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Report: Minnesota Gov. to appoint Tina Smith to Franken's seat

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (right) is expected to appoint Lt. Gov. Tina Smith (left) to fill Sen. Al Franken's seat. Photo: Jim Mone / AP

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton will announce Wednesday that he is appointing Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to fill Sen. Al Franken's seat until the November 2018 midterm elections, Democratic sources told AP. Smith plans to officially run for the seat in 2018 as well. The announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Why it's not surprising: Smith, who served as Dayton's chief of staff prior to becoming his running mate in 2014, was the likely frontrunner after Sen. Franken resigned last week over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Go deeper

Noah Garfinkel
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Alabama trying to use COVID relief funds to expand prisons

Inside the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Ala., in 2018. Photo: Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images

Alabama state lawmakers are trying to funnel up to $400 million of the state's American Rescue Plan funds to pay for a $1.3 billion plan to build and renovate prisons across the state, the Associated Press reports.

Why it matters: Diverting dollars from the COVID-relief package, passed in March, is prompting criticism over misuse.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Barak Ravid, author of from Tel Aviv
2 hours ago - World

Jake Sullivan discussed human rights and Yemen with Saudi crown prince

MBS in 2018. Photo: Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed efforts to end the war in Yemen, the de-escalation of regional tensions with Iran, and Saudi Arabia's human rights record in their meeting on Monday, a senior U.S. official told Axios.

Why it matters: This was Sullivan's first trip to the Middle East since taking up his post in January, and he was the most senior visitor to the kingdom so far from the Biden administration, which has kept the crown prince at arm's length over his roles in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and the war in Yemen.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Zachary Basu
Updated 5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Top Pentagon officials contradict Biden on Afghanistan advice

Photo: Carolone Brehman/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Top military leaders confirmed in a Senate hearing Tuesday they recommended earlier this year that the U.S. keep 2,500 troops in Afghanistan, and that they believed withdrawing those forces would lead to the collapse of the Afghan military.

Why it matters: Biden denied last month that his top military advisers wanted troops to remain in Afghanistan, telling ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "No one said that to me that I can recall."

Go deeper (3 min. read)Arrow