Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said she does not regret her vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court despite his vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, reaffirming a position that has become a flashpoint in her closely watched 2026 reelection campaign in Maine. The Maine Republican was asked Friday about her 2018 vote […]
The Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing for July 15 and 16, setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the most politically charged Cabinet confirmation fights of President Donald Trump’s second term. Judiciary Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) confirmed the timeline Tuesday after meeting with Blanche, […]
An immigration hard-liner, Mr. Collins has President Trump’s endorsement in the runoff.
Democrats have been trying for three decades to take this Senate seat. Will 2026 be any different?
According to an ex-presidential aide, President Donald Trump’s fishing expedition against one of the Democrats’ presumed 2028 election front-runners, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, proves “no one is safe” from the Republican president and his politicized DOJ.“Federal agents abusing the powers that they had when surveilling civil rights leaders have taken off after the governor of California, which means, unless you're not too bright, if they can do it to Gavin Newsom, they can do it to anybody,” warned Steve Schmidt, who advised Republican president, George W. Bush. “And thinking about that, how close is it that we came to the US military being deployed on the streets, an ICE army behind them or in front of them, commanded by Stephen Miller, with the power to detain whomever they wanted, wherever they wished?”Adding that Trump has reportedly talked about eliminating the writ of habeas corpus, which guarantees the government “can't just lock you up without reason or cause and has existed in English common law for a thousand years,” Schmidt added that Trump aspires to transform America “from a republic to a police state.” Comparing Trump’s order to investigators to find something about Newsom and/or his family members, Schmidt added that this is like Russia under its dictator, Vladimir Putin.“It is unacceptable, and it must not be stood for,” Schmidt declared. “This is why, in the months ahead, as the contours of the debate take shape, there can be no compromise on this simple, fundamental, absolutely important principle” — namely that, unlike the forgiving approach of President Joe Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland, after Trump there should be “no more appeasing this lawless evil. Here, in these United States, there will be accountability for every federal agent, every corrupt federal official, from Trump on down, who has made the rule of law in this country a mockery and has trampled on the liberties of the American people, including the governor of California and his lovely wife Jennifer, who deserve better from their president, and better from their country, than to be persecuted for speaking out and participating and leading and standing up.”In a Monday appearance on MS NOW senior investigative correspondent Carol Leonnig revealed that a fellow reporter, Erum Salam, learned Trump’s Department of Justice is trying to find any case it can to use against him."First off, I want to say that we have from sources two really important nuggets," Leonnig said. "One is that the central district of California, the U.S. district attorney's office in the central district, has been pressing the line prosecutors to come up with a case against Gavin Newsom."Schmidt has also warned more broadly about the loss of faith in American political institutions that has occurred during Trump’s presidency.“There was a time in America when public disgrace meant something,” Schmidt said. “A man caught lying to the public would resign. A politician caught in corruption would retreat from public life. A leader who dishonored his office would feel the sting of judgment from neighbors, colleagues, family members and strangers.”
Multiple people were arrested in connection with an alleged plan to target the UFC match with thousands in attendance, including Trump.
Critics say it’s not the first time a president has vented their anger with Netanyahu with no resulting material change.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) was confronted by reporters on Tuesday about her role in confirming Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at the height of controversy over his allegations of sexual misconduct, with the hindsight of his role in overturning abortion rights for millions of women around the country — and she was unrepentant.The reason, she explained, is that she also voted to confirm a number of justices who opposed that opinion."This is the first reelection campaign that you're run since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade," asked a reporter from News Center Maine. "I was hoping you could talk to me a little bit about your vote to confirm Kavanaugh and whether you regret that?""I do not regret that vote," said Collins. "I do disagree with Justice Kavanaugh's vote. I would point out that in that decision, several Supreme Court justices whom I supported voted the other way. That includes Justice Sotomayor, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Jackson. So I have supported a great number of Supreme Court justices.""When I look at a justice, I look at their qualifications, their integrity, their background, their experience in reaching a decision," she added. "Obviously I'm disappointed in that decision, which turned abortion issues back to the states. It has not had an impact on the state of Maine, in that Maine actually expanded its law."Collins is facing a closely-watched re-election battle, with Democrats having nominated oyster farmer and harbormaster Graham Platner, who is touring the state on a progressive platform while facing questions about his drama-filled past.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged on Tuesday that taxpayers will help foot the bill for President Donald Trump's $600 million White House ballroom.Trump has promised since July 2025 that the project would cost taxpayers nothing. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that internal contractor documents tell a different story.Thune, speaking at a Capitol press conference, didn't dispute it."I do believe that there is certainly some expectation that there would be dollars allocated for that purpose that would go above and beyond the private money that's been raised," he said."There are important security requirements that go with any building project in the White House," Thune continued. "We want to make sure that any additions made down there are completed in a way that ensures that the president and others in his administration are safe and secure."The Post obtained contractor documents showing a March 5 estimate from Clark Construction put the project at $600 million.The taxpayer share breaks down to $155 million from the Secret Service, $149 million from the White House Military Office, and $3 million from the Executive Residence — $307 million in public funds in total.Three weeks after Clark delivered that figure, Trump told Oval Office reporters: "This is taxpayer-free. We have no taxpayer putting up 10 cents."White House spokesman Davis Ingle pushed back Tuesday, saying Trump and donors are funding the ballroom "to the tune of approximately $400 million."Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) was among six Republicans who voted during a Senate floor session to require congressional approval before any public or private money could fund the ballroom. She said Trump's original commitment should hold."President Trump indicated that the ballroom was going to be built with private donations," Collins said. "He should keep to that commitment."Three independent contracting experts who reviewed the documents told The Post the costs can't be cleanly separated."I think it's inevitable that it bleeds over. It's one structure," said Stan Soloway, a former Pentagon acquisition official and board chair at the National Academy of Public Administration.