STERLING, Va. — Stung by criticism that his deal to avert threatened Mexican tariffs mostly ramps up existing efforts, President Donald Trump is insisting there's more to it than meets the eye. In a pair of tweets Monday morning, Trump claimed Mexico had agreed to more than what was revealed in the...
California Democrats Loudly Lean Left but Quietly Make Safe Choice
Anyone who spent the weekend at the California Democratic Party’s convention — watching 14 White House contenders try to impress what one Congresswoman called “the wokest Democrats in the country” — observed the following: Saturday’s most rapturous cheers went to Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who declared “the time for small...
O’Rourke’s Immigration Plan Calls for Pathway to Citizenship
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping immigration plan to seek a pathway to U.S. citizenship for 11 million people in the country illegally, deploy thousands of immigration lawyers to the southern border to help with asylum cases and earmark $5 billion to bolster the rule of...
Beto O’Rourke Hires Obama Delegate Guru Jeff Berman
WASHINGTON — Beto O'Rourke has hired one of the masterminds behind Barack Obama's unlikely 2008 primary victory, part of the Democratic candidate's efforts to balance his freewheeling style with the organizational demands of a presidential campaign. Delegate guru Jeff Berman began working for O'Rourke in April. In his role as...
Beto O'Rourke Unveils Climate Plan With Yosemite as Backdrop
EL PORTAL — Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke has announced his first major policy initiative, a $5 trillion plan to combat climate change that he says will keep the Earth from sliding past the point of no return in less than a generation. The former Texas congressman unveiled his proposal on Monday...
'Ghost Town' Council Votes to Take Space from City Manager
Fresno's strong-mayor form of government means most of the city's power is vested in one elected leader. But the city council is waging a floor fight that is testing the limits of that power dynamic. More precisely, it's a "second floor" fight. Council members say they need more space to...
Beto O’Rourke Says He Raised $6.1M Online in 1st 24 Hours
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke raised more than $6 million online during the first 24 hours after he announced his White House bid, the highest first-day number reported by any candidate, his campaign said Monday. The "record-breaking" $6.1 million came "without a dime" from political action committees, corporations...
After Massacre, Trump Downplays White Nationalism Threat
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump played down any threat posed by racist white nationalism on Friday after the gunman accused of the New Zealand mosque massacre called the president "a symbol of renewed white identity." Trump, whose own previous responses to the movement have drawn scrutiny, expressed sympathy for...
As Trump Makes Case for Border Wall, Congress Works Out a Deal
EL PASO, Texas — President Donald Trump headed to the Texas border on Monday to argue his case that walls work as Democrats and Republicans back home in Washington announced a deal had been reached to avoid another government shutdown. Trump was bound for El Paso, aiming to reshape the...
Cruz Fends Off O’Rourke in Texas Senate Race
EL PASO, Texas — Sen. Ted Cruz fended off a spirited underdog challenge from Democrat Beto O'Rourke to win re-election on Tuesday in a Texas race that once seemed like a cakewalk but needed a late boost from President Donald Trump to help push the incumbent over the top. Cruz...