TAMMY DUCKWORTH

Moments after the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade was issued, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democratic legislative leaders said they will call a special session to strengthen the state’s already-stringent protections for reproductive rights.

China’s government has accused Washington of jeopardizing peace after U.S. envoys began trade talks with Taiwan aimed at deepening relations with the self-ruled island democracy claimed by Beijing.

Taiwan US In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., left, meets with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP) (Uncredited)TAIPEI, Taiwan — (AP) — On a visit to Taiwan, U.S. Duckworth met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday and emphasized the close economic, political and security relations between Taipei and Washington. China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force, and sent 30 military aircraft into airspace close to the island Monday. In her remarks to Tsai, Duckworth said she wanted to “emphasize our support for Taiwan security."

On a visit to Taiwan, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth is reiterating support for the island amid rising Chinese threats.

Memorial Day weekend kicks off in Chicago’s Daley Plaza with wreath-laying, parade to ‘remember and honor over 1.2 million American heroes.'

The state's top lawmakers are part of an effort to have the city put its name in the running for the gathering.

Senator and combat war veteran pushes Senate for memorial for the "Rosie the Riveters" who worked as "letter carriers, code breakers, manufacturers and more."

The concept of using in vitro fertilization or IVF to achieve pregnancy is becoming more of an open conversation.

Hunger in America Military Families A man receives food at an Armed Services YMCA food distribution, Oct. 28, 2021, in San Diego. He said the department will immediately provide a temporary increase in the housing allowance for troops who live in areas where rent costs have gone up by at least 10% this year. Lower-ranking enlisted troops receive modest pay, and their frequent moves make it difficult for spouses to find steady work. Service members who do not live on bases get a housing allowance, which is counted as income in calculating their eligibility for food stamps. Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., has sought a Pentagon study of the problem and a repeal of the USDA’s Basic Allowance for Housing regulation.

The Pentagon will increase housing payments for troops in key areas and look into ways to combat hunger across the force,.

The provision was spearheaded by Senator Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee who cannot use subway stations that don't have a working elevator.

It’s a hidden crisis that's existed for years inside one of the most well-funded institutions on the planet and has only worsened during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I think COVID really illustrated to people how broken our child care system is in a way that people finally understood," said Duckworth. And it's not just child care subsidies. The child care subsidies would attempt to guarantee that most Americans don’t spend more than 7% of their income on child care. The child care provision is closely tied to the universal preschool option, and states would be encouraged to enroll in both. “Child care is a central part of our economic infrastructure,” said Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., the assistant speaker who helped broker the care provisions.

Women — and some men — in Congress have been fighting for government child care assistance for almost 80 years.

WASHINGTON — (AP) — Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, who was elected in 1992 as a self described “mom in tennis shoes,” has been fighting for paid family and medical leave for decades. When the White House released a framework of the legislation Thursday morning, paid leave was glaringly absent. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, a negotiator on the paid leave proposal, said Thursday that she is still talking to Manchin about how a leave policy could be salvaged. DeLauro calls the proposal’s elimination a “tragedy” but says it is still a victory that they got so close, and that many companies and states now have paid leave policies in place. Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat, was the first senator to give birth in office three years ago, and has argued that everyone should have the same paid leave she had as a senator.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, who was elected in 1992 as a self described “mom in tennis shoes,” has been fighting for paid family and medical leave for decades.

Harris Vice President Kamala Harris, smiles at Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., not pictured, at the conclusion of a virtual town hall where they discussed different care policies ranging from at-home medical care to childcare, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington. The vice president pitched the administration's infrastructure and social safety net agenda as critical to tackling the effects of climate change — which scientists say intensify extreme weather events such as heatwaves and droughts. Water levels at Lake Mead — created in the 1930s by the damming of the Colorado River — have fallen to record lows. It contains roughly $8 billion for Western water projects, including desalination technology to make sea water usable, modernizing rural water infrastructure and building greater capacity to recycle wastewater. Harris also spoke about the Biden administration’s proposed civilian Climate Corps, which it has said would create hundreds of thousands of jobs building trails, restoring streams and helping stop devastating wildfires.

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (Jacquelyn Martin)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday will highlight the problems caused by Western drought as she visits Lake Mead in Nevada and makes the case for the Biden administration's infrastructure and climate change proposals that have stalled in Congress. Water levels at Lake Mead — created in the 1930s by the damming of the Colorado River — have fallen to record lows. That agenda includes climate provisions the Biden administration has said would make the U.S. more resilient against the effects of climate change. Harris will also emphasize that climate change is poised to make extreme weather events such as droughts and heatwaves more frequent, expensive and harmful, White House officials said. Officials said Harris will also discuss how water shortages affect farmers, the nation’s food supply and the economy.

Vice President Kamala Harris is making the case for the Biden administration’s climate change agenda, standing before the record-low water levels of Nevada’s Lake Mead and warning that “this is where we’re headed.”.

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (Jacquelyn Martin)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday will highlight the problems caused by Western drought as she visits Lake Mead in Nevada and makes the case for the Biden administration's infrastructure and climate change proposals that have stalled in Congress. Water levels at Lake Mead — created in the 1930s by the damming of the Colorado River — have fallen to record lows. That agenda includes climate provisions the Biden administration has said would make the U.S. more resilient against the effects of climate change. Harris will also emphasize that climate change is poised to make extreme weather events such as droughts and heatwaves more frequent, expensive and harmful, White House officials said. Officials said Harris will also discuss how water shortages affect farmers, the nation’s food supply and the economy.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is among more than 27,000 homeowners in Cook County, Illinois, who don’t pay a cent in property tax, according to a report.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says early pregnancy loss occurs in about 10% of known pregnancies.

Health authorities in Thailand are racing to set up a large field hospital at one of Bangkok’s airports as the country sees new highs in coronavirus infections and deaths.

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with the Illinois Democrat about the Support Through Loss Act, which would require employers to offer three days of paid leave to workers who've experienced pregnancy loss.

Congress Infrastructure FILE - In this July 21, 2021, file photo workers repair a park near the Capitol in Washington. Senators working on the infrastructure plan hope to have a bill ready to be voted on next week. The groups representing the long-term care facilities said tapping virus relief dollars would be “short-sighted, especially as COVID-19 variants continue to spread." They’re looking at other sources, including undoing a Trump-era rule on pharmaceutical rebates, redirecting billions of unspent dollars from last year's COVID relief and tapping other potential funding streams. “We will not support any package that neglects this fundamental part of our nation’s infrastructure,” the two senators said.

Organizations representing long-term care facilities are urging lawmakers working on a bipartisan infrastructure plan to avoid dipping into COVID-relief funds to help pay for the roughly $600 billion in new spending sought for the public works buildout.

Organizations representing long-term care facilities on Friday urged lawmakers working on a bipartisan infrastructure plan to avoid dipping into COVID-relief funds to help pay for the roughly $600 billion in new spending sought for the public works buildout. Lawmakers and staff are expected to work through the weekend, sorting through the flurry of tensions over funds for water resources, public transit and other details in what they hope are the final stages of their work. The groups representing the long-term care facilities said tapping virus relief dollars would be “short-sighted, especially as COVID-19 variants continue to spread."

Congress Infrastructure FILE - In this July 21, 2021, file photo workers repair a park near the Capitol in Washington. Senators working on the infrastructure plan hope to have a bill ready to be voted on next week. The groups representing the long-term care facilities said tapping virus relief dollars would be “short-sighted, especially as COVID-19 variants continue to spread." They’re looking at other sources, including undoing a Trump-era rule on pharmaceutical rebates, redirecting billions of unspent dollars from last year's COVID relief and tapping other potential funding streams. “We will not support any package that neglects this fundamental part of our nation’s infrastructure,” the two senators said.

The Illinois senator discussed a miscarriage she suffered while she was running for Senate in 2016.

The U.S. is sending 2.5 million doses of the Moderna COVID vaccine to Taiwan, tripling an earlier pledge in a donation with both public health and geopolitical meaning. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP, File) (Uncredited)TAIPEI, Taiwan — (AP) — The U.S. sent 2.5 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan on Sunday, tripling an earlier pledge in a donation with both public health and geopolitical meaning. It has ordered 5.05 million doses directly from Moderna but so far received only 390,000, including a second shipment that arrived Friday. The U.S. donation follows Japan’s shipment of 1.24 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in early June. Taiwan has ordered 10 million doses from AstraZeneca but has yet to receive most of them.

The U.S. is sending 2.5 million doses of the Moderna COVID vaccine to Taiwan, tripling an earlier pledge in a donation with both public health and geopolitical meaning. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP, File) (Uncredited)TAIPEI, Taiwan — (AP) — The U.S. is sending 2.5 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan, tripling an earlier pledge in a donation with both public health and geopolitical meaning. It has ordered 5.05 million doses directly from Moderna but so far received only 390,000, including a second shipment that arrived Friday. The U.S. donation follows Japan's shipment of 1.24 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in early June. Taiwan has ordered 10 million doses from AstraZeneca but has yet to receive most of themCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

A plane with 2.5 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Taiwan from the U.S. in a donation with both public health and geopolitical meaning.

Global Times accuses senators of ‘making further provocations’

Bipartisan group to meet top Taiwanese officials

Taiwan is among a list of places that would receive 25 million doses from the U.S. in what the Biden administration says is the first tranche of at least 80 million doses to be distributed globally.

Most of the first tranche, including Taiwan's, will be sent through COVAX, a U.N.-backed program to distribute vaccines to low and middle-income countries. Japan shipped 1.2 million doses to Taiwan on Friday, opting to skip the COVAX process in the interest of speed. Taiwan has accused China of blocking its efforts to reach a deal with BioNTech to import the vaccine co-developed by the German company and Pfizer. Beijing has said it is willing to supply vaccines to Taiwan, including BioNTech, through Chinese partner Fosun, and that the island's government is to blame for putting politics above the lives of its people. Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, and most Taiwanese favor maintaining the current state of de facto independence while engaging in robust economic exchanges with the mainland.

The U.S. will donate 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) announced after arriving in the capital, Taipei, on a bipartisan congressional visit Sunday.Why it matters: The island state is facing spiking coronavirus cases, and officials say their efforts to obtain vaccines are being impeded by China's government, which considers Taiwan to be part of its territory.Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.The visit by Duckworth and

The self-ruled island complained that China is hindering its efforts to secure the injections amid an outbreak.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illonois, who arrived in Taiwan with her two colleagues, said the trip underscores the bipartisan support for the democratic island that Beijing claims as its own renegade territory. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu received the senators at the airport said he was “delighted” to welcome them and thanked them for their staunch support. On Friday, Japan donated 1.24 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan. Biden announced last week the U.S. will swiftly donate an initial allotment of 25 million doses of surplus vaccine overseas through the U.N.-backed COVAX program, which to date has shared just 76 million doses with needy countries. Overall, the White House has announced plans to share 80 million doses globally by the end of June, most through COVAX.

Three senators visiting Taiwan say the U.S. will give the self-ruled island 750,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, part of President Joe Biden’s move to share tens of millions of jabs globally.

The ad features a female soldier raised by two mothers who decides to join the U.S. Army.

"In Chicago, I can't get into some stations because it's three flights of stairs to get to stations," said Duckworth, a double amputee who uses a wheelchair.

The ad features a female soldier raised by two mothers who decides to join the U.S. Army.

VoteVets calls Cruz ‘sedition-loving traitor’ and Illinois Senator says he shouldn’t go after army who ‘protected him from an insurrection he helped foment’

Biden Science FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2021 file photo, Eric Lander speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday approved President Joe Biden's nomination of Eric Lander to be chief science adviser, the last unfilled Cabinet post in the Biden administration. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum)WASHINGTON — (AP) — The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday approved President Joe Biden's nomination of Eric Lander to be chief science adviser, one of the last unfilled Cabinet posts in the Biden administration. If approved, Lander would nearly complete Biden's Cabinet. Shalanda Young has been serving as acting OMB director after her confirmation as deputy director.

The Senate Commerce Committee has approved President Joe Biden’s nomination of Eric Lander to be chief science adviser.

Rarely has a routine water resources bill generated so much political buzz.

The Senate has passed legislation to combat the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The Senate approved a bill Thursday that aims to curb a rise in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

There are growing concerns about one American who risks being left behind as the U.S. moves to withdraw its military from Afghanistan.

The White House committed to creating the new role amid pressure from Democratic Senators Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii.

Welcome to The Spin, the Chicago Tribune's politics newsletter.

Tammy Duckworth on Asian representation in government, rise in violent attacks on Asian Americans Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, joined "CBS This Morning" to discuss her new book, "Every Day is a Gift," a memoir recounting her life from a childhood in Southeast Asia to losing both her legs in Iraq and eventually being elected to the U.S. Senate. Plus, her conversation with the Biden administration on Asian representation, and the recent rise in attacks on Asian-Americans.

"Sunday Morning" Full Episode 3/28 Hosted by Jane Pauley. In our cover story, Seth Doane meets a Catholic priest who is breaking the silence of gay clergy in the church. Plus: Tracy Smith sits down with Leslie Odom Jr., a double-Oscar-nominee for "One Night in Miami"; Nancy Cordes profiles Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth; Mo Rocca chats with actress Brenda Vaccaro; John Blackstone looks back to 1974 when Los Angeles became the center of the pop culture universe; Erin Moriarty examines cancel culture and reappraising the art of controversial artists; and Nancy Giles tucks into the history and medicinal properties of chicken soup.

Sign Up For NewslettersRenewed concern over COVID-19 trajectory, even as vaccinations riseGottlieb says vaccines should provide "pretty big backstop" against new surgeFauci warns against potential new COVID-19 surge as cases remain highHow to watch opening statements in the trial of Derek Chauvin5 killed in helicopter crash in Alaska's backcountryStreet named after Botham Jean unveiled in DallasSenator Tammy Duckworth on striving for "that more perfect union"4 dead as record rain drenches Nashville; flooding still a dangerInside the workshop where robots of the future are being builtWhy questions still linger on the origin of the coronavirusMinneapolis braces for spotlight again as Chauvin trial to begin15 tornadoes reported across 4 states; California bald eagles await a new addition to their familyCBS Weekend News, March 28, 2021 15 tornadoes reported across 4 states; California bald eagles await a new addition to their familyBe the first to knowGet browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not NowTurn On

Sign Up For NewslettersIRS to delay tax filing deadline until May 17Learning what it takes to bring students back to schoolHow to watch opening statements in the trial of Derek ChauvinStreet named after Botham Jean unveiled in DallasSenator Tammy Duckworth on striving for "that more perfect union"Canceled culture? Reconsidering the art of controversial artistsCuellar says influx of migrants still overwhelming border facilitiesFrustration over WHO-led search for COVID-19's originFauci warns against potential new COVID-19 surge as cases remain highDeadly tornadoes leave path of destruction across Southeast; Son sells cheesesteaks to fund mom's final trip. CBS Evening News, March 26, 2021 Deadly tornadoes leave path of destruction across Southeast; Son sells cheesesteaks to fund mom's final trip. Be the first to knowGet browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not NowTurn On

Sign Up For NewslettersIRS to delay tax filing deadline until May 17Learning what it takes to bring students back to schoolHow to watch opening statements in the trial of Derek ChauvinStreet named after Botham Jean unveiled in DallasSenator Tammy Duckworth on striving for "that more perfect union"Canceled culture? Reconsidering the art of controversial artistsCuellar says influx of migrants still overwhelming border facilitiesFrustration over WHO-led search for COVID-19's originFauci warns against potential new COVID-19 surge as cases remain highCoronavirus infections rising nationwide as states face pressure to reopen; Little progress made in freeing massive ship stuck in Suez CanalCBS Weekend News, March 27, 2021 Coronavirus infections rising nationwide as states face pressure to reopen; Little progress made in freeing massive ship stuck in Suez CanalBe the first to knowGet browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not NowTurn On

Sign Up For NewslettersIRS to delay tax filing deadline until May 17Learning what it takes to bring students back to schoolHow to watch opening statements in the trial of Derek ChauvinStreet named after Botham Jean unveiled in DallasSenator Tammy Duckworth on striving for "that more perfect union"Canceled culture? Reconsidering the art of controversial artistsCuellar says influx of migrants still overwhelming border facilitiesFrustration over WHO-led search for COVID-19's originFauci warns against potential new COVID-19 surge as cases remain highDave Kindred on activism in sports Sportswriter Dave Kindred compares Muhammed Ali and Colin Kaepernick’s activism. Be the first to knowGet browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not NowTurn On

Tammy Duckworth on a "more perfect union" The daughter of an American service member and a Thai mother, Tammy Duckworth discovered her love of flying as a U.S. Army National Guard helicopter pilot. Duckworth talked with CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes about her new memoir, "Every Day Is a Gift,” which tells of her life's missions – from being wounded in Iraq to becoming a U.S. Senator and mother – and never losing the passion of a patriot.

The reversal followed multiple conversations with White House officials and pledges from President Biden to promote diversity. The White House will add a senior level Asian American Pacific Islander liaison, who will ensure the community's voice is further represented and heard." In a 50-50 Senate where every Democratic vote counts, the White House may not be able to get some of its nominees confirmed if she votes no. Hirono and Duckworth both pressed White House deputy chief of staff Jen O'Malley Dillon on the issue during a during a Zoom call between the White House and the Senate Democratic Caucus. "We would like to have a commitment from the White House that there'll be more diversity representation in the cabinet and in senior White House positions," she said.

Biden's meticulous approach to the presidency is intended to serve as a stark departure from the chaos of his predecessor, Donald Trump. Two Democratic senators, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, condemned the lack of diversity in Biden's Cabinet. AdDuckworth said she raised her concerns with the White House on Tuesday and she and Hirono threatened to withhold their votes on nominations until the administration addressed the matter. Just before news of the Colorado shooting, White House aides leaked preliminary word about their next priority, a potentially $3 billion package with money for developing roads, hospitals, schools and green energy systems. But for that program, like other legislative priorities, the White House faces tough prospects for any Republican support and would be forced to proceed along a party-line vote.

The only senators of Asian American heritage, they said they would withhold their support for his nominees until the diversity issue was addressed. AdDuckworth had said earlier that she raised the issue with top Biden advisers on Tuesday and afterward called the situation “not acceptable." “I’ve been talking to them for months and they’re still not aggressive, so I’m not going to be voting for any nominee from the White House other than diversity nominees,” Duckworth told reporters. But Hirono later said in a statement of her own that she too welcomed the appointment of an AAPI White House liaison and was dropping her objections. Tai, who was confirmed last week, is the first Asian American and first woman of color to serve as U.S. trade representative.

Washington — Senator Tammy Duckworth on Sunday called for a "deeper investigation" into the motive behind the shootings at Atlanta-area spas last week that left eight people dead, including six Asian women, as well as other crimes against Asian Americans. "From where I sit, I want to see a deeper investigation into whether or not these shootings and other similar crimes are racially motivated. What I have done, though, is I have actually sent a letter to Director Wray and to Attorney General Garland asking for a deeper investigation into crimes that involve Asian-Americans to see how many crimes have actually been underreported as hate crimes." "We know that crimes against Asian-Americans that have been categorized as hate crimes have increased by over 150% in our nation's major cities," Duckworth continued. As hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased over the last year, two-thirds of the victims have been Asian-American women, she said.

The following is a transcript of an interview with Illinois Democrat Senator Tammy Duckworth that aired Sunday, March 21, 2020, on "Face the Nation." It looks racially motivated to me, but I'm not, you know, I'm- I'm not a police officer. They have a front-page story saying before the killing spree in that city, Georgia let an industry that exploits Asian women flourish. Asian women in particular have this stereotype against them that they are weak and submissive, and they've been over-sexualized. So I'm- I'm really anxiously waiting to hear back from Secretary Austin, what he finds in Afghanistan and what his recommendations are going to be.

Duckworth calls for "deeper investigation" into motive behind spa shootings Senator Tammy Duckworth says a "deeper investigation" is needed to determine whether the shooting that left eight people dead was racially motivated.

Sign Up For NewslettersIRS to delay tax filing deadline until May 17Learning what it takes to bring students back to schoolHow to watch opening statements in the trial of Derek ChauvinStreet named after Botham Jean unveiled in DallasSenator Tammy Duckworth on striving for "that more perfect union"Cuellar says influx of migrants still overwhelming border facilitiesMinneapolis braces for spotlight again as Chauvin trial beginsWhy questions still linger on the origin of the coronavirusInside the workshop where robots of the future are being builtToday on "Face the Nation," familiar crises challenge the country — and the Biden administration. 3/21: Garcetti, Duckworth, Portman Today on "Face the Nation," familiar crises challenge the country — and the Biden administration. Be the first to knowGet browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not NowTurn On

There's a new arena congressional Democrats see as a way to help both combat the climate crisis and fight racial inequality: environmental justice. "Communities of color, poorer communities, are where we've tended to put our most toxic industries and they have borne the brunt of our nation developing." Duckworth plans to re-introduce Thursday the "Environmental Justice For All Act," originally introduced by then-Senator Kamala Harris in August 2020. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's Dr. John Faust led the creation of the tool. Bush said a national mapping program would provide "interpersonal community-based" information so people in affected neighborhoods -- as she was in her youth -- could understand the burdens they face.

The Biden administration must determine how to handle that commitment. Frerichs' supporters are concerned that a drawdown of military personnel from Afghanistan leaves the U.S. without the leverage it needs to demand his release. AdThe State Department is offering $5 million for information leading to Frerichs' return. We will not stop working until we secure his safe return home,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price. “You don’t leave Americans behind, and I just really want to make sure that he’s home safe.”AdBlinken told reporters Wednesday that the Biden administration wanted to take a detailed look at that deal, saying.

Austin took office Friday as the first Black defense chief, in the wake of the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, where retired and current military members were among the rioters touting far-right conspiracies. The U.S. population overall is about three-quarters white and 13% Black, according to Census Bureau statistics. Austin gained confirmation after clearing a legal hurdle prohibiting anyone from serving as defense chief until they have been out of the military for seven years. He held a broader video conference on COVID-19 with all top defense and military leaders, and his first call to an international leader was with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. After serving as vice chief of the Army, Austin headed Central Command, where he oversaw the reinsertion of U.S. troops to Iraq to beat back Islamic State militants.

Austin took office Friday as the first Black defense chief, in the wake of the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, where retired and current military members were among the rioters touting far-right conspiracies. The U.S. population overall is about three-quarters white and 13% Black, according to Census Bureau statistics. Austin gained confirmation after clearing a legal hurdle prohibiting anyone from serving as defense chief until they have been out of the military for seven years. He held a broader video conference on COVID-19 with all top defense and military leaders, and his first call to an international leader was with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. After serving as vice chief of the Army, Austin headed Central Command, where he oversaw the reinsertion of U.S. troops to Iraq to beat back Islamic State militants.

National Guard troops continue to be deployed around the Capitol one day after the inauguration of President Joe Biden, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)WASHINGTON – After President Joe Biden’s inauguration went off with only a handful of minor arrests and incidents, more than 15,000 National Guard members are preparing to leave Washington, D.C., and head home. The National Guard Bureau said Thursday that of the nearly 26,000 Guard troops deployed to D.C. for the inaugural, just 10,600 remain on duty. The bureau said the Guard is helping states with coordination and the logistics so that troops can get home. Guard members will have to turn in equipment, make travel plans and go through COVID-19 screening.

Harrison, the longtime Democratic Party official, is President-elect Joe Bidens choice to lead the national party, according to multiple party officials. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Democratic National Committee is set to formally elect Jaime Harrison of South Carolina as chairman on Thursday, signifying an early alignment between newly inaugurated President Joe Biden and state party leaders around the country. Harrison was a key liaison with state party leaders with whom Perez sometimes had rocky relationships. Harrison, 44, comes into the job with overwhelming support from state party leaders, making his elevation a sign of relative unity in a party organization often beset by infighting among state leaders and Washington power players. Some party leaders, including Clyburn, have also argued a more diverse state like South Carolina should be first to vote.

Harrison, the longtime Democratic Party official, is President-elect Joe Bidens choice to lead the national party, according to multiple party officials. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Democratic National Committee elected Jaime Harrison of South Carolina as chair on Thursday, signifying an early alignment between newly inaugurated President Joe Biden and state party leaders around the country. Harrison was a key liaison with state party leaders with whom Perez sometimes had rocky relationships. Harrison, 44, comes into the job with overwhelming support from state party leaders, making his elevation a sign of relative unity in a party organization often beset by infighting among state leaders and Washington power players. Thursday's meeting also included a video tribute to Don Fowler, a former national party chair and mainstay of South Carolina politics, who died last month at age 85.

A memo signed by all members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also reminded military members that Joe Biden was duly elected as the next president and will be sworn in to office on Jan. 20. The memo was unusual in that the military leadership, including Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, felt compelled to remind service members that it is wrong to disrupt the constitutional process. The Joint Chiefs memo did not allude directly to the question of military involvement. "The rights of freedom of speech and assembly do not give anyone the right to resort to violence, sedition and insurrection. “As service members, we must embody the values and ideals of the nation.

Gavin Newsom speaks at a COVID-19 testing facility in Valencia, Calif. As California Gov. Gavin Newsom's shoulders as he considers his pick to serve out the rest of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' Senate term through 2022. The South saw its highest number of Black Senate candidates ever this year, but none won races outright. Labor icon Dolores Huerta and California Latinas for Reproductive Justice want Newsom to appoint a Black woman. De Leon won the endorsement of the California Democratic Party and prominent labor unions, in part because of his support for immigrant rights and aggressive policies to curb climate change.

A Democratic senator is calling on the State Department to prioritize the return of Mark Frerichs, an American contractor believed to have been taken by a Taliban-linked militant network in Afghanistan earlier this year. It is unclear to what extent Frerichs, who is one of Duckworth's constituents, was discussed during those meetings. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)WASHINGTON – A Democratic senator is calling on the State Department to prioritize the return of Mark Frerichs, an American contractor believed to have been taken by a Taliban-linked militant network in Afghanistan earlier this year. “The welfare, safety, and security of Americans has always been and will continue to be our highest priority,” State Department principal deputy spokesperson Cale Brown said in a statement. Khalilzad to negotiate with the Taliban about Afghanistan," she said.

WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden is facing escalating pressure from competing factions within his own party as he finalizes his choice for secretary of defense. And facing massive governing challenges once he takes office on Jan. 20, Biden can perhaps least afford to lose the backing of the Democratic Party’s fiery progressive base. Nearly 100 House Democrats belong to the Progressive Caucus, which may wield significant influence over Biden's policy agenda as Democrats cling to their narrowest House majority in a century. Flournoy, meanwhile, had been seen as the leading candidate for defense secretary under a Democratic president since Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 campaign. Biden has promised both to fight for big, bold policy changes and to compromise with Republicans.

WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden is facing escalating pressure from competing factions within his own party as he finalizes his choice for secretary of defense. And facing massive governing challenges once he takes office on Jan. 20, Biden can perhaps least afford to lose the backing of the Democratic Party’s fiery progressive base. Nearly 100 House Democrats belong to the Progressive Caucus, which may wield significant influence over Biden's policy agenda as Democrats cling to their narrowest House majority in a century. Flournoy, meanwhile, had been seen as the leading candidate for defense secretary under a Democratic president since Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 campaign. Biden has promised both to fight for big, bold policy changes and to compromise with Republicans.

NEW YORK – Sen. Tammy Duckworth has written a memoir, “Every Day Is a Gift,” which comes out March 30. Twelve, a Hachette Book Group imprint, announced the deal with Sen. Duckworth on Thursday, the 16th anniversary of the day she was shot down in a helicopter while serving in Iraq and lost both of her legs. She was elected in 2016 to the U.S. Senate, where she became the first sitting Senator to give birth. Over the past year, she was mentioned as a possible running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who ended up choosing Sen. Kamala Harris of California. She was represented by Robert Barnett, the Washington attorney who also has worked on deals for Biden, now president-elect, and for former President Barack Obama.

“There is so much work to do.”According to the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization that advises presidential candidates on the transition, Biden will have to name more than 4,000 political appointees to fill out his administration, including more than 1,200 requiring Senate confirmation. Those roles include leaders of the treasury and health and human services departments and the director of the National Economic Council. One person familiar with the transition planning said Buttigieg could also be an ambassador to the United Nations. If Biden wins, it's unclear how closely Trump administration officials would work with the incoming team. “Is it going to mean the Biden campaign’s not going to be able to conduct the transition?

WASHINGTON Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has declared President Donald Trump unfit for the presidency, delivering an impassioned reaction to a report that Trump who never served in uniform allegedly mocked American war dead. It could have been a guy like John Kelly, Trump told reporters, saying his former top aide was unable to handle the pressure of this job." As he spoke, Biden grew angry, raising his voice to rebut Trumps alleged comments that Marines who died in battle were suckers for getting killed. Returning to Washington from a Thursday visit to Pennsylvania, Trump told reporters that the Atlantic report was a disgraceful situation by a terrible magazine.I would be willing to swear on anything that I never said that about our fallen heroes, Trump told the reporters, gathered on the tarmac in the dark. His allies quickly seized on the reported comments in hopes they could drive a wedge between military families and veterans and Trump.

WASHINGTON Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden declared President Donald Trump unfit for the presidency on Friday, delivering an impassioned reaction to a report that Trump who never served in uniform allegedly mocked American war dead. Voice cracking, Biden told reporters that you know in your gut Trumps comments, if true, are deplorable.Ive just never been as disappointed, in my whole career, with a leader that Ive worked with, president or otherwise, Biden added. If the article is true and it appears to be, based on other things hes said it is absolutely damning. As he spoke, Biden grew angry, raising his voice to rebut Trumps alleged comments that Marines who died in battle were suckers for getting killed. His allies quickly seized on the reported comments in hopes that could drive a wedge between military families and veterans from Trump.

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)LAS VEGAS Democratic Party luminaries, rising stars, former presidents and presidential contenders have been making a pitch for Joe Biden over three days of an atypical convention. Biden will speak Thursday night from Wilmington, Delaware, as he closes out the fourth night of the all-virtual Democratic National Convention, starting at 9 p.m. The 78-year-old moderate and former Republican being given a spot to help to close out the Democratic convention is striking. The convention is also available to watch on Twitch, Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV. A celebrity-studded afterparty hosted by Andy Cohen is scheduled to be shown immediately after Bidens speech on the official livestream.

Whitmer sent word to Bidens team that while she was flattered, she no longer wanted to be considered for the running mate slot, according to a high-ranking Democrat familiar with the process. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Florida Rep. Val Demings impressed Bidens team with their leadership during the police brutality protests. The public disclosure of Dodds comments angered some of the highest-ranking women on Bidens campaign team. Eleni Kounalakis, who organized a call with Bidens vetting team about two weeks ago to assuage any doubts about whether the senator was the right choice for the ticket. The call ended with Bidens vetting team telling the Harris supporters that they had all recommended her as one of the top candidates for the job.

Whitmer sent word to Bidens team that while she was flattered, she no longer wanted to be considered for the running mate slot, according to a high-ranking Democrat familiar with the process. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Florida Rep. Val Demings impressed Bidens team with their leadership during the police brutality protests. The public disclosure of Dodds comments angered some of the highest-ranking women on Bidens campaign team. Eleni Kounalakis, who organized a call with Bidens vetting team about two weeks ago to assuage any doubts about whether the senator was the right choice for the ticket. The call ended with Bidens vetting team telling the Harris supporters that they had all recommended her as one of the top candidates for the job.

Joe Bidens presidential campaign is ramping up its advertising and deploying some of its high-profile surrogates as it tries to solidify a broad battleground map that his advisers see as giving him multiple paths to an Electoral College majority. Bidens Democratic campaign announced Tuesday a $15 million weeklong advertising campaign including television, digital, radio and print in six states: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The television purchases, which involve ads in English and Spanish, also extend to national cable television, including on Major League Baseball's Opening Day broadcasts. While the Biden moves underscore his wide-ranging approach, they also highlight lingering questions about spreading the campaign too thin. Klobuchar, who built her presidential campaign identity as a Midwestern moderate, is being deployed as the envoy in Iowa.

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump points as he arrives to speak at a campaign rally, in Toledo, Ohio. Multiple polls suggest that a majority of voters, including many Republicans, simply don't believe what Trump says about the pandemic. Meanwhile, Trump also refused to say whether he would accept the results of the general election. Scott Walker, the former Wisconsin governor and a Trump ally, tells us that he sees no clear strategy coming from the Trump campaign. ___2020 Watch runs every Monday and provides a look at the week ahead in the 2020 election.

NEW YORK Fox News' Tucker Carlson said Monday that his former writer who posted racist comments online was wrong but criticized ghouls now beating their chest in triumph after his staffer's resignation. Neff previously worked as a reporter for the conservative news outlet The Daily Caller, which Carlson co-founded. What Blake wrote anonymously was wrong, Carlson said. When we pose as blameless in order to hurt other people, we are committing the gravest sin of all. There's no question.Carlson joined Fox's prime-time lineup in 2016 and has made several controversial comments.

NEW YORK Television's most popular political host, Tucker Carlson, says leaders of the Democratic party should be disqualified from running the country because they despise it. While some analysts called it divisive, Carlson praised it as the best speech the president has made in his life. Carlson said that these people hate America. Theres no longer any question about that.The leaders of todays Democratic Party ... despise this country, he said. Besides Biden, Carlson on Monday singled out U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a former military helicopter pilot who lost both legs during a 2004 attack in Iraq.

The relationship between the nation's military community and the Republican president has been strained repeatedly over the course of Trump's turbulent first term. Trump's relationship with the nation's military community has been frequently strained. Biden leaned into the debate Tuesday, calling the Trump administration's handling of the Russian intelligence an absolute dereliction of duty." Erik Hendriks lost his 25-year-old son in an April 2019 attack that intelligence officials believe may be tied to the Russian bounties. He admitted, however, that many of his close friends from the military community continue to support Trump.

With his rhetorical turn, Trump is feeding red meat issues to a base that helped spur his upset victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016. The reality is this is a different election than 2016 was, said Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to the Biden campaign. In 2016, a lot of voters went to the polls asking what kind of president Trump would be. Indeed, while many national and battleground polls show Trump trailing Biden, surveys have suggested that some of the former vice presidents support is lukewarm. 3 is a big day, Trump told attendees at a Students for Trump event in Phoenix.

Walking behind Trump from left are, Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley crafted a low public profile in his first eight months on the job, but that changed after the walk. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)WASHINGTON In his first eight months as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley carefully crafted a low-key public profile. He knew that splashy and sassy were unlikely to endear him to his boss, President Donald Trump. Milley is known in the military as a charismatic leader who commanded troops during several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2020, file photo a sign for at Fort Bragg, N.C., is shown. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)WASHINGTON The U.S. military is rethinking its traditional connection to Confederate Army symbols, mindful of their divisiveness at a time the nation is wrestling with questions of race after the death of George Floyd in police hands. The Army and Air Force have not yet followed Berger's lead, but a defense official said Tuesday that the issue of banning Confederate Army symbols is now under discussion at the highest levels of the Pentagon. Ten major Army installations are named for Confederate Army officers, mostly senior generals, including Robert E. Lee. Few voices in the military are openly defending the link to Confederate symbols, but some of the bases named for Confederate officers are legendary in their own right.

FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2020, file photo a sign for at Fort Bragg, N.C., is shown. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)WASHINGTON The U.S. military is rethinking its traditional connection to Confederate Army symbols, mindful of their divisiveness at a time the nation is wrestling with questions of race after the death of George Floyd in police hands. The Army and Air Force have not yet followed Berger's lead, but a defense official said Tuesday that the issue of banning Confederate Army symbols is now under discussion at the highest levels of the Pentagon. Ten major Army installations are named for Confederate Army officers, mostly senior generals, including Robert E. Lee. Few voices in the military are openly defending the link to Confederate symbols, but some of the bases named for Confederate officers are legendary in their own right.

At some point, they had to come back to campus, academy spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Ophardt said Wednesday. Ophardt said 1.5% tested positive, which works out to about 17 people, and none showed symptoms. The rest of the class has been divided into four groups of roughly 275, and their health is being monitored. Presidents routinely speak at West Point commencements. West Point plans to bring the other three classes back for summer training in July and to welcome members of the class of 2024 that same month.