Focus Washington September 2018 from

White House Says FBI Free to Manage Kavanaugh Probe

September 30, 2018 Focus Washington

The FBI is free to investigate any sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the White House said on Sunday, rebuffing reports that the administration has tried to limit the probe, Reuters reported. […]

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U.S. Navy Sails Past Contested Islands in South China Sea

September 30, 2018 Focus Washington

The U.S. Navy sailed a warship close to disputed islands in the South China Sea on Sunday, a move that is bound to draw an angry reaction from Beijing, amid heightened US-China tensions over a […]

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Tesla CEO Musk Allegedly Picked Weed-Linked Price to Impress Girlfriend

September 29, 2018 Focus Washington

The price that Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk came up with to take his company private really was about weed, and that the embattled chief executive officer tweeted the figure to impress his girlfriend, the rapper […]

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North Korea Says It Won’t Disarm Nuclear Weapons without Full Trust in U.S.

September 29, 2018 Focus Washington

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday that there is “no way” his nation will ever disarm its nuclear weapons first if it can’t trust Washington, CBS […]

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Cruz, O’Rourke Second Debate Postponed Because of Kavanaugh Vote

September 29, 2018 Focus Washington

The second debate in the Texas Senate race between Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Beto O’Rourke has been postponed due to Cruz being in Washington for weekend votes, The Dallas Morning News reported. While weekend […]

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LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Sexual Harassment – Friday’s Generic Ballot Update – Maryland, Michigan, Delaware, Pennsylvania

September 28, 2018 Lisa Clayton

Your Daily Polling Update for Friday, September 28, 2018 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 43% Down 1 from yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on six polls, ranging from 40% (Pew, Gallup) to 47% (Rasmussen). Without […]

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American Bar Association Requests to Delay Brett Kavanaugh Vote until FBI Investigates

September 28, 2018 Focus Washington

The American Bar Association late Thursday urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay the vote to confirm Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh pending a full FBI investigation, according to multiple reports, Fox News informed. In […]

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Shareholders Sue Russian Bank over Illegal Money Flows Through U.S.

September 28, 2018 Focus Washington

Shareholders in Moscow, London, and New York are suing Promsvyazbank (PSB), one of Russia’s biggest banks, whose owners, brothers Alexey and Dmitry Ananyev, defrauded them of $200 million, Forbes writes in an analysis of the […]

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Russia, China Oppose U.S. on North Korea Sanctions

September 28, 2018 Focus Washington

On Thursday, Russia and China opposed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s effort to mount a unified international pressure on North Korea. During a United Nations meeting, Pompeo expressed frustration that some countries were violating sanctions […]

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Two-State Solution Architect Doubtful Trump Can Deliver Peace in Middle East

September 28, 2018 Focus Washington

Yossi Beilin, one of the architects of a two-state plan for Palestine and Israel, doesn’t believe President Donald Trump can deliver such a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite his endorsement of the plan. “What […]

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California Governor Vetoes Bills to Let Noncitizens Serve on Boards, Block Immigration Arrests in Courthouses

September 28, 2018 Focus Washington

California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed two bills Thursday that would have allowed noncitizens, including undocumented immigrants, to serve on state boards and commissions, and would have prevented immigration authorities from making arrests inside courthouses, Fox […]

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Florida GOP Demands Andrew Gillum Fire Staffer who Wore Profane Shirt Insulting Trump Voters

September 28, 2018 Focus Washington

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) urged the Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum to fire a staffer who wore a shirt that contained an insult towards citizens who voted for President Trump in the 2016 […]

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Iran Possibly Planning Attack on U.S. Forces in Middle East

September 28, 2018 Focus Washington

Iranian-backed militias could possibly attack U.S. military forces in the Middle East, a U.S. intelligence assessment has concluded. According to three defense officials, the biggest threat comes from militias in Syria but also other locations […]

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President Trump Praises Judge Kavanaugh after Hearing

September 28, 2018 Focus Washington

Donald Trump has praised Brett Kavanaugh after the judge’s Senate hearing, blasting Democrats by saying their “search and destroy strategy is disgraceful,” Fox News informed. “Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him,” the […]

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Musk Sued by SEC over His Tweets, Sees Fall in Company’s Share Price

September 28, 2018 Focus Washington

On Thursday, the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, faced a lawsuit by the Securities and Exchange Commission for making “false and misleading” statements to investors, allegations he immediately dismissed. The SEC is seeking to prevent […]

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Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination on Friday

September 28, 2018 Focus Washington

Republican senators claim that the Judiciary Committee is set to vote Friday morning on Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, CNBC informed. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking Republican, said in a statement […]

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LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Kavanaugh Confirmation – Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida, Minnesota, California

September 27, 2018 Lisa Clayton

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, September 27, 2018 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 44% Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on five polls, ranging from 40% (Gallup) to 47% (Rasmussen). Without these two […]

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U.S. to Decide on Imposing New Russia Sanctions

September 27, 2018 Focus Washington

The threat of new sanctions on Russia has not prompted the finance ministry in Moscow to intervene in the bond market to support Russian state debt, as it does not believe U.S. sanctions against Moscow […]

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Trump Leaves Possible Military Options for Venezuela Open

September 27, 2018 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump said on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York that “all options are on the table” when it came to Venezuela, reiterating his hardline position against the country’s […]

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Trump Accuses China of Meddling in Midterms, Offers no Evidence

September 27, 2018 Focus Washington

During his speech at the United Nations Security Council, President Donald Trump claimed that China is trying to meddle in the upcoming November midterms, without offering any evidence whatsoever to support his claim. “Regrettably we […]

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Trump-Rosenstein Meeting Will Be Delayed

September 27, 2018 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump said he would most probably postpone the meeting with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, but that he felt sympathetic towards Rosenstein. Rosenstein was accused of giving a proposition that Trump should be […]

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House Committee Sets Vote on Release of Russia Investigation Documents for Friday

September 27, 2018 Focus Washington

The House Intelligence Committee has scheduled its vote on the possible release of transcripts pertaining to its now-concluded Russia probe for Friday at 9 a.m. A news release said that before the committee members meet […]

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FEMA Head Made Improper Personal Trips with Government Vehicles

September 27, 2018 Focus Washington

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Brock Long, made unauthorized uses of both government vehicles and staff for personal reasons over 40 times, even though it was clearly indicated to him he […]

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Environmental Federation Says Atlantic Still Unsafe for Swimming Off N.C. Coast

September 27, 2018 Focus Washington

Hurricane Florence has wreaked havoc in North Carolina, with the effects lasting nearly two weeks after it hit near Wilmington on September 14 and stayed for days. The catastrophe resulted in a devastating flooding. Now, […]

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U.S. Faces Backlash amid Re-imposed Iran Sanctions

September 27, 2018 Focus Washington

A rare show of EU solidarity with Russia and China against the United States appeared on Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly. The development, which follows Washington’s decision to withdraw from the Iran oil […]

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Trump Says He Refused Meeting with Canada over NAFTA, Trudeau Rejects Claim

September 27, 2018 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he didn’t want to meet with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over NAFTA, a claim the Canadian government rejected. Trudeau spokeswoman Eleanore Catenaro instead said that “no […]

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Woman Accusing Kavanaugh of Sexual Harassment Says He ‘Drastically Altered’ Her Life

September 27, 2018 Focus Washington

One of the women who made allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and accused him of sexual harassment claims she still remembers the fear she felt as he assaulted her. Christine Blasey Ford handed her […]

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LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Media Analysis of Trump’s UN Speech – Florida, Ohio, Massachusetts, Oregon

September 26, 2018 Lisa Clayton

Your Daily Polling Update for Wednesday, September 26, 2018 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 44% Down 1 from yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on four polls, ranging from 40% (Gallup) to 47% (Rasmussen). Without these […]

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‘Illegal Agent’ of China Arrested in U.S.

September 26, 2018 Focus Washington

A Chinese man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of spying for Beijing, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement. The arrest comes only days after warnings against growing Chinese influence abroad issued by […]

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China Blocks U.S. Warship From Port Call in Hong Kong

September 26, 2018 Focus Washington

China did not approve a U.S. warship entry to Hong Kong next month, days after Washington slapped sanctions to the Chinese military for buying Russian weapons, Bloomberg informed. The U.S. consulate in Hong Kong confirmed on Wednesday that […]

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