Month: February 2019

The Pentagon said Sunday that it would send about 3,750 U.S. forces to the southwest border to bolster Customs and Border Protection. CNN writes that the support includes a mobile surveillance capability through the end […]

President Says Military Intervention in Venezuela Still an Option

President Donald Trump said the use of military force in Venezuela is not off the table yet as the political crisis in the South American nation deepens, adding that he refused to meet with Venezuelan […]

Democrats Pressure Virginia Governor to Resign Over Racist Photo

Senior Democrats on Sunday accused embattled Virginia Governor Ralph Northam of being dishonest and urged him to resign after he backtracked from an earlier admission that he appeared in racist garb in a yearbook photo, […]

U.S. Congress to Look into German Lender’s Ties to Russian Bank

German lender Deutsche Bank scrambled to unload a $600 million loan to Russian state-owned bank VTB in late 2016 in order to minimize its financial ties to Russia, which had been accused of meddling in […]

Prior to SOTU Anticipation and New Immigration Divide

Only a day before delivering his State of the Union speech President Donald Trump is building anticipation around the long-awaited address but is also deepening the immigration divide already existing in the country. Namely, on Sunday […]

Trump Wants to Keep Troops in Iraq to Watch Iran

President Donald Trump plans to keep U.S. troops in Iraq to monitor and maintain pressure on Iran, committing to an American military presence in the region’s war zones even as he moves to withdraw forces […]

Trump Downplays Mueller Probe Charges in Super Bowl Interview

President Donald Trump downplayed the numerous charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, saying many of those charged in the probe had nothing to do with him while giving no clear answer to whether he […]

Ocasio-Cortez Praises UK Leader Corbyn Following Phone Call

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke via phone call with Britain’s Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, The Hill reported. “Great to speak to @AOC on the phone this evening and hear first hand how she’s challenging the status quo,” […]

Islamic State Makes Inroads Through West Africa

In recent months, as Islamic State has seen its self-described caliphate in Iraq and Syria radically shrink, a Nigeria-born group calling itself the Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP, has taken control of hundreds […]

February 3, 2019 Focus Washington

National Parks Lost $10 Million During Government Shutdown

In an internal email sent to National Park Service’s (NPS) employees, it stated that the parks lost around $10 million because of the government shutdown. According to The Hill, the email states that the shutdown and […]

Treasury Department Says Russia is Reducing it’s Investments in U.S. Bonds

Russia began reducing investments in U.S. government bonds again in November, data from the U.S. Treasury Department reveals, according to Russia Business Today. In November, Russia’s total investment in U.S. securities amounted to $12.814 billion, a decrease […]

Putin Says Russia Will Abandon Nuclear Weapons Treaty

President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia will also withdraw from the nuclear weapons treaty after President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday announced that it would pull out of the pact. “We will respond quid pro […]

Google to Pay Russia a $7,600 Fine over Unfiltered Search Results

U.S.-based tech giant Google has paid a fine of 500,000 rubles (around $7,600) for failing to remove search links to banned information, Russia’s state media and telecom watchdog Roskomnadzor said Friday, according to Russia Business Today. Roskomnadzor […]

Schumer Aide Resigned over ‘Inappropriate Encounters’ with Staffers

Communications director for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was fired from his post after the midterm elections, due to “inappropriate encounters” with staffers, Fox News informed. “Upon learning that he had inappropriate encounters within […]

Washington Planning New Sanctions on Russia

The U.S. State Department’s Special Representative for Ukraine negotiations, Kurt Volker, says both Washington and Brussels could impose additional sanctions on Russia as early as February in case Moscow refuses to release Ukrainian sailors captured […]

Governor Northam Won’t Resign after KKK Photo

The Governor of Virginia Ralph Northam on Friday night dismissed mounting calls for his resignation after admitting that he appeared in a picture showing a man wearing blackface and another dressed in a Ku Klux […]

February 1, 2019 Lisa Clayton

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Super Bowl: Don’t Care – Corporal Punishment – Tax the Rich – Border Crisis

Your Daily Polling Update for Friday, February 1, 2019 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 40% Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on seven polls, ranging from 37% (Gallup) to 43% (The Economist, Rasmussen). Without […]

Apple Complies with Controversial Russian Data Law

Russian security services could soon have access to the personal data of thousands of Apple users in Russia, following the U.S. tech giant’s decision to comply with Russian law and store user data on servers in the […]

New U.S. Experiments Aim To Create Gene-Edited Human Embryos

A scientist in New York is conducting experiments designed to modify DNA in human embryos as a step toward someday preventing inherited diseases, NPR reports. For now, the work is confined to a laboratory, if […]

U.S. Finds More Offending Russian Missiles As Countries Near Arms Treaty Exit

Russia has expanded its deployment of a missile system the U.S. says violates a 1987 treaty on intermediate-range nuclear forces, widening the differences with Washington over a pact the U.S. is expected to exit on […]

US admin discusses raising the debt ceiling

U.S. Govt Bonds Less Appealing to Russia as Country Drops Investments by $1.8bn

Russia began reducing investments in U.S. government bonds again in November, data from the U.S. Treasury Department reveals, according to Ura news agency. In November, Russia’s total investment in U.S. securities amounted to $12.814 billion, […]

Trump Says he is Not the ‘Target’ of Mueller’s Investigation

President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a report in which he states that he is not a subject of the Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Trump’s campaign coordinated with Russia during the 2016 […]

Fed Policy Signals End of ‘Trumponomics’ Best Days

The Federal Reserve’s policy twist on Wednesday might seem just what the White House ordered, with a hold put on what President Donald Trump termed “loco” interest rate hikes, and an openness to ending the […]

U.S. to Slap Russia with New Set of Sanctions over Ukrainian Ship Incident

The State Department’s Special Representative for Ukraine negotiations, Kurt Volker, said that should Moscow refuse to release Ukrainian sailors captured during an incident in the Azov Sea in November both Washington and Brussels could impose new […]

Second Summit Between Trump, Kim to Be Held in Vietnam

The second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will most likely take place in Vietnam at the end of this month, said a source familiar with the planning. According to […]

European Countries Establish Trade Channel to Bypass U.S. Sanctions on Iran

Three major European countries have set up a financial mechanism aimed at circumventing U.S. sanctions on Iran and keeping the 2015 Iran nuclear deal alive, a joint statement by the E3 said. The UK, Germany […]