One senator has an idea for confirming presidential nominees more quickly

President Trump will never have a full complement of political appointees if the Senate doesn't start voting more quickly, according to a Republican who thinks he can convince Democrats to speed up the process. "We may disagree on the exact solution or the exact timing of the solution but, we understand there is a real problem," Sen. James Lankford told the Washington Examiner .

Al Franken’s Final Speech on Senate Floor Addresses ‘War for Truth’

Al Franken said in his final floor speech in the U.S. Senate that "it feels like we are losing the war for truth" and took parting shots at President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, according to The Hill newspaper . Franken, the junior senator from Minnesota, resigned from Congress after numerous women accused him of forcibly kissing or groping them, The Hill said.

Minnesota lieutenant governor to replace Franken in U.S. Senate

The chief executive of New Hampshire Motor Speedway says he's confident that a country music festival scheduled for the venue this summer will go on as planned, despite a lawsuit by... Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith shares a laugh at a reporter's question after Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton announced Smith to replace U.S. Senator Al ... (more)

2018 race for Franken seat attracts lots of names, sets up seismic shift

Sen. Al Franken's decision to step down amid a growing sexual-harassment scandal has scrambled Minnesota's 2018 election. Political operatives in Minnesota and Washington were drawing up lists of candidates to run for Sen. Al Franken's Senate seat even before his resignation speech last week, searching for prospects with the profile, fundraising prowess and mettle to sprint to next November's special election - and then do it again in 2020 to hold the seat another six years.

In Franken’s fall, sudden Senate pickup chance for GOP

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., second from right, holds hands with his wife Franni Bryson, left, as he leaves the Capitol after speaking on the Senate floor, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Franken said he will resign from the Senate in coming weeks following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations and a collapse of support from his Democratic colleagues, a swift political fall for a once-rising Democratic star.

Announcement coming from Sen. Franken amid fresh accusations

Minnesota Democrat Al Franken, facing fresh allegations of sexual misconduct and vanishing support from fellow Democrats, appears on the brink of resigning from the Senate. Franken's office said he will make an announcement at 11:45 a.m. Thursday in a speech on the Senate floor.

Democrats pressure Franken to resign

His once-promising political career in shambles, Minnesota Sen. Al Franken appeared on the verge of resigning after fellow Democrats led by female senators, including Washington's Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, abandoned him Wednesday over the mounting allegations of sexual misconduct that are roiling Capitol Hill. A majority of the Senate's Democrats called on the two-term lawmaker to get out after another woman emerged Wednesday saying he forcibly tried to kiss her in 2006.

What Al Franken’s Senate colleagues are saying

The US Senate is reeling from one woman's account of how she was kissed without her consent and groped in 2006 by Democratic Sen. Al Franken before he was elected. Many of Franken's colleagues have condemned his behavior, but both Democrats and Republicans have referred the case to the Senate ethics committee to investigate.

Senate GOP intent on scrapping health mandate in tax bill

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., joined with from left, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks to reporters following a closed-door strategy session on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017.

Senate passes resolution requiring sexual harassment training

The Senate passed a resolution Thursday requiring senators, staff and interns to participate in mandatory sexual harassment training, as lawmakers and staff have grown increasingly outspoken about widespread predatory behavior on Capitol Hill. The resolution, which passed by unanimous consent, marks the first real step either chamber has taken to change training rules on sexual harassment for congressional offices.

Congress Considers Mandating Sexual Harassment Training

Lawmakers are reviewing rules changes to mandate sexual harassment training for all employees on Capitol Hill. Liam James Doyle/NPR hide caption Usually it takes a scandal that rocks the Capitol to change the way it runs, but this time lawmakers aren't waiting for one before they beginning taking steps to enhance safeguards against sexual harassment in Congress.

Senators blast Facebook, Twitter, Google in Russia probe

Exasperated U.S. senators harshly criticized representatives of Facebook, Twitter and Google at a hearing Tuesday for not doing more to prevent Russian agents interfering with the American political process as early as 2015. At one point, Sen. Al Franken shook his head after he couldn't get all the companies to commit to not accepting political ads bought with North Korean currency.

Trump’s vote fraud panel will be investigated

The Government Accountability Office has accepted a request by a group of U.S. senators to investigate the activities of President Donald Trump's commission on voter fraud. Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota wrote to the watchdog agency last week to request the probe, citing a lack of transparency surrounding the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity .

Senators push for more online transparency in elections

Two Democratic senators are unveiling what could be the first of several pieces of legislation to try to lessen influence from Russia or other foreign actors on U.S. elections - with a measure to boost transparency for online political ads. The bill by Democratic Sens. Mark Warner of Virginia and Minnesota's Amy Klobuchar would require social media companies like Facebook and Twitter to keep public files of election ads and meet similar disclaimer requirements to political broadcast and print advertising.

Senate Democrats Urge Regulators To Review Possible Sprint Merger With T-Mobile Raw a ” 14 minutes ago

A merger between wireless carriers T-Mobile and Sprint could harm consumers, particularly low-income ones, Senate Democrats say in a letter to regulators. "Aggressive antitrust enforcement benefits consumers and competition in the wireless market," Sens. Amy Klobuchar , Al Franken and seven other lawmakers write in a letter sent late last week to the Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar says shea s concerned about increasing division in the Senate

Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Friday she's concerned about increasing division in the Senate after the election in Alabama last week. "The more you add people who see their job as standing on their own, throwing punches instead of trying to go in the middle for the people of America, then you have trouble," Ms.

Twitter to talk to House, Senate in Russia probe

Social media giant Twitter will visit Capitol Hill Thursday as part of the House and Senate investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 elections. Twitter's closed-door meetings with staff follow similar briefings from Facebook earlier this month, and the House and Senate panels have invited both tech giants, along with Google, to appear at public hearings this fall.