The outpouring of affection for US Senator John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, highlights the respect the maverick Republican — symbol of a bygone era of bipartisan cooperation — has earned over his long career. The former Vietnam prisoner of war and 2008 Republican presidential nominee has been a reliably even-keeled voice … Read more
The future of the Republican effort to squash Obamacare hung in the balance Monday with Senator John McCain, whose vote is needed to pass the legislation, recovering from surgery away from Washington. There are no votes to spare in the contentious effort to pass a new health care reform bill through Congress, where Republican leaders … Read more
Senate Republicans would cut Medicaid, end penalties for people not buying insurance and erase a raft of tax increases as part of their long-awaited plan to scuttle President Barack Obama’s health care law, congressional aides and lobbyists say. The Medicare cuts, sure to anger Democrats, wouldn’t begin until 2025 but would take deeper swipes at … Read more
Can a guitar-strumming cowboy poet strike the first blow at the polls against President Donald Trump? Democrat Rob Quist reckons he can do just that, in Thursday’s closely-watched special congressional election in Montana. Quist croons at campaign rallies and writes poems for supporters. And as a first-time candidate for public office, the 69-year-old is running … Read more
President Donald Trump stepped up the search Monday for a new FBI director after his abrupt firing of James Comey, but Democrats are threatening to throw up roadblocks unless a special prosecutor is named to probe team Trump’s ties to Russia. Trump has said he wants to move swiftly on replacing Comey, whose shock dismissal … Read more
US President Donald Trump says he could announce a replacement for fired FBI Director James Comey by late next week. He told reporters it was “possible” he could name someone by Friday, before he leaves for his first foreign trip. Defence lawyer Alice Fisher was the first candidate interviewed at the justice department, US media … Read more
President Donald Trump said Saturday he would act quickly to appoint a new FBI director following his controversial dismissal earlier this week of James Comey — a move that was still reverberating around Washington. Trump’s administration — embroiled in a deepening crisis over the sacking and its shifting explanation of events — will interview the … Read more
Putin did it to demean Clinton and help elect Trump – JAMES CLAPPER So much has been written about former acting Attorney General Sally Yates since President Donald Trump fired her in January for declining to enforce his travel ban, that her testimony to a Senate judiciary subcommittee Monday was met with great anticipation. And … Read more
Republican senators are sounding sceptical of an Obamacare replacement passed by members of their own party in the House of Representatives. The measure brings President Donald Trump’s party a step closer to scrapping the law, but it will probably face major amendments in the Senate. One Republican senator said a final version will be “near … Read more
Senators have clashed at the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch over why the post was not filled under President Obama. The seat was vacated with the death of Justice Antonin Scalia 13 months ago. Democrats railed at a “historic dereliction of duty” in not granting a hearing for Mr Obama’s choice. Republicans … Read more
President Donald Trump wants to pass an immigration reform bill that could grant legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants living in the US. “The time is right for an immigration bill as long as there is compromise on both sides,” Trump told reporters Tuesday at the White House. The President is eager to pass … Read more
Leading Republicans in the US have called for an investigation into leaks that led to the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn. The heads of the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees are concerned potentially classified information was released. Mr Flynn is alleged to have discussed US sanctions with Russia’s ambassador in calls before his … Read more
Leading Republicans in the US have called for an investigation into leaks that led to the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn. The heads of the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees are concerned potentially classified information was released. Mr Flynn is alleged to have discussed US sanctions with Russia’s ambassador in calls before his … Read more
Leading members of the US Republican Party have joined calls for a wide investigation into the former national security adviser’s links with Russia. Michael Flynn quit on Monday over claims he discussed US sanctions with Russia before Donald Trump took office. On Tuesday, a White House spokesman said Mr Trump knew weeks ago there were … Read more
Leading members of the US Republican Party have joined calls for a wide investigation into the former national security adviser’s links with Russia. Michael Flynn quit on Monday over claims he discussed US sanctions with Russia before Donald Trump took office. On Tuesday, a White House spokesman said Mr Trump knew weeks ago there were … Read more
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday it’s “highly likely” the Senate intelligence committee will investigate former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s discussions with the Russian ambassador. “I think the fundamental question for us is what is our involvement in it, and who ought to look at it,” the Kentucky Republican said. “And the intelligence … Read more
President Donald Trump knew weeks ago there were problems with Michael Flynn’s Russia phone calls, a White House spokesman has said. The president was told by the Justice Department at the end of January that Mr Flynn may have misled US officials and the public, said Sean Spicer. He was asked to quit three weeks … Read more