Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Donald Trump to sign Russia sanctions bill
President Trump will sign the Russia sanctions bill, the White House said late Friday, saying that he managed to win important changes to the legislation and is now satisfied with it. Published July 28, 2017
Congress wins oversight battle with Trump; White House promises answers to all members
The White House isn't trying to change longstanding tradition that allowed individual members of Congress to conduct oversight of the administration, President Trump's top liaison to Capitol Hill said in a letter earlier this month. Published July 28, 2017
Sanctuary city policies infect federal law enforcement agencies
The U.S. Capitol itself follows a sanctuary city policy that protects illegal immigrants from being turned over to deportation agents, a Republican congressman said Friday, announcing new legislation to scrap that policy. Published July 28, 2017
Russia to expel U.S. diplomats in retaliation for new sanctions
Russia moved Friday to expel American diplomats and kick U.S. personnel out of several locations in Moscow, retaliating after Congress a day earlier wrote into law stiff economic sanctions against top Russian officials and important industries. Published July 28, 2017
Trump’s Treasury nixes struggling Obama-era government-run retirement program
The Treasury Department said Friday that it's canceling an Obama-era program designed to help Americans who don't have access to a 401k plan at their work save for retirement, saying interest was too low to justify the expense to taxpayers. Published July 28, 2017
Congress approves strict Russia sanctions; forces decision on Donald Trump
Congress gave final approval Thursday to a package of strict sanctions punishing Russia for its cyberintrusions in last year's elections, delivering a challenge to President Trump, who had sought flexibility to negotiate his own deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Published July 27, 2017
House votes to support Trump border wall
The House approved $1.6 billion Thursday to fund the first installment of President Trump's border wall, surmounting Democrats' unanimous opposition and giving the White House a significant though potentially short-lived victory. Published July 27, 2017
Activists try to head off recess replacement for Jeff Sessions
Activists are calling on the Senate to hold pro forma sessions throughout August to deny President Trump recess appointment powers, fearful that he might take any opening to fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions and impose a new Justice Department chief who would derail the Russia investigation. Published July 27, 2017
Senate GOP begs Dems to speed defense bill to accommodate John McCain’s health
Senate Republicans are hoping to rush action on the annual defense policy bill, saying that with Sen. John McCain ailing from a brain cancer diagnosis earlier this month, they want to take action while he's still in Washington. Published July 27, 2017
Paul Ryan to Donald Trump: Lay off Robert Mueller
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Thursday that President Trump would be wise to leave the Russia investigation alone, saying special counsel Robert Mueller should be allowed to finish his job. Published July 27, 2017
IRS hires suspected tax cheats, fraudsters: Audit
The IRS rehired hundreds of employees who had previously left the agency under clouds of suspicion -- including four who were being investigated for cheating on their own taxes -- according to a new audit Thursday that found the agency still struggling to correct the longstanding problem. Published July 27, 2017
New Orleans bilks federal taxpayers of $2 billion in Hurricane Katrina repairs: Audit
New Orleans is taking federal taxpayers for a $2 billion ride in Hurricane Katrina spending, the inspector general who oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday, concluding that the city is charging the government for repairs that had nothing to do with the 2005 hurricane and flooding that devastated the Gulf Coast. Published July 27, 2017
Drug-runners use catapult to fire massive load of marijuana across border
Authorities announced Wednesday that they recovered massive drug bundles fired across the U.S.-Mexico border fence by what officials described as "some sort of catapult." Published July 26, 2017
Congressional Budget Office punishment bills fail to pass House
Conservatives failed in their bid Wednesday to punish the Congressional Budget Office for its grim evaluations of GOP health care proposals, with the House rejecting two different efforts to strip funding from the nonpartisan agency. Published July 26, 2017
Thomas Homan, ICE chief, says immigrant ‘sanctuaries’ break smuggling laws
The country's top immigration enforcement officer says he is looking into charging sanctuary city leaders with violating federal anti-smuggling laws because he is fed up with local officials putting their communities and his officers at risk by releasing illegal immigrants from jail. Published July 26, 2017
Arkansas bar declines to punish Hillary Clinton over emails
The Arkansas bar association says it won't permanently strip Hillary Clinton of her ability to practice law in the state, rejecting requests to punish her for risking national security with her secret email server, and misleading Congress. Published July 26, 2017
IRS approves tea party application process
The IRS has finally agreed to a process for deciding on the last remaining nonprofit application that was snared in the Obama administration's tea party targeting, more than four years after the illegal singling-out of conservative groups for special scrutiny was first revealed. Published July 25, 2017
Justice Department issues new financial warning to sanctuary cities
"This is what the American people should be able to expect from their cities and states, and these long overdue requirements will help us take down MS-13 and other violent transnational gangs, and make our country safer," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. Published July 25, 2017
House still headed for vacation; says it’ll be ‘on call’ for Obamacare repeal
House lawmakers are still rushing toward the exits this week with a five-week summer vacation awaiting them, but GOP leaders said they'll bring the chamber back to vote should the Senate approve an Obamacare repeal. Published July 25, 2017
Judge blocks deportation of 1,400 Iraqis; latest court to thwart Trump immigration plans
A federal judge late Monday issued an order blocking deportation of some 1,400 Iraqis -- many with serious criminal records including murder -- ruling that the government sprung a sneak-attack on them, and they must be given a chance to reargue their deportation cases. Published July 25, 2017
