Republicans scramble for spending deal by Friday
House Republicans late Tuesday had little time to celebrate their pending victory on tax reform, and instead were scrambling to come up with a bill to keep the government open past Friday’s deadline.
Washington
House GOP pushing $81B disaster relief for hurricanes, fires
House Republicans plan to unveil an $81 billion disaster aid package to help hurricane-ravaged communities and states hit by wildfires, almost double the amount requested by President Donald Trump last month.
At least 3 dead from Amtrak train derailment in Washington state
At least three people died and dozens were injured after an Amtrak train on the inaugural run of a new route derailed in Washington state this morning, with part of the train careening off an overpass onto a heavily-trafficked highway below, a local official said.
Eagle Scout Rescued and Prays with Amtrak Passengers Before 1st Responders Arrived
Dan Konzelman was driving with his girlfriend southbound on Interstate 5, south of Tacoma, Washington, Monday morning when, to his astonishment, he saw an Amtrak train go off an overpass ahead of him and crash onto the busy freeway.
Trump rips ‘chain migration,’ $300B cost, 1 immigrant can bring in 120 more, 9.3M in decade
The Trump administration is expanding its war on liberal immigration practices, targeting so-called ‘chain migration,’ a costly loophole that allows a legal immigrant to bring in relatives even if they are unskilled and destined to go on welfare.
Mike Pence delays Middle East trip until after Senate tax reform vote
Vice President Mike Pence will postpone his trip to Egypt and Israel until after the Senate votes on the GOP’s tax reform bill, according to a statement released by his team Monday.
Trump to Boost U.S. Missile Defense to Combat Iranian, N. Korean WMD Threats
The Trump administration will designate domestic U.S. missile defense as a ‘priority action’ as part of its forthcoming National Security Strategy, or NSS, according to draft language viewed by the Washington Free Beacon that singles out Iranian and North Korean missile threats as a direct danger to the American homeland.
Religious schools, homeschoolers to get a boost in GOP tax plan, thanks to Ted Cruz and Mike Pence
Parents would get new federal tax breaks for sending their children to private or religious schools or teaching them at home if the final Republican tax overhaul bill becomes law.
Russian oligarchs sue Trump dossier producer for becoming ‘collateral damage’ in smear campaign
Fusion GPS, the producer of the infamous Trump dossier, is fending off in court three of Russia’s richest oligarchs by painting them as corrupt bankers in bed with President Vladimir Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked President Trump for intel that thwarted terror attack
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked President Trump in a phone call Sunday for U.S. intelligence agencies providing a warning that thwarted a major terrorist plot in St. Petersburg, Russia.
FBI made a ton more edits to water down James Comey’s statement on Clinton email probe
The FBI did far more editing of former FBI Director James Comey’s statement on their probe of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s private email server than previously known, edits that erased serious concerns the FBI initially had, according to a key senator.
President Trump outpaces Obama with 19 federal court judges confirmed
The Senate confirmed President Trump’s 19th federal judge Thursday, approving James Ho for a seat on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and further bolstering the judicial army that conservatives wanted to build.
US peace plan not finalized, but efforts ‘serious,’ says Saudi’s Jubeir
The US administration is serious about getting a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians, but its proposed plan is still being put together, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said.
Hamas will reverse Trump’s Jerusalem move, leader tells Gaza rally
Tens of thousands of Palestinians including hundreds of gunmen rallied in Gaza on Thursday to mark the 30th anniversary of Hamas’s founding and its chief vowed to reverse US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
US presents ‘undeniable’ evidence Iran arming Yemen’s rebels with missiles
US President Donald Trump’s envoy to the United Nations unveiled Thursday what she said was ‘undeniable’ evidence proving that Iran is funneling missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen in violation of international law.
FCC votes to end ‘net neutrality,’ giving internet service providers more power
The Federal Communications Commission repealed the Obama-era ‘net neutrality’ rules Thursday, giving internet service providers like Verizon, Comcast and AT&T a free hand to slow or block websites and apps as they see fit or charge more for faster speeds.
Muslim leaders call on world to recognize East Jerusalem as Palestinian capital
Muslim leaders on Wednesday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and called on the world to respond by recognizing East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
Republicans strike deal on tax package
Republican negotiators on Wednesday said they’ve managed to strike a deal on a $1.4 trillion tax-cut package and that they’ll be prepared to send it to President Trump’s desk next week.
US ready to talk any time North Korea wants, Tillerson says
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday that the U.S. would be willing to hold talks with North Korea even if the Communist nation does not do away with its nuclear weapons program.
Pa. State Dept Threatened With Lawsuit For Stonewalling Noncitizen Election Records
An election integrity group is threatening to sue the Pennsylvania Department of State for allegedly stonewalling requests for records of noncitizens contained on the state’s voter rolls.