David Urban on Trump's approval in CNN poll: ‘The numbers suck. Those are terrible numbers'
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CNN
28 minutes ago
- CNN
‘House is gone. Cars are gone': Paul Whelan's life one year after his release from a Russian prison
For Paul Whelan, returning to life in the United States after more than half a decade of Russian imprisonment has been 'interesting' – and not without its challenges. 'You're literally starting over,' he told CNN ahead of the one-year anniversary of the sweeping US-Russia prisoner exchange deal that secured his release. 'For people like me who have come home after five-and-a-half years, we really don't have very much. House is gone. Cars are gone. Employment's gone. No health insurance,' he said. His post-traumatic stress disorder gets triggered in hotel rooms, after he was 'violently arrested' in one in 2018 while visiting Moscow for a friend's wedding. It was that arrest on espionage charges that started his nearly six-year nightmare of Russian detention. Returning to his home in Michigan was an adjustment, he said, and he had even developed new seasonal allergies from being away so long. 'It took a little bit of time for me to kind of feel comfortable driving down the same streets that I used to or going to a park or doing things that I used to do, especially with my dog when she was alive,' Whelan told CNN. His dog passed away while he was in Russia. 'Doing routine things that I hadn't done for five-and-a-half, six years, and then I was doing them again, and it did take a few months just to kind of get back into the hang of it.' Whelan hasn't been able to get a new job. Some companies won't hire people who've been in prison, regardless of whether that imprisonment was wrongful, he explained, and he's competing with people who don't have a nearly six-year gap on their resume. 'Most people understand the wrongful detention issue,' he told CNN. 'They don't know what to do with it. It doesn't necessarily fit into their policies or procedures.' Whelan has been working with Michigan Democratic Reps. Debbie Dingell and Haley Stevens and others to pass a law 'that would fund the medical, dental and psychological care listed in the Levinson Act that was never funded, as well as to provide compensation and things like that for former hostages who were wrongfully detained,' he said. The Levinson Act codified key parts of US hostage policy into law, including the position of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and set out criteria for making wrongful detention determinations. Additional amendments have sought to increase support for families of US hostages and wrongful detainees. 'Congresswoman Dingell has worked closely with Paul Whelan to understand and address the challenges that political prisoners face when they return home,' Dingell's deputy chief of staff Michaela Johnson told CNN. 'One of these is ensuring they have the medical treatment and mental health resources they need to recover from their traumatic experience.' 'She is working on legislation to address these issues that have been raised in her experience working with Paul,' Johnson said. Whelan also wants to meet with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the matter. Whelan keeps in touch with fellow inmates who were imprisoned with him in a Russian penal colony in Mordovia. That facility, IK-17, has now closed and will instead house Ukrainian prisoners of war, Whelan said. His friends have been scattered around the country, but they describe the situation as poor. 'The food is worse than what we had. Russia is having a tremendous problem with the economy. The prison guards aren't happy. There aren't enough guards to go around,' he recounted. Prisoners, especially foreigners, are being told that if they want to get out, they have to go fight in Ukraine, he said. Whelan also is in contact with fellow former wrongful detainees, he said, including Evan Gershkovich, who was freed with him last year. Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Putin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is a US permanent resident, were also released as part of the sweeping exchange. There's a sense of camaraderie among the former detainees, Whelan said, likening it to 'the Island of Misfit Toys' from the Christmas movie 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.' 'It's a unique club of people from all different backgrounds were brought together not by their choosing, and we have shared experiences,' Whelan said. Looking ahead to how he will commemorate the one-year anniversary of being freed, Whelan said, 'There's a special bottle of scotch that I have that I'll probably open, and I think I've got a box of cigars sitting around.'
CNN
32 minutes ago
- CNN
Harris gives Colbert her first interview since losing election
Harris gives Colbert her first interview since losing election Former Vice President Kamala Harris reflected on her decision not to pursue a gubernatorial run in California, citing systemic dysfunction, while speaking in an interview on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." 00:44 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 17 videos Harris gives Colbert her first interview since losing election Former Vice President Kamala Harris reflected on her decision not to pursue a gubernatorial run in California, citing systemic dysfunction, while speaking in an interview on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." 00:44 - Source: CNN New research reveals origin of potatoes Scientists traced the lineage of potatoes to a wild genetic fusion about 9 million years ago between a tomato ancestor and a tuberless plant. 01:07 - Source: CNN Blake Lively to be deposed against Justin Baldoni Blake Lively is set to be deposed Thursday in her legal battle against Justin Baldoni. 00:24 - Source: CNN Amusement park ride splits in half in Saudi Arabia At least 23 people were injured, three of them critically, when a fairground ride buckled in Saudi Arabia, sending passengers crashing to the ground, according to state media. 00:33 - Source: CNN Dozens injured on Delta flight Severe turbulence struck a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam Wednesday, causing service carts and unbelted passengers to hit the ceiling and forcing an emergency landing in Minnesota, where 25 people on board were taken to hospitals. 01:01 - Source: CNN Arrest made in Arkansas hiking murders A man has been arrested in connection with the deaths of a married couple attacked and killed while hiking with their two young daughters at a state park in the Ozark Mountains, according to the Arkansas State Police. 00:45 - Source: CNN Crypto attack on OnlyFans streamer caught on camera Several crypto investors, including streamer and content creator Kaitlyn 'Amouranth' Siragusa, have been targeted in a series of violent attacks by gangs attempting to access their crypto wallets. Blockchain intelligence firms believe that the perceived anonymity and irreversibility of crypto transactions make investors an attractive target. 02:05 - Source: CNN High Noon recalls vodka seltzer mislabeled as Celsius High Noon has issued a voluntary recall after mislabeling some of its vodka seltzer as Celsius energy drinks. The FDA says no adverse events or illnesses have been reported. 00:55 - Source: CNN Jet2 holiday singer speaks out after White House uses meme British singer Jess Glynne responded to the White House's decision to use the viral TikTok sound, which includes her 2015 song "Hold My Hand" and Jet2's commercial. Glynne criticized the White House for using the audio to show the ongoing mass deportations in the United States. 01:10 - Source: CNN Fans pay tribute as emotional Sharon Osbourne lays flowers at Ozzy memorial Thousands of fans paid their respects to Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse made its way through the streets of Birmingham, the English city where he grew up and where the band was formed in 1968. Osbourne died last Tuesday at the age of 76. 00:46 - Source: CNN Shannon Sharpe out at ESPN after settling sexual assault lawsuit Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe, who has been one of the faces of ESPN's morning sports debate show 'First Take,' is no longer with the network, a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN. 00:54 - Source: CNN Crocodile gets caught underneath moving truck A bystander captured video of a crocodile caught underneath a truck driving through high water in Australia at Kakadu National Park. 00:25 - Source: CNN Beyoncé brings out Destiny's Child during final show Beyoncé reunited Destiny's Child during her concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland joining her on stage to perform a medley of the group's biggest hits, as part of her final Cowboy Carter show. 00:45 - Source: CNN Gwyneth Paltrow joins Astronomer as temporary spokesperson Actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow appeared in a new ad for Astronomer, the tech firm whose former CEO and human resources chief were caught in an awkward moment on a Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert last week. Paltrow is the ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. 00:51 - Source: CNN 'South Park' skewers Trump after signing new Paramount deal In their first episode of the season, the creators of "South Park" mocked President Donald Trump and Paramount after they just signed a new $1.5 billion contract. Paramount is looking to merge with Skydance Media and needs the Trump-influenced FCC to approve the deal. 01:24 - Source: CNN Hot Chinese brands are coming to America Chinese brands like Luckin Coffee, Pop Mart, and HEYTEA are expanding in the United States, despite the ongoing trade war. CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich and Marc Stewart report from two different continents on why the companies covet American customers. 02:10 - Source: CNN Fans pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne Fans have gathered in Ozzy Osbourne's hometown to pay tribute to the former Black Sabbath singer, who died yesterday at the age of 76. One of them told CNN's Salma Abdelaziz that Osbourne will 'live on forever in his music.' 01:07 - Source: CNN
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Booker's criticism of Democrats highlights deep divide on fighting Trump
Senate Democrats are battling each other over how far to go in opposing President Trump's agenda, a dispute that spilled out into the open earlier this week when Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.) slammed his fellow Democratic senators for 'willing to be complicit' with Trump. Booker's tirade against fellow Democrats came after Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) attempted to advance a bipartisan package of policing bills. Booker argued Democrats wanted to 'look the other way' from Trump's attempt to bully Democratic states, elite universities and media companies. 'This, to me, is a problem with Democrats in America right now,' Booker declared on the floor. 'We're willing to be complicit with Donald Trump.' It's part of a broader fight within the Democratic Party over when it's acceptable, if at all, to work with Trump and his GOP allies. Senate Democrats are at odds over whether to expedite the confirmation of dozens of lower-level and relatively noncontroversial Trump nominees so that lawmakers can go back to their home states for the August recess after a long seven months of legislative session. Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.), a centrist, is asking whether it makes sense for his fellow Democrats to drag out the floor proceedings for every single Trump nominee, even for noncontroversial picks to fill under-the-radar positions in the executive branch. 'In the past, there was a large number of UCs and that wasn't controversial. I'm not [sure] why it's controversial right now,' Fetterman said, referring to what had been a long-standing practice of approving noncontroversial or lower-level nominees by unanimous consent and skipping time-consuming votes. Fetterman questioned the point of making Republicans jump through procedural hoops, forcing late-evening votes and burning up weeks of floor time, when Trump's nominees are going to be inevitably confirmed. 'They have more votes than we do and that's inevitable,' he said. 'Have we blocked or stopped any? No. And that's the reality. 'If it happens today, if it happens tomorrow, does that really mean anything? Is that resistance?' he asked. 'It hasn't blocked or stopped anything.' Most Senate Democrats have sought to drag out consideration of Trump's nominees as long as possible, creating a backlog of 161 nominees as of Thursday morning. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and his colleagues have required cloture votes — the procedural votes needed to limit debate — on 120 straight nominees. Democrats only allowed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to come straight to a confirmation vote on Jan. 20, Trump's first day in office. And Democrats have not allowed a single civilian Trump nominee to pass by unanimous consent or voice vote. A spokesperson for Schumer said Trump's 'historically bad nominees deserve historic levels of scrutiny.' Polls show the Democratic Party with a low job approval rating — between 33 percent and 40 percent, according to recent polls — and some Democrats think part of the problem is that their base doesn't think they're fighting hard enough against Trump's agenda. A recent Wall Street Journal poll of 1,500 registered voters found that Democrats had their highest unfavorable rating in 35 years. Booker on Tuesday said 'the Democratic Party needs a wake-up call,' channeling the frustration of many rank-and-file Democratic voters and donors. 'I see law firms bending a knee to this president, not caring about the larger principles that free speech rights [say] that you can take on any client. … I see universities that should be bastions of free speech bending the knee to the president,' he said, referring to settlements that several prominent law firms and elite universities reached with the president. Some Democratic senators privately agree they need to put up more of a fight when Trump runs roughshod over Congress and Democratic priorities by shuttering or reorganizing federal departments and agencies such as the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development without approval from Congress. 'There is a deep, deep interest among folks for us to try to find somewhat to better dramatize the authoritarian takeover. I hear this all the time from folks back home,' said a Democratic senator, who requested anonymity to discuss internal discussions. The senator said Democratic constituents have pressed lawmakers to force Republicans to use every hour of debate time on nominees and to force late-night votes and debates — something Democrats in Washington have done to put up a fight. But it still hasn't satisfied the desire within the Democratic base to inflict pain on Trump and his allies. 'None of these things really quite meet the thirst, the desire for more drama about this moment in history where our Constitution is being savaged,' the lawmaker said. Other Democrats insist they are fighting hard, even if some members of their party think they're lying down. 'We're fighting, no, we're fighting,' said Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Democrats on Capitol Hill are now quarreling over how hard a line they want Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) to hold ahead of the Sept. 30 government funding deadline. Some Democrats are insisting that their leaders demand that Trump and Republican leaders in Congress promise not to make additional attempts to rescind congressionally approved funding in exchange for Democratic votes to keep the government funded past September. 'If the Republicans are not willing to put in writing that they will not roll the deal back after it's been agreed to, then they're signaling loud and clear that any deal with them right now isn't worth the paper it's printed on,' said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who has urged a tougher approach toward Republicans on spending bills. Warren was one of eight Democrats who voted against a motion to proceed to the military construction and Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which passed out of committee with a 26-3 vote. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) says Democrats should use their leverage on bipartisan policy priorities to curb Trump's executive actions. 'If the Trump administration wants the benefit of bipartisan legislation on things like infrastructure, permitting reform and appropriations, they're going to have to convince Democrats that a deal's a deal and they will honor the deal,' he said. 'Otherwise, we're just wasting our time so that Russ Vought can run the government on behalf of his creepy billionaire benefactors,' he added, referring to the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Other Democrats are eager to get the spending bills passed, even without ironclad commitments from Republicans to not advance another rescissions package on Capitol Hill or from the administration to stop unilateral efforts to dismantle or reorder federal agencies. Booker, for his part, was unapologetic in arguing that Democrats should use their leverage to get Trump to back off his efforts to punish blue states. 'We have seen a consistent erosion of the Article I branch of government ceding authority to the executive in ways that violate the founders' intention and the Constitution of the United States. We are in a crisis right now,' Booker told reporters, referring to Congress's failure to defend its power of the purse, power to set tariffs and power to declare war against Trump's efforts to rescind federal funding, reorganize federal agencies, impose sweeping tariffs and bomb Iran's nuclear facilities with little advance notice to congressional leaders. 'We are watching our democracy, democratic norms, traditions and rules, being violated by a president who has authoritarian tendencies. That's why I'm saying, fundamentally, we must fight and fight harder,' said Booker, a past and potentially future Democratic presidential candidate.
