Latest news with #ZachNunn
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Arab allies recognize Iran's danger, lawmakers say, as region views regime change cautiously
EXCLUSIVE: Top congressional Iran hawks were about to depart for the U.S. from the Middle East on Wednesday, when two members of the delegation spoke to Fox News Digital about what they were seeing on the ground. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, and Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., said they visited Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and were in the United Arab Emirates as of Tuesday, meeting with leaders and discussing the armed conflict between Israel and Iran. "Over the course of the last week, we have seen just a dramatic escalation, particularly by Iran threatening the region," he said, adding that he is also spearheading the Iranian Maximum Pressure Campaign Act, which comprises 47 pieces that give President Donald Trump leverage over Iranian "Supreme Leader" Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei. Nunn, a retired colonel in the U.S. Air Force – who conducted intel-reconnaissance missions off Russia and China – said Gen. Erik "Gorilla" Kurilla has his "full support" after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated Tuesday he would defer to the CENTCOM commander on Iranian strategy. "[Kurilla] has been very clear here that Iran needs to take the offramp from its nuclear enrichment program. In fact, he was one of the ones that highlighted here the real threat coming from a nuclear Iran, both to its neighbor Israel, and other nations across the Middle East. The United States has a very important role to play here in deterrence," he said. Arab allies like the UAE recognize that Iran presents the greatest "existential threat" to peace in the Middle East, Nunn said, adding that as a veteran of the War on Terror, he doesn't want to see U.S. service members return to combat in the region. Forty thousand troops, however, are stationed in non-combat roles in the region, and are in range of Iranian weapons if Tehran escalates. Nunn warned that the porous southern border has also opened up the likelihood that Iranian proxies are already inside the U.S., and cited reports Tehran was connected in some way to the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania. He and Panetta, son of former CIA Director Leon Panetta, said the reason they came together in a bipartisan showing to Mideast leaders was that while they may not disagree politically on every issue, Congress is united with Mideast allies. "There's a real opportunity here for our Arab partners and Israel to stand together in deterring Iran. The U.S. should not be the policeman for the world. There are certain capabilities that only the United States can provide in this scenario. That includes deep penetration strikes to eliminate the nuclear reactor and the enrichment program that Iran's produced. But ultimately, this is also up to the Iranian people to decide what they want for their future." Panetta said he hopes the trip helped lay an even stronger basis for other nations to align with the Abraham Accords forged by Trump in his first term. "The conflict between Israel and Iran broke out on Thursday, before the Friday we were to get here. And so that sort of changed a few things and unfortunately prevented us from going into Israel. However, we were able to have very substantive meetings with some of the leadership in Saudi Arabia, in Bahrain, and here in the United Arab Emirates before we have to fly out tonight," Panetta said. "And what we heard consistently is -- none of them want a nuclear-armed Iran." Like Nunn, Panetta also does not want boots on the ground, saying that when or if Tehran's government falls or surrenders, as Trump wants, the change must come "from within." Members of both parties aren't looking to trigger regime change through force, he said, but they do want to see Tehran's nuclear ambitions defeated. And, when it comes to concerns about stability – after seeing Iraq and Libya falter after strongmen were ousted – it will be up to the Iranian people at that point how to proceed, the lawmakers said. "The purpose of Israel's bombing, at least from what we've heard, was to destroy their nuclear capabilities. It was not for regime change," Panetta said. "However, if the people see this as an opportunity, then that's something that basically, I think now more than ever, would be the right time for the people of Iran to rise up." Given the rare bipartisan agreement on the Iran issue in an otherwise fractured political environment, the Democrat added that he will always work with anyone to support both his constituents, and whoever, including Trump, wants to have substantive discussions to solve pressing problems like Iran's nuclear capabilities, "forever wars," and that Israel retains the right to defend itself. "[Those] are bipartisan issues that I think we can work together on," Panetta said.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Budzinski introduces bipartisan biofuel bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WCIA) — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) has introduced a bill to help support innovation in biofuels. The Central Illinois U.S. Representative introduced the Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act to help the biofuel economy. She's co-sponsoring the bill with Congressman Zach Nunn (R-IA). 'My district is home to world-class research facilities like the University of Illinois Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab and SIUE's National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Centerboth at the forefront of biomanufacturing innovation,' Congresswoman Budzinski said in a statement. 'I'm honored to partner with my colleague Zach Nunn on bipartisan legislation that supports the groundbreaking agricultural research led by students and scientists at these institutions. Strengthening Americas bioeconomy drives innovation, creates good-paying jobs, and opens new opportunities for family farms across the Midwest.' Illinois' film industry bounces back after 2023 strikes The bill strengthens the USDA's Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program by updating the current loan guarantee program to include applications year-round. It also creates a new competitive grant program to help build and expand biorefineries. If signed into law, it would also provide $100 million in mandatory funding through FY 2030. Several industry leaders support the bill, including Plant Based Products Council, Corn Refiners Association and the Ag Bioeconomy Coalition. The full text of the AG BIO Act can be found here online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Rep. Jennifer Konfrst announces bid for United States Congress
DES MOINES, IOWA — The Iowa House Minority Leader announced her bid for Iowa's Third Congressional District on Thursday morning. State Representative Jennifer Konfrst (D), District 32 from Windsor Heights, has been serving at the state level in the Iowa House for six years and is now aiming to get elected to federal office. Konfrst says that she made her decision to officially run for Congress on Inauguration Day for President Trump. She has been in the Iowa House since 2019 and has been the Democratic party leader in that chamber since 2021. She said politics isn't something she thought she'd ever get into. 'This was not my plan to be a politician either. Right? Like, I just got into this in my 40s. And so it's sort of hard for me to get used to the idea at all. But after seeing how much Washington and Iowa politics and policy really interact at the legislature, I've seen just how much more we need to do and work with at the federal level,' said Konfrst. She also spoke about the people she serves at the state level and their needs, prompting her decision, 'You know, I have a constituent who called and said that her job is being eliminated on April or on June 30th. And I said, is it federal funding? Or state? And she said, 'I don't know.' And that is what so many people are facing is this uncertainty. And so the urgency about this really came about after, after January when I started seeing just how much was happening and how much chaos is going on. And really wanted to get out there and try to fight for folks like my mom and me, and my parents, and my kids.' Konfrst is a professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University in Des Moines. She is married with two children. Konfrst joins State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott in the Democratic primary race for a chance to face incumbent Congressman Zach Nunn (R) in November 2026. A spokesperson for Nunn released a statement following Konfrst's announcement, saying, 'Zach Nunn isn't jockeying for headlines, he's working across the aisle to deliver real results for Iowans. Whether it's securing our southern border, cutting reckless government spending, or protecting benefits for our most vulnerable communities, he's focused on service over politics. Ranked in the top 10 most bipartisan members of Congress, Zach Nunn consistently puts Iowa first.' Watch Zach Fisher's full interview with Rep. Konfrst below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Int'l Business Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Republicans, Dems Hold Separate Crypto Roundtables As Tensions Simmer Over Trump Projects
Donald Trump launched his official memecoin, $TRUMP, ahead of his inauguration. The Official Trump Meme Website / Screenshot Rep. Waters and two other Democratic lawmakers walked out of a scheduled hearing to discuss crypto legislation Republican Troy Downing said 'regulation by enforcement' must be eliminated to promote innovation GOP's Zach Nunn urged lawmakers to help establish a 'clear structure' for crypto businesses Dem Rep. Garcia argued that Trump is prioritizing his crypto projects over the country Dem Rep. Lynch said Trump, through his crypto ventures, 'blatantly violated the ethics laws' Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Sunday held separate cryptocurrency roundtables to discuss crypto policy and recent developments around the emerging sector as Dems and some crypto users raise issue with U.S. President Donald Trump's crypto ventures. World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a DeFi project that Trump has promoted and where his three sons, particularly Eric Trump, are involved in, was most recently in question over a deal with Abu Dhabi government-backed firm MGX and crypto titan Binance. Republicans Urge Crypto Innovation, Rulemaking Clarity In the joint roundtable by Republican members of the House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Financial Services, Rep. Troy Downing of Montana said the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under ex-Chair Gary Gensler made it difficult for digital asset innovators to raise capital. If we want digital asset innovation to thrive in the United States, we need clear rules of the road, not regulation by enforcement. The unprecedented dual effort between @FinancialCmte and @HouseAgGOP is making this possible. 📺 Watch my questions from today's roundtable 👇 — Congressman Troy Downing (@RepTroyDowning) May 6, 2025 He said that in order to ensure the United States' leadership in crypto, there must be clear rules of the road and "regulation by enforcement" should be eliminated. Similarly, Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa urged clear rules for crypto businesses, arguing that prior administrations added to the confusion around rules. He called for legislation to establish a "clear structure" for the industry. Some digital assets are like a chocolate coin. When the coin is "wrapped" it's treated like a security. Once "unwrapped" it functions like a commodity. We can't have two different rules for our digital innovators, which is why we're fighting on @FinancialCmte for a clear… — Congressman Zach Nunn (@ZachNunn) May 6, 2025 Democrats Raise Concerns Over Trump's 'Crypto Corruption' As the Republicans' roundtable ensued, Democratic members, led by ranking member Rep. Maxine Waters of California, held their own roundtable in a different room on Capitol Hill. Notably, Waters objected to a Sunday bipartisan hearing, arguing that House rules require "unanimous consent" to such hearings. She walked out of the hearing after stating that she objects to the hearing because of Trump's "corruption" and "ownership of crypto." Today, Ranking Member @RepMaxineWaters blocked a Republican crypto hearing after the GOP refused to address Trump's rampant crypto corruption. Instead, the Ranking Member walked out and convened a Democratic hearing to discuss how Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself… — House Committee on Financial Services - Democrats (@USHouseFSC) May 7, 2025 Democratic Reps. Sean Casten and Brad Sherman also left the room. Waters later said GOP Committee members refused to discuss Trump's "corruption" in relation to his crypto ventures, which is why she objected to the hearing. In the Democrats' roundtable, Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas pointed out how Trump and his three sons were involved in WLFI's business. As per the project's website and photos of the website's "Team" presented by the congresswoman, the president is the company's "chief crypto advocate," while his three sons were "Web3 ambassadors." Trump isn't just pushing crypto—he's using the presidency to cash in on it. His friends and family are running shady firms like World Liberty Financial while he guts the rules meant to protect hard-working Americans from fraud and abuse. This is pure corruption.@USHouseFSC — Rep. Sylvia Garcia (@RepSylviaGarcia) May 6, 2025 "So instead of prioritizing his job as our nation's leader, he [Trump] is using his position to strip financial regulators of their independence, all to line the pockets of his friends, his family," Garcia said. Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts said it has never happened in U.S. history where a president has "so blatantly violated the ethics laws" amid concerns of conflicts of interest over Trump's crypto involvement. President Trump's blatant violation of ethics laws and exploitation of the Presidency to further his own financial gain cannot go unchecked. I will continue to work with my Democratic colleagues to hold this Administration accountable. — Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (@RepStephenLynch) May 6, 2025 He also made sure to call out the "outrageous" private dinner Trump promoted for the top holders of his official meme coin. "That just screams government for sale right there," Lynch said. Trump has yet to comment on the latest development wherein his crypto involvement is at center of lawmaker tensions. © Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott launches congressional campaign in Iowa's 3rd District
Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott speaks at the Celebrate Iowa's Outdoors Day March 20, 2025 in the rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott announced Monday she will run as a Democratic candidate for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District. Currently, the 3rd District is represented by U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican who has held the seat since defeating former U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, a Democrat, in the 2022 election. The Iowa House seat, covering much of the Des Moines metropolitan area and much of of central and southern Iowa, is expected to be one of the most competitive districts in the 2026 general election. Trone Garriott, currently representing West Des Moines in the Iowa Senate, said in a video announcing her campaign she was well-suited to run for the seat because of her track record winning in competitive state legislative races. 'I'm no stranger to tough fights,' Trone Garriott said. 'I'm the only Iowa Democrat who flipped two seats from red to blue, then won a district that went to Trump in 2024. I know how to win, and I know how to deliver for Iowans.' She was first elected to the Iowa Legislature in 2020, when she defeated Republican Scott Cirksena to represent Iowa State Senate District 22. In 2022, she defeated then-Senate President Jake Chapman to represent Senate District 14 after redistricting, and won a close race against GOP challenger Mark Hanson in 2024. Trone Garriott, a 46-year-old Lutheran pastor, said she would work in Congress to lower the costs of child care, health care and housing, as well as 'restoring the rights and freedoms lost in recent years.' She also criticized Nunn's time in Congress, saying 'Zach Nunn has failed us.' 'As Iowans struggle with higher costs, attacks on our personal freedoms and reckless cuts to our public schools, Zach Nunn is not showing up,' Trone Garriott said. 'He's not listening, and he's not working for us. Iowans know that I show up for all my constituents, and that I listen and that I speak out.' Emily Tuttle, a spokesperson with the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House Republicans' campaign arm, criticized Trone Garriott in a statement Monday. 'Out of touch Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott is another activist attempting to radicalize Iowa — pushing a dangerous, extreme agenda that would raise costs, allow men in girls' sports, and weaken public safety,' Tuttle said. 'Iowans want leaders who deliver commonsense results, and that's exactly why they'll send Zach Nunn back to Congress.' While Nunn has not officially announced a reelection campaign, he is expected to run for the seat again in 2026. He ruled out a run for governor last week in an interview on the WHO AM Simon Conway show, saying he is focused on his work in Washington, D.C., on issues like cutting taxes and securing the U.S. southern border. Nunn won in 2024 against Democrat Lanon Baccam with roughly 52% of the vote. In the previous election, the race was rated as a 'tossup' by some political forecasters — Sabato's Crystal Ball now has the seat, alongside Iowa's 1st Congressional District currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, listed as 'tossup' races heading into 2026. House Democrats' campaign arm, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has highlighted Nunn's seat, as well as Miller-Meeks' and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson's, as 'Districts in Play' in the upcoming midterm elections, areas where Democrats plan to focus their efforts to flip seats and potentially regain control of the U.S. House. 'Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson, and Zach Nunn are running scared, and they should be,' DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in an April statement. 'From tanking the economy, gutting Medicaid, abandoning our veterans, to making everything more expensive, they've broken their promises to Iowans, and it's going to cost them their seats. The DCCC is already working to recruit authentic and battle-ready candidates in Iowa who reflect these districts and will work to better Iowans' lives, not line Elon Musk and their DC party bosses' pockets.' Trone Garriott is not the only Democrat expected to run in Iowa's 3rd District. Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst and Rep. Austin Baeth, D-Des Moines, have also said they are considering running for the seat, though Trone Garriott is the first to officially launch her campaign.
