Biden calls Sanders' pitch to leverage Israel aid 'bizarre'

OELWEIN, Iowa (AP) — Joe Biden said Saturday that it is “bizarre” for Bernie Sanders to propose withholding U.S. military aid from Israel if the government there doesn’t moderate its treatment of Palestinians. The remarks highlight a nuanced but significant distinction between the...

U.S. District Court in Rhode Island gets a new chief judge

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The U.S. District Court in Rhode Island has a new chief judge. Chief Judge John McConnell took over the position this week. McConnell succeeds Judge William Smith, who served as chief judge since Dec. 1, 2013. Smith will remain in active service on the court. McConnell was nominated...

Biden: 'Best people' for posts, but they could be donors

DECORAH, Iowa (AP) — Joe Biden declined Friday to rule out appointing political donors to ambassadorships or other posts if he wins the 2020 presidential election. But he pledged that his nominees, regardless of their contributor status, would be the “best people” for their posts....

'We're going to be everywhere:' Inside Bloomberg's 2020 plan

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — For any other candidate, a crowd of just 38 voters at a high-profile policy announcement might be cause for panic. But Michael Bloomberg is not just any candidate. The New York billionaire unveiled his signature plan to end gun violence this week at an invitation-only event in suburban...

Nobel body: ‘Highly problematic’ that peace winner silent

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute has called it “highly problematic” that the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner won’t attend any event next week where he could be asked questions publicly, while the spokeswoman for Ethiopia’s prime minister...

After 14 years, eastern North Carolina judgeship gets filled

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The nation's longest federal court vacancy ended Thursday after nearly 14 years of foot-dragging and politics as the U.S. Senate confirmed a university professor to a North Carolina trial court seat in a bipartisan vote. The chamber voted 68-21 to confirm Richard E. Myers, a former...

Duncan Hunter's exit unsettles US House race in California

LAKESIDE, Calif. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter has indicated he's on his way out of office after pleading guilty to a corruption charge, a break for California's beleaguered GOP that increases the chances the party keeps one of its few remaining House seats in the heavily Democratic state. ...

US feels the heat as Trump pulls out of global climate pact

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is aiming to make the annual U.N.-sponsored climate talks underway in Madrid the last ones for full participation by the United States, which is the world's No. 1 economy and the second-biggest carbon emitter. Trump dismisses climate change and he thumbed his nose...

Correction: Climate Talks-Goodbye US? story

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a story December 4, 2019, about the Trump administration's role in the Madrid climate conference, The Associated Press erroneously reported the details of a poll measuring public opinion on the Paris climate agreement.

Aiming for debate, Booker appeals directly to Harris voters

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker, facing the prospect of not qualifying for this month's debate, made a direct appeal on Thursday to supporters of former rival Kamala Harris. He tried to make the case that he is now the lone contender able to appeal to the diverse group...