Focus Washington September 2017

Trump Condemns White Supremacy, Signs Resolution

September 15, 2017 Focus Washington

The White House has issued a statement saying that President Donald Trump has signed a resolution to condemn white supremacy, CNN reports. In the statement, the White House noted that the president opposed all forms […]

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Trump Administration Looking to Replace Obama Climate Rule

September 15, 2017 Focus Washington

The Trump administration has been looking into a new, more industry-friendly climate change rule for power plants using coal, scrapping the one written under former President Barack Obama, The Hill reports. According to a number […]

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Macedonia Reform Leader Gains Support in Washington

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

Aleksandar Mihajloski, the leader of the reform movement in Macedonia’s VMRO-DPMNE party, met with the offices of senators, representatives, and the State Department in Washington, DC this week to discuss his anti-corruption and democratization efforts […]

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Conservative Groups Step up Tax Reform Push

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

Conservative groups and activists are stepping up their push for tax reform, arguing to key GOP lawmakers and administration officials that passage of legislation is key for the midterm elections, The Hill reports. “There is […]

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U.S. Imposes Visa Sanctions on Four Countries

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

The U.S. imposed visa sanctions on four countries that refuse to accept deported nationals, Politico reports. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Cambodia, Eritrea, Guinea, and Sierra Leone are being sanctioned for “lack of […]

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Justice Department Won’t Allow FBI Officials to Speak before Senate Panel

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

The Justice Department says it will not permit two FBI officials close to fired director James Comey to appear privately before a congressional committee investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, ABC News reports, […]

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Intel Director Criticizes Former Officials for Comments on Trump

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats on Wednesday called it “troubling” to hear outside officials criticize the White House’s approach to intelligence, The Hill reports. In a speech at the Billington CyberSecurity Summit in Washington, […]

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White House Explains Case on How Comey ‘Broke the Law’

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday made the case on why ex FBI Chief James Comey broke the law, The Hill reports. Comey testified earlier this year that he arranged for a […]

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U.S. Dropped Record Number of Bombs on ISIS in August

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

The U.S.-led bombing campaign against ISIS set a record in August, with the military dropping 5,075 bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is the highest total during the three-year operation against ISIS, Business Insider reports. […]

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Miami Mayor Slams Pruitt’s Climate Change Criticism

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado on Wednesday criticized Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s suggestion that it is inappropriate to discuss climate change in the wake of Hurricane Irma, The Hill reports. “It is insensitive on […]

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Trump: U.S. ‘Should Do Everything Possible to Match’ China’s Business Tax

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump on Wednesday reiterated his position on lowering the United States’ corporate tax rate to 15 percent, saying that doing so would put the country on par with China, The Hill reports. “China […]

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Trump Agrees Deal with Democrats to Protect Young Immigrants

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders in Congress reached an agreement to work toward a deal that would protect young undocumented immigrants from deportation in exchange for new border security measures, The Hill reports. Trump […]

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Trump Hits Back at Clinton: She Blames Everybody but Herself

September 14, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump on Wednesday hit back at Hillary Clinton’s claims about the November election loss.The former Democratic presidential candidate on several occasionssaid she’s “convinced” that Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia during last year’s presidential […]

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Hope Hicks to Become Permanent White House Communications Director

September 13, 2017 Focus Washington

Hope Hicks will assume the role of White House communications director on a permanent basis, a senior administration official confirmed Tuesday morning, Politico reports. Hicks had taken on the role of communications director on an […]

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NYT: South Korea Assembling ‘Decapitation Unit’

September 13, 2017 Focus Washington

South Korea is assembling a “decapitation unit” in its military in a thinly veiled threat to North Korean leader Kim Jung Un and his top aides as they escalate a nuclear missile program, The New […]

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Trump Says New North Korea Sanctions Are ‘Only a Very Small Step’

September 13, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the latest U.N. sanctions on North Korea are “only a very small step” and “nothing compared to what would have to happen” to deal with the country’s nuclear program, […]

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Pope Francis Calls Climate Change Doubters ‘Stupid’ After Hurricanes

September 13, 2017 Focus Washington

Pope Francis described climate change doubters as “stupid” in the wake of a spate of hurricanes that have thrashed the US, Mexico and the Caribbean, Agence France-Press reports. “Those who deny climate change should go […]

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Millions of Floridians Still Without Power after Hurricane Irma

September 13, 2017 Focus Washington

Some 5.8 million homes and businesses in Florida and nearby states still had no power on Tuesday after the pummeling from Hurricane Irma, as utility companies scrambled to get the lights back on in one […]

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Flynn Reportedly Refusing to Testify before Senate Intel Committee

September 13, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn has refused a new request to appear as a witness before the Senate Intelligence Committee, CNN reports. Flynn first declined to comply with a Senate subpoena […]

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White House: DOJ Should Consider Prosecuting Comey

September 13, 2017 Focus Washington

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a press briefing Tuesday that it’s up to the Department of Justice to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey, but said that the move “should be […]

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Mnuchin Cast Doubts over Trump’s Corporate Tax Rate

September 13, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump’s goal of lowering the corporate tax rate to 15 percent may not be achievable, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Tuesday, several news outlets have reported. “I don’t know if we’ll be […]

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Trump Reportedly Considering Reducing Refugee Quota

September 13, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering reducing the number of refugees who are allowed into the country to less than 50,000, which would be the lowest number since 1980, The New York Times reports. Several […]

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Ryan to Discuss Legislative Solutions for Dream Act with Democrats

September 13, 2017 Focus Washington

House Speaker Paul Ryan is set to meet with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats on Wednesday to discuss possible legislative solutions for participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, […]

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Pope Francis Urges Trump to Reconsider DACA Decision

September 12, 2017 Focus Washington

Pope Francis is urging President Donald Trump to rethink his decision to end a program protecting young immigrants from deportation, noting that anyone who calls himself “pro-life” should keep families together, TIME reports, citing The […]

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Clinton ‘Convinced’ that Trump Campaign Collaborated with Russia

September 12, 2017 Focus Washington

Former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton says she’s “convinced” that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during last year’s presidential elections. Clinton spoke with USA Today on Monday about the release of her new book, “What […]

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Trump on 9/11: ‘America Cannot be Intimidated’

September 12, 2017 Focus Washington

America cannot be intimidated, said President Donald Trump on Monday, speaking at the Pentagon during his first commemoration of the solemn 9/11 anniversary. Trump added that those who try are destined to join a long […]

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Military Sends Aid to Help Hurricane Irma Recovery Efforts

September 12, 2017 Focus Washington

The U.S. military is sending aid down south to help recovery efforts for Hurricane Irma, the Pensacola News Journal reports. The army is sending 9,900 National Guard soldiers and Corps of Engineers members to Florida, […]

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UN Approves New Set of Sanctions against North Korea

September 12, 2017 Focus Washington

The United Nations Security Council approved a new set of sanctions against North Korea after the threatening state launched its latest nuclear weapons test earlier this month, Bloomberg reports. With the latest resolution, the Security […]

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Supreme Court Temporarily Lifts Restrictions on Travel Ban

September 12, 2017 Focus Washington

The Supreme Court on Monday approved the Trump administration’s request to temporarily lift travel ban restrictions, The Hill reports. The court temporarily blocked part of last week’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that barred […]

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McConnel Keeps Quiet over 'Sour Relationship' with Trump

Trump Deal Likely to Push Next Debt Limit Deadline into March

September 12, 2017 Focus Washington

The deal President Donald Trump signed into law to extend the debt limit will likely push the next debt ceiling deadline into March, according to a preliminary study by the Bipartisan Policy Center, according to […]

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