Democrats to debate platform at convention, hope for less haggling than GOP

Utah Democrats are trying to capitalize on the chaos from last week's GOP state convention by promising their delegates won't spend hours haggling over party issues when they meet Saturday. "We're going to have as much good, positive energy there as we can," Utah Democratic Party Chairwoman Daisy Thomas said of the Democratic state convention, set to start 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Salt Palace.

Mike Pompeo narrowly confirmed to be secretary of state

The Senate narrowly confirmed Mike Pompeo to be secretary of state on Thursday, clearing the path for him to take over as the top U.S. diplomat just as President Donald Trump faces high-risk moments on Iran and North Korea. Pompeo, the outgoing CIA director, secured support from 57 senators, with 42 voting no - one of the slimmest margins for the job in recent history.

Senate confirms Mike Pompeo as Trump’s second secretary of state in bipartisan vote

Six Democrats and one independent voted to confirm former CIA director Mike Pompeo as the 70th US secretary of state - and the second to serve under President Donald Trump. Despite objections from dozens of Democrats who have expressed concern about his record of hawkish foreign policy positions and controversial comments about Muslims , the Republican-controlled Senate narrowly voted 57 to 42 to approve Pompeo as the nation's top diplomat.

Progressives riled by secret tape of Steny Hoyer asking candidate to drop out of race

During a conversation that was secretly recorded, the House Democratic whip said he supported Jason Crow in the Democratic primary for Colorado's 6th congressional district "because a judgement was made very early on." Progressives riled by secret tape of Steny Hoyer asking candidate to drop out of race During a conversation that was secretly recorded, the House Democratic whip said he supported Jason Crow in the Democratic primary for Colorado's 6th congressional district "because a judgement was made very early on."

The Latest: EPA chief says he did know about pay raises Source: AP

The Latest on Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt and his appearances on Capitol Hill : Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt concedes he did have some knowledge of big pay raises awarded to two close aides. At a hearing, Democrat Rep. Paul Tonko of New York pressed Pruitt on whether he knew about the raises for 30-year-old senior legal counsel Sarah Greenwalt and 26-year-old scheduling director Millian Hupp.

EPA chief faces Capitol Hill grilling over ethical missteps

Lawmakers assailed Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt on Thursday for the ethics and spending scandals that have prompted bipartisan calls for his ouster. On the defensive, the EPA chief blamed "half truths" and "twisted" allegations, an effort to undermine the Trump administration's anti-regulatory agenda.

Sessions: Pardons Granted by Bill Clinton Were ‘Stunning,…

Democrats, panicked that President Trump might pardon former associates who now find themselves in legal trouble, pressed Attorney General Jeff Sessions on that issue at a Senate hearing on Wednesday. "The President of the United States clearly has the constitutional power to pardon," Sessions said; and the president may do so without going through the Justice Department's pardon attorney.

L’Italien rips ‘machines’ aiding Trahan, Koh

State Sen. Barbara L'Italien, with a blistering attack against her politically wired congressional rivals, is blasting their deep ties to powerhouses pols such as Mayor Marty Walsh and University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan. L'Italien -- one of 12 Democrats running for the 3rd Congressional District seat, anchored by Lowell -- accused, in an interview on Boston Herald Radio on Tuesday, the Boston mayor of playing a strong role in his former chief of staff Daniel Koh's $2.5 million fundraising haul.

Teamsters Warn FAA Amendment Could Overturn State, Local Trucking Laws

The Teamsters are sounding an alarm about a proposed change to the FAA Authorization Act that would halt the ability of states and localities to set any workplace rules for truck drivers in their jurisdictions. The amendment, offered by Rep. Jeff Denham , could be considered when the FAA bill heads to the House floor later this week.

Is Lenovo a security risk? Old concerns resurface as trade war heats up.

Amid the mounting trade tussles between the U.S. and China, Lenovo is once again coming under fire in Washington, being called a "cyberespionage risk" and one of the Chinese-controlled companies the U.S. government ought to keep a closer eye on when buying computer gear. The company is "a similar case" to two other Chinese tech firms, Huawei and ZTE , that a U.S. House committee has urged both the federal government and companies to steer clear of, consultants hired by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission said in a new report.

Nation’s nastiest GOP primary playing out in Pence’s Indiana as rivals try to win over Trump voters

From left, U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, Mike Braun and U.S. Rep. Luke Messer are locked in a bitter Republican primary in the Hoosier state to face the Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly. From left, U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, Mike Braun and U.S. Rep. Luke Messer are locked in a bitter Republican primary in the Hoosier state to face the Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly.

Dan Haar: Hockley, Barden should not run for Congress

Family members of two children killed in a shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Mark Barden, left, who lost his son 7-year-old Daniel, and Nicole Hockley, who lost her 6-year-old son Dylan, listen to questions during a newsconference on a bill introduced that would expand gun background checks in New Hampshire in 2014.

Samantha Bee Goes Off on ‘Racist, Warmongering Homophobe’ Mike Pompeo

'It would be unfair to simply call Mike Pompeo a raging Islamophobe, because he's also a raging homophobe,' the 'Full Frontal' host said. "I guess Logan Paul and the 'Cash Me Outside' girl were busy?" Bee asked of this "typical" Trump nominee, who has the support of every Republican but just a handful of Democrats in the Senate.

GOP Senators Losing Their Cool Over White House Vetting Fails

Republican senators are growing increasingly frustrated with the White House for foisting upon them a parade of controversial cabinet nominees whom they believe haven't gone through a proper vetting process. Throughout much of the Trump presidency, those frustrations have been shielded from public view out of deference to the president's right to pick his own team.

Colorado congressman sues to get onto GOP primary ballot

Rep. Doug Lamborn filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday in a last-ditch bid to get his name back on the GOP primary ballot after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled he must be kicked off it because his campaign did not gather petitions correctly. Colorado law requires congressional candidates to gather signatures from 1,200 party members in their district.

Sessions defends Trump pardons of Joe Arpaio, Scooter Libby Source: AP

Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump's right to pardon former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former Bush administration official I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Both of those pardons were issued by Trump and bypassed the involvement of the Justice Department and its pardon attorney, which historically reviews petitions for clemency.

Mick Mulvaney Gets Downgraded From Trump Guru to Liability Amid Lobbyist Fallout

From his perch atop the White House Office of Management and Budget, Mulvaney defunded Obama-era initiatives to transform the president's rhetoric into reality. The intricacies of his role are understood by few outside the D.C. beltway and remain masked behind government's labyrinth of regulations, restrictions and wonkiness.