For Democrats, Pragmatists Are Still Trumping Progressives Where It Counts

Despite all the Democrats' special election wins, high voter turnout in primaries and polls showing strong party enthusiasm heading into the midterms, the fact remains that Democrats are still stuck at their lowest level of power in nearly a century. Even as President Trump's poll numbers have stabilized, party leaders see 2018 as a chance to seize back one key lever of government: The House of Representatives.

The Latest: Few visa applicants granted travel ban waivers

The Trump administration has granted waivers to less than 2 percent of visa applicants exempting them from President Donald Trump's travel ban on several mostly Muslim countries. Visitors depart the Supreme Court early Monday, June 25, 2018.

Md. voters to chose Hogan’s Democratic opponent, plus congressional and local races

Maryland Democrats head to the polls Tuesday to choose a nominee to challenge Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, one of several contests across the state that could send a message to the party about the direction it should take. From Bladensburg to Baltimore, progressive candidates are locked in tight battles with party establishment favorites in key races that highlight divisions in the party .

In a Texas Border Patrol facility, children wait in cages

In this photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a U.S. Border Patrol agent watches as people who've been taken into custody related to cases of illegal entry into the United States, stand in line at a facility in McAllen, Texas, Sunday, June 17, 2018. less In this photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a U.S. Border Patrol agent watches as people who've been taken into custody related to cases of illegal entry into the United States, stand in line ... more In this photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, people who've been taken into custody related to cases of illegal entry into the United States, stand in line at a facility in McAllen, Texas, Sunday, June 17, 2018.

Democrats enraged after touring Texas immigration detention facility

Sen. Jeff Merkley, from right, D-Ore., speaks to the media along with fellow Democratic lawmakers Sen. Chris Van Hollen, center, of Maryland., Rep. David Cicilline, of Rhode Island, and Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin in front of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Centralized Processing Center in McAllen, Texas, on June 17, 2018. Sen. Jeff Merkley, from right, D-Ore., speaks to the media along with fellow Democratic lawmakers Sen. Chris Van Hollen, center, of Maryland., Rep. David Cicilline, of Rhode Island, and Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin in front of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Centralized Processing Center in McAllen, Texas, on June 17, 2018.

Outside Groups Shift Attention to Expensive Senate Battlegrounds

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp will hit the North Dakota airwaves Tuesday morning with a TV ad highlighting her independence from Washington and from her fellow Democrats. The spot continues her effort to build a robust reelection campaign in a race that epitomizes the Democrats' tough map.

Trump’s trade agenda hits reality check

President Donald Trump's hard-line views on trade, a staple of his message long before he entered politics, are beginning to collide with the cold realities of global geopolitics. Trade talks on China and the North American Free Trade Agreement have hit stumbling blocks, posing a challenge for a president who vowed to make trade deals more equitable for the United States during his 2016 campaign and who famously tweeted that trade wars are "easy to win."

Trump’s trade agenda runs into reality of global geopolitics

President Donald Trump's hard-line views on trade, a staple of his message long before he entered politics, are beginning to collide with the cold realities of global geopolitics. Trade talks on China and the North American Free Trade Agreement have hit stumbling blocks, posing a challenge for a president who vowed to make trade deals more equitable for the United States during his 2016 campaign and who famously tweeted that trade wars are "easy to win."

Source: Trump administration has cut deal with China’s ZTE

The Trump administration has told Congress that it's reached a deal that would allow Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE Corp. to stay in business, a source familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a confidential matter said Friday. A resolution of the ZTE case could clear the way for the United States to make progress in its high-stakes trade talks with China.

Lawmakers take first step in stopping a Trump deal with ZTE

A Senate panel on Tuesday said it would not accept efforts by President Donald Trump to ease sanctions on Chinese smartphone maker ZTE. In a vote of 23 to 2, the Senate Banking Committee overwhelmingly approved an amendment that would block Trump from reducing penalties on ZTE without first providing Congress proof the company is following US laws.

Senators press Pruitt for details on new legal defense fund Source: AP

Four Senate Democrats asked Scott Pruitt on Monday for details about a new legal defense fund to help the Environmental Protection Agency administrator as he weathers a series of federal ethics investigations. Pruitt confirmed at a Senate hearing last week that people he did not identify have created the legal defense fund in his behalf, but he gave no specifics on its operation.

Senators press Pruitt for details on new legal defense fund

Four Senate Democrats asked Scott Pruitt on Monday for details about a new legal defense fund to help the Environmental Protection Agency administrator as he weathers a series of federal ethics investigations. Pruitt confirmed at a Senate hearing last week that people he did not identify have created the legal defense fund in his behalf, but he gave no specifics on its operation.

Still No Crab Pickers, Watermen from Other Counties Worry

As the shiny, silver tables inside places like Russell Hall Seafood in Hooper's Island lie waiting, so do watermen in other Eastern Shore counties - like Bunky Chance of Talbot County. "It's not upon us yet, but if something doesn't break loose, we're going to all be highly impacted," Chance said.

Sessions: Pardons Granted by Bill Clinton Were ‘Stunning,…

Democrats, panicked that President Trump might pardon former associates who now find themselves in legal trouble, pressed Attorney General Jeff Sessions on that issue at a Senate hearing on Wednesday. "The President of the United States clearly has the constitutional power to pardon," Sessions said; and the president may do so without going through the Justice Department's pardon attorney.

Sessions defends Trump pardons of Joe Arpaio, Scooter Libby Source: AP

Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump's right to pardon former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former Bush administration official I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Both of those pardons were issued by Trump and bypassed the involvement of the Justice Department and its pardon attorney, which historically reviews petitions for clemency.

Lawmakers spotted at March for Our Lives rallies around US

Democratic lawmakers turned out in force on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in cities across the country to call for an end to gun violence. At March for Our Lives rallies across the U.S., congressional Democrats joined in calls demanding swift action on gun control more than a month after a deadly school shooting in Parkland, Fla.

Leaked Memo: Trump Admin to Boost Use of Private Prisons While Slashing Federal Staff

The Trump administration is following through on its promise to use more private contract prisons, with the Justice Department seeking to identify inmates to transfer out of government-owned facilities and to cut federal guard positions. The Bureau of Prisons has the stated goal of "increasing population levels in private contract facilities," according to a memorandum sent by the agency's Assistant Director for Correctional Programs Division Frank Lara on Wednesday and obtained by Government Executive .