Seven Things To Know For February 2

In this Oct. 10, 2016, file photo, Law enforcement officers, left, drag a person from a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline, near the town of St. Anthony in rural Morton County, N.D. North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven said Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, that the Acting Secretary of the Army has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with an ... (more)

Senator: Army Corps told to approve Dakota pipeline easement

In this Oct. 10, 2016, file photo, Law enforcement officers, left, drag a person from a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline, near the town of St. Anthony in rural Morton County, N.D. North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven said Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, that the Acting Secretary of the Army has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with an easement necessary to complete the Dakota Access pipeline.

Do they want anarchy?

Former New Hampshire senator Kelly Ayotte will lead a team of political veterans chosen by the White House to help shepherd President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court through the U.S. The Boston Bruins came out of the All-Star break with a key road victory, trailing early but taking control for a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on ... (more)

Ayotte Will Guide SCOTUS Pick Through Senate

"The White House has assembled a team of political veterans with deep experience navigating the Senate to help shepherd President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court," the Washington Post reports. "Leading the effort will be former senator Kelly Ayotte, a relatively moderate Republican from New Hampshire Ayotte will serve as the nominee's so-called sherpa, personally introducing the pick to senators and escorting him or her to meetings and the confirmation hearing.

Protesters crowd Rep. Noem’s Sioux Falls office for support on refugee ban

Protesters across the country have been making their voices heard in the days since President Donald Trump signed an executive order, temporarily restricting immigration from seven Muslim-dominated countries in the Middle East. Tuesday, those protesters took aim at Congresswoman Kristi Noem's office in Sioux Falls after she announced her support for the move.

Orlando shooter’s widow seeks jail release pending trial

Hawaii lawmakers are introducing bills to bring what they believe are the best parts of the Affordable Care Act into state law Hawaii lawmakers are introducing bills to bring what they believe are the best parts of the Affordable Care Act into state law A New York art dealer who scammed the art world for 15 years with fake paintings in an $80 million fraud will not go to prison A New York art dealer who scammed the art world for 15 years with fake paintings in an $80 million fraud will not go to prison A longtime Border Patrol official who was backed by the agents' union has been named chief of the agency, less than a week after his predecessor resigned under pressure A longtime Border Patrol official who was backed by the agents' union has been named chief of the agency, less than a week after his predecessor resigned under pressure Lawyers for the widow of the man who staged a deadly ... (more)

Trump’s Supreme Court nominee – watch live

He said the selection process "may be the most transparent judicial selection process in history," and said he is keeping his promise to the American people with this nomination. "When Justice Scalia passed away suddenly last February, I made a promise to the American people if I were elected president, I would find the very best judge in the country for the Supreme Court," he said.

Trump Immigration Order Under Scrutiny as Dems Debate Sessions Vote

Just days after a fire destroyed a mosque in Victoria, Texas, a GoFundMe page set up by a mosque member has raised nearly $1 million to help rebuild the m... -- A teenager who said he left a Quebec City mosque minutes before a gunman stormed in and killed six people inside said the attack made him "scared out of my mi... All cattle and calves in the United States, as of January 1, 2017, totaled 93.6 million head. This is 2 percent above the 91.9 million head on January 1, 2016.

DeVos may have used official’s remarks without attribution

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., accompanied by the committee's ranking member Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, during the committee's executive session to discuss the nomination of Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos.

Rep. Collins Thanks CEO for Defending Price in Accidental Email

The CEO of an Australian pharmaceutical company strongly denies that Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., who was picked by President Donald Trump to head the Department of Human Services, was offered a special rate of the firm's stocks, CNN reported. And Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., is privately applauding him.

McMahon wins committee vote to lead SBA

Linda McMahon, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be administrator of the Small Business Administration testifies before the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee January 24, 2017 in Washington, DC. less Linda McMahon, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be administrator of the Small Business Administration testifies before the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee January 24, 2017 in ... more Linda McMahon, Small Business Administration administrator nominee for U.S. President Donald Trump, testifies during a Senate Small Business Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017.

President Trump’s Cabinet Picks Head Toward Confirmation Despite Objections

Other panels were considering Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., to be attorney general and wealthy conservative activist Betsy DeVos to head the Education Department. All had strong Republican support, though final confirmation votes by the full Senate weren't yet scheduled.

Casey says he’ll vote against Trump cabinet nominees Mnuchin and Price

Sen. Bob Casey announced this morning that he will vote against two controversial Trump cabinet nominees: Steven Mnuchin for the Treasury Department and Tom Price as Secretary of Health and Human Services. In a statement, Mr. Casey expressed concern about policies that Mr. Price had pursued as a Congressman from Georgia.

Can Democrats block Sessions or other Trump Cabinet nominees? No.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks alongside House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress as demonstrators protest against President Trump and his administration's ban of refugees from around the world and foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries. Democrats angered by President Trump's executive order banning immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries face a key test on Tuesday as the U.S. Senate is set to consider a slate of his Cabinet nominees, including his choice for attorney general.

In new White House, a look at Trump’s inner circle

Since taking office 10 days ago, President Donald Trump has moved to consolidate power within a small cadre of close aides at the White House. He's added a senior political adviser to the National Security Council and appears to have cut out Cabinet secretaries from decision making on some of his top policies, including the immigration and refugee order that led to protests, legal challenges and temporary detention of some legal U.S. residents this weekend.

GOP pushing Price, Sessions, DeVos a step toward Senate OK

Republicans are muscling more of President Donald Trump 's Cabinet nominees to the cusp of Senate confirmation over Democratic objections, with committees poised to advance his picks to head agencies in the thick of partisan battles over health care, legal protections, education and the economy. Senate panels were expected Tuesday to advance Trump's picks of Rep. Tom Price , R-Ga., to be health secretary; Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., to be attorney general; wealthy conservative activist Betsy DeVos to head the Education Department and Steve Mnuchin to lead Treasury.

Hill said to be in running for Treasury, Fed jobs

U.S. Rep. French Hill, a Republican from Little Rock, is being considered for a spot on the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System, Bloomberg and Reuters reported this month. Two other media outlets, Dow Jones and American Banker , say Hill is one of the candidates to serve as deputy treasury secretary.