Category: US Politics

Amid protests, UK lawmakers debate downgrading Trump visit

Thousands of protesters against U.S. President Donald Trump rallied outside Britain’s Parliament on Monday, while lawmakers inside urged the government to rescind its offer to the president of a state visit stamped with pomp, pageantry and royal approval. In a passionate debate that’s unlikely to change the British government’s position, Trump was labeled a misogynist, a bigot and a “petulant child” by opposition legislators.

US ‘not in Iraq to seize anybody’s oil’: Mattis

The United States is not about to plunder Iraq’s petroleum reserves, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who arrived in Baghdad on Feb. 20, said as he sought to soothe partners rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly said both while campaigning and since his election that America, whose troops occupied Iraq for eight years, should have grabbed Iraqi oil to help fund its war effort and to deprive the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant of a vital revenue source.

US Senator McCain meets Turkish leaders

U.S.’s Senior Republican Senator John McCain, who serves as a chairman for the Senate Armed Services Committee, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Y ld r m on Feb. 20. McCain, who has been an ardent promoter of U.S.-Turkey relations, was expected to discuss the Syrian crisis in Ankara. His visit came after U.S. Senate on December 2016 passed a defense policy bill that allows supplying portable surface-to-air missiles to Syrian opposition groups.

Thousands protest as MPs debate Donald Trump’s state visit

In a packed Westminster Hall, MPs were considering Theresa May’s decision to extend the invitation to the US president in a debate being held in response to petitions signed by millions of Britons. Anti-Trump chants were heard from Parliament Square before the debate, and appeared to die down as Labour MP Paul Flynn opened proceedings.

Chancellor Merkel: Germany Always Has Good Respect Between Government and Media

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told an audience including U.S. Vice President Mike Pence that she supports a “free, independent press” and that Germany has good experience with mutual respect between the government and the media. Merkel was asked Saturday at the Munich Security Conference whether she doubts the quality of American newspaper reporting on domestic politics.

Graham: Trump must punish Russia for election interference

A senior U.S. Republican senator urged President Donald Trump Sunday to take action against Russia over allegations that Moscow interfered in the election that brought him to power. U.S. intelligence officials have told Trump that Moscow tried to influence voters by hacking Democratic emails and trolling social media sites, but Trump has sought to downplay Russia’s role in the election.

What President Trump inherited

“I own nothing in Russia, I have no loans in Russia, I don’t have any deals in Russia”, Trump said. President Trump embraces white identity politics, which excludes Jews, Hispanics, Muslims, African-Americans, Asians -anyone who is not of Northern European heritage, white and Christian.

Pence says US to hold Russia accountable, stand with NATO

U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence on Saturday conveyed a message to jittery partners that the Trump administration will “hold Russia accountable” and maintain steadfast support for NATO, a military alliance the American commander in chief once dismissed as “obsolete.” In his overseas debut as vice-president, Pence told the audience at the Munich Security Conference that the U.S. would be “unwavering” in its commitment to NATO and that President Donald Trump would “stand with Europe.”

Ap Fact Check: The audacity of hype

In the Washington week that wasn’t, President Donald Trump’s new administration whirred like a “fine-tuned machine,” piling on big-league accomplishments at a pace never before seen. Immigration agents newly empowered by Trump’s call to secure borders sent hordes of bad foreigners back home, validating a president who won the most lopsided Electoral College victory since Ronald Reagan.

Today in History

On Feb. 18, 1977, the space shuttle prototype Enterprise, sitting atop a Boeing 747, went on its debut “flight” above Edwards Air Force Base in California. In 1913, Mexican President Francisco I. Madero and Vice President Jose Maria Pino Suarez were arrested during a military coup .

McCain says Flynn affair shows Trump administration in ‘disarray’

At the Munich Security Conference, McCain said the departure of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn shows that the Trump’s administration is “in many respects, in disarray”, remarking that “they’ve got a lot of work to do”. But McCain blurred the clear line he drew between his pro-Western orthodoxy and Trump’s new populism when he said that Pence and Trump appointee John Kelly would back him up with similar, pro-NATO, pro-democracy, pro-liberal values, pro-Western messages to the conference.

McCain slams Trump in Munich speech without using his name

Republican Sen. John McCain delivered a withering critique of President Donald Trump in a speech Friday that highlighted fractures within the GOP as the new administration struggles to overcome a chaotic start. Speaking in Germany at the Munich Security Conference, McCain didn’t mention the president’s name, according to the prepared text, while he lamented a shift in the United States and Europe away from the “universal values” that forged the Western alliance seven decades ago.

Lawmakers push for answers on Trump teama s Russia ties

A crisis over the relationship between President Donald Trump’s aides and Russia deepened as a growing number of Trump’s fellow Republicans demanded expanded congressional inquiries into the matter. Trump sought to focus attention on what he called criminal intelligence leaks about his ousted national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Trump charts new Mideast course; maybe no separate Palestine

President Donald Trump listens as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during their joint news conference Wednesday in the East Room of the White House. WASHINGTON – Charting a striking new course for the Middle East, President Donald Trump on Wednesday withheld clear support for an independent Palestine and declared he could endorse a one-nation solution to the long and deep dispute between Palestinians and Israel.

Politics is local, interest-based, race-based and ethnicity-based

Politics is local, interest-based, race-based and ethnicity-based. If not, why do the Gios and Manos in Nimba County always vote for Senator Prince Johnson; the poor for George Weah and his CDC; and why do we say that Grand Bassa is expected to go to Charles Brumskine; Lofa will go to VP Joe Boakai; and Bong may go to Weah-Taylor or to Cummings-Sulunteh if Sulunteh is VP to Cummings, etc? The same reason Congua were afraid and denied the native majority to right to vote and to form their own political parties from 1847 to 1980.

Trump toilets, condoms could be flushed after his China win

President Donald Trump’s triumph in the fight to wrest back his brand for construction services in China could spell the end of more than 225 Trump-related marks here that don’t belong to him, including Trump toilets, Trump condoms, Trump pacemakers and even a “Trump International Hotel.” After a decade of grinding battle in China’s courts, an official finding in Trump’s favor expected this week could signal a shift in fortune for the U.S. president’s intellectual property.

For Flynn replacement, Trump should ditch the status quo

National security adviser Mike Flynn resigned late on Monday when it became apparent he not only held diplomatic discussions with a Russian ambassador before President Trump was sworn into office, but also misled senior United States officials about the nature of those conversations. The White House is now considering Vice Adm.

Government insists on ‘full courtesy’ of state visit for Trump despite petition

The Government has insisted that US President Donald Trump should be extended the “full courtesy” of a state visit to Britain later this year in response to a 1.85-million strong petition against it. In a statement, the Foreign Office said the Government “recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition”.

AP Sources: Justice warned White House about Flynn contacts

Joseph Dunford, left, and National Security Adviser Michael Flynn as he arrives via Air Force One at MacDill Air Forc… . Kellyanne Conway, left, and Stephen Miller, both senior advisers to President Donald Trump, walk to a news conference with President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Feb. 10, 2017, at the White House in Washin… .

Donald Trump, Benjamim Netanyahu to discuss tough line on Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetA anyahu are expected to agree on a tough line toward Iran but are unlikely to call for an end to the international nuA clear deal with Tehran during NetA anyahu’s visit to Washington. After eight years of U.S.-Israeli differences under Trump’s predeA cessor, Barack Obama, Netanyahu is hoping to establish a strong bond with the staunchly pro-Israel Trump administration.

Voting for Trump Is the 2nd Biggest Turn-Off for NYC Singles, Study Finds

As much as we’d like to keep stressful American politics far away from our personal lives, many consider it too important of a topic to keep on the back burner while navigating the dating pool. For some, like a friend of a friend who lives in Brooklyn, it’s actually issue number one: her Tinder bio reads, “Ignorance will not be tolerated The seventh annual Match.com Singles in America survey, which polled 5,000 18 t0 71-year-old U.S. singles of all races, genders and sexual orientations, shows she’s not alone.

Senate nears confirmation of Trumpa s pick to head Treasury

The Senate is poised to confirm President Donald Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary despite complaints by Democrats that Steven Mnuchin failed to protect thousands of homeowners from unnecessary foreclosures when he headed OneWest Bank. Votes on Trump’s Cabinet picks have exposed deep partisan divisions in the Republican-controlled Senate, with many of the nominees approved by mostly party-line votes.

Netanyahu pledges to promote ‘responsible policies’ at Trump meeting

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he would present “responsible policies” in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, signaling to the Israeli far-right to curb its territorial demands in the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu leaves for Washington on Monday and will see Trump at the White House on Wednesday for their first meeting since the Republican’s inauguration last month, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and policy toward Iran on the agenda.

Tom Price sworn in as health and human services secretary

Rep. Tom Price of Georgia was sworn in Friday as health and human services secretary, setting the stage for the conservative to play a leading role in dismantling President Barack Obama’s health care law. Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath to Price hours after he won Senate confirmation on a narrow 52-47 vote early Friday.

South African MPs brawl with security guards in parliament

‘THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!’ Furious Donald Trump tweets that he’ll appeal San Francisco court’s ruling as judges unanimously REFUSE to reinstate his travel ban Shocking moment 18-year-old serial offender is shot dead a fraction of a second after pointing his gun at a cop Hillary Clinton was ‘replaced on Vogue cover by Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner after election loss’ as fashion bible reveals it will cover Melania Trump moving forward Alexa really IS everywhere: Amazon boss Jeff Bezos admits he has installed smart AI speakers in every room in his house Driver dies after his semi-truck is blown off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel by 40mph winds into the frigid waters below Mother-of-two is charged in child pornography case involving an ex-firefighter who dressed as clown for kid-safety program Married couple arrested after ‘targeting two of their 16-year-old daughter’s … (more)

It’s about time someone attacked Australia. Thank you, President Trump.

The president gave Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull a good chewing out this week, telling him a refugee agreement between the two countries was the “worst deal ever,” calling their conversation the “worst call” and abruptly ending the exchange 25 minutes into what was supposed to be an hour-long talk. It was clear from accounts of the talk that Trump thinks Turnbull is almost as much of a basket case as the Mexican guy Trump yelled at the week before.

Stop picking Tulsi

I’m getting really tired of US House Rep. Tulsi Gabbard being targeted. She’s one of the few members of Congress actually attempting to do her job, When Liza Featherstone started her nonsense on Tulsi, I stopped going to Featherstone’s Twitter feed.

The Latest: Trump press need for tougher immigration checks

President Donald Trump is pressing the need for more stringent screening while his immigration order is on hold by the courts. Trump says in remarks at the U.S. Central Command at the MacDill Air Force base in Florida that, “We need strong programs” so that “people that love us and want to love our country and will end up loving our country are allowed in” and those who “want to destroy us and destroy our country” are kept out.

Iranian exiles linked to Cabinet pick

An official in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet and at least one of his advisers gave paid speeches for organizations linked to an Iranian exile group that killed Americans before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Elaine Chao, confirmed last week as Trump’s transportation secretary, received $50,000 in 2015 for a five-minute speech to the political wing of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, previously called a “cult-like” terrorist group by the State Department.