Trump lies on fallen vets, taxes & more

President Donald Trump's boast that he surpasses his predecessors in consoling families of the fallen proved empty this past week as many stepped forward to say they'd never heard from him after losing their loved ones in military service. The suddenly fraught and politically charged subject overshadowed other misfires from the president, on taxes, hurricane relief and more.

Former presidents call for unity at hurricane aid concert

In this Jan. 7, 2009 file photo, Then-President George W. Bush, center, poses with President-elect Barack Obama, and former presidents, from left, George H.W. Bush, left, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, right, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. All five living former U.S. presidents will be attending a concert Saturday night, Oct. 21, 2017, in a Texas college town, raising money for relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria's devastation in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Bannon Attacks George W. Bush After Ex-President Decried ‘Nativism,’ ‘Bigotry’

Then-White House chief strategist Steve Bannon speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in the Washington, D.C. area on February 23, 2017. Since leaving the president's staff Bannon is spearheading an effort to take on the GOP establishment.

Trump video to be played at hurricane relief concert

In a rare show of unity, U.S. President Donald Trump praised all five of his living predecessors on Saturday, thanking them in a video posted online for their work helping to raise funds to help victims of recent hurricanes. FILE PHOTO - U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to reporters as he welcomes United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres for a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 20, 2017.

Ap Fact Check: Trump on military death, and taxes

President Donald Trump's boast that he surpasses his predecessors in consoling families of the fallen proved empty this past week as many stepped forward to say they'd never heard from him after losing their loved ones in military service. The suddenly fraught and politically charged subject overshadowed other misfires from the president, on taxes, hurricane relief and more.

Trump has no plan to block scheduled release of JFK records

Riding with Kennedy are First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, right, Nellie Connally, second from left, and her husba... A witness to the deadly shooting rampage inside a Maryland granite company says the suspect had grown increasingly hostile recently and had tried to pick fights with co-workers. A witness to the deadly shooting rampage inside a Maryland granite company says the suspect had grown increasingly hostile recently and had tried to pick fights with co-workers.

In California, Bannon Takes Swipes at Bush, Silicon Valley

Former White House adviser Steve Bannon on Friday depicted former President George W. Bush as bumbling and inept, faulting him for presiding over a "destructive" presidency during his time in the White House. Bannon's scathing remarks amounted to a retort to a Bush speech in New York earlier this week, in which the 43rd president denounced bigotry in Trump-era American politics and warned that the rise of "nativism," isolationism and conspiracy theories have clouded the nation's true identity.

The Latest: Appeal backed by former presidents raises $31M

A sound check is conducted before a concert in College Station, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. All five living former U.S. presidents will be attending the concert Saturday night, raising money for relief efforts from hurricane de... AUSTIN, Texas - The Latest on the hurricane relief concert attended by a five living ex-presidents : The five living former presidents have attended a concert to benefit victims of hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Bannon faults George W. Bush for ‘destructive’ presidency

Former White House adviser Steve Bannon depicted former U.S. President George W. Bush as bumbling and inept, faulting him for presiding over a "destructive" presidency during his time in the White House. Bannon's scathing remarks on Friday night amounted to a retort to a Bush speech in New York earlier this week, in which the 43rd president denounced bigotry in Trump-era American politics and warned that the rise of "nativism," isolationism and conspiracy theories have clouded the nation's true identity.

Bannon faults George W. Bush for – destructive’ presidency

Former White House adviser Steve Bannon on Friday depicted former President George W. Bush as bumbling and inept, faulting him for presiding over a ''destructive'' presidency during his time in the White House. Bannon's scathing remarks amounted to a retort to a Bush speech in New York earlier this week, in which the 43rd president denounced bigotry in Trump-era American politics and warned that the rise of ''nativism,'' isolationism and conspiracy theories have clouded the nation's true identity.

Bannon’s mention of Sen. John McCain, George W. Bush draws boos at California GOP convention

People gather around Stephen K. Bannon, center, before his speech Friday at the California Republican Party convention at the Anaheim Marriott. Mere mentions of former President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain drew loud boos and catcalls as former Trump advisor Stephen K. Bannon derided the GOP leaders in his address to California Republicans Friday night at their fall convention in Anaheim.

Steve Bannon says California will try to secede from union

Steve Bannon, the controversial former strategist for President Donald Trump, told California Republicans on Friday that if they don't join together to take back the state, they'll see a breakaway effort to create a sovereign nation. "You are a sanctuary state," he told a sold-out dinner crowd of about 500 gather at the Marriott Anaheim for the state GOP's semi-annual convention.

8 times Bernie Sanders made a total fool of Ted Cruz during their town hall debate

After failing miserably to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Republicans have set their sights on tax reform, confident that if there's one thing the party can agree on, it's tax cuts for the rich. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has even suggested the " Against this backdrop, Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., held a town hall Wednesday night to debate not just the benefit of tax reform, but the very function of federal government.

“Enemy combatants” again?

Today, it seems as if that "detention facility" will have a far longer life than I ever imagined and that it, and everything it represents, will become a true, if grim, legacy of twenty-first-century America. It appears that we just can't escape the perpetual pendulum of the never-ending war on terror as it invariably swings away from the rule of law and the protections of the Constitution.