Sen. Warren implies Sen. Tillis is chicken, makes clucking sounds at him during hearing

WASHINGTON — Sen. Elizabeth Warren learned Tuesday morning that implying Sen. Thom Tillis is a chicken, gets her his full attention.

Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, had already grabbed his energy drink — a Celsius — and his name plate from the dais in front of him preparing to leave a Senate hearing, when Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, imitated a chicken and made bok bok sounds at him.

Sixty-seconds before that, Tillis asked if there were any experts in the room who could explain to him if rate-caps on credit cards had ever worked. Warren tried to answer, but Tillis wouldn’t let her. The senators began shouting over each other as Tillis ticked down the last 45 seconds of his time to question witnesses.

So how did this all begin? On Tuesday morning, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held a meeting called “The Affordability Agenda.” The hearing included four witnesses, including Lindsey Johnson, chief executive officer of the Consumer Bankers Association.

—The News & Observer

Tucker Carlson claims there’s ‘no chance’ he votes Republican

Right-wing influencer Tucker Carlson claims he can’t vote for the Republican Party under current circumstances.

The former Fox News primetime star expressed regret over his support for President Donald Trump during an April interview with his brother Buckley. Both conservatives confessed they would be indefinitely “tormented” for their advocacy.

Carlson took that a step further on a recent Canadian podcast by claiming he doesn’t see himself supporting any Republican in leadership. “There’s no chance I would support the Republican Party,” he told “Can’t Be Censored” listeners. “I have nothing in common with these people at all.” The 57-year-old TV host-turned-podcaster said he doesn’t see supporting the Democratic Party in November’s midterm elections either.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he confessed. Carlson supported Trump on the 2020 campaign trail. There was speculation he would by picked as Trump’s running mate or mount a presidential campaign of his own at some point. The pair have since split ways with Carlson criticizing the Trump administration’s handling of various issues, particularly the war in Iran.

—New York Daily News

Texas board gives preliminary approval to reading list with Bible passages

The Texas State Board of Education gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a proposed reading list with Bible materials.

The list includes 13 biblical readings, with at least one Bible passage or story in every grade except kindergarten. The reading list would be required for Texas public school students starting with the 2030-31 school year.

The debate over the reading list continues a yearslong battle over what role religion should have in the classroom. This week, the board is also considering changing social studies standards to emphasize American and Texas history over world cultures and geography.

The vote on the reading list came after the board heard hours of public testimony Monday at the meeting in Austin, which drew people from across the state. Advocates for the list emphasized the historical value of biblical texts, especially to American history. They argued that Texas’ reading list should honor the United States’ “Judeo-Christian” roots.

—The Dallas Morning News

Spain’s Sanchez holds firm as graft cases reach his family

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez remains unyielding against the growing pile of corruption charges that have reached his household — and are increasing the political risks for his Socialist Party heading into an election year.

A Madrid judge on Saturday ordered the premier’s wife to stand trial on influence-peddling charges and to surrender her passport. Two days later, the Supreme Court sentenced one of Sanchez’s closest allies to 24 years in prison in a bribery scandal. His brother and an influential confidant, ex-Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, have been caught up in the legal web, and authorities have launched an investigation into an alleged operation within the Socialists to counter judges and police officers examining the party.

But because Sanchez has almost absolute control over the party and Spanish law makes no-confidence votes virtually impossible, his opponents — including both former friends and longtime foes — have few ways to dislodge him. There’s also a potential political tailwind from Western Europe’s fastest-growing economy.

“Sánchez is the Socialist Party’s greatest asset,” Rebeca Torró, a senior party manager, said in a text message. “Spain is experiencing one of its best periods in decades, thanks to his leadership and the collective effort of the entire country.”

—Bloomberg News