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By ADAM PEARCE FEB. 9, 2017 Historically, the Senate voted with little opposition to confirm a president’s first slate of cabinet nominees. As Congress has become more partisan and quicker to oppose incoming presidents, more nominees have faced contentious confirmation votes. With less than half of his cabinet in place, President Trump’s confirmed nominees have already faced an unprecedented level of opposition. Only five first-year nominees have ever received 40 or more “no” votes. Three of those nominees were under Mr. Trump. Number of “no” votes Cabinet nominees during a president’s first year in office After a 50-50 vote on Tuesday, Betsy DeVos was the first cabinet nominee ever to require a  tie-breaking confirmation vote  from a vice president. Jeff Sessions was confirmed as attorney general on Wednesday despite receiving 47 “no” votes, the third highest number among all first-year nominees. John G. Tow...

US Senator Bernie Sanders (Photo by AFP) Donald Trump is a “fraud,” says Senator Bernie Sanders, blasting the US president for breaking his campaign pledges by installing billionaires in his cabinet. Sanders, whose presidential bid revolved around fighting Wall Street and corporate interests, told CNN on Sunday that Trump was effectively “working for Wall Street.” “It is hard not to laugh to see President Trump alongside these Wall Street guys,” the Vermont senator said. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful. This guy is a fraud. This guy ran for president of the United States saying ‘I, Donald Trump, I’m going to take on Wall Street. These guys are getting away with murder.’ Then suddenly he appoints all these billionaires,” he added. Many of Trump’s cabinet picks are self-declared millionaires with proven ties to Wall Street. His designated Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, for example, is a former ...