Mitch McConnell speaks after announcing he’s stepping down as House Minority Leader
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will step down as the chamber’s top Republican in November he has announced. The Kentucky lawmaker, who turned 82 last week, will serve out his term in office which ends in 2027.
Amid campaign concerns about his own age, Joe Biden underwent his annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center this morning.
The president, a lifelong teetotaler and nonsmoker who exercises regularly, is the oldest person to serve as chief executive at 81 is running for another four years in office. Donald Trump, his likely opponent, is only slightly younger at 77.
Meanwhile, Hunter Biden is testifying behind closed doors in the flailing Republican impeachment inquiry into his father.
Democrats have slammed the “bogus and sham” case against the president and his son, calling today’s deposition the “nail in the coffin” of the inquiry.
Finally, last night the president and his predecessor both won their respective Michigan primaries further cementing the likelihood of an unpopular 2020 rematch in November.
Mr Biden faced a protest vote over his response to the war in Gaza, while Mr Trump underperformed against opponent Nikki Haley who has vowed to stay in the race for Super Tuesday.
In depth: The 2024 election will be the oldest presidential fight in history. How do young voters feel?
Ariana Baio spoke with Gen-Z voters in North Carolina about how Joe Biden’s age factors into their feelings about the upcoming presidential election and what is on the line…
Oliver O’Connell28 February 2024 19:40
Watch: Raskin says McConnell didn’t show the ‘ultimate courage’ and vote to convict Trump
“He didn’t show the ultimate courage which would have been to vote to convict and to find enough other Senators so we that wouldn’t be back in this nightmare again with Donald Trump,” says Rep Jamie Raskin on the news of Mitch McConnell’s upcoming retirement from the Senate.
Oliver O’Connell28 February 2024 19:36
House Speaker Johnson salutes historic contribution of McConnell
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson released the following statement regarding the upcoming retirement of Senator Mitch McConnell:
Mitch McConnell rose from humble beginnings overcoming polio to become one of the most consequential Senate Leaders in history. He started his Senate career as a legislative aide and ended up in charge of the upper chamber.
No Member of Congress has played a greater role in reshaping the federal judiciary than Mitch. I join my colleagues in saluting his historic contributions to the Republican Party and to the Congress.
Oliver O’Connell28 February 2024 19:34
Biden comments on Mitch McConnell decision to retire
Speaking at an event on crime prevention, Joe Biden made his first remarks regarding the coming retirement of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at the White House this lunchtime.
President Biden said he’s “sorry to hear” Mr McConnell is stepping down from Senate leadership: “I trusted him, we had a great relationship, we fought like hell. But he never, never, never misrepresented anything. I’m sorry to hear he’s stepping down.”
Oliver O’Connell28 February 2024 19:29
Watch: Reporter calls out Comer over impeachment argument
Rep Jim Comer was called out by a reporter over spurious reasoning behind the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
Oliver O’Connell28 February 2024 19:21
Full story: Biden undergoes annual physical as his age remains campaign issue
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC:
Oliver O’Connell28 February 2024 19:00
‘Like being Charlie Sheen’s understudy in a Broadway play’
However, she has steadfastly refused to do so despite being defeated time and time again, most recently in her home state.
Amelia Neath has the story:
Oliver O’Connell28 February 2024 18:30
Watch: McConnell announces his upcoming retirement
Oliver O’Connell28 February 2024 18:25
Haley asked to name ‘single state she can win’ by reporter
This was a fairly brutal question from the Republican challenger but she managed to spin it to her advantage, even as her campaign looks ever-more hopeless heading into Super Tuesday.
Watch: Nikki Haley asked to name ‘single state she can win’ by reporter
Nikki Haley was asked by a reporter to name a “single state” she believes she can win. The former South Carolina governor has refused to drop out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, despite defeat to Donald Trump in her home state’s primary over the weekend. “Whether it is here in Michigan or any of the upcoming states that you are campaigning in, today, which state can you tell us that you can definitively win?” a journalist asked her before a rally in Grand Rapids. Ms Haley responded: “We have 21 states and territories that are getting ready. Why don’t we wait and see what happens? We don’t have to have a crystal ball and say this is going to happen or that’s going to happen.”
Joe Sommerlad28 February 2024 18:00
Full story: Mitch McConnell to step down as Senate Republican leader after 16 years
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC:
Senator Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving party leader in the upper chamber’s history, will stand aside from his leadership post after the November general election.
Stay tuned for reactions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill…
Oliver O’Connell28 February 2024 17:46
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