Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Donald Trump orders agencies to crack down on immigrants taking welfare
President Trump ordered federal agencies Thursday to begin enforcing existing federal rules against ineligible immigrants collecting public benefits such as food stamps. Published May 23, 2019
Congress announces deal on disaster bill; no border money for Trump
Congress struck a deal on a disaster aide package Thursday, covering states and Puerto Rico for catastrophes over the last two years but leaving out billions of dollars President Trump wanted to deal with the border crisis. Published May 23, 2019
Senate GOP approves permanent earmark ban
Senate Republicans voted Thursday to adopt a permanent ban on earmarks, a move that signals that as long as the GOP controls the chamber the practice of pork-barrel spending won't return. Published May 23, 2019
Democrats shoot down effort to rein in anti-Israel BDS movement
House Democrats shot down the GOP's effort Thursday to take a stand against the anti-Israel boycott movement, calling it a distraction from their agenda. Published May 23, 2019
‘100%’ of illegal immigrant families released into U.S.: DHS
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said Thursday that "100%" of illegal immigrant families in the new border surge are being released into communities, rather than being held and deported. Published May 23, 2019
Kris Kobach turned down Homeland Security position, says only ‘czar’ can solve border crisis
Kris Kobach said Wednesday he turned down an immigration adviser's position at Homeland Security because it doesn't carry enough weight to be able to solve the border crisis. Published May 22, 2019
Joel Ernesto Escobar, illegal immigrant murder suspect, released over PG County sanctuary policy
Prince George's County has admitted it did defy an ICE detainer and released an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally who had been accused of attempted murder, only to see the teen implicated in a horrific gang-related killing last month. Published May 22, 2019
Flu outbreak strikes Texas border detention facility
Stung by the death of a teenage boy, Homeland Security officials went back and re-tested an entire detention facility and found 32 people suffering from the flu, officials said Wednesday. Published May 22, 2019
Michael Avenatti charged with bilking Stormy Daniels
Michael Avenatti, the lawyer who for years has dogged President Trump, was charged Wednesday with bilking adult film actress Stormy Daniels, the woman he used to go after Mr. Trump. Published May 22, 2019
New York moves to expose Trump taxes
New York's legislature approved a bill Wednesday that would give Congress access to President Trump's state tax returns, setting up a backdoor method for Democrats to get hold of information Mr. Trump has refused to release. Published May 22, 2019
Nancy Pelosi’s ‘cover-up’ accusation upsets delicate balance with White House
Wednesday's blow-up between President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was dramatic on its own, but it was all the more strange because the two sides had just taken a significant step toward cooperation hours before they opened fire on each other. Published May 22, 2019
Nancy Pelosi: ‘I pray’ for Donald Trump
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday she is praying for President Trump after she accused him of covering up wrongdoing, and he retaliated by shutting down a meeting with her. Published May 22, 2019
Donald Trump sends Democratic leaders packing after Nancy Pelosi’s accusation of cover-up
A visibly disgusted President Trump announced Wednesday he won't work with Democrats while they're seeking to impeach him, cutting short a meeting with Democratic leaders at the White House and vowing to go it alone until Democrats finish their "phony investigations." Published May 22, 2019
Nancy Pelosi focuses on investigation progress, accuses Trump of ‘cover-up’ by stonewalling Congress
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pleaded for patience Wednesday from a growing pro-impeachment rebellion among fellow Democrats, saying they're making headway in the courts on trying to force President Trump to comply with investigations. Published May 22, 2019
Lauren Underwood rebuked after accusing DHS secretary of killing children
Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood on Wednesday accused the acting Homeland Security secretary of an intentional policy to let children die at the border, sparking an outcry from Republicans who demanded the lawmaker be punished for the accusation. Published May 22, 2019
Steven Mnuchin: Releasing Trump taxes would break law
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday that he would be breaking the law if he released President Trump's tax returns to Congress. Published May 22, 2019
Jerrold Nadler fuming after Don McGahn defies House Judiciary Committee subpoena
The Trump administration and Congress battled on three fronts Tuesday over Democrats' growing list of subpoenas demanding documents and testimony from the president's closest current and former advisors. Published May 21, 2019
Hope Hicks, Annie Donaldson subpoenaed by Jerrod Nadler, House Judiciary Committee
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler issued subpoenas Tuesday to Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson, both former Trump White House employees, demanding they turn over documents he's seeking from their time working for the president's team. Published May 21, 2019
ICE says PG County released illegal immigrant murder suspects
Two teens arrested last week on charges stemming from a horrific killing in Maryland were supposed to be deported last year, but local authorities didn't turn them over to ICE, the immigration agency said Tuesday. Published May 21, 2019
Congress nears two-year spending deal, debt increase
The White House and bipartisan leaders on Capitol Hill are nearing a two-year deal to raise the spending caps, paving the way for a cleaner spending process but doing so at the expense of taxpayers. Published May 21, 2019
