Intelligence Committee Democrats: Trump Jr.’s reported meeting with Arab princes could be crime

The top Democrats on the Senate and House intelligence committees said Sunday Trump campaign officials may have committed a crime if a new report proves true: that three months before the 2016 election, President Trump's son met with two Arab princes and an Israeli political operative who offered to help his father win the presidential election. On Saturday, the New York Times reported that Donald Trump Jr. met on Aug. 3, 2016 with two wealthy princes, from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, along with Joel Zamel, an Israeli expert in "social media manipulation."

Democrats Have Georgia Governorship on Their Minds, But Face Challenges

The party's two primary candidates are a snapshot of a larger debate within the party about how to win in red states ATLANTA-Georgia Democrats, long underdogs in this red state, hoped to present a unified front this year as they pushed to elect a governor, a post they haven't held since 2003. Instead, they have the Battle of the Two Staceys: Tuesday's primary showdown between Stacey Abrams, an African-American former state House minority leader who lives in Atlanta, and Stacey Evans, a white former state representative from the city's northern suburbs.

On the media, the FBI and other ‘animals’

Anyone expecting President Donald Trump supporters to soften up on their allegiance to the president heading into the November midterm elections is sadly mistaken. This past week, Democrats, the FBI and the liberal elite media gave Team Trump strong reasons to remain solidly behind the Republican commander-in-chief and his "drain the swamp" cause.

Russia probe pushback: 5 times the pattern plays oout

President Donald Trump started his Friday with a provocative tweet: "Reports are there was indeed at least one FBI representative implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign for president. It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a 'hot' Fake News story.

Jeff Jacoby: Fire your congressman? There’s a fund for that

NORBERT RICHTER, an engineer whose business is the construction of ultra-light turbine helicopters, has a knack for getting innovative contraptions off the ground. That skill may prove handy as he attempts to gain altitude for a different sort of vehicle: a scheme to disrupt the shield of incumbency that makes it almost impossible to dislodge a sitting member of Congress.

Haspel can tap undercover work in Russian operations

Scrutiny of the 33-year spy career of new CIA director Gina Haspel has focused on her undercover role in the harsh interrogation of suspected terrorists, but she cut her teeth in intelligence operations against Russia. She's sure to tap that latter experience as she takes over at the nation's premier intelligence agency at a time of rising tension with Moscow.

NYT: Donald Trump Jr. met with Gulf emissary at Trump Tower ahead of 2016 election

Three months before the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump Jr. met with a small group of people at Trump Tower in New York, including an emissary for two Arab princes and an Israeli social media specialist, who offered assistance to the Trump campaign, The New York Times reported on Saturday, citing several people with knowledge of the encounters. The Times identified the emissary as George Nader, a Lebanese-American businessman, and reported that he informed Trump Jr., President Donald Trump's son, "that the crown princes who led Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were eager to help his father win election as president."

Minnesota lawmakers’ work on long to-do list with time short

Minnesota lawmakers settled in for a long weekend Saturday as Republican party leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton continued searching for a compromise on a long list of priorities they set out to meet this year. Efforts to curb opioid abuse, regulation changes to senior care facilities amid reports of rampant abuse, conformity to the federal tax overhaul, funding public schools and securing schools are at the forefront of negations.

Women power at full throttle with USS Manchester

The strength and force of the 608-ton, 421-foot future USS Manchester is undeniable. But perhaps one of the most historic aspects of the U.S. Navy's newest littoral combat ship is the clout of the women behind it.

The latest political back and forth, on both sides of the aisle, as…

Politico has two fascinating new articles about on-going political debates and maneuvering surrounding the FIRST STEP Act. That proposal, as reported here, received a 25-5 vote in favor in the House Judiciary Committee ten days ago, and it seems to be the top federal criminal justice reform bill with a real chance to get to the desk of Prez Trump in the coming months.

Hundreds hold hands against offshore drilling on gulf beaches

Dominic Girard, 3, from New Port Richey, Fla., plays on in the surf while a large crowd holds hands along the water for the Hands Across the Sand event, on Saturday on Indian Rocks Beach. This is an annual event held globally to raise awareness about the dangers of dirty fuels and the need to speed the transition to available, affordable, clean energy solutions.

In unusual twist, primary challenges loom for 5 in US House

Several members of Massachusetts' all-Democratic congressional delegation are getting a run for their money this year - from within their own party. Five of the eight House incumbents seeking re-election face challenges in the September primary, pending final certification of nominating signatures.

Texas governor vows to look at school safety after attackAssociated Press

The mass shooting at a Texas high school Friday led to promises from the state's top Republicans to look for ways to improve school safety, but none of them suggested that substantial gun restrictions could be on the table. Gov. Greg Abbott, a staunch advocate for gun rights, said at a news conference after authorities say a student killed 10 people and wounded 10 others at a high school in Santa Fe, near Houston, that he will start holding "round table" discussions on guns and school safety issues starting next week.

Minnesota lawmakers’ to-do list is long but time is short

Minnesota lawmakers are in the homestretch, facing a lengthy to-do list and less than two days to finish their work. Republican leaders who control the House and Senate say they may move fast to pass a $28 million bill for school security upgrades as negations continue with Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton on a host of priorities.

CIA’s Haspel can tap undercover work in Russian operations – Sat, 19 May 2018 PST

Gina Haspel arrives to her confirmation hearing at the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, May 9, 2018, in Washington. Haspel's 33-year spy career began as the Cold War was thawing, but she was in the shadows countering Russian intelligence agencies that never stopped trying to penetrate the U.S. government.

GOP wary of Trump as midterm elections near

Some Republican candidates fear that the unscripted and relatively unpopular president could do more harm than good should he campaign on their behalf. Leading party strategists want Trump to focus his time and energy on a handful of Senate contests in deep-red states where Democratic incumbents are particularly vulnerable.