Author: Press Room

House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington said Thursday he wants the House to move a budget blueprint for a narrow, party-line policy package in June as House GOP leaders weigh whether they can advance the long-shot legislation by the end of July. “We can do a resolution and put flexibilities in the budget resolution,” the Texas Republican said, noting Republicans can add spending caps and other targets in the blueprint required to kickstart the filibuster-skirting budget reconciliation process. Speaker Mike Johnson hosted a meeting Thursday morning with Arrington, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, several GOP caucus heads and some key rank and…

Tehran has tightened control over the waterway as peace talks with the US have so far remained fruitless RT has gained rare access to the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds of vessels are backed up waiting to pass through one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints.The waterway has remained largely shut since the US-Israeli attack on Iran in February and Tehran’s subsequent standoff with Washington.Earlier this month, Iran announced the creation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), a new body tasked with overseeing transit through the strategic passage, which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil…

Nvidia reported better-than-expected Q1 results and provided optimistic guidance for the second quarter, with CEO Jensen Huang highlighting new product lines that could significantly expand the company’s revenue beyond its flagship AI chip business. Despite the positivity, the stock is down in Thursday afternoon trading. Investing.com reports that Nvidia delivered impressive first-quarter financial results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, reporting revenue of $81.62 billion compared to analysts’ average estimate of $78.86 billion. The company’s data center segment, which has become its primary growth driver, generated $75.2 billion in revenue against expectations of $72.8 billion. Adjusted earnings per share came in at…

President Donald Trump told reporters that he would speak to Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te on Wednesday, downplaying the significance of such a conversation by adding, “I speak to everybody.” Trump’s comment follows a visit to communist China just a week ago in which he claimed to have a positive personal relationship with genocidal dictator Xi Jinping. While the Chinese government attempted to describe Taiwan as an issue of significance in their conversations, the White House’s descriptions of the visit suggest that topics such as economic cooperation, the ongoing war with Iran, and Chinese students in American universities took priority…

Michigan Senate Republican leader Aric Nesbitt asked the Justice Department on Monday to investigate Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) over her potential role in a $20 million state fraud scheme.  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced 16 felony charges against Fay Beydoun earlier in May. He is accused of misusing $20 million in grant funding that was meant to start a business accelerator. Nesbitt, who is running for governor, said Beydoun was a political donor and close ally of Whitmer who also allegedly has a close relationship with Nessel. Nesbitt said, “Michigan deserves a governor who works for everyone in this…

Rep. Andrew Clyde said in an interview Thursday he supports the DOJ’s new, $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund — and isn’t ruling out seeking money from the account for himself. The Georgia Republican said the goal of the fund is to “make whole” anyone who has been unfairly targeted by the government, including people who rioted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Pressed on whether he would personally pursue compensation, he reiterated that the fund is for “anyone” who has been the victim of government weaponization. Clyde has, in the past, argued he’s been targeted by the IRS, and was…

Walmart absorbed virtually all of the surge in fuel costs in its most recent quarter rather than passing them on to shoppers, taking a direct hit to profits while keeping prices on store shelves largely stable — a dynamic that challenges the conventional wisdom that an energy shock inevitably translates into broader consumer price increases. The world’s largest retailer said higher fuel costs in its distribution and fulfillment network knocked 250 basis points off operating income in the first quarter ended May 1, a headwind of roughly $175 million. Yet prices at Walmart stores rose just 1.2 percent during the…

President Trump called out Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich over her RINO fiancé Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) during a Q&A with reporters this week. “Her husband votes against me all the time. Can you imagine? I don’t know what’s with him. You better ask him what’s with him,” Trump said, presumably gesturing toward Heinrich in the press huddle. “Her husband — she’s married to a certain congressman, he likes voting against Trump. You know what happens with that? Doesn’t work out well. I don’t know why he does,” Trump added. Trump is referring to Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who proposed to Heinrich last…

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche struggled Thursday to quash GOP concerns over a newly announced $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Blanche met privately with Senate Republicans as the administration and GOP leaders try to defuse a controversy that is complicating their push to quickly advance an immigration enforcement bill. GOP leaders believe they have enough members who would support a proposal targeting the fund that it would ultimately be added into the filibuster-skirting bill, as POLITICO first reported Wednesday. Asked if the briefing changed her mind, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a critic of the fund, told reporters, “No.” Sens. Bill Cassidy…

The US intends to build up an icebreaker fleet larger than Russia’s, as the current gap in Moscow’s favor is “ridiculous,” President Donald Trump has said.Speaking to US Coast Guard graduates in New London, Connecticut, on Wednesday, Trump highlighted an agreement signed with Finland earlier this year to build 11 icebreakers.“We’re going to learn the craft and we’re going to have so many icebreakers,” Trump said. “You know, Russia has 48 and we have one very old one, that’s ridiculous.”He claimed the US would eventually operate 55 such ships, overtaking Russia and strengthening the American presence in the Arctic.The agreement…