Politics Election category, Page 350
Trump says Iran, too, may be confused about war signals
WASHINGTON — After two weeks of mixed signals on Iran, from high-profile U.S. military moves to administration assertions that it’s not angling for war, President Donald Trump said Friday that even the Iranians may be confused about what comes next. “With all of the Fake and Made Up News out...
Judge refuses to toss suit over Pepe the Frog poster sales
A federal judge will let a jury decide whether conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars website had a legal right to sell a poster featuring the image of Pepe the Frog, a cartoon character that became hijacked by far-right extremists. U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald refused Thursday to throw out a...
Trump warns of ‘long jail sentences’ for those ‘spying’ on his 2016 campaign
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump warned Friday of the possibility of “long jail sentences” for law-enforcement and intelligence officials involved in the early stages of the investigation into possible coordination between Russia and members of his 2016 campaign. “My Campaign for President was conclusively spied on,” Trump claimed in a...
Tomi Lahren shunts conservative views, attacks Alabama abortion law
Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren backed away from mainstream Republican views Thursday. One day after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed the nation’s most-restrictive abortion bill into law, Lahren spoke out. In an afternoon tweet, Lahren asserted that banning abortion in nearly every case is “too restrictive.” “It doesn’t save life,...
Democrats push bill on health care, drug prices through House
WASHINGTON — Democrats pushed legislation buttressing the 2010 health care law and curbing prescription drug prices through the House on Thursday, advancing a bill that has no chance of surviving in the Senate or getting President Trump’s signature and seemed engineered with next year’s elections in mind. The measure forced...
U.S.: Michael Flynn described efforts to interfere with cooperationVideo
WASHINGTON — Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn told the special counsel’s office that people connected to the Trump administration and Congress sought to influence his cooperation with the Russia investigation, and he provided a voicemail recording of one such communication, prosecutors said in a court filing made...
Ukraine prosecutor says no evidence of wrongdoing by Bidens
KIEV — Ukraine’s prosecutor general said in an interview that he had no evidence of wrongdoing by U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden or his son, despite a swirl of allegations by President Trump’s lawyer. The controversy stems from diplomatic actions by Biden while his son, Hunter Biden, sat on...
Gov. Tom Wolf on anti-abortion bills: ‘I would veto it’
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday he will never allow an anti-abortion bill to make it into law while he’s governor. Wolf, in a video statement posted on social media, referenced other states that have recently passed antiabortion bills including Alabama and Georgia, where they have already been signed into law....
Trump pardons billionaire pal Conrad Black, who wrote a book about him
President Donald Trump gave a full pardon to a longtime friend who last year authored a glowing book about Trump’s successes. Conrad Black was convicted in 2007 on fraud charges, including alleged embezzlement, and obstruction of justice. He served more than three years in prison and was deported to his...
U.K. leader under pressure as rivals push for her ouster
LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May was braced for an uncomfortable meeting Thursday with Conservative Party lawmakers who are demanding she quit within weeks. Executive members of a committee that oversees party leadership contests were set to confront May with the threat of a leadership challenge if she does...
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio seeking Democratic nod for president
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says he is running for president. The Democrat announced his bid with a video released by his campaign early Thursday morning. In announcing his candidacy, de Blasio is seeking to claim a role on the national stage that has eluded...
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio adds his name to the Democratic presidential field
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, the twice-elected chief executive of the nation’s largest city, will announce on Thursday that he is joining the Democratic field of presidential candidates, according to two people involved in his campaign preparations. De Blasio is expected to make a public announcement during an appearance...
Trump administration wants to reimburse Taliban’s travel expenses
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration asked Congress earlier this year for funds to reimburse Afghanistan’s Taliban for expenses the insurgent group incurs attending peace talks, according to a spokesman for the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. The money would cover the Taliban’s costs for expenses such as...
Trump signs order to protect networks from foreign espionage, likely targeting ChinaVideo
WASHINGTON — Amid a deepening trade war with China, President Trump on Wednesday declared a “national emergency” to protect U.S. communications networks in a move that gives the federal government broad powers to bar American companies from doing business with certain foreign suppliers — including the Chinese firm Huawei. Trump...
Larry Kudlow chewed out by Trump for admitting tariffs hurt American consumers
Larry Kudlow is finding out the hard way that pleasing the Donald and telling the truth is a tough balancing act. The White House economics czar reportedly got chewed out by President Trump for admitting that American consumers will pay the price for the White House’s tariff-happy trade war. “Trump...
Pittsburgh native Mark Cuban: ‘Nobody’ can beat Trump ‘right now’
Billionaire “Shark” and Mt. Lebanon native Mark Cuban told CNBC that none of the 22 Democratic candidates for president in 2020 has a shot at taking the office from President Donald Trump. When asked by CNBC’s Scott Wapner which of the Democrats have the best shot at beating Trump, Cuban...
3 Florida radio stations vow to broadcast Trump speeches daily until end of 2020 election
ORLANDO — Days after President Trump rallied his base in Florida’s Panhandle, vowing hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for the hurricane-devastated region, three local radio stations said they would air Trump speeches daily until the 2020 election. The stations will broadcast two-minute snippets of Trump speeches every hour...
Alabama ban on nearly all abortions in GOP governor’s hands
MONTGOMERY — Alabama legislators have given final approval to a ban on nearly all abortions, and if the Republican governor signs the measure, the state will have the strictest abortion law in the country. The legislation would make performing an abortion a felony at any stage of pregnancy with almost...
House Democrats probe Trump lawyers’ role in Michael Cohen testimony
WASHINGTON — The House Intelligence Committee is investigating whether four lawyers tied to President Trump, his family and businesses helped to devise false testimony given by Trump’s long-time lawyer Michael Cohen to Congress in 2017. The committee is demanding they turn over documents and agree to interviews, Chairman Adam Schiff...
Donald Trump Jr. agrees to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee againVideo
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump Jr. has reached a deal with the Senate Intelligence Committee to appear for a second closed-door interview in June, according to people familiar with the matter, ending a tense standoff between the president’s son and the panel’s Republican chairman. Under the terms of the deal, Trump...
Trump officials, DHS discussed mass family arrests
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security officials considered arresting thousands of migrant families who had final deportation orders and removing them from the United States in a flashy show of force, but the idea was tabled as the Trump administration grappled with straining resources and a growing number of Central Americans crossing...
Second Florida county hacked in 2016 election, Gov. DeSantis says
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Russian hackers infiltrated the election files of two Florida counties during the 2016 election, Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters Tuesday, though he was quick to add that no votes were manipulated or results altered. “Two Florida counties experienced intrusion into the supervisor of election networks,” DeSantis said....
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock joins 2020 Democratic presidential race
HELENA, Mont. — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced Tuesday that he is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, distinguishing himself among nearly two dozen candidates as the field’s only statewide elected official to win a state that President Donald Trump carried in 2016. The 53-year-old governor is running as a centrist...
AG William Barr appoints U.S. attorney to investigate origins of Russia probe
WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr has appointed a U.S. attorney to examine the origins of the Russia investigation and determine if intelligence collection involving the Trump campaign was “lawful and appropriate,” a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Monday. Barr appointed John Durham, the U.S....
Trump targets Pell Grant money for NASA’s budget boost
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is hoping to shift money for Pell Grants for college education to fund new spending, including a $1.6 billion bump for NASA. Under a budget amendment sent Monday evening to Congress, the administration would use an additional $1.9 billion in surplus Pell Grant money to...
