Congress deals pair of blows to ‘Obamacare’

Two Republican senators abandoned their fight Wednesday for legislation this year to help contain premium costs by resuming federal subsidies to insurers, as Congress dealt a pair of blows to President Barack Obama's health care law. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Tennessee's Lamar Alexander ran into opposition from both parties to inserting the language into a must-pass bill preventing a weekend federal shutdown.

Tax passage will be moment of vindication for Ryan

When House Speaker Paul Ryan slams down the gavel to send a huge Republican tax bill to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, he will fulfill a lifetime's ambition of steering a generational economic reform into law. "This is a promise made, this is a promise kept," Ryan said Tuesday, after an initial House vote on a measure that he has been working towards since signing on as an aide to his mentor, conservative fiscal guru Jack Kemp, in 1993.

Trump aides hope tax win slow slide in poll numbers

's rocky first year in office, White House aides view imminent victory on a tax overhaul as a starting point to strengthen his weak approval ratings ahead of key congressional elections next November. 's poll numbers needed to start rising to limit the damage in 2018 elections in which his fellow Republicans' continued control of Congress will be at stake.

Editorial: Don’t place blame on – white Christianity’

"Ironically, it may well be that it is Christians' fears about losing control of the culture that have accelerated the rise of secularism itself." - Charles Mathewes, professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia and a senior fellow at UVA's Miller Center, in a recent Washington Post column headlined, "White Christianity is in big trouble.

Analysis: GOPa s tea party promises dashed in tax cut embrace

WASHINGTON >> The tea party class of 2010 vowed to usher in a new era for the Republican Party, one where conservatives clamoring for fiscal discipline would roll back government spending to rein in trillion-plus budget deficits. Republicans are returning to their Ronald Reagan-era roots - tax cuts first, followed by vague promises of cutting spending down the road.

Young immigrants’ fate unclear as Congress delays DACA fix

In this De. 6, 2017 photo, Rep. Luis Gutierrez D-Ill., third from left, along with other demonstrators protest outside of the U.S. Capitol in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals , and Temporary Protected Status , programs, during an rally on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Black Alabamians carried Doug Jones to victory – and it should be a warning to Democrats for 2018

Black voters deserve much of the credit for Democrat Doug Jones's stunning victory in the Alabama Senate special election on Tuesday. "It's time for them to get off their ass and start making life better for black folks and people who are poor," said Alabama native and retired NBA star Charles Barkley.

Trump outlines security strategy

President Donald Trump removed climate change from the list of worldwide threats menacing the United States on Monday, a shift that underscores the long-term ramifications of the The document depicts Russia and China as combative rivals in perpetual competition with the U.S. But it makes no mention of what scientists say are the dangers posed by a ... (more)

Trump’s year of shattered norms leaves world on edge

US President Donald Trump marks the end of his first year in office facing escalating crises - spurred by the unpredictable signals coming from the White House. WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump erupted onto the global stage under the isolationist banner "America First" - bent on tearing the multilateral world order down to its foundations.

U.S. Accuses North Korea of Mounting WannaCry Cyberattack

The Trump administration formally accused North Korea on Monday night of creating the WannaCry cyberattack that briefly paralyzed the British health system and placed ransomware on computers in dozens of countries around the world. President Trump's homeland security adviser, Thomas P. Bossert, wrote in an op-ed published in T he Wall Street Journal that the conclusion was "based on evidence" that he did not disclose.

Strategy seeks to refocus US relationship with China, Russia

President Donald Trump's new national security strategy seeks to refocus the United States' relationship with China, Russia and the rest of the world, transforming his "America First" mantra into a set of policies and plans for protecting the homeland and advancing its economy. Combating China: The strategy deems China, like Russia, to be a "revisionist" power, determined to reshape the world according to its own ideals.

Deadly California wildfire could become largest in state’s history

The Thomas fire, which has killed two and destroyed more than a thousand structures in Southern California, could become the largest wildfire in the state'... -- Prince Harry has conducted an interview with former U.S. President Barack Obama. Kensington Palace announced in a tweet on Sunday morning that the interview will a... The Organization for Competitive Markets has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the withdrawal of the interim final rule, which was an update to t... San Jose, Calif.

Prince Harry interviews former President Obama

Kensington Palace announced in a tweet on Sunday morning that the interview will air on BBC Radio 4 when Harry acts as guest editor on Dec. 27. The interview focuses on Prince Harry and the former president's shared interest in building platforms for the next generation of young leaders. According to Kensington Palace, the interview includes President Obama's memories of the day he left office and his hopes for his post-presidential life.

Alex Nation grilled about relationship with Richie Strahan

When Harry interviewed Barry: Barack Obama jokes around with Prince Harry as he's questioned for the royal's guest editing slot on BBC radio in the UK CNN political commentator comes under fire for branding a Georgetown student an 'anti-Semitic bigot' because he was wearing a 'bacon suit' Thousands of passengers are left stranded at beginning of holiday getaway as power outage at Atlanta causes 'pandemonium' at the world's busiest airport with more than 600 flights in and out canceled Sen. McCain 'doing well' and in 'good spirits' says son-in-law - though won't be on hand for the final tax reform vote Trump and Putin speak AGAIN as Russian president phones Camp David to thank Trump for CIA tip that prevented St. Petersburg terror attack British female diplomat is found dead in Lebanon after being 'raped, murdered and dumped by the side of a motorway' 'Missing' Monet last seen in 1895 is ... (more)

Peter FitzSimons TOWERS over wife Lisa Wilkinson

Thousands are left stranded at start of Christmas travel rush as power outage at Atlanta causes 'pandemonium' at the world's busiest airport with more than six HUNDRED flights canceled CNN political commentator comes under fire for branding a Georgetown student an 'anti-Semitic bigot' because he was wearing a 'bacon suit' Trump and Putin speak AGAIN as Russian president phones Camp David to thank Trump for CIA tip that prevented St. Petersburg terror attack 'Missing' Monet last seen in 1895 is found on a GOOGLE search: Eagle-eyed art historian recognizes the painting from a postage stamp size picture from a private listing in New Orleans When Harry interviewed Barry: Barack Obama jokes around with Prince Harry as he's questioned for the royal's guest editing slot on BBC radio in the UK Sen. McCain 'doing well' and in 'good spirits' says son-in-law - though won't be on hand for the final ... (more)