The Latest Breaking News from McClatchy Washington Bureau

Inside Mitch McConnell’s personal push to defeat Democrats’ voting reforms

WASHINGTON — Every week, a group of nearly 100 conservative leaders convene for a 30-minute strategy call on a single issue: how to combat Democrats’ sweeping legislation to change the way federal elections are conducted.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · May 5, 2021

National parks will still require masks in some outdoor areas this summer

WASHINGTON — National parks will still require visitors to wear masks in some outdoor settings entering the summer season, an Interior Department spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · May 5, 2021

Whistleblower complaint emerges showing internal concern over Pompeo courting Kansas

WASHINGTON — State Department employees were asked to prepare then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for political events in Kansas as he was flirting with a run for a U.S. Senate seat there in 2019, rankling government staff who saw the requests as ethics violations, according to a previously unreported whistleblower…

McClatchy Washington Bureau · May 4, 2021

CDC, FDA see no Pfizer vaccine link to heart problem, eyeing with ‘special interest’

WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said they have not detected any indication so far that Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine causes inflammation of the heart, but are monitoring with “special interest” reports of cases.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Apr 27, 2021

Congress members urge Biden to use ‘full capabilities’ to bring Austin Tice home

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan congressional coalition called on President Joe Biden to use his “full capabilities” to secure the release of journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared while reporting in Syria, and said they would fully support his efforts.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Apr 27, 2021

Republicans struggle to find line of attack that sticks to Biden

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers are struggling to define him. The conservative base is more agitated about “cancel culture.” And even former President Donald Trump is turning his attention elsewhere.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Apr 27, 2021

Doris Matsui was born in an internment camp. Here’s what the congresswoman wants done about hate crimes

WASHINGTON — For most of her life, U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui didn’t talk much publicly about growing up in a Japanese American family that was relocated to an internment camp during World War II.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Apr 27, 2021

Inside Biden’s COVID-19 response team, constant texting and nightly presidential reports

WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci learned quickly that being on President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 response team meant constant texts, Saturday meetings, and an “all-hands-on-deck” approach to the coronavirus pandemic.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Apr 24, 2021

Suburban voters praise Biden on COVID, but raise economic, border concerns in new study

WASHINGTON – Suburban voters with a college degree tepidly approve of President Joe Biden’s job performance as he approaches 100 days in office, with reservations about his agenda increasing as concerns about the pandemic fade, according to a new study from a center-right group.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Apr 23, 2021

Senate passes Asian hate crimes bill, with McConnell’s early support

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation Thursday to spur greater reporting and review of anti-Asian hate crimes, an initiative that earned the early blessing of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Apr 22, 2021