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Congress looks for Trump’s exit plan as the Iran war drags on

<block>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump took the United States to war without a vote of support from Congress, but lawmakers are increasingly questioning when, how and at what cost the war with Iran will come to an end.Three weeks into the conflict, the toll is becoming apparent. At least 13 U.S. military personnel have died, and more than 230 have been wounded. A $200 billion request from the Pentagon for war funds is pending at the White House. Allies are under attacked, oil prices are spiking and thousands of U.S. troops are deploying to the Middle East with no endgame in sight.“The real question is: What ultimately are we trying to accomplish?” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told The Associated Press.“I generally support anything that takes out the mullahs,” he said. “But at the end of the day, there has to be a kind of strategic articulation of the strategy, what our objectives are.”Trump said late Friday that he was considering “winding down” the military operations even as he outlined new objectives and goals.<hl2>Congress stands still</hl2>The Republican president’s decision to launch the U.S.-Israel-led war with Iran is testing the resolve of the Congress, which is controlled by his party. Republicans have largely stood by the commander in chief, but will soon be faced with more consequential wartime choices.Under the War Powers Act, the president can conduct military operations for 60 days without approval from Congress. So far, Republicans have easily voted down several resolutions from Democrats designed to halt the military campaign.But the administration will need to show a more comprehensive strategy ahead or risk blowback from Congress, lawmakers said, especially as they are simultaneously being asked to approve billions in new spending.Trump’s quip the war will end “when I feel it in my bones” has drawn alarm.“When he feels it in his bones? That’s crazy,” said Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.<hl2>House speaker says mission is ‘all but done’</hl2>The president’s party appears unlikely to directly challenge him, even as the conflict drags on. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said the military operation will be over quickly.“I do think the original mission is virtually accomplished now,” Johnson, R-La., told the AP and others at the Capitol this week. “We were trying to take out the ballistic missiles, and their means of production, and neuter the navy, and those objectives have been met,” he said. Johnson acknowledged that Iran’s ability to threaten ships in the Strait of Hormuz is “dragging it out a little bit,” especially as U.S. allies have largely rebuffed the president’s request for help.“As soon as we bring some calm to the situation, I think it’s all but done,” Johnson said.But the administration’s stated goals — of ending Iran’s ability to obtain a nuclear weapon and degrading its ballistic missile supplies, among others — have perplexed lawmakers as shifting and elusive.″ Regime change? Not likely. Get rid of the enriched uranium? Not without boots on the ground,” Warner said.“If I’m advising the president, I would have said: Before you take on a war of choice, make the case clear to the American people what our goals are,” he said.<hl2>Congress retains the power of the purse</hl2>The Pentagon has told the White House it is seeking an additional $200 billion for the war effort, an extraordinary amount that is unlikely to win support. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York called the amount “preposterous.”The Defense Department’s approved appropriations from Congress this year are more than $800 billion, and Trump’s tax breaks bill gave the Pentagon an additional $150 billion over the next several years for various upgrades and projects.Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said the country has other priorities. “How about not taking away funding for Medicaid, which will impact millions of people. How about making sure SNAP is funded,” she said, referring to the health care and food assistance programs that were cut as part of last year’s Republican tax reductions.“These are things that we should be doing for the American people,” she said.Many lawmakers have recalled the decision by President George W. Bush in the aftermath of the Sep. 11, 2001, attacks to come to Congress to seek an authorization for the use of military force — a vote to support his proposed military actions in Afghanistan and later, Iraq. Tillis said Trump has latitude under the War Powers Act to conduct the military campaign, but that will soon shift.“When you get into the 45-day mark, you’ve got to start articulating one of two things — an authorization for the use of military force to sustain it beyond that or a very clear path on exit,” he said.“Those are really the options the administration needs to be thinking about.”</block>

Tom Kean Jr.’s political roots date to 1776. Is that enough to protect the Republican’s House seat?

<block>LEBANON, N.J. (AP) — Tom Kean Jr.’s political pedigree dates to 1776, when one of his ancestors became New Jersey’s first leader after the United States declared independence. His great grandfather was a senator, his grandfather was a congressman and his father was a governor.But the family lineage may not be enough to protect Kean in this year’s midterm elections. The Republican congressman is among his party’s most endangered members as Democrats try to capitalize on President Donald Trump’s unpopularity and regain control of the U.S. House. If Kean and other Republicans in competitive races cannot retain their seats, it will be an early sign that a blue wave is washing across the country. Kean represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, a scenic mix of bedroom communities and farming towns perpetually on the shifting front lines of American politics. Two previous incumbents were ousted during midterm elections over the past decade: Kean defeated Democrat Tom Malinowski in 2022, after Malinowski beat Republican Leonard Lance in 2018. “I don’t think that Congressman Kean is taking anything for granted,” Lance said. “He recognizes that this is a highly competitive district.”The district has become slightly more Republican since being redrawn nearly five years ago. Kean is counting on voters rewarding him for tax cuts that Trump signed into law last year. Kean, however, risks being saddled with other parts of Trump’s agenda that have been unpopular in the area. The Republican administration wants to turn a local warehouse into an immigration detention facility, which Democrats and a GOP-controlled town council sued to stop on Friday. Also, Trump has tried to cancel a new rail tunnel that would make it easier to commute into New York City.Kean is keeping a low profile, sticking to virtual events instead of town halls that can turn into shouting matches with angry constituents. But there is little chance of Kean avoiding Trump’s shadow in a district including the president’s golf club in Bedminster, and the congressman seems to know that. Kean has pinned a message on a social media account thanking the president for his endorsement. <hl2>‘Career politician’ or a guy ‘voters trust’?</hl2>Ever since Democrat Bill Clinton was president more than three decades ago, the party that controls the White House loses control of the House in the midterm elections. That political circle of life leaves lawmakers such as Kean trying to hold on when there is no White House race to generate more enthusiasm at the ballot box.This year, Kean is one of 44 lawmakers whom Democrats hope to oust, more than enough to give them a majority. The Democratic field in Kean’s district remains unsettled, with a half-dozen candidates competing in the June 2 primary. Democrats are already attacking him over Trump’s tariffs, the rail tunnel and the proposed immigration detention facility. Kean said he is working on a “workable solution” for the facility. “Career politician Tom Kean Jr. has come to represent everything that people hate about a broken and corrupt Washington,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Eli Lake. Republicans said they can defy history and save Kean’s seat.“Voters trust Kean Jr. because they know his record, and they’re fired up to send him back to Washington,” said National Republican Campaign Committee spokesperson Maureen O’Toole. Kean’s spokesperson did not respond to requests for an interview.<hl2>Tax cuts central to Kean’s pitch</hl2>Kean is hinging his reelection on a potent, perennial issue in New Jersey politics — property taxes, which are among the highest in the country. Trump’s signature domestic legislation, a package of spending and tax cuts, expanded the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT. Some Republicans did not want to make the change, complaining that it would help subsidize high-cost blue states. But it was a high priority for lawmakers in competitive seats. “Congressman Kean has proven himself an independent leader who delivers for his district,” said campaign consultant Harrison Neely. “He was a cornerstone of the coalition that fully restored the SALT deduction for middle-class families, providing meaningful tax relief.” Deductions were capped at $10,000 under legislation signed by Trump in his first term, but the new law raised the limit to $40,000. It eventually will drop to $10,000 in 2030.Kean’s supporters say the tax change, however temporary, will help address affordability concerns. “Having the ability to write off your property taxes is a huge benefit for homeowners,” said Douglas Thomson, who leads the New Jersey Realtors.<hl2>Not ‘blasting out tweets’</hl2>Another challenge for Kean has been controversy over the Gateway Tunnel, which will add new rail tracks under the Hudson River to alleviate congestion.Trump tried to block federal funding, which would have been a setback for commuters in towns such as the ones that Kean represents. A judge ordered the administration to restore money for the project last month after Democratic leaders in New Jersey and New York went to court. Greg Lalevee, business manager for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, said Kean had been helpful behind the scenes.“I don’t see him blasting out tweets,” he said, unlike “somebody who’s just craving attention.”Kean’s family lineage is well known in the district. His father, Tom Kean, was a moderate Republican governor who later lead the 9/11 Commission.Mark Oliver, a retired architect, said he thought the elder Kean would be considered a Democrat by today’s standards. Now the party has shifted. But he also acknowledged the district’s significant Republican presence, saying “you see the Trump signs up on the farms..”He plans to support the eventual Democratic candidate because “rich people have so much power and so much influence that it’s got to be counterbalanced.”Democrats criticize Kean for not doing in-person town hall meetings. In 2018, during the midterms of Trump’s first term, Lance’s events attracted critics of the president who occasionally drowned out the soft-spoken congressman. Asked if he would do them again, Lance said he would.“Each of us has to determine for himself how best to reach constituents,” he said.</block>

Big money flows into state attorney general races as legal battles shape American politics

The money includes millions from law firms, unions and ideological groups, and it reflects the rising stature of the job in national policy and as a springboard for higher office.“Because we try to solve so many of our problems with lawsuits, the office of attorney general has become more important,” said James Tierney, a former Maine attorney general who and teaches about the position at Harvard.Attorneys general are key to political benchesAt least six current attorneys general are running for

Get your spring buzz: Where to find a fresh, flavorful energy boost in the Seattle area

Grass jelly, rice soup, shaved ice, soft serve, egg waffles, and mochi are all solid options.No need to fly to Taiwan when you have Meet Fresh right here.Artly Coffee in Seattle View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arthur (Seattle food and travel influencer) (@arthursappetite)I swear I am telling the truth when one of the best cups of coffee I have had in Seattle was made by a robot. At Artly Coffee, your coffee is made by a Barista Bot who is programmed to make almost 20 diffe

‘We’re just trying to save the city money’: Jake has a ‘pie-in-the-sky idea’ to reduce Seattle’s homelessness

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced her intentions to find 500 new shelter beds for Seattle’s homeless population ahead of the World Cup, with rough estimates placing the cost per shelter at $28,000.Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill, co-hosts of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, brainstormed a better idea that would achieve Wilson’s goal, but at a fraction of the cost.“Look, $28,000 seems crazy. I know it’s a different beast, but have you ever

‘People will always be moving here’: Gee unfazed by drop in migration to Washington

But Gee argued that while housing may be cheaper in places like Texas or Idaho, income potential matters just as much.“You might get a better deal on a house, but what are they going to pay you?” Gee said, referring to people who choose Austin over Seattle for cheaper living.The numbers provided by the Census show about 134,000 newcomers obtained Washington driver’s licenses last year, a drop of nearly 18% compared to 2019. RELATED STORIESFerguson says he’ll sign revised WA 'millionaires' tax' a

Surprise, embarrassment, unease in Japan after Trump uses Pearl Harbor to defend Iran war

“Just doing what pleases Trump and calling it a success if you are not hurt is too sad.”Reporter criticizedThere was initial blame on social media of the Japanese reporter who asked the question that prompted Trump’s Pearl Harbor comment.The reporter, Morio Chijiiwa with TV Asahi, later said on a talk show that he asked the question to represent the feelings of Japanese who are not happy about Trump’s one-sided attack on Iran, and because other countries, including Japan, are being asked to help

It’s not just vaccines — parents are refusing other routine preventive care for newborns

The child essentially had a stroke as a newborn and wound up with severe developmental delays and ongoing seizures.At a February meeting of the Idaho chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, doctors said they knew of eight deaths from vitamin K deficiency bleeding in the state over the preceding 13 months, said Patterson, who is president of the chapter.Infections prevented by other newborn measures can also have grave consequences. Erythromycin eye ointment protects against gonorrhea that

Secretive deal leaves deportees from the US stuck in Equatorial Guinea with ‘no more hope’

judges shielding them against being returned to their home countries, their lawyers said.AP previously interviewed a gay asylum-seeker from Morocco who was deported to Cameroon and, believing she had no choice, agreed to be returned to her home country, where homosexuality is illegal.In a phone interview, the 28-year-old refugee said authorities in Equatorial Guinea pressure him to return home even though he lodged an asylum application there, which AP has seen.“They told us there is no any asyl

Trump hints at wind-down of war as US sends more troops and Iran threatens tourism sites

President Donald Trump said he was considering “winding down” military operations in the Middle East even as the United States is sending three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2,500 additional Marines to the region. Trump’s post Friday on social media followed an Iranian threat to attack recreational and tourist sites worldwide and another day of the airstrikes and drone and missile attacks that have engulfed the region.The mixed messages from the United States came after another climb

A wave of executions is feared in Iran after 3 young men were hanged this week

They had been sentenced on charges of “moharabeh,” or “waging war against God,” for allegedly killing two police officers during protests in the city.Amnesty International said the convictions of the three, and of others arrested during the protests, came in “grossly unfair trials” that used confessions extracted by torture.The executions were “intended to instill fear in society and deter new protests” amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Right

Judge orders Voice of America be put back together again. What are the chances that will happen?

NEW YORK (AP) — In a strongly worded decision this week, a federal judge ordered that the Voice of America — its mission to provide news for countries around the world largely shut down for the past year by the Trump administration — come roaring back to life.Whether or not that actually happens is anybody’s guess.The government filed notice Thursday to appeal U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth’s order two days earlier to put hundreds of VOA employees who have been on paid l

‘I got my hand on the steering wheel, the other trying to get the driver back to life’: Passenger stops King County bus after driver collapses

A King County bus driver suffered a medical emergency and lost consciousness while driving through Seattle, causing the bus to collide with seven vehicles across five blocks before passenger Ernie Makinson brought it to a stop.Makinson joined “The John Curley Show” to share how the incident unfolded and said King County Metro has refused to help him replace his glasses, even after his face went through the windshield, he suffered a serious back injury, and his backpack was stolen.Mak

Police video of Justin Timberlake’s 2024 drunken driving arrest released

NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Timberlake struggled to perform field sobriety tests requiring him to walk a straight line and stand on one leg after he was pulled over in New York’s Hamptons in 2024 by police officers who suspected him of driving drunk, according to video footage released Friday.The pop star tells officers at one point, “these are like really hard tests.”The footage, which runs roughly eight hours, includes Timberlake’s initial stop after Sag Harbor police said he ran a stop sign in the

‘Big impact on new WA registrations’: Elections director warns SAVE America Act could lower voter turnout

And unlike other states that may have precinct polling places or anything like that, in the state of Washington, where we’re all vote-by-mail and have centralized resources, all voters would have to descend upon the same voting location to provide that proof of citizenship, which we just don’t simply have the infrastructure to support, and so that would mean long lines and delays.”He noted voter fraud and illegal citizens voting — what the bill aims to prevent — is extremely ra

Skier falls eight feet when snow collapses at White Pass

An experienced skier was rescued after falling eight feet into a hole when the snow collapsed beneath him at White Pass last week.“Definitely turned into a real Friday the 13th,” says Tony Christensen, who had been skiing with his son-in-law last week.Christensen was skiing in-bounds, headed from one run to another, and following tracks from other skiers, when the snow gave way.“We were just traversing across over to another run when all of a sudden the snow just collapsed where I was skiing,” C

Noah Wyle tells hearing that ‘The Pitt’ shows TV and film production in the US can be revived

<block>BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — “The Pitt” has won praise — and a gurney full of Emmys — for bringing a dose of classic episodic TV to the prestige streaming era. Its star, executive producer and sometimes director Noah Wyle said Friday that the HBO Max hospital series is also a throwback of a different sort — it actually shoots in Hollywood at a time when film and television production has shifted to other places with more favorable economic conditions. Wyle said “The Pitt,” which won the Emmy for best drama for last year’s first season, is “proof of concept” that the model can work. Wyle spoke at a hearing organized by California Sen. Adam Schiff held at City Hall in Burbank, the Los Angeles-adjacent city that is home to most major studios, including the Warner Bros. lot where “The Pitt” shoots. “I was asked to participate in today’s hearing to tell a success story,” Wyle said. “I’m happy to report we’ll commence shooting season three this summer, and that a rising tide has indeed lifted all boats.”Wyle said California’s recent tax breaks for production made making the series in Burbank possible. He said the show’s first season brought nearly 600 production jobs, and its ripple effects brought $125 million to the state economy. “That is proof of concept,” he said. “That is replicable. And it is vital to the strength of our industry and to our city to support these incentives.” Wyle, 54, played a central character on NBC’s “ER” from 1994 to 2009. His return to a Hollywood hospital — fictionally in Pittsburgh — with “The Pitt” won him an Emmy for best actor in a drama. Lean years came in between, when he had to go the increasingly far-off places smaller roles took him. “I’ll speak from personal experience and say that I haven’t slept in my own bed in 15 years while I’ve been working as an actor. Since the end of ‘ER,’” Wyle said. “It’s hard on families, and I can speak to that. It is hard to fracture your industry that way.”Schiff and other members of Congress who spoke said they are working on nationalizing production tax breaks that states have instituted. U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman, whose district includes Burbank and its studios, addressed objections to cozy treatment for a business snuggled in wealth.“We give tax credits to many industries. Hollywood is not asking for special treatment,” she said. “This is something that is standard across the United States for industries that we have determined that we care about.”Matthew Loeb, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents most behind-the-scenes crew members, lamented Marvel recently moving its production hub from Georgia to England.But he said the same project-by-project production model that can be difficult for his members can make change more possible. It’s not as hard for film to come back as it might be for other industries. Paramount’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. was a running theme, with all expressing worry that its consolidation will mean loss of production and jobs “This merger could define whether Los Angeles remains the entertainment capital of the world or becomes an afterthought,” Friedman said. Paramount leaders have given a broad commitment to making 15 major motion pictures for both studios each year. That was welcomed, but skeptically. “The big missing piece is that there is no commitment about where they’re going to shoot 30 films,” Loeb said. Wyle, Schiff and others emphasized the jobs that thrive around entertainment entities, from hotel workers to equipment vendors to food servers to dry cleaners. “All those livelihoods are tied to a production shop setting up in their community,” Schiff said. U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove said workers of all sorts from her Los Angeles County district have an interest in Hollywood thriving. “After my acupuncturist took the needles out of my back, she said, ‘Can you do anything to help bring back entertainment jobs?’” Kamlager-Dove said. </block>

Chihuly Garden vandalism suspect charged with 3 crimes

The man then allegedly threw broken glass shards at the security guard, picked up a broken shard, and tried to stab the security guard multiple times.Officers arrived and found large pieces of colorful broken glass on the walking path and scattered around the area. Police talked to the security guard, who was unharmed. The guard identified the suspect, and police formed a team to take the man into custody.SPD stated that the man “became combative and refused to follow commands.” However, he was

Road closed in Renton after water main break floods street

Houser Way North in Renton is closed from 200 Mill Avenue South to Bronson Way North after a water main break flooded the street.Around noon Friday a 16-inch cast iron water main failed, Ron Straka, the City of Renton Public Works Department Utility Systems Division Director, told KIRO Newsradio.“We had a break in a 16-inch main, a pretty good-sized water main, that carries a lot of water and is under pressure, which caused the flooding of the roadway and the need to close the roadway down

Bird flu hits medium-sized flock in Skagit County

Amber Itle, a WSDA veterinarian, told the media outlet.“Poultry owners should always maintain strong biosecurity, but it’s especially important during this period, particularly if birds have access to ponds or other areas that attract waterfowl,” Itle added.RELATED STORIESGrays Harbor County resident dies from first-ever human case of H5N5 bird fluNo yolk: Egg prices skyrocket amid bird flu, inflationCEO of Wilcox Farms hopeful for bird flu vaccine as impact on farms 'gut-wrenching'H