Senator To Turkey: Follow North Korea’s Lead And Release American Hostages [VIDEO]

A Republican senator is calling on the Turkish government to follow the lead of North Korea's regime and release an American pastor being held hostage in the NATO nation. Speaking on the Senate floor on Thursday, Oklahoma's James Lankford also discouraged Americans from traveling to or doing business in Turkey because the government there can "sweep up anyone for any accusation."

In Senate nomination wars: No retreat, no compromise

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., is hugged by Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., on April 23, 2018, in gratitude for Coons's ending a tie vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's consideration of the nomination of Mike Pompeo to be secretary of state. less Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., is hugged by Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., on April 23, 2018, in gratitude for Coons's ending a tie vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's consideration of the nomination of ... more WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans, frustrated with Democrats' stalling tactics, begin their effort Wednesday to streamline the process for confirming presidential nominees, particularly those below Cabinet level and in low-level posts on the federal judiciary.

OPED: Five things Trump could do to stop Russia’s meddling

There's been no call to arms from President Trump, who could galvanize the federal bureaucracy and Congress to counter the threat if he chose. Instead, the president still reacts to warnings about Russian interference as if they were attacks on his legitimacy.

‘Weirdest thing’: Trump expresses anger, but not over Russian election-meddling

In this July 21, 2016 file photo, Republican Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. AP Photo/J.

no Deal: Senate hits immigration deadlock on Daca, Dreamers

Unable to find an acceptable middle ground on the politically explosive issue of immigration, and the future of well over a million illegal immigrant "Dreamers," Senators of both parties on Thursday voted to filibuster a pair of plans from each side, as a high profile legislative effort achieved only failure. "This is it.

US Senate Weighs Competing Immigration Proposals

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., listens as Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, speaks about immigration and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, Feb. 7, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The U.S. Senate could vote on several immigration reform proposals Thursday, as lawmakers weigh competing plans that address issues such as protecting young undocumented immigrants, boosting border security and changing the rules for family-based immigration.

GOP senators introduce version of White House immigration framework

A group of Republican senators on Sunday night released a version of President Donald Trump's immigration proposal ahead of a floor debate on immigration this week. The proposal is expected to be one of several amendments the Senate will consider this week as it debates immigration.

Despite budget deal, Congress heads into an overnight government shutdown Source: Cox Media Group

For the second time in less than a month, the federal government officially ran out of money to operate, as the latest shutdown began at the stroke of midnight here in Washington, D.C., though Congressional leaders were hopeful that the federal government would be fully open for business by breakfast, as the House and Senate were poised to act after midnight. The lapse in funding occurred despite an agreement on a two-year budget deal, which also included full funding for the Pentagon, and a temporary funding plan for the rest of the federal government, as Sen. Rand Paul blocked action on the measure in the Senate.

Trump urges compromise as Republicans wrestle with immigration

U.S. President Donald Trump urged his fellow Republicans on Thursday to put aside misgivings over letting young "Dreamer" immigrants stay in the United States and pass a bill that includes that measure but also imposes tough new immigration curbs. The debate over immigration policy has become closely enmeshed with looming deadlines over government spending.

GOP legislators gather in search of winning 2018 agenda

Congressional Republicans in sweater vests and fleece gathered at a West Virginia resort Thursday in search of a winning election-year agenda, facing the notion that the best they have to offer in 2018 may be a recitation of the tax cuts approved in 2017 and with the threat looming of another government shutdown. President Donald Trump speaks at the 2018 House and Senate Republican Member Conference at The Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Senate Intelligence Committee not given access to Nunes FISA memo

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr's staff has not been given access to a classified memo drafted by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, a sign of how closely House Republicans are guarding allegations of Justice Department wrongdoing over surveillance activities in the Russia investigation. According to three sources familiar with the matter, Burr's staff requested a copy of the memo and has been denied, just as the FBI and Justice Department have also been denied reviewing a copy of the document.

The Latest: Immigrant advocates skewer Senate Democrats

Prominent immigrant advocacy groups are skewering Democratic senators for relenting in a fight that linked immigration changes to continued government funding. The youth group United We Dream says Senate Democrats who supported a deal to keep the government running through Feb. 8 are "enablers" of President Donald Trump's agenda.

The Latest: Cornyn says Trump eager to work on immigration

On Monday, The Senate advanced a bill reopening federal agencies through Feb. 8 after Democrats relented and lifted their blockade against the legislation. The shutdown began Saturday after Democrats derailed a Republican measure that would have kept government open until Feb. 16. Democrats wanted to pressure the GOP to cut a deal protecting young immigrants from deportation and boosting federal spending.

Sen. Lankford: Trump’s reported ‘s—hole’ comments ‘disappointing’

Senator James Lankford takes part in a panel discussion during the Oklahoma Press Association 2017 Convention at the Hilton Skirvin Hotel on Saturday, June 10, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman Sen. James Lankford said Thursday that President Trump's reported comment that many U.S. immigrants come from "s---hole countries" was "disappointing," adding to the massive backlash Trump has faced over the remarks.

Pushing for border wall, Trump to meet with Senators on immigration policy Source: Cox Media Group

With little progress to show from negotiations in Congress on the future fate of illegal immigrant "Dreamers" in the United States, President Donald Trump will meet at the White House with lawmakers of both parties on Tuesday, as he continues to say the Congress must approve billions of dollars to build a wall along the Mexican border, and approve significant immigration enforcement actions in exchange for any Dreamers deal. "We are going to end chain migration.

What 2013 immigration battle taught GOP about todaya s DACA fight

A group of Republican senators is working alongside Democrats to try to protect hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from being deported in upcoming months, but the harsh lessons of a failed immigration reform push in 2013 loom large for a party barreling toward a midterm election. For the last several months, familiar players in the immigration debate - South Carolina's Sen. Lindsey Graham and Arizona's Sen. Jeff Flake - have re-emerged, committed to finding a narrower legislative solution for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, a program that shielded young immigrants who came to the US illegally as children from deportation.

Trump, lawmakers step up talks on immigrant a Dreamersa

Urgent negotiations aimed at shielding young, undocumented immigrants from deportation intensified on Thursday as Republican U.S. senators emerged from a meeting with President Donald Trump expressing confidence a deal could be struck this month. As a follow-up to the Republican-only talks on so-called "Dreamer" immigrants, Trump is inviting senators from both major parties to the White House next week.

One senator has an idea for confirming presidential nominees more quickly

President Trump will never have a full complement of political appointees if the Senate doesn't start voting more quickly, according to a Republican who thinks he can convince Democrats to speed up the process. "We may disagree on the exact solution or the exact timing of the solution but, we understand there is a real problem," Sen. James Lankford told the Washington Examiner .