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Steven T. Dennis
For Steven T. Dennis's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson walks out of a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Feb. 15.
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Feb 24, 2024
U.S. House speaker must now confront his own party’s sabotage
Multiple senior House Republicans, granted anonymity to speak frankly, now portray Mike Johnson as an insecure leader who faces a steep learning curve.
Emily’s List President Laphonza Butler
WORLD / Politics
Oct 2, 2023
Laphonza Butler tapped to replace Feinstein in U.S. Senate
Butler's appointment makes her the only Black woman in the current U.S. Senate and just the third in its history.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 21, 2023
Biden seeks to call McCarthy after debt-limit talks hit impasse
The president signaled over the weekend that he remains confident the U.S. government can avoid a catastrophic default.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 3, 2023
Pressure building ahead of deadline to avert catastrophic U.S. debt default
The U.S. is expected to reach a temporary agreement to increase the debt limit, allowing the government to continue borrowing money to fund its operations as negotiations continue.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 8, 2023
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy starts out with agenda already hemmed in by dissidents
The new House leader can't afford to lose even five Republican votes if all Democrats are present and voting against him, limiting his ability to deliver results from the start.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 22, 2022
Zelenskyy urges U.S. Congress to help Ukraine turn the corner in war
Zelenskyy told lawmakers in the House of Representatives chamber that he hoped they would continue to support Ukraine on a bipartisan basis.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 12, 2022
Biden vows to punish Saudis but struggles to calibrate response
The president would only say he was 'in the process” of evaluating consequences for the kingdom.
Japan Times
WORLD
Aug 8, 2022
Biden and his party look for midterm boost from breakthrough bill
The president and his party finally scored the win they've been waiting for heading into the November congressional elections. But it's uncertain it will be enough to save them.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 30, 2022
Explosive hearing on U.S. Capitol riot delivers blow to Trump as he eyes 2024 bid
The former president has so far maintained his hold on the Republican Party despite scandals and controversies that would have ended the careers of other politicians.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 29, 2022
Trump’s Jan. 6 rage gets vivid retelling in ex-aide’s testimony
Cassidy Hutchinson, then an assistant to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, gave the most gripping testimony yet in a House committee's hearings on the Capitol riot.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 4, 2022
Biden pledges to try to enshrine Roe into law if court strikes down landmark ruling
The Court's chief justice, John Roberts, said he had ordered the marshal of the court to investigate the source of the leak.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 3, 2022
Abortion surges as U.S. election issue with Roe v. Wade precedent on brink
It's unclear how a U.S. Supreme Court decision invalidating Roe would play among voters, especially in suburban House districts and the states where control of the Senate will be determined.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Apr 7, 2021
Biden plan still faces Senate hurdles even after procedural win
While the U.S. president now likely has several chances to pass parts of his economic agenda without needing any Republican votes, he still needs to keep his party unified.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Mar 22, 2021
U.S. Democrats inch toward possible historic move on filibuster
The fatal shootings in Atlanta last week have led one of the Senate’s long-standing Democrat supporters of the filibuster rule to say she’s now open to discussing potential changes to that process.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Oct 9, 2019
Russian operative said 'we made America great' after Trump's win: GOP-led Senate report
Kremlin-directed operatives opened champagne when Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016, according to a communication disclosed in a new Senate Intelligence Committee report outlining Russia's sweeping social media efforts to help him win.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets / ANALYSIS
May 3, 2019
Trump's 0-for-4 streak of Fed choices raises concern about vetting process
U.S. President Donald Trump has named four people for two seats on the Federal Reserve's board of governors. None of them have made it through the Senate, raising doubts about the president's central bank acumen and the White House's vetting process for nominees.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 9, 2016
Trump's groping tape threatens Republican's plan to retain control of Congress
One lewd tape of Donald Trump bragging 11 years ago about assaulting women and getting away with it has upended a year of carefully laid Republican strategy to keep control of Congress.

Longform

High-end tourism is becoming more about the kinds of experiences that Japan's lesser-known places can provide.
Can Japan lure the jet-set class off the beaten path?