Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
GOP senators ask Donald Trump to play enforcer on earmark spending
Republican senators asked Tuesday for President Trump to promise to veto any bills Congress sends over that contain earmark spending, hoping to erect a backstop as other lawmakers on Capitol Hill eye a return to the days of pork-barrel spending. Published March 7, 2017
Illegal immigrant mothers and children sneaking across border face sepration
Homeland Security could begin separating illegal immigrant mothers and children caught sneaking across the border, Secretary John F. Kelly said Monday, floating another get-tough proposal designed to make families from Central America think twice before making the treacherous journey north. Published March 6, 2017
White House: Border wall cost could run $25 million per mile
The estimates of President Trump's proposed border wall run anywhere from $8 million to $25 million a mile, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said in a radio interview Monday -- though he said no decisions have been made on exactly what the wall will look like. Published March 6, 2017
George W. Bush says he didn’t mean to criticize Trump
Former President George W. Bush said Wednesday that he does not plan to criticize President Trump, and said he didn't intend his comments about the importance of a free press as a barb against his successor. Published March 1, 2017
Donald Trump offering deal to legalize illegals, Democrats balk, in stance swap
The script on the immigration debate flipped once again this week. Now it's a Republican president offering to reach a deal on a grand bargain that includes legalizing illegal immigrants, and it's Democrats who are balking, saying they can't trust the president to be an honest broker. Published March 1, 2017
Homeland security to help Jewish Community Centers after threats
Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly said Wednesday his department is prepared to offer security assessments for Jewish Community Centers, which are facing increasing threats in the U.S. Published March 1, 2017
Democrats withhold applause, support for Trump in speech to Congress
Judging by Democrats' reactions, there aren't many areas where President Trump find willing partners. Published February 28, 2017
George W. Bush favorability boosted by Donald Trump unpopularity
Perhaps the best thing George W. Bush has going for him at this point is Donald Trump. Published February 28, 2017
Dreamers, victims of crimes by illegal immigrants attend Donald Trump speech
On one side were the "valedictorians," the high-achieving illegal immigrant Dreamers who have become the face of the drive for a more lenient immigration policy. Published February 28, 2017
Trump open to legal status for illegal immigrants: report
A White House official told television networks Tuesday that President Trump would like to see Congress work on a new broad immigration bill, reigniting a festering debate on Capitol Hill. Published February 28, 2017
Trump guests include victims of illegal immigrant crime for speech to Congress
First lady Melania Trump will sit with the families of three people killed by illegal immigrants as her husband, President Trump, delivers his first address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. Published February 28, 2017
Deportation agency ignored 1.6 million visa overstays under Obama
The government flagged more than 1.6 million foreign visitors for overstaying their visas from 2013 to 2015, but deportation agents said they fell too low on President Obama's list of priorities to bother targeting for removal, according to a watchdog report released Monday. Published February 27, 2017
In Donald Trump’s first month, Democrats claim victory, vow more obstruction
Far from acclimating to President Trump, Democrats are growing even more resistant, claiming they won the first month under the administration and predicting a string of victories in coming months as they increase their level of obstruction. Published February 27, 2017
Illegal immigration dropped 27 percent in January
Illegal immigration across the southwest border plummeted in January as the flow of both illegal immigrant families and children traveling alone dried up, according to numbers released by Customs and Border Protection on Monday. Published February 27, 2017
Intel chairman says no evidence yet of Trump campaign contacts with Russia
House intelligence committee Chairman Devin Nunes said Monday he's not see any evidence so far that Trump campaign officials had any contacts with Russian officials, contradicting public reports. Published February 27, 2017
Rosie O’Donnell to lead anti-Trump protest ahead of president’s speech to Congress
Rosie O'Donnell, an actress and television personality who has feuded for years with President Trump, will lead a protest outside the White House Tuesday evening, activists said, just before Mr. Trump delivers his first address to a joint session of Congress. Published February 27, 2017
Trump budget boosts defense by $54 billion, cuts from domestic spending
President Trump's 2018 budget will slash foreign aid in order to boost defense spending, the White House said Monday morning, promising cuts to almost every non-security category. Published February 27, 2017
Refugee surge occurred after Donald Trump extreme vetting policy halted
The U.S. did see a surge of people entering from the seven terrorism-connected countries in the days after a federal judge halted President Trump's extreme vetting policy, according to government statistics that back up Mr. Trump's claims of a "big increase in traffic." Published February 26, 2017
Conservatives rally around Trump agenda; president takes control of movement
President Trump took firm grasp of the reins of the conservative movement over the past week, using a major address at the Conservative Political Action Conference to assure them that "now you finally have a president" and promising to make their goals a reality. Published February 26, 2017
CPAC Washington Times 2017 straw poll urges GOP to go ‘nuclear’ to get Neil Gorsuch on Supreme Court
Conservative activists are overwhelmingly ready for Senate Republicans to trigger the "nuclear option" and force Judge Neil Gorsuch onto the Supreme Court, according to the 2017 CPAC/Washington Times straw poll, which also showed the activists feel the GOP doesn't have Mr. Trump's back. Published February 25, 2017
