NEW YORK — Democrats won't pick their nominee for another year, but President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are acting like the 2020 presidential contest is already a two-man race. Almost completely ignoring his 23 Democratic competitors, Biden has been laser-focused on Trump — particularly his embrace of racist...
Mueller: Special Counsel Probe Did Not Exonerate Trump
WASHINGTON — Special counsel Robert Mueller said Wednesday he was legally barred from charging President Donald Trump with a crime but pointedly emphasized that his Russia report did not exonerate the president. If he could have cleared Trump of obstruction of justice he "would have said so," Mueller said. The...
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...
In UAE, Bolton Warns Iran of ‘Very Strong Response’
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — President Donald Trump's national security adviser warned Iran on Wednesday that any attacks in the Persian Gulf will draw a "very strong response" from the U.S., taking a hard-line approach with Tehran after his boss only two days earlier said America wasn't "looking to...
Exhibit Highlights Cartoonists’ Focus on First Amendment
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The First Amendment right to free speech is no laughing matter, as illustrated by a new exhibit at the world's largest cartoon library. The political cartooning display runs the gamut from a 1774 etching by Paul Revere criticizing Britain's use of tea as a political weapon to...
Iran’s Guard Talks Tough, Says It Has No Fear of War With US
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's influential Revolutionary Guard said Tuesday it doesn't fear a possible war with the United States and claimed America hasn't grown in power in recent years — the latest tough talk from Tehran amid escalating regional tensions and a crisis with Washington. "The enemy is not more...
Fact Check: Trump Takes Credit for Obama’s Health Care Gains for Vets
WASHINGTON — Boastful on the occasion of Memorial Day, President Donald Trump and his Veterans Affairs secretary are claiming full credit for health care improvements that were underway before they took office. Trump said he passed a private-sector health care program, Veterans Choice, after failed attempts by past presidents for...
Walters: Trump Pardon Closes Book on ‘Shrimpgate’ Scandal
When President Donald Trump pardoned former California Assemblyman Pat Nolan this month, he closed the book on one of the state’s most embarrassing political scandals, albeit one that wrought systemic change in the Capitol. Nolan was one of four state legislators and eight other political figures, including a member of...
Valley Nut and Fruit Growers Get Relief in China Trade War
Growers of grapes, tree nuts, and cranberries got good news from Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Thursday morning. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide up to $16 billion in aid to farmers impacted by the tariff battle with China initiated by President Donald Trump. A statement from the USDA...
Walters: Trump Doing California a Bullet Train Favor
At last count, California’s Democratic political leadership had filed four dozen lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s administration, reflecting differences on policies large and small. For the most part, California’s legal allegations have been on target. However, Trump is on solid legal and logical ground in the latest conflict over the...