Will President Trump’s political luck hold in 2018?

If President Donald Trump totally dominated the political landscape in 2017, and there is no reason to think he will lose his ability to drive the new cycle, in 2018 he must contend with some supporting actors: the economy, health care markets, and the midterm elections. The GOP, after a year of legislative failure, finally passed a tax bill at year's end.

Utah’s Orrin Hatch set to retire

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said Tuesday he will not seek re-election after serving more than 40 years in the Senate, opening the door for former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney to run for his seat. Hatch, 83, said he's always been a fighter, "but every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves."

Continue reading 2 new faces, old standoffs as Congress returns to D.C.

There will be two fresh Senate faces and some familiar but stubborn clashes facing lawmakers Wednesday as Congress begins its 2018 session staring at the year's first potential calamity -- an election-year government shutdown unless there's a bipartisan spending pact by Jan. 19. Looking to prevent a closure of federal agencies, top White House officials planned to meet at the Capitol on Wednesday with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and each chamber's top Democrat. Their goal is to find a compromise on raising limits on defense and domestic spending that eluded lawmakers before they left Washington for the holidays.

Trump administration eases penalties against negligent nursing homes

Reversing guidelines put in place under former President Barack Obama, the Trump administration is scaling back the use of fines against nursing homes that harm residents or place them in grave risk of injury. The shift in the Medicare program's penalty protocols was requested by the nursing home industry.

DACA talks hinge on Trump

Leaders of Congress will sit down with key White House staff on Wednesday, and negotiations on immigration policy could hang in the balance. As the Senate comes back Wednesday and the House is set to follow next week, lawmakers are returning to their unfinished business that was punted at the end of last year -- including a potential deal on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy.

Former CIA Director slams Trump for Iran strategy

Washington D.C. [United States], Jan 03 : Former Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan has slammed United States President Donald Trump's administration for its hard-line stance toward Iran, saying it has diminished the possibility of peaceful political change there. "With wholesale condemnation of Iran and nuclear deal over past year, Trump Admin squandered the opportunity to bolster reformists in Tehran and prospects for peaceful political reform in Iran.

Trump takes hard line on a dreamers,a but remains interested in a deal

DECEMBER 07: Demonstrators from The Seed Project stage a protest in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center to demand immigration reform and a renewal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program December 7, 2017 in Washington, DC. Made up of undocumented immigrant youth or 'dreamers,' The Seed Project is in the nation's capitol 'to say that we won't accept a government budget without protection for all undocumented youth.'

Perils abroad, full plate at home as Trump embarks on 2nd year

The glamour of his holiday break behind him, President Donald Trump returned to Washington on Monday to face a hefty legislative to-do list, critical midterm elections and perilous threats abroad. Trump is starting his second year in office after a lengthy sojourn at his private Palm Beach club, capped by a New Year's Eve bash.

Hatch to step down, Romney; could run for seat

US Republican Senator Orrin Hatch said on Tuesday he will not seek re-election in November, opening the door to a potential Senate bid by Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate and one of the party's harshest critics of US President Donald Trump. "Every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves.

Iran deal deadlines loom as Trump weighs sanctions

President Donald Trump has used Iranian anti-government protests as an opportunity to slam the Iran nuclear deal ahead of key legal deadlines looming this month, actions that may foreshadow how he plans to proceed. In mid-January, Trump will once again have to decide whether to certify Iran's compliance with the deal - a process that must occur every 90 days according to the terms of the agreement.

The Republicans’ Fake Investigations

Russia probe grand jury looks like 'a Black Lives Matter rally,' says witness - The federal grand jury handing down indictments for special counsel Robert Mueller doesn't appear to include any supporters of President Donald Trump, according to one witness who recently testified before the panel. Roy Moore's Jewish lawyer voted for Doug Jones, raised money for his campaign - The Jewish attorney who Roy Moore's wife touted employing in an attempt to fight off claims of anti-Semitism is actually a longtime friend and supporter of Senator-elect Doug Jones, who defeated Moore last month.

MSNBC analyst reveals to Nicolle Wallace why Trump constantly ‘acts so crazy’ on Twitter

During a panel discussion on President Donald Trump's latest flurry of attacks on the FBI and the Justice Department a MSNBC analyst said the president's continuous drumbeat of criticism of law enforcement is his way of setting the stage for firing special counsel Robert Mueller. On MSNBC's Deadline White House , host Nicolle Wallace began by reciting the details of the New York Times bombshell report that George Papadopoulos boasted to an Australian diplomat that the Trump campaign had dirt on Hillary Clinton.

2 new faces and old partisan standoffs as Congress returns

There will be two fresh Senate faces and some familiar but stubborn clashes facing lawmakers Wednesday as Congress begins its 2018 session staring at the year's first potential calamity - an election-year government shutdown unless there's a bipartisan spending pact by Jan. 19. Looking to prevent a closure of federal agencies, top White House officials planned to meet at the Capitol Wednesday with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Utah’s Hatch to retire, opening door to possible Romney run

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said today he will not seek re-election after serving more than 40 years in the Senate, opening the door for former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney to run for his seat. Hatch, 83, said he's always been a fighter, "but every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves."