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Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events Republicans’ new health-care bill is a mass transfer of wealth that cuts taxes for the wealthiest Americans while cutting federal benefits for the middle and working class. Just two provisions in the Republican plan would allow the richest households to pay an average of nearly $200,000 less under the Republican plan, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.

How protesters forced Rubio out of a second Florida office

A second office landlord in Florida has kicked Republican Sen. Marco Rubio out due to continued protests outside the two buildings both officials said were interfering with building operations. On Monday, Rubio’s spokesperson said the landlord at his Jacksonville office had alerted them that the month-to-month lease would be discontinued due to the distracting activity taking place out front of the facility.

Housing a Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson speaks

Ben Carson just referred to slaves as ‘immigrants’ Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson referred to slaves as “immigrants” while speaking Monday to department employees. Check out this story on jacksonsun.com: http://usat.ly/2mxkV0Q “That’s what America is about, a land of dreams and opportunity,” Carson said.

Jennifer Burns:

Ayn Rand is dead. It’s been 35 years since hundreds of mourners filed by her coffin , but it has been only four months since she truly died as a force in American politics.

Former DNI James Clapper says Trump claim of wiretap is false

Former DNI James Clapper says Trump claim of wiretap is false Trump’s accusation of Obama wiretap at Trump Tower is disputed Check out this story on ElPasoTimes.com: http://usat.ly/2n2Vfp8 James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence, says there was no court order to monitor Donald Trump’s phones. WASHINGTON – Former Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper said Sunday he would have known and that there were no wiretaps at Trump Tower or against Donald Trump or his campaign during his tenure.

GOP unity on Trump and Russia looks fragile

Questions about Russian influence over the presidential campaign have united Democrats in pursuit of President Trump, while Republicans are defending him warily. The president escalated the partisan war of words this weekend when he alleged that his predecessor, former President Obama , may have wiretapped Trump Tower during the campaign.

The Latest: Senator: Intel panel to look at alleged wiretap

The Latest on President Donald Trump’s claim that then-President Barack Obama had Trump’s telephones tapped during last year’s election : A Republican member of the Senate Intelligence Committee says he believes President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations that his predecessor ordered wiretaps of Trump Tower will become part of the committee’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton says, “We’re going to follow the facts wherever they lead us.

Today in History: March 3, 2017

On March 3, 1931, “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the national anthem of the United States as President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution. In 1887, Anne Sullivan arrived at the Tuscumbia, Alabama, home of Captain and Mrs. Arthur H. Keller to become the teacher for their deaf and blind 6-year-old daughter, Helen.

We thought Gen X was a bunch of slackers; now they’re the suits

The Great Ideological Wars of 2017 have pitted grey-hairs against snowflakes, the we-liked-it-the-old-way boomers, more than half of whom cast their ballots for Donald Trump, vs. the idealistic millennials, who would prefer it if Grandpa kept his paws off their rights. Their very name conjures images of underemployed slackers, of flannels and Kurt Cobain and Elizabeth Wurtzel, the medicated and nihilistic symbol of the Prozac Nation.

Trump declares US ‘ready to lead’ even as he warns of engagements’ costs

President Donald Trump said in his first address to Congress that the US was “once again ready to lead” internationally amid concerns that his ‘America First’ policy and moves to curtail the State Department budget will do the opposite. “Our allies will find that America is once again ready to lead,” Trump said in an address that was largely dominated by domestic concerns.

Protesters force Rubio out of his Tampa office

The owner of an office building in Tampa, Fla., is evicting Republican Sen. Marco Rubio this Friday as a result of continued protests outside the facility. Jude Williams, president of America’s Capital Partners, which owns the nine-story Bridgeport Center at 5201 Kennedy Boulevard, said it contacted Rubio’s office on Feb. 1 to say it would not renew its month-to-month lease due to the demonstrators’ disruptiveness.

Explosion rattles Bogot , one policeman killed

An explosion in the center of Colombia’s capital killed a police officer and injured more than two dozen others, according to media reports and eyewitnesses. Andres Felipe Arias Leiva, Colombia’s former agriculture minister who faces possible extradition for alleged corruption, said Tuesday that the case is of a political nature because he opposed the strategy of the current Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, to agree with the Forces Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia .

Republicans hang on for Donald Trump’s wild ride

After almost one month of the wild, raucous White House of President Donald Trump, Republicans in Congress are still certain they will get the many policies he promised — even if they are a little worn out from the rollercoaster ride. “It’s been four weeks so it’s not like we’re talking about four months — I know it might feel like four months — but it’s been four weeks,” said Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who dined with Trump Wednesday night.

Donald Trump and the pitfalls of a social media presidency

There was U.S. President Donald Trump, in the middle of his Mar-a-Lago resort, conferring with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on decisions with national security implications over iceberg wedge salads. The club members snapped photos and posted them to Facebook with detailed narratives about what they were seeing unfold before their eyes Saturday night in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump presidency gets social with detailed posts, photos

President Donald Trump speaks as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe listens as they both made statements about North Korea at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017. President Donald Trump speaks as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe listens as they both made statements about North Korea at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017.

Column: Rubio’s important speech

Mitch McConnell’s decision to silence Elizabeth Warren on the Senate floor drew massive media attention – and outrage among partisans of all stripes. By contrast, few people paid much attention to the speech Florida Sen. Marco Rubio gave in the aftermath of the shushing of Warren.

Bannon’s power puts Republicans on edge

Republicans on Capitol Hill are on edge over what they view as Stephen Bannon’s growing influence inside President Trump’s White House. The White House counselor’s elevation to being a permanent member of the National Security Council has deepened the debate, as has the furor surrounding Trump’s controversial executive order on immigration.

Sen. Marco Rubio talks citrus in Immokalee

Sen. Marco Rubio met with with members of the Gulf Citrus Growers Association at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center on Friday. Citrus farmers across the state have lost 500,000 acres of orange groves to citrus greening, a disease killing local crops.

Durbin obstructs pro-Israel bill condemning UNSC

Sen. Dick Durbin has delayed a Senate bill assailing the United Nations Security Council for a resolution criticizing Israel, according to fellow Democrat Tom Udall . The New Mexico legislator told Jewish Insider outside of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that Durbin has placed a “hold” on the measure, but if the Democratic Whip were to remove his objection, Udall would offer his own independent opposition.

Locals represent in Washington

Two locals represented the Florida panhandle in the nation’s capital last week at very different events — one at the inauguration celebrations and one during the Women’s March on Washington. Miramar Beach resident Suzanne Harris went up early in the week to attend the Florida Ball as the guest of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz.

White House opens door to military cooperation with Moscow, but it would be illegal

The White House indicated Monday that President Trump would be open to military cooperation with Russia to fight Islamic State , a move that would be a big policy change for the U.S. government, and one that would run afoul of current law. “I think if there’s a way that we can combat ISIS with any country, whether it’s Russia or anyone else, and we have a shared national interest in that, sure, we’ll take it,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters, using an acronym for the militant group.

Trump signs executive order withdrawing US from TPP

US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders withdrawing America from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and instituting a government hiring freeze. In an Oval Office ceremony, Mr Trump delivered on his campaign promise to formally withdraw from the TPP, which was negotiated by Barack Obama between 12 countries including Australia.

With Rubio’s support, Tillerson’sa

Former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson is almost certain to become the next Secretary of State, thanks to a lukewarm endorsement from the most pivotal senator in the confirmation process. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, announced on Monday that he would back the native Texan for the post as the chief American diplomat.

Rubio faces moment of truth on secretary of state vote

All eyes are on Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as a Senate committee is poised to vote on President Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of state. The nomination of Rex Tillerson got a boost on Sunday after two influential Republican senators – John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina – offered tepid endorsements of the former Exxon Mobil chief.