Sen. Jeff Flake takes a question from the audience during a town hall in April in Mesa, Ariz.

Will Bunch has worked at the Daily News for 20-plus years and is now senior writer. Since 2005, he's written the uber-opinionated, fair-but-dangerously unbalanced opinion blog "Attytood," covering a range of topics ; it's been named best blog in the state by the Associated Press Managing Editors and best blog in the city by Philadelphia Magazine.

Flake says GOP has let Trump divert from conservative ideals

Sen. Jeff Flake says his fellow Republicans have let President Donald Trump lead the country away from conservative principles and democratic ideals. But the Arizona lawmaker predicts they won't back down if Trump fires the special prosecutor investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Senate Dems spell out conditions on bipartisan tax reform

Senate Democrats and independents said Tuesday that upcoming legislation to rewrite the nation's tax code should ensure the middle class doesn't pay more and the "top 1 percent" doesn't pay less. In a letter to Republican leaders, including President Donald Trump, 45 of the 48 Senate Democratic caucus members said they won't support any upcoming GOP effort to overhaul the tax system that delivers cuts to the top 1 percent or adds to the government's $20 trillion debt.

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.

White House: Trump has ‘100 percent confidence’ in Sessions, no plans to move him

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that President Donald Trump has "100 percent confidence" in all of his Cabinet members, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whose performance Trump has repeatedly publicly criticized . Sanders was asked during a White House briefing about rumors that Trump could move Sessions to lead the Department of Homeland Security, where there is now a vacancy after Trump's appointment of Secretary John Kelly as his new White House chief of staff.

California father accused of killing 5-year-old due in court

Longtime critics of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio say his conviction of a criminal charge for disobeying a court order to stop traffic patrols that targeted immigrants is a long-awaited comeuppance. Longtime critics of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio say his conviction of a criminal charge for disobeying a court order to stop traffic patrols that targeted immigrants is a long-awaited comeuppance.

Ap Fact Check: Trump’s odd threat on Congress health care

In this Tuesday, July 25, 2017, photo, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine is surrounded by reporters as she arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, before a test vote on the Republican health care bill. Collins, who was one of three Republican senators voting against the GOP health bill on Friday, July 28, said she's troubled by Trump's suggestions that the insurance payments are a "bailout."

Battle lines drawn in Dist. 6 election

Phoenix residents who live in City Council Districts 4 and 6 have the opportunity to vote in the regularly scheduled Council Election on Tuesday, Aug. 29. And while incumbent Laura Pastor, who represents District 4, faces no challengers, the same cannot be said for District 6 Councilman Sal DiCiccio. District 6 includes the Biltmore area, Arcadia and Ahwatukee.

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.

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."

Sen. Flake faults GOP, Democrat partisanship for Trump rise

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake takes his own party to task as well as Democrats, blaming both in a new book for the political gridlock that led to Donald Trump's presidency and its current chaos. The debut of the Arizona lawmaker's book "Conscience of a Conservative" comes amid turmoil in the White House marked by Anthony Scaramucci's rocky 11 days as communications director and the replacement of the chief of staff.

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.

Donald Trump looking into executive action on healthcare: Rand Paul

U.S. Senator Rand Paul said he spoke to President Donald Trump by phone about healthcare reform on Monday and told the president he thought Trump had the authority to create associations that would allow organizations to offer group health insurance plans. Paul, a Republican, told reporters that Trump was considering taking some form of executive action to address problems with the healthcare system after the Senate failed last week to pass a measure to reform the system.

Trump threatened to end health care coverage for members of Congress. Can he?

Office of Management and Budget director Mick Mulvaney explained Trump's tweet that bailouts to members of Congress would end soon on CNN on July 29, 2017. Following repeated failed attempts to repeal Obamacare, President Donald Trump has turned to bashing not only the health care law and its architects but all members of Congress on Twitter.

Bernie Sanders and Larry David share some ‘identical DNA’

Henry Louis Gates Jr., the host of "Finding Your Roots" on PBS, says the show "couldn't have scripted" the discovery that actor, comedian Larry David and Senator Bernie Sanders are related. An episode where the two learn they're distant relatives will air on the show's upcoming fourth season, premiering Oct. 3. Gates spoke about the discovery Monday during a panel about his show as part of the Television Critics Association's annual summer press gathering.

The Latest: Thune says end of filibusters not realistic

In this Tuesday, July 25, 2017, photo, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine is surrounded by reporters as she arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, before a test vote on the Republican health care bill. Collins, who was one of three Republican senators voting against the GOP health bill on Friday, July 28, said she's troubled by Trump's suggestions that the insurance payments are a "bailout."