Bipartisan US lawmakers urge Trump to sanction Venezuela

A bipartisan group of 34 U.S. lawmakers has sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to step up pressure on Venezuela's government by immediately sanctioning officials responsible for corruption and human rights abuses, The Associated Press has learned. The letter was partly prompted by an AP investigation, which it cites, that found corruption in Venezuela's food imports.

Army to allow completion of Dakota Access oil pipeline

The Army said Tuesday that it will allow the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, clearing the way for completion of the disputed four-state project. However, construction could still be delayed because the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, which has led opposition, said it would fight the latest development in court.

Yemen withdraws permission for U.S. antiterror ground missions

Angry at the civilian casualties incurred last month in the first commando raid authorized by President Donald Trump, Yemen has withdrawn permission for the United States to run Special Operations ground missions against suspected terror groups in the country, according to American officials. Grisly photographs of children apparently killed in the crossfire of a 50-minute firefight during the raid caused outrage in Yemen.

House votes to block Obama rules on public lands, education

The Republican-controlled House voted Tuesday to overturn Obama-era rules on the environment and education as GOP lawmakers seek to reverse years of what they see as excessive government regulation during the past eight years of a Democratic president. The House voted, 234-186, to repeal a rule that requires federal land managers to consider climate change and other long-term effects of proposed development on public lands.

Will Trump take on the deficit?

Once more, the Congressional Budget Office has warned that federal deficits will continue to rise until current laws are changed. But so far, President Donald Trump shows no signs of making the deficit a priority or of undertaking the hard bipartisan work that will be required to make the necessary changes.

Moral Compass Exceptional in U.S.

Donald Trump is president in part because many Americans disliked his predecessor's habit of refusing to recognize the exceptional nature of our government and the American people. Too often, former President Barack Obama cited our nation's challenges - and there are many - in equating us with other, much more deeply flawed countries.

If Trump were suddenly Canada’s prime minister, how much could he do before anybody could stop him?

U.S. President Donald Trump has already pushed through an astonishing portion of his campaign platform without needing a hint of Congressional approval. And with more orders to come, Trump opponents are suddenly dusting off their law books to see just how much executive power he has to play with.