Author

Ashley Murray

Ashley Murray

Ashley Murray covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include domestic policy and appropriations.

Tuberville concedes ‘white nationalists are racists’ but hangs on to holds on military nominees

By: - July 12, 2023

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, is drawing intense criticism for his remarks on white nationalism and his hold on military nominees.

White House rolls out strategy to battle deadly drug mixture of fentanyl and xylazine

By: - July 11, 2023

Overdose deaths involving the presence of the non-opioid sedative and illicit synthetic opioid fentanyl increased 276% from January 2019 to June 2022 in 20 states and D.C.

Vulnerable U.S. House Republicans who opposed student debt plan targeted in 2024

By: - July 6, 2023

Critics take aim at GOP lawmakers in the 2024 election after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked President Biden’s student debt relief plan.

‘This is not a normal court,’ says Biden as GOP opponents praise affirmative action ruling

By: - June 29, 2023

President Biden called the decision to end affirmative action at Harvard and the University of North Carolina “severely disappointing."

US Supreme Court strikes down use of affirmative action in college admissions

By: and - June 29, 2023

Chief Justice John Roberts said the admissions processes at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

US Senate Democrats ask for more specifics on SNAP changes resulting from debt deal

By: - June 27, 2023

The deal to raise the country’s debt ceiling expands work requirements for adults without dependents age 18 to 55, raising the previous cutoff age of 49.

White House unveils $42.5B to connect every American to high-speed broadband internet

By: - June 26, 2023

Twenty-four million people lack access to high-speed internet because networks do not reach their homes or because of affordability issues, the White House said.

Swelling crowd of top military nominees blocked from U.S. Senate vote by Tuberville 

By: - June 16, 2023

Sen. Tommy Tuberville is provoking concern among his own party members as the highest-ranking U.S. Marine is set to retire July 10, and as Pentagon officials warn that the delay on nominations weakens military readiness

Tougher ethics rules for U.S. Supreme Court justices advocated in Senate hearing

By: - June 15, 2023

The series of Senate hearings came after recent revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas’ luxury travel and real estate transactions with a GOP donor.

Statue of renowned author Willa Cather unveiled in U.S. Capitol

By: - June 8, 2023

Cather wrote the widely acclaimed “O Pioneers!,” “My Ántonia” and the Pulitzer-winning “One of Ours,” depicting the human experience in Nebraska and beyond in the years surrounding the turn of the 20th century.

Hate groups’ political influence growing, watchdog says

By: - June 6, 2023

The report attributes some trends to “growing GOP extremism,” citing comments Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia made about the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

New work requirements for some SNAP recipients included in debt limit deal

By: - May 30, 2023

Work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and other government benefits were a sticking point during the months of stalemate.