Focus Washington January 2020 from

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Supreme Court Justices Rated – Superbowl Picks – Iowa and New Hampshire First? – Texas Senate – Dem Unity – Trump and the Economy

January 31, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Friday, January 31, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 45%Up 1 from yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on four polls, ranging from 41% (Reuters) to 50% (Rasmussen). Without these […]

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Jimmy Carter Blasts Trump’s Mideast Peace Plan

January 31, 2020 Focus Washington

Former President Jimmy Carter issued a statement Thursday rejecting President Donald Trump’s newly proposed Middle East peace plan, which calls for the Israeli annexation of key swaths of Palestinian-held land, AJC reported. The statement issued […]

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Johnson Hails UK’s ‘New Beginning’ as Brexit Day Arrives

January 31, 2020 Focus Washington

Britain begins the day as a member of the European Union. Its status at the end of the day, as a proud nation that has reclaimed its sovereignty, or a diminished presence in Europe and […]

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Trump Revives Border Wall Promise in Iowa Campaign Speech

January 31, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump campaigned on Thursday in Iowa – the state that kicks off the presidential nominating race next week – basking in the support of his base while the U.S. Senate trial considering his […]

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Pompeo Pledges Support for Ukraine

January 31, 2020 Focus Washington

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo underscored Washington’s support for Ukraine on a visit to Kyiv on Friday, as both countries sought to smooth over relations buffeted by the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, Reuters […]

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FBI Probes Use of Israeli Firm’s Spyware in Personal and Government Hacks

January 31, 2020 Focus Washington

The FBI is investigating the role of Israeli spyware vendor NSO Group Technologies in possible hacks on American residents and companies as well as suspected intelligence gathering on governments, according to four people familiar with […]

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Confusion Spreads Over Coronavirus Protection

January 31, 2020 Focus Washington

“Do not wear a mask if you are well” read a warning plastered across the front of Singapore’s main newspaper on Friday, as authorities around the world sought to calm panic buying of masks seen […]

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Democrats’ Bid for New Trump Impeachment Witnesses Likely to Fail

January 31, 2020 Focus Washington

Democrats appeared to have fallen short on Thursday in their bid to garner the votes needed to call witnesses in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, clearing the way for his likely acquittal as early as […]

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World Share Markets Struggle for Footing After Virus-Battered Week

January 31, 2020 Focus Washington

World share markets fought to regain their footing on Friday as investors clutched at hopes that China could contain the coronavirus, even as headlines spoke of more cases and deaths, travel bans, evacuations, and factory […]

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Britain Quits EU, Steps Into Transition Twilight Zone

January 31, 2020 Focus Washington

The United Kingdom leaves the European Union on Friday for an uncertain Brexit future, the most significant change to its place in the world since the loss of empire and a blow to 70 years […]

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SpaceX Successfully Blows Up Starship’s Tank in New Stress Test

January 30, 2020 Focus Washington

A prototype of SpaceX’s Mars-colonization spacecraft blew its lid in a valuable stress test on Tuesday. For the duration of a cryogenic strength test at the South Texas facility near the village of Boca Chica, […]

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LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Big State Primaries – Separation of Church, State – Trump’s Removal – Superbowl Picks – Debate Influence

January 30, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, January 30, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 44%Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on five polls, ranging from 41% (Politico, Reuters) to 50% (Rasmussen). Without these […]

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U.S. Warns Citizens Against Travel to China

January 30, 2020 Focus Washington

The United States warned Americans not to travel to China as the death toll from a new virus reached 213 on Friday and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency, Reuters reported. […]

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AP: Gulf Arabs Back Trump’s Mideast Efforts, but Not Peace Plan

January 30, 2020 Focus Washington

A tectonic shift in relations quietly underway for years now was on full display as representatives of Gulf Arab states attended President Donald Trump’s unveiling this week of an Israeli-Palestinian plan that heavily sides with […]

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Trump Impeachment Trial Nears End of Initial Phase

January 30, 2020 Focus Washington

The U.S. Senate is expected to wrap up the initial phase of President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial before turning on Friday to the explosive question of whether to call witnesses such as former national security […]

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China Virus Toll Rises to 170

January 30, 2020 Focus Washington

Countries began isolating hundreds of citizens evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan on Thursday to stop the spread of an epidemic that has killed 170 people as worry about the impact on the world’s […]

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Republicans Hopeful Senate Will Acquit Trump by Friday

January 30, 2020 Focus Washington

A Democratic push to force Republicans to accept witnesses at President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate appeared to be flagging on Wednesday, raising the possibility he could be acquitted as early as […]

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U.S. Economy Growing Moderately in Fourth Quarter

January 30, 2020 Focus Washington

The U.S. economy likely maintained a moderate pace of growth in the fourth quarter, and probably again fell short of attaining the Trump administration’s coveted but elusive 3% annual growth target because of slumping business […]

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U.S. to Arrange More Evacuation Flights From Wuhan Next Week

January 30, 2020 Focus Washington

The U.S. government will lay on extra evacuation flights from Wuhan with capacity for private U.S. citizens on or about February 3, the State Department said in a statement on Thursday, Reuters reported. Individuals on […]

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Biden Under Pressure to Prove He Can Thwart New GOP Attacks

January 30, 2020 Focus Washington

With five days until the Iowa caucuses, Joe Biden is fending off a new onslaught of GOP attacks over his son’s business overseas and facing piling pressure to show Democratic voters he can handle the […]

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LUNCHTIME POLITICS: IOWA – SESSIONS LEADS PRIMARY – UKRAINE – ELECTION INTEREST – ECONOMIC FAIRNESS

January 29, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Wednesday, January 29, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 44%Down 2 since yesterday RON’S COMMENT: President Trump takes a dip. Today’s average is based on four polls, ranging from 41% (Reuters) […]

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Trump’s Defense Team Discounts Bolton

January 29, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump’s defense team appealed to the Senate on Tuesday to disregard a new account by the former national security adviser John Bolton that bolsters the impeachment case against the President, The New York […]

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Kobe Bryant’s Helicopter Lacked Recommended Safety Device

January 29, 2020 Focus Washington

The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant didn’t have a recommended warning system to alert the pilot he was too close to land but it’s not clear it would have averted the crash that killed nine because […]

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Syrian Troops Capture Key Town in Rebel-Held Idlib Province

January 29, 2020 Focus Washington

Syrian troops are in full control of a key rebel-held town in the country’s northwest after days of intense fighting and airstrikes that displaced tens of thousands of people, the Syrian army said Wednesday, The […]

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Palestinians Reject Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan

January 29, 2020 Focus Washington

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the Trump administration’s Middle East peace plan shortly after it was unveiled on Tuesday, saying a Palestinian state without Jerusalem was impossible, The Wall Street Journal reported. “We say […]

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Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan Calls for Two States

January 29, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump’s long-awaited Middle East peace plan calls for a state of Palestine with a capital in East Jerusalem, he said during an event Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, CNBC reported. The […]

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House Democrats Call for $760bn in Infrastructure Spending Over Five Years

January 29, 2020 Focus Washington

House Democrats on Wednesday will unveil a proposed $760 billion infrastructure spending bill over five years that aims to rebuild sagging roads and bridges and reduce carbon pollution, Reuters reported. The proposal is also intended […]

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Fed to Keep Interest Rates on Hold

January 29, 2020 Focus Washington

The Federal Reserve will conclude its latest policy meeting on Wednesday with interest rates almost certainly to remain on hold but officials likely to discuss possible changes to how they manage the U.S. central bank’s […]

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U.S. Military Recovers Remains From Afghanistan Plane Crash

January 29, 2020 Focus Washington

U.S. troops and Afghan security forces reportedly clashed on Tuesday with Taliban fighters in the country’s Ghazni province as authorities attempt to reach a crashed U.S. military aircraft. Reuters reported that the attack, which was apparently repelled […]

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China Virus Toll Crosses 130

January 29, 2020 Focus Washington

The United States and Japan flew citizens out of the Chinese city at the epicenter of a new virus outbreak on Wednesday, as the death toll rose sharply to 132 and the first case appeared […]

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