Year: 2020

Less than a week after Iran’s top military commander was killed by U.S. drone strike, the regime said Sunday that it would further scale back compliance with an international nuclear pact, CNBC reported. Iran will […]

Soleimani’s Daughter Warns U.S. of ‘Dark Day’

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians thronged Tehran’s streets on Monday for the funeral of military commander Qassem Soleimani, killed by a U.S. drone strike last week, and his daughter said his death would bring a […]

Democratic Leaders Urge Trump to Release Iran Intelligence

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez on Sunday sent President Donald Trump a letter urging him to declassify the formal notification Congress received regarding the […]

Trump Doubles Down on Threat to Attack Iran’s Cultural Sites

President Donald Trump on Sunday doubled down on his threats to attack Iranian cultural sites and warned of a “major retaliation” if the Iranian government planned tit-for-tat attacks in the aftermath of the killing of […]

January 5, 2020 Focus Washington

Who Are the Kataib Hezbollah?

In the videos captured from the attack on the American Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, some of the attackers are carrying flags. The distinctive yellow flag picturing a raised fist holding an AK-47 at the center belongs […]

January 5, 2020 Focus Washington

Biden Criticizes Trump Threatening Tweets on Iran Saying its ‘Incredibly Dangerous and Irresponsible’

On Saturday night, Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden criticized President Donald Trump’s tweetstorm on Iran as “dangerous and irresponsible”. Earlier the same night Trump threatened to hit Iranian sites if there is retaliation for Qassem […]

January 5, 2020 Focus Washington

Trump’s Lawyers Ask New York Judge to Dismiss Rape Allegation Case: Report

President Donald Trump asked a New York judge to dismiss the allegation from a woman who claims Trump raped her in a department store dressing room 20 years ago. According to The Hill, in a […]

Texas Troopers Inflict 16 Fatal Wounds on Black Man, Jury Decides Not to Indict

A black man was fatally shot by Texas state troopers 16 times, with the autopsy report saying the man, Schaston Hodge, was shot in the torso, head, and thighs. According to The Dallas Morning News, […]

World Leaders Warn of Possible War after US Airstrike Kills Top Iranian General

A number of world leaders raised alarms to the news of a U.S. airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani, one of Iran’s top generals of the Revolutionary Guard. The leaders of China, Russia, and France said […]

AP: Iran General Steps Out of Soleimani’s Shadow to Lead Proxies

A new Iranian general has stepped out of the shadows to lead the country’s expeditionary Quds Force, becoming responsible for Tehran’s proxies across the Mideast as the Islamic Republic threatens the U.S. with “harsh revenge” […]

Trump Claims Killing of Iranian General Was to ‘Stop a War’

President Donald Trump said Friday he ordered the killing of a top Iranian general “to stop a war,” not start one, but in the tense aftermath the Pentagon braced for retaliation by sending more troops […]

U.S. Security Services Tracked Iran’s Top Military Commander for Years

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 […]

January 2, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]

January 2, 2020 Focus Washington

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 […]