Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Drones fly drugs into U.S. with no Border Patrol detection technology
Border Patrol agents are increasingly worried about the threat from drug-cartel-flown drones, after agents spotted 13 drones suspected of carrying drugs across one section of the U.S.-Mexico border in just one four-day period in November. Published January 2, 2018
Orrin Hatch to retire at end of 2018
The longest-serving Senate Republican announced Tuesday that he will retire at the end of this term, closing out one of the most impressive legislative careers in modern congressional times -- and opening the door for a Trump critic to win the seat. Published January 2, 2018
Dems plan MLK holiday ‘teach-ins’ to rally against Trump
Congressional Democrats will hold a series of "teach-ins" to celebrate the Martin Luther King holiday, hoping to rally Americans to their agenda as they seek to regain their legislative footing. Published January 2, 2018
Joe Arpaio pardon still rubs Trump opponents wrong
President Trump used his pardon powers sparingly in his first year in office, but one he did issue remains intensely controversial, with some of his political opponents now asking a federal appeals court to rule it invalid. Published December 31, 2017
Chain migration concern grows as immigrant levels top 1.8 million
Immigration to the U.S. hit a low after the Great Recession but came roaring back in the later years of the Obama administration, with 1.8 million migrants arriving in 2016 alone, according to an analysis being released Thursday. Published December 28, 2017
Donald Trump changes voters’ minds against issues he supports
Obamacare had been deeply unpopular for its entire history, with more voters consistently telling pollsters they opposed the massive health care overhaul that Democrats pushed through Congress in 2010. That is, until President Trump took office. Published December 27, 2017
Republicans care about voter fraud; Democrats want to come out ahead, says study
When it comes to voter ID laws, Republicans care intensely about fraud while Democrats worry more about whether their own party will come out ahead, according to a provocative new academic study that challenges conventional assumptions about what motivates support for stricter voting laws. Published December 26, 2017
Donald Trump seeks Democrats’ help with infrastructure plan
The White House on Sunday said President Trump wants to introduce an infrastructure package in January and reach for a deal with Democrats, a pivot toward bipartisanship after Republican-only efforts on health care and taxes produced mixed results this year. Published December 24, 2017
Appeals court rules against Trump travel ban for third time
A decidedly anti-Trump appeals court issued yet another ruling Friday blocking most of President Trump's latest version of his travel ban, finding that the White House exceeded its powers. Published December 23, 2017
Mitch McConnell says attempts at entitlement reform unlikely without Democrats’ buy-in
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell offered a grim view Friday of the chances of major entitlement reforms under a GOP-led Washington, saying he's reluctant to tackle Social Security, Medicare and other big-spending programs without Democrats' buy-in. Published December 22, 2017
Congress clears bill to avoid shutdown; Dreamers don’t get relief
Brushing aside demands of illegal immigrant Dreamers, Congress on Thursday approved a short-term spending bill to carry the government into the new year, narrowly avoiding a shutdown showdown. Published December 21, 2017
House approves spending bill as Senate Democrats ponder ‘Dreamer’ shutdown threat
The House raced Thursday to head off a government shutdown, approving a four-week extension of funding for basic operations -- and forcing a major decision for Senate Democrats, who must decide whether to accept the deal. Published December 21, 2017
Democrats ‘betray’ illegal immigrant Dreamers
Illegal immigrant Dreamers said they have been betrayed by Democratic leaders who failed to force a government shutdown showdown this week over demands to pass a legalization bill by the end of the year. Published December 20, 2017
Supreme Court: Trump doesn’t have to turn over DACA documents
The Supreme Court said Wednesday that the Trump administration doesn't have to turn over a massive load of documents relating to the decision to phase out the Obama-era DACA deportation amnesty, and delivered another spanking to a California court that's repeatedly ruled against President Trump. Published December 20, 2017
‘Dreamers’ flock to Capitol to protest lack of action on amnesty
Hundreds of illegal immigrant "Dreamers" were taking to the halls of the U.S. Capitol complex Wednesday to complain they were being left behind by congressional leaders working on a year-end deal that does not grant them full citizenship rights. Published December 20, 2017
Ron Wyden: Trump tax audit may be tainted by pro-Trump IRS chief
A top Democratic senator said Wednesday he fears the IRS may be too biased to handle the audit of President Trump's taxes, saying the fact that the agency is led by an acting commissioner who is also a top Trump political appointee at the main Treasury Department is worrisome. Published December 20, 2017
Feds release Jane Roe illegal immigrant to get abortion
The Trump administration said late Tuesday that it had released a pregnant 19-year-old illegal immigrant woman into the community on her own recognizance, freeing her to obtain an abortion on her own. Published December 19, 2017
Tax bill’s Republican opponents concerned that constituents will receive less benefits
Republicans' tax-cut win Tuesday wasn't without hiccups, as a dozen of their members weren't able to buy into the bill, saying they worried their own constituents would end up falling behind. Published December 19, 2017
Illegal immigrant lied about age in right to abortion court fight
An illegal immigrant girl who sued demanding a right to an abortion in the U.S. is 19, not 17 as she originally claimed, the government said Tuesday -- upending her bid to try to force the government to facilitate termination of her pregnancy. Published December 19, 2017
Paul Ryan says he’s staying
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Tuesday he's "not going anywhere," pushing back against speculation among his colleagues that he'll be leaving Congress next year, after the tax cut bill is done. Published December 19, 2017
