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Monthly archive

February 2017 - page 3

Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Label Could Come Next Week, Despite Career Officials’ Objections

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The Trump administration on Monday was on the verge of naming the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), but held off in the face of concerns from within the US government. President Trump and the White House strongly back the proposal, according to The New York Times, but “career officials at the State Department and the National Security Council” are delaying the designation. “Former officials said that they had been told the order would be signed on Monday, but that it had now been…

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D.H.S. Chief Kelly Floats Making Visitors to U.S. “Give Us Your Passwords”

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Appearing before a congressional panel on Tuesday, the Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly proposed requiring foreign travelers to the US to provide immigration officers with social media account log-ins. Kelly faced questioning on the issue from Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), who urged the department to “increase its efforts to dig into” social media activity of visa applicants. The DHS chief concurred, stating that he was looking into “enhanced” screening, regardless of the current order blocking implantation of President Trump’s Muslim ban. “If someone wants to…

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Senate Confirms DeVos, After Activists Force Historic Tie-Breaker

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The Trump administration was forced to dispatch the Vice President to the Senate on Tuesday afternoon to see its Education Secretary nominee confirmed. Mike Pence appeared on Capitol Hill to cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of Betsy DeVos. The 51-50 vote marked the first time in United States history that a cabinet member relied on the support of the Vice President to get Congressional approval. The tight margin came after activists flooded legislative offices with appeals, calling on senators to reject DeVos. Trump’s top…

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Trump Admin. Continues to Float Protester Conspiracy

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In his first few weeks in office, Donald Trump has faced relentless agitation from people in the streets, with protesters reacting to his Muslim Ban executive order, his anti-immigration plans, and the appointment of white nationalist Steve Bannon to a top job in the White House. In response, the administration has, without proof, spun an elaborate tale for all the dissent. Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Sean Spicer again floated the idea that protesters who’ve taken to the streets against Trump and alt-right figureheads like…

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Trump Dodd-Frank Assault Could Move $100 Billion from Banking Reserves to Shareholders of Six Largest Firms

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The Trump administration’s recent push to roll back Dodd-Frank could see massive amounts of wealth transferred from buffers on financial instability directly to owners of the largest banks in the country. A reversal of post-crisis regulations ordered by the White House could eventually see some $100 billion move from banking reserves directly to shareholders of the six largest financial firms, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday night. Relaxed rules would likely see banks use existing reserves to finance higher divided payments and stock buy-backs—moves that…

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Another Committee Suspends Rules to Ram Through Trump Nominee

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Senate Republicans changed committee procedures to advance Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee chair John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) on Thursday suspended rules requiring at least one member of the minority to be present for a quorum. Republicans then one-by-one voted to approve of Trump’s choice to be the leading US environmental regulator, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt. Senate Democrats on the committee had boycotted the vote on Pruitt because they were unhappy with answers he gave them during…

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White House Admits Yemen Raid Not 100% Success, Insiders Describe a Disaster

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Days after President Donald Trump authorized his first secret military operation—a counter-terror intelligence raid in Yemen—the Pentagon is admitting that civilians were likely killed in the firefight. US Central Command acknowledged in a statement Wednesday night that the Seal Team 6 raid on a remote village in central Yemen on Sunday resulted in noncombatant casualties, which “may include children.” Also killed in the operation was Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens. Three other service members were wounded. And a $75 million helicopter had…

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Signs of Chill: Trump White House Puts Iran “On Notice”

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Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Flynn condemned Iran on Wednesday, in a drastic escalation of rhetoric. “As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice,” Flynn told reporters at the top of a daily White House press briefing, prying up diplomatic tracks to Tehran laid by the Obama administration. Flynn claimed that an Iranian missile test earlier this week breached a 2015 UN Security Council resolution and represented “destabilizing behavior.” He also referenced recent attacks in Yemen by Houthi rebels, alleged to be supported…

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Impending Trump Dakota Access Easement is Illegal, Standing Rock Sioux Say

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The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said that it is “ready to fight” the Trump administration’s push to finish the Dakota Access Pipeline, after US Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) announced that plans are moving forward. Hoeven said Tuesday evening that Acting Army Secretary Robert Speer has directed the Army Corps of Engineers “to proceed with easement needed to complete” the oil pipeline. Officials from Standing Rock responded, claiming any such move would be illegal, with an internal review of the project underway. “The Army Corps lacks…

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