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In the news today: Takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries; another Republican supports a Senate bill aimed at ending the Iran war; and Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Beijing. Also, how cleaning can have mental health benefits.
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Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speaks after losing the Republican party’s nomination, Tuesday, in Hebron, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Massie’s primary loss leaves no doubt about Trump’s power over the GOP
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President Donald Trump scored another win against one of his most outspoken Republican critics on Capitol Hill, dislodging Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s Tuesday primary. The race was the most expensive U.S. House primary in history. Voters also went to the polls in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Read more.
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- Massie was entrenched in his deep-red Kentucky district before his feud with Trump exploded. He pushed for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, opposed the war with Iran and voted against Trump’s signature tax legislation last year.
Massie lost to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, who was boosted by significant spending from AIPAC and pro-Israel groups, which provided about half of the money benefiting his candidacy, according to AdImpact.
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Senate advances bill aimed at ending Iran war as GOP’s Cassidy flips
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Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy — fresh off a primary election loss in which President Donald Trump endorsed his opponent — switched sides and delivered a crucial vote Tuesday to advance legislation that seeks to force Trump to withdraw from the Iran war. Read more.
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Three Republicans were absent Tuesday and their votes would be enough to defeat the measure, if they maintain their stance on the war. Still, the 50-47 vote tally showed that a small but growing number of Republicans are willing to challenge Trump on the Iran war, a conflict that shows no signs of ending and is causing rising gas prices in the U.S. Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska had all previously voted for similar war powers resolutions and did so again Tuesday. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was again the only Democrat to vote against it.
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Xi and Putin highlight their friendship and cooperation in Beijing visit
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping warmly welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People as they opened bilateral talks on Wednesday. Putin’s visit to Beijing comes only days after Xi’s meeting with President Donald Trump. Read more.
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The two leaders oversaw the signing of more than 40 cooperation agreements in areas such as trade, technology and media exchanges. Regardless of specific deals, the primary purpose of the visit is to reaffirm the countries’ ties as well as project Beijing’s image as an influential superpower, experts say.
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Monks polish the wooden corridor of the walkway that connects between temple buildings at Soji-ji in Yokohama, Japan, 2016. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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The mental health benefits of everyday tasks
It’s spring cleaning time, and for some people that can mean drudgery or anxiety — and trust me, I know the feeling. But when I finally do pick up the strength to grab a mop and get started, I’m always glad I did, because afterwards I tend to feel calmer and more relaxed. It’s not just me. Experts from Zen monks to psychologists say there are mental health benefits from doing manual chores. In fact Zen apprentices, or “unsui” monks, spend much of their time cleaning. Doing simple tasks encourages mindfulness and produces a concrete sense of achievement. So if you are procrastinating over doing your chores today, this is your sign to go for it!
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Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Nadja
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