Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Federal deficit surged in October as pandemic spending continued: CBO
The federal budget deficit surged in October to $284 billion, according to a preliminary accounting Monday by the Congressional Budget Office, reversing several months of relatively good news as coronavirus spending remained elevated. Published November 9, 2020
Georgia runoffs to determine Senate control
Two Senate runoff elections are slated for Jan. 5, and they are expected to determine whether Republicans will keep control of the chamber, and the ability to derail Mr. Biden's plans, or whether Democrats will take control. Published November 8, 2020
Pennsylvania mailman says he was ordered to collect late ballots
A Pennsylvania mail carrier has said in a sworn affidavit that he was ordered by supervisors to collect and submit late ballots, which he said supervisors then backdated so that they appeared to have been mailed in time. Published November 7, 2020
Trump Hispanic support growth befuddles Democrats, activists
President Trump expanded his share of the Hispanic vote from 28% in 2016 to 32% this year. That success has set off a round of soul-searching among those who insisted that Hispanics would punish this president. Published November 5, 2020
Outlook of balance in Senate hazy, but GOP appears to hold 48 seats
The GOP challenger in Michigan's Senate race demanded an investigation into the vote in that state, while in Georgia the Democratic challenger made up enough ground to force a January runoff with incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue. Published November 5, 2020
John James, GOP challenger, calls for ‘investigation’ in Michigan Senate race
Republican Senate nominee John James said Thursday he fears "dishonest" ballots have been cast in the Michigan election, and he called for an investigation. Published November 5, 2020
David Perdue projects confidence as Georgia Senate race tightens
Sen. David Perdue's team said he's still confident of victory in Georgia's Senate race, even if it means he'll have to win a runoff election. Published November 5, 2020
Voters send conservative message on ballot initiatives for taxes, citizen-only voting
Voters in Colorado, Alabama and Florida decided this week that only U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote in elections. Published November 4, 2020
Susan Collins win pushes Republicans near Senate control
Sen. Susan Collins claimed victory Wednesday in her race in Maine, leaving Republicans within grasp of holding on to their Senate majority, surmounting a very tough map and a staggering onslaught of Democratic money. Published November 4, 2020
Dems cut into Senate lead, but GOP still eyes majority
Control of the Senate was still very much in doubt as Wednesday morning dawned, with the two parties trading seat pickups and a half-dozen races still too close to call. Published November 4, 2020
Senate control in question as Democrats pick up seats
Republicans and Democrats traded Senate seat pickups Tuesday, but control of the chamber was still very much in doubt as the clock ticked over into Wednesday. Published November 4, 2020
Roger Marshall beats Barbara Bollier in Kansas Senate race
Republican Roger Marshall was projected to have won Kansas's open Senate seat Tuesday, holding onto a deep-red state Democrats had thought they had an outside chance of winning. Published November 3, 2020
Citizen-only voting ballot initiative approved in Florida
Voters in Florida, Colorado and Alabama enthusiastically backed a ballot initiative Tuesday to write into their state Constitutions a requirement that all voters be citizens. Published November 3, 2020
McConnell projected to win seventh term in Kentucky
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is projected to have successfully defended his Kentucky Senate seat Tuesday, winning a seventh term. Published November 3, 2020
Audit finds DHS cut corners when it sent agents to Portland riots
Department of Homeland Security officials cut too many corners when they deployed additional agents to Portland, Oregon, over the summer to quell riots near the federal courthouse, the department's inspector general said in a new report this week, delivering the latest blow over the aggressive federal response. Published November 3, 2020
Judge Michael Mosman restricts feds amid Portland protests
A judge on Monday ordered federal police to stay penned inside a one-block radius from the courthouse in Portland, ruling that they were violating protesters' rights when they went into crowds blocks away to try to arrest agitators. Published November 2, 2020
Lindsey Graham, Republicans face uphill fight for Senate control
Sen. Lindsey Graham is in the fight of his political life, and that fact captures the 2020 Senate map in a nutshell. Published November 2, 2020
Donald Trump ‘public charge’ immigration rule tossed by federal judge
A federal judge in Chicago issued a nationwide halt Monday to President Trump's attempt to make more immigrants have to prove self-sufficiency in order to win a path to citizenship. Published November 2, 2020
DHS: Tech companies’ censorship is ‘grave threat to national security’
The No. 2 official at Homeland Security said Monday that cancel culture censorship by Twitter and other tech companies has created a "dystopian" world and it's become a "grave threat to national security." Published November 2, 2020
Suspect dies after refusing to stop for Border Patrol checkpoint
A person died Sunday after barreling through an inspection station at a Border Patrol highway checkpoint in Texas, bailing out of the car, running across the median and getting struck by a vehicle headed the other way on the interstate, Homeland Security officials said. Published November 2, 2020
