How Trump’s Pardons Compare To Past Presidents’, Charted

Pardoning people this early in office bucks a trend set by his three predecessors, according to Department of Justice data. None of Barack Obama, George W. Bush, or Bill Clinton issued a single pardon or commutation in their first two years as presidents; in contrast, Trump has signed five pardons and two commutations in less than 17 months.

Trump administration will no longer defend the Affordable Care Act in court

The Trump administration declared that it will no longer defend the Affordable Care Act from a challenge filed by 20 states in a brief filed Thursday night because it agrees that the law's individual mandate is unconstitutional and that key parts of the act - including the provisions protecting those with pre-existing conditions - are invalid. President Trump has long declared the ACA, also known as Obamacare, to be a "disaster" and the brief is the latest attempt by his administration to weaken President Barack Obama's signature health-care law.

President commutes term of Kardashian-championed drug offender

Flexing his clemency powers once again, President Donald Trump on Wednesday commuted the life sentence of a woman whose cause was championed by reality TV star Kim Kardashian West. "BEST NEWS EVER!!!!" was the exuberant twitter response from Kardashian West, who visited the White House last week to press the case of Alice Marie Johnson, 63, who has spent more than two decades behind bars, serving life without parole for drug offenses.

Blagojevich files paperwork asking Trump to commute sentence

Illinois' imprisoned ex-governor, Rod Blagojevich, has filed paperwork asking President Donald Trump to commute his 14-year prison term for corruption that included seeking to sell an appointment to the Senate seat Barack Obama vacated to become president. A spokesman for Blagojevich's lawyers told the Chicago Tribune it was submitted Tuesday to the Department of Justice.

What to Do in Blanco, Texas

I'm confronted by this dilemma in downtown Blanco at Old 300 BBQ, which is run by pitmaster Ladd Pepper, who's cooked for countless celebrities, including Beyonc and former President Barack Obama. Earlier in the week I convinced my friend Rolando to make the short 48-mile trip from Austin to Blanco with a promise that there would be both barbecue and beer.

Trump: No pardon is necessary, but I can pardon myself Source: AP

President Donald Trump claimed he has an "absolute right" to pardon himself, part of an extraordinarily expansive vision of executive authority that is mostly untested in court and could portend a drawn-out fight with the prosecutors now investigating him. No need of a pardon anyway, Trump tweeted Monday, because "I have done nothing wrong."

Democratic hope primary heralds return to relevance in Iowa

After nearly a decade of disappointing elections, Iowa Democrats hope the primary will begin what they acknowledge could be a slow return to relevance in what has historically been swing state dominated lately by Republicans. Democratic losses in four straight elections have handed the GOP most of the state's congressional delegation, both legislative chambers and the secretary of state's office.

O Donnell: Brilliant Obama s Mind Is Too Complex Compared to My Own

OA Donnell: A BrilliantA ObamaA s Mind Is A Too ComplexA A Compared to My OwnA Newsbusters, by Brad Wilmouth Appearing as a guest on SaturdayA s AM Joy show, MSNBC host Lawrence OA Donnell again descended into sycophancy toward former President Barack Obama as he declared that the former PresidentA s mind is "too supple, too complex, too rich compared to my own." His comments came during a discussion of reports that the former President, disappointed that Donald Trump was elected to succeed him, had remarked that he, Obama, had perhaps been elected President "20 years too soon" for America to handle.

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Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., said former President Barack Obama had the power to bring the nation together but wound up increasing racism in part by the way he handled police shootings. Karine Jean-Pierre, a senior adviser and national spokeswoman for MoveOn.org, a political action committee that raises money for progressive politicians, said it was "pretty horrific" to see voters sway toward Donald Trump's campaign after electing the first African-American president.

Crucial day at state political conventions

DFL delegates gathered here braced for a long day Saturday as three gubernatorial candidates vied for the endorsement, while Republicans in Duluth faced a choice of candidates that doesn't include former Gov. Tim Pawlenty. U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer was the day's first speaker in Duluth.

Roseanne Barr’s appearance on Joe Rogan podcast cancelled

Roseanne Barr's planned appearance on comedian Joe Rogan's podcast has been cancelled because she is 'not doing well' (Steve Parsons/PA Roseanne Barr's planned appearance on comedian Joe Rogan's podcast has been cancelled because she is "not doing well". Barr has been heavily criticised over a tweet which referred to former Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett as a product of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Planet Of The Apes.

Sanctions and regime change – Iran and Venezuela

When United States President Barack Obama first imposed sanctions on Venezuela in 2015, the stated purpose and subsequent actions by the Obama administration were to effect behaviour change in Venezuelan leadership, not to replace the Nicol s Maduro government. There was mounting evidence Maduro was pursuing a non-democratic path, human-rights violations were becoming the norm; and rule-of-law and justice in Venezuela faced significant challenges.