A year ago: President Obama greets participants after a Land Titling event at the Plaza de San Pedro, Cartagena, Colombia, April 15, 2025 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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Today:
12:30 Jay Carney briefs the press
2:05: The President honors the BCS National Champion University of Alabama Crimson Tide
4:30: Participates in an Ambassador Credentialing Ceremony (Closed Press)
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Greg Sargent: Over the weekend, Senator Susan Collins revealed that she will vote Yes on the expanded background check compromise reached by Senators Pat Toomey and Joe Manchin. This is good news, but the case of Collins perfectly captures why it is almost impossible to get anything done in today’s Washington. With the possible exception of immigration, some on the right simply won’t allow moderate Republicans to embrace anything that constitutes even the narrowest of compromises with Obama and Democrats.
It turns out Collins has embraced expanded background checks in spite of the fact that she’s facing a relentless assault from the right back in her home state. As it happens, the “gun rights” group targeting her, which is well to the right of the NRA, has enjoyed fundraising help from none other than Collins’ Senate colleague Rand Paul.
More here
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The Hill: A bipartisan bill on background checks is inching closer to the necessary 60 votes for passage, but it still has a long way to go.
The upcoming vote on a new proposal crafted by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is expected to go down to the wire….
There are now four Republicans who have publicly committed to supporting the amendment: Sens. Toomey, Mark Kirk (Ill.), Susan Collins (Maine) and John McCain (Ariz.).
…. To pass Manchin-Toomey, at least five Republicans must back it. Fifty-five senators caucus with the Democrats, but not all are sure bets to embrace the background check legislation.
More here
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