SAN DIEGO — The government is demolishing eight prototypes of Donald Trump's prized border wall that instantly became powerful symbols of his presidency when they were built nine months after he took office. The Trump administration says elements of the prototypes have been melded into current border fence designs and...
Walters: GOP Dodges Bullet, but Faces Tough Future
The California Republican Party, which has become virtually irrelevant in recent years, had a great opportunity last weekend to commit self-annihilation by electing an unrepentant, Donald Trump-loving right-winger as party chairperson. However, sanity – or reality – prevailed and delegates opted for Jessica Patterson, who has lengthy experience in bread-and-butter...
Sen. Bernie Sanders Says He’s Running for President in 2020
WASHINGTON — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose insurgent 2016 presidential campaign reshaped Democratic politics, announced Tuesday that he is running for president in 2020. "Our campaign is not only about defeating Donald Trump," the 77-year-old self-described democratic socialist said in an email to supporters. "Our campaign is about transforming our...
Political Shifts, Sales Slump Cast Shadow Over Gun Industry
When gunmakers and dealers gather this week in Las Vegas for the industry's largest annual conference, they will be grappling with slumping sales and a shift in politics that many didn't envision two years ago when gun-friendly Donald Trump and a GOP-controlled Congress took office. Some of the top priorities...
Heng Criticizes Congressman Costa for Puerto Rico Trip
A congressional trip to Puerto Rico during the partial government shutdown, reportedly attended by one local representative, is receiving criticism from the White House and here in Fresno. Caribbean news organizations reported that Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) was in Puerto Rico with a congressional delegation this past weekend. The trip,...
Billionaire Plans to Spend $40 Million Promoting Trump Impeachment
DES MOINES, Iowa — Billionaire investor and Democratic activist Tom Steyer said Wednesday that he will not run for the White House in 2020 and will instead focus on calling for President Donald Trump's impeachment. Steyer, who has spent $50 million on his Need to Impeach campaign and announced plans...
Mitt Romney: How a President Shapes the Public Character
The Trump presidency made a deep descent in December. The departures of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, the appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the president's thoughtless claim that America has long been...
Defying Pundits, GOP Share of Latino Vote Steady Under Trump
LITTLETON, Colo. — Pedro Gonzalez has faith in Donald Trump and his party. The 55-year-old Colombian immigrant is a pastor at an evangelical church in suburban Denver. Initially repelled by Trump in 2016, he's been heartened by the president's steps to protect religious groups and appoint judges who oppose abortion...
Is Nunes Now a Backbencher? Or Will We See Even More of Him?
For the first time in eight years, Devin Nunes will be in the Washington minority. That means he is losing his position as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. His stewardship of the committee combined with the emergence of President Donald Trump made Nunes one of the...
Is Denham Next in Line for Interior Secretary?
Congressman Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) is under consideration to be the next U.S. Secretary of the Interior, after the announcement that current jobholder Ryan Zinke is leaving at the end of the year. Denham, who lost his re-election bid last month to Democrat Josh Harder, could replace Zinke, according to inside...