Year: 2018

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI late last year as a result of the special counsel’s Russia investigation, will be sentenced on December 18, said federal Judge […]

Administration Didn’t Know Where About 1,500 Immigrant Children Were

The Trump administration again lost track of around 1,500 immigrant minors released from U.S. custody over a three-month period. It was the second time in a year that it couldn’t determine where these undocumented children […]

GOP Rep. Chris Collins, Accused of Insider Trading, Will Restart his Campaign

Republican Rep. Chris Collins will relaunch his congressional campaign as he fights federal insider trading charges, the lawmaker said Wednesday, CNBC informed. State Republicans attempted to replace the representative on the ballot after he was indicted last […]

Pelosi Bid to Regain House Speaker Role Facing New Threat from Rebel Democrats

A group of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives is pursuing a petition in order to amend party rules for electing the speaker, which represents a bid to prevent the incumbent House Minority Leader […]

Russian Oil Producer Pushes Euro Payments to Protect Itself from U.S. Sanctions

In an apparent attempt to protect itself from possible tougher U.S. sanctions, Russian oil producer Surgutneftegaz is pushing buyers to agree to pay for oil in euros instead of dollars if the need arises, traders […]

Attorney General Tightens Control of Immigration Courts

Following President Donald Trump’s latest attack on Jeff Sessions, the attorney general made yet another attempt to tighten control of the immigration courts. One of the two moves Tuesday night further restricted the discretion of […]

Texas Securities Commissioner Tries to Stop Russian Cryptocurrency Scheme

Texas Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles has taken an emergency action to stop the activities of a cryptocurrency-related scheme involving Russian companies, Coin Telegraph reports. The Commissioner entered a cease and desist order against Coins […]

Terrorism Deaths Decreased in 2017, Says U.S.

A report by the State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism says that last year the number of deaths and attacks attributed to terrorism was considerably lower. “The total number of terrorist attacks […]

Pompeo Criticizes Kerry on Meeting with Iranian Officials

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday blasted John Kerry because he met with Iranian officials and stated that former Obama administration “can’t seem to get off the stage,” Fox News informed. Pompeo on “The […]

September 19, 2018 Lisa Clayton

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Maryland, Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia, New Jersey

Your Daily Polling Update for Wednesday, September 19, 2018 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 43% Up 1 from yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on four polls, ranging from 38% (Gallup) to 47% (Rasmussen). Without these […]

Hillary Clinton Warns ‘Unchecked’ Trump Could Do Serious Damage

Former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton said that President Donald Trump’s “authoritarian tendencies” must be rejected at the upcoming November midterm election, otherwise, an “unchecked” president could do lasting damage to the government. Clinton, who was […]

Trade Differences Between U.S. and China Will Remain for Some Time, Says Official

A former U.S. trade representative has said that the current deadlock between the world’s two largest economies China and the United States won’t end soon. According to Timothy Stratford, a managing partner at law firm […]

Kavanaugh Accuser Christine Blasey Ford Demands ‘Full Investigation’ by FBI before Testifying, in Letter from Her Lawyers

On Tuesday, Christine Blasey Ford, the California professor who says that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her more than 35 years ago, requested a “full investigation” by the FBI before she attends any congressional hearing […]

Trump to Survey Florence Damage during North Carolina Visit

Donald Trump is set to go to North Carolina on Wednesday to assess the impact of the Hurricane Florence, the White House announced, Fox News informed. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed this on […]

U.S. Needs More Icebreakers to Oppose Russian Polar Dominance

The U.S. Coast Guard is “seriously underfunded” and lacks the heavy icebreaker fleet that Russia and possibly China might deploy to dominate polar sea lanes, Democratic Congressman from California John Garamendi told the U.S. state’s […]

Trump Considering Permanent Military Presence in Poland

President Donald Trump on Tuesday stated that the U.S. is considering having a permanent military presence in Poland, adding that he shares the country’s concerns about possible Russian aggression. Poland has repeatedly requested a permanent […]

Bush Continues to Support Kavanaugh Despite Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Former President George W. Bush on Tuesday stated that he will continue to support Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, despite the allegation that Kavanaugh committed sexual assault in his late teens. “Laura and I have […]

DOJ Orders Two Chinese Media Organizations to Register as Foreign Agents

The Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered two Chinese media organization with strong ties to China’s government to register as foreign agents in the U.S. According to The Wall Street Journal, the DOJ on Tuesday ordered […]

Trump Feels Sorry for Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying he does not “deserve” to face the sexual assault allegations against him, CNBC reported. Trump stated that the accusations are politically motivated […]

September 18, 2018 Lisa Clayton

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Tennessee, Arizona, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, California, Florida

Your Daily Polling Update for Tuesday, September 18, 2018 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 42% Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on six polls, ranging from 37% (CNN) to 49% (Rasmussen). Without these two […]

Poll Shows Voters Believe Foreign Adversaries May Attack Voter Databases

An NPR-Marist poll released Monday shows that voters believe there is a greater chance that foreign actors would hack into voter databases than alter vote results, a view also held by security experts and election […]

Kavanaugh, Accuser to Testify Publicly

Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexually assaulting a woman over 20 years ago, will testify publicly before the Senate on Monday, which puts in question the future of his nomination. […]

China Must Retaliate against U.S. Tariffs, Commerce Ministry Says

China has no other option but to slap counter tariffs to the latest sanctions of U.S. against it in order keep its rights and interest in the free trade world, China’s Commerce Ministry stated, CNBC […]

U.S. Wants to Counter Russia in European LNG Market: Official

The United States needs to increase its natural gas exports to Europe to counter Russia’s increasing energy dominance in the region, a top Trump administration official warned, according to the Oil & Gas Journal. Europe […]

Trump Imposes Tariffs on Additional $200B of Chinese Goods

President Trump on Monday said in an announcement that he imposed 10 percent tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, Fox News informed. The tariffs will increase to 25 percent on Jan. […]

Trump Orders Feds to Declassify Key FISA Documents, Messages in FBI Russia Probe

Donald Trump on Monday gave an order for declassification of a number of important documents in connection to the FBI probe of Russian meddling during the 2016 elections that include 21 pages of an application […]

September 17, 2018 Focus Washington

ONA18: The Trump Effect on the Fourth Estate

The relationship between U.S. presidents and the press has always been complicated, but in President Donald Trump’s case, the complications began as soon as he descended the golden escalator at Trump Tower to announce his […]

September 17, 2018 Lisa Clayton

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Historical House Seat Shifts – New Mexico, West Virginia, Minnesota, Arkansas, Oregon, Florida

Your Daily Polling Update for Monday, September 17, 2018 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 42% Up 1 from Friday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on five polls, ranging from 37% (CNN) to 49% (Rasmussen). Without these […]

September 17, 2018 Focus Washington

U.S. Sanctions on Russian Aluminum Giant Relieved but Not Lifted

The U.S. Treasury’s main body in charge of sanctions, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), has softened sanctions against companies belonging to Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska, Metal Bulletin reports. According to the document published […]

September 17, 2018 Focus Washington

Less Than Two Months Before Midterms Democrats Gain Momentum

Fifty days before the November 6 midterm elections, Democrats have increased their chances of retaking the House and winning back the Senate. The main reason are the latest bad headlines which have proven detrimental to […]