Category: US Politics

U.S. House Republicans to release healthcare bill changes

FILE PHOTO: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady speaks with the media on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 14, 2017. Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives will release changes to their healthcare bill on Monday, a top lawmaker said, in hopes of winning passage for the legislation later this week, and eventually, in the Senate.

Avoiding the mistake of overconfidence

For weeks, Iraqi officials have sounded optimistic about the battle for Mosul, which is Iraq’s second-largest city. On Monday, they came very close to their own But by Tuesday, those troops were retreating in disorder.

Trump Got His Obama Wiretap Information From A Breitbart News Article

About 54 percent said they also believe the media “has assumed the role of the opposition party, constantly opposing the president and his policies at every turn”, seemingly consistent with Trump’s proclamation that the “fake news” media are “enemies of the American people”. Until Wednesday, Mr Spicer had steadfastly declined to discuss Mr Trump’s assertion that former president Barack Obama ordered wiretap surveillance of Trump Tower – an act that Mr Trump condemned as a scandal comparable in scale to McCarthyism or Watergate.

Top Trump confidante admits to speaking privately with…

OCTOBER 08: Political consultant Roger Stone speaks onstage during The New Yorker Festival 2016 – ‘President Trump: Life As We May Know It,’ featuring Max Boot, Amy Davidson, Roger Stone, and Sean Wilentz in conversation with Evan Osnos at MasterCard Stage at SVA Theatre on October 8, 2016 in New York City.

Trump confidante spoke to alleged Russian hacker

OCTOBER 08: Political consultant Roger Stone speaks onstage during The New Yorker Festival 2016 – ‘President Trump: Life As We May Know It,’ featuring Max Boot, Amy Davidson, Roger Stone, and Sean Wilentz in conversation with Evan Osnos at MasterCard Stage at SVA Theatre on October 8, 2016 in New York City.

Bill addresses ‘toxic relationship between US and Pakistan

Entitled “Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act of 2015,” a bill introduced by Rep. Ted Poe would designate Pakistan one of the world’s originators of globalized state-sponsored terrorism. Poe said upon introducing the bill on Thursday, “Not only is Pakistan an untrustworthy ally, Islamabad has also aided and abetted enemies of the United States for years,” Poe is the chairman of Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the House Foreign Relations Committee.

U.S. general says Russia has deployed banned missile

A senior U.S. general on Wednesday accused Russia of deploying a land-based cruise missile in violation of “the spirit and intent” of a nuclear arms treaty and charged that Moscow’s intention is to threaten U.S. facilities in Europe and the NATO alliance. “We believe that the Russians have deliberately deployed it in order to pose a threat to NATO and to facilities within the NATO area of responsibility,” Gen.

Rep. DeSantis visits Israel, tours possible US embassy sites

While President Trump has backed away from moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a ranking Republican Congressman visited the country Sunday, pushing for the controversial move. Ron DeSantis, the chair of the Subcommittee on National Security, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and toured four possible sites for the embassy relocation, including the two current U.S. consulates in West Jerusalem.

10 Things to Know for Monday

The president makes an unverified claim that Barack Obama had phones tapped at Trump Tower – which FBI Director James Comey denies and asks the Justice Department to publicly reject. The battle for al-Bab has displaced 40,000 residents, while another 26,000 people have fled fighting around Manbij and al-Khafseh, according to the United Nations.

Governors of Mexico write to support Seattle ‘dreamer’

This undated file photo provided by the law firm Public Counsel shows Daniel Ramirez Medina, 23, who was was brought to the U.S. illegally as a child but was protected from deportation by President Barack Obama’s administration. A federal magistrate in Seattle said Monday, Feb. 27, 2017 that he will not hold an immediate hearing on whether to release Ramirez, who was arrested by immigration agents despite his participation in federal program designed to protect those brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

Governors of Mexico write to support Seattle ‘dreamer’

This undated file photo provided by the law firm Public Counsel shows Daniel Ramirez Medina, 23, who was was brought to the U.S. illegally as a child but was protected from deportation by President Barack Obama’s administration. A federal magistrate in Seattle said Monday, Feb. 27, 2017 that he will not hold an immediate hearing on whether to release Ramirez, who was arrested by immigration agents despite his participation in federal program designed to protect those brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

White House eyes steep cuts to leading US climate science agency

Washington: President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to slash one of the government’s premier climate science agencies by 17 per cent, delivering steep cuts to research funding and satellite programs, according to a four-page budget memo obtained by The Washington Post.The proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would also eliminate funding for a variety of smaller programs including external research, coastal management, estuary reserves and “coastal resilience,” which seeks to bolster the ability of coastal areas to withstand major storms and rising seas.

White House eyes steep cuts to leading US climate science agency

Washington: President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to slash one of the government’s premier climate science agencies by 17 per cent, delivering steep cuts to research funding and satellite programs, according to a four-page budget memo obtained by The Washington Post.The proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would also eliminate funding for a variety of smaller programs including external research, coastal management, estuary reserves and “coastal resilience,” which seeks to bolster the ability of coastal areas to withstand major storms and rising seas.

Grandpa Wolcott

Shouldn’t James Wolcott retire? I read his latest spew in VANITY FAIR — online — and who needs it? Grandpa doesn’t like the left. We get it.

Indonesians shocked by Trump, but still admire US values

Indonesians are by turns shocked and bemused by Donald Trump’s volatile presidency, but many in the world’s most populous Muslim nation say his personality and actions – including his controversial travel ban – haven’t changed their positive view of the United States. There is a reservoir of goodwill in Indonesia toward the U.S., which Indonesians often see as a beacon for values they hope will flourish in their own country.

Russian ambassador in eye of storm over Trump campaign ties

The Trump administration’s back-to-back controversies over its Russian ties now have at least one thing in common: Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Moscow’s top diplomat is a Washington fixture with a sprawling network, and he has emerged as the central figure in the investigations into Trump advisers’ connections with Russia.

Donald Trump says he has ‘total’ confidence in Jeff Sessions; no need to recuse from Russia probe

Update: President Donald Trump says he “wasn’t aware” that his attorney general — former Sen. Jeff Sessions — had contact with the Russian ambassador during last year’s White House campaign. A growing number of Republicans joined Democratic leaders Thursday in calling for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to step aside from an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 White House election.

Critics: Delay shows travel ban isn’t urgent after all

Critics are seizing on the Trump administration’s decision to delay the issuance of a revised travel ban, saying it undermines the ban’s national security rationale. The new executive order was slated for a mid-week release, but a senior administration official told CNN after Trump’s speech to a joint address of Congress that the timeline was being pushed back in order to keep the spotlight on the positive reaction to his address.

Nation and world briefs

Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have signed book deals with Penguin Random House, the publisher announced Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed, although the deal is likely in the tens of millions of dollars.

Nunes rejects GOP calls for special prosecutor into Russian ties

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, rejected calls from his fellow Republican for a special prosecutor to investigate purported ties between Russia and members of President Trump’s administration and campaign. Earlier Saturday, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista , the former House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chair, said it would be inappropriate for Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was involved with the Trump campaign and is a Trump appointee, to investigate the matter.

Muhammad Ali Jr., mother detained at Florida airport, attorney says

LOUISVILLE, KY – Muhammad Ali’s son was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigators at a Florida airport earlier this month, his attorney confirmed on Saturday. Muhammad Ali Jr. and his mother, Khalilah Camacho-Ali, were arriving at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from Montego Bay, Jamaica on February 7 when they were directed to secondary inspections, Chris Mancini said.

Nigel Farage Says 2016 Was Victory Over Globalists

Nigel Farage, the member of European Parliament and U.K.Independence Party co-founder who assisted Donald Trump in his presidential campaign, called 2016 “the beginning of a global political revolution” that was going to “roll out across the rest of the West” at his CPAC speech this afternoon. Farage addressed Brexit, the British vote to leave the European Union, connecting it to President Trump’s victory, saying the U.K. should “reach out and make our own deals with our real friends,” which he described as countries that “speak English, have common law, and support us in crises.”

Why do populists get lost in translation?

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a regular contributor to PostEverything . Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, speaks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Oct. 10, 2016, at a news conference in Istanbul.

US senator revives bill cutting funds to PA over funding for terrorists

Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham will reintroduce legislation next week that would cut US funding to the Palestinian Authority if it continues to provide monetary support to the families of those who commit acts of terror against Israelis. The bill, known as the Taylor Force Act , was first introduced last year by Graham with former Indiana Republican Sen. Dan Coats and Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt.

US senator revives bill cutting funds to PA over funding for terrorists

Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham will reintroduce legislation next week that would cut US funding to the Palestinian Authority if it continues to provide monetary support to the families of those who commit acts of terror against Israelis. The bill, known as the Taylor Force Act , was first introduced last year by Graham with former Indiana Republican Sen. Dan Coats and Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt.

.com

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is preparing to make good on a pledge to veto a bill increasing personal income taxes as a bud One man said that North Korean agents are operating right now in South Korea, the United States and many other countries.

UK lawmakers debate downgrading Trump invite for state visit

President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May walk along the colonnades of the White House in Washington, Friday, January 27, 2017. US President Donald Trump should not be afforded the “rare privilege” of a state visit, a British opposition lawmaker said yesterday as Parliament debated a call for Trump’s invitation to be downgraded and stripped of its royal seal of approval.