Category: US Senate

Avoiding the mistake of overconfidence

For weeks, Iraqi officials have sounded optimistic about the battle for Mosul, which is Iraq’s second-largest city. On Monday, they came very close to their own But by Tuesday, those troops were retreating in disorder.

U.S. general says Russia has deployed banned missile

A senior U.S. general on Wednesday accused Russia of deploying a land-based cruise missile in violation of “the spirit and intent” of a nuclear arms treaty and charged that Moscow’s intention is to threaten U.S. facilities in Europe and the NATO alliance. “We believe that the Russians have deliberately deployed it in order to pose a threat to NATO and to facilities within the NATO area of responsibility,” Gen.

Grandpa Wolcott

Shouldn’t James Wolcott retire? I read his latest spew in VANITY FAIR — online — and who needs it? Grandpa doesn’t like the left. We get it.

Russian ambassador in eye of storm over Trump campaign ties

The Trump administration’s back-to-back controversies over its Russian ties now have at least one thing in common: Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Moscow’s top diplomat is a Washington fixture with a sprawling network, and he has emerged as the central figure in the investigations into Trump advisers’ connections with Russia.

Donald Trump says he has ‘total’ confidence in Jeff Sessions; no need to recuse from Russia probe

Update: President Donald Trump says he “wasn’t aware” that his attorney general — former Sen. Jeff Sessions — had contact with the Russian ambassador during last year’s White House campaign. A growing number of Republicans joined Democratic leaders Thursday in calling for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to step aside from an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 White House election.

Muhammad Ali Jr., mother detained at Florida airport, attorney says

LOUISVILLE, KY – Muhammad Ali’s son was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigators at a Florida airport earlier this month, his attorney confirmed on Saturday. Muhammad Ali Jr. and his mother, Khalilah Camacho-Ali, were arriving at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from Montego Bay, Jamaica on February 7 when they were directed to secondary inspections, Chris Mancini said.

US senator revives bill cutting funds to PA over funding for terrorists

Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham will reintroduce legislation next week that would cut US funding to the Palestinian Authority if it continues to provide monetary support to the families of those who commit acts of terror against Israelis. The bill, known as the Taylor Force Act , was first introduced last year by Graham with former Indiana Republican Sen. Dan Coats and Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt.

US senator revives bill cutting funds to PA over funding for terrorists

Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham will reintroduce legislation next week that would cut US funding to the Palestinian Authority if it continues to provide monetary support to the families of those who commit acts of terror against Israelis. The bill, known as the Taylor Force Act , was first introduced last year by Graham with former Indiana Republican Sen. Dan Coats and Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt.

.com

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is preparing to make good on a pledge to veto a bill increasing personal income taxes as a bud One man said that North Korean agents are operating right now in South Korea, the United States and many other countries.

US Senator McCain meets Turkish leaders

U.S.’s Senior Republican Senator John McCain, who serves as a chairman for the Senate Armed Services Committee, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Y ld r m on Feb. 20. McCain, who has been an ardent promoter of U.S.-Turkey relations, was expected to discuss the Syrian crisis in Ankara. His visit came after U.S. Senate on December 2016 passed a defense policy bill that allows supplying portable surface-to-air missiles to Syrian opposition groups.

Ap Fact Check: The audacity of hype

In the Washington week that wasn’t, President Donald Trump’s new administration whirred like a “fine-tuned machine,” piling on big-league accomplishments at a pace never before seen. Immigration agents newly empowered by Trump’s call to secure borders sent hordes of bad foreigners back home, validating a president who won the most lopsided Electoral College victory since Ronald Reagan.

Today in History

On Feb. 18, 1977, the space shuttle prototype Enterprise, sitting atop a Boeing 747, went on its debut “flight” above Edwards Air Force Base in California. In 1913, Mexican President Francisco I. Madero and Vice President Jose Maria Pino Suarez were arrested during a military coup .

McCain says Flynn affair shows Trump administration in ‘disarray’

At the Munich Security Conference, McCain said the departure of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn shows that the Trump’s administration is “in many respects, in disarray”, remarking that “they’ve got a lot of work to do”. But McCain blurred the clear line he drew between his pro-Western orthodoxy and Trump’s new populism when he said that Pence and Trump appointee John Kelly would back him up with similar, pro-NATO, pro-democracy, pro-liberal values, pro-Western messages to the conference.

McCain slams Trump in Munich speech without using his name

Republican Sen. John McCain delivered a withering critique of President Donald Trump in a speech Friday that highlighted fractures within the GOP as the new administration struggles to overcome a chaotic start. Speaking in Germany at the Munich Security Conference, McCain didn’t mention the president’s name, according to the prepared text, while he lamented a shift in the United States and Europe away from the “universal values” that forged the Western alliance seven decades ago.

Senate nears confirmation of Trumpa s pick to head Treasury

The Senate is poised to confirm President Donald Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary despite complaints by Democrats that Steven Mnuchin failed to protect thousands of homeowners from unnecessary foreclosures when he headed OneWest Bank. Votes on Trump’s Cabinet picks have exposed deep partisan divisions in the Republican-controlled Senate, with many of the nominees approved by mostly party-line votes.

Congressional leaders scramble to reassure Australia after testy Trump phone call

Top Republican figures on Capitol Hill sought to reassure Australia on Thursday following reports of a remarkably tense phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. House Speaker Paul Ryan said Australia was a ”very essential” US ally after being pressed in a morning news conference by reporters on the call, as well as on a tweet late Wednesday where Trump dismissed an agreement to accept refugees from Australia as a ”dumb deal.’

US: Trump ‘unbelievably disappointed’ in Australia deal

The White House deepened its condemnation of an Obama administration refugee deal with Australia Thursday, saying President Donald Trump was “unbelievably disappointed” in the agreement. The agreement to allow mostly Muslim refugees to resettle in the United States was a source of friction during a recent phone call between Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, according to an administration official.

Senate Democrats boycotting HHS, Treasury nominees

In a surprise turn of events, Senate Democrats announced Tuesday morning that they are boycotting a committee vote on two of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees, drawing fury from Republicans across the aisle. The Senate Finance Committee was set to vote on the nominations of Rep. Tom Price to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and Steve Mnuchin for Treasury Secretary.

Senate Democrats boycotting HHS, Treasury nominees

In a surprise turn of events, Senate Democrats announced Tuesday morning that they are boycotting a committee vote on two of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees, drawing fury from Republicans across the aisle. The Senate Finance Committee was set to vote on the nominations of Rep. Tom Price to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and Steve Mnuchin for Treasury Secretary.

Trump, Putin set for phone call; GOP concerns on sanctions

In this Jan. 25, 2017 file-pool photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to students at the Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia. A day ahead of President Donald Trump’s weekend call with Putin, the fight within the Republican Party over the direction of U.S. policy toward Moscow intensified.

Several dead after militants storm Mogadishu hotel

At least 13 people were killed in Somalia’s Mogadishu on Wednesday after gunmen crashed a vehicle packed with explosives into the gate of Dayah hotel, Reuters reported.Four militants rammed a auto packed with explosives into the gate of the Dayah hotel, near the presidential palace, leaping out before the explosives detonated and exchanging fire with security guards, according to media reports. Al Shabaab frequently attacks hotels and government buildings in Somalia in protest against the country’s government, which is backed by Western countries.

With Trump’s swearing-in, Israel pushes ahead on settlements

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says he’s been diagnosed with prostate cancer but will finish the final two years of his term Stark contrasts in U.S. cancer death rates were found in an exhaustive new analysis that suggests where you live contributes to your fate One black bear cub has been rescued by Virginia wildlife officials after it was discovered in a den without its mother Dippin’ Dots has apparently found a way to begin thawing out its relationship with President Donald Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, who has been sending critical tweets about the company since 2010 The wife of the founder of a ramshackle Oakland artists’ colony where dozens of people burned to death in a fire last month says she’s sorry about what happened but is angry about what she called “pretty terrible”… The partner of the founder of an Oakland artists’ colony where dozens of people burned to death in a … (more)

With Trump’s swearing-in, Israel pushes ahead on settlements

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says he’s been diagnosed with prostate cancer but will finish the final two years of his term Stark contrasts in U.S. cancer death rates were found in an exhaustive new analysis that suggests where you live contributes to your fate One black bear cub has been rescued by Virginia wildlife officials after it was discovered in a den without its mother Dippin’ Dots has apparently found a way to begin thawing out its relationship with President Donald Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, who has been sending critical tweets about the company since 2010 The wife of the founder of a ramshackle Oakland artists’ colony where dozens of people burned to death in a fire last month says she’s sorry about what happened but is angry about what she called “pretty terrible”… The partner of the founder of an Oakland artists’ colony where dozens of people burned to death in a … (more)

NYC Women’s March sets more than 400G protesters upon Trump Tower

The streets of President Trump’s hometown were steeped in protesters Saturday – the masses set on showing the nation’s new commander-in-chief they won’t be silent. More than 400,000 people marched through Midtown to stand in solidarity for women’s rights and to let Trump know they want a greater voice for women in political life.

Tigerair to resume flights between Australia and Bali

‘Help, we are dying of the cold’: Desperate guests trapped in Italian ski hotel send texts to loved-ones after huge avalanche hits the building killing up to 30 people The wedge salads are on me! Trump pays one fan’s $1,000 dinner bill as he’s mobbed while stopping by his DC hotel for a meal after ditching press pool 36 hours before inauguration Aaron Rodgers’ family doesn’t ‘trust’ Olivia Munn: More details of NFL star’s rift with relatives emerge ‘after he chose model over her’ Overweight and rather whiffy, the REAL young Queen Victoria: New book claims Lord Melbourne dropped hints to the monarch about her personal hygiene and gave her slimming tips ‘Nope’: The last word of cold-blooded killer as he is executed for invading family’s home and murdering two young girls and their parents who had left the door open while preparing New Year’s party Poll shows Hillary Clinton would BEAT Bill … (more)

Haley supports moving US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

UN Ambassador-designate, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, arrives for a meeting with Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. WASHINGTON — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley declared her support for moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a shift firmly endorsed by Donald Trump but one that could trigger increased violence in the Middle East.