S.A. Miller

Trump cites train derailment in tweet promoting infrastructure-spending plan

President Trump said Monday that the deadly Amtrak train derailment near Tacoma shows why Congress should act fast on the administration's upcoming plan for major spending on infrastructure. Published December 18, 2017

Nancy Pelosi’s super PAC keeps donations from Backpage owners

After California's then-Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced felony pimping charges last year against the two owners of Backpage.com — a classified-ad website that is a hub for sex trafficking and prostitution, one of the men cut a $10,000 check to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's super PAC. Published December 17, 2017

John McCain returns to Arizona after cancer treatment

President Trump said Sunday that Sen. John McCain, who is battling brain cancer, would return to vote for tax reform this week if needed to pass the bill, though the senator's office later forecasted a January return to Washington. Published December 17, 2017

Ruben Kihuen target of ethics probe for sexual harassment

The House Ethics Committee announced Friday a probe of sexual harassment accusations against Rep. Ruben Kihuen, who has been under increasing pressure to resign because of the claims. Published December 15, 2017

Trump celebrates FBI academy grads, brushes aside his criticism of agency

President Trump on Friday congratulated the graduating class at the FBI National Academy and pledged to be "a true friend and loyal champion" to the agents and all law enforcement officers. Published December 15, 2017

Senators tackle sexual harassment in Congress; bill would end settlements paid by taxpayers

A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill that would overhaul Congress' response to sexual harassment claims by workers on Capitol Hill, including forcing lawmakers to pay settlements out of their own pockets. Published December 14, 2017

Paul Ryan shoots down reports of retirement plans

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan shot down reports Thursday that he plans to retire from Congress, with his spokeswoman saying he's not going anywhere "soon" and the White House saying President Trump begged him to stay another seven years. Published December 14, 2017

Steve Bannon blamed for Roy Moore’s loss in Alabama Senate election

There was plenty of blame to go around as the Republican Party attempted to reconcile Tuesday's painful election loss in deeply conservative Alabama, but most of the finger-pointing was directed at former White House chief political strategist Steve Bannon. Published December 13, 2017

Donald Trump’s reporter bashing succeeds against negative coverage, expert warns

As the war between the White House and the news media escalated Tuesday, a public relations guru warned the press that President Trump's tactic of bashing reporters had already succeeded in forging him a sturdy armor against negative coverage. Published December 12, 2017

White House walks back Rex Tillerson’s North Korea comments

The White House on Tuesday walked back Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson's comment that the U.S. was willing to sit down for talks with North Korea without preconditions. Published December 12, 2017

Trump’s closing argument: Tax cuts will ‘reignite the American dream’

Delivering a major speech Wednesday to close the deal on tax cuts, President Trump will try to convince middle-class families that the plan will "reignite the American dream," senior administration officials said. Published December 12, 2017

White House: Congress is poised for tax cut votes early next week

House and Senate negotiator have made "tremendous progress" and are on track to put the tax cut bill to a final vote early next week, White House Legislative Affairs Director Marc Short said Tuesday. Published December 12, 2017

Donald Trump’s zero-hour appeal to Alabama voters: ‘Vote Roy Moore!’

As the polls opened Tuesday in Alabama's special election, President Trump urged voters to turn out for Republican Roy Moore in the hotly contested Senate race against Democrat Doug Jones. Published December 12, 2017

Trump puts Moon back on NASA’s road map to Mars

President Trump on Monday ordered NASA to send astronauts back to the moon and then eventually to Mars, part of the administration's focus on manned space exploration. Published December 11, 2017

White House clashes with reporters over ‘fake news’

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders clashed with reporters Monday over a recent rash of inaccurate news stories that cast President Trump in a negative light, as reporters defended their actions as "honest mistakes." Published December 11, 2017

Donald Trump’s Jerusalem decision garners award from faith leaders

More than 20 faith leaders met Monday with President Trump and presented him with an award celebrating his support of religious communities and his historic move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Published December 11, 2017

Child tax credit rise for illegal immigrants included in bills

President Trump has been willing to accept almost anything to close the deal on his giant tax cut bill before Christmas, including staying mum about a measure that would allow illegal immigrants to pocket the more generous child tax credit included in the package. Published December 10, 2017