Senate shaken: Bipartisan worry erupts after incident involving California Democrat
Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held a news conference regarding the recent protests in Los Angeles earlier Thursday.
Even some Republicans are privately concerned about how Padilla was treated, although they concede his tactics were aggressive.
This is where some GOPers believe this is theatrical, as Democrats struggle to find a message against the Trump administration that resonates.
Padilla Cuffed, Mciver Indicted: Can Congress Come Back From The Brink?
Senators are particularly shaken. The Senate is a body of equals. And if this can happen to one of them, well, there's a worry they could be next.
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Democrats demand a full-blown investigation.
California Democrats and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus hectored House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., in the hall yesterday, accusing him of lying.
Reporter's Notebook: Gop Lawmakers Prepare To Slash $9.1B From Usaid, Npr, And Pbs In Rare Vote
Johnson believes Padilla should be censured.
Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., said she had a private conversation with Johnson on Thursday. She wants to lower the temperature but said only President Donald Trump can do that.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., spoke to Padilla and Senate Sergeant at Arms Jennifer Hemingway about the incident.
"I remain hopeful that Leader Thune and other Republicans can walk us back from the brink. But I am not so sure anymore," said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii.Original article source: Senate shaken: Bipartisan worry erupts after incident involving California Democrat
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Texas and California joust for political advantage
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an hour ago
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Texas and California joust for political advantage, with Trump power and US House majority in play
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The impasse centers on Trump's effort to get five more GOP-leaning congressional seats in Texas, at Democrats' expense, before the midterms. That would bolster his party's chances of preserving its fragile U.S. House majority, something Republicans were unable to do in the 2018 midterms during Trump's first presidency. Republicans currently hold 25 of Texas' 38 seats. That's nearly a 2-to-1 advantage and already a wider partisan gap than the 2024 presidential results: Trump won 56.1% of Texas ballots, while Democrat Kamala Harris received 42.5%. The California pushback: A move to undercut GOP House members According to the tentative California proposal, districts now held by Republican Reps. Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Kevin Kiley, David Valadao and Doug LaMalfa would see right-leaning voters shaved and Democratic voters boosted in a shift that would make it likely a left-leaning candidate would prevail in each race. In battleground districts held by Democratic Reps. 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Democrats hold 62 seats in the majority-Republican chamber, and at least 51 left the state, according to a Democratic aide. The Texas Supreme Court held in 2021 that House leaders could 'physically compel the attendance' of missing members, but no Democrats were forcibly brought back to the state after warrants were served. Republicans answered by adopting $500 daily fines for lawmakers who don't show. Abbott, meanwhile, continues to make unsubstantiated claims that some lawmakers have committed felonies by soliciting money to pay for potential fines for leaving Texas during the session.
