Sean Duffy leaving Congress to focus more on family: 'Right time for me to take a break from public service'
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Sean Duffy, who represents northern Wisconsin, announced on Monday, Aug. 26 that he will step down from his job in Washington next month to "allow others to step forward to begin laying out their own vision and plans for leading this beautiful district and the most honest, hard-working, family-oriented, patriotic, and God-fearing constituents in America."Duffy posted on Facebook that he wants to spend more time with his family.
Wisconsin congressional Democrats target Pres. Trump trade war
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wisconsin's three Democratic members of Congress say that President Donald Trump's trade war with China is hurting the state's farmers, businesses and families.Reps.
G-7 cracks emerge on Iran as President Trump contests French role
BIARRITZ, France — The first fissures emerged among G-7 leaders on Sunday over how to deal with Iran, as U.S. President Donald Trump denied he had signed on to an agreement on giving France a leading role as a go-between with the world's major democracies.President Trump had tried to play down tensions among Group of Seven leaders after an intimate dinner Saturday in the southwest French resort of Biarritz, but came out swiftly to dispute France's claim that they had agreed to let President Emmanuel Macron deliver a message to Iran on their behalf.For several months, Macron has taken a lead role in trying to save the 2015 nuclear accord, which has been unraveling since President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement.No details were provided on what the G-7 message to Iran would be but Macron said the goal is to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons and avoid a further escalation in tensions in the Middle East."I haven't discussed that," President Trump said Sunday morning.
The 'chosen one'? Pres. Trump says never mind
WASHINGTON — The "chosen one" says never mind.President Donald Trump raised some eyebrows earlier this week when he glanced heavenward and referred to himself as "the chosen one" to take on China.He took the comment back Friday.When a reporter asked Trump what he had meant by referring to himself as the "chosen one," the president looked annoyed."You know exactly when I meant," Trump said. "It was sarcasm.
Pelosi says public doesn't support impeachment
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi still isn't ready to launch impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.Pelosi told House Democrats on a conference call Friday, "The public isn't there on impeachment."She told them the case needs to be "as strong" as possible."If and when we act, people will know he gave us no choice," Pelosi said, according to an aide granted anonymity to discuss the private call.More than half the House Democrats support opening an impeachment inquiry.
'Supreme debt of gratitude:' President Trump signs student debt forgiveness for disabled veterans
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Hundreds of millions of dollars in federal student loan debt owed by tens of thousands of disabled military veterans will be erased under a directive President Donald Trump signed Wednesday.President Trump ordered the Education Department to "eliminate every penny of federal student loan debt" owed by American veterans who are completely and permanently disabled.President Trump said they won't have to pay federal income tax on the forgiven debt and called on states to waive their taxes on the loans, too.America, he said, owes its heroes "a supreme debt of gratitude."President Trump's announcement at the AMVETS national convention in Louisville elicited a loud round of applause from the crowd of more than 2,500 veterans.
President Trump looking at tax cut, not fearing recession
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says his administration is a looking at tax cut proposals but not as a response to a potential recession.
Portland 'ground zero' for protests between right, left-wing
PORTLAND, Ore. — Hundreds of far-right protesters and anti-fascist counter-demonstrators swarmed downtown Portland, Oregon, on Saturday for a long-hyped rally that attracted President Donald Trump's attention and resulted in at least 13 arrests.Police seized metal poles, bear spray and other weapons and closed bridges and streets to try to keep the rival groups apart.
Pres. Trump's economic adviser plays down fears of looming recession
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. — President Donald Trump's top economic adviser is trying to play down fears of a looming recession after last week's sharp drop in the financial markets.
Pres. Trump appoints student loan industry exec to watchdog job
NEW YORK — The Trump administration is appointing a long-time student loan industry executive to be the government's top watchdog for the $1.5 trillion student loan market.Robert Cameron will serve as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new student loan ombudsman, a job designed to protect student loan borrowers from poor industry practices in the student loan industry.Cameron most recently worked at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, better known as Fed Loan Servicing, as their head of compliance.
A$AP Rocky found guilty of Sweden assault, won't face prison
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — American rapper A$AP Rocky was found guilty of assault Wednesday in Sweden, where his jailing after a Stockholm street brawl drew the close attention of President Donald Trump.A judge and jury found the rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, and his two bodyguards hit and kicked a 19-year-old man during the June 30 fight.
Pres. Trump official: Statue of Liberty's poem is about Europeans
WASHINGTON — A top Trump administration official says the famous inscription on the Statue of Liberty, welcoming "huddled masses" of immigrants to American shores, was referring to "people coming from Europe" and that the nation is looking to receive migrants "who can stand on their own two feet."The comments on Tuesday from Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, came a day after the Trump administration announced it would seek to deny green cards to migrants who seek Medicaid, food stamps, housing vouchers or other forms of public assistance.
More than 91,000 sign petition to rename street with Trump Tower after Obama
NEW YORK CITY — More than 91,000 people have signed an online petition to rename a block of a Manhattan Avenue after former President Barack Obama – a block that just so happens to be the home of Trump Tower.The MoveOn.org petition is asking Mayor Bill de Blasio and the NYC City Council that Fifth Avenue, between 56th and 57th streets, be officially renamed "President Barack H.
President Trump claims credit for Shell plant announced under President Obama
MONACA, Pennsylvania — President Donald Trump sought to take credit Tuesday for the construction of a major manufacturing facility in western Pennsylvania as he tries to reinvigorate supporters in the rust belt towns that sent him to the White House in 2016.President Trump visited Shell's soon-to-be completed Pennsylvania Petrochemicals Complex, which will turn the area's vast natural gas deposits into plastics.
What's on school menus this fall? Trade mitigation
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — School lunch menus already have Meatless Mondays and Taco Tuesdays.
Pres. Trump says he wants background checks, also reassures NRA
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday he believes he has influence to rally Republicans around stronger federal background check laws as Congress and the White House work on a response to last weekend's mass shootings in Texas and Ohio.At the same time, Pres.
Pres. Trump says he's 'very strongly' considering commuting sentence of Rod Blagojevich
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he's "very strongly" considering commuting the sentence of former Illinois Gov.
Senator Ron Johnson appears to signal support for 'red flag' law
MADISON — Republican U.S. Sen.
Democrats: Pres. Trump should demand Senate vote on gun bill
WASHINGTON — If President Donald Trump is serious about strengthening gun laws in the wake of two mass shootings, he should demand that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell put a House-passed bill strengthening background checks up for a vote, congressional Democrats said Monday.Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate GOP leader is blocking gun safety reforms that more than 90% of Americans support.