Focus Washington February 2020

Bernie Sanders Campaign Officials Asking for Iowa Caucuses Recanvass

February 10, 2020 Focus Washington

Bernie Sanders is set to ask the Democratic Party of Iowa to reanalyze some districts in the Iowa caucuses following allegations from reporters and Twitter users pointing out irregularities in the final delegate results. An […]

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Buttigieg Accused of Bolstering ‘Systematic Racism’ as Mayor

February 9, 2020 Focus Washington

South Band Councilman Henry Davis slammed former Mayor Pete Buttigieg for his race record in the city following the Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire on Friday, and accused the presidential hopeful of perpetuating “systematic […]

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DNC Head Has No Intention of Stepping Down amid Chaos with Iowa Caucuses

February 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Tom Perez stated that he will not step down following criticism over the chaotic Iowa contest, but that there will be a discussion about the state’s status as the […]

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Senator Lindsay Graham Defends Alexander Vindman Ouster

February 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Senator Lindsay Graham is defending the ousting of National Security Council (NSC) Ukraine expert Alexander Vindman, to which he adds that the Lieutenant Colonel may have been involved in leaking information to the whistleblower whose […]

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CNN Poll Shows Bernie Sanders Leading in New Hampshire

February 9, 2020 Focus Washington

Bernie Sanders has stayed in the lead over his opponents for the Democratic presidential nomination in New Hampshire, a poll released days before the first-in-the-nation primary has shown. Sanders saw a surge in support recently, […]

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Trump Fires Impeachment Witnesses in Post-Acquittal Purge

February 8, 2020 Focus Washington

President Trump wasted little time on Friday opening a campaign of retribution against those he blames for his impeachment, firing two of the most prominent witnesses in the House inquiry against him barely 48 hours […]

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Democrats Sound Alarm on Trump: ‘He Can Win Again’

February 8, 2020 Focus Washington

House Democrats are sounding alarms that a prolonged fight for their party’s presidential nomination will only serve to bolster President Donald Trump’s reelection prospects, as many in their party grow anxious in the aftermath of […]

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Poll: New Hampshire Democrats Would Prefer an Extinction-Causing Meteor over Trump Reelection

February 8, 2020 Focus Washington

A majority of New Hampshire Democrats said in a new poll that they would rather a “giant meteor strikes the Earth, extinguishing all human life” than see President Trump reelected, The Hill reports. The University […]

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Secret Service Paid Eates as High as $650 a Night to Stay at Trump Properties

February 8, 2020 Focus Washington

The Trump Organization charged the US Secret Service in 2017 for rooms at President Donald Trump’s properties at rates as high as $650 a night, CNN reports. The law enforcement agency tasked with protecting the […]

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US Citizen in China Dies of Coronavirus in First Known American Death

February 8, 2020 Focus Washington

The first American has died of the coronavirus, succumbing to the deadly infection in mainland China on Thursday — which was also the deadliest day of the outbreak so far, New York Post reports. A […]

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LUNCHTIME POLITICS: New Hampshire Polls – South Carolina Primary – North, South Carolina Senate – Better Off Than Four Years Ago?

February 7, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Friday, February 7, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 45%Same as yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on three polls, ranging from 42% (Reuters) to 50% (Rasmussen). The third poll […]

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Ex-GOP Representative Ends Primary Challenge against Trump

February 7, 2020 Focus Washington

The primary campaign Joe Walsh against President Trump for the Republican Party’s 2020 presidential nomination has come to an end after the former U.S. Representative won just one percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses. The Hill […]

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U.S. Energy Exports from Russia See 8-year High in October

February 7, 2020 Focus Washington

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data published this week reveals that Russia is now the second-biggest oil exporter to the United States, with Russian supplies reaching an eight-year high in October, RBC reports. Russia exported 20.9 […]

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White House Confirms Death of Al Qaeda Leader Rimi

February 7, 2020 Focus Washington

The leader of the terrorist organization al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Qassim al-Rimi, has been killed in a Yemen airstrike, CNN reports, citing the White House. Last week CNN informed of the airstrike carried […]

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Democrats Prepare for New Hampshire Debate

February 7, 2020 Focus Washington

The Democratic Party’s seven strongest presidential contenders are preparing for what could be the fiercest debate stage clash of the 2020 primary season as candidates look to survive the gauntlet of contests that lie ahead, […]

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China Scientists Identify Pangolin as Possible Coronavirus Host

February 7, 2020 Focus Washington

The deadly coronavirus outbreak in China could have spread from bats to humans through the illegal traffic of pangolins, the world’s only scaly mammals, which are prized in Asia for food and medicine, Chinese researchers […]

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Anger at Trump Plan Could Mobilize Arab Voters in Israel

February 7, 2020 Focus Washington

It might have seemed to be one of the more innocuous elements in President Donald Trump’s deeply divisive Middle East peace initiative: the suggestion that a densely populated Arab region of Israel be added to […]

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Buttigieg Narrowly Wins Iowa Caucuses, State Party Results Show

February 7, 2020 Focus Washington

Pete Buttigieg narrowly won Iowa’s Democratic presidential caucuses, the state party said on Thursday, after a long delay in releasing the results of the first contest in the race to pick a challenger to Republican […]

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China Doctor Who Warned of Coronavirus Mourned

February 7, 2020 Focus Washington

A Chinese doctor who issued an early warning about the coronavirus outbreak before it was officially recognized died of the virus on Friday, triggering a wave of public mourning and rare expressions of anger toward […]

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LUNCHTIME POLITICS: New Hampshire Tracker – Coronavirus Epidemic – Bloomberg, Debates – Electability – Sein Fein Leads

February 6, 2020 John Ganjei

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, February 6, 2020 TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 45%Down 1 from yesterday RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on three polls, ranging from 42% (Reuters) to 48% (Rasmussen). The third […]

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Saudi Launches First Women’s Military Wing

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

Saudi Arabia launched its first military wing for women in the country’s armed forces this week marking what many believe is another milestone in the ambitious Vision 2030 modernization program spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed […]

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NYT: Was U.S. Wrong About Attack That Nearly Started a War With Iran?

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

The white Kia pickup turned off the desert road and rumbled onto a dirt track, stopping near a marsh. Soon there was a flash and a ripping sound as the first of the rockets fired […]

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Refineries Show Benzene Levels over EPA Recommendation

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

At least 10 refineries showed levels of benzene that were above the government’s “action level” for the pollutant at their fence lines as of September of last year, a report has shown. Oil refineries are required to […]

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Buttigieg, Sanders Nearly Tied as Iowa Caucus Results Narrow

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders are nearly tied in the Iowa Democratic caucuses, with nearly all results counted in a contest marred by technical issues and reporting delays, The Associated Press reported. The race remained […]

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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.

China to Halve Tariffs on Some U.S. Imports as Virus Risks Grow

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

China on Thursday said it would halve additional tariffs levied against 1,717 U.S. goods last year, following the signing of a Phase 1 deal that brought a truce to a bruising trade war between the […]

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Shiff Claims Bolton Denied House Dems His Affidavit on Trump’s Ukraine Scandal

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

Representative Adam Schiff accused former national security adviser John Bolton of “refusing” to present House Democrats with an affidavit on his perspective regarding the scandal with President Trump’s “Ukraine misconduct”. The House Intelligence Committee chairman told MSNBC’s Rachel […]

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Biden Claims He Is ‘Not Going Anywhere’ After Poor Showing in Iowa

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

Former Vice President Joe Biden vowed on Wednesday to go on fighting for the Democratic presidential nomination despite what he called the “gut punch” he took in Iowa, where he lagged in fourth place, Reuters […]

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Senate Acquits Trump in Historic Vote

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump was acquitted on Wednesday in his U.S. Senate impeachment trial, saved by fellow Republicans who rallied to protect him nine months before he asks voters in a deeply divided America to give […]

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WHO Investigates Singapore Conference Linked to Foreign Virus Spread

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

At least three employees of a multinational company that held a meeting of more than 100 international staff in Singapore have contracted the new coronavirus, sparking a World Health Organization investigation of the case, Reuters […]

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Elon Musk Loses $5.9 Billion

February 6, 2020 Focus Washington

Elon Musk’s fortune is coming back down to Earth, since after an epic six-day rally, Tesla shares tumbled 17% Wednesday, the most in eight years, cutting the chief executive officer’s fortune by $5.9 billion, Bloomberg […]

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