Today we debut a new weekly feature on OregonLive, the Washington Watch, a roundup of political news headlines. This week:
- President Donald Trump’s travel ban faced its toughest test yet Tuesday as a panel of appeals court judges hammered away at the administration’s claim that the ban was motivated by terrorism fears while also directing pointed questions to an attorney challenging the executive order on grounds that it unconstitutionally targeted Muslims. On Thursday, a federal appeals court refused to reinstate the ban.
- The president defended his power to put limits on who can enter the U.S., saying it shouldn’t be challenged in the courts even as a three-judge panel weighs whether to reinstate restrictions on refugees and travelers from seven predominately Muslim nations.
- The Senate on Tuesday confirmed school choice advocate Betsy DeVos as Education secretary by the narrowest of margins, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a 50-50 tie.
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., led a party-line rebuke Thursday night of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., for her speech opposing attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions, striking down her words for impugning the Alabama senator’s character. Hours later, Sen. Jeff Merkley picked it up and read the document uninterrupted.
- The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Sen. Jeff Sessions to be attorney general in the Trump administration despite fierce Democratic opposition to the Alabama Republican over his record on civil rights and immigration.
- A House conservative leader called Monday for votes “as soon as possible” on legislation voiding and replacing the health care law, even as President Donald Trump’s latest remarks conceded that the effort could well stretch into next year.
- Angry at the civilian casualties incurred last month in the first commando raid authorized by President Trump, Yemen has withdrawn permission for the United States to run Special Operations ground missions against suspected terrorist groups in the country, according to American officials.
- Republicans pushed President Trump’s pick for health secretary toward Senate confirmation on Thursday, overpowering Democrats who complained that the GOP drive to erase and replace former President Obama’s health care law will end up taking away peoples’ coverage.
- Republicans won Senate confirmation of President Donald Trump’s choice for health secretary early Friday in the testy chamber’s fourth consecutive brawl over Cabinet picks.
— The Oregonian/OregonLive
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