Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
IRS reveals plans to spend $80 billion in new cash
The IRS released a 10-year plan Thursday outlining how it plans to spend the $80 billion in new money Democrats pumped into the tax agency as part of last year's climate change budget law, promising the cash will help go after high-dollar tax cheats and fix the agency's abysmal customer service. Published April 6, 2023
Rep. Ryan Zinke: U.S.-Taiwan meeting explored defense cooperation, Chinese chokehold on minerals
U.S. lawmakers emerged from their meeting Wednesday with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen determined to figure out why the U.S. has yet to deliver key weapons systems to Taiwan, according to one of the participants. Published April 5, 2023
Afghan evacuees spewed racism, sexism at U.S. aid workers, audit finds
Afghan evacuees subjected U.S. refugee workers to racism and sexism because they were "unaccustomed to the norms of U.S. society" and the ad hoc nature of the 2021 airlift left the government with too little time to blunt their racism through a full orientation, according to an inspector general's report. Published April 5, 2023
Feds indict Frederick County sheriff on gun charges
Federal prosecutors announced charges Wednesday against Sheriff Charles Jenkins in Frederick County, Maryland, accusing him of helping a firearms dealer to illegally acquire automatic weapons. Published April 5, 2023
Feds to pay $144.5 million for role in Texas church shooting
The federal government has agreed to pay victims of a 2017 church shooting in Texas $144.5 million to compensate them for the Air Force's failure to flag the shooter as someone who shouldn't be able to buy a gun. Published April 5, 2023
Using facial recognition for unemployment benefits discriminates against minorities, audit finds
After pushing unemployment agencies to crack down on fraud, the Labor Department's inspector general now says the method states turned to - facial recognition - ends up discriminating against minorities. Published April 4, 2023
Ted Cruz: Democrats see Mayorkas as scapegoat, will be gone within 6 months
Sen. Ted Cruz said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas won't last six months in his job after Democrats have decided to blame him for the chaos at the border. Published April 4, 2023
College student charged with threatening to kill member of Congress for ‘coming for the gays’
A New Hampshire college student appeared in court Monday on charges of threatening to kill a member of Congress after authorities say he made a drunken phone call warning he would retaliate against the lawmaker for "coming for the gays." Published April 3, 2023
IRS shut down employees’ suggestion box after deciding it cost too much
IRS leaders say they care about staffers' feedback, but the tax agency axed its employee suggestion program in 2021 and has yet to come up with a replacement, according to an inspector general's report Monday. Published April 3, 2023
Trump indictment follows Democratic playbook, says former House GOP Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has indicted former President Donald Trump, is following a well-trod Democratic playbook. Published April 3, 2023
Migrants now allowed to select gender preference without proof under new DHS guidance
Homeland Security's legal immigration agency will now allow applicants to select a gender of their choice without having to provide supporting documentation that matches. Published April 1, 2023
More than 1,000 illegal immigrants rushed border in El Paso, officials say
More than a thousand illegal immigrants rushed the border in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday and into Thursday, officials said, blaming what they called "false information" fed by smugglers. Published March 31, 2023
Countdown to cuts: Social Security has enough money in trust fund for only 10 more years
The Social Security Administration said Friday that its main trust fund will run out of money in 2033, leaving the program with no reserves and forcing an immediate 23% cut in benefits unless Congress acts to shore up the program before then. Published March 31, 2023
Weaponization hearing finds at least 20 White House employees involved in tech censorship
Louisiana's attorney general called Thursday for federal employees to be fired, lose their retirement benefits and face civil lawsuits if they are found to have pressured tech companies to censor opposing viewpoints. Published March 30, 2023
NIH spent billions on overseas animal testing but didn’t police anti-cruelty standards
The National Institutes of Health sent $2.2 billion to labs outside the U.S. to conduct animal testing over the last decade but didn't follow up to make sure they were complying with American standards on preventing cruelty, according to a new audit Thursday. Published March 30, 2023
GOP lawmakers say China must be punished over soaring illegal immigrants
Republican House members prodded the Biden administration Thursday to slap sanctions on China for refusing to cooperate in taking back its illegal immigrants, saying the U.S. should start refusing to dole out visas to would-be Chinese migrants. Published March 30, 2023
Inspector general dings DHS over money spent on migrant welcome program
Homeland Security misspent money on its program to pay local nonprofits to welcome illegal immigrants caught and released into the country, according to an inspector general's report that dinged the department for failing to oversee how the money was spent. Published March 30, 2023
AG Garland tells Congress he needs controversial spying power to keep China in check
Attorney General Merrick Garland made an impassioned plea Wednesday for Congress to renew a controversial government spying authority, warning that if the "Section 702" powers go away the U.S. will suffer in its ability to keep track of China's efforts to undermine the country. Published March 29, 2023
Agents’ busy weekend: 6 miles of border, nearly 300 illegal immigrants, 35 different nationalities
Border Patrol agents in the Imperial Beach region of California reported a hectic night last weekend, nabbing 290 illegal immigrants over a 13-hour stretch. Published March 29, 2023
U.S. Marshals told not to arrest protesters outside justices’ homes, documents reveal
Deputy U.S. marshals assigned to guard Supreme Court justices last year were directed to try not to make arrests, according to documents a U.S. senator revealed Tuesday, contradicting Attorney General Merrick Garland's assurances to Congress. Published March 28, 2023
