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Congress

Obituaries
Nita Lowey, NY Congresswoman For Decades, Dies Nita Lowey, NY Congresswoman For Decades, Dies
Nita Lowey, NY Congresswoman For Decades, Dies Nita Lowey, a powerful member of Congress for decades while representing parts of downstate New York, has died. She was 87. Lowey, who represented much of Westchester as well as Rockland County, died on Saturday, March 15 at her home in Harrison, her family announced, saying the cause of death was complications from metastatic breast cancer. Lowey, a Democrat, served in Congress from 1989 until 2021 after deciding not to seek re-election. She sponsored more than 500 pieces of legislation, with over 400 successfully enacted into law.  Her most significant achievement was her ten…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Senate Joins House In Voting To Avert Government Shutdown Senate Joins House In Voting To Avert Government Shutdown
Senate Joins House In Voting To Avert Government Shutdown With just hours to spare before a midnight deadline, Congress passed a stopgap bill to fund the government through the fall, avoiding a shutdown. The Senate approved the measure early Friday evening, March 14, sending it to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it. The bill will keep the government funded through Tuesday, Sept. 30. The vote followed a tense week of negotiations, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and nine other Democrats crossing party lines in a key procedural vote to advance the legislation. The move came despite mounting pressure from within his own…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
NY Rep. Suozzi Defends Vote To Censure Fellow Democrat Over Trump Speech Protest NY Rep. Suozzi Defends Vote To Censure Fellow Democrat Over Trump Speech Protest
NY Rep. Suozzi Defends Vote To Censure Fellow Democrat Over Trump Speech Protest New York Congressman Tom Suozzi is defending his support for censuring a fellow House Democrat who protested President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress. Suozzi–who represents Long Island’s 3rd District–was among ten House Democrats who voted with every Republican member to censure Texas Rep. Al Green on Thursday, March 6, for disrupting Trump’s address to Congress two days earlier. In a post on X following the vote, Suozzi chided Green for distracting from issues like protecting Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. “Instead of addressing rising costs, fixing immigration, and Ukraine, …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Melania Trump Leads Fight Against Revenge Porn: ‘Take It Down Act’ Explained Melania Trump Leads Fight Against Revenge Porn: ‘Take It Down Act’ Explained
Melania Trump Leads Fight Against Revenge Porn: ‘Take It Down Act’ Explained Melania Trump has a message for Congress: It’s time to act. The First Lady is taking a high-profile stand against deepfake pornography and online sexual exploitation, calling on lawmakers to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bipartisan bill that would criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate images (NCII), including AI-generated content, according to Congressional records. Trump, alongside Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), hosted a bipartisan roundtable discussion Monday, March 3, where victims and advocates shared gut-wrenching stories about how AI-ge…

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by Cecilia Levine
Politics
JD Vance Accuses Zelenskyy Of 'Campaigning For The Opposition' In Fiery Oval Office Clash JD Vance Accuses Zelenskyy Of 'Campaigning For The Opposition' In Fiery Oval Office Clash
JD Vance Accuses Zelenskyy Of 'Campaigning For The Opposition' In Fiery Oval Office Clash In a dramatic Oval Office confrontation on February 28, 2025, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance lambasted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of disrespecting the United States. The tension escalated when Vance referenced Zelenskyy's September 2024 visit to Pennsylvania, suggesting it was a politically charged move that undermined U.S. support for Ukraine. Contentious Meeting in Washington, D.C. The meeting, intended to discuss ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine amidst its conflict with Russia, quickly turned confrontational. President Trump and Vice Presiden…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties
Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties Hundreds of music legends and rising stars are calling on Congress to make major radio companies equitably pay artists when their songs are played on air. Popular 90s R&B group Boyz II Men met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for the American Music Fairness Act, a bill aiming to require corporate radio stations to compensate performers while protecting small, local broadcasters. The meeting happened on Thursday, Feb. 13 to coincide with World Radio Day. The Philadelphia-based singers of the hit song "End of the Road" spoke with three leaders in the House of Represent…

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by Chris Spiker
Politics
Trump Wants US Treasury To Stop Making Pennies: Here's Why Trump Wants US Treasury To Stop Making Pennies: Here's Why
Trump Wants US Treasury To Stop Making Pennies: Here's Why President Donald Trump is calling for an end to the production of pennies, arguing that the cost of minting them far exceeds their actual value.  As he departed the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday night, Trump took to Truth Social to announce his directive to halt penny production, calling it a "wasteful" government expense. "For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents," Trump wrote. "Let's rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it's a penny at a time." The financial burden of the penny has long been debated. Acco…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Trump Wants To Shut Education Department: Here's Why, What It Means Trump Wants To Shut Education Department: Here's Why, What It Means
Trump Wants To Shut Education Department: Here's Why, What It Means President Donald Trump says he's considering an executive order to dismantle the functions of the US Department of Education, aiming to eventually abolish the agency.  This move aligns with his administration's broader strategy to decrease the federal government's size and return control of education policy to the states. The proposed executive order would maintain only those functions required by statute within the department, while other programs would be transferred to different agencies. An agency can't be abolished without Congressional approval. This reflects Trump's campaign pr…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Trump Unveils Plan For TikTok After App Used By 170M Americans Goes Dark Trump Unveils Plan For TikTok After App Used By 170M Americans Goes Dark
Trump Unveils Plan For TikTok After App Used By 170M Americans Goes Dark President-elect Donald J. Trump announced Sunday, Jan. 19, that he plans to issue an executive order to delay the federal ban on TikTok, just hours after the app went dark for 170 million US users. UPDATE: TikTok Access Restored After 14 Hours In United States The popular social media platform ceased operations late Saturday, Jan. 18, as a federal law requiring its sale or ban took effect.  The legislation passed last year by Congress amid concerns over TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, raised fears that the app could enable data collection or propaganda by the Chinese gover…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Santos Spills: Viral Milkshake Attack Was Planned Publicity Stunt, Ousted LI Rep. Confesses Santos Spills: Viral Milkshake Attack Was Planned Publicity Stunt, Ousted LI Rep. Confesses
Santos Spills: Viral Milkshake Attack Was Planned Publicity Stunt, Ousted LI Rep. Confesses Turns out this milkshake drama was all whipped up. A video appearing to show disgraced former New York congressman George Santos being doused in ice cream in Times Square went viral over the weekend. The clip, which had been viewed millions of times on X, shows the 36-year-old convicted felon being accosted by a man seemingly outraged that Santos has “the audacity to show his face.” Watch video of the incident below. After getting the ex-Long Island congressman’s attention, the man tosses a milkshake all over Santos' jacket and asks, “How do you like that?” “You are un-[expletive] believ…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport To Shut Down New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport To Shut Down
New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport To Shut Down Following an incident at a New York airport that disrupted operations, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that federal partners are deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York State. The announcement follows a significant disruption in Orange County on Friday, Dec. 13, at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, where a drone forced a temporary shutdown of the airport’s runways, delaying flights. State and federal agencies are continuing their investigation into the incident. After that event, Hochul called for additional resources to bolster drone detection and response …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport, Prompts Hochul Call For Federal Action Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport, Prompts Hochul Call For Federal Action
Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport, Prompts Hochul Call For Federal Action Runways at a Hudson Valley airport were brought to a halt after drone activity disrupted operations for approximately an hour, prompting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to escalate calls for immediate federal intervention. Click here for a new, updated story: New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport To Shut Down Hochul said the incident happened in Orange County on Friday, Dec. 13, at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor. “This has gone too far,” Hochul stated, addressing growing concerns over unauthorized drones in sensitive airspace. The incident ma…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Former NY Rep Paralyzed After Horse Accident Receiving Treatment In NJ: Report Former NY Rep Paralyzed After Horse Accident Receiving Treatment In NJ: Report
Former NY Rep Paralyzed After Horse Accident Receiving Treatment In NJ: Report Former New York Congressman Michael Grimm has been left paralyzed from the chest down after a severe horse-riding accident during a polo tournament, and is being treated in New Jersey, CBS News reports citing a friend of Grimm's.  Grimm, age 54, was thrown from his horse in September and is now undergoing treatment at the renowned Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, which has locations in West Orange, Saddle Brook, Chester, and Marlton.  Headquartered in West Orange, Kessler is where actor Christopher Reeve was treated following a similar accident in 1995, and was…

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by Cecilia Levine
Politics
Trump Taps NY Congresswoman Elise Stefanik For UN Ambassador Post, Picks Border Czar Trump Taps NY Congresswoman Elise Stefanik For UN Ambassador Post, Picks Border Czar
Trump Taps NY Congresswoman Elise Stefanik For UN Ambassador Post, Picks Border Czar President-elect Donald Trump has picked one of his strongest allies in Congress to serve as United States ambassador to the United Nations and a former member of his first administration as border czar. Rep. Elise Stefanik, age 40, was first elected to New York's 21st District in 2014 and is the House Republican Conference Chair, the youngest woman to hold that post. "Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter," Trump said in a statement to CBS News. CNN first reported the news late Sunday, Nov. 10. Trump also decided on another native New Yorker for a…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Election 2024: Democrats Flip Long Island's 4th Congressional District Blue Election 2024: Democrats Flip Long Island's 4th Congressional District Blue
Election 2024: Democrats Flip Long Island's 4th Congressional District Blue Democrats on Long Island successfully flipped a red seat to blue. In New York’s 4th congressional district race, Democrat Laura Gillen ousted incumbent Republican Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, according to the state Board of Elections.  Gillen was leading D'Esposito by a margin of 49 to 47 percent with all precincts reporting as of Thursday, Nov. 7. The 4th District includes central and southern Nassau County.  In a statement X, Gillen said said she was "humbled and grateful to have the privilege of serving the people of NY04." I am so humbled and grateful to have the p…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Election 2024: Winner Projected For Long Island's 2nd Congressional District Race Election 2024: Winner Projected For Long Island's 2nd Congressional District Race
Election 2024: Winner Projected For Long Island's 2nd Congressional District Race Election Day 2024 is in the books, and Long Islanders have chosen their next representatives in Congress. In New York’s 2nd congressional district race, incumbent Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino defeated Democratic challenger Rob Lubin for the House seat representing the South Shore of Long Island, according to the New York State Board of Elections. Garbarino was leading Lubin 59 to 41 percent with 79 percent of the vote in as of 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.  Thank you to the people of New York’s Second District for once again voting to send me to Congress to fight for Long Is…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
New Poll Reveals Long Islanders' Preference In Closely Watched Congressional Races New Poll Reveals Long Islanders' Preference In Closely Watched Congressional Races
New Poll Reveals Long Islanders' Preference In Closely Watched Congressional Races Fresh polling appears to show a political divide between two closely watched congressional races on Long Island. Democrat Laura Gillen leads incumbent Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito by 12 percentage points, 53 to 41 percent, among likely voters in New York’s 4th District, according to a Siena College/Newsday poll released Tuesday, Oct. 22 D’Esposito has represented the 4th District, which includes central and southern Nassau County, since 2023. The race was considered a tossup by The Cook Political Report. Earlier Report: Competitive Long Island, Hudson Valley Races Seen As Key …

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Competitive Long Island, Hudson Valley Races Seen As Key To What Party Controls House Competitive Long Island, Hudson Valley Races Seen As Key To What Party Controls House
Competitive Long Island, Hudson Valley Races Seen As Key To What Party Controls House As Election Day draws closer, political pundits are closely watching three New York congressional races that could determine which party controls the House next year. Freshmen Republican Reps. Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, and Anthony D’Esposito – supporters of former President Donald Trump in districts won by President Joe Biden in 2020 – are all hoping for repeat wins in November. Here’s a closer look at their races. Mondaire Jones (left) and Rep. Mike Lawler. Campaign Facebook Pages 17th District: Lawler vs. Jones Lawler, whose 17th District represents all of Rockland and Pu…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
LI Rep. D’Esposito Denies Scathing Report He Gave Mistress, Fiancée’s Daughter Jobs LI Rep. D’Esposito Denies Scathing Report He Gave Mistress, Fiancée’s Daughter Jobs
LI Rep. D’Esposito Denies Scathing Report He Gave Mistress, Fiancée’s Daughter Jobs New York Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is vowing to stay in his congressional race following a scathing New York Times report alleging he gave his mistress and his fiancée’s daughter jobs in his district office. The Long Island Republican, age 42, hired the pair shortly after being elected to his 4th District seat in 2023 and paid them nearly $30,000 in taxpayer funds in a violation of House ethics rules, the outlet reports. New York’s 4th congressional district covers central and southern Nassau County, including Elmont, Hempstead, and Valley Stream. Asked whether the New York Times report was …

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia
Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump came out swinging at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Sept. 10 in their first and possibly only presidential debate before the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election. Harris made the first move by shaking Trump's hand on stage — in their first face-to-face encounter. Political observers noted how Harris "baited" the former president, prompting him to look increasingly angry. But Trump entered the "spin room" less than an hour after the debate, saying, "I think it was the best debate, personally, that I've ever …

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by Jon Craig
Politics
Queens Man Who Made Thousands Of Harassing Calls To Congressional Offices Sentenced Queens Man Who Made Thousands Of Harassing Calls To Congressional Offices Sentenced
Queens Man Who Made Thousands Of Harassing Calls To Congressional Offices Sentenced A Queens man who made more than 12,000 calls to dozens of Congressional offices and threatened to kill a staffer has been sentenced to more than a year in prison, federal authorities announced. Ade Salim Lilly, 35, was sentenced to 13 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release for making threats and "conducting a campaign of pervasive harassing communications against members of Congress," according to the US Attorney's Office. Court documents state that beginning in early February 2022, and continuing through his arrest in November last year, Lilly made more than 12,…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Ousted LI Rep. George Santos Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Ousted LI Rep. George Santos Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case
Ousted LI Rep. George Santos Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Former Republican Congressman George Santos admitted to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a federal court on Monday, Aug. 19, authorities announced.  The 36-year-old former inhabitant of New York's 3rd Congressional District seat on Long Island was facing 23 felonies, and a trial set to begin next month.  A federal judge will sentence Santos on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said. According to federal sentencing guidelines, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year minimum sentence.&n…

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by Josh Lanier
Politics
Ex-Long Island Rep. George Santos To Plead Guilty To Federal Charges: Reports Ex-Long Island Rep. George Santos To Plead Guilty To Federal Charges: Reports
Ex-Long Island Rep. George Santos To Plead Guilty To Federal Charges: Reports Former Republican Rep. George Santos is expected to plead guilty to federal charges weeks ahead of his upcoming trial, multiple news outlets are reporting.  The 36-year-old Santos, who represented New York's 3rd Congressional District, faces 23 federal charges including identity theft, wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to Congress.  NBC News reported that Santos' lawyers and federal investigators are hammering out a plea deal on some of those charges that will be presented to a judge on Monday, Aug. 19. The details on that agreement, which charges he will admit to, and …

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by Josh Lanier
Politics
Ex-Rep Santos Celebrates 'Squad' Member's 'Humiliating' Loss: 'We're Coming To Get You' Ex-Rep Santos Celebrates 'Squad' Member's 'Humiliating' Loss: 'We're Coming To Get You'
Ex-Rep Santos Celebrates 'Squad' Member's 'Humiliating' Loss: 'We're Coming To Get You' Former Rep. George Santos may have been banished out into the political cold, but he's kept his grudges hot.  The 36-year-old former Republican who served New York's 3rd District posted a video Tuesday night, Aug. 6, celebrating after another member of the so-called "Squad" lost her primary. Related: Santos Announces Comeback Bid After Being Ousted From Congress Rep. Cori Bush, who has served Missouri's 1st District since 2021, lost her bid on Tuesday to remain on the Democratic ticket to local prosecutor Wesley Bell, who garnered 51 percent of the vote to Bush's 45, according to NBC …

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by Josh Lanier
Politics
Journalist Vs. Chemist: Avlon, Goroff Face Off In Closely-Watched NY Congressional Primary Race Journalist Vs. Chemist: Avlon, Goroff Face Off In Closely-Watched NY Congressional Primary Race
Journalist Vs. Chemist: Avlon, Goroff Face Off In Closely-Watched NY Congressional Primary Race Among the New York races that political pundits are keeping an eye on this Primary Day is that of the journalist versus the chemist. On Long Island, Democrats John Avlon and Nancy Goroff are facing off to determine who will take on Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in November for the state’s 1st Congressional District, representing the eastern two-thirds of Suffolk County. The 51-year-old Avlon is a former political analyst at CNN who previously served as a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun. He was also the chief speech writer for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Ea…

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by Michael Mashburn