Senate votes to confirm Haspel as first female CIA director

CIA nominee Gina Haspel testifies May 9 during a confirmation hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. On a 54-45 vote that split both parties, the Senate on Thursday confirmed her as the first female director of the CIA.

In film, McCain says Americans deserve more from Washington

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other lawmakers stop by an event on Capitol Hill during the debut a documentary film about Sen. John McCain, in Washington, Thursday, May 17, 2018. McCain, currently away from the Senate, was diagnosed in last July with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Gina Haspel confirmed as first female CIA chief despite interrogation row

The US Senate has confirmed Gina Haspel as the CIA's first female director despite her role in one of the darkest chapters in the spy agency's history. Ms Haspel was a controversial choice because of her role in a former CIA programme to brutally detain and interrogate terror suspects at covert sites abroad following the 9/11 attacks.

Analysis: Trump misses NAFTA deadline, brags about negotiating skills

President Donald Trump on Thursday missed House Speaker Paul Ryan's deadline for a new North American trade deal, cast doubt on prospects for averting a trade war with China hours before meeting a top Chinese official, and bragged about his negotiating skills. All in all, it was just another day in the president's ongoing effort to remake U.S. trade policy.

The Latest: House votes to leave US sugar program alone

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., promotes this year's renewal of the farm bill during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 17, 2018. GOP leaders have crafted the bill as a measure for tightening work and job training requirements for food stamps.

Republican says leaders discuss votes on 2 immigration bills

Republican leaders have discussed scheduling House votes on two immigration bills, two GOP lawmakers said Thursday, a move they hope would resolve an internal battle over an issue that threatens to worsen party divisions as the election season heats up. Under the still-evolving idea, one bill would resemble legislation strongly backed by conservatives that would curb legal immigration and open the door to building President Donald Trump's prized wall with Mexico.

McConnell Warns That Senate Is In Play

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told the Washington Post that control of the Senate is "absolutely" in play in the midterm elections, identifying the nine battleground states he believes will decide the outcome in November. Said McConnell: "I always think it's better to be candid and not try to spin people into thinking this isn't going to be a challenging election.

White House Limits Meeting Size to Stop Leaks

"The White House communications office has canceled a large daily morning meeting in response to the leak of a joke about Sen. John McCain being close to death that a staff member made at one of those meetings," the New York Times reports. "The meeting, which brought together roughly 30 communications staff members from the West Wing, did not take place Thursday or the two days prior.

Senate votes to confirm Haspel as 1st female CIA director

The Senate confirmed Gina Haspel on Thursday as the first female director of the CIA following a difficult nomination process that reopened an emotional debate about brutal interrogation techniques in one of the darkest chapters in the spy agency's history. The 54-45 vote split both parties, with six Democrats joining most Republicans in support.

John and Cindy McCain Toast 37 Years of Marriage

Sen. John McCain, who continues his brave battle with brain cancer, wished his wife Cindy a happy 37th wedding anniversary on Thursday. In a heartwarming note posted on Twitter, the 81-year-old Arizona Republican gushed: "Happy 37th anniversary to my love @cindymccain - time flies when you're having fun!" And Cindy posted her own salute to the anniversary, saying on Twitter: "What a great life we've had.

Senate Confirms Gina Haspel as CIA Director

The U.S. Senate confirmed Gina Haspel on Thursday to be director of the CIA, ending a bruising confirmation fight centered on her ties to the spy agency's past use of waterboarding and other brutal interrogation techniques. Haspel, who will be the first woman director of the CIA, is a 33-year veteran at the agency currently serving as its acting director.

Legislation to Curb Chinese Deals Moves Through Congress

After more than a year of negotiation, committees in both chambers of Congress are set to advance versions of a major bill aimed at blocking sensitive Chinese deals, heightening the chances the proposed legislation will become law this year. The bill-which has prompted debate among lawmakers and businesses with interests in China-would affect both foreign firms seeking deals in the U.S. and American companies doing business abroad by tightening the processes for vetting inbound and outbound investment.

Trump draws rebuke for ‘animal’ remark at immigration talk 3 hours ago

While railing against California for its so-called sanctuary immigration policies, President Donald Trump referred to some people who cross the border illegally as "animals" - drawing a sharp rebuke from Democratic leaders for the harsh rhetoric. "We have people coming into the country, or trying to come in -- and we're stopping a lot of them," Trump said during the immigration round table after a sheriff commented about gangs.

Confirmation vote for CIA chief brings out Democratic rift

The political schism in the Democratic Party is playing out in the confirmation vote for Gina Haspel as CIA director, as support from red-state senators facing re-election bumps up against a more liberal flank eyeing potential 2020 presidential bids and rejecting the nominee over the agency's clouded history of torture. Haspel's confirmation became all but certain with a favorable 10-5 vote Wednesday by the Senate Intelligence Committee.