Former Trump aide Bannon refuses to comply with US House subpoena

President Donald Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon declined on Tuesday to comply with a subpoena ordering him to answer questions from a House intelligence panel about his time at the White House as part of its investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. election. FILE PHOTO: Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon speaks during a campaign event for Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Judge Roy Moore in Fairhope, Alabama, U.S., December 5, 2017.

Homeland Security Secretary Says She ‘Did Not Hear’ Trump Use ‘That’ Vulgar Word

The Secretary of Homeland Security testified Tuesday that she did not hear President Trump use a vulgarity in a meeting with lawmakers about immigration last week. The president was widely reported to have used a disparaging word to describe African nations and wondered aloud why people from countries like Haiti were allowed to come to the United States.

FAA probes reason storm snarled flights at Kennedy airport

The Federal Aviation Administration says it is investigating the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's actions during a winter snowstorm that caused major disruptions at Kennedy Airport. The FAA says it will seek to determine whether the Port Authority complied with regulations requiring the timely removal of snow from all aircraft movement areas.

Pelosi, ACLU Criticize Trump as He Proclaims Religious Freedom Day

President Trump proclaimed January 16th as Religious Freedom Day the White House announced Tuesday. The day was chosen because it is the anniversary of the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, a bill penned by former President Thomas Jefferson that served as inspiration for the First Amendment.

Two more 3rd District candidates announce fundraising numbers

Two more of the 13 Democrats seeking to replace 3rd District Rep. Niki Tsongas in November have released their latest fundraising numbers: Lori Trahan, of Westford, and Beej Das, a former Andover resident who recently moved to Lowell. Trahan's campaign announced it has raised more than $550,000, making her the female candidate with the strongest fundraising numbers in 2017.

Kirstjen Nielsen says she does not know if Norwegians are mostly…

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she imagines most Norwegians are white, but did not know for sure, when questioned by a Democratic senator Tuesday morning. Nielsen was testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee when she was asked by Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy if most people in Norway are white.

DHS secretary snaps after Dems push her on ‘shithole’ comment: ‘I have answered this!’

DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Tuesday snapped at Senate Democrats who hounded her repeatedly over whether President Trump said some countries were "shithole countries" in a meeting last week. Nielsen was testifying at the Senate Judiciary Committee, where five Democrats each made a point of asking her about Trump's reported comment.

DHS Secretary Memory Bad When It Comes to “Tough Language” Trump Used

As Sen. Richard Durbin looks on, Sen. Patrick Leahy questions Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen during a hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee January 16, 2018 in Washington, DC. Leahy and Durbin both questioned Nielsen about derogatory language reportedly used by U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting last week on immigration.

Tsongas: Puerto Rico needs ‘robust federal partner’

Four months after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, the devastation and difficulty recovering is still apparent across the island, something that U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas and other members of the congressional delegation from Massachusetts saw firsthand during a visit last week. Officials toured a community health center and a children's hospital, observed damage from a helicopter and met with leaders of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was criticized for an initially slow response, as they work to help the island rebuild.

Lawsuit: VA doctors left scalpel in Army veteran’s body 4 years after surgery

A U.S. Army veteran from Connecticut has filed a lawsuit against the Veterans Administration for leaving a scalpel in his abdomen for four years after he had surgery in 2013. Glenford Turner, 61, had been complaining about abdominal pain ever since he underwent a radical prostatectomy four years ago.

Shutdown looms as Republicans seek short-term spending deal for government

Chances of a government shutdown grew Monday as Republicans concluded that they would be unable to pass a long-term spending bill by the Friday deadline. GOP leaders are now turning to a short-term funding measure in hopes of keeping agencies open while talks continue, but Democratic leaders say they are unlikely to support any deal that does not protect young illegal immigrants.

Democrats decree death in the swamp for the Dreamers

Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and their Democratic followers laid a careful trap for their Republican tormentors, and then fell in it. The Republican leadership can keep them from climbing out if they're smart and show a little courage.

Senator to DOT: Press foreign airlines on JFK communication

Sen. Charles Schumer wants federal transportation officials to urge foreign airlines to work better with the operators of New York's Kennedy Airport after winter weather woes cascaded into days of cancellations and delays this month. The Senate Democratic leader notes that the department issues documents allowing foreign airlines to operate in the U.S. He suggests that it "utilize that leverage" to encourage foreign carriers to "develop more meaningful communication systems and contingency plans" with Kennedy's governmental and private operators.