Author: Editor

U.S. appellate court to rule on president’s travel ban

The motions panel of a U.S. federal appellate court is ready Thursday to rule whether to lift or continue a temporary restraining order imposed by a lower court judge against the travel ban in a presidential executive order. Three judges sitting on the motions panel of the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, based in San Francisco, heard oral arguments Tuesday pertaining to the executive order signed by President Donald Trump that bars entry into the United States by nationals of Iraq , Syria , Iran , Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen .

A Bit More on Up-or-Down Votes

As I noted earlier today , Democrats’ threats to filibuster Judge Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court conflict with their statements last year that the Constitution requires an up-or-down vote on any Supreme Court nomination. Senator Bill Nelson said last year , for example, that senators have a “very serious constitutional responsibility that I take seriously, to record a vote on a presidential nominee for a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court.”

EU top diplomat discusses Russia, Iran nuclear deal with Tillerson

In their first meeting, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke “at length” about terrorism, Russia, the Iran nuclear deal and Ukraine, the EU said in a statement. Mogherini is in Washington on Thursday and Friday, for the first time since Donald Trump became president.

House Ethics Democrat calls on Chaffetz to probe Trump

Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., called on House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, to investigate President Trump ‘s potential business conflicts of interest. “I think it would be something that is relevant and I think it is something that is long overdue,” the former top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee told MSNBC Thursday.

Appeals court keeps block on Trump’s immigration ban

A federal appeals court decided to keep in place the temporary restraining order halting President Trump ‘s immigration ban as other proceedings move through the lower courts. “We hold that the government has not shown a likelihood of success on the merits of its appeal, nor has it shown that failure to enter a stay would cause irreparable injury, and we therefore deny its emergency motion for a stay,” the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.

House Oversight Committee calls for ethics review of Kellyanne Conway …

The House Oversight Committee has asked the Office of Government Ethics to investigate White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway’s endorsement of Ivanka Trump’s clothing line on national television, writing in a letter Thursday: “Conway’s statements appear to violate federal ethics regulations.” “Conway’s comments clearly violate the ethical principles for federal employees and are unacceptable,” Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the Oversight Committee, and Rep. Elijah Cummings, the committee’s top Democrat, wrote in their letter to the Office of Government Ethics.

FILE — From left: Syrian refugees Abdulmajeed and his wife Baraa,…

From left: Syrian refugees Abdulmajeed and his wife Baraa, who were allowed to enter the country after a federal judge blocked key parts of President Trump’s immigration ban, walk with her father, who met them at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Feb. 7, 2017. A U.S. federal appeals court on Thursday unanimously upheld a temporary suspension of President Donald Trump’s order that restricted travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Arizona mother deported to Mexico in immigration action

An Arizona mother of two who lived in the United States for more than 20 years was deported to Mexico on Thursday, becoming one of the first to be swept up in the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigrants in the United States, her attorney and family said. Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, 36, was taken to Nogales, Mexico, on Thursday morning by U.S. immigration staff, her attorney Ray Ybarra-Maldonado told a news conference.

FBI admits no arrest warrant signed when Duane Ehmer was arrested, contrary to agent’s testimony

FBI agents admit in court papers that they had no arrest warrant at the time they took Duane Ehmer into custody at a checkpoint outside the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 27, 2016, contrary to an agent’s testimony earlier this week. It wasn’t until the day after Ehmer’s arrest that a federal magistrate judge signed a criminal complaint against Ehmer based on an FBI agent’s probable cause affidavit.

US Court Refuses To Reinstate Trump’s Travel Ban

US Court Refuses To Reinstate Trump’s Travel Ban – NewsOn6.com – Tulsa, OK – News, Weather, Video and Sports – KOTV.com The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals announced it will not reinstate President Trump’s 90-day ban on travelers from seven countries: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia. The government had asked for a stay of a temporary restraining order that suspended the implementation of the travel ban.

Experts mull religious freedom, tolerance in US, abroad

Speaking at a forum on tolerance, the former U.S. religious freedom ambassador said complaints about religious freedom problems in this country pale in comparison with atrocities faced by religious minorities abroad. Rabbi David Saperstein, who recently ended his tenure at the U.S. State Department, said he takes seriously “tough issues,” such as abortion and gay rights, that have divided Americans who emphasize religious or civil rights.

Tom Perez Scores an Own Goal in DNC Contest

While barnstorming through Kansas in his bid to become chairman of the Democratic National Committee, former Labor secretary Tom Perez conducted a tad too much outreach to those who supported and still mourn Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign: “We heard loudly and clearly yesterday from Bernie supporters that the process was rigged, and it was. And you’ve got to be honest about it.

Kudos to Hyundai for Super Bowl ad saluting the U.S. military

Kudos to Hyundai for its ad at the end of the Super Bowl saluting our active duty members of the U.S. military. It is disturbing that a significant number of Americans are more motivated to protest about refugees and illegal immigrants than they are to help our men and women in uniform, especially our nation’s veterans.

Alabama AG named to Jeff Sessions’ former Senate seat

Gov. Robert Bentley named Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange to fill the U.S. Senate … . Newly appointed Alabama Sen. Luther Strange looks at Gov. Robert Bentley before Bently signed the document officially appointing Strange to the U.S. Senate during a press conference, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala… .

Boy Scouts face renewed push to let girls join the ranks

Federal officials have delayed the first-ever listing of a bee species in the continental U.S. as endangered _ one day before it was to take effect. Federal officials have delayed the first-ever listing of a bee species in the continental U.S. as endangered _ one day before it was to take effect.

Does pro-life mean pro-Trump?

Thousands of anti-abortion activists gathered Friday on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life. While the diverse pro-life crowd was excited about the new administration and the prospects of eventually overturning Roe v.

Rex Tillerson: Japan, South Korea already share in U.S. military burden

A leaked document of responses from U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to questions from U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin , D-Md., during Tillerson’s confirmation hearing in January indicate he may be taking a more moderate approach to challenges in Asia. The 51-page document that a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee spokesman verified as authentic to The Japan Times include a more restrained strategy to issues like military burden sharing with Asian allies and Chinese buildup in the South China Sea.

Lobbyist: Trump supports privatizing air traffic control

President Donald Trump told airline and airport executives Thursday that he supports privatizing America’s air traffic control system, according to a top airline industry lobbyist who was in the meeting. Nick Calio, president and CEO of Airlines for America, the trade association that represents the major airlines, said after the White House meeting that Trump was “extraordinarily positive” when airline executives urged him to spin off air traffic control operations from the Federal Aviation Administration and place them under the control of a private, nonprofit corporation.

Clarification: Oil Pipeline story

29, 2016, file photo, shows a section of the Dakota Access Pipeline under construction near the town of St. Anthony in Morton County, N.D. The Army has notified Congress Tuesday, Feb. 7… . FILE – In this Oct. 5, 2016, file photo, heavy equipment is seen at a site where sections of the Dakota Access Pipeline were being buried near the town of St. Anthony in Morton County, N.D. The Army has … Federal officials have delayed the first-ever listing of a bee species in the continental U.S. as endangered _ one day before it was to take effect.

HIGHLIGHTS-The Trump presidency on Feb. 9 at 1:15 P.M. EST/1815 GMT

Feb 9 Highlights of the day for U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday: TAXES Trump promises a major tax announcement “that will be phenomenal” in two or three weeks. RUSSIA AND NATO Nine senators from his own Republican party are urging Trump to take a “tough-minded” approach to Russia, joining a growing chorus of lawmakers addressing concerns that he might be too conciliatory toward Moscow.

Why Should Senators Seeking Powerful Promotions Be Exempt From Harsh…

After I posted this analysis of the much-discussed “Rule 19” kerfuffle in the US Senate two nights ago, several readers directed me to a floor speech delivered by Sen. Marco Rubio in response to the controversy, which Matt covered yesterday. In a nutshell, Rubio made a case that Sen. Elizabeth Warren had violated a rule that not only governs her legislative body, but also helps make it unique.

Inside the GOP campaign to save Andrew Puzder’s nomination

Republicans in the Senate are plotting an aggressive effort to save Andrew Puzder’s embattled nomination to become labor secretary, leaning on well-funded business groups, the White House and the powerful Senate majority leader to ensure his confirmation over stiff opposition from the left. Puzder’s nomination has emerged of particular interest to Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, who has a long-standing relationship with the nominee.

Postal Service says it lost $200 million over holiday season

The World Health Organization says that China has taken steps to end its once widespread practice of harvesting organs from executed prisoners but that it’s impossible to know what is happening across the entire… The World Health Organization says that China has taken steps to end its once widespread practice of harvesting organs from executed prisoners but that it’s impossible to know what is happening across the entire country. President Donald Trump’s unusually personal criticism of federal judges has drawn rebukes from many quarters, including from Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, but not from the judges themselves.

Nine Republican senators urge Trump to pursue tough Russia policy

Nine senators from his own Republican party urged President Donald Trump on Thursday to take a “tough-minded” approach to Russia, joining a growing chorus of lawmakers addressing concerns that he might be too conciliatory towards Moscow. The nine senators, including the Senate’s number two Republican, John Cornyn, wrote in a letter to Trump that cooperation with Moscow is essential in many areas, but calling for tough action on Ukraine, Syria and cyber security.

REPORT: Trump Apparently Didn’t Know About Nuclear Arms Treaty, Still Told Putin It Was Bad

Per U.S. officials with knowledge of the call, after Putin brought up New START and possibly extending it, the president paused the call so he could ask his aides about what it was before proceeding to slam it, lumping it in with other “bad deals” that President Barack Obama had negotiated. The treaty, which was signed in 2010, gives both countries until February 2018 to reduce the number of strategic nuclear warheads deployed down to 1,550.

A look at the judges who will rule on Trump’s travel ban

In this March 2012 file photo, 9th U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Richard Clifton hears the United States vs. Rizzolo case in the Thomas & Mack Moot Courtroom in Las Vegas. Clifton is one of three judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals deciding whether to reinstate President Donald Trump’s travel ban.

Trump hosts senators to woo Gorsuch support

President Donald Trump hosted a bipartisan group of senators for lunch Thursday at the White House to discuss their potential support for Neil Gorsuch, the President’s Supreme Court pick. The meeting was an attempt by Trump to smooth the way for Gorsuch’s confirmation, but his attempt may have been colored by his continued criticism of Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.