OnPolitics: DHS declines to investigate mounted Border Patrol agents

November 17, 2021
Hawaii

Happy Tuesday, OnPolitics readers.

A tale of two parties: Democrats and Republicans are dealing with issues related to high-profile women lawmakers in very stark ways this week.

The White House rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris Monday after news media reports of discord between her office and that of President Joe Biden. “The president relies on the vice president for her advice, for her counsel,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said when asked if Biden has confidence in Harris’ leadership, adding that Harris is tackling “challenging” issues and “not looking for a cushy role” as vice president.

Meanwhile, out West: The Republican Party of Wyoming will no longer consider their sole U.S. House lawmaker, Rep. Liz Cheney, as a member of the GOP. It’s the latest reprimand for Cheney, who has been a consistent critic of former President Donald Trump.

She was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in January following the insurrection attempt on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 by a mob of his supporters. This isn’t the first time Cheney has been punished. She was also ousted from House Republican leadership as the chair of the House GOP conference in May for her criticism of Trump.

Cheney’s press secretary, Jeremy Adler, told USA TODAY in a statement that it is “laughable to suggest Liz is anything but a committed conservative Republican.”

It’s Amy and Mabinty, with the news of the day.

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DHS said Tuesday.

While the DHS statement, characterized as an investigative “update,” did not elaborate on the inspector general’s decision, a person familiar with the matter said an inquiry would have been launched if the conduct involved allegations of possible criminal activity.

to fight climate change through reforestation and conservation.

Support for Roe v. Wade: Nearly two-thirds of Americans say the Supreme Court should uphold its decision in the historic Roe v. Wade case that ruled abortion access was a constitutional right, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

What’s in it for the Republicans? Despite pressure to vote against Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, 13 House Republicans pointed to projects in their districts or the money their states would receive for upgrading roads and railways, when asked by USA TODAY why they voted for the bill.

A call to China: Biden raised human rights concerns during a Monday evening virtual summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and pushed for “common-sense guard rails” so fierce competition between the two world powers does not lead to conflict.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds improperly used COVID funds, audit finds

A state audit report on government spending released Monday accused Reynolds of using nearly $450,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds to pay salaries for 21 staff members for three months last year and concealing the spending by passing it through the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Check out USA TODAY’s first interview with the cast. — Amy and Mabinty

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