On Wednesday, GOP Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) reintroduced the Justice for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/9-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9/11</a> Act, originally introduced by Cotton and McConnell last August, to cancel any plea deals made between the Biden administration and the Guantanamo Bay inmates who planned the 9/11/2001 attacks. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is introducing companion legislation in the House.
Three detainees at Guantanamo Bay, including alleged 9/11 architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, had filed plea deals. Last week, a military appeals court ruled that the Pentagon could not reverse the deals reached by military prosecutors and defense attorneys.
The Act <a href="https://www.cotton.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/11_plea_deal_bill_reintro.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a>:
<blockquote>
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 949h of title 10, United States Code, any plea agreement entered into by Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, or Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi for actions involving the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, and its related judgment, shall not preclude the trial of such individual under chapter 47A of such title or any other provision of law for that terrorist attack. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, or Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi under chapter 47A of title 10, United States Code, or any other provision of law for the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, a sentence of death shall be available. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of any sentence imposed on Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, or Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, such individual shall be held at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in solitary confinement; provided no contact with foreign nationals; and provided no psychological treatment except that specifically authorized by medical authorities at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay; and shall not be transferred to the continental United States or any other country. 
</blockquote>
“Giving a plea deal to the terrorist masterminds behind 9/11 is disgraceful and an insult to the victims of the attacks, as well at those who served to avenge them,” Cotton <a href="https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-mcconnell-lawler-reintroduce-bill-to-stop-joe-biden-from-releasing-9/11-terrorists" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>. “These monsters should have faced justice decades ago; instead, Joe Biden has set the stage to let them go free. My bill will stop this travesty and prevent the Biden administration from replenishing the ranks of our terrorist enemies any further on his way out the door.”
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“In the wake of terrorist savagery, our obligation is to deliver justice,” McConnell echoed. “However long it takes, those responsible for September 11 deserve nothing more, and the families of their victims deserve nothing less.”
“The court’s decision to uphold the plea deal for three 9/11 conspirators is alarming,” Moran added. “In addition to the plea deal, the Biden administration continues to use its final days in power to release some of the world&#8217;s most violent terrorists from Guantanamo Bay. These men should face trial for their crimes, and Congress must act quickly to pass this important legislation.”
“September 11th is a date that will forever be seared in our national memory, especially for New Yorkers,” Lawler stated. “For the Biden-Harris Administration to have offered a plea deal without the death penalty to the very people who planned the attacks that took the lives of almost 3,000 is a betrayal of our cops, firefighters, and 9/11 victims and their families. The Justice for 9/11 Act will nullify this horrendous plea deal and prevent any future ones from being offered to those who perpetrated this heinous attack.”
“A hearing is scheduled for later this week at Guantanomo Bay, where Mohammad and two other defendants could plead guilty in separate hearings, with the death penalty removed as a possible punishment,” Fox News <a href="//FE2DFBB2-BFEC-43AE-BAEC-9AFFDA6DD542/v" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>, adding, “The administration announced on Monday 11 Yemeni detainees, including two alleged bodyguards for Usama bin Laden, would be resettled in Oman, after being held for two decades without charges.”

US-ATTACKS-WORLD TRADE-SMOKE

Cotton, McConnell Push Act To Bar Biden From Giving Convicted 9/11 Terrorists Plea Deals

9/11

Courts

Guantanamo Bay

Joe Biden

Mitch McConnell

Plea deal

Tom Cotton

U.S.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) appeared to warn President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., this week over a lawyer who is helping him select federal health officials for the incoming administration.
The warning from McConnell comes just weeks before Kennedy will undergo confirmation hearings in which he will have to win over the support of U.S. senators to lead the department.
Aaron Siri, the lawyer helping Kennedy, petitioned the federal government in 2022 to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/health/aaron-siri-rfk-jr-vaccines.html">reported</a>.
McConnell, a polio survivor, made the warning over the polio vaccine after the report was published but did not mention Kennedy by name.
&#8220;Like millions of families before them, my parents knew the pain and fear of watching their child struggle with the life-altering diagnosis of polio,&#8221; McConnell said. &#8220;From the age of two, normal life without paralysis was only possible for me because of the miraculous combination of modern medicine and a mother’s love. But for millions who came after me, the real miracle was the saving power of the polio vaccine.&#8221;
&#8220;For decades, I have been proud to work with devoted advocates – from Rotary International to the Gates Foundation – and use my platform in public life to champion the pursuit of cures for further generations,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I have never flinched from confronting specious disinformation that threatens the advance of lifesaving medical progress, and I will not today.&#8221;
The 82-year-old senator said that the polio vaccine saved &#8220;millions of lives and held out the promise of eradicating a terrible disease.&#8221;
&#8220;Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed – they’re dangerous,&#8221; he concluded. &#8220;Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming Administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mitch McConnell, polio survivor, warns RFK Jr. on the polio vaccine — without mentioning his name.
Full Statement from Leader McConnell:
“Like millions of families before them, my parents knew the pain and fear of watching their child struggle with the life-altering diagnosis…
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) <a href="https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1867693869241946589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote>

Senate Luncheon Press Conferences

McConnell Warns RFK Jr. To ‘Steer Clear’ Of ‘Dangerous’ Polio Vaccine Skeptics

Politics

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Outgoing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) received medical attention on Capitol Hill after he suffered another fall on Tuesday.
POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/10/congress/mcconnell-attended-by-medical-personnel-00193528" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that McConnell, 82, walked out of a Senate GOP lunch with a cut on his face and medical personnel followed the lawmaker into his office.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD), who has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-thune-elected-senate-majority-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elected</a> to serve as the next Republican leader in the upper chamber, assured reporters afterwards that McConnell was alright.
“He is fine. He&#8217;s in his office. And any other questions about Sen. McConnell, I’ll refer to staff,&#8221; Thune said at a press conference.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenJohnThune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenJohnThune</a> about reports that <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderMcConnell</a> fell: &quot;He is fine, he is in his office.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/5FA0QWeCoy">pic.twitter.com/5FA0QWeCoy</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1866565206500896827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
McConnell&#8217;s office later shared a brief statement with The Daily Wire on the senator&#8217;s condition.
&#8220;Leader McConnell tripped following lunch. He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist. He has been cleared to resume his schedule,&#8221; a spokesperson said.
McConnell, a childhood Polio survivor, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-to-step-down-as-senate-republican-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in February that he would not seek another term as GOP leader in the Senate following a couple of health scares in the preceding months.
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The senator was briefly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-discharged-from-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hospitalized</a> in March 2023 with a concussion after falling at a D.C. hotel, and in the months that followed, he appeared to freeze and struggled to answer questions from the press.
After revealing his plans to step aside from leadership, McConnell indicated that he planned to serve out the remainder of his current term in the upper chamber, which ends in January 2027.
&#8220;I still have enough gas in my tank to thoroughly disappoint my critics and I intend to do so with all the enthusiasm with which they&#8217;ve become accustomed,&#8221; he said in Senate floor remarks.
During a radio interview that followed, he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-says-hes-not-leaving-the-senate-aims-to-fight-isolationist-movement-within-gop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;I’m not leaving the Senate. And I’m particularly involved in actually fighting back against the isolationist movement in my own party and so many others as well.&#8221;
McConnell is the Senate’s longest-serving party leader with more than 15 years under his belt.
He is slated to be replaced in the role next month after Thune beat out Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Rick Scott (R-FL) in an internal election that took place in November.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R)

McConnell Falls Again, Gets Medical Attention

Congress

John Thune

U.S. Senate

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) slammed Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday for echoing the words of a man who has been charged with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
“This summer, after the first attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in more than a century, President Biden insisted that ‘we cannot allow this violence to be normalized,’&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;In September, after President Trump escaped yet another close call, Vice President Harris acknowledged that ‘we all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.’&#8221;
The statement said that Biden&#8217;s and Harris&#8217; words &#8220;have proven hollow&#8221; as Harris, as the Democrat Party&#8217;s presidential nominee, has &#8220;only fanned the flames beneath a boiling cauldron of political animus.&#8221;
&#8220;Her most recent and most reckless invocations of the darkest evil of the 20th century seem to dare it to boil over,&#8221; they wrote. &#8220;The Vice President&#8217;s words more closely resemble those of President Trump&#8217;s second would-be assassin than her own earlier appeal to civility.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NEWS 
The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and Republican Senate Leader, Mitch McConnell, have issued a statement slamming Vice President Harris for what they call her “dangerous rhetoric” when speaking about former President Trump.
Johnson and McConnell say that Harris has… <a href="https://t.co/TKOYs4qWDR">pic.twitter.com/TKOYs4qWDR</a>
&mdash; Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1849843642019741862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The statement from the top Republican leaders in Washington, D.C., comes after Harris promoted a widely disputed report this week that claimed Trump said he wanted the same generals as Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
Harris said during a CNN town hall on Wednesday night that Trump was a &#8220;fascist,&#8221; the same type of rhetoric used by Democrat donor Ryan Routh, who was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ryan-wesley-routh-indicted-attempted-assassination-former-president-trump">charged</a> for allegedly attempting to assassinate Trump at a golf course in September. Routh had even written a book where he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/would-be-trump-assassin-was-pro-iran-urged-them-to-kill-trump">called</a> for Trump&#8217;s assassination.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1729077615157000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17Kprl74oE9DYOLREdiBPU">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ COMING TO DAILYWIRE+ OCT. 28</a>
McConnell and Johnson said that Routh had called on others to &#8220;finish the job&#8221; in a letter since he was unsuccessful.
They said that Harris &#8220;must abandon the base and irresponsible rhetoric that endangers both American lives and institutions.&#8221;
&#8220;We have both been briefed on the ongoing and persistent threats to former President Donald Trump by adversaries to the United States, and we call on the Vice President to take these threats seriously, stop escalating the threat environment, and help ensure President Trump has the necessary resources to be protected from those threats,&#8221; they concluded.

Washington, DC  – November 3 : House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La

McConnell, Johnson Blast Kamala For Echoing Rhetoric Of Would-Be Trump Assassin

assassination attempt

Donald Trump

Kamala Harris

Mike Johnson

Senator Mike Lee sharply criticized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Thursday for reportedly offering &#8220;scathing&#8221; remarks about former President Donald Trump and the &#8220;MAGA movement.&#8221;
McConnell slams Trump as a &#8220;narcissist&#8221; and a &#8220;sleazeball&#8221; in his forthcoming biography, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/23/politics/mcconnell-trump-gop-new-book/index.html">according to CNN</a>, adding that Trump has “done a lot of damage to our party’s image and our ability to compete.” Speaking to The Daily Wire Thursday, Lee slammed the Kentucky Republican for his comments.
&#8220;Openly hurting him, it&#8217;s just baffling to me,&#8221; Lee said. &#8220;I cannot figure it out&#8230; number one, he&#8217;s a Republican senator. Number two, he&#8217;s the Senate Republican leader. Number three, we are less than two weeks away from a general election in which these guys are in tight races.&#8221;
McConnell reportedly also says that “Trump is appealing to people who haven’t been as successful as other people and providing an excuse for that, that these more successful people have somehow been cheated, and you don’t deserve to think of yourself as less successful because things haven’t been fair.&#8221;
&#8220;If senate Republican leaders are going to come out and do these sorts of things, we need to have a conversation about it,&#8221; Lee said. &#8220;And we especially need to have a conversation between those who are running for Senate Republican leadership posts.&#8221;
The Utah Republican <a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1849490264399982805">reiterated</a> his criticism in an X thread Thursday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🧵 1. McConnell’s attacks on Donald Trump &amp; Rick Scott are indefensible
Those running for Senate GOP leadership posts need to weigh in on this &amp; commit never to sabotage Republican candidates &amp; colleagues—particularly those who are less than two weeks away from a close election <a href="https://t.co/wMWxjvMwHC">pic.twitter.com/wMWxjvMwHC</a>
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1849490264399982805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
&#8220;We must have clarity from the candidates running to replace McConnell on where they stand on these attacks,&#8221; Lee said in the thread. &#8220;They must be clear on how they plan to lead the conference, and on the role of its members.&#8221;
&#8220;The Senate Republican leader is supposed to help Republicans, not undermine them Sadly, we’ve had too much of the latter. That must end now,&#8221; he added.
McConnell&#8217;s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP-CONGRESS-TAX

Mike Lee Slams Mitch McConnell For Attacking Trump, ‘MAGA Movement’

Mike Lee

Utah

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) said on Tuesday that it would be &#8220;politically beyond stupid&#8221; if a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/government-shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government shutdown</a> is allowed to happen before the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/2024-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2024 election</a>, suggesting that Republicans would suffer more than Democrats when voters head to the polls.
With a deadline coming up at the end of the month, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chuck-schumer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chuck Schumer</a> (D-NY) appear to be at odds on what form a continuing resolution (CR) takes, but McConnell refused to make a stand when pressed by a reporter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderMcConnell</a>: &quot;The one you cannot have is a government shutdown. It would be politically beyond stupid for us to do that right before the election because certainly we&#39;d get the blame.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Al0yD8ztLM">pic.twitter.com/Al0yD8ztLM</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1836129009836404954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;My only observation about this whole discussion is the one thing you cannot have is a government shutdown,&#8221; McConnell said at the U.S. Capitol. &#8220;It would be politically beyond stupid for us to do that right before the election, because certainly we&#8217;d get the blame.&#8221;
Democrats narrowly control the Senate while Republicans have a small House majority. Either side could emerge from the November election with voters giving them command of one, both, or none of the chambers of Congress. A shutdown could quickly become a new political cudgel.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve been here before,&#8221; McConnell went on to say. &#8220;I&#8217;m for whatever avoids a government shutdown, and that&#8217;ll ultimately end up obviously being a discussion between the Democratic leader and the speaker of the House as to how to process avoiding government shutdown.&#8221;
Johnson said earlier the House would <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-presses-on-with-funding-stopgap-linked-to-non-citizen-voting-crackdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proceed</a> with a vote on Wednesday for a six-month CR plus the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8281" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(SAVE) Act</a>, which includes reforms meant to help prevent non-citizens from voting in federal elections. It&#8217;s not clear whether the measure will pass.
President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> already threatened to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-to-ax-gop-proposal-tying-spending-to-bill-requiring-voters-prove-citizenship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">veto</a> the proposal while former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>, who is again the GOP presidential nominee, has urged Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-for-govt-shutdown-if-gop-cant-secure-election-integrity-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to allow a shutdown</a> if they cannot secure a short-term spending measure in addition to &#8220;election security&#8221; reforms.
Schumer <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/majority-leader-schumer-floor-remarks-on-the-need-to-pass-bipartisan-legislation-to-avoid-an-unnecessary-and-harmful-republican-government-shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> Johnson against proceeding with a six-month CR, suggesting that &#8220;critical programs&#8221; such as the military would suffer under such a lengthy funding patch, and suggested the plan to include the SAVE Act with a stopgap measure would make it &#8220;<a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/majority-leader-schumer-floor-remarks-urging-speaker-johnson-to-work-on-a-bipartisan-basis-to-avoid-a-harmful-government-shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">too unworkable</a>.&#8221;

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

McConnell Warns: ‘Politically Beyond Stupid’ To Allow Shutdown Before Election

McConnell Warns: 'Politically Beyond Stupid’ To Allow Shutdown Before Election

2024 Election

Chuck Schumer

Government Shutdown

Republicans

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he had a &#8220;positive meeting&#8221; with former President Donald Trump on Thursday after Trump traveled to Capitol Hill to talk with Republican lawmakers.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee praised the GOP Senate leader during his comments at the D.C. meeting, POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/06/13/congress/mcconnell-and-trump-speak-00163236" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“We had a really positive meeting, he and I got a chance to talk a little bit, we shook hands a few times, he got a lot of standing ovations, it was an entirely positive meeting. Mitt Romney was there, as well, and I can’t think of anything to tell you about it that was negative,” McConnell said.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) added that Trump &#8220;immediately went in to address Mitch McConnell and said he&#8217;s done his best while he was here. He understands elections. And he understands how important two seats are and we need to be focused on those.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> is greeted by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., as he enters the room to meet with Senate GOP members at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. <a href="https://t.co/tnzE3bbpFA">pic.twitter.com/tnzE3bbpFA</a>
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) <a href="https://twitter.com/dougmillsnyt/status/1801319803678077271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
Trump and McConnell have had a rocky relationship over the past four years, and Thursday&#8217;s private meeting marked the first time the two had spoken in person since a month after the contentious 2020 election, according to POLITICO. Trump has slammed McConnell for approving Democrat legislation in the Senate, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-intensifies-attacks-mcconnell-death-wish-remark-social-media-pla-rcna50293" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> in 2022 that the Kentuckian has a &#8220;death wish,&#8221; which a Trump spokesman said was in reference to &#8220;killing the Republican Party through weakness and cowardice.&#8221;
McConnell has also blasted Trump, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/mcconnell-condemns-trump-acquitted-469002" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> he was &#8220;practically and morally responsible for provoking&#8221; the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
On Thursday at the Republican meeting, however, there was nothing but solidarity, according to some of the senators who attended.
“There was a lot of unity. A lot of people think we’re going in the wrong direction now,” McConnell&#8217;s fellow Kentucky senator, Rand Paul said, adding that most of the discussions centered on policy.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1712932862202000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0plT8RRdMy9XUpIhocnjQS">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
“I haven’t seen that Republican group as strongly united on all of those policy issues in a long, long time,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), who has also <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/gop-senator-spars-trump-after-calling-out-stolen-election-lie-n1287279" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> Trump over the former president&#8217;s allegations that the 2020 election was &#8220;rigged&#8221; and &#8220;stolen.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
HAPPENING NOW: President Trump begins remarks in D.C. flanked by Republican Senators <a href="https://t.co/kgcBkwO31C">pic.twitter.com/kgcBkwO31C</a>
— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/1801309386691789172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In February, the 82-year-old McConnell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-to-step-down-as-senate-republican-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that he would be stepping down from his Senate leadership after Republicans select a new leader in November. He added that he still plans to serve the remainder of his term as senator, which ends in 2027.

Mitch McConnell/Donald Trump

McConnell Had ‘Entirely Positive Meeting’ With Trump During Capitol Hill Visit

McConnell Had 'Entirely Positive Meeting' With Trump During Capitol Hill Visit

Capitol Hill

Senate

Washington D.C.

The top four U.S. congressional leaders sent a joint letter to Israeli Prime Minister <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/benjamin-netanyahu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> inviting him to come to the U.S. to address Congress.
&#8220;Last year, Congress was proud to host Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Washington to celebrate 75 years of friendship and partnership between our two democracies,&#8221; the letter said, which was signed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
&#8220;Less than three months later, the horrific attacks of October 7th shocked the world and forced your nation into a fight for its very existence,&#8221; the leaders said. &#8220;We join the State of Israel in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders jeopardize regional stability.&#8221;
They said that because Israel was having to fight for its very existence, they wanted to invite Netanyahu to &#8220;address a Joint Meeting of Congress.&#8221;
&#8220;The existential challenges we face, including the growing partnership between Iran, Russia, and China, threaten the security, peace, and prosperity of our countries and of free people around the world,&#8221; they said. &#8220;To build on our enduring relationship and to highlight America&#8217;s solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government&#8217;s vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The top four leaders of the House and Senate have invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress. <a href="https://t.co/lTR2iUi4nz">pic.twitter.com/lTR2iUi4nz</a>
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1796631491398799722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2024</a></blockquote>

House And Senate Leaders Host Capitol Menorah Lighting

Top Four U.S. Congressional Leaders Invite Netanyahu To Address Congress

Benjamin Netanyahu

Charles Schumer

Hakeem Jeffries

Israel

On Wednesday, Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rick-scott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rick Scott</a> (R-FL) entered the race to replace Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) as leader of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> GOP.
Scott, who is also running for <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a second term</a> in the Senate this year, joins Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-cornyn-announces-bid-to-replace-mcconnell-as-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Cornyn</a> (R-TX) and second-ranked Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thune-enters-race-to-become-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Thune</a> (R-SD) in vying for the top position.
&#8220;I believe that our voters want us to use this leadership election to make a choice to upend the status quo in Washington,&#8221; Scott said in a <a href="https://x.com/FBSaunders/status/1793391902630297637" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter to colleagues</a>.
&#8220;If you also believe this to be true and want a leader dedicated to that principle, I would be honored to have the opportunity to earn your support,&#8221; he added.
Scott is a former governor of Florida who first won a Senate seat in 2018. He served two years as National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman.
In 2022, Scott ran a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/11/16/1137104129/mitch-mcconnell-wins-minority-leader-rick-scott-senate-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">campaign</a> to take the Senate GOP leadership position from McConnell, but <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/16/senate-gop-reelects-mcconnell-as-leader-00067541#:~:text=Mitch%20McConnell%20handily%20dispatched%20Rick,leader%20in%20the%20next%20Congress." target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost 37-10</a> in a secret-ballot election.
Scott endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-sen-rick-scott-endorses-trump-for-president-says-gop-should-unite" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last fall</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/us/politics/donald-trump-vp.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has been talked about</a> as a potential running mate.
&#8220;As Republican leader, I will protect senators&#8217; interests while helping President Trump accomplish his goals,&#8221; Scott said in his letter.
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&#8220;Our country&#8217;s success and our Conference&#8217;s success will be dependent on President Trump&#8217;s success,&#8221; he continued.
McConnell, who is 82, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-to-step-down-as-senate-republican-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in February that he would step aside as GOP leader after <a href="https://www.senate.gov/senators/longest-serving-party-leaders.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">16 years</a>, but plans to remain in the Senate until his term ends in early 2027.
Leadership elections are expected to take place in November, including for the No. 2 whip position, which Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/barrasso-ducks-senate-gop-leader-race-will-run-for-no-2-spot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Barrasso (R-WY) is seeking</a>. Winners will take over their new roles in January.
In his letter to colleagues, Scott called for more transparency between senators and the public, saying, &#8220;There have been far too many backroom deals cut in secret.&#8221;
Scott said he believes a leader should be limited to a six-year term and envisioned a &#8220;realistic schedule&#8221; to prevent continuing resolutions and omnibus spending bills.
&#8220;This is not a time to make small adjustments, I believe we need a dramatic sea change to save our country and that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m running to be Republican leader,&#8221; Scott said.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)

Rick Scott Joins Race For Senate GOP Leader

Rick Scott

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said during an interview over the weekend that the most important issue he is focused on is making sure Republicans retake control of the chamber this November.
McConnell made the remarks during a Sunday interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS News&#8217; &#8220;Face The Nation&#8221; while talking about Congress&#8217; recent passage of foreign aid spending packages.
&#8220;What I want to do and what I&#8217;m focused on is not the presidential race, but getting the Senate back,&#8221; McConnell said. &#8220;I think the single most important thing I can do is make sure my successor is the majority leader, no matter how the presidential election comes out.&#8221;
&#8220;The fact that our nominee basically decided not to continue whipping people against the package was a good sign and I&#8217;m going to be advocating increasing the defense budget no matter who gets elected, and preparing ourselves for the long term, which is China, Russia, and Iran,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;This administration&#8217;s budget requests for defense haven&#8217;t even kept up with inflation. That needs to change and we need to change as well. Here in Congress, the Democrats have always insisted that we spend just as much on domestic as defense. That changed in the last appropriations process. Our spending needs to reflect the needs, and the needs now are on the defense side.&#8221;
He said that the conflicts that have erupted across the world under Biden have &#8220;gotten our attention on both sides,&#8221; with most members now understanding that &#8221; this is a very, very dangerous period for our country.&#8221;
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&#8220;What I&#8217;m doing is trying to change the Senate so that we have a majority and trying to produce a majority of the majority of the importance of defense spending, no matter who wins the presidential election,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I can&#8217;t control that. I have some influence here in the Senate. I intend to use it no matter who gets elected president to increase our defense budget and get ready for the challenges that we have ahead of us, rather than just looking backward.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Before leaving the Senate, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderMcConnell</a> says he intends to use his influence, &#8220;no matter who gets elected president, to increase our defense budget.&#8221;
When asked if that means potentially going against the GOP and Donald Trump, McConnell says: &#8220;I’ve been willing to do that.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ATKbkD6U3Z">pic.twitter.com/ATKbkD6U3Z</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1784599369037087086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2024</a></blockquote>

McConnell Reveals ‘The Single Most Important Thing’ He’s Focused On

The Senate passed a two-year extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows federal agents to obtain the online communications of foreign nationals without a warrant, late Friday night in a 60-34 vote. 
The debate on the renewal of Section 702 pitted those who said it was essential to national security against those who were worried about the potential for Americans to be surveilled. Senators who <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00148.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> in favor included 30 Republicans, 28 Democrats, and two independents, while 16 Republicans, 17 Democrats, and 1 independent voted against. 
The measure was supported by both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
&#8220;The stakes of such an outcome are grave,&#8221; McConnell <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-fisa-surveillance-renewal-avoiding-lapse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;The authorities in question today have, quite literally, been the only defense against would-be national security disasters.”
Schumer said passage was necessary for American national security. “It wasn’t easy, people had many different views, but we all know one thing: letting FISA expire would have been dangerous. It’s an important part of our national security to stop acts of terror, drug trafficking, and violent extremism,” he <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-renews-fisa-section-702-spying-privacy-rcna148394" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
On the other side, lawmakers like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) argued that there should be a warrant requirement if the communications of Americans are caught up in the surveillance of a foreign national. 
Previous reports have indicated that the FBI has inappropriately used FISA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-misused-surveillance-tool-over-278000-times-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 278,000 times</a> to collect information about American citizens, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-inappropriately-used-spy-powers-on-u-s-senator-court-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said that</a> the FBI searched for information on an unidentified U.S. senator using Section 702 powers. 
“Yet again the Senate was asked to consider the question: can liberty be exchanged for security? And sadly the majority of Senators said yes it can,” Paul <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1781536215793025043" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> after his amendments failed. “Final FISA reauthorization passed once again.”
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Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said there were not enough protections in place for American citizens. 
“The Department of Justice’s abuses of FISA to spy on American citizens and their communications are unacceptable and contrary to the intent of the protections enshrined in our Fourth Amendment,” he <a href="https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-votes-against-fisa-reauthorization-legislation-after-fourth-amendment-protections-rejected#:~:text=U.S.%20Senator%20Kevin%20Cramer%20(R,obtain%20a%20warrant%20from%20the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “The prohibition on unreasonable search and seizure can’t be taken for granted.”
Earlier this week, the House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-overcomes-final-hurdle-to-send-fisa-reauthorization-bill-to-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> its reauthorization of FISA after a similar warrant amendment stalled 212-212. Lawmakers eventually voted 259 to 128 to advance the legislation. 
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation as his administration has pushed lawmakers to renew Section 702.

Capitol Hill Prepares Ahead Of Full House Vote On Impeachment Articles This Week

Senate Sends FISA Reauthorization Bill To Biden’s Desk After Late Night Vote

Civil Rights

FISA

National Security

Rand Paul

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called on Congress to pass a bill that would ban TikTok unless the social media platform’s Chinese owners divest from it.
The Kentucky Republican pushed the bill’s passage in the upper chamber during a floor speech on Monday. The legislation passed the House last month with broad support inside both parties, with a final vote of 352 in favor and 65 against.
“America’s greatest strategic rival is threatening our security right here on U.S. soil in tens of millions of [American] homes,” McConnell said, according to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/08/mcconnell-senate-tiktok-restrict-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Axios</a>. “I’m speaking of course of TikTok.”
“This is a matter that deserves Congress’ urgent attention,” he continued. “And I&#8217;ll support commonsense bipartisan steps to take one of Beijing&#8217;s favorite tools of coercion and espionage off the table.”
McConnell’s comments make him the highest-profile Republican to back the House bill in the Senate. The political push to take action against TikTok began under former President Donald Trump. Congress has remained largely silent on the issue until the passage of the House bill last month.
McConnell is in his final months as the top Republican in the Senate. He announced in February that he would step down as Senate Republican leader in November, a post he has held since 2006. The 82-year-old McConnell plans to finish out the rest of this term, which ends in January 2027.
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The bill’s chances in the Senate remain unclear in an election year involving an issue that has driven loud opposition from younger Americans, a primary target of Democratic politicians in 2024.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has voiced support for action on TikTok, though he has not committed to bringing the House bill to the Senate floor. The legislation and threat to ban TikTok has generated dissent from leftists and younger voters. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk.
More libertarian-leaning Republicans have also resisted taking action against the Chinese-owned social media platform. Trump opposes the bill because he says taking action against TikTok would empower Facebook.

McConnell Backs TikTok Crackdown: ‘One Of Beijing’s Favorite Tools’

TikTok

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