Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Donald Trump: Good time for shutdown
For most presidents, a government shutdown is a noun, an event and a signal of failure — something lawmakers fall into out of malfeasance. For President Trump, it's a verb, a tactic, something to order up if he doesn't get his way. Published December 9, 2018
William Barr’s path to becoming attorney general again likely tougher this time
The last time William P. Barr faced the Senate for confirmation to be attorney general in 1991 he was so noncontroversial that he was approved on a voice vote, with no less than then-Sens. Joseph R. Biden and Edward M. Kennedy backing him. Published December 9, 2018
Donald Trump cuts price tag of border wall to $15 billion
President Trump seemed to undercut the price of his own border wall Friday, saying it could be built for as little as $15 billion -- far less than the $25 billion figure his administration has submitted to Congress. Published December 7, 2018
William Barr believed Roe was wrongly decided
William Barr, the man President Trump plans to nominate as his the new attorney general, believed the 1973 Roe decision establishing a national right to abortion was wrongly decided and should be overturned, he told senators in a 1991 hearing. Published December 7, 2018
American taxpayers spend $27 million to ease deportees’ lives in Central America: GAO
Illegal immigrants deported from the U.S. back to Central America are greeted back home with toilet paper, school supplies and Barbie doll-style toys, paid for by American taxpayers and designed to make reintegration easier. Published December 7, 2018
Jobs picture steady at 3.7 percent unemployment
The economy added 155,000 jobs in November, the government announced Friday, continuing a solid trend of growth and leaving the unemployment rate steady at 3.7 percent. Published December 7, 2018
Donald Trump companies ignoring E-Verify, hiring illegal immigrants
Just five of the 565 companies in President Trump's business empire are signed up to use E-Verify, the government's best tool to weed illegal immigrants out of the workforce, according to a Washington Times analysis that suggests the president could personally be doing more on that front. Published December 6, 2018
Illegal immigrant families shatter records in November
Illegal immigration ticked up in November, but the number of those people traveling as families shattered records, Homeland Security reported Thursday, saying it's proof that migrants have figured out how to game the flawed U.S. immigration system. Published December 6, 2018
Senate approves Trump’s chief for key consumer watchdog agency
Sen. Elizabeth Warren has watched in horror as her brainchild, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has been taken over by President Trump. On Thursday, she suffered her latest setback as the Senate confirmed Kathy Kraninger, Mr. Trump's first pick for a director, to the position for the next five years. Published December 6, 2018
Congress passes short-term funding bill, puts shutdown showdown off until Dec. 21
Congress passed a short-term spending bill Thursday to keep the government fully open through Dec. 21, giving lawmakers two more weeks to find a solution to President Trump's demand for $5 billion for his border wall plans. Published December 6, 2018
Nancy Pelosi rejects ‘Dreamers’ for wall money deal
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday flatly rejected the idea of approving funding for President Trump's border wall in exchange for protections for illegal immigrant "Dreamers." Published December 6, 2018
Memorial for George H.W. Bush a ‘celebration for a great man’
President George H.W. Bush was eulogized Wednesday as the man who ushered out the Cold War and set the stage for a more complicated 21st century, along the way leaving a legacy of decency that seems almost anachronistic in modern politics. Published December 5, 2018
D.C., Maryland subpoena Trump Organization tax returns
Maryland and the District of Columbia announced subpoenas Tuesday to be served on President Trump's business empire and five federal departments or agencies, as they seek to build their case that the president is violating the Constitution. Published December 4, 2018
Lindsey Graham sees ‘smoking saw’ tying Saudi crown prince to Jamal Khashoggi killing
Senators emerged from a closed-door briefing with the CIA director Tuesday to say there's no doubt Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was deeply involved in the killing of journalist Kamal Khashoggi -- but still not clear on what steps Congress can take to punish him. Published December 4, 2018
Michael Avenatti says he won’t run for president
Trump nemesis Michael Avenatti announced Tuesday that he will not seek Democrats' nomination to challenge President Trump in 2020, saying he feared the damage to his family. Published December 4, 2018
Smuggler dropped two children from top of border wall: DHS
Border Patrol agents say they rescued a family whose children were dropped from the top of the 18-foot border fence Monday. Published December 4, 2018
George H.W. Bush lies in state at U.S. Capitol
Americans began to get a chance to pay their respects in person Monday to former President George H.W. Bush, whose body was brought to the U.S. Capitol to lie in state, joining just 31 other heroes so honored. Published December 3, 2018
George H.W. Bush a trailblazer
George H.W. Bush was one of the best-prepared men in history to hold the presidency and forged a reputation as a master of the world stage while in office -- but he was also a trailblazing pioneer afterward, as an ex-president who showed life after the White House could be fun. Published December 2, 2018
George Bush to lie in state at Capitol next week
President George H.W. Bush will lie in state at the Capitol Monday through Wednesday, congressional leaders announced Saturday. Published December 1, 2018
George H.W. Bush remembered as peerless patriot, patriarch of political dynasty
Flags dropped to half-staff across the country and tributes piled high Saturday as the nation remembered President George H.W. Bush as a man of relentless public service and personal decency. Published December 1, 2018
