Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Johnny Isakson to resign at end of year
Sen. Johnny Isakson announced Wednesday he'll resign his seat at the end of this year, saying his health has deteriorated to the point where he no longer feels he's able to give his Georgia constituents the service they deserve. Published August 28, 2019
DHS to use disaster money for border security, deportations
The Department of Homeland Security has alerted Congress it will shift hundreds of millions of dollars to boost its ability to hold and quickly deport immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, drawing a rebuke from Democrats who said the money is being cut from critical needs such as disaster relief. Published August 27, 2019
Anthony Scott Levandowski, former Google exec, charged with stealing secrets for Uber
Anthony Scott Levandowski, a former executive at Google who pioneered self-driving car technology for the company, now faces 33 charges of stealing company secrets and taking them with him when he went to work for Uber, prosecutors said Tuesday. Published August 27, 2019
Jerrold Nadler prods court to force Don McGahn testimony
With the window on possible impeachment closing, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler asked a federal court Monday to speed up a decision on whether to force former top White House lawyer Don McGahn to have to testify. Published August 26, 2019
Dem states sue to stop DHS plan to detain illegal immigrant families
A coalition of 20 Democratic attorneys general announced Monday they are suing to block the administration's new rules that would allow immigrant families who are in the U.S. illegally to be detained while their deportation hearings are taking place. Published August 26, 2019
House Dems subpoena former top Trump aide Rob Porter as impeachment probe lingers
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said Monday he has served a subpoena demanding former top Trump White House official Rob Porter testify about President Trump's anger at the Russia investigation. Published August 26, 2019
Sean Duffy of Wisconsin resigning from Congress
Rep. Sean Duffy, perhaps America's first reality TV politician, announced Monday he will resign from Congress next month, saying his soon-to-be-born baby will need his time and attention. Published August 26, 2019
Feds to allow more medical marijuana testing
The Drug Enforcement Administration said Monday it will begin to approve applications from companies looking to produce and test medical marijuana -- but only after it writes new rules to govern the practice. Published August 26, 2019
Feds: Immigrant used church job to bilk fellow migrants
An immigrant from Ecuador who worked for the Catholic Church, ostensibly helping other immigrants apply for benefits, was indicted this week on charges that she actually bilked those clients, pocketing their fees and never bothering to file their paperwork. Published August 23, 2019
TSA asks the internet to choose cutest airport K-9
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the cutest K-9 of them all? Published August 23, 2019
William Barr, AG, announces changes to immigration courts
The Justice Department proposed changes to the immigration court system Friday that would give more power to the agency's political leadership. Published August 23, 2019
Honduran woman drowns in Rio Grande; agents search for 3-year-old son
A Honduran woman drowned in the Rio Grande this week and Border Patrol agents were still searching Thursday for her 3-year-old boy, swept away with her. Published August 22, 2019
Ken Cuccinelli: Feds complicit in human trafficking of migrant children
Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said Thursday that American law is forcing the government to help smuggle immigrants into the U.S. illegally. Published August 22, 2019
Ken Cuccinelli unloads on Paul Ryan, says he ruined chance to solve immigration crisis
One of President Trump's top immigration lieutenants unloaded on former House Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Thursday, saying the one-time top Republican ruined a chance to solve the immigration crisis last year. Published August 22, 2019
Mitch McConnell warns Dems not to change filibuster: ‘You’ll regret this’
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned Democrats Thursday against doing away with the filibuster, saying they may not be happy with the unintended consequences. Published August 22, 2019
Donald Trump defends family detention as best option for migrant children
President Trump said the goal is to change the thinking: If illegal immigrants are detained, then they can be deported. Once others see the deportations, they will think twice about making the dangerous trip. Published August 21, 2019
Trump says ending birthright citizenship back on agenda
President Trump on Wednesday renewed his threat to cut off automatic birthright citizenship for babies born in the U.S. to illegal immigrant mothers. Published August 21, 2019
Border Patrol doesn’t collect DNA, leaving murder suspects free on the streets: Watchdog
Border Patrol agents arrested 330,000 people in 2017 but only took DNA samples from fewer than 100 of them, breaking a federal law and allowing serious criminals to go free, a government watchdog reported Wednesday. Published August 21, 2019
Donald Trump’s tariffs are weakening the economy: CBO
President Trump's fondness for tariffs will take a small but very real bite out of the U.S. economy, the government's chief scorekeeper said Wednesday. Published August 21, 2019
Trump-Pelosi budget deal sends deficit soaring
The budget deal President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi struck last month will cost taxpayers $1.7 trillion over the next decade, the government's chief scorekeeper said Wednesday, adding to a sea of red that threatens to swamp Washington. Published August 21, 2019