Year: 2018

The White House expects North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson to be released by the Turkish government and returned to the U.S. in the coming days, two years after he was detained, according to two senior […]

Nixon’s Grandson is New Potential Aide on China Trade

The grandson of late President Richard Nixon, Christopher Nixon Cox, is allegedly joining the Trump administration to become its new economic aide focusing on China trade, sources familiar with the matter reported. Based in New […]

Russia Plans to Fight Trade Restrictions With Oil-based Cryptocurrency

As Russia prepares to limit the use of U.S. dollars in trade, domestic calls for an oil-backed cryptocurrency that could be shared with other major oil exporting countries are growing, Bitcoin Exchange Guide reports. “Hypothetically, […]

Kanye West Praises Trump During White House Meeting

In an extended speech that touched on racism, tax breaks, prison reform, mental health and the need for art programs in schools, controversial rapper Kanye West used his meeting with President Donald Trump at the […]

Hurricane Michael Devastates Florida, Kills at Least Seven

Hurricane Michael is still rolling across the Southeast after it hit and devastated Florida and parts of Georgia, despite coming down to a tropical storm. At least seven people were reported to be dead, one […]

Amnesty International: Over 6,000 Families Separated at Border

More than 6,000 families have been separated at the Southwest border by the Trump administration, said an Amnesty International report. According to Amnesty, the number provided by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is an […]

Dow Plunges Another 500 Points, Extends Loss Into 2nd Day

Dow Industrial Average Futures closed 546 points or 2.1 percent lower at 25,052.83, totaling more than 5 percent in losses since Tuesday’s close, ABC News reported. The tech-centric NASDAQ ended 1.3 percent lower at 7,329.06. […]

Bolton to Meet Russian Security Counterpart Patrushev in Moscow

Russia’s Security Council secretary, Nikolai Patrushev, plans to meet U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton when he travels to Moscow on October 22-23, RIA news agency cited a Russian source as saying on Friday, Reuters […]

October 11, 2018 Lisa Clayton

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Job Ratings on All 100 Senators – More Polls from Everywhere

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, October 11, 2018 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 44% Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on five polls, ranging from 42% (Reuters/Ipsos) to 49% (Rasmussen). Without these two […]

Trump Makes Another Unsubstantiated Claim Against Democrats

During a late-night interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump reiterated his claim that Democrats paid protesters to infiltrate his rallies during the 2016 presidential campaign, without providing any evidence to support his claim. “They […]

Republicans Dismiss Latest UN Study on Global Warming

GOP lawmakers have dismissed the recent United Nations report which issued dire warnings about the imminent consequences of climate change. Several Republican senators said they had looked at the report but did not read it […]

Steele Blasts Trump, Laments ‘Strange and Troubling Times’

Former British spy Christopher Steele, the author of the explosive anti-Trump dossier alleging ties between Russians and the Trump campaign, has decided to break his silence and openly criticize the President. CNN obtained a copy […]

U.S. and Russian Astronauts Survive Emergency Landing After Failure of Soyuz Rocket

Astronauts on board a Soyuz rocket heading to the International Space Station survived an emergency landing following a booster failure, a Russian space official said Thursday. “The crew landed,” Dmitry Rogozin, director of the Russian […]

Melania: ‘I Could Say that I’m the Most Bullied Person in the World’

First Lady Melania Trump in an interview on Thursday stated that she is one of the most bullied people in the world. “I could say that I’m the most bullied person in the world,” the […]

DOJ Charges Chinese Official with Espionage

A Chinese intelligence official has been brought to the U.S. where he will face charges of economic espionage, according to a Department of Justice announcement. This marks the first time that an operative of the […]

Musk Denies FT Report about Murdoch Replacing Him as Tesla CEO

Outgoing Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday dismissed the reports that Twenty-First Century Fox Inc Chief Executive James Murdoch is the most likely candidate that will replace Elon Musk as Tesla Inc chairman. The Financial […]

U.S. Intelligence Shows Detention of Journalist Ordered by Saudi Crown Prince

U.S. intelligence intercepts indicate that Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was lured to Saudi Arabia and then detained at the order of the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Washington Post, which reported the […]

October 10, 2018 Lisa Clayton

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Georgia, Arizona – 5 House Races

Your Daily Polling Update for Wednesday, October 10, 2018 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 44% Down 1 from yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on five polls, ranging from 43% (CNN, Gallup, Emerson, NPR/Marist) to 49% […]

FT: Iran Gets Creative to Beat Sanctions

When President Donald Trump’s sanctions hit Iran’s oil exports next month, the country will not just scramble to find alternative revenues to provide an 80m-strong population with medicine and other vital commodities. Tehran is also […]

U.S. Approves More than $54 Billion in Military Equipment to Foreign Governments

The U.S. sold more than $54 billion in military equipment to foreign governments in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the Pentagon’s top financial officer told a small group of reporters, CNBC informed. “We’ve […]

Grassley Vows to Help Raise $3M for Collins to Counter Progressive Campaign

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told Fox News on Tuesday night that he wanted to help raise $3 million in support of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, amid a barrage of criticism over her […]

Trump Narrows List to Replace UN Ambassador Nikki Haley to Five

President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday that he has narrowed down his list of potential replacements for outgoing United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley to five people, after his daughter Ivanka removed herself from […]

Rosenstein Faces Congressional Confrontation Amid Wiretap Claims

Soon after Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein suggested using a wiretap to record President Donald Trump’s communications, then-acting FBI director Andrew McCabe went to the bureau’s top lawyer seeking advice on what he had […]

California Man Who Helped Russian Conspirators to Be Sentenced in Mueller Probe

A California man who was accused by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office of operating an online auction service that trafficked in stolen identities will be sentenced on Wednesday in a federal district court, Reuters writes. […]

Trump Uses Kavanaugh Case in Efforts to Boost Republican Voter Turnout

President Donald Trump on Tuesday used the bitter Senate confirmation battle for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to try to boost Republican voter enthusiasm and prevent a Democratic takeover of Congress in the November 6 […]

October 9, 2018 Focus Washington

Grassley Wouldn’t Consider a Supreme Court Nominee in 2020

The Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley stated that his panel wouldn’t consider a Supreme Court nomination if a vacancy appeared in 2020, The Washington Examiner reported. “If I’m chairman they won’t take it up,” […]

October 9, 2018 Focus Washington

Trump Says Dina Powell is Possible Replacement for Haley

President Donald Trump on Tuesday stated that there are five people on his short list that are likely to replace Nikki Haley as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. According to ABC News, Trump told […]

October 9, 2018 Focus Washington

Ivanka Denies Speculation About She Replacing U.N. Ambassador Haley

Ivanka Trump on Tuesday dismissed the reports that she is set to replace U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. Ivanka’s statement came shortly after President Donald Trump also dismissed the possibility. “It is […]

October 9, 2018 Lisa Clayton

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Tuesday Trivia – Top Issues – Foreign Friends and Enemies – Florida, Alaska, Michigan 11

Your Daily Polling Update for Tuesday, October 9, 2018 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 45% Up 1 from yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on four polls, ranging from 43% (CNN, Gallup, Emerson) to 51% (Rasmussen). […]

October 9, 2018 Lisa Clayton

BREAKING: Ambassador Nikki Haley Resigns From UN

President Trump this morning announced that Ambassador Nikki Haley has resigned from her post at the United Nations, but will work through the end of this year. According to Axios Trump accepted Haley’s resignation this […]