Xavier Becerra joins crowded California governor’s race amid Democratic shake-up

Former Biden health secretary and state attorney general enters race as speculation swirls over Kamala Harris’s plans

Former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra on Wednesday became the latest Democrat to join the crowded field seeking to become California’s next governor, a contest that could be dramatically reshaped if former vice-president Kamala Harris becomes a candidate.

The Stanford Law School graduate enters the race with a lengthy résumé of government service, including stints as California attorney general, US House member and state legislator. In December 2020, Joe Biden picked Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, putting a defender of the Affordable Care Act in a leading role to oversee his administration’s coronavirus response.

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The US government could shut down: here’s what you need to know

As a divided Congress and Democrats spar over a funding bill, here’s what to expect from a government shutdown

The US stands hours away from a partial government shutdown as Democrats decide whether to play ball with Republicans on the first major legislative hurdle in Trump’s second administration.

The House approved a stopgap funding measure called a continuing resolution last week, and the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, has urged Democrats in the Senate to pass the m...

Evening Report — Moment of truth for House GOP budget proposal

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Progressive group sounds alarm on Medicaid cuts

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Booker outlines multipart plan to push back on Trump, Musk

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) on Sunday outlined Democrats’ strategy to push back on President Trump’s and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to reshape much of the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and other means of executive authority.

In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Booker said Democrats are fighting back through the courts, in Congress and through public and media engagement with constituents.

"I think the pla...

Trump signs order on birthright citizenship – as it happened

President pardons 1,500 rioters, launches immigration crackdown, pauses TikTok ban and orders US withdrawal from WHO among other actions

My colleague Joseph Gedeon in Washington DC also had this look at what Trump might have planned for day one:

In the grand theatre of American politics, presidential inaugurations typically follow a familiar script: the oath, the speech, a few carefully chosen executive orders to satisfy campaign promises. Franklin D Roosevelt used his first day to tackle the banking crisis. Barack Obama moved to close Guantánamo Bay (though it remains open). Donald Trump’s first term began with a single executive order targeting Obamacare. Joe Biden signed 17 executive orders on his first day in 2021.

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Deportations, tariffs, pardons: what Trump has planned for day one

The incoming president is ready to sign a slew of executive orders on day one of his second term. Here’s what’s planned

In the grand theatre of American politics, presidential inaugurations typically follow a familiar script: the oath, the speech, a few carefully chosen executive orders to satisfy campaign promises. Franklin D Roosevelt used his first day to tackle the banking crisis. Barack Obama moved to close Guantánamo Bay (though it remains open). Donald Trump’s first term began...

How America can make health insurance great again 

You may be thinking, “When was health insurance in America ever great?” Point taken, but at least there was a time when health insurance was more affordable and individuals were better able to buy what they wanted, not what the government demanded. And the good news is Republicans can take steps toward getting us moving in that direction again. 

For 30 years Democrats have tried to make health insurance “affordable” — or even “free” if Sen. Bernie Sanders (I...

Democrats aren’t the only ones who need a soul-searching

For better or worse, post-election analysis is now the country’s favorite sport. Wherever two or three Americans are gathered, there are at least a dozen reasons given for why Donald Trump won and Democrats got shellacked.

Among many, the most common is that Democrats need a good soul-searching over how they lost touch with the working class. I agree. Although the real questions is: How did Democrats do so much for working-class Americans — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid,...

Mike Johnson promises ‘massive’ healthcare changes if Trump wins

House speaker’s comments could help Kamala Harris who outpolls Trump on healthcare in battleground states

Vice-President Kamala Harris may have received another last-minute helping hand from Republicans after the House speaker, Mike Johnson, said there would be “massive” healthcare changes if Donald Trump wins next Tuesday, including abolishing Obamacare.

“Healthcare reform’s going to be a big part of the agenda,” Johnson, speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday, told the crowd. “When I say we’re going to have a very aggressive first 100 days agenda, we got a lot of things still on the table.”

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