds schools, safety-net programs and public safety. That's why the Association of Washington Business and its members have expressed concern with Gov. Jay Inslee's budget proposal released in December.

State Department reverses visa revocations as Trump administration…

The Department of Homeland Security complied with a judge's orders Saturday and stopped enforcing President Donald Trump's controversial entry ban, and the fast-moving legal dispute over the president's powers could land at the nation's highest court. On Saturday evening, Trump administration lawyers filed a notice to appeal the Seattle federal judge's decision from Friday night that imposed a temporary, nationwide halt to Trump's order barring refugees and those from seven majority-Muslim nations from entering the country.

Pelosi loses bid to rehang controversial cop painting in Capitol complex

Pelosi loses bid to rehang controversial cop painting in Capitol complex - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tried unsuccessfully on Friday to appeal a decision by the Architect of the Capitol to remove a controversial painting that depicted police officers as animals.

Airlines start to board barred passengers after judge blocks Trump’s travel ban

Citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries banned from the United States by US President Donald Trump can resume boarding US-bound flights, several major airlines say, after a Seattle judge blocked the executive order. Qatar Airways was the first to say it would allow passengers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen to fly to US cities if they had valid documents.

Kasich backs DeVos without mention of $5.3M PAC debt to Ohio

Gov. John Kasich is urging confirmation of President Donald Trump's education secretary nominee without mentioning the significant unpaid fine owed to Ohio by a now-defunct political action committee she controlled. The Republican governor and 2016 presidential contender didn't support Trump, but he praised Betsy DeVos for her character, experience and philosophy of limited government in a Jan. 24 letter to Sen. Lamar Alexander, who chairs the committee that handled her confirmation.

Warren and consumer groups mount defense as Trump eyes changes to financial regulations

President Trump on Friday took the first step toward unwinding Wall Street reforms put in place during the depths of the financial crisis, sparking outrage from consumer groups across the country. After a meeting with business executives, including the head of JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Congress deluged with phone calls

An avalanche of phone calls is thundering across Capitol Hill as the Senate considers a slew of President Donald Trump's nominations, causing staffers to work continuously to field requests, complaints and other messages during an already busy time in the congressional calendar. Matt House, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said that as many as 1.5 million calls per day have been pouring into the Senate this week, according to data from Schumer's technical staff.

DeVos clears Senate hurdle toward becoming ed secy

Betsy DeVos's embattled nomination for education secretary cleared another hurdle in the Senate on Friday as Republicans overpowered fierce resistance from Democrats. Senators voted 52-48 to cut off debate in an early-morning session, setting the stage for a final confirmation vote next week on President Donald Trump's nominee.

Democrats mock ‘placeholder’ in GOP Obamacare bill

OCTOBER 24: U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone speaks during a hearing on implementation of the Affordable Care Act before the House Energy and Commerce Committee October 24, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Developers who helped to build the website for people to buy health insurance under Obamacare testified before the panel on what had gone wrong to cause the technical difficulties in accessing the site.

Peter Lucas: Moulton taking noisier path upward than Kennedy

It would have been a much clearer path to glory for a couple of Massachusetts Democrats had Hillary Clinton been elected president. If she had she done so she might have rewarded Sen. Elizabeth Warren with a cabinet position, or talked Sen. Eddie Markey into an ambassadorship.