"Nobody wins trade wars," says Rep. Jim Costa. That's the view of the Fresno Democrat, reacting to a series of import tariffs imposed in recent months by President Donald Trump. Those tariffs have sparked retaliation from countries such as China, impacting Valley agriculture. Trade policy is one of several issues...
McCain Praised by Past Presidents, World Leaders
WASHINGTON — Presidents past and present joined members of Congress from both parties and world leaders in mourning Sen. John McCain and praising him for a lifetime of service and accomplishments. President Donald Trump, who once criticized fellow Republican McCain for being taken prisoner during the Vietnam War, said his...
Defiant Pelosi Says She’s Staying: ‘I Can Take the Heat’
WASHINGTON — Nancy Pelosi is the chief villain of Republican campaign ads. The leader some Democrats promise to vote against. The subject of much speculation that her grip on power is coming to an end. Nevertheless, she says she's not going anywhere — and certainly not while President Donald Trump...
Americans Harbor Doubts About Trump’s Tariffs: Poll
WASHINGTON — Fewer than half of Americans expect President Donald Trump's tariffs to do much to help the U.S. economy, but their widespread unpopularity hasn't led most Republicans to stray from supporting the president's trade policy as the 2018 midterm elections approach. Majorities of Americans also doubt the recently announced...
Prayers For John McCain: Military Hero, Defender of America
WASHINGTON — John McCain, the six-term Arizona senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee, has chosen to discontinue medical treatment for his brain cancer, his family said Friday. In a statement, the family said McCain has surpassed expectations for survival, but "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age...
Tibbetts Slaying Focuses Attention on Immigrants in Farming
DES MOINES, Iowa — The arrest of a Mexican farmworker in the death of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts renewed calls to change immigration laws, but it also focused attention on the immigrant workers whose labor is essential to the state's agricultural industry. Hours after authorities found the body of...
US, China Raise Tariffs in New Round of Trade Dispute
BEIJING — The United States and China went ahead with tariff hikes on billions of dollars of each other's automobiles, factory machinery and other goods Thursday in an escalation of a battle over Beijing's technology policy that companies worry will chill global economic growth. The increases came as envoys met...
Steven Tyler Sends Cease-and-Desist to Trump for Use of Song
BOSTON — Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler is again demanding that President Donald Trump stop using the band's songs at rallies. Tyler's attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter to the president Wednesday, a day after the song "Livin' on the Edge" was heard at a Trump rally in West Virginia. It's not...
New Bank System Could Protect Iran Nuclear Deal: German Official
BERLIN — Germany's foreign minister is calling for Europe to create a payments system independent of the United States, a move that could help keep alive the nuclear deal with Iran following the withdrawal of the U.S. Heiko Maas' suggestion was part of a wider-ranging piece for Wednesday's edition of...
Who Do US Sanctions Cripple? Not Iran's Regime Leaders.
I have to admit that imposing sanctions on a country recognized as a bad actor in regional or international affairs is appealing. Let's punish the bastards and make them change their evil ways! But have you thought about who really gets hurt? And if sanctions actually work? Let’s use Iran...