Trump’s picks for secretary of state, CIA hit potential roadblocks in Senate

President Donald Trump's picks for secretary of state and CIA director are running into potential roadblocks among Republicans in the Senate, suggesting a difficult confirmation process at a time when the administration wants to quickly fill the positions. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, said Wednesday he will oppose Trump's decision to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo and to nominate Deputy CIA Director Gina Haspel to lead the nation's spy agency.

Trump promotes tax cuts, campaigns for GOP in Missouri

Trying to turn attention back to tax cuts and away from the staffing turmoil in his administration, President Donald Trump promised Wednesday that more relief was on the way. Speaking at a Boeing factory in St. Louis with two fighter jets as his backdrop, Trump celebrated the impact of the tax cuts he signed into law last year and said he was working with Congress on a second package that would deliver new benefits for companies and the middle class.

PA race tighter-than-tight; Dem claims win, GOP hangs in

John Henninger, left, and Eric Larson, right, of Cecil Township, Pa., watches early returns at the election night party of Conor Lamb, the Democratic candidate for the special election in Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, in Canonsburg, Pa., Tuesday, March 13, 2018. The Pennsylvania congressional race between Democrat Conor Lamb and Republican Rick Saccone remains too close to call, with local elections officials still counting absentee ballots late Tuesday.

Bay Area members of Congress move to protect work permits for H-1B visa holders’ spouses

Six Bay Area members of Congress have signed onto a letter asking the Department of Homeland Security to scrap a plan to prevent spouses of H-1B visa holders from obtaining work permits. The department in December announced the plan , citing President Donald Trump's "Buy American and Hire American" executive order, and said it would carry out the plan this year.

Trump picks camera-proven Kudlow as top economic aide

President Donald Trump has chosen Larry Kudlow to be his top economic aide, elevating the influence of a long-time fixture on the CNBC business news network who previously served in the Reagan administration and has emerged as a leading evangelist for tax cuts and a smaller government.

Democrat clings to lead in Pa. House race; GOP eyes recount

Republicans eyed a recount and a lawsuit over perceived irregularities in a closely watched U.S. House race in Pennsylvania where Democrat Conor Lamb clung to a slender lead Wednesday in the longtime GOP stronghold friendly to President Donald Trump. With the last batch of absentee ballots counted, Lamb, a 33-year-old former prosecutor and first-time candidate, saw his edge shrink slightly, to 627 votes out of more than 224,000 cast, according to unofficial results.

Don’t Kid Yourself: Conor Lamb’s Performance Means The House GOP Majority Is In Trouble

With nearly all the votes counted, NBC says Democrat Conor Lamb will win the special election in Pennsylvania's 18th district over Republican, Rick Saccone. For those who don't remember this district was represented by Republican Tim Murphy, who resigned after news broke that the pro-life member of Congress urged his mistress to get an abortion.

PA race tighter-than-tight; Democrat claims win, GOP hangs in

Conor Lamb, the Democratic candidate for the March 13 special election in Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, center, celebrates with his supporters at his election night party in Canonsburg, Pa., early Wednesday, March 14, 2018. MT. LEBANON, Pa.

PA race razor close; Dem claims win, GOP not conceding

MT. LEBANON, Pa. - A razor's edge separated Democrat Conor Lamb and Republican Rick Saccone early Wednesday in their closely watched special election in Pennsylvania, where a surprisingly strong bid by first-time candidate Lamb severely tested Donald Trump's sway in a GOP stronghold.

Obama aide started Christopher Steele-FBI alliance

A senior Barack Obama State Department official gave the green light to an FBI agent in 2016 to meet with dossier writer Christopher Steele, a meeting that touched off a relationship that would fuel the ongoing investigation into possible Donald Trump-Russia election collusion. And, the sensational Steele allegation that led to an FBI wiretap on Trump volunteer Carter Page came from "pillow talk" with the lover of a Kremlin official, a new book says.

Trump inspects border wall prototypes, denounces California

President Donald Trump eagerly inspected eight towering prototypes for his long-sought wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and accused California of putting "the entire nation at risk" by refusing to take tough action against illegal immigration. Trump, making his first trip to California as president, said Tuesday he preferred a fully concrete wall because it was the hardest to climb, but he noted that it needed to be see-through.

PA race razor close; Dem Lamb claims win, GOP not conceding

John Henninger, left, and Eric Larson, right, of Cecil Township, Pa., watches early returns at the election night party of Conor Lamb, the Democratic candidate for the special election in Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, in Canonsburg, Pa., Tuesday, March 13, 2018.

Retired US general and foreign affairs chair eyed for role of South Korea envoy

A retired US Army general and the chairman of the US house foreign affairs committee have emerged as candidates to become US President Donald Trump's ambassador to Seoul. Retired US Army General James Thurman and outgoing Republican Representative Edward Royce are under consideration for the ambassadorship, two sources with knowledge of the matter told the South China Morning Post .