Republican Party

McConnell withdraws Trump judicial pick minutes before vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a stunning move, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has withdrawn one of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees just minutes before he was set for a confirmation vote.<p>McConnell announced Thursday on the Senate floor that he was pulling the nomination of Ryan Bounds. …

Trump's Consideration of Putin's Request to Question 11 Americans for Unspecified Crimes Sparks Concern

(WASHINGTON) — The White House and the State Department are at odds over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to allow the U.S. access to …

“Putin’s congressman” and the Russian bombshell: Maria Butina case looks bad for Dana Rohrabacher

<b>Dana Rohrabacher; Maria Butina (AP/Photo Montage by Salon)</b><p>Will the indictment of a Russian femme fatale bring down a famously pro-Putin Republican congressman?<p>Clarrie Feinstein<p>July 19, 2018 10:00am (UTC)<p>One week ago, Maria Butina's name and face were almost unknown, except to a few hardcore …

‘It happened!’ – CNN’s Brian Stelter exults after reporters band against Sarah Sanders

CNN’s media correspondent Brian Stelter exulted with joy on social media after members of the media banded together to thwart White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.<p>“It happened! [Sarah Huckabee Sanders] tried to avoid [Hallie Jackson’s] follow-up questions by calling on The Hill’s …

Sean Spicer: Mueller's investigation is not a witch hunt

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that he does not believe special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation is a political witch hunt, contradicting a claim often repeated by President Donald Trump.<p>"As of now, I see no evidence that it is," Spicer said during an exclusive …

Trump inviting Putin to Washington this fall

<b>Washington (CNN) —</b> President Donald Trump hopes to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin in Washington this fall, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Thursday.<p>"President Trump asked (national security adviser John Bolton) to invite President Putin to Washington in the …

'Say Goodbye — I'm Done': The View's Whoopi Goldberg Shuts Down Judge Jeanine for Accusing Her of Suffering from 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'

“The View” host Whoopi Goldberg on Thursday shut down Fox News host Jeanine Pirro after she accused the cast of suffering from “Trump Derangement …

'Very aggressive': Trump suggests Montenegro could cause world war three

Donald Trump has drawn fresh scorn for attacking Montenegro, whose people he described as “very aggressive”, suggesting the small nation could be the cause of a third world war.<p>Days after a widely-criticised summit with his Russian counterpart, Trump’s comments were decried as a “gift to Putin”.<p>In …

House Republicans defeat attempt to subpoena Trump interpreter

Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday defeated an attempt by panel Democrats to subpoena the interpreter who worked for President Donald Trump during his summit Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.<p>“This is an extraordinary remedy, I realize, but then it’s …

Putin Tells Diplomats He Made Trump a New Offer on Ukraine at Their Summit

Vladimir Putin told Russian diplomats that he made a proposal to Donald Trump at their summit this week to hold a referendum to help resolve the …

Trump was reportedly informed before his inauguration that Putin personally directed election meddling

President Donald Trump was informed two weeks before his inauguration that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally directed the election meddling into the 2016 US presidential race, according to The New York Times.<p>Trump was given classified information showing that Putin ordered cyberattacks to …

Trump’s latest interview on Russia shows the profound crisis facing America

At best, Trump is frighteningly ignorant and naive. At worst, well ...<p>Donald Trump finds himself in perhaps the worst political position of his presidency, dragged down by a disaster made entirely by his own actions and inability to conduct himself in a manner that is remotely acceptable given the …

For Russia, Trump is creating more problems than he solves

MOSCOW (AP) — Having Donald Trump in the White House is looking increasingly like a liability for the Kremlin, rather than an asset. But don't expect President Vladimir Putin to say that out loud.<p>Russia's official assessment of Trump's high-stakes summit with Putin is carefully upbeat. In his first …

Mike Pence Looms As Donald Trump's Ultimate Poison Pill

The final chapter of Donald Trump’s corrosion of America is the specter of President Pence.<p>This week, as Trump cravenly kowtowed to Vladimir Putin, Americans wondered if the U.S. president is a Russian asset ― and impeachment our only defense. Not his would-be successor.<p>″What the American people …

Mueller releases over 500 pieces of evidence v Manafort

<b>Breaking news:</b><p>x<p>Mueller releases list of more than 500 pieces of evidence against Manafort https://t.co/xmDO3HUc3H pic.twitter.com/hQAH5pHeKe<p>Ã¢ÂÂ …

Throwback Photos Of Donald Trump & His Kids Reveal A Lot About How He Was As A Dad

The Trump family name is iconic for a lot of reasons, now more than ever. But President Donald Trump, even before he was associated with politics, …

Poll: Huge GOP majority backs Trump's Putin performance

We told you yesterday why elected Republicans go so silent so quickly when they disagree so strongly with President Trump: They fear it's political …

Slamming the script: Why the press is dismissing the president's do-over

The media seem determined not to give the president a do-over.<p>His attempt to clarify what he said in Helsinki is being widely dismissed, even mocked, by many in mainstream media land.<p>At a minimum, President Trump deserves credit for saying what he should have said to Vladimir Putin, that he accepts …

Would or wouldn't: how Trump's claim he misspoke unleashed a meme-fest

Donald Trump’s extraordinary attempt to walk back remarks made in Finland that he saw no reason to believe that Russia had interfered in the 2016 US election has been received with incredulity and amusement on the internet.<p>After berating reporters for not understanding he had meant the exact …

Trump Invited Putin to Washington for Fall Summit, Sanders Says

President Donald Trump invited Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Washington for a summit in the fall.<p>“In Helsinki, @POTUS agreed to ongoing working …

Trump just realized The Apprentice was about apprenticeships: 'I never actually put that together until just now'

President Donald Trump seemed to have a moment of realization when he said the word “apprenticeships” today during a signing ceremony for skills …

Trump's Joke About Ivanka & Her Last Name Will Have You Scratching Your Head

There might have been much more praise for Ivanka Trump, according to her dad, if she had a different surname. On Wednesday, <i>People</i> magazine reported …

Trump promised them better, cheaper health care. It’s not happening.

A key small business group says Trump’s new insurance rules are unworkable, after pushing the idea for nearly 20 years.<p>President Donald Trump handed an influential business advocacy group what should have been a historic lobbying victory when he recently rolled out new rules encouraging small …

Trump’s video of him ‘recognizing Russian meddling’ actually shows him doing the exact opposite

Oops.<p>On Thursday, President Trump posted a video clip from this morning’s edition of <i>Fox & Friends</i> meant to prove that despite all evidence to the …

Senate votes 98-0 to reject Putin proposal to send ex-US ambassador back to Russia

<b>Washington (CNN) —</b> The Senate approved a resolution to oppose sending US officials to be interrogated by Russian officials on Thursday, following a weeklong clash between congressional Republicans and the White House over the US relationship to Russia.<p>The 98-0 vote came after the White House …

DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Just Had a Nightmare of an Interview

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen spent her Thursday morning being interviewed by NBC’s Peter Alexander at the Aspen Institute Security …

Donald Trump and the crisis of elite impunity

The Russia scandal is about more than collusion. It’s also about the corruption of America’s elites.<p>As seemingly every national political figure not already hopelessly in the tank for President Trump rushed Monday to denounce his disastrous press conference with Russian despot Vladimir Putin, few …

Double-Decker Narcissism

Donald Trump’s supporters believe the guy who believes only what he wants to believe.<p>The New York Times’ Wednesday story revealing Donald Trump was …

Exclusive: "Sex huntress” says she won’t give U.S. officials secret tapes about Russian election meddling

In March, a self-described “sex huntress” offered to trade hours of audio recordings detailing Russia’s role in the 2016 election to U.S. officials in exchange for asylum. Now she tells VICE News she’ll only turn them over to one man: Oleg Deripaska, the Russian oligarch who she says is featured in …

To my Republican friends: It’s time to let Trump go

When a friend is in trouble, our instinct is to try and steer them away from danger.<p>Sometimes that means putting the friendship on the line by saying things they don’t want to hear. You gently nudge them toward the light when their eyes are blind to the truth.<p>This message is for my Republican …