Ramsey Touchberry
Washington Correspondent
Ramsey Touchberry is a Washington Correspondent for Newsweek based in the nation's capital.
Prior to joining Newsweek in 2018, Ramsey was a multimedia reporter at the local NPR and PBS affiliate WUFT News in Gainesville, Florida. While there, he reported for TV, radio and web, primarily focusing on local and state politics. He also investigated county animal shelters' euthanization rates and the struggles Florida felons face when re-entering society, stories that won a regional Hearst and Murrow award, respectively. In 2017, Ramsey was a USA Today College correspondent, where he reported on higher education news.
Originally from the Sunshine State, Ramsey graduated from the University of Florida in the spring of 2018 where he studied both digital and broadcast journalism. You can contact him at r.touchberry@newsweek.com and via encrypted email at r.touchberry@protonmail.com.
Paul Stalls Anti-Lynching Bill As Lawmakers Plead For Racial Healing
"Let us pass this piece of legislation today of all days. Let's give a headline tomorrow or something that will give hope to this country that we can get it right," Senator Cory Booker said.
GOP's Murkowski is 'Struggling' to Vote For Trump Over Protest Response
The condemnation from former Defense Secretary James Mattis and the GOP senator add to the growing list of politicos and military figures who have denounced Trump's handling of the civil unrest that has sparked in cities from coast to coast over the death of a black man by a white police officer.
Unemployed Workers Could Still Get Extra Money in GOP's Next Stimulus Plan
Though they initially gave the cold shoulder to the idea of extending the $600 per week bonus past its July 31 deadline, Senate Republicans are warming to the idea of stretching the extra payout period while reducing the benefit.
Congress Rushes to Tackle Police Reform As Some Question Role in Fixing It
Lawmakers are split on how to address the strained relationships that persist between law enforcement and communities of color.
Some Republicans Say Protesters Weren't Teargassed Outside White House
Their comments came despite video evidence and first-hand accounts showing a non-hostile crowd that was dispersed by riot shields, rubber bullets, tear gas and police horses so the president could walk across the street to pose for the photo with a Bible in his hand.
Democrats Plan Official Rebuke of Trump for Teargassing Peaceful Protesters
The resolution, which also accuses the president of "violating the constitutional rights of those peaceful protesters," is expected to be blocked by Republicans.
What to Watch for As These 8 States and D.C. Head to the Primaries
While the Democratic presidential primary has all but been determined, members of Congress in both parties are up against some tough primary races. And the key congressional contests will come as a test for November on whether America can successfully—and safely—vote during a health crisis.
Pandemic Expected to Shrink U.S. GDP by $8 Trillion, Report Shows
A report from the Congressional Budget Office shows the pandemic has devastated U.S. businesses and spending to the extent that it will shrink the country's gross domestic product by nearly $8 trillion over the next decade.
Legislation to Punish China for COVID-19 on Track to Outpace 9/11 Proposals
In the eyes of many in Congress and the Trump administration, China has painted a target on its own back.
Why a Bipartisan Revolt Killed the House's Spy Bill
The move to nix a vote that would reauthorize expired portions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act comes after a collapse of broad support for legislation that was the culmination of months of negotiations between the White House, the Justice Department and Congress.
Top Republican Tells Trump to Stop Tweeting Conspiracy About MSNBC Host
President Trump has repeated a debunked conspiracy theory that falsely claims Joe Scarborough committed murder in 2001 against a woman who worked in his office when he was a Florida congressman.
White House Considers Paying Unemployed People to Return to Work
Under Senator Rob Portman's proposal, the federal government would pay $450 a week to those who return to the workforce. Republicans have argued that the extra $600 per week jobless bonus now in place is a disincentive for people to go back to work.
New Stimulus Could Come in 'Next Month or So,' McConnell Says
The Kentucky Republican has said in recent weeks that he is eyeing another stimulus worth around $1 trillion, which is unlikely to include another round of individual checks for Americans.
House to Extend Small-Business Loan Aid, Restore Government Spy Powers
The votes will mark the first time in American history that members will not have to be physically present on the floor for their position to be officially counted.
Battle Over Church Openings in California Could Hear from Supreme Court
A current shelter-in-place order prohibits churches from congregating. But as public pressure mounts on state and local leaders across the country, a church and its bishop wants the nation's highest court to weigh in on the legal dispute.
WHO Pauses Hydroxychloroquine Trial Amid Safety Concerns
The trial pause comes the day after the president revealed he was no longer taking the unproven coronavirus treatment and prevention method that health experts and officials—including within the Trump administration—have warned not to use.
Trump Touts Americans' 'Sheer Determination' in Memorial Day Speech
The president's solemn events on Monday honoring the men and women who gave their lives to defend American freedom were in stark contrast to how he spent the rest of his Memorial Day weekend.
A Grizzly-Fighting, Independent Doctor From Alaska Could Turn Senate Blue
Between out-fundraising his Republican opponent, the state's political makeup and the absence of a Democratic candidate, the independent has caught the eye of the Democratic Party.
Stimulus Bill 'Coming Sooner Rather Than Later': Trump Economic Adviser
Kevin Hassett said the probability of another stimulus package is "pretty likely," an acknowledgement that more action will need to be taken to help lift the economy out of its Depression-era unemployment amid a bleak April jobs report released Friday.
As Stimulus Support Grows, Lawmakers Eye New Potential Proposals
Unlike previous coronavirus stimulus packages, where lawmakers across the board felt they were direly needed, this one will likely feature a more strenuous political battle with tedious negotiations.
Another Stimulus Is 'Inevitable' but Not Until Summer, Republicans Say
Republican senators are looking to pass new relief legislation before the July Fourth break.
Knocking Trump, Republican Group to Run Ad Promoting Vote-By-Mail
The $50,000 ad-purchase is a direct rebuke to President Trump and will come during his trip to a Ford Motor Co. manufacturing plant in Michigan and amid false claims about voting by mail.
Oversight of COVID-19 Aid at Risk as Pelosi, McConnell Fight Over a Leader
The lack of a bipartisan deal between the political adversaries over who should lead a panel to oversee pandemic relief has the potential to delay and even hamstring its oversight efforts.
Amid U.S.-China Tensions, Senate Hits at Chinese-Owned Companies
The measure, approved by unanimous consent, would bar companies under foreign government control from appearing on U.S. stock exchanges.
Republicans Signal Another Stimulus Will Come—But Not Anytime Soon
The effects of anything Congress does pass will likely not be felt for months to come, with potential legislation still weeks away from being approved. Still, some GOP senators said following a meeting with President Trump that there is growing acceptance among them that more relief is inevitable.
Fed Chair Warns Economic Recovery Could Be Hampered Without More State Aid
"What Congress has done to date has been remarkably timely and forceful," Jerome Powell told senators. "I do think we need to take a step back and ask over time: Is it enough?"
Fed Chair: Reserve Using 'Full Range of Tools' to Fight Economic Decline
"We are committed to using our full range of tools to support the economy in this challenging time even as we recognize that these actions are only a part of a broader public-sector response," Fed Chair Jerome Powell will say during congressional testimony on Tuesday.
WH Adviser: Another Stimulus May Not be Needed as States Reopen
Kevin Hassett's remarks come just days after House Democrats passed a second massive stimulus worth $3 trillion along mostly party lines. However, it is going nowhere fast: Senate Republicans have said the legislation is dead-on-arrival.
Most Americans Would Get Second $1,200 Check Under Bill Passed by House
Among the provisions included is a second round of checks that would gradually phase out for individuals, head of households and joint filers whose adjusted gross incomes exceed certain amounts.
Why Some Dems Bucked Their Own Party to Oppose a $3 Trillion Relief Package
Democratic leadership struggled to appease its own caucus, resulting in some moderates and one liberal crossing the aisle and joining Republicans to vote against the massive economic relief package.
