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Republican senators lashed into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday over the Trump administration’s effort to end the Ukraine war by drawing in Russia, thrusting a glaring ideological divide within the party into public view.Sen. Mitch McConnell — one of three Republicans to oppose Hegseth’s confirmation — led the criticism at a Senate budget hearing. “America’s reputation is on the line,” the Kentucky Republican said. “Will we defend democratic allies against authoritarian aggressors?”The former Senate majority leader — who now chairs the panel that controls defense funding — leveled some of his strongest warnings yet at the Pentagon chief during...

A member of Oregon's Health Authority (OHA) on best practices and policies in mental health said they identify as a 'turtle' during a state panel meeting. JD Holt, who also goes by 'JD Terrapin' on Facebook, announced that they use 'they, them and turtle' for their preferred pronouns during a December meeting. 'Hello everybody, it's JD. I use they, them and turtle for my pronouns. I'm in the Springfield-Eugene area and I get to be part of the council,' Holt said during a virtual advisory council meeting. Holt is one of roughly two dozen 'consumers' on the OHA's Consumer Advisory...

What the shell. A Pennsylvania man missed his flight after being caught with a live turtle in his pants while passing through security at a New Jersey airport, according to the Transportation Security Administration. The traveler set off alarms when he walked through the body scanner at Newark International Airport Friday, prompting TSA agents to conduct a pat-down

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the former majority leader and the most consequential Republican senator of his generation, will announce Thursday he will not seek reelection next year, according to people briefed on his plans.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., received medical attention after taking a fall following a lunch meeting hosted by Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso, R-Wyo. McConnell was spotted being escorted by a medical team after the fall, according to The Hill. As of now, McConnell's team hasn't publicly addressed the incident, which comes in the wake of high-profile health-related episodes involving the Kentucky lawmaker. Last year McConnell, 81, froze in front of reporters during a news conference.

What the hell is going on in the US Senate? Hours after Donald Trump wins the most conclusive mandate in 40 years, Mitch McConnell engineers a coup against his agenda by calling early leadership elections in the senate. Two of the three candidates hate Trump and what he ran on. One of them, John Cornyn, is an angry liberal whose politics are indistinguishable from Liz Cheney’s. The election is Wednesday, it’s by secret ballot, and it will determine whether or not the new administration succeeds. Rick Scott of Florida is the only candidate who agrees with Donald Trump. Call your...

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s announcement on February 28 that he will be stepping down from his post in November has touched off an internal GOP power struggle over his replacement. While it’s still unclear who the frontrunner in that contest is, the outcome of the race could determine the direction of the Senate Republican caucus for decades to come. While the 82-year-old McConnell leaves behind a complex legacy, it is undeniable that his exit will create a huge void on the Republican Senate leadership team. McConnell is the longest serving Senate party leader in American history. He has...

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell says he is urging his colleagues to vote "no" on the motion to proceed to a shell bill for the Ukraine supplemental aid request until there are "meaningful" changes to the legislation to address the crisis on the border.

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. -- Just as they have for millions of years, sea turtles by the thousands made their labored crawl from the ocean to U.S. beaches to lay their eggs over the past several months. This year, record nesting was found in Florida and elsewhere despite growing concern about threats from climate change. In Florida, preliminary state statistics show more than 133,840 loggerhead turtle nests, breaking a record set in 2016. Same for green turtles, where the estimate of at least 76,500 nests is well above the previous mark set in 2017. High sea turtle nest numbers also...

Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short joined “60 Minutes” last night to discuss his upcoming book Going Infinite about disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.Michael Lewis told the far left news program that the former finance CEO met with Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell ahead of the 2022 election. McConnell persuaded SBF to donate millions to his list of anti-Trump candidates.Lewis told 60 Minutes that Sam Bankman-Fried donated millions to support Mitch McConnell’s anti-Trump GOP senate candidates.Via Real Clear Politics:60 MINUTES: To that end, Lewis writes that in 2022, Bankman-Fried met with the most unlikely of allies, Republican Senate Minority...

A handful of GOP senators is weighing whether to force a fraught internal debate about their leadership's future after Mitch McConnell’s second public freeze-up in a month. Some rank-and-file Republicans have discussed the possibility of a broader conversation once senators return to Washington next week, according to a person directly involved in the conversations who confirmed them on condition of anonymity. Party leadership is not currently involved in those discussions, and nothing has been decided yet, this person added. It takes just five Republican senators to force a special conference meeting, which is the most direct way to have a...

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Wednesday appeared briefly unable to respond to reporters’ questions at a press event, marking the second time in weeks that the Republican leader has abruptly stopped speaking and required help from people around him.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has urged House Republicans to avoid impeaching President Joe Biden. Speaking to the New York Times in an interview published Tuesday, McConnell said that he does not want to continue the impeachment cycle that Democrats started two years ago when they impeached former President Trump on dubious charges. “I said two years ago, when we had not one but two impeachments, that once we go down this path it incentivizes the other side to do the same thing,” McConnell said. “Impeachment ought to be rare,” he added. “This is not good for the country.”

@SebGorka Kentucky’s had it with the Turtle.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday refused to reveal if he would support former President Donald Trump as the Republican nominee if the former president is convicted, asserting that he is “just simply not going to comment on the candidates.” CNN’s Manu Raju asked the Senate Minority Leader, “Given that the former president is facing a federal indictment and these serious allegations, could you still support him if he becomes the nominee, even if he’s convicte

The top two Republican leaders in the Senate remain silent a day after former President Donald Trump, the current GOP 2024 presidential frontrunner, was indicted by the federal government. While the charges have yet to be unsealed, the top two Republicans in the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Minority Whip John Thune have not put out statements, a stark contrast to the swift reaction among House GOP leaders who quickly rushed to Trump’s defense. “Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America. It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him....

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla. -- A huge turtle and a man trying to be a hero caused a multi-car crash in Florida on Tuesday, according to Walton County Sheriff's Office. It happened around 6:45 in the morning on Highway 331 in the Florida Panhandle. Dash camera from an 18-wheeler caught the whole thing on video. The 18-wheeler is driving down the divided four-lane highway when it quickly comes up on several stopped and slowing cars. The 18-wheeler cannot stop in time. It veers off the side of the road and then back onto the road where it collides with several of...

In a rare and hilarious sighting, a giant snapping turtle was caught on video in the Chicago River. This video is going viral and for good reason! This isn't your average snapping turtle. This big boy has been dubbed "Chonkosaurus," and the guy who caught it on camera just made my day. Joey Santore was kayaking with his friend last weekend when they spotted the turtle sunbathing on some rusty chains and rotting logs – in pure bliss and relaxation. Santore was stunned, so he started filming, and his commentary was just perfect. Look at this guy. We got a...

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is “doing well” and “eager” to leave the hospital and return to work, his longtime political adviser Josh Holmes told NBC News on Friday. Holmes said he’s “been there the last two days” with the Kentucky Republican, and added that the senator has been walking around and peppering staff with questions.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was hospitalized Wednesday night after suffering a fall while at a private dinner at a Washington, D.C., hotel. The extent of McConnell's injuries is not known at this time, but a spokesperson for the senator told Punchbowl News that McConnell is currently receiving treatment after his trip. The 81-year-old senator was at an event at the Waldorf Astoria D.C. when he fell, according to the news source. Democratic Sens. John Fetterman (PA) and Dianne Feinstein (CA) have been hospitalized in recent weeks, with Fetterman seeking treatment for depression and Feinstein for shingles. Feinstein tweeted...