The Obama-Trump grand strategy

One of the paradoxes of Donald Trump's election was that it seemed like a dramatic repudiation of Barack Obama - after the first black president, a birther; after a cool liberal academic, a roaring populist; after a multicultural "world man," an American nationalist - and yet it happened at a time when Obama was quite popular.

Ditching entourages, Trump and Kim Jong Un to meet 1 on 1

They came with scores of aides, bodyguards and diplomats in tow: Donald Trump from Washington, Kim Jong Un from Pyongyang. But for the better part of an hour, the two men will square off one on one, alone but for a pair of interpreters, raising concerns about the risk of holding such a monumental meeting with barely anyone to bear witness.

On Marijuana, Elizabeth Warren Discovers She Agrees With Clarence Thomas

Senator Warren is in the headlines for joining with Senator Cory Gardner to introduce the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act. That legislation would, as Warren put it in a tweet , "let states, territories, & tribes decide for themselves how best to regulate marijuana-without federal interference."

Iran, spurned by U.S., angrily watches as Trump prepares to talk to North Korea

For Iran, the so-called "Axis of Evil" has boiled down to a party of one, as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares for direct talks with North Korea. With former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein overthrown and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un now preparing for a planned summit in Singapore with Trump, Iran remains the last renegade among former President George W. Bush's grouping of nations opposed to the U.S. For those in Tehran, whether hard-liners, reformists or people simply trying to get by in Iran's worsening economy, it's head-spinning, especially after seeing Trump pull America out of the nuclear deal with world powers.

Thompson: The message behind the pardons

It should be clear by now: President Donald Trump believes he is above the law. It's apparent by his conduct in office and particularly related to the Russia investigation - helping manufacture "Deep State" conspiracy theories to undermine our law enforcement and intelligence institutions, concocting absurd spy stories with no merit, firing an FBI director for not letting things slide, belittling his attorney general for rightfully recusing himself from the probe and sending out his lawyer to act like they can dictate the terms of the investigation.

How Trump’s Pardons Compare To Past Presidents’, Charted

Pardoning people this early in office bucks a trend set by his three predecessors, according to Department of Justice data. None of Barack Obama, George W. Bush, or Bill Clinton issued a single pardon or commutation in their first two years as presidents; in contrast, Trump has signed five pardons and two commutations in less than 17 months.

Judge lets lawsuit challenging family separation go forward

A judge allowed a lawsuit challenging U.S. immigration authorities for separating parents from their children to go forward on Wednesday but said he would decide later whether or not to order a nationwide halt. U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw said the lawsuit involving a 7-year-old girl who was separated from her Congolese mother and a 14-year-old boy who was separated from his Brazilian mother could proceed on a claim that their constitutional rights to a fair hearing were denied.

Can Trump pardon himself? Source: Cox Media Group

President Donald Trump said Monday that he has "the absolute right to PARDON" himself after his attorney Rudy Giuliani suggested he had the authority to do as much in interviews Sunday. "As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?" Trump wrote in a tweet Monday morning.

Trump’s Teasing Jobs Report Tweet Raises Questions

With a tantalizing tweet, President Donald Trump seemed to tease a positive jobs report on Friday, a protocol-defying step that moved markets and raised questions about the appropriateness of the president publicly hinting at information that could make or lose fortunes. Treasury yields jumped and the value of the dollar increased within seconds of Trump's 7:21 a.m. tweet that said he was "looking forward to seeing the employment numbers at 8:30 this morning," suggesting that traders likely were making investment decisions based on what they extrapolated from Trump's post.

Trump turns tables on Robert Mueller, tweets Russia probe team…

In language that echoed that of his accusers and critics, President Donald Trump alleged on Twitter that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigative team was "MEDDLING" in the upcoming midterm elections and blamed Democrats for "Collusion." The tweet Tuesday was the latest example of the president co-opting the terminology of his accusers in an effort to tarnish political enemies.

Trump whips up immigration storm over children

As controversy grows over his administration's treatment of children separated from undocumented immigrant parents Trump is seeking a political opening to damage his opponents and solidify his own support. It's a classic strategy that he has deployed in toxic immigration wars before: Tout his toughness and dedication to law and order while blaming Democrats for not fixing the system's problems.

HBO’s John McCain documentary is as candid as the maverick himself

Valor, stubborn conviction and sacrifice are themes repeated throughout "John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls," HBO's documentary memorializing the life and career of the Vietnam War hero and six-term senator from Arizona. McCain, 81, who revealed this year that he had terminal brain cancer, is interviewed throughout the film, as are his family and some of his bitterest political rivals.

Clapper: ‘Obama Had No Knowledge’ Of FBI Informant In The Trump Campaign

James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence, said Friday that former President Barack Obama had "no knowledge" of an FBI informant in the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election. "I am sure President Obama had no knowledge whatsoever of an informant," Clapper said, adding that the FBI has many informants who play various roles within the department "who provide very valuable information and do so in a legitimate way."

Trump Brags About Pardoning A Black Sports Icon Who Has Been Dead 71 Years

Since then, there are housing discrimination lawsuits from the 1970s, racist comments about the Central Park Five, the Birther movement and the endless things he has said as president. But now Trump is bragging about pardoning a Black sports icon and is pulling a Miss Millie from The Color Purple with his version of "I've always been good to you people!" Jackson Johnson was the first Black boxing champion from 1908 to 1915.