President Trump criticized for not leading effort to secure elections

As alarms blare about Russian interference in U.S. elections, the Trump administration is facing criticism that it has no clear national strategy to protect the country during the upcoming midterms and beyond. Both Republicans and Democrats have criticized the administration's response as fragmented, without enough coordination across federal agencies.

Lawmakers question Trump officials on family separations,…

Trump administration officials mounted a fierce defense Tuesday of the controversial family separation policy at the border, defending sites as "more like a summer camp" than holding facilities, and arguing that the detention system simply was not set up to facilitate court-ordered reunions easily. "I'm very comfortable with the level of service and protection that is being provided," top Immigration and Customs Enforcement official Matthew Albence told the Senate Judiciary Committee about the conditions at the "family residential centers," which he likened to summer camps.

Leahy’s border plan draws criticism

Border-zone legislation recently introduced by U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy, , and Patty Murray, , is drawing sharp criticism from illegal immigration opponents who say the bill would "hamstring" the nation's immigration enforcement. The proposal, titled the Border Zone Reasonableness Restoration Act of 2018, would limit the border zone within which U.S. Department of Homeland Security officers may stop vehicles and search private property for the purpose of protecting national security.

Trump criticized for not leading effort to secure elections

As alarms blare about Russian interference in U.S. elections, the Trump administration is facing criticism that it has no clear national strategy to protect the country during the upcoming midterms and beyond. Both Republicans and Democrats have criticized the administration's response as fragmented, without enough coordination across federal agencies.

Vermont US Sen. Leahy seeks to limit border search zones

Vermont's Democratic U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy wants to reduce the size of the zone in which border agents can question people about their immigration status. Currently, officers of the Department of Homeland Security have broad legal authority to stop vehicles and search private land, without warrants within 100 miles of the border.

Senate blocks Trump plan to cut $15B in unused spending

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., left, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, ride the Senate subway as they head to a vote on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Washington. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., left, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, ride the Senate subway as they head to a vote on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Washington.

Betsy DeVos: Trump’s school safety commission won’t examine gun violence

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said Tuesday that the Federal Commission on School Safety she leads would not be examining how guns play a role in school violence. "Will your commission look at role of firearms as it relates to gun violence in our schools?" Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., asked DeVos at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing.

Work getting underway on transit center in Vermont capital

On Tuesday, Montpelier officials were joined by Democratic U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, Republican Gov. Phil Scott and others to mark what is known as the 1 Taylor Street project. The site, which is currently a parking lot, will become home to a ground-level transit center that will provide public transportation throughout the region and serve as the Greyhound bus stop.

EPA’s Scott Pruitt, Subject Of Many Ethics Probes, Plays Defense Before Senate

If Scott Pruitt arrived on Capitol Hill expecting to be grilled Wednesday, he did not have to wait long to see that expectation fulfilled. The Environmental Protection Agency administrator, who is facing a series of federal ethics investigations some 15 months into his tenure, fielded reproaches from both sides of the aisle during testimony before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee.

Maple, honey producers not sweet on added sugars label Source: AP

Producers of pure maple syrup and honey aren't sweet on a plan to label their pure natural products as containing added sugars. They say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's upcoming requirement to update nutrition labels to tell consumers that pure maple syrup and honey contain added sugars is misleading, illogical and confusing and could hurt their industries.

Maple, honey producers not sweet on added sugars label

Producers of pure maple syrup and honey aren't sweet on a plan to label their pure natural products as containing added sugars. They say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's upcoming requirement to update nutrition labels to tell consumers that pure maple syrup and honey contain added sugars is misleading, illogical and confusing and could hurt their industries.

Zuckerberg vows to revamp Facebook, admits his own data was shared

Washington, April 11 : Stressing that there is an online propaganda "arms race" with Russia and it was important to make sure no one interferes in any more elections including in India, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Wednesday that his own personal data was "improperly shared". Appearing before the US House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday -- his second testimony before the US Congress in less than 24 hours -- Zuckerberg told the lawmakers that his own personal data was part of 87 million users' that was "improperly shared" with British political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica.

Facebook CEO vows to fight poll interference, fake news

Washington, April 11 : There is an online propaganda "arms race" with Russia and the most important thing right now is to make sure no one interferes in the upcoming elections globally, vowed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg during the five-hour marathon session at the US Congress. "The most important thing I care about right now is making sure no one interferes in the various 2018 elections around the world," he testified before a 44-Senator panel.

Vermont Congressional Delegation Opposes Vermont Voters

The politics of American imperialism are alive and well in Vermont, where elected officials are defending the military-industrial war-making machine against voters who reject ruling class priorities. At the symbolic center of this democratic confrontation is the notorious F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the world's most expensive weapons system, designed to kill in many ways, including a nuclear first strike.

Vermont now only US state to never send a woman to Congress

John Nicholson, the top American commander in Afghanistan, speaks to reporters at Bagram Air Base north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Nicholson says America has a role to play in ... The top U.S. commander for the war in Afghanistan says America has a role to play in setting the conditions for members of the Taliban to lay down their weapons and move back into Afghanistan's society.