Senate confirms Powell and Stein to Fed board

Senate Democrats on Thursday moved to drastically change the chamber's rules in what's known as the "nuclear option" — the last resort plan that they felt they had to do. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is trying to change the face of a federal judiciary that has a long tradition of white men passing judgment on parties from all walks of life — if he can get his nominees past the Senate.

Profiles of President Barack Obama's two nominees to the seven-member Federal Reserve Board who were confirmed by the Senate on Thursday.

The Senate’s votes to approve Jeremy Stein and Jerome Powell bring the seven-member Federal Reserve board to full strength for the first time since 2006, before the economic crisis struck.

The US Senate on Monday confirmed President Barack Obama's pick to head the FBI at a time of heightened scrutiny of US intelligence operations. James Comey, a respected former deputy attorney general, sailed through on a 93-1 vote, with two senators voting present.