Lawmakers: U.S. needs to prepare for retaliation from Iran
WASHINGTON — A day after a U.S. airstrike in Iraq killed Iranian General Qasem Suleimani, lawmakers say the U.S. needs to prepare for retaliation from Iran.“I think we ought to be very careful here,” said Rep.
Congressman: Impeachment articles won’t go to Senate until GOP promises fair trial
WASHINGTON — During the first official action of 2020, Democrats and Republicans wasted little time resuming their battle over impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.President Trump was impeached by the House back in December through a historic vote split along party lines.The proceedings are over a charge that he abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election — then obstructed Congress from investigating the matter.On the Senate floor, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, dismissed the Democrat’s demands for how he plans to run President Trump’s trial in the Senate.McConnell said he plans to follow the patterns set by the impeachment of President Bill Clinton back in 1999.“Democrats have let Trump derangement syndrome develop into a dangerous partisan fever,” McConnell said.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said McConnell isn’t abiding by the Constitution.“Rather than acting like a judge and a juror, he intends to act as an executioner of a fair trial,” Schumer explained.Schumer said the process won’t be complete without hearing from witnesses.“McConnell’s comparisons to 1999 are hopelessly flawed and inaccurate,” Schumer said. “There were witnesses in 1999, leader McConnell.”The two articles of impeachment are remaining in the House and will not be sent to the Senate until the Republicans promise to conduct a real, but fair, trial, according to Rep.
Former NFL athlete Steve Gleason to receive Congressional Gold Medal Jan. 15
WASHINGTOn -- Former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason who become a leading advocate for people struggling with Lou Gehrig's disease after he was diagnosed with the paralyzing disease will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony on Jan. 15.President Donald Trump signed legislation last year awarding Gleason the medal.
Backlog of toxic 'Superfund' clean-ups grows under Trump administration
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has built up the biggest backlog of unfunded toxic Superfund clean-up projects in at least 15 years, nearly triple the number that were stalled for lack of money in the Obama era, according to 2019 figures quietly released by the Environmental Protection Agency over the winter holidays.The accumulation of Superfund projects that are ready to go except for money comes as the Trump administration routinely proposes funding cuts for Superfund and for the EPA in general.
President, Supreme Court top Wisconsin races in 2020
MADISON — Everyone knows Wisconsin will be in the spotlight for the presidential race in 2020.
President Trump suggests some flavored vapes may be pulled from market
PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump says the federal government will soon announce a new strategy to tackle underage vaping, promising, “We’re going to protect our families, we’re going to protect our children, and we’re going to protect the industry."President Trump was vague about what the plan would entail but suggested “certain flavors” in cartridge-based e-cigarettes would be taken off the market “for a period of time."The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration would ban the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes, such as those sold by Juul and NJOY.
Cheers, tears, prayers for 2020: A new decade is ushered in
NEW YORK -- Revelers around the globe are bidding farewell to a decade that will be remembered for the rise of social media, the Arab Spring, the #MeToo movement and, of course, President Donald Trump.
President Trump says he'll sign first-step China trade deal on Jan. 15
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump says he will sign the first phase of a trade deal with China at the White House next month.President Trump says Tuesday in a tweet that he'll then travel to Beijing at a later date to open talks on other sticking points in the U.S.-China trade relationship that remain to be worked out.President Trump tweeted from his Florida home that, “I will be signing our very large and comprehensive Phase One Trade Deal with China on January 15.
President Trump holding Milwaukee rally
MILWAUKEE -- President Donald Trump will be in Milwaukee for a Keep America Great Rally on Jan. 14 at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
Taliban council agrees to cease-fire in Afghanistan; provides window to sign peace agreement with US
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban's ruling council agreed Sunday to a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan, providing a window in which a peace agreement with the United States can be signed, officials from the insurgent group said.
President Trump faces raft of foreign policy challenges in 2020
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump starts the new year knee-deep in daunting foreign policy challenges at the same time he'll have to deal with a likely impeachment trial in the Senate and the demands of a reelection campaign.There's still no end in sight to America's longest war in Afghanistan.
Biden leaves it unclear if he would honor Senate subpoena: 'Impeachment is about Trump'
WASHINGTON — Joe Biden sought Saturday to clarify his assertion that if the Senate subpoenas him to testify in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, he will defy the order.
GOP senator 'disturbed' by McConnell coordinating trial with White House
WASHINGTON — Democratic lawmakers continue to defend House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to hold on to the articles of impeachment and now some Republicans are concerned the Senate majority leader won’t hold a fair trial.Democrats say they need assurances from Sen.
President Trump, First Lady wish Americans 'Merry Christmas' as they mark holiday
PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are wishing Americans a Merry Christmas as they celebrate the holiday with their family in Florida.“The president and I want to wish each and every American a very merry Christmas," the first lady said in a video message recorded at the White House and released Wednesday. “We say a special prayer for those military service members stationed far from home and we renew our hope for peace among nations and joy to the world," President Trump said in the message.The first family is spending the holiday at the president's private club in Palm Beach, attending a music-filled Christmas Eve service at a Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated church before celebrating with dinner in the ballroom of his private club.
President Trump says North Korea may be planning 'a nice present' for Christmas
PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump said Tuesday, Dec. 24 that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be planning to give him “a nice present" such as a “beautiful vase” for Christmas rather than a missile launch.The president was asked what he will do if North Korea does conduct a long-range missile test.The North has threatened to take unspecified action if sanctions are not eased by the end of the year, and speculation has centered on the possibility of a new missile test, possibly of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.The North has said that its “Christmas gift” to the United States will depend on Washington's actions.President Trump, who is in Florida for the holidays, had just finished thanking service members from each branch of the military via satellite when he was asked about North Korea.
Ahead of holidays, Senate hopes for fair, speedy impeachment trial
WASHINGTON — As President Donald Trump spends the holidays at his south Florida resort, Senate Democrats say all they want for Christmas is a fair and speedy impeachment trial.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer continues to pressure Senate Majority Republican Mitch McConnell to allow documents and White House witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial.“If it doesn’t have documents and witnesses, it’s going to seem to most of the American people that it is a sham trial,” Schumer, D-New York, said.Senator Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, said Senate rules should require a fair and impartial hearing of the case.“To not even try to get the primary players in this corruption drama to come and give testimony I think is a total abdication of our responsibility,” Murphy said. “It’s just kind of amazing to me that McConnell would proudly telegraph to the country that he’s taking all of his marching orders from Donald Trump.”But on Christmas Eve, President Trump said it’s the House Democrats who have been unfair throughout the proceedings.“They didn’t give us due process.
President Trump calls troops ahead of Christmas holiday
PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump called members of all five branches of the military stationed across the world to share greetings ahead of the Christmas holiday.Speaking Tuesday by video conference from his private club in Florida, where is he is on a more than two-week vacation, President Trump said, “I want to wish you an amazing Christmas.” The group included Marines in Afghanistan, an Army unit in Kuwait, a Navy ship in the Gulf of Aden, an Air Force base in Missouri and a Coast Guard station in Alaska.President Trump praised the armed forces for their efforts this year to eliminate the last of the Islamic State's territorial caliphate and for killing IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
White House predicts Pelosi to 'yield' on impeachment delay
WASHINGTON -- The White House tried to make the case Sunday that Speaker Nancy Pelosi has put herself in an untenable position by stalling House-passed articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump in hopes of shaping the upcoming Senate trial.A senior administration official suggested the top Democrat in Congress would soon relent, paving the way for leaders in the Republican-controlled Senate to settle on the contours of a trial that is likely to result in Trump's acquittal on charges of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power.
With no choice but President Trump in primary, Minnesota voter sues
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota voter frustrated because President Donald Trump would be the only name on the state Republican primary ballot in March is challenging the move and muddying the launch of the state's first presidential primary in decades.Jim Martin, of Lake Elmo, a small business operator and political independent, filed a lawsuit over the primary rules, the Star Tribune reported.
US heads to court in effort to seize private land for Texas border wall
HOUSTON — Three years into Donald Trump's presidency, the U.S. government is ramping up its efforts to seize private land in Texas to build a border wall.President Trump's signature campaign promise has consistently faced political, legal, and environmental obstacles in Texas, which has the largest section of the U.S.-Mexico border, most of it without fencing.