Author

Ashley Murray

Ashley Murray

Ashley Murray covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include domestic policy and appropriations.

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who died on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 25, 2012 in Washington, D.C. O’Connor spoke to the necessity for civics education in maintaining an independent judiciary. The former associate justice also expressed doubt about the process in some states of electing judges, and about the validity of asking Supreme Court nominees how they would vote in the future. (Photo by T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images)

Sandra Day O’Connor, who made history as the first woman on the Supreme Court, dies at 93

By: - December 1, 2023

WASHINGTON — The first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court is dead at 93. Sandra Day O’Connor, a groundbreaking justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, died Friday in Phoenix, Arizona of complications related to advanced dementia, probably Alzheimer’s, and a respiratory illness, according to an announcement from the court. President Ronald Reagan nominated […]

Trucks carrying aid await an opportunity to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing on November 22, 2023 in Arish, Egypt. Early Wednesday morning, Israel and Hamas announced a four-day truce that would pause fighting in the war that’s raged since Oct. 7. Media reports indicate that, as part of the deal, 200 aid trucks, four fuel tankers, and four trucks carrying gas, will be able to enter Gaza via Egypt’s Rafah crossing on each of the four days. (Photo by Ali Moustafa/Getty Images)

Israel and Hamas agree to temporary cease-fire, hostage release deal

By: - November 22, 2023

WASHINGTON — Israel and Hamas have reached a deal for a short-term humanitarian ceasefire that will allow the release of some hostages and increase humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, U.S. officials said late Tuesday. President Joe Biden praised the agreement to release 50 of the approximately 240 hostages taken by Hamas during the […]

U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., speaks on the U.S. Senate floor on Thursday, Nov. 16, asking to take up and confirm two military nominees blocked by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who is seated at left. (Screenshot from C-SPAN 2)

Wee hours U.S. Senate drama: GOP colleagues on the floor battle Tuberville blockade

By: - November 17, 2023

WASHINGTON — After a marathon day and late-night vote to avert a Thanksgiving government shutdown, four U.S. Senate Republicans held the floor until the wee hours Thursday, urging their Alabama colleague to lift his months-long objections to hundreds of U.S. military nominations. Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Todd Young of Indiana, Joni Ernst of Iowa […]

The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (Jim Small | Arizona Mirror)

U.S. Supreme Court unveils new ethics code, but critics say it doesn’t go far enough

By: - November 13, 2023

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court released a new ethics code Monday, just days before the Democrat-led U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary again attempts to subpoena two high-profile GOP donors following revelations that justices accepted undisclosed luxury trips and engaged in other potential conflicts of interest. Despite the headlines and the committee’s springtime request […]

Biden administration warns of dangers of turning down Ukraine aid as GOP voices doubts

By: - November 9, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. senators from both parties and administration officials sounded the alarm Wednesday on the path forward for Ukraine amid dwindling U.S. humanitarian, economic development and security assistance and as Congress risks a government shutdown in less than 10 days. During a hearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Department of State and […]

Military Veterans

VA reports major uptick in veterans’ care after passage of toxic exposure law

By: - November 7, 2023

Veterans experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts should dial 988 or chat at https://988lifeline.org/. WASHINGTON — Veterans’ care in the United States set all-time records in fiscal year 2023, “shattering” the agency’s performance in previous years, in large part because of an expansion of benefits under the Biden administration, U.S. Secretary of Veterans […]

Biden launches ‘Investing in Rural America’ push with Cabinet officials

By: - November 1, 2023

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and administration officials are kicking off an “Investing in Rural America” event series, starting with a visit to a Minnesota farm Wednesday to announce nearly $5 billion for conservation, economic development and “climate smart” agriculture. Biden, who is running for reelection in 2024, has been highlighting what the administration calls […]

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, speaks during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Sept. 28, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Tuberville to seek floor vote on No. 2 Marine leader after commandant hospitalized

By: - October 31, 2023

WASHINGTON — Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who for months has been blocking hundreds of military promotions in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy, plans to call a floor vote on the nominee for second-in-command of the U.S. Marines Corps after its top leader Gen. Eric M. Smith suffered a health emergency Sunday. Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, […]

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, has been refusing to join other senators in the routine promotion of large groups of military nominees through a quick unanimous consent process. (Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty Images)

Tuberville blockade on military nominees could be evaded by tweak in U.S. Senate rules

By: - October 27, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democrats are mulling a strategy to bypass Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s months-long hold on hundreds of military promotions in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy that was authorized in the aftermath of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The Alabama Republican has been refusing to join other senators in the routine action […]

U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., left, shakes hands with Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., as the House of Representatives holds an election for a new speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 25, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Mike Johnson of Louisiana elected speaker of the U.S. House after three weeks of stalemate

By: and - October 25, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Wednesday voted for Louisiana’s Mike Johnson as speaker in a chamber that has been frozen for more than three weeks after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted. In a 220-209 party-line vote, all Republicans present backed Johnson. Wisconsin Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden did not vote as he was […]

U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., leaves a House Republican conference meeting in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Oct. 24, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Mike Johnson of Louisiana picked as newest GOP nominee for U.S. House speaker

By: and - October 24, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans late Tuesday voted to tap Louisiana’s Mike Johnson as speaker after the GOP nominee from earlier in the day was tanked. Johnson, 51, is the fourth Republican nominee attempting to break the deadlock in the lower chamber that has been leaderless and frozen for three weeks. He is the second […]

U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., right, and Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., arrive to a House GOP candidates forum where congressmen who are running for speaker of the House presented their platforms in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Oct. 24, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Emmer nominated for U.S. House speaker but drops out after Trump opposition

By: , and - October 24, 2023

This report has been updated. WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans Tuesday voted to tap Minnesota’s Tom Emmer as speaker following five rounds of ballots — but Emmer quit the race just four hours later, after he was attacked by the GOP’s most powerful figure, former President Donald Trump. After beating six candidates, Emmer, the No. […]