Stephen Dinan

China declared ‘currency manipulator’ by U.S. Treasury Department

The U.S. government officially designated China a currency manipulator Monday, treading where the past two administrations resisted, as President Trump's trade feud with Beijing escalated. Published August 5, 2019

Mitch McConnell vows action on guns: ‘Senate Republicans are prepared to do our part’

Congress showed a newfound appetite for diving into the gun debate Monday, with key Republicans saying they're working on bills they think can win bipartisan support and make a dent in what all sides now see as an epidemic of violence. Published August 5, 2019

Obama blames U.S. ‘leaders’ and racist language, weak gun laws for shootings

Former President Barack Obama said Monday that "racist sentiments" coming from some U.S. leaders have fueled the climate that led to this weekend's shooting rampages, and said the country must take steps to rein in "white nationalist websites that proliferate on the internet." Published August 5, 2019

California sued over law requiring candidates to release taxes

Judicial Watch, a conservative law firm, announced Monday is has sued California to stop the state's new law requiring presidential candidates to release their tax returns or else be left off the primary ballot. Published August 5, 2019

Lindsey Graham announces bipartisan deal on ‘red flag’ gun laws

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Monday he's struck a bipartisan deal to write legislation that would encourage states to adopt "red flag" laws allowing guns to be taken from potentially dangerous individuals, and he vowed action in the wake of this weekend's shootings. Published August 5, 2019

Trump slams China after currency devaluation sends U.S. stocks tumbling

Stocks tumbled Monday after President Trump's trade dispute with China accelerated and the yuan sunk to its lowest value in a decade versus the dollar, leaving investors skittish about the relationship between the world's two biggest economies. Published August 5, 2019

Schumer, Pelosi urge Senate to cancel vacation, pass background check bill ‘immediately’

Democrats' top leaders asked Americans to demand action on gun control and said the Senate must cancel its summer vacation and return to Washington to pass legislation "immediately," after a pair of shooting rampages this weekend. Published August 5, 2019

Trump signs spending hike into law

President Trump quietly signed the massive new spending deal Friday, shunning the spotlight as he inked an agreement that watchdogs said will lead to trillions of dollars in new debt. Published August 2, 2019

Mujeeb Rahman Saify, Afghan translator, indicted on human trafficking charges

An Afghan man who earned a green card in the U.S. by working as a translator for American troops during the war was indicted Friday on human smuggling charges, including at least one person who triggered "national security concerns." Published August 2, 2019

Smugglers mix illegal immigrants, meth in latest border bust

Homeland Security agents nabbed a group of illegal immigrants in remote Arizona this week and found the guide was also carrying a large supply of methamphetamine, in what authorities described as a growing -- and worrying -- trend. Published August 2, 2019

Illegal immigrant dies after being caught by agents at border

A Salvadoran man died Thursday morning in Border Patrol custody, just hours after he'd been nabbed illegally crossing into the U.S. Published August 1, 2019

Pelosi, Trump trade barbs over Baltimore

The battle over Baltimore continued Thursday with President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fighting over who deserves blame for problematic conditions in the city. Published August 1, 2019

Federal judge temporarily blocks N.Y. from sharing Trump taxes

A federal judge imposed a temporary blockade on New York trying to share President Trump's tax returns with House Democrats, saying he needs to hear more arguments on the legal situation. Published August 1, 2019

Joe Biden: Obama didn’t make ‘all these mistakes’

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden defended former President Barack Obama from attacks within his own party, saying Thursday that they did the best they could during their eight years. Published August 1, 2019

Donald Trump wins spending increase from Congress; GOP divided

Congress gave final approval Thursday to spending increases in 2020 and 2021, but it delivered a final black eye to President Trump when nearly half of Senate Republicans refused to back the deal he struck with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Published August 1, 2019

GOP power play clears path to approve asylum crackdown in Senate committee

Tensions reached a boiling point Thursday as Republicans powered a solution to the border crisis through a Senate committee, brushing aside objections of Democrats who said the extended powers of detention and limits to new asylum claims in the legislation were cruel. Published August 1, 2019

Joe Biden blasts decriminalizing illegal immigration: ‘It’s a crime’

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden blasted fellow Democrats who want decriminalize illegally crossing the border, saying Wednesday it would be an invitation to a new surge of illegal immigration from across the world. Published July 31, 2019

Julian Castro blasts Jeh Johnson, Obama DHS secretary, over ‘right-wing talking point’

Julian Castro bristled at criticism from former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson -- who served on the Obama Cabinet with him -- and who said decriminalizing illegal border crossings was part of an invitation to more illegal immigration. Published July 31, 2019

Joe Biden calls Kamala Harris ‘kid’ as Democratic debate kicks off

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden called Sen. Kamala Harris "kid" as they met on the stage for introductions ahead of Democrats' presidential primary debate Wednesday night, sending social media into a frenzy. Published July 31, 2019

Schumer dismisses party split on health care

The Senate's top Democrat Wednesday papered over the deep divisions on health care that emerged in the previous night's presidential primary debate, saying the fight within his party is nothing compared to the gap between Democrats and Republicans. Published July 31, 2019