Stephen Dinan

Nearly half of Trump’s Cabinet departed since last State of the Union address

Health Secretary Alex M. Azar II was a newcomer in 2018, having been sworn into office just a day before President Trump addressed Congress for his State of the Union address. Published February 5, 2019

Border wall emergency declaration missing from Donald Trump pitch at State of the Union

Even as President Trump argued the case for his border wall Tuesday, one thing was missing -- the emergency declaration that would allow him to leapfrog over lawmakers and build the barrier even without Congress's approval. Published February 5, 2019

Virginia Dems say Justin Fairfax’s accuser should be heard

State Democrats in Virginia said Tuesday that the woman who has accused Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of rape deserves to be heard. Published February 5, 2019

Senate approves bill to rein in anti-Israel boycotts

Senators approved legislation Tuesday to protect states and localities that refuse to do business with organizations that boycott Israel, in a vote that served as a reminder of the close ties between the Middle East nation and America's elected officials. Published February 5, 2019

Trump’s trips to Mar-a-Lago cost $4 million apiece: GAO

Federal agencies spend more than $4.4 million for each trip President Trump takes to his Florida golf resort, according to a new government audit Tuesday that looked at trips in early 2017. Published February 5, 2019

2,000-person caravan arrives at border south of Texas; DHS blames Congress

A caravan with about 2,000 migrants has arrived on the U.S.-Mexico border south of Texas, Homeland Security said Tuesday, delivering a warning that attempts to jump the border "will not be tolerated." Published February 5, 2019

Feds: No impact from foreign meddling in 2018 election

Foreign governments did not sway the 2018 elections, the Justice and Homeland Security departments announced Tuesday, saying the vote came off without any evidence of the kinds of breaches that tainted the 2016 presidential vote. Published February 5, 2019

Study finds high rates of prison, jail for illegals

Nearly 3 percent of illegal immigrants in Arizona end up in state prison or jail during the course of a year -- four times the rate of U.S. citizens and legal residents, according to a study that uses federal reimbursements for prisons and jails to try to calculate one of the most important yet elusive statistics in the immigration debate. Published February 5, 2019

Senate bucks Donald Trump, backs U.S. commitment to Syria, Afghanistan

Senators gave final approval Monday to legislation opposing President Trump's Syria and Afghanistan troop withdrawals, voting overwhelmingly to urge him to revisit his plans and come up with a more careful approach. Published February 4, 2019

Bob Menendez calls for Trump National Golf Clubs FBI probe

A New Jersey senator on Monday demanded that federal investigators launch a probe into President Trump's golf course properties for hiring immigrants living in the U.S. illegally -- and said they should be allowed to stay in the U.S. to act as witnesses. Published February 4, 2019

Ralph Northam, Virginia governor, urged by Democrats to leave

Democrats over the weekend brushed aside Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's explanation and apology for a racist photo in his medical school yearbook and looked to a future where he would be replaced by Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. Published February 3, 2019

Pentagon sends more active-duty troops to Mexico border

The Pentagon said Sunday it has sent 3,750 more active-duty troops to the border, moving to re-bolster forces as new caravans make their way north through Mexico. Published February 3, 2019

Ralph Northam now says racist photo isn’t him, won’t resign

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said that while he has darkened his skin before to imitate a black man, he doesn't think he is in the photo that appears on his 1984 medical school yearbook page showing someone in blackface and another person in a KKK costume. Published February 2, 2019

Gov. Northam tells state Dems he won’t resign

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has told state Democratic Party leaders Saturday morning he will not be resigning, defying his own supporters who had said an offensive photo in his 1984 yearbook has cost him the trust of his voters. Published February 2, 2019

Virginia Democrats turn on Northam, demand resignation after offensive photo

The Democratic Caucuses in Virginia's state House and Senate both called Friday for Gov. Ralph Northam to resign, saying members have lost confidence in him to lead the state after a photo emerged of him and a friend with one in blackface and the other in a KKK outfit. Published February 1, 2019