In move many expect to signal U.S. reengagement in the world body, the U.S. Senate Tuesday confirmed Baker-native Linda Thomas-Greenfield to the cabinet-level position of Ambassador to the United Nations. She was confirmed on a 78-21 vote , with one senator not voting. Both U.S. Sen. John N. Kennedy, R-Madisonville, and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, voted in favor of confirming Thomas-Greenfield. “I’m proud she’s from Louisiana, but I’m more proud of her service to our country,” Cassidy said in a statement after the vote. The 68-year-old LSU graduate is expected to be sworn in Wednesday by Vice President Kamala Harris. Then, she’s expected to travel to New York City, where the UN headquarters are located, to present her credentials to U.N. Secretary General António Guterres on Thursday. Thomas-Greenfield also will assume leadership of the global policy-making U.N. Security Council on Monday. Almost immediately Thomas-Greenfield will be thrust into dealing with … [Read more...] about US Senate confirms Baker-native Linda Thomas-Greenfield as UN ambassador
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Haaland faces contentious confirmation fight
Rep. Deb Haaland Deb Haaland Haaland courts moderates during tense Senate confirmation hearing OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Haaland courts moderates during tense confirmation hearing | GOP's Westerman looks to take on Democrats on climate change | White House urges passage of House public lands package Schumer urges Democrats to stick together on .9T bill MORE (D-N.M.) faces what could be a contentious hearing on Tuesday as she seeks to convince lawmakers to confirm her to lead the Interior Department. Haaland would be the first Native American woman to lead the department and her nomination has prompted excitement for its historic nature. She also has huge support from progressives, as Haaland has backed the Green New Deal and has opposed a controversial method of oil and gas extraction called fracking. But those positions will cost her support from Republicans and perhaps conservative Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) Manchin Hoyer: House will … [Read more...] about Haaland faces contentious confirmation fight
Exclusive: After 2020 Gains, Kevin McCarthy Eyes House GOP Majority, Speaker’s Gavel in Midterms
House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has a fresh spring in his step after the Republicans defied the odds and professional political prognosticators by picking up 15 seats in the 2020 congressional elections. McCarthy, who has his eyes on the majority in November 2022, approached the 2020 congressional elections differently than Republicans in recent history have traditionally targeted congressional electoral efforts, and his moves paid off—and not only infuriated but befuddled the beltway pundit class. For the first time since 1994, in 2020 no GOP incumbent running for reelection lost. Meanwhile, McCarthy blew away fundraising records previously set by former House Speaker Paul Ryan—astonishing since he did it from the minority. Usually, House political leaders do better raising money from the majority. That’s not to mention the most significant development which is a freshman class entering Congress in 2021 that represents perhaps the most diverse in party history with the most … [Read more...] about Exclusive: After 2020 Gains, Kevin McCarthy Eyes House GOP Majority, Speaker’s Gavel in Midterms
Intel, Google Cloud partner to advance 5G networks
NEW DELHI: Intel and Google Cloud have announced a collaboration to develop telco cloud reference architectures and integrated solutions for communication service providers to accelerate 5G deployment across multiple network and edge locations. The partnership claims to focus on three main areas: * Accelerating the ability of communications service providers to deploy their virtualized radio access network (RAN) and open RAN solutions with next-generation infrastructure and hardware. * Launching new lab environments to help communications service providers innovate for cloud native-based 5G networks. * Making it easier for communications service providers to deliver business applications to the network edge . “Communications service providers can adopt cloud-native technologies to harness the potential of 5G both as a connectivity solution and as a business services platform to deliver applications to the network edge,” said Shailesh Shukla, vice president and … [Read more...] about Intel, Google Cloud partner to advance 5G networks
Manchin flexes muscle in 50-50 Senate
Centrist Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) Manchin Hoyer: House will vote on COVID-19 relief bill Friday Haaland courts moderates during tense Senate confirmation hearing Democrats in standoff over minimum wage MORE (D-W.Va.) is the most pivotal vote in the evenly divided Senate, and his power could spark prolonged intraparty feuds among Democrats. Concerned about simmering friction, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck Schumer Congress holds candlelight vigil for American lives lost to COVID-19 The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Lawmakers investigate Jan. 6 security failures Senate confirms Thomas-Greenfield as UN ambassador MORE (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday strongly urged his Democratic caucus to unify around a pending $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. Manchin appears to have derailed President Biden Joe Biden Hoyer: House will vote on COVID-19 relief bill Friday Pence huddles with senior members of … [Read more...] about Manchin flexes muscle in 50-50 Senate