Month: January 2020

U.S. security services had tracked Iran’s top military commander Qassem Soleimani for years and on multiple occasions considered taking him out, current and former U.S. officials said, but they were always reluctant to act, Reuters […]

Trump Says He Will Put Prayer in Schools

President Donald Trump on Friday said his Democratic opponents would tear down crosses and pledged to bring prayer to public schools at a re-election rally to shore up evangelical support, Reuters writes. Trump spoke on […]

Australia Urges People to Flee as Fires Could Surge over the Weekend

Authorities urged Australians on Friday to evacuate parts of the eastern states of Victoria and New South Wales to escape bushfires they fear are set to burn out of control this weekend, Reuters informed. In […]

Tens of Thousands March in Baghdad to Mourn Soleimani

Tens of thousands of people marched in Baghdad on Saturday to mourn Iran’s military chief Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, killed in a U.S. airstrike that has raised the specter of […]

Musk Defies Skeptics, Meets Tesla Delivery Goal

Tesla beat Wall Street estimates for annual vehicle deliveries and met the low-end of its own target, sending shares to a record high in a vindication for Chief Executive Elon Musk after a few turbulent […]

Senate in Stalemate over How to Proceed with Trump Impeachment Trial

The U.S. Senate remained at a stalemate on Friday over how to proceed with the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, as the chamber’s leaders wrangled over whether White House aides will be called as […]

Democratic Contenders Condemn Trump’s Strike against Iranian Commander

Democratic presidential contenders on Friday condemned the air strike that killed prominent Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, saying President Donald Trump’s decision was reckless and could lead the United States to another war in the […]

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Random Poll Numbers – Electability – Better Off? – Senate Trial

January 3, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Friday, January 3, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 46%Same yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on two polls, ranging from 44% (The Economist) to 48% (Rasmussen). President Trump’s disapproval […]

Ilhan Omar Promises to Stop Trump from Creating ‘Distraction’ War in Iran

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., urged members of Congress late Thursday to support her in her bid to stop President Donald Trump from initiating a new way as a “distraction” in Iran following the U.S. airstrike […]

Sanders Campaign Raises $34.5mn in Q4 2019

Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders raised more than $34.5 million in the last quarter of 2019, the largest three-month haul for a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, while Republican President Donald Trump drew $46 million on the […]

Israel Puts Military on Heightened Alert after Soleimani Killing

Israel put its military on heightened alert on Friday and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a trip abroad after the U.S. killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani drew promises of revenge from Iran, Reuters […]

Julian Castro Ends 2020 U.S. Presidential Run

Julian Castro, the grandson of a Mexican immigrant who became San Antonio mayor and a U.S. housing secretary, suspended his 2020 Democratic presidential run on Thursday after a candidacy overshadowed by more famous liberals, Reuters […]

AP: Weather Raises Australia’s Fire Danger

One of the largest evacuations in Australia’s history was underway Friday ahead of hot weather and strong winds that are forecast to worsen devastating wildfires raging across the country, The Associated Press informs. More than […]

Oil Surges as U.S. Airstrikes Kill Iranian Commander

Oil prices rose over $2 a barrel and gold and other safe-haven assets jumped on Friday, as the U.S. killing of a top Iranian commander in an airstrike in Iraq ratcheted up tensions between the […]

Tehran Vows Revenge on U.S. after Soleimani Killing

Tehran vowed harsh revenge after the United States killed Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force and architect of Iran’s spreading military influence in the Middle East, in an airstrike on Friday […]

Congress Has Divided Reaction on Trump Ordered Airstrike, Killing Iran’s Top General, Igniting Possible Escalation

Shortly after the Pentagon announced that U.S. forces conducted an airstrike killing one of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard top general a divided reaction from Capitol Hill flooded the media, with Republicans praising the move, while Democrats […]

U.S. Airstrike Kills Revolutionary Guard General, Iran Warns of Escalation

A general of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has been killed in a US airstrike on the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Iraqi state television confirmed Friday that General Qassem Soleimani was killed while traveling in his convoy near […]

Biden Has Best Fundraising Quarter of His Campaign

Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden took in $22.7 million in the last three months of 2019, his campaign said in a statement on Thursday, a pickup in fundraising just weeks before voters kick off the […]

Photos Reveal Extensive Damage to U.S. Embassy in Baghdad

An uneasy calm enveloped the U.S. Embassy in Iraq on Thursday as new images from the scene revealed extensive damage following days of sometimes violent protests by Iranian-backed militia members and their supporters, USA Today […]

LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Rating the Last Decade – Florida, Virginia Competitive – Biden Holds Lead

January 2, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, January 2, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 46%Same as Dec. 23 RON’S COMMENT: Today’s post-Christmas average is based on only two polls, ranging from 44% (The Economist) to 48% […]

Trump Reelection Campaign Gathers $46mn amid Impeachment Inquiry

The reelection campaign of President Donald Trump informed on Thursday that it gathered $46 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 amid the impeachment inquiry led by House Democrats. The latest fundraising haul brings the campaign’s […]

Pompeo Delays Ukraine Visit to Deal with Baghdad Issue

State Secretary Mike Pompeo delayed a scheduled visit to Ukraine in order to resolve the current developments out of Baghdad. “Secretary Pompeo must postpone his visit to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Cyprus due to […]

Tesla Shanghai Reportedly Making 1,000 Cars per Week

Tesla is producing its Model 3 electric vehicles at a rate of 28 per hour at its new Shanghai plant, or more than 1,000 per week given 10 hours on shift each day, according to […]

Netanyahu Seeks Immunity, Buying Time Until after Vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he would seek immunity from corruption charges, likely delaying any trial until after March elections, when he hopes to have a majority coalition that will shield him from […]

Iran-backed Militiamen Withdraw from U.S. Embassy in Iraq, Tensions Remain High

Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but U.S.-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence, The Associated […]

Erdogan Says Around 250,000 People Fleeing Syria’s Idlib

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that up to 250,000 migrants were fleeing from the northwestern Syrian region of Idlib towards Turkey, adding that Ankara was trying to prevent them from crossing its border, […]

Hong Kong Police Arrest Hundreds in New Year’s Day Protests

About 400 people were arrested in New Year’s Day protests in Hong Kong after what started as a peaceful pro-democracy march of tens of thousands spiraled into chaotic scenes with police firing tear gas to […]

US and China will meet for the first time at a high level since Russia's attack on Ukraine as Biden tries to get Beijing's help with the war.

Beijing Halts British Stock Link over Political Tensions

China has temporarily blocked planned cross-border listings between the Shanghai and London stock exchanges because of political tensions with Britain, five sources told Reuters. Suspending the Shanghai-London Stock Connect scheme casts a shadow over the […]

January 1, 2020 Focus Washington

Kim Jong-un Warns Korea Will Not Denuclearize over ‘Hostile’ U.S. Policy

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un said Tuesday that there “will never” be denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula if the U.S. “persists in its hostile policy towards” the hermit nation, according to the country’s state news agency. […]

January 1, 2020 Focus Washington

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mocks Trump After U.S. Embassy Attack

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei ridiculed Donald Trump following the U.S. president issuing a starch warning that Iran will be held “fully responsible for lives lost” after the storming of the American embassy in Iraq, Newsweek […]