Politics & Government

Robert Santos, President Biden's nominee for director of the U.S. Census Bureau, testified before the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday. If confirmed, Santos, who is Latinx, would become the first person of color to

Biden's Historic Pick For Census Director Says Bureau Needs To Build Public Trust

3:59pm July 15, 2021

by Hansi Lo Wang

Robert Santos, one of the country's leading statisticians, could become the first person of color to lead the U.S. Census Bureau as a Senate-confirmed director.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel with then-President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron at the start of the G-20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany, in July 2017.

Politics & Government

Merkel's Visit With Biden Will Cap Off Many Ups And Downs With U.S. Presidents

2:11pm July 15, 2021

by Scott Detrow

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been a steady presence on the global stage since 2005. The four U.S. presidents she's worked with, however, have varied widely in their styles and priorities.

The big meatpacker JBS faced a ransomware attack in early June. JBS paid a ransom of $11 million to cyberattackers.

The White House Announces Additional Steps To Combat Ransomware

1:14pm July 15, 2021

by Elena Moore

The Biden administration has launched a new ransomware task force and stopransomware.gov, a website of preventive resources.

Harris County, Texas, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez during a 2017 news conference in Crosby, Texas. President Biden has nominated Gonzalez to head U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of an attempt to overhaul the agency.

Biden's Pick To Lead ICE Would Take Over An Agency In Turmoil

11:43am July 15, 2021

by Joel Rose

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez runs one of the nation's biggest jails in Houston. If confirmed by the Senate, he'll be tasked with overhauling ICE, an agency he's criticized for its aggressive tactics.

Politics & Government

Some Democratic Senators Express Concern About The Budget Resolution

8:16am July 15, 2021

by Franco Ordoñez

Democrats have essentially no wiggle room if they want to pass their newly unveiled $3.5 trillion budget plan along party lines. And already some Democrats are voicing concerns.

News Brief: Budget Proposal, FBI's Nassar Probe Criticized, Europe's Climate Plan

6:36am July 15, 2021

Democratic leaders aim to sell their $3.5 trillion budget plan. DOJ watchdog says the FBI failed to properly respond to gymnasts' sex abuse allegations. The EU has a plan to tackle climate change.

Queue Listen Now

Britney Spears, seen here at an awards event in April 2018, has renewed the debate over conservatorships, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressing support for the pop star.

From Ted Cruz To Elizabeth Warren, There's A Bipartisan Push To #FreeBritney

7:57pm July 14, 2021

by Barbara Sprunt

Congressional lawmakers of all political stripes have shared their support for the pop star, who continues a legal fight against her 13-year conservatorship.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, faces reporters after a lunch Wednesday with President Biden and Senate Democrats at the U.S. Capitol.

Politics & Government

Democrats' Budget Deal Would Invest In The Child Tax Credit, Health Care And Climate

6:31pm July 14, 2021

by Dana Farrington

Here's what we know about the $3.5 trillion resolution put forth by the Senate Budget Committee — and what Democrats have said about how to pay for it.

Sen. Cory Booker On The Expanded Child Tax Credit

4:40pm July 14, 2021

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat, about his support of the expanded child tax credit, which is part of the stimulus package Democrats passed in March.

Biden Met With Democratic Senators, Who Just Reached $3.5 Trillion Budget Agreement

4:28pm July 14, 2021

by Tamara Keith

President Biden went to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to meet with Democratic Senators, one day after they reached a $3.5 trillion budget agreement to enact his economic agenda beyond infrastructure.