Author
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.
Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Trump vows to levy ‘horrible’ tariffs on imports, rejecting fears of inflation spike
By: Jennifer Shutt - October 15, 2024
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump defended his plans for steep tariffs on Tuesday, arguing economists who say that those higher costs would get passed onto consumers are incorrect and that his proposals would benefit American manufacturing. During an argumentative hour-long interview with Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait hosted by the Economic Club of Chicago, Trump vehemently […]
How do you vote amid the hurricane damage? States are learning as they go
By: Jennifer Shutt - October 9, 2024
WASHINGTON — Hurricane season has not only wreaked havoc on people’s lives throughout much of the country, but could also make it more difficult for voters to cast their ballots in hard-hit regions. Other election threats include misinformation and even terrorism, with warnings from the Department of Homeland Security and an arrest in Oklahoma allegedly […]
Republican women falling behind when it comes to running for Congress, experts say
By: Jennifer Shutt - October 9, 2024
WASHINGTON — Republicans are struggling to recruit and elect women to Congress, lagging behind Democrats in ensuring women, who make up half the population, have a strong voice in the halls of power, experts on women in politics said Tuesday. “This year’s data shows clearly that Republican women are falling behind in candidacies, nominations and […]
FEMA chief decries rumors, disinformation about hurricane recovery as worst ever
By: Jennifer Shutt - 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 […]
The next big dilemma for the U.S. Senate GOP: Who should lead them in 2025 and beyond?
By: Jennifer Shutt, Ariana Figueroa and Shauneen Miranda - 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 […]
CDC conducting extensive probe into bird flu contracted by Missouri resident
By: Jennifer Shutt - 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: Jennifer Shutt - October 4, 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: Ashley Murray and Jennifer Shutt - October 3, 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, […]
How long will it take for Washington to act on emergency aid for Helene victims?
By: Jennifer Shutt - September 30, 2024
WASHINGTON — Congress may break from its six-week recess and return to D.C. in the last days before an extremely close election to approve emergency spending for Hurricane Helene recovery and response. Lawmakers aren’t set to return to Washington, D.C., until after Election Day on Nov. 5, but President Joe Biden indicated Monday during remarks on the […]
Biden pledges federal help for states in the Southeast stricken by catastrophic storm
By: Jennifer Shutt - 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: Jennifer Shutt - September 27, 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 […]
Congress poised to race out of D.C. after dodging shutdown
By: Jennifer Shutt - September 25, 2024
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to approve a stopgap spending bill that will keep the federal government running through Dec. 20, though the divided Congress has a lot of negotiating to do if members want to pass the dozen full-year appropriations bills before their new deadline. The short-term funding bill, sometimes referred […]