Hawaii and U.S. Politics | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii County Council urges changes to midwives law

None — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Big Island midwives and the Hawaii County Council are urging the state to remove a requirement that midwives must have a license in order to practice.

Hawaii Ethics Commission plans penalty system akin to traffic fines

Dan Nakaso — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Hawaii Ethics Commission plans to create a uniform fine schedule — similar to standardized traffic fines — and voted unanimously Wednesday to have a bill introduced in the next legislative session that would speed up the issuance of fines, which now takes up to six months.

Analysis: Trump’s spy pick Gabbard faces tricky climb for Senate backing

Tribune News Service — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to oversee U.S. intelligence, toured Capitol Hill last week looking to reassure some Republican senators who have withheld their support so far and appeal to any Democrats who might be persuaded to back her.

City reports criteria for Honolulu Ocean Safety commissioners

Leila Fujimori — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The city this week laid out the duties and eligibility requirements for members of the public who want to serve on the newly created Ocean Safety Commission.

Democrat accuses GOP of protecting Musk’s Chinese investments

Reuters — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 02:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> The top Democrat on the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee said today that Republicans in Congress were protecting Elon Musk’s Chinese investments by scrapping provisions restricting U.S. investments.

Senate passes funding bill, averts government shutdown

Reuters — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday in a down-to-the wire burst of activity that will avert a destabilizing government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

Hawaii jobless claims, tourism jumped in last federal closure

Dan Nakaso — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Unemployment claims jumped in Hawaii, but so did visitor arrivals, the last time the federal government struggled through a partial shutdown six years ago through the holidays.

Deportations jumped in fiscal 2024, outpacing Trump years

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 23:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> U.S. deportations of immigrants rose in the past year to the highest level since 2014, according to a U.S. government report released today, part of a broader push by outgoing President Joe Biden to reduce illegal immigration.

Trump-backed spending deal fails in House, shutdown approaches

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:30:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> A spending bill backed by Donald Trump failed in the U.S. House of Representatives today as dozens of Republicans defied the president-elect, leaving Congress with no clear plan to avert a fast-approaching government shutdown that could disrupt Christmas travel.

Georgia court disqualifies Fani Willis in Trump election case

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:30:00 +0000

A Georgia appeals court ruled today that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must be disqualified from prosecuting President-elect Donald Trump and several of his allies for attempting to interfere in the 2020 election in the U.S. state.

Defense bill includes funding for Hawaii facilities, enviromental cleanup

Kevin Knodell — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to pass the latest iteration of the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual military spending bill that sets the Pentagon’s priorities. It included pay raises for troops and a major emphasis on military infrastructure in the Pacific amid simmering tensions with China and North Korea.

Trump criticizes spending deal, pushing Congress toward shutdown

New York Times — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:30:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> President-elect Donald Trump today condemned a stopgap spending bill Republicans and Democrats agreed on this week to avert a shutdown, putting the deal on life support days before a Saturday morning deadline to fund the government.

House ethics panel voted secretly to release Gaetz report

New York Times — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> The House Ethics Committee secretly voted this month to release an investigative report into the conduct of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

Musk: Congress should not vote to extend funding

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> Elon Musk, tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to prune the federal government, today pressured Republicans in Congress to reject a stopgap spending bill, which would trigger a partial government shutdown.

Trump pushes for FBI probe of Liz Cheney over Jan. 6 panel

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 19:05:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> President-elect Donald Trump today backed a call for the FBI to investigate fellow Republican former congresswoman Liz Cheney over her role in leading Congress’s probe of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.

Some GOP senators reluctant on Gabbard for spy chief, sources say

None — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 18:07:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> Eight Republican senators are unsure about supporting former Hawaii Democratic member of Congress Tulsi Gabbard to become America’s top spy, according to a Trump transition source and a second source with knowledge of the issue, increasing doubts about whether her nomination will secure Senate confirmation.

Sen. Warren: Trump needs to hold Musk to ethics standards

Reuters — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 20:19:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has asked Donald Trump’s transition team to hold Elon Musk to the same ethics standards as other transition members, putting oversight of the unusually powerful presidential adviser in the spotlight. The billionaire CEO of Tesla and rocket company SpaceX, as well as the owner of social media platform X, has had an increasingly close relationship with Republican Trump since he endorsed him in July. Musk spent over a quarter billion dollars to help elect Trump, and also owns interests in cryptocurrency and other ventures.

Gabbard shows ‘momentum’ on Capitol Hill

None — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Despite mostly partisan concern over an apparent closeness to ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad and what critics say is a tendency to repeat Kremlin propaganda, it seems former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has found a warm reception on Capitol Hill.

Trump covers autism, border and drones in first post-election news conference

New York Times — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:30:00 +0000

In his first wide-ranging news conference since the election, President-elect Donald Trump cited debunked data linking vaccines and autism, vowed to slash taxes and resume construction of his border wall, and accused the Biden administration of hiding the truth about recent drone sightings.

Trump, SoftBank CEO announce $100 billion U.S. investment

Reuters — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:30:00 +0000

PALM BEACH, Florida >> President-elect Donald Trump, with SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son at his side, announced today that SoftBank would invest $100 billion in the U.S. over the next four years in what would be a boost to the U.S. economy.

Trump team eyes reversal of Biden EV, emissions policies

Reuters — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:30:00 +0000

Incoming President Donald Trump’s transition team is recommending sweeping changes to cut off support for electric vehicles and charging stations and to strengthen measures blocking cars, components and battery materials from China, according to a document seen by Reuters.

OHA Chair Kahele uses relationships to aid Native Hawaiians

Dan Nakaso — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Kai Kahele — a former state senator, U.S. representative and unsuccessful candidate for governor in 2022 — was elected chair of the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs barely an hour after he was sworn in for his freshman term as an OHA trustee.

Trump and Netanyahu discuss Gaza hostages and Syria

Reuters — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 21:46:00 +0000

JERUSALEM/WEST PALM BEACH, Florida >> Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump about developments in Syria and a recent push to secure the release of Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, he said on Sunday.

City Council urges study of moving paramedics to HFD

Ian Bauer — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Kea Smith, a 14-year paramedic station supervisor with the City and County of Honolulu, said his first- responder colleagues recently completed a survey.

ABC to pay $15M to Trump library to settle lawsuit

Reuters — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 23:15:00 +0000

ABC News has agreed to give $15 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s presidential library to settle a lawsuit over comments that anchor George Stephanopoulos made on air involving the civil case brought against Trump by writer E. Jean Carroll, a court document filed on Saturday showed.

Trump calls for end to daylight saving time

Reuters — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:40:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> President-elect Donald Trump said today the Republican Party “will use its best efforts” to end daylight saving time, which he called “inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation.”

Nancy Pelosi injured in Europe, hospitalized for treatment

Reuters — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:50:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi suffered an injury on a trip to Luxembourg and has been admitted to a hospital for evaluation, her office said in a statement today.

Poll: Americans sour on tariffs tied to rising inflation

Reuters — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:05:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> Americans don’t think import tariffs are a good idea if they lead to higher prices and are skeptical they would help U.S. workers, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found, underscoring the political risks to President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to impose heavy fees on goods from China, Mexico and other nations.

Trump team seeks to scrap crash reporting rule Tesla opposes

Reuters — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:00:00 +0000

The Trump transition team wants the incoming administration to drop a car-crash reporting requirement opposed by Elon Musk’s Tesla, according to a document seen by Reuters, a move that could cripple the government’s ability to investigate and regulate the safety of vehicles with automated-driving systems.

Honolulu City Council approves seizure of Queen Theater

Ian Bauer — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:06:00 +0000

The Queen Theater, once an iconic, 1930s-era landmark in the heart of Kaimuki that over the decades would attract illicit and illegal activities, public complaints and vagrants, is now on track to be a city-owned property.

Trump to discuss ending childhood vaccination programs with RFK Jr.

Reuters — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:30:00 +0000

President-elect Donald Trump in an interview published today said he will be talking to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services, about ending childhood vaccination programs.

Trump on Iran war prospects: ‘Anything can happen’

Reuters — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 19:20:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> President-elect Donald Trump said “anything can happen” when asked about the chances of going to war with Iran during his next term in an interview with Time, coinciding with his being named the magazine’s Person of the Year.

Biden pardons 39 people, commutes sentences of 1,500 others

Reuters — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Outgoing President Joe Biden said today he was pardoning 39 people convicted of non-violent crimes and commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 others who were serving long prison terms.

Time magazine names President-elect Trump ‘Person of the Year’

Reuters — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:05:00 +0000

NEW YORK >> Time magazine named President-elect Donald Trump its “Person of the Year” today, citing his deep impact on American politics and the country’s role in the world.

Honolulu City Council postpones empty-homes tax bill

Ian Bauer — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

An empty-homes tax meant to penalize real-property owners who leave their Oahu residences vacant for extended periods of time was formally deferred Wednesday evening by the Honolulu City Council.

FBI Director Chris Wray to resign amid Trump pressure

Reuters — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:15:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> FBI Director Chris Wray will step down from his post early next year, the bureau said today, after Republican President-elect Donald Trump signaled his intent to fire the veteran official and replace him with firebrand Kash Patel.

Site near Wahiawa is picked for landfill

Ian Bauer — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 10:06:00 +0000

Honolulu officials announced Tuesday that they have selected an area northwest of Wahiawa as the proposed location for Oahu’s next solid waste landfill.

Maui County files for dismissal of election suit

Victoria Budiono — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A motion filed by the Maui County Clerk seeks to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the results of the Nov. 5 general election, arguing that former Maui County Council member Kelly King, who lost to incumbent Tom Cook, failed to provide evidence of any errors or wrongdoing.

City picks area northwest of Wahiawa for Oahu’s next landfill

Ian Bauer — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:49:00 +0000

City & County of Honolulu officials announced today that they have selected an area northwest of Wahiawa as the proposed location for Oahu’s next landfill.

Trump pledges fast permits for $1 billion U.S. investments

Reuters — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 23:20:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> President-elect Donald Trump said today that any person or company investing at least $1 billion into the U.S. “will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals.”