Syrian refugees beginning to arrive in New Orleans
The flood of refugees migrating from the terror in Syria and Afghanistan has begun to have a trickle effect in the New Orleans area.
US News
Obama likely to sign revised defense bill into law: White House
President Barack Obama will likely sign a revised version of the National Defense Authorization Act into law because he believes it contains important provisions, a White House spokesman said on Tuesday.
U.S. judge again rules NSA collection of phone data is likely unconstitutional
For the second time in as many years, a federal judge on Monday called the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of Americans’ telephone records likely unconstitutional, ordering a halt to the surveillance program three weeks before it is set to be phased out.
White House criticizes ruling against plan to defer deportation of up to 5 million immigrants
A Federal appeals court dealt a severe and possibly fatal blow Monday to President Obama’s executive actions to allow up to 5 million immigrants living illegally in the United States to stay and obtain work permits.
Obamatrade: 100 pounds, 5,554-pages, 2 million words — and NO Amendments
The administration’s Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty legislation is 5,554 pages long, twice that of Obamacare and nearly 3 feet high, a legislative nightmare highlighted in a tweet from Sen. Jeff Sessions Monday.
Social Security Spending Hits New Record — Now Nearly $1 Trillion
Spending by the Social Security Administration–which includes payments for Social Security and disability benefits as well as Supplemental Security Income payments and the administrative costs for these programs–hit a record $944,143,000,000 in fiscal 2015, according to data published by the U.S. Treasury.
Obama angers Democrats’ labor base with Keystone rejection, Trans-Pacific Partnership
President Obama’s relationship with blue-collar unions has hit an all-time low, with several powerful labor groups ripping into the administration — and the Democratic Party as a whole — for its rejection of the Keystone XL oil pipeline and its promotion of the highly controversial trade deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Will there be a government shutdown this December?
A new budget deal signed into law this week reduces the chance of a government shutdown, but it doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility of one around the holidays.
Gun Sales Set Record for Sixth Month in a Row
The Federal Bureau of Investigation processed a record number of background checks in the month of October, indicating that gun sales were at an all time high for the sixth month in a row.
Debt ceiling lifted, and the same day, debt jumps $339B
The U.S. national debt jumped $339 billion on Monday, the same day President Obama signed into law legislation suspending the debt ceiling.
$20 trillion man: National debt nearly doubles during Obama presidency
When President Obama signs into law the new two-year budget deal Monday, his action will bring into sharper focus a part of his legacy that he doesn’t like to talk about: He is the $20 trillion man.
Senators demand answers about IRS use of secret cellphone tracking systems
Two top senators are probing use by the Internal Revenue Service of secret cellphone tracking systems that are more often utilized by federal or local law enforcement agencies.
House Passes Bipartisan Budget Plan, Debt Limit Increase
The House has passed a bipartisan budget-and-debt deal that prevents an unprecedented government default.
Planned Parenthood doctor appears to admit to partial-birth abortions
A Planned Parenthood doctor laughs as she says she continues to “strive” to deliver an aborted baby with an intact skull and appears to admit participating in partial-birth abortions in the latest undercover video released Tuesday targeting Planned Parenthood.
400-Plus Quakes Strike San Ramon in 2 Weeks: USGS
San Ramon, California, appears to have broken a new earthquake record over the last two weeks: A total of 408 small quakes have shaken the East Bay city, almost four times the record set in 2003 in half the amount of time.
Republicans, Obama Agree on Debt Extension Until 2017
President Barack Obama and top lawmakers from both parties reached a tentative budget agreement that would avert a U.S. debt default and reduce chances of a government shutdown, easing years of political friction over fiscal policy in Washington.
Jim Jordan Traps Hillary Clinton: Emails Show She Knew Immediately Attack Was Not Result of Video
Hillary Clinton was trapped by aggressive questioning Thursday by Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) at the Benghazi Select Committee on her rhetoric initially blaming an anti-Muslim video for the Benghazi terrorist attack, with Jordan showing emails revealing Clinton knew immediately the video wasn’t involved and telling her family it was an attack by an “al Qaeda-like group.”
Obama Vetoes Defense Bill
President Barack Obama vetoed a sweeping $612 billion defense policy bill on Thursday, returning the measure to the Republican-controlled Congress because of the way it uses money meant for war spending to avoid automatic budget cuts to military programs.
More Than 200 Earthquakes Just Rattled California
For the past week, the ground near San Ramon, about 25 miles east of San Francisco, has been shaking. And shaking and shaking and shaking. Over 200 small quakes have now rattled the notoriously earthquake-prone region.
Planned Parenthood funding sustained in Louisiana, stopped in Texas
A Planned Parenthood affiliate received both good news and bad news Monday in its Medicaid funding battles, with a federal judge temporarily requiring Louisiana to fund the abortion provider while a Texas inspector general’s office decided to cut off the group.