GOP: Special Election Victories Boost Trump’s Legislative Agenda

Republican Karen Handel's victory in the House race in Georgia and GOP wins in three other special elections have given a boost to President Donald Trump's legislative agenda, The Hill reported. Handel beat Democrat Jon Ossoff on Tuesday in a hotly contested race seen as a referendum on Trump and his policies.

US Officials: Russians Targeted 21 Election Systems

Russian hackers targeted 21 U.S. state election systems in the 2016 presidential race and a small number were breached but there was no evidence any votes were manipulated, a Homeland Security Department official told Congress on Wednesday. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the Kremlin orchestrated a wide-ranging influence operation that included email hacking and online propaganda to discredit Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and help Donald Trump, a Republican, win the White House in November.

AP Analysis: Saudi shakeup, Qatar crisis show a Gulf on edge

There was a time when the mention of the Persian Gulf brought to mind images of pampered societies ruled by aging monarchs content to preside quietly over their oil money and fantastical skyscrapers while the U.S. kept the peace. A sudden royal shake-up in Saudi Arabia early Wednesday is only the latest wild card to be thrown in days of head-spinning developments in the typically staid Gulf.

‘All we do is win, win, win’: Donald Trump turns rally into a vent session

US President Donald Trump has defended his record at a raucous political rally, gloating about recent Republican election victories, rejecting a Russia investigation as a witch hunt and saying he is succeeding against all odds, despite no major legislative achievements. Trump spoke for more than an hour at the rally in Cedar Rapids, which was similar to those he held during last year's presidential campaign.

Joe Biden to LGBT gala: ‘Hold President Trump accountable’

Former Vice President Joe Biden , warning of transgender Americans "under attack" in Republican-led states, on Wednesday challenged the nation's LGBT community to push back against President Donald Trump 's administration. "Hold President Trump accountable for his pledge to be your friend," Biden declared at a private LGBT gala hosted by the Democratic National Committee in New York.

The Latest: Former Homeland boss outlines Russia threat

U.S. officials have outlined the threat Russia posed to the 2016 vote for the White House, describing efforts to hack into election systems in 21 states and to fill the internet with misinformation. Officials also revealed what appeared to be a breakdown in communications about how severe the threat appeared, and they reported tensions the Obama administration faced in trying to publicly warn of meddling in the face of a skeptical Donald Trump .

U.S. officials underscoring threat Russia posed to 2016 vote for White House

U.S. officials sought Wednesday to underscore for lawmakers the threat Russia posed to the 2016 vote for the White House, outlining efforts to hack into election systems in 21 states and to fill the internet with misinformation during a divisive campaign season. Officials also revealed what appeared to be a breakdown in communications about how severe the threat appeared, and they reported tensions the Obama administration faced in trying to publicly warn of meddling in the face of a skeptical then-candidate Donald Trump.

Under fire in Washington, Trump back in campaign mode in Iowa

U.S. President Donald Trump, under siege in Washington, defended his record at a raucous political rally in Iowa on Wednesday, rejecting a Russia investigation as a witch hunt and saying he was succeeding against all odds, despite no major legislative achievements. A feisty Trump spoke for more than an hour at a rally in Cedar Rapids that was similar to those he held during last year's presidential campaign.

U.S. officials retrace Russia threat to 2016 elections

WASHINGTON >> U.S. officials sought Wednesday to underscore for lawmakers the threat Russia posed to the 2016 vote for the White House, outlining efforts to hack into election systems in 21 states and to fill the internet with misinformation during a divisive campaign season. Officials also revealed what appeared to be a breakdown in communications about how severe the threat appeared, and they reported tensions the Obama administration faced in trying to publicly warn of meddling in the face of a skeptical then-candidate Donald Trump.

A complete rundown of President Trump’s speech in Cedar Rapids

The Latest on President Donald Trumps' trip to Iowa : 9 p.m. President Donald Trump says he wishes China would offer "a little more help" in applying pressure to North Korea. Trump says at a rally in Cedar Rapid, Iowa: "I wish we would have a little more help with respect to North Korea from China.

In Iowa, Trump rallies base, celebrates GOP resilience

Struggling to advance his agenda in Washington, President Donald Trump traveled to the Midwest on Wednesday in search of his supporters' warm embrace and to celebrate a Republican congressional victory in an election viewed as an early referendum on his presidency. Trump touched down Wednesday evening in rainy Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and headed to a local community college, where he toured agriculture technology innovations, and then to a campaign rally where he reveled in Karen Handel's victory in a special election in a House district in suburban Atlanta.

AP sources: Senate GOP would halt Obamacare penalties, taxesabout 1 hour ago

Top Senate Republicans prepared Wednesday to release their plan for dismantling President Barack Obama's health care law, a proposal that would cut and revamp Medicaid, end penalties on people not buying coverage and eliminate tax increases that financed the statute's expansion of coverage, lobbyists and congressional aides said. Departing from the House-approved version of the legislation - which President Donald Trump privately called "mean" last week - the Senate plan would drop the House bill's waivers allowing states to let insurers boost premiums on some people with pre-existing conditions.

Trump returns to Iowa and unhappy independent voters

Iowa independents who helped Donald Trump win the presidency see last year's tough-talking candidate as a thin-skinned chief executive and wish he'd show more grace. Unaffiliated voters make up the largest percentage of the electorate in the Midwest state that backed Trump in 2016, after lifting Democrat Barack Obama to the White House in party caucuses and two straight elections.

Republican Karen Handel Defeats Democrat Jon Ossoff in Georgia Special Election

Republican Karen Handel won the special congressional election in Georgia on Tuesday, fending off a challenge from Democrat Jon Ossoff in the heavily Republican House district. Handel's victory in the closely fought contest, which drew national interest and was the most expensive House race ever at over $50 million spent by both sides, comes as good news for President Donald Trump.

Former Obama official to testify on Russia attempts to interfere with U.S. election

In this July 14, 2016, file photo, then-Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Johnson will face questions today about Russian meddling into the 2016 presidential election as the House intelligence committee presses ahead with its investigation.