Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Donald Trump’s Syria strike authority under debate in Congress
President Trump told Congress on Sunday that he was exercising commander-in-chief powers when he ordered strikes on Syria's chemical weapons capability, insisting the action on Saturday was "in the vital national security" interests of the U.S. Published April 15, 2018
Judge orders government to inform immigrant children in federal custody of right to abortion
A federal judge has ordered the government to inform all illegal immigrant children in federal custody that they have an unfettered right to an abortion in the U.S. Published April 15, 2018
Barbara Bush’s health failing
Barbara Bush, wife and mother of former presidents, is in failing health and has decided not to seek care to prolong her life, her husband's office said Sunday. Published April 15, 2018
Dems say U.S. strike to stop chemical weapons ‘unconstitutional’
President Trump's strike on Syria's chemical weapons capabilities has ignited a new debate in Washington over the scope of the war on terror and just how far the administration can commit U.S. forces to an undeclared war in the Middle East. Published April 13, 2018
Feds say D.C., doesn’t violate sanctuary city policy
The District of Columbia proudly proclaims its sanctuary city status, but the federal government said this week that Washington's policies are actually in compliance with federal law and the city won't lose any grant money. Published April 13, 2018
Andrew McCabe lied, was source of WSJ leak, DOJ says
Ousted FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe improperly leaked information to a reporter and then lied to both his boss, then-Director James Comey, and to FBI agents investigating his behavior, the Justice Department inspector general said Friday. Published April 13, 2018
Judge orders feds to tell illegal immigrant children they have right to abortion
A federal judge on Friday ordered the government to inform all illegal immigrant children in federal custody that they have an unfettered right to an abortion here in the U.S. Published April 13, 2018
Scooter Libby, Bush official, pardoned by Trump for obstruction of justice
President Trump issued a pardon Friday to former Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide, saying his 2007 conviction for obstructing the probe into the leaking of a CIA operative's identity, saying the conviction now appears to be tainted. Published April 13, 2018
Jerry Brown, Andrew Cuomo use pardons to circumvent immigration laws, prevent deportations
Pardons are quickly becoming a tool for anti-Trump governors, including Jerry Brown of California and Andrew Cuomo of New York. Published April 12, 2018
CIA chief confirms U.S. strike killed ‘hundreds’ of Russian mercenaries in Syria
CIA Director Mike Pompeo confirmed Thursday that U.S. forces killed "a couple hundred" Russian mercenary troops in Syria in a strike earlier this year that he said sent a distinct signal to Moscow. Published April 12, 2018
Mike Pompeo says he talked with Mueller probe
Mike Pompeo said he came to his confirmation hearing Thursday prepared to talk about the Trump administration's policies and his qualifications to lead the State Department. Democrats wanted to talk about special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the 2016 presidential election. Published April 12, 2018
Eric Conn social security files may prove disability claims of Kentucky residents
Thousands of poor Kentuckians are fighting the government right now to keep their Social Security disability benefits after getting snared in the largest scam in the program's history. Published April 11, 2018
Mike Pompeo, Trump secretary of state pick, promises senators seat at table
President Trump's pick to lead the State Department will promise senators Thursday he'll pick up their phone calls "on the first ring," hoping to reassure Congress he will be responsive to them as well as to Mr. Trump. Published April 11, 2018
California agrees to send guard troops to the border
California will deploy National Guard troops to the border, Gov. Jerry Brown said Wednesday, in what amounts to a giant win for the Trump administration. Published April 11, 2018
Mick Mulvaney takes heat over frosted glass on office windows
Acting consumer protection chief Mick Mulvaney on Wednesday defended the decision to put frosted glass on his office at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau against accusations that it sent the wrong message about transparency. Published April 11, 2018
DHS secretary signals she’s open to adding guest worker visas
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told Congress on Wednesday she will make a decision "soon" on whether to approve tens of thousands of additional visas for temporary foreign workers, but signaled a willingness to allow more workers. Published April 11, 2018
Paul Ryan to retire
Speaker Paul D. Ryan announced Wednesday that he'll retire from the House at the end of this year, ending a two-decade career in Congress and igniting more soul-searching for a GOP already bracing for a rough round of midterm elections in November. Published April 11, 2018
Mark Zuckerberg apologizes for Facebook abuses
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced off against senators Tuesday, acknowledging growing pains as his company went from dorm-room project to internet colossus that now faces a crisis of confidence after mishandling users' data and seeing its platform abused by Russian operatives who meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Published April 10, 2018
Mark Zuckerberg: ‘System basically worked as it was designed’ in sharing 87 million users’ data
Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday that Facebook worked as they designed it when it shared 87 million users' data with a researcher who then turned around and sold it to a political consultancy tied to the Trump campaign. Published April 10, 2018
Trump updates travel ban, lifts restrictions on Chad
President Trump removed Chad from his "extreme vetting" travel ban policy Tuesday, saying the country had made enough strides in cooperating on sharing data and boosting security that its citizens can again be admitted to the U.S. Published April 10, 2018