Balance of power between Trump and Senate Republicans in focus at high-profile hearings

Balance of power between Trump and Senate Republicans in focus at high-profile hearings

By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The balance of power between Senate Republicans and President Donald Trump's White House will be on public display on Thursday at a pair of hearings, where lawmakers are expected to grapple with Trump advisers over the credibility of U.S. vaccine policy and the independence of the Federal Reserve. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear before the Senate Finance Committee, a week after the Trump administration fired Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over her refusal to follow Kennedy's limitations on vaccine availability, which she believed were unscientific.  Four other top CDC officials resigned in protest, raising warnings from experts that the health of the American public could be at risk. White House economic adviser Stephen Miran, Trump's nominee to fill a vacancy on the Fed board that unexpectedly opened last month, will come before the Senate Banking Committee for his confirmation hearing after weeks of attacks by Trump on Fed Chair Jerome Powell and an effort to fire board Governor Lisa Cook. The hearings will occur as some Senate Republicans are beginning to chafe at Trump's efforts to extend his control over federal spending by rescinding previously allocated funding. Lawmakers say those efforts could endanger hopes of a bipartisan effort to avert a government shutdown. "I'm a big believer that senators have to stand up for the institution of the Senate. And there are a number of the administration's goals I agree with. It's the means that I question," said Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who announced his retirement in June after clashing with Trump over spending cuts to the Medicaid healthcare program for lower-income Americans. "I do have some pause when some of my colleagues don't recognize the institutional threat that that represents. We've got to fight back, and not make it look like it's some sort of freaking loyalty pledge," he added. Since Trump took office in January, some Senate Republicans have aired criticism of the administration and opposed its legislative priorities on the chamber floor. But given the strength of Trump's grip on the Republican Party, they have not been willing to stand in his way. NOMINEE BACKLOG On Wednesday, Senate Republicans met over lunch to debate a plan to relinquish more of their constitutional advice and consent authority over presidential nominees in an effort to overcome Democratic opposition and confirm scores of Trump's sub-cabinet appointees. "Expect us to move forward with a plan that would enable us to clear the backlog of nominees. It just flat has to happen," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters after the meeting. Democrats warned that Republicans are unlikely to confront Kennedy over disarray at the CDC and uncertainty over vaccine policies for diseases including COVID. "Republicans should put the health of the American people ahead of politics," Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren told reporters. "RFK will cost lives, and that will be on him and Donald Trump and the Republicans." When Kennedy appears, one Republican lawmaker in particular is expected to command attention. That is Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, who was key to his confirmation. Cassidy, a medical doctor, made it clear last week's departures from the CDC were on his mind. "He and the president have both committed to radical transparency, and I've learned in relationships -  however they are - there's always two sides to the story," the Louisiana Republican told Reuters. "There's some pretty significant allegations by the people who departed CDC. We need to hear from him, why those allegations aren't true. If they're true, it's disturbing." Cassidy did not specify the allegations. But officials who resigned told Reuters Kennedy appointees were making vaccine recommendations before reviewing data, among other allegations. Other Republicans seemed prepared to champion Kennedy, who has a long history of sowing doubt about vaccine safety. "I always supported what Secretary Kennedy has done in the firing of the CDC director, and I'm actually glad the people that resigned have resigned. I think that they've been part of the problem," said Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, also a physician. "President Trump chose Secretary Kennedy because he is a disruptor, and that's what we need to see in this country," he said. Independent analysts say Trump chose Miran for the Fed board as part of his effort to exert control over the Fed and lower interest rates, a policy he has endorsed. But Republicans who have spoken out in favor of Fed independence said Miran is likely to win confirmation. "I think he's going to make it very clear that he will be an independent voice," said Republican Senator Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Banking Committee. Rounds, of South Dakota, said Miran agreed in their meeting that the Fed board should also be independent, adding, "I think he's going to have a pretty good shot at actually being confirmed." (Reporting by David Morgan; editing by Scott Malone and Rod Nickel)

byAlpha World

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September 04, 2025

Balance of power between Trump and Senate Republicans in focus at high-profile hearings

Balance of power between Trump and Senate Republicans in focus at high-profile hearings By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The balance of...

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Hegseth shuts down NFL-style 'crown jewel' of Army's merit-based talent programs

Hegseth shuts down NFL-style 'crown jewel' of Army's merit-based talent programs

The Army announced the cancellation of its flagship officer selection program Sept. 2 after officials in Defense SecretaryPete Hegseth's office directed its review. The Army's Command Assessment Program, anNFL Combine-style program, known as CAP, that put prospective battalion and brigade commanders through a series of physical and mental tests, was cancelled "effective immediately," Army spokesperson Maj. Travis Shaw confirmed. Hegseth, in a Sept. 3 post on X, hailed the program's demise, saying, "Good riddance." CAP was a trial for officers seeking to command battalions and brigades, demanding roles that make or break an officer's career. The cancellation comes as part of a Pentagon review of officer personnel processes ranging from evaluations to promotions and command selection, among other career milestones. More:Military feared mistakes in LA deployment could have 'far-reaching' implications, records show Stuart Scheller, an ex-Marine lieutenant colonel who was convicted by a court-martial and forced to resign for his public criticism of leaders during the disastrous 2021 Afghanistan evacuation, isleading the review. Scheller did not respond to an email from USA TODAY. A senior defense official familiar with CAP but not authorized to speak publicly told USA TODAY that Hegseth's office ordered the cancellation without meaningful consultation with the Army. CAP, which was independent of the officer promotion system, began during PresidentDonald Trump's first administration and became a permanent program in early 2025 after a more than five-year pilot period. The program was modeled after how military special operations units assess and select their members and leaders. Participants would complete a physical fitness test, have their body fat measured, undergo a psychological evaluation, receive leadership evaluations from former peers and subordinates, and complete verbal and written communication assessments. An interview panel would anonymously judge the candidate's communication skills based on their performance in an interview setting. Officers deemed "ready" by the panel would then be ranked for command opportunities based on their CAP performance and a review of their personnel file. According toMichael Arnold, who helped lead CAP development during a nearly six-year term as deputy director of the Army Talent Management Task Force, the program was a "crown jewel" of the service's extensive talent management reforms. The program was designed to spot potentially overlooked talent while also preventing toxic and abusive leaders from assuming positions of power. More:Trump wants to bring back the Department of War: 'It had a stronger sound' "Political appointees have absolutely every right to re-look the (command selection) process," said Arnold, now a fellow at the conservative-leaning Hoover Institution think tank. "But to just cancel the best thing they've got going in terms of modernizing the way we ... select people? That seems a little short sighted." Before CAP, the Army's battalion and brigade command selection process consisted merely of a paper file review: a "board" of officers would examine and score an officer's personnel file before ranking them for assignment to command roles. There was no in-person verification. Kate Kuzminski, a military personnel expert at theCenter for a New American Security, told USA TODAY that the old paper-based selection process "started in 1975." Shaw, the Army spokesperson, said the service is returning to that "long-standing" process. Arnold argued that the move to cancel CAP doesn't make sense. "Going back to the old system is counter to what I think the administration is trying to do − select people based on their merits," he said. Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Hegseth kills make-or-break Army assessment program

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September 04, 2025

Hegseth shuts down NFL-style 'crown jewel' of Army's merit-based talent programs

Hegseth shuts down NFL-style 'crown jewel' of Army's merit-based talent programs The Army announced the cancellation of its flag...

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Ranking Deion Sanders’ worst clock-management blunders at Colorado

Ranking Deion Sanders' worst clock-management blunders at Colorado

BOULDER, CO —Coloradofootball coachDeion Sandersgot a little defensive this week when asked about the final 67 seconds of his team's27-20 loss against Georgia Tech on Aug. 29. It's a sore subject – clock management. "Let's just get the cat of the bag, all right?" Sanders said about it at a news conference Tuesday. Even the best coaches have struggled with clock managementin the NFLandin college football. In this case, Sanders had two timeouts leftbut didn't use themafter his team fell behind 27-20 with 1:07 left. If Sanders had used those timeouts, the Buffaloes (0-1) could have had more time to get in better position to tie or win. USA TODAY Sports consulted with a football clock-management expert to explain why and also analyze other clock-management issues under Sanders, whose teamhosts Delaware on Saturday. "It sounds like he needs to read my book and appoint a clock assistant who ensures that my best practice rules are always adhered to," said John T. Reed, who wrote a book entitledFootball Clock Management. Here are six times since 2023 that clock-management issues could have cost Sanders the game, ranked by severity. This onenearly ended in disasterfor the Buffaloes in their season opener in 2024. They had a 31-26 lead with 2:19 left when they got the ball at their own 25-yard line. All they needed to do is run out the clock to end the game. Running the ball and staying inbounds is a good way to do that. But quarterback Shedeur Sanders instead threw five passes on his first six snaps, including a deep throw on first down with 1:41 left, which fell incomplete to stop the clock at 1:34. The Buffs then punted the ball back to North Dakota State, who got one last chance to win the game with 31 seconds left at their own 8-yard line. "You run the ball on first down… game could be over right now," ESPN announcer Roddy Jones said. It wasn't. The Bison ran six plays for 88 yards in 31 seconds, including a 49-yard Hail Mary completion that ended four yards short of the end zone as time expired. Colorado won, 31-26. Afterward, Deion Sanders said his son Shedeur was trying to spread the love to his receivers when he should have killed the clock. "Every second you leave on the clock unnecessarily may be the one your opponent uses to beat you," says the book by Reed, a graduate of West Point and Harvard Business School. Down 27-20 with 1:07 left at its own 25-yard line, Colorado had achance to tie or win. On first down, quarterback Kaidon Salter threw a short pass to running back Micah Welch, who was tackled inbounds for a 2-yard loss with 1:02 left. Instead of using one of his two timeouts to stop the clock, Colorado allows the clock to tick down to 45 seconds left before the next play. "Do you call a timeout there?" Deion Sanders said Tuesday. "No, you're right there. You don't call a time out there. You gotta go. You gotta go. You're running tempo, right? " The next play – another pass – goes for 11 yards, with the receiver being tackled inbounds with about 39 seconds left and one yard short of the first down. Then on third-and-1 , the play doesn't start until 29 seconds are left. Salter got the first down on a run but took some extra time running toward the sideline out of bounds with 18 seconds left. "The clock stopped, OK?" Sanders said. "Scramble play, he ran out of bounds. The clock stopped, right. Now we throw the ball out of the end zone. Clock stopped. So when was the time to call timeout?" Reed said he "should have called timeout after the two inbounds plays" at the beginning of the drive. Nearly 30 seconds ticked off without it. Colorado ended up throwing a failed Hail Mary pass from the 50-yard line as time expired and lost the game. Sanders never used his two remaining timeouts. Colorado was down 7-3 andgot the ball at its own 4-yard line with 49 seconds left before halftime. If the Buffs had kept the ball on the ground and run out the clock, that would have been the score at halftime. Instead, quarterback Shedeur Sanders attempted two passes that fell incomplete on first and second down before handing the ball off for no gain on third down. This gave the Beavers time to score after they took a timeout with 36 seconds left. After Colorado punted the ball back to Oregon State, the Beavers returned the punt 28 yards and then got a 20-yard touchdown catch on the next play, helping them stake a 14-3 lead with 16 second left in the half. Colorado lost the game, 26-19. "That's on me," Deion Sanders told ESPN at halftime. Reed said Colorado "should have stuck to inbounds running plays, maybe even taking a knee." "On your own 4 with :49 left before half in a game where you had not been moving the ball, your win probability, while probably below .500 will be best preserved by conservative runs to get away from the end zone," Reed said. Colorado fell behind 34-7 in the second quarter but came back in the second half, only torun out of time in a 48-41 loss. Colorado had used its final second-half timeout with 6:44 left in the game. Then when they got the ball down by 48-34 with 5:58 left, they appeared to lack urgency and ran five running plays on a 10-play touchdown drive that took 4:15 off the clock. USC got the ball back with 1:43 left and ran three plays to end the game. Deion Sanders indicated afterward he burned a timeout earlier in the half because of personnel issues. "I'd rather take a timeout than risk six points not having 10 people on the field," he said. He added that "in those moments, the now is more important than the future." Utahwon this game, 23-17, after getting the ball with 7:25 left in the game and then running out the rest of the clock. That's half of a quarter with Utah just sitting on the ball and averaging 37 seconds per play on that last possession – 12 plays for 49 yards, including four first downs. The game ended as time expired and Utah facing third-and-14. With better clock management, Colorado might have gotten another chance. Obviously, it would have helped if the Buffs had stopped Utah on defense in the end to get the ball back. But Colorado also didn't help itself in the third quarter, when the Buffs burned two of its three second-half timeouts in the first 10 minutes of the half, including one after their first play of the second half. As a result, Colorado ended up with only one timeout at the end, which it used with 1:41 left. Sanders said he burned that early timeout to avoid a 5-yard penalty related to player substitution. "Burning a timeout to avoid a 5-yard penalty is a clock management mistake," Reed said. That's because he said a timeout can enable a team to start as many as seven plays that each themselves can stop the clock, with each play taking about six seconds. "I hate burning time outs in odd-numbered quarters and raise hell about them," Reed said. ""They are best used late in the half." The Buffs led 29-0 at halftime and then watched as Stanford scored on every single possession in the second halfto force overtime before winning, 46-43. That's poor defense and poor offense. But guess how many timeouts the Buffs used to stop the bleeding in the second half? Zero. All they needed was one stop. A strategic timeout or three could have helped kill Stanford's momentum. Colorado's next game against Delaware kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on Fox. Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer@Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Deion Sanders' clock management at Colorado scrutinized

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September 04, 2025

Ranking Deion Sanders’ worst clock-management blunders at Colorado

Ranking Deion Sanders' worst clock-management blunders at Colorado BOULDER, CO —Coloradofootball coachDeion Sandersgot a little defensiv...

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After deadly bus crash, Brazilian football team rebuilding and drawing inspiration from NFL

After deadly bus crash, Brazilian football team rebuilding and drawing inspiration from NFL

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Seconds after Elisa Richter and 5-year-old daughter Helena arrived at the football field in the back of an abandoned racing track in southern Brazil, a flock of emotional fans of the Coritiba Crocodiles team came to hug them. That Saturday afternoon home game was one more step toward rebuilding their team and their lives after months of toil and tears. Richter is the widow of Daniel Santos, who died at age 44 as the Crocodiles' captain after the team's bus crashed last September during a trip to play in Rio de Janeiro. Players Lucas Barros, 20, and Lucas Padilha, 38, also were killed. Several others spent months recovering from their injuries, which forced the team out of Brazil's national and state football competitions in 2024. The Crocodiles, who play American-style tackle football, were founded in 2003 and are three-time Brazilian champions in a competition that today involves teams from the Amazon to the country's impoverished Northeast region. The team has just won its 12th Parana state title. The recent Saturday afternoon in the city of Curitiba that brought Richter and Crocodiles fans together was one of the first games since the team was reassembled in January. All players are amateurs, hardcore football fans and ambassadors pushing for the sport's growth in Brazil — a market that has drawn major interest from the NFL. "This is like family to us. We feel Daniel's presence here. And the team coming back is a wonderful thing," said Richter, who learned football from her husband, a Washington Commanders fan who was also keen on the Green Bay Packers. "They love to do this, they don't play for money. And they are playing for them three. There's nowhere else I could be." Richter and Santos met in Curitiba, a city 860 kilometers (530 miles) south of Rio, while the two other players who died had families in other states of Brazil. The name Coritiba Crocodiles comes in part from a local soccer team, Coritiba Foot Ball Club. The team's return coincides with the second NFL game in Brazil's history, which will take place at the Neo Quimica Arena in São Paulo on Friday when the Los Angeles Chargers face theKansas City Chiefs. Last year, thePhiladelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packersat the same stadium. Richter was there with her husband, who wept after kickoff. "It will be different now, but that's another place to feel his presence. So I am excited," she said. Reorganizing and recovering Since the beginning of the year, the NFL has been shooting a documentary about the recovering Crocodiles, and the moves have been dramatic since the crash. Veteran Crocodiles players who wanted to retire postponed their decision after the Sept. 21 accident. Coach Johnny Mitchell Jr., a former tight end who played with the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, returned to the team, where he was successful years prior. Members of youth teams quickly rose to the senior level, and several players changed positions. A large flag with drawings representing the three fallen men was added to the decorations at Croco Stadium weeks ago, reminding players and coaching staff of what they play for. That includes the team's vice president, Delmer Zoschke, one of many not expected to play this year so he could spend more time with his family and focus on his career as a project manager. "We understood what happened, we are feeding on that emotion, working with friends, speaking to psychologists and putting it all out in the sport. I am glad this is a contact sport so we can let everything out," Zoschke said after a 21-0 victory against local rivals Brown Spiders. "It is an honor to continue doing this to honor their memory as this sport grows so much." Since their return, the Crocodiles have won their four matches in the Brazilian league and secured their place in the semifinals. They also won six to secure the state league title. Last year, they did not play the last two games of the regular season, which took them out of the playoffs. As some of the players quit the team, others continue to play despite lingering injuries. Many broke bones, suffered lacerations and endured suffering before rescuers arrived at the bus after the crash on a mountain road. A police investigation has yet to be completed, but players celebrate the driver as a hero for guiding the bus away from a cliff after it lost its brakes. Many members of the Crocodiles traveling that day said they quickly fastened their seatbelts as the vehicle slid. Their bus flipped, which crushed the three who died. Players say the alternative would have been a fall into a forested abyss. "I was one of the players who suffered most, it took a long time to return to training. Last week, I removed more shattered glass from my face," said 33-year-old Cleverson Kvas. "But I had to come back, football is great for my mental health. We were still meeting at barbecues, parties, but there was a void inside of me. I needed the sport." Kvas is taking his parents to the Chiefs-Chargers game in São Paulo as a way to celebrate his own life one year after the tragedy. Several other Crocodiles players will also attend. "I had trouble sleeping, I often cried about all that happened, the three friends I lost, the fear of not seeing my son grow. I was so close to losing them. Now I am 100% doing whatever I am doing," said Kvas, a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "This time I will go to São Paulo not as a tourist, but feeling I am a part of this. It is great to know the NFL sees us." NFL push Ado Rodrigues, 39, president of the Crocodiles, added that "players who were not injured were in poor mental state after the accident." "We didn't really know when to return, it was an enigma for us. But the football community in Brazil was really supportive. They felt our grief, put themselves in our place," said Rodrigues, who is also a player. "Now we have an extra push with this game. We can't underestimate the good that having this game here will do for us, for people who really needed to reignite their love for the game." Mitchell, who has 35 years of experience in sports and titles earned with the Crocodiles, agrees the team's recovery can get a push from Friday's NFL game. "They have had a lot of psychological issues. Players wanting to quit, people really messed up by the accident," said Mitchell. "I've been on when guys got paralyzed on the field during high school. I was there whenDennis Byrdwas paralyzed (playing for the Jets in Nov. 1992). It is part of life." "You got to point to the sky, show the sun, say it is a beautiful day we have to be grateful for. And this game in Brazil once again can give us some more hope," Mitchell added. ___ AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

byAlpha World

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September 04, 2025

After deadly bus crash, Brazilian football team rebuilding and drawing inspiration from NFL

After deadly bus crash, Brazilian football team rebuilding and drawing inspiration from NFL CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Seconds after Elisa Rich...

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Former GOP Sen. John E. Sununu weighs Senate comeback bid in New Hampshire

Former GOP Sen. John E. Sununu weighs Senate comeback bid in New Hampshire

Former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu is seriously exploring a bid to return to the Senate in his home state of New Hampshire, multiple sources familiar with his plans tell CBS News. The former senator, part of the influential Sununu political dynasty, has been viewed as a top recruit for Republicans ahead of next year's midterm elections. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen isnot running for reelectionin 2026, leaving the field wide open. A source close to the White House confirmed to CBS News that senior officials have given their blessing to a potential Sununu campaign. The news was first reported byNOTUS. New Hampshire has been a favorable state for Republicans running for governor in recent years, but is a more difficult challenge in Senate contests. No Republican has won a Senate race in the state since 2010. Recruiting viable challengers has proven to be a persistent concern on the Republican side, evidenced in part by the fact that John E. Sununu's younger brother — former GOP Gov. Chris Sununu — has been unwilling to run for federal office. Speaking to New Hampshire'sWMURon Tuesday, John E. Sununu said he will "seriously consider a run" and expects to make a decision by the end of next month. "Over the past month, people from across New Hampshire have encouraged me to run for Senate. They feel it's a really important time for the state — that we need someone to represent us with our values, someone not bound to party lines, who's willing to take risks and get things done," Sununu said. "I certainly agree, and I'm going to seriously consider a run. Over the next month, I'll travel across the state, talk to people, listen, and make sure we can build a strong team." Asked by WMUR whether he would seek an endorsement from President Trump, Sununu said he hopes to appeal broadly. "I would want to win support, if I were to run, across the entire spectrum — and obviously that includes the president," Sununu said. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. If I decide to run, I imagine there will be primaries on both sides. But I'm excited about reaching out across the state, talking to people, and making the right decision for New Hampshire." If Sununu decides to run, he will need to face off in a GOP primary against Scott Brown, whobriefly represented Massachusettsin the Senate before moving to New Hampshire in 2013. State Sen. Dan Innis isalso runningin next year's GOP Senate race. On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas is running to replace Shaheen. Sununu served in the Senate for one term in the 2000s, before losing to then-former Gov. Shaheen in the 2008 cycle by around six percentage points in a rematch of their 2002 Senate contest. His family has a long history in New Hampshire GOP politics. His father, John H. Sununu,served as governorin the 1980s, before working as former President George H.W. Bush's chief of staff. Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Dream: Building AI Cyber Defense for Nations

byAlpha World

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September 04, 2025

Former GOP Sen. John E. Sununu weighs Senate comeback bid in New Hampshire

Former GOP Sen. John E. Sununu weighs Senate comeback bid in New Hampshire Former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu is seriously exploring a bi...

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