Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) said Tuesday she doesn’t “understand” Americans who support Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine.

“I don’t understand any American siding with Putin, but we’ve seen it and we’ve heard it and we have to fight against it,” Clinton said in an interview with PBS NewsHour’s Geoff Bennett.

Clinton was asked by Bennett about a “growing” divide in American politics over funding and support for Ukraine in their fight against Russia and how she thinks the Russian leader views it. She said she thinks Putin is “thrilled” about this divide.

“I think he is fomenting it as well,” Clinton said. “Putin and his team that does the kind of interventions, covert and overt, aiming to undermine democracy and to suborn political leaders, is a big part of how he sees his role.”

Her comments come after recent tension in Congress over funding for Ukraine as a possible government shutdown loomed. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he had “questions” for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when asked about renewed funding for Ukraine earlier this month.

“Where’s the accountability on the money we already spent?” McCarthy said, listing off questions he said he would ask the Ukrainian leader when he met with him later that week. “What is the plan for victory?”

“Look, what Russia has done — invade — is wrong,” McCarthy later continued. “It’s an atrocity. We want to make sure that ends. I also have always said from the beginning, no matter what the issue is, I want accountability for whatever the hardworking taxpayers spend their money on, and I want a plan for victory.”

​ Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) said Tuesday she doesn’t “understand” Americans who support Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine. “I don’t understand any American siding with Putin, but we’ve seen it and we’ve heard it and we have to fight against it,” Clinton said in an interview with PBS NewsHour’s… 

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the new chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday announced that he would hold back $235 million in U.S. military financing to Egypt.

The move comes after the committee’s former chair, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), was forced to step down from the leadership position following his indictment in a New York federal court, where is alleged to have taken bribes in exchange for using his position to help Egypt’s government.

Cardin said he exercised his authority to hold the military financing for Egypt until Cairo takes meaningful steps to improve human rights conditions in the country. 

“Congress has been clear, through the law, that the government of Egypt’s record on a range of critical human rights issues, good governance, and the rule of law must improve if our bilateral relationship is to be sustained,” Cardin said in a statement.

The chairman said that the U.S. and Egypt share strategic, long-standing interests and that the country’s stability is important to American national security interests, but improving its human rights record also must be a priority. 

Cardin called for Egypt to deliver on reforming and improving its pre-trial detention practices, to accelerate the pardon and release of political prisoners, including thousands imprisoned for their speech and association, and to provide space for human rights defenders, civil society advocates, political opposition, and independent media in Egypt.

“My hold on current funds will remain until specific human rights progress is made,” he said.

Cardin’s move puts him in conflict with the Biden administration, which had issued a waiver to deliver the $235 million in foreign military financing to Egypt, saying it was imperative to national security. The administration withheld $85 million to express its concerns on human rights.

Cardin said he spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and said he intends to work with the Biden administration “on our shared goal of protecting and expanding human rights in Egypt.”

​ Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the new chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday announced that he would hold back $235 million in U.S. military financing to Egypt. The move comes after the committee’s former chair, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), was forced to step down from the leadership position following his indictment in a… 

Investors have historically been skeptical of green hydrogen. High production costs, expensive infrastructure builds, competition with batteries and minimal government support have made the green hydrogen sector a risky bet. But at least one company, Electric Hydrogen, seems to have found a way to convince investors that its tech is a bet they should take. […]

​ Investors have historically been skeptical of green hydrogen. High production costs, expensive infrastructure builds, competition with batteries and minimal government support have made the green hydrogen sector a risky bet. But at least one company, Electric Hydrogen, seems to have found a way to convince investors that its tech is a bet they should take.