Dec 19 Trump pulling all U.S. troops from Syria, declaring ISIS defeated By Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The move contradicts President Trump's own experts' assessments and is sparking surprise and outrage from his party's lawmakers who called his action rash and dangerous. Continue reading
Dec 19 Affordable Care Act sign-ups beat forecast in unpredictable season By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press The Obama health care law has yet again beaten predictions of its downfall, as government figures released Wednesday showed unexpectedly solid sign-ups for health coverage next year. Continue reading
Dec 19 Judge blocks Trump administration restrictions on who can apply for asylum By Colleen Long, Associated Press The judge said the administration's policy on asylum seekers violates federal immigration law and that "it is the will of Congress -- not the whims of the executive" that sets the standards for expedited removal. Continue reading
Dec 19 What’s the status of Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall? By Nomaan Merchant, Colleen Long, Associated Press President Donald Trump and Democratic lawmakers are in a standoff over funding the government, and the main sticking point is Trump’s demand for $5 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Here's a look at where things stand… Continue reading
Dec 19 More migrant kids held in mass shelters, AP investigation finds By Garance Burke, Martha Mendoza, Associated Press Decades after the U.S. stopped institutionalizing kids because large orphanages were causing lasting trauma, it is happening again. The federal government has placed most of the 14,300 migrant children in its care in detention centers and facilities packed with hundreds,… Continue reading
Dec 19 Trump says he’s eager to sign sweeping criminal justice bill By Kevin Freking, Associated Press The Senate passed a sweeping criminal justice bill Tuesday that addresses concerns that the nation's war on drugs had led to the imprisonment of too many Americans for non-violent crimes without adequately preparing them for their return to society. Continue reading
Dec 19 Trump appears to back off his demand for $5 billion for border wall By Lisa Mascaro, Matthew Daly, Catherine Lucey, Associated Press Congress on Wednesday headed toward a short-term budget measure to keep the government open after President Donald Trump appeared to back off his demand for $5 billion for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. But facing criticism from supporters, Trump continued to… Continue reading
Dec 18 Read James Comey’s full testimony before House committees By Erica R. Hendry James Comey continued to defend his actions as FBI director during an hours-long meeting with two Congressional committees on Monday, the second closed-door meeting with members in as many weeks. Continue reading
Dec 18 Flynn sentencing abruptly postponed to allow for cooperation in Mueller probe By Eric Tucker, Chad Day, Associated Press A federal judge abruptly postponed the sentencing of Michael Flynn, on Tuesday, saying he could not hide his disgust for Flynn's crime of lying to the FBI and warning that he could send the retired Army lieutenant general to prison. Continue reading
Dec 18 Trump’s safety panel seeks to revoke school discipline rules By Collin Binkley, Associated Press President Donald Trump's school safety commission is proposing a rollback of Obama-era guidance that was meant to curb racial disparities in school discipline. Continue reading