Latest news with #BrianMast
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Trump tells Republicans to ‘kill' top US state media outlet
US President Donald Trump has called on Republicans to support his campaign to dismantle the state-funded news outlet Voice of America (VOA). Launched in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda during World War II, the broadcaster later served as a key vehicle for pro-American messaging during the Cold War. Trump has argued, however, that VOA has in recent decades veered toward partisanship, and vowed to shut it down as part of his broader push to eliminate wasteful government spending. 'Why would a Republican want Democrat 'mouthpiece' Voice of America (VOA) to continue? It's a TOTAL, LEFTWING DISASTER — No Republican should vote for its survival. KILL IT!' the president wrote on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday. Earlier that day, Trump's senior adviser Kari Lake told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA, was 'rotten to the core' and should be reshaped to align with Trump's 'America First' agenda. Committee Chairman Brian Mast described USAGM as 'a cesspool of spies, lies, and mismanagement' that 'has promoted the very propaganda it was created to defeat.' He accused the agency of hiring foreign nationals, many of whom he said were 'quite literally, security risks.' Lake, who has been tasked by Trump with overseeing the dismantling of the agency, said last week that nearly 640 full-time staffers and more than 500 contractors had been laid off at USAGM and VOA. Democrats and press freedom advocates have criticized the move. 'The wholesale destruction of public media outlets like Voice of America represents an unprecedented gift from Trump to the dictatorial censorship regimes in countries like China and Iran,' said Clayton Weimers, executive director of Reporters Without Borders USA.
CNN
13-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
GOP Rep. Brian Mast on Israel's strike against Iran: ‘this is good escalation'
Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Republican Rep. Brian Mast, talks with CNN's Wolf Blitzer about Israel's unprecedented preemptive strike against Iranian military and nuclear targets.
E&E News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
Ex-Hill aides to lobby for Everglades advocacy group
Two former staffers for Florida Republican Rep. Brian Mast are now lobbying on behalf of the Everglades Trust, a political nonprofit focused on restoring the sprawling wetland ecosystem. Founded in 1995, the Everglades Trust advocates for funding for the waterbody and is a vocal supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis' conservation initiatives. The organization has retained Brad Stewart and Libby Derrick to lobby on environmental and agricultural issues in the Everglades, according to a registration form filed last month. The duo come from firm Impression Strategy and previously worked for Mast. Advertisement Another Capitol Hill veteran — Stephanie Gadbois, formerly of the House Appropriations Committee — was also retained this year as a lobbyist for the nonprofit, along with two others at the firm Capitol 6 Advisors.
Business Recorder
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Bilawal briefs US lawmakers about India's belligerence
WASHINGTON: A high-level parliamentary delegation from Pakistan, headed by former foreign minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met with members of US House Foreign Affairs Committee led by Chairman Brian Mast and Ranking Member Gregory Meeks to discuss regional peace, the recent crisis in South Asia, and avenues for strengthened US-Pakistan relations. Bilawal briefed the committee on India's recent provocations and military strikes targeting civilians, warning that the escalating conflict poses a grave threat to regional stability. He described India's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as a flagrant violation of international law, endangering the livelihoods of millions in Pakistan and setting a dangerous precedent for the weaponization of vital resources. He also highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), reiterating Pakistan's long-standing position that the people of IIOJK must be granted their internationally recognized right to self-determination. Pakistan's delegation engages US congress on regional tensions Commending the United States for its past role in facilitating de-escalation between India and Pakistan, he reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to peace through diplomacy. The delegation also emphasised the importance of enhancing trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. The members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee welcomed the delegation's insights and reaffirmed their strong support for the people and Government of Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistani delegation held a productive meeting with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. The members of delegation appreciated the role played by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in facilitating the Pakistan-India ceasefire. They expressed hope that it would create space for sustainable peace and stability in South Asia through dialogue. The delegation shared its concern over India's unprovoked aggression, continued hostile rhetoric, and unlawful suspension of Indus Waters Treaty.
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"When you are attacked, you have no choice but to respond," US Lawmakers back India's stance against terror
Washington D.C. [United States], June 5 (ANI): Group 5 of the all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, held a high-level interaction with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) in Washington, D.C., as part of its diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor. The delegation, which met with key U.S. lawmakers including HFAC Chairman Brian Mast, Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove, and Congressman Bill Huizenga, received strong bipartisan support and condemnation of the recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam region. HFAC Chairman Brian Mast underlined the depth of bipartisan consensus on supporting India. 'This was a very important meeting. This is a bipartisan delegation from the House of Representatives receiving India. We are proud to receive our friend and our ally. Every one of us strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that took place. There's no room in this world for those kinds of attacks,' he said. 'The world was holding its breath, watching what had taken place, both in disgust and also in anticipation of the response. When you are attacked, you have no choice but to respond. The world does not allow anything else, and those responses needed to take place. We have a great friendship and partnership between our nations, and we see nothing but growth and expansion in the future,' he added. 'Certainly, I think all of us were very concerned about the terrorist attack in northern India, and I certainly personally condemn it. I know all of my colleagues also condemn that. That is something that we need to work cooperatively on -- to root out those terrorists and make sure that they are not able to strike any country,' said Congress leader Bill Huizenga. Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove echoed similar sentiments. 'I condemned the attacks in Pahalgam and am grateful for the ceasefire, hoping that there can be lasting peace. I also recognise how strong the U.S.-Indian partnership has been, and it's so important that we continue that. Representing Los Angeles, issues around visa access for the World Cup and the Olympics are a priority, as well as how we can build our relationships with the tech industry in India and with Bollywood. So those were some of the things I raised,' she said. Congressman Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the Committee, stressed shared democratic values. 'The relationship between the United States and India -- we are bound together, the oldest and the largest democracies in the world. Our values are the same,' he said. 'We shared our condolences because we cannot tolerate terrorism anywhere. We support India's right to defend itself and ensure that terrorism does not take place there. Just as important is the dialogue we had about working collectively globally. India has been a great partner -- whether it's on QUAD, trade, or working together on issues like Ukraine and Russia in a responsible manner,' Meeks added. Leading the Indian delegation, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor thanked the U.S. lawmakers for their 'strong and unconditional' support. 'There was, as the Chairman said, complete unanimity in condemning the terrorist attacks and in defending India's right to defend itself. We are very grateful for that support because it was strong and unconditional,' Tharoor said. 'Equally, of course, we talked about broader issues involving our countries ' trade, the economy, students, visas -- broader concerns about the relationship. But everybody in the meeting, on both sides -- the Indian side and the American side -- wants to see this relationship becoming stronger, more effective, and covering more aspects of life and geopolitics,' he added. The Indian all-party delegation's visit to Washington follows stops in Brazil and Europe, aimed at consolidating international support against terrorism and highlighting India's strategic interests post Operation Sindoor. (ANI)
