Author

Jennifer Shutt

Jennifer Shutt

Jennifer covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

FEMA chief decries rumors, disinformation about hurricane recovery?as worst ever

By: - October 8, 2024

WASHINGTON — ? Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said Tuesday that rumors and disinformation will become a regular part of natural disaster response moving forward, and rebuked those seeking to benefit politically from spreading false information. The volume and type of disinformation spreading about FEMA, as Southeast states struggle to recover from Hurricane […]

Harris on ‘60 Minutes’ says Congress would work with her as president if she’s elected

By: - October 8, 2024

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris said during an interview with the CBS News show “60 Minutes” that aired Monday she believes Congress would work with her to implement economic and tax policies if she’s elected. She also criticized Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for declining to sit for an interview with the news […]

The next big dilemma for the U.S. Senate GOP: Who should lead them in 2025 and beyond?

By: , and - October 7, 2024

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans shortly after Election Day will face a major decision for their chamber as well as the national party when they pick a new leader. Once the dust from the election clears and the balance of power in the Senate is decided, senators will gather behind closed doors to choose who […]

Obama to hit the trail for Harris, while Trump returns to site of attempted assassination

By: and - October 4, 2024

WASHINGTON — Saturday marks one month until Election Day, giving the presidential campaigns little time before voting closes to convince voters that their vision for the country offers the best path forward. Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump will spend much of that time attacking each other, though they are also leaning […]

CDC conducting extensive probe into bird flu contracted by Missouri resident

By: - October 4, 2024

WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should have results later this month that provide more insight into how a Missouri resident, who hadn’t had any contact with infected animals or food, contracted a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at […]

Congress left D.C. with little done. They’ll be back Nov. 12 to give it another try.

By: - October 3, 2024

WASHINGTON — Members of Congress left Capitol Hill last week to focus their attention on the campaign trail during the six weeks leading up to Election Day, leaving much of their work unfinished. The Republican House and Democratic Senate are scheduled to remain on recess until Nov. 12, though the urgent needs created in the […]

Special counsel Jack Smith reveals new evidence against Trump in 2020 election case

By: and - October 2, 2024

WASHINGTON — U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan unsealed a lengthy and partly redacted motion Wednesday that charts special counsel Jack Smith’s final argument before November that former President Donald Trump acted in a private capacity when he co-conspired to overturn the 2020 election. Much of the motion concerns Trump’s interactions with individuals in Arizona, Georgia, […]

Top moments from the Walz-Vance veep debate

By: and - October 2, 2024

The vice presidential candidates outlined vastly different visions for the country and traded barbs about their qualifications Tuesday during their first and only debate before Election Day. Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance, who’s on the ticket with former President Donald Trump, and Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, running mate to Vice President Kamala Harris, stuck […]

Tim Walz and J.D. Vance tangle in wonky, largely cordial vice presidential debate

By: and - October 2, 2024

Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Republican Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance squared off Tuesday night in a vice presidential debate that marked the last scheduled in-person meeting for the campaigns as Americans decide the country’s next chapter. Meeting for the first time, Walz and Vance engaged in a policy-heavy, nearly two-hour back-and-forth hosted by […]

Hundreds missing in Southeast states after Hurricane Helene, federal officials say

By: - September 30, 2024

WASHINGTON — White House Homeland Security Adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall said Monday during a press briefing there are 600 people unaccounted for following Hurricane Helene, as federal officials mount a response to the catastrophic storm in states across the Southeast. Sherwood-Randall said that could lead the death toll to rise into the hundreds, but added officials […]

Biden pledges federal help for states in the Southeast stricken by catastrophic storm

By: - September 30, 2024

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden pledged Monday that the federal government would help people throughout the Southeast recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, and said he expects to ask Congress for emergency funding in the weeks ahead. “I’m here to tell every single survivor in these impacted areas that we will […]

Postal chief insists to Congress that mail-in ballots will get delivered in time

By: - September 26, 2024

WASHINGTON — United States Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified before Congress on Thursday that voters can “absolutely” trust their mail-in ballots will be secure and prioritized, though he emphasized they must be mailed at least a week ahead of the various state deadlines to be delivered on time. DeJoy’s testimony to House lawmakers […]