Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Donald Trump sees federal deficit soar in first full year
President Trump oversaw a massive increase in the deficit during his first full year in office, the Treasury Department announced Monday, pointing to rising spending and stagnant taxes that threaten to send the government back into the realm of trillion-dollar shortfalls. Published October 15, 2018
Amount of Customs and Border Protection employees facing discipline fell in 2017
The number of Customs and Border Protection employees facing discipline fell in 2017, the agency said in two new reports that are part of its efforts at improving transparency. Published October 14, 2018
Jamal Khashoggi mystery risks U.S.-Saudi relations
Congressional pressure is mounting for a full rethink of U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia as evidence grows that the kingdom, a longtime American ally, was responsible for the disappearance of, and increasingly likely the death of, a Washington Post journalist. Published October 14, 2018
Democrats ask if U.S. intelligence was aware of plot against Saudi journalist
Democrats demanded Friday that the Trump administration tell whatever it may have known about the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist who was reportedly lured to a Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey then murdered by Saudi agents. Published October 12, 2018
Hillary Clinton lost security clearance
Hillary Clinton has given up her security clearance in the wake of the scandal over her handling of secret information on her email server, the Senate Judiciary Committee revealed Friday. Published October 12, 2018
Kevin McCarthy, House GOP leader, announces get-tough immigration bill
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced Friday a new get-tough immigration bill that would build the rest of President Trump's border wall, punish sanctuary cities and stiffen penalties on repeat-illegal immigrants. Published October 12, 2018
First ladies step deeply into political moment
The country's former first ladies are showing there are second acts in political life after the White House. From Hillary Clinton abetting the anti-Trump resistance to Michelle Obama's warning that men should indeed be on edge amid the MeToo movement, the former White House sidekicks are stepping deeply into the political moment. Published October 11, 2018
Stephen Bannon pushed adding citizenship to census, feds admit
Then-Trump political adviser Stephen K. Bannon was instrumental in pushing the Census Bureau to ask about citizenship on the full 2020 count, the government admitted in court papers Thursday, further complicating the administration's defense of the controversial question. Published October 11, 2018
Pennsylvania redistricting boosts Democrats’ bid for House control
There's little good news for Republicans when it comes to the battle for control of the U.S. House, save for one district in southwestern Pennsylvania that every prognosticator says is a virtual lock to flip to the GOP next month. The tradeoff for that, however, is six or seven other Pennsylvania seats that Democrats have designs on -- all because of a major court-ordered redraw earlier this year of the state's congressional maps. Published October 10, 2018
Scott Walker catches up in Wisconsin polls, while Tammy Baldwin maintains steady lead
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has closed the gap with Democratic challenger Tony Evers in a new Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday -- though Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin still holds a significant lead in her re-election bid. Published October 10, 2018
Mitch McConnell predicts ‘record’ turnout in election
Republicans are ready to turn out in "record" numbers, joining an already electrified Democratic electorate to produce what's likely to be a surge of voters, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell predicted Wednesday. Published October 10, 2018
Arizona Senate race tight; latest poll puts GOP in lead
Republican Martha McSally has extended her lead in Arizona's Senate race, according to a new poll released Wednesday that gives her a 6 percentage-point lead over Democratic opponent Kyrsten Sinema. Published October 10, 2018
Kavanaugh probe followed ‘usual process,’ FBI says
FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday that the FBI's updated background probe into Justice Brett Kavanaugh was indeed "limited in scope," but said that was consistent with past practice. Published October 10, 2018
Jackson Cosko, Democratic Hill staffer, held without bond in Senate ‘doxing’ case
Jackson Cosko, the former Democratic staffer accused of "doxing" Republican senators by leaking their personal information, was ordered held without bond Tuesday, with the judge saying he posed a risk to the community. Published October 9, 2018
Susan Collins Kavanaugh vote angers liberal activists
As the Senate emptied Saturday, the tension of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh's confirmation finally lessening, Sen. Susan M. Collins went desk to desk picking up discarded copies of the Congressional Record from the day before. Published October 7, 2018
Brett Kavanaugh process bad sign for next nominee
Republicans powered Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh through the Senate this weekend, but not before lawmakers said they had hit "rock bottom" with the poisonous atmosphere pervading the Capitol, leaving all sides fearful about what happens the next time they are asked to confirm a Supreme Court nominee. Published October 7, 2018
Trump says controversial speech mocking Blasey Ford helped Kavanaugh
President Trump took a victory lap after his nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, was confirmed to the Supreme Court, telling reporters Saturday that his controversial campaign speech last week challenging the sexual assault allegations was a pivotal moment. Published October 6, 2018
Murkowski hopes Kavanaugh will rebuild public confidence
Sen. Lisa Murkowski defended her opposition Saturday to incoming Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, saying she hoped he would find a way to get past the nastiness of recent weeks and push the high court toward more collegiality. Published October 6, 2018
Brett Kavanaugh confirmed to U.S. Supreme Court
Senators confirmed Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court Saturday in a vote lacking in drama but freighted with meaning, bringing to a close what senators called the nastiest confirmation battle in modern political history. Published October 6, 2018
Melania Trump gives thumbs-up to Kavanaugh
First lady Melania Trump on Saturday called Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh "high qualified" to earn a seat on the high court. Published October 6, 2018
