Democrats the big winners in 2017 state, local elections
Democrats came out victorious in several of Tuesday’s key elections, including gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, leaving the party motivated for the upcoming 2018 election.
NATO
Evangelicals Urge Trump to Protect Immigrants, Families in ‘Temporary Protected Status’ Program
An evangelical coalition that lobbies for immigration reform has asked the Trump administration to extend the ‘Temporary Protected Status’ program for four nations.
U.S. Pursuing Rigorous New Nuclear Inspection Regime in Iran
The United States is pursuing a rigorous new regime for international inspections of Iran’s nuclear program that includes access to off-limits military sites as well as increased transparency on the Islamic Republic’s often obfuscated enrichment of uranium, the key component in a nuclear bomb, according to U.S. officials and congressional leaders spearheading the new inspection effort.
Senator Says Repealing Obamacare Mandate Would Save $300 Billion Over Decade
Republican senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said repealing the Obamacare individual mandate would save $300 billion over the next 10 years.
Barrasso Seeks Documents Related to Russia Uranium Investigation
Sen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.) is asking the Department of Justice for documents related to the FBI’s investigation into the Russia-Uranium One deal, which found evidence of Russian officials engaging in bribery, kickbacks, and millions of dollars flowing to the Clinton Foundation before the deal was approved by the U.S. government.
Obamacare deal hits the skids in Senate
A bipartisan deal to fund Obamacare payments stalled in the Senate Wednesday after President Trump derided the payments as ‘bailouts,’ but Republicans behind the package are trying to keep the deal alive.
U.S. officials ramp up rhetoric against Iran-backed Hezbollah
U.S. officials elevated their public condemnation of Hezbollah on Tuesday, adding two of the Iran-backed terror group’s top operatives to a special State Department most-wanted list and asserting that all of the group’s factions — even those holding political office in Lebanon — are part of the same terrorist operation.
Cuban Activist Has Charges Against Him Dropped
A Cuban religious freedom activist was informed on 2 October that criminal charges against him have been dropped by Cuban state security.
Iran’s foreign minister urges Europe to defy US if Trump sinks nuclear deal
Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has called on Europe to defy US sanctions if the Trump administration torpedoes the international nuclear agreement with Tehran.
Russia throws North Korea lifeline to stymie regime change
Russia is quietly boosting economic support for North Korea to try to stymie any US-led push to oust Kim Jong Un as Moscow fears his fall would sap its regional clout and allow US troops to deploy on Russia’s eastern border.
Obamacare repeal on the ropes as pivotal Republican rebuffs Trump
U.S. Senator Susan Collins rebuffed intense lobbying from fellow Republicans and the promise of money for her state in deciding on Monday to oppose – and likely doom – her party’s last-ditch effort to repeal Obamacare.
GOP heads toward showdown on Obamacare
Senate Republicans on Sunday unveiled the latest version of an Obamacare overhaul bill as they face a five-day window for passage and dwindling support within their own party.
Report: Trump Strongly Supports Graham-Cassidy Obamacare Repeal Bill, Would Sign It
President Donald Trump is encouraging the Senate to pass a bill proposed by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (La.) to repeal and replace Obamacare, and one administration official said Tuesday that Trump will sign the legislation if it makes it to his desk.
Senators push for churches to get disaster relief grants
Four Republican senators introduced a bill Monday that would allow churches to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance program grants, putting the houses of worship on the same playing field as non-religious nonprofits.
Putin displays massive firepower in Russian war games on border with Europe
Russia’s big Zapad 2017 military exercises, believed to be the largest since the end of the Cold War, entered the news again on Tuesday after a video emerged appearing to show a Russian attack helicopter firing its rockets into a group of bystanders during drills.
Senate GOP tries one last time to repeal Obamacare
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his leadership team are seriously considering voting on a bill that would scale back the federal government’s role in the health care system and instead provide block grants to states, congressional and Trump administration sources said.
Russia kicks off huge war games on Europe’s borders
Military officials in Belarus sought Thursday morning to calm Western fears about major war games taking place with Russia, hours before they got underway.
Fearing Russia, Sweden holds biggest war games in 20 years
Neutral Sweden has launched its biggest war games in two decades with support from NATO countries, drilling 19,000 troops after years of spending cuts that have left the country fearful of Russia’s growing military strength.
Germany disputes size of Russian wargames, predicts 100,000 troops
Germany said on Thursday that Russia was planning to send more than 100,000 troops to war games on NATO’s eastern flank this month, disputing Moscow’s version that only 13,000 Russian and Belarussian servicemen would participate.
Survey: Most Israelis continue to support accession to European Union
A majority of Israelis continue to be in favor of an Israerli accession to the European Union (EU), according to a survey released on Tuesday by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a German pro-EU think tank.