House Passes Budget That Achieves Balance, Increases GDP Growth, and Reforms Tax Code
The House of Representatives passed the Building A Better America 2018 budget in a 219 to 206 vote.
Washington
Russian Hackers Used Kaspersky Software to Steal NSA Data on U.S. Cyber Defense
Russian hackers stole data belonging to the National Security Agency about America’s cyber defense from the home computer of a U.S. government contractor, according to people familiar with the matter.
US seeks ‘new Israel’ in region, Khamenei says of Iraq Kurd referendum
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday that the United States and Israel were some of the only countries benefiting from the recent referendum in Iraq’s Kurdistan region and that Washington and other Western powers were seeking to ‘create a new Israel’ in the Middle East.
Nuke deal hangs in balance as Trump plans Iran policy speech
President Donald Trump could announce his secret decision on the future of the Iran nuclear deal next week.
U.S. lawmakers want to restrict internet surveillance on Americans
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers unveiled legislation on Wednesday that would overhaul aspects of the National Security Agency’s warrantless internet surveillance program in an effort to install additional privacy protections.
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.
Iran, Turkey vow ‘decisive action’ against Iraqi Kurds over referendum vote
Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday vowed to take ‘decisive action’ against leaders in Iraqi Kurdistan over last week’s historic independence referendum vote.
3 U.S. Army Green Berets killed in Niger likely attacked by al-Qaeda militants
U.S. officials said three U.S. Army special operations commandos were killed Wednesday and two others were wounded when they came under fire in southwest Niger.
Pence’s chief of staff floats ‘purge’ of anti-Trump Republicans to wealthy donors
Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff railed against congressional leaders in closed-door remarks to wealthy donors and called for a ‘purge’ if GOP lawmakers don’t quickly rally behind President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Republicans signal compromise to retain state and local tax deduction
Republican leaders are already signaling a compromise on plans to erase a nearly $2 trillion break for state and local taxes, backing down in the face of fierce criticism from Democrats and some blue-state Republicans whose constituents would suffer.
Puerto Rico’s $70 billion debt will have to be wiped out, Trump says
President Trump has called for Puerto Rico to have its crippling debt forgiven and said it’s tough luck for the Wall Street holders of the debt.
IRS Involved in $5 Million Push to Pressure Americans to Buy Obamacare
The Internal Revenue Service was involved in a $5 million push to pressure Americans to buy Obamacare coverage, according to documents obtained from the watchdog group Judicial Watch.
FBI says no terror ties in Las Vegas shooting despite ISIS claim; at least 59 dead, 527 wounded
A gunman using rapid-fire weapons from the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel rained down bullets on an outdoor country music festival, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 500 before taking his own life in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, officials said Monday.
Russians used Facebook, Twitter to manage ‘Blacktivist’ accounts
The Russian government used Facebook and Twitter accounts to instigate racial tensions during the 2016 election.
A North Korean ship was seized off Egypt with a huge cache of weapons destined for a surprising buyer
Last August, a secret message was passed from Washington to Cairo warning about a mysterious vessel steaming toward the Suez Canal. The bulk freighter named Jie Shun was flying Cambodian colors but had sailed from North Korea, the warning said, with a North Korean crew and an unknown cargo shrouded by heavy tarps.
Trump says envoy ‘wasting his time’ talking to North Korea
President Donald Trump said Sunday that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was ‘wasting his time’ trying to negotiate with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs, raising speculation about whether Trump could be undermining efforts to maintain channels of communication or somehow bolstering the diplomat’s hand in possible future talks.
Russia develops Iron Man-style armored suit
The Russian Defense Ministry is designing and building new combat equipment for the average soldier, which includes an exoskeleton and ‘active protection’ measures.
Israel Is Going to War in Syria to Fight Iran
Israeli officials believe that Iran is winning its bid for dominance in the Middle East, and they are mobilizing to counter the regional realignment that threatens to follow. The focus of Israel’s military and diplomatic campaign is Syria. Israeli jets have struck Hezbollah and Syrian regime facilities and convoys dozens of times during Syria’s civil war, with the goal of preventing the transfer of weapons systems from Iran to Hezbollah. In an apparent broadening of the scope of this air campaign, on Sept. 7 Israeli jets struck a Syrian weapons facility near Masyaf responsible for the production of chemical weapons and the storing of surface-to-surface missiles.
Washington rebuffs own envoy for saying ‘settlements are part of Israel’
For the second time since David Friedman assumed his post as US ambassador to Israel, the US State Department has publicly rejected remarks he made pertaining to Israel’s presence in the West Bank as not reflecting the administration’s stance.
‘It Starts With God’: Scalise Returns to Capitol, Testifies About God, Prayer & Miracles
Rep. Steve Scalise, seriously wounded in a shooting attack at a Washington, D.C., baseball field three months ago, returned to Congress today, summing up in four words his survival and recovery: ‘It starts with God.’