politics 2023

12/6/23 - Kevin McCarthy resigning from Congress

12/1/23 - House votes to expel George Santos

11/14/23 - Burchett accuses McCarthy of elbowing him

11/14/23 - House passes stopgap funding bill

11/9/23 - Manchin won't seek re-election

10/25/23 - Mike Johnson unanimously (by Republicans) elected as House Speaker

10/24/23 - Tom Emmer nominated for House Speaker

10/20/23 - Jim Jordan drops out of Speaker's race after losing vote of confidence

10/19/23 - Jim Jordan resumes bid for House Speaker

10/19/23 - Jim Jordan suspends bid for House Speaker

10/13/23 - Jim Jordan nominated as House Speaker

10/12/23 - Scalise withdraws from Speaker race one day after winning the nomination vote

10/6/23 - Trump endorses Jim Jordan for House Speaker

10/3/23 - McCarthy ousted as Speaker of the House

10/1/23 - Gaetz to file motion to oust McCarthy as Speaker of the House

9/30/23 - House passes 45-day funding bill, hours before government shutdown as McCarthy risks his position as Speaker

U.S. strikes Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. carried out an airstrike on a weapons warehouse in eastern Syria used by Iranian-backed militias, in retaliation for what has been a growing number of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in the region for the past several weeks, the Pentagon said.

In Wednesday's strike, two U.S. F-15 fighter jets dropped multiple bombs on a weapons storage facility near Maysulun in Deir el-Zour that was known to be used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, U.S. officials said.

“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

Libya flood

DERNA, Libya, Sept 12 (Reuters) - More than 2,000 people were killed and at least 10,000 were missing in Libya in floods caused by a huge Mediterranean storm that burst dams, swept away buildings and wiped out as much as a quarter of the eastern coastal city of Derna.

Officials expected the death toll to rise further after Storm Daniel barrelled across the Mediterranean into a country divided and crumbling after more than a decade of conflict.

Hawaii Elections 2022

5/21/23 - Josh Green and Hawaii's challenges

11/8/22 - Josh Green elected governor

11/8/22 - Schatz and Case joined by Tokuda in Congress

11/8/22 - Hawaii General Election Results: Takenouchi over Lim for State Representative Dist 27, Dos Santos-Tam edges Toguchi for City Council Dist VI

10/6/22 - Green and Aiona debate

6/22/22 - Vicky Cayetano

Uvalde shooting

[5/8/23] Texas House approves measure to raise age for purchasing certain rifles

[8/4/22] Alex Jones ordered to pay $4 million to Sandy Hook parents / and 45.2 million more

[7/29/22] House passes assault weapons ban, but is unlikely to pass Senate

[6/27/22] The AR-15: the weapon (60 Minutes)

[6/24/22] House approves gun control reform bill

[6/23/22] Supreme Court overturns New York's 1913 law limiting concealed handguns

[6/18/22] Firearms now leading cause of death of American children

[6/17/22] Cornyn booed at GOP convention for negotiating gun legislation

[6/6/22] New York governor signs gun reform laws

[6/2/22] Biden says "enough, enough!"

[5/29/22] Oprah interviews David Frum on gun violence

[5/26/22] Don McLean is pulling out of his upcoming performance at the National Rifle Association convention, citing Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

The "American Pie" singer-songwriter released a statement saying it would be "hurtful and "disrespectful" for him to perform at the NRA conference in Houston, which will be a meeting of gun rights advocates from across the country.

"In light of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week," McLean said in a statement to USA TODAY Thursday. "I’m sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well. After all, we are all Americans." 

NRA convention 2022: Trump, Abbott, Cruz scheduled to speak at NRA convention in Houston this weekend

Those still planning to attend include Texas politicians and former President Donald Trump. The organization released a statement Wednesday confirming that the scheduled convention would still take place and the event would "reflect on these events."

McLean's statement continued: "I share the sorrow for this terrible, cruel loss with the rest of the nation."

Larry Gatlin can't perform at NRA convention 'in good conscience' 

Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin was also scheduled to perform at the upcoming convention but released a statement Thursday saying he can't perform "in good conscience"

"While I agree with most of the positions held by the NRA," Gatlin said in a statement sent to USA TODAY. "I have come to believe that, while background checks would not stop every madman with a gun, it is at the very least a step in the right direction toward trying to prevent the kind of tragedy we saw this week in Uvalde."

The Texas native continued: "My prayers and thoughts go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA. I'm a 2nd Amendment guy, but the 2nd Amendment should not apply to everyone. It's that simple."

Larry Stewart of Restless Heart also withdraws from convention

Larry Stewart, lead singer of country band Restless Heart said he also wouldn't be performing in a statement to USA TODAY Thursday.

"Due to the tragedy in Uvalde with the horrific school shooting and children who died, I want to honor the victims, families, the town and our friends in the great state of Texas the best I know how. So I have made the decision to pull out as a performer for the NRA convention this weekend," Stewart said. 

Stewart reinforced his belief in the Second Amendment, adding "the NRA is a great organization who teaches strict gun safety with a membership of law-abiding citizens."

"I just believe this is best for me at this time," he wrote.

More: Texas officials investigating if police acted fast enough to stop shooter at Uvalde school

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5/25/22 - The evolution of the NRA

5/24/22 - Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas