Marijuana supporters find an ally in veterans

The Trump administration's attack on legal marijuana, already stymied by large states determined not to roll back the clock, is increasingly confronting an even more politically potent adversary: military veterans. Frustrated by federal laws restricting their access to a drug many already rely on to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain and opioid addiction, veterans have become an influential lobbying force in the marijuana debate after sitting on the sidelines for years.

Trump’s election commission lacks integrity

President Donald Trump had some remarkable things to say at the inaugural meeting of his Commission to Promote Voter Suppression and Justify Trump's False Claims, which is formally known as the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. He also asked a question that deserves an answer.

U.S. student freed after week held in China over taxi dispute

An American university student is free following a weeklong detention in China for allegedly injuring a taxi driver who was roughing up his mother during a fare dispute, in a case that drew objections over the student's treatment from U.S. lawmakers. Guthrie McLean, a student at the University of Montana, was released from a detention center in Zhengzhou early Monday, according to his mother, Jennifer McLean, a teacher who lives in the central Chinese city.

Trump insiders face congressional investigators as president mulls pardons

In this March 17, 2017, file photo Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner, senior adviser to President Donald Trump, attend a joint news conference with the president and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the East Room of the White House in Washington. In this March 17, 2017, file photo Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner, senior adviser to President Donald Trump, attend a joint news conference with the president and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the East Room of the White House in Washington.

US student freed after week in Chinese detention

An American college student is free following a weeklong detention for allegedly injuring a taxi driver who was roughing up his mother during a fare dispute, in a case that drew objections over the student's treatment from U.S. lawmakers. Guthrie McLean, a student at the University of Montana, was released from a detention center in Zhengzhou early Monday, according to his mother Jennifer McLean, a teacher who lives in the central Chinese city.

Luis Gutierrez Unhinged: Time to – Eliminate’ – Criminal’ Trump – “BringHim to His Knees

Rep. Luis Gutierrez denounced President Donald Trump on Saturday as a "major criminal" who must be peacefully "eliminated" and brought to his knees after Democrats take back the House of Representatives and begin the impeachment process. Fuming and furious at the thought that Trump could end former President Barack Obama's executive amnesties and impact 1.2 million who did not have "papers," Gutierrez tore into Trump at Chicago's Lincoln United Methodist Church, vowing to "resist" Trump non-violently with "everything possible."

Where are the wreaths for the known?

U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis recently told constituents of how he participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. He told us to remember and give thanks to those who gave their lives in the service of our nation, as they are the "indispensable Americans without whom we would not be free."

White House indicates Trump would sign new sanctions bill

In this July 13, 2017 photo, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y. pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congressional Democrats announced Saturday that a bipartisan group of House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement on a sweeping Russia sanctions package to punish Moscow for meddling in the presidential election and its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria.

Senator: American student arrested in China has been freed

Chinese authorities have dropped charges against an American college student who was arrested and detained in the Asian nation a week ago after reportedly injuring a taxi driver who was roughing up his mother in a fare dispute, a U.S. lawmaker said Sunday. Guthrie McLean, a University of Montana senior, was released from a detention center in the central China city of Zhengzhou early Monday local time, according to Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana.

Ahead of key vote, details of GOP health bill still unknown

The Senate will move forward with a key vote this week on a Republican health care bill but it's not yet known whether the legislation will seek to replace the Affordable Care Act or simply repeal it, the third-highest ranking Republican senator said Sunday. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will make a decision soon on which bill to bring up for a vote, depending on ongoing discussions with GOP senators.

Detained college student Guthrie McLean released by Chinese authorities

This undated file photo provided by Jennifer McLean shows her son, University of Montana student Guthrie McLean, in China. Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines says police in central China freed 25-year-old Guthrie McLean early Monday, July 24, 2017, local time, after he was arrested in China a week earlier after reportedly injuring a taxi driver who was roughing up his mother in a fare dispute.

Trump open to signing Russia sanctions legislation

Congressional Democrats said on Saturday they had agreed with Republicans on a deal allowing new sanctions targeting Russia, Iran and North Korea in a bill that would limit any potential effort by Trump to try to lift sanctions against Moscow. A White House official said the administration's view of the legislation evolved after changes were made, including the addition of sanctions on North Korea.

Trump Critics Flake, Heller Being Targeted for Primary Challenges

Vulnerable Senate Republicans, Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Dean Heller, R-Nev., might face more than Democratic opposition in 2018, especially if the GOP's repeal of Obamacare fails at their hands, according to The Hill. "We're watching the races in Arizona and Nevada closely and stand ready to support strong challengers who are true conservatives, have strong grassroots support, and can run a winning campaign," Senate Conservatives Fund President Ken Cuccinelli told The Hill in a statement.

Top Democrats blame themselves for Trump win

Party leaders will unveil a new economic battle plan on Monday that will highlight job-training programs, renegotiating trade deals and a $15 an hour "living wage" as they try to focus their message to voters, the Washington Post reported. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said his party can't blame anyone else for their devastating defeat to Trump in November.

Speaker Ryan’s visit a truly welcome sight

It was nice to see U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan in Massachusetts last Thursday, visiting with the owners and workers at the New Balance factory in Lawrence. Any high-ranking Republican leader with the guts to come to one of the bluest states in the nation is clearly a true American patriot.

Ex-Trump aide: Panel probing Russia sounding ‘more and more like McCarthy’

A former adviser to President Trump's campaign says a congressional probe into Russia's role in the 2016 election increasingly resembles former Sen. Joseph McCarthy 's infamous hunt for communists in the U.S. government. The accusations by Michael Caputo came little more than a week after congressional investigators on the House Intelligence Committee interviewed him as part of their ongoing probe of possible collusion between Trump campaign's and Russia.

Hawaii awarded $715,000 to protect state’s coral reefs

Those who study Hawaii's coral reefs are hoping a recent $715,000 federal grant awarded to the state of Hawaii will amp up both the education and conservation of the underwater ecosystems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the grant to the state of Hawaii as part of a cooperative agreement between the organization and Hawaii's Division of Aquatic Resources, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono announced Thursday.

Michigan U.S. Sens. Stabenow, Peters request meeting with Trump

U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow are asking for a meeting with President Donald Trump to talk about jobs and ways to end outsourcing. Peters, D-Bloomfield Twp., and Stabenow, D-Lansing, wrote a joint letter to Trump in response to his "Made in America" theme week, encouraging him to work with Congress and asking him to meet with them to come up with a plan to promote U.S. jobs and manufacturing.

Health care follies in the Senate

A long time ago, in a galaxy not all that far away, the opposition party in Congress killed a White House-hatched health care plan. The president was Bill Clinton, although the complex blueprint was midwifed by first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, as she liked to be called.