Democratic senator issues ultimatum to White House over Asian American representation
CBSN
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth issued a stern ultimatum to White House senior officials this morning: she won't vote to confirm any more White nominees until Asian Americans are named to more high level positions in the Biden administration.
"I'm voting no on all non-diversity nominees until they figure that out," Duckworth told CBS News. "We don't have anybody either (at a senior level) in the West Wing or in a cabinet-level position, and I don't think that's a good message to send to a significant portion of our nation's population — a population that's really hurting right now after a year of being under attack." Duckworth says she discussed her position with White House senior adviser Steve Ricchetti in a phone call Tuesday morning, and that he "told me that they were committed to figuring it out and that they would get back in touch with me."
Washington — Amid Trump administration demands for Tehran to keep the free flow of commerce in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. officials have told CBS News that there are at least a dozen underwater mines through the vital passageway, according to current American intelligence assessments. Arden Farhi, Kathryn Watson, Caroline Linton, Aimee Picchi and Layla Ferris contributed to this report.

Washington — President Trump said early Monday that he is postponing airstrikes on Iran's power plants after "very good and productive conversations" over the last two days about reopening the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iran's foreign ministry denied any such talks. Claire Day contributed to this report. In:











