Category: US Politics

House oversight panel chair – Sessions should ‘clarify his testimony’

Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said on Thursday that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions should “clarify his testimony” about his contacts with Russian officials during the Trump presidential campaign. Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, said in a Twitter post, “AG Sessions should clarify his testimony and recuse himself.”

Democrat Franken says Sessions ‘extremely misleading’ on Russia

Democratic Senator Al Franken said on Thursday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ testimony on his contacts with Russians during confirmation hearing was “extremely misleading” and that he is seeking clarification from the former Republican senator. “At the very least, this was extremely misleading,” Franken said in an interview with CNN.

Editorial: Immigrants needed

Chances are you didn’t suffer terribly from the recent Day Without Immigrants, a nationwide strike meant to demonstrate the economic impact of foreign-born workers. Energized by President Donald Trump’s promise to deport millions who live here without permission, immigrants took the day off to march and rally.

What Sessions said about Russia ties

Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke twice with the Russian ambassador to the US, the Justice Department said Thursday, adding to the suspicion over Russia’s ties to the current administration. During his confirmation hearings in January, Sessions, however, did not mention his conversations with Sergey Kislyak.

Trump getting better at using the trappings of office

Most mornings, President Donald Trump gathers business leaders, union executives or others at the White House for made-for-television meetings meant to project the image of a can-do chief executive. Trump sits at the center of one of the White House’s ornate meeting rooms, offers brief remarks and invites assembled journalists to stick around to hear his guests praise his plans.

Six weeks later, senators question delay on Agriculture pick

In this Feb. 1, 2017, file photo, Agriculture Secretary-designate, former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue attends a meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump tapped Perdue to be his agriculture secretary six weeks ago, but the administration still hasn’t formally provided the Senate with the paperwork for the nomination.

White House plans to delegate power over anti-terror raids

White House considers delegating more authority to the Pentagon for anti-terrorist raids to eliminate the hand-wringing approval process under Obama Donald Trump is set to delegate the power to launch anti-terror raids, similar to one which cost the life of a Navy SEAL in Yemen, according to insiders. White House sources claim Trump wants to speed up the process for launching time-sensitive missions, which US generals feel stalled during Barack Obama’s presidency.

White House staff told to preserve Russia-related materials

Storm clouds begin to form over the White House in Washington Wednesday, March 1, 2017. The White House counsel’s office has instructed the president’s aides to preserve materials that could be connected to Russian interference in the 2016 election and related issues, three administration officials said Wednesday.

Jeff Sessions denies impropriety over Russian ambassador controversy

A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions denied that he was being untruthful when he said at his confirmation hearing that he had no contact with Russian officials amid revelations Wednesday that Sessions met with the Russian ambassador during Donald Trump’s campaign for president. The contact was first reported by the Washington Post .

The most important word Trump didna t say Tuesday

Trump uttered some 5,000 words and spoke for 60 minutes, but not one of those words was “Russia,” and not one of those minutes was devoted to the so-far-successful effort by our geopolitical adversary to undermine American democracy. The FBI and intelligence community have unanimously charged that Vladimir Putin’s government interfered in the U.S. elections in its successful attempt to get Trump elected.

Justice Dept. says Sessions spoke with Russian envoy during campaign

Attorney General Jeff Sessions had two conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States during the presidential campaign season last year, contact likely to fuel calls for him to recuse himself from a Justice Department investigation into Russian interference in the election. Sessions, an early supporter of President Donald Trump and a policy adviser to the Republican candidate, did not disclose those communications at his confirmation hearing in January when asked whether “anyone affiliated” with the campaign had contact with the Russians.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions did not reveal talks with Russian ambassador in 2016

Then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., spoke twice last year with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Justice Department officials said, encounters he did not disclose when asked about possible contacts between members of President Donald Trump’s campaign and representatives of Moscow during Sessions’s confirmation hearing to become attorney general. One of the meetings was a private conversation between Sessions and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak that took place in September in the senator’s office, at the height of what U.S. intelligence officials say was a Russian cyber campaign to upend the U.S. presidential race.

Sen. Graham Calls for Special Prosecutor on Trump’s Russian Ties

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wednesday if Attorney General Jeff Sessions talked with a Russian diplomat before taking office last month – without telling Congress during his confirmation hearings – “then, for sure, you need a special prosecutor.” “If there is something there, and it goes up the chain of investigation, and it’s clear to me that Jeff Sessions, who is my dear friend, cannot make this decision about Trump,” the South Carolina Republican said at a town hall meeting hosted by CNN.

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.

The Latest: WH says Conway promo of Ivanka line inadvertent

The top White House ethics attorney says counsellor Kellyanne Conway “acted inadvertently” and “without nefarious motive” when she promoted Ivanka Trump’s fashion line during a television interview at the White House. Stefan Passantino, deputy counsel to the president on compliance and ethics, wrote in a letter to the Office of Government Ethics that he met with Conway and resolved the matter.

Ridiculous attack ad blasts congressional candidate dressed as Han Solo

The United States of America just elected an aging reality TV star to the presidency, yet a Republican-backed super PAC believes constituents in Georgia will be startled by a Democratic congressional candidate who dressed up as Han Solo in college. Former Capitol Hill staffer Jon Ossoff is barely out of his 20s, which appears to be the main point of this attack ad just released against him.

Was Trump tribute to fallen soldier fitting or calculated?

Carryn Owens, widow of widow of Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens, is applauded on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, as she was acknowledged by President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress. less Carryn Owens, widow of widow of Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens, is applauded on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, as she was acknowledged by President Donald Trump … more An emotional Carryn Owens, widow of widow of Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, as she was acknowledged by President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress.

D.C. Buzz: Esty gets bills signed by Trump

Democratic Governors Association Vice Chairman Jay Inslee, left, Chairman Dannel Malloy, center, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, center, and Hawaii Gov. David Ige, right, share a laugh during a DGA news confernce at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. less Democratic Governors Association Vice Chairman Jay Inslee, left, Chairman Dannel Malloy, center, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, center, and Hawaii Gov. David Ige, right, share a laugh during a DGA news confernce … more Reporters wait to try and get access to an off camera briefing with White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer instead of the normal on camera briefing at the White House on February 24, 2017, in Washington, DC.

Massachusetts AG urges US House chairman to pull subpoena

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is urging Republican Congressman Lamar Smith to withdraw his committee’s subpoena for documents related to her Exxon Mobil investigation. Healey sent a 10-page letter to Smith Wednesday arguing the House Committee on Science , Space and Technology has no authority over her probe into whether Exxon Mobil misled Massachusetts consumers and investors about the impact of burning fossil fuels on the environment and the impact of climate change on the company’s business.

Nielsen: Nearly 48 million watch Trump’s address to nation

President Donald Trump’s first major address to the Congress and the nation was seen by an estimated 47.4 million people. The Nielsen company said Wednesday that Trump’s audience couldn’t quite match the first such speech by predecessor Barack Obama, who drew an audience of 52.4 million in 2009.

Feds: Criminal officers stole from the innocent in Baltimore

U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, right, speaks at a news conference in Baltimore, Wednesday, March 1, 2017, to announce that seven Baltimore police officers who worked on a firearms crime task f… . Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Kevin Davis, center, shakes hands with U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein after a news conference in Baltimore, Wednesday, March 1, 2017, to announce that s… .

Deputy: 4 children dead, 3 people injured in Oregon fire

Republican legislative leaders in Indiana are warning that repealing the Affordable Care Act could unravel a program for poor residents that Vice President Mike Pence implemented as governor. Republican legislative leaders in Indiana are warning that repealing the Affordable Care Act could unravel a program for poor residents that Vice President Mike Pence implemented as governor.

A Closer Look at Gillum’s History in Tallahassee

“As governor of Florida, I can’t wait to invest the kind of resources to build the infrastructure of this state that makes us a 21st century state,” said Gillum. The mayor’s office said Gillum was unavailable for comment today, but his campaign team said a rally for Gillum is already set for Saturday.

Former Montana Rep. Zinke takes helm of Interior Department

In his first address to a joint session of Congress, Trump said largely what GOP leaders were hoping to hear Tuesday night, staying on-message and talking in optimistic tones In his first address to a joint session of Congress, Trump said largely what GOP leaders were hoping to hear Tuesday night, staying on-message and talking in optimistic tones The initial reaction signaled that Trump faces a fight with the GOP on the $1 trillion-plus portion of the federal budget that is passed each year by Congress. The initial reaction signaled that Trump faces a fight with the GOP on the $1 trillion-plus portion of the federal budget that is passed each year by Congress.

White House said to kick off infrastructure planning Thursday

President Donald Trump’s administration will convene a meeting of at least 15 federal agencies Thursday as a first government-wide step toward crafting the president’s $1 trillion infrastructure initiative, a senior White House official said. Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council, will lead the meeting, which will focus on identifying new projects that would boost the economy; finding existing projects, such as the Keystone XL pipeline, that could be expedited; targeting policies, outdated rules and laws that could delay projects; and developing funding and financing options, the official said.

GOPa s Obamacare replacement plans provide less financial help, analyses show

As congressional Republicans move to solidify their Obamacare repeal-and-replace legislation, concern is mounting that their strategies will leave millions of Americans with less financial assistance and more expensive coverage. A new analysis on Wednesday from the Kaiser Family Foundation projects that the HealthCare.gov insurance marketplace’s average premium subsidy – which people use to help purchase coverage – would shrink by at least 36 percent in 2020 under GOP proposals being considered.