Rachel Mitchell, prosecutor experienced in sex-crimes cases, to…

Senate Republicans announced late Tuesday that Rachel Mitchell, a decorated career sex crimes prosecutor with decades of experience, will handle the questioning of Christine Blasey Ford, the California professor accusing Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault decades ago, at a scheduled hearing on Thursday. Saying he wants the hearing to be a "safe, comfortable, and dignified" environment, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley wrote in a statement that the move would help take politics out of the proceedings.

Press: Judge Kavanaugh must withdraw

Thursday's hearing, when Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, are scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, promises more drama than any congressional hearing in decades. But, no matter what Kavanaugh and Ford tell the committee, one thing we've already learned: When it comes to sexual abuse, Republican senators are just as clueless today as they were in 1991, when Anita Hill raised her claims of repeated sexual harassment against Clarence Thomas.

Eyeing White House, Cory Booker Introduces Himself to Iowa

The Iowa caucuses are well over a year away, but the New Jersey senator is working overtime to make an impression in Iowa and in other states that will be crucial to winning the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Booker has secured the keynote speaker role at the marquee fall Democratic Party fundraising banquet in Des Moines on Oct. 6. He'll also headline a Democratic fundraiser later in October in South Carolina, which holds the first primary in the South and is a key test of support among black voters.

GOP, Kavanaugh accuser in standoff over her Senate testimony

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., with Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, left, joined by former students from Holton Arms School, speaks to reporters in support of professor Christine Blasey Ford, who is accusing Supreme Court... . Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, walks through a tunnel towards the Dirksen Senate Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept.

Committee gives Kavanaugh accuser more time

4, 2018, file photo Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh is surrounded by photographers as he stands with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley R-Iowa, during his confirmatio... . U.S. Sen. Susan Collins , speaks to the media on Friday, Sept.

60 Iowa buildings deemed unsafe after tornado

City officials in central Iowa have designated about 60 structures as unsafe following a July tornado that damaged about 2,000 buildings. The Times-Republican reports that the properties in Marshalltown now have small red posters that say "Dangerous building - do not occupy."

GOP warns time running out for Kavanaugh’s accuser to talk

Republicans are warning that time is running out for Brett Kavanaugh's accuser to tell Congress about her claim he sexually assaulted her when both were teenagers, even as President Donald Trump called the woman's allegation hard to believe in one of the GOP's sharpest attacks on her credibility.

Panelists: Hubbell a – game changer’ for women’s health

Erin Davison-Rippey of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, at left, Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood's political action committee, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell, and Jill June, former leader of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, participate in a roundtable discussion of women's health-care issues ... (more)

In Iowa, McAuliffe says hea s not ruling out 2020 campaign new

Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said in Iowa Tuesday he's not ruling out a 2020 Democratic campaign for president, as he took his national campaign to promote Democratic candidates for governor to the early presidential testing ground. And while he said a decision remains months away, the former Democratic National Committee chairman touted his term as governor as a model for his party nationally.

Allegations throw Kavanaugh confirmation into turmoil

Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination was plunged into chaos after a woman accusing him of sexual assault spoke publicly for the first time about the allegation on Sunday. The fallout from the decades-old allegation is putting a spotlight on Senate Republicans, who must decide if they want to rush forward with Kavanaugh's nomination with questions lingering over the Senate's debate and vote.

Kavanaugh confirmation fight rallies Democrats to resistance

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh declined to express his opinion on gay marriage when questioned about it by Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey during Thursday's confirmation hearings. WASHINGTON - Democrats don't have the votes to block Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Archives: Kavanaugh documents not ready until end of October

The National Archives and Records Administration said Thursday it won't be able to finish reviewing nearly 1 million documents regarding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's time in the George W. Bush White House until the end of October, a potential roadblock in GOP hopes for confirmation before the November election. Republican leaders in the Senate appeared unfazed by the updated timetable, determined to push forward with confirmation hearings on President Donald Trump's nominee next month, even if the documents are not fully available.

Archives: Kavanaugh documents not ready until October

The National Archives and Records Administration said Thursday it won't be able to finish reviewing nearly 1 million documents regarding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's time in the George W. Bush White House until the end of October, a potential roadblock in GOP hopes for confirmation before the November election. Republican leaders in the Senate appeared unfazed by the updated timetable, determined to push forward with confirmation hearings on President Donald Trump's nominee next month, even if the documents are not fully available.

Good trade agreements more help than farm aid

The Commodity Credit Corporation is a government-owned and operated bank first created to support farm income and prices during the Great Depression. Organized under the umbrella of the USDA, the CCC Charter Act was enacted by Congress as a financing backstop to help farmers produce and market their commodities through loans, purchases and payments and to develop new domestic and foreign markets.

Senators want investigation of immigrant abuse allegations

In this May 24, 2018, file photo, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Republican chairman and top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee want federal investigators to examine charges that immigrants have suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse at two government agencies' detention centers.