Feb 15 Time to expand the international coalition against Islamic State, Pentagon official says By Robert Burns, Associated Press "While the time for U.S. troops on the ground in northeast Syria winds down," says Pat Shanahan, U.S. Defense Secretary, "the United States remains committed to our coalition's cause, the permanent defeat of ISIS, both in the Middle East and… Continue reading
Feb 15 Trump plans to spend $8 billion on border barriers By Associated Press President Donald Trump plans to spend about $8 billion on border barriers, far more than Congress has given him for that purpose. Continue reading
Feb 15 As Democrats lean left, will voters follow? By Lisa Mascaro, Steve Peoples, Associated Press Captivated by a handful of liberal superstars, Democrats are venturing where the party has long feared to tread: Steep taxes on the rich. Abolishing an immigration enforcement agency. And proposing a sweeping Green New Deal to combat climate change. Continue reading
Feb 15 WATCH: Trump declares national emergency to build border wall By Alan Fram, Catherine Lucey, Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Battling with one branch of government and opening a new confrontation with another, President Donald Trump announced Friday he was declaring a national emergency to fulfill his pledge to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Continue reading
Feb 14 State attorneys general threaten to sue over any border emergency declaration By Associated Press President Trump is prepared to invoke a national emergency to build the U.S.-Mexico wall after Congress refused to provide $5.7 billion he was demanding as part of a budget compromise to avoid a federal shutdown. Continue reading
Feb 14 AP fact check: Declaring an emergency to build a border wall would be an extraordinary step By Hope Yen, Calvin Woodward, Associated Press The emergency action Trump has been contemplating would be rare. The presidents he has cited did not use emergency powers to pay for projects that Congress wouldn't support. Continue reading
Feb 14 WATCH: Senate approves border security and funding bill President Donald Trump will sign Congress' border security compromise, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday. Continue reading
Feb 14 McConnell: Trump to sign funding bill and declare border emergency By Associated Press The comprise measure keeps departments running through the fiscal year but without the $5.7 billion Trump wanted for the border wall with Mexico. Continue reading
Feb 14 WATCH: Senate confirms William Barr as attorney general By Maryclaire Dale, Associated Press The Senate on Thursday confirmed William Barr as attorney general, placing the veteran government official and lawyer atop the Justice Department as special counsel Robert Mueller investigates Russian interference in the 2016 election. Continue reading
Feb 14 Ex-FBI official was concerned Russia probes could ‘vanish’ By Associated Press Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe says he wanted investigations into President Donald Trump's ties to Russia and possible obstruction of justice documented so that they could "not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace."… Continue reading