John Thune takes charge in Senate, ushering in new leadership era
Thune, R-S.D., has ascended to the Senate majority leader in the new Congress. Again he is facing an early challenge and a major threat to his political standing. Read more
Politics
Get the latest news coverage of politics including Honolulu city and county government, Hawaii legislative issues, U.S. Congress and the White House.
Trump complains that flags will be half-staff during inauguration
President Joe Biden ordered flags lowered to half-staff for 30 days from the day of Carter’s death on Dec. 29, as is custom when a U.S. president dies. Read more
Biden blocks takeover of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel
Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel had warned that thousands of jobs would be at risk without the deal. Read more
Mike Johnson elected House speaker after GOP unites
Johnson appeared to initially fall short of the majority he would need to retain his job in an hour-long roll-call vote, but two Republican opponents switched their votes to support him after more than half an hour of negotiations. Read more
Musk’s influence raises questions on U.S. probes of his empire
The billionaire has long railed against government oversight, portraying himself as a victim of bureaucratic zealots stifling his companies’ potentially life-saving innovations. Read more
Mayor Blangiardi sworn in for second term
The City and County of Honolulu’s 15th mayor formally started his second term Thursday. Read more
Gov. Green to lobby in D.C. against RFK Jr. nomination
The governor intends to provide “critical insight” into the implications of Kennedy’s nomination by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as Health and Human Services secretary, according to Green’s office. Read more
Court blocks Biden effort to restore net neutrality rules
A three-judge panel of the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the FCC lacked authority to reinstate the rules initially implemented in 2015 by the agency under Democratic former President Barack Obama, but then repealed by the commission in 2017 under Republican former President Donald Trump. Read more
House Speaker Mike Johnson wages precarious bid for reelection
Johnson received the endorsement of President-elect Donald Trump for another term Monday, and no other Republican has thrown a hat into the ring to challenge him. Read more
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Trump falsely suggests New Orleans suspect was an immigrant
“When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true,” Trump said on his website, Truth Social. Read more
Honolulu City Council OKs settlement in Portlock flooding lawsuit
A December 2021 flood that allegedly caused extensive damage to an East Oahu home later resulted in a lawsuit against the City and County of Honolulu. Read more
Donald Trump says he plans to attend Jimmy Carter’s funeral
Trump declined to say whether he had spoken to the family of Carter, who died Sunday at age 100. Read more
Inauguration ceremonies set for Honolulu Mayor Blangiardi, City Council
Blangiardi returns to the city’s top elective office following an overwhelming victory in which he took over 78% of the vote in the Aug. 10 primary election. Read more
Town hall meetings slated on proposed sewer fee hikes
A city-initiated measure that calls for a more than 124% increase to sewer fees for Honolulu’s average single-family residential customer over a 10-year period will be part of upcoming city-hosted town hall meetings in January. Read more
U.S. sanctions Iran, Russia for election interference
The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement the entities aimed to “stoke socio-political tensions and influence the U.S. electorate during the 2024 U.S. election.” Read more
Trump gives Speaker Johnson ‘complete and total endorsement’
The endorsement from Trump is essential to Johnson’s hopes of maintaining the leadership position he assumed in October 2023. Read more
Trump loses appeal of E. Jean Carroll $5 million verdict
A unanimous three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected Trump’s argument that the trial judge made mistakes in letting jurors hear evidence about the Republican’s alleged past sexual misconduct, making the trial and verdict unfair. Read more
Waikiki transit-priority lane finishes first phase, city says
A mauka-side roadway lane dedicated to public and private buses, large trucks and bicycles on Waikiki’s busy Kuhio Avenue has completed its first phase of installation, city officials say. Read more
Former President Jimmy Carter dies at 100
Carter lived longer after his term in office than any other U.S. president. Along the way, he earned a reputation as a better former president than he was a president — a status he readily acknowledged. Read more
Honolulu rail agency requests eminent domain on 7 properties
Sections of the properties desired by HART range in size from about 100 square feet to over 6,600 square feet. Read more
Trump sides with Musk in visa debate with other MAGA Republicans
Trump’s remarks followed a series of social media posts from Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who vowed late Friday to go to “war” to defend the visa program for foreign tech workers. Read more
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