Hours After Racism Flap at Cohen Hearing, Rep. Tlaib ‘Likes’ Tweet Referring to ‘White Privilege and White Fragility’

Hours after equivocally apologizing to Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and saying she was not calling him a racist, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) “liked” a tweet that essentially described Meadows as an example of “white privilege and white fragility.” Read

Trump Ends Summit: ‘Sometimes You Have to Walk. And This Was Just One of Those Times’

A subdued President Trump held a news conference in Vietnam on Thursday before boarding Air Force One for the long flight home. Read

Kim Jong Un: Some ‘Misunderstandings’ and ‘Hostility’ Since First Summit, But ‘We Have Been Able to Overcome All Those Obstacles’

Meeting with President Trump in Hanoi on Wednesday, Kim Jong Un said the 261 days that have passed since their first summit in Singapore have witnessed many “misunderstandings” and some lingering “hostility” from the past era. Read

Trump-Kim Summit Looms in a Country That Has Benefitted Sigificantly From Restoring Ties With the US

President Trump and Kim Jong Un are due to meet in Hanoi within hours for a one-on-one meeting, followed by dinner, as the closely-watched second U.S.-North Korea summit gets underway. Read

Rep. Rashida Tlaib Signs Pledge to Vote to Impeach ‘Individual-1’

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who sparked a furor early this year for using a vulgar expletive to describe President Trump – in a comment about impeaching him – has reportedly become the first member of Congress to sign an advocacy group’s pledge to vote to do just that. Read

Slavery Reparations: Legislation Has Languished in House Committees For Two Decades

As the controversial issue of reparations for slavery surfaces on the 2020 Democratic presidential campaign trail, a bill that would set up an official commission to study the issue sits before a House Judiciary subcommittee – as its predecessors have done for the past 16 consecutive U.S. Congresses since 1989. Read

Iran’s ‘Smiling’ Foreign Minister Resigns, Reportedly After Being Snubbed During Assad Visit

Reportedly miffed at not being included in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s visit to Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has tendered his resignation, signaling the departure of a diplomat feted as a “moderate” by many – although unequivocally not by the Trump administration. Read

Iran’s Supreme Leader to Assad: We Won’t Allow US Troops to Remain Near Syria-Iraq Border

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed that President Trump will not be able to put into action plans to keep 400 military personnel in Syria after withdrawing the remainder of the U.S. troops from the war-torn country. Read

All But 3 Senate Democrats Vote to Block Anti-Infanticide Bill

Every Senate Democrat bar three – and including all of the confirmed and possible 2020 presidential contenders – voted Monday to block legislation requiring a baby born alive during a botched abortion to receive the same level of care as any other newborn infant. Read

Maduro Regime Calls Border Incidents US ‘False Flag’ Provocations

The Maduro regime says the Trump administration is responsible for the torching of a truck carrying humanitarian aid on the border with Colombia, describing it as a “false flag” provocation to provide a pretext for military intervention. Read

Pompeo Mocks Obama’s Approach to North Korea: ‘Test, Pray and Cower’

As the armored train carrying Kim Jong Un rolled across eastern China towards Hanoi and a second summit with President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed skepticism at home, contrasting the administration’s approach to its predecessor’s, which he dubbed “test, pray and cower.” Read

Trump: No Rush to Denuclearize North Korea: ‘As Long as There’s No Testing, We’re Happy’

Ahead of his summit with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi this week, President Trump said on Sunday evening he was not pushing for a quick denuclearization deal, as long as North Korea continues to refrain from testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Read

Defiant Turkey to Go Ahead with Buying Russian Missile System, Despite US Opposition

Days after President Trump signed a spending bill that blocks the transfer of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and could trigger sanctions because of its plans to buy a Russian-made missile defense system, Ankara has confirmed the systems will begin arriving in July and be operational by October. Read

Maduro Closes Venezuela's Borders to Prevent U.S. Aid From Flowing In

Ahead of what could be a significant day in the Venezuelan crisis, the Maduro regime on Thursday closed the border with Brazil and said it was considering doing the same at the Colombia border, in a bid to prevent the opposition from bringing in humanitarian aid waiting in the neighboring countries. Read

Trump Will Keep 200 U.S. Troops in Syria

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday night welcomed a White House announcement that some 200 U.S. military personnel will remain in Syria after the troop withdrawal first signaled by President Trump in December. Read

Putin Warns US to ‘Calculate the Range and Speed’ of Planned Russian Weaponry Before Exiting INF Treaty

President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday that Russia’s response to the planned U.S. withdrawal from a Cold War-era arms control treaty could threaten not just European countries that host U.S. missiles, but the U.S. itself. Read

India Lashes Out at Imran Khan’s ‘New Pakistan’ After Deadly Attack

The Indian government dismissed as a “lame excuse” an offer by Pakistan’s prime minister to investigate the deadliest terror attack in Kashmir in decades if India provides “actionable” proof. New Delhi charged that Pakistan has for years done little in response to previous attacks from its soil, despite evidence supplied by India. Read

In Cuba, Church Leaders Report Communist Intimidation Ahead of Vote on New Constitution

Cuba’s communist regime is urging citizens to turn out in large numbers on Sunday to vote in favor of a new constitution, which religious advocates warn significantly weakens freedom of religion and conscience protections. Read

Maduro Bars European Lawmakers, But EU Pushes Ahead With Mediation Effort

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Monday resisted calls by the biggest political group in the European Parliament to cancel participation in an “international contact group” set up to mediate the crisis in Venezuela. Read

Trump Rails Against Socialism, Envisages ‘The First Free Hemisphere in All of Human History’

Ahead of what looks to be a looming showdown on the Venezuela-Colombia border this weekend, President Trump in a rousing speech on Monday declared socialism in the western hemisphere to be in its “twilight hour,” predicting freedom not just for Venezuela, but for the people of Cuba and Nicaragua as well. Read

Biden Criticizes Trump in Europe: ‘This Too Shall Pass. We Will Be Back’

Former Vice President Joe Biden made headlines at the weekend for telling an audience in Germany that President Trump’s immigration policy was “an embarrassment,” but the criticism did not stop there. Read

Farrakhan: ‘The Wicked Jews Want to Use Me to Break Up the Women’s Movement’

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan on Sunday spoke in defense of Women’s March national leaders who have taken flak for associating with him, and launched fresh attacks on Jews. Read

Bolton Knocks Maduro’s Allies: ‘Last Time I Checked, North Korea Was Not a Beacon of Democracy’

As the embattled Maduro regime in Venezuela gathers an alliance to resist what it portrays as a U.S.-led effort to topple it, National Security Advisor John Bolton took a dig at the quality of the governments choosing to side with it. Read

Zarif No Moderate, Says Pompeo After Iranian FM Implicitly Links US to Bombing of IRGC Personnel

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed his supposedly “moderate” Iranian counterpart on Thursday for insinuating that the U.S. and its allies were linked to a suicide bombing that killed at least 27 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel in southeastern Iran. Read

CAIR on Trump’s Plan to Declare Border Emergency: ‘Make America White Again’

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said late Thursday President Trump's plan to declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border was an “abuse of executive authority,” motivated by a desire to “'make America white again.” Read

Russia: U.S. Using Humanitarian Convoy As Pretext for Military Intervention in Venezuela

Russia’s foreign ministry on Thursday accused the United States of supplying humanitarian aid to Venezuela as a pretext for military force against the Maduro regime. Read

Rep. Engel: ‘Venezuela is Not a Socialist Country’; Rep. McCaul: Crisis ‘Highlights the Horrifying Impact of Socialism’

House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday dismissed as “a good soundbite” the notion that the crisis in Venezuela is evidence of the failure of socialism, arguing that Venezuela under Nicolas Maduro is not a socialist state but a “kleptocracy.” Read

House Passes Measure to End US Support for Saudi War in Yemen

A resolution designed to end U.S. military support for the Saudi war in Yemen edged closer to President Trump’s desk – and a possible first veto of his presidency – when it passed the new Democrat-led House Wednesday by a 248-177 vote. Read

Linda Sarsour Sees ‘Pattern’ in Attempts to ‘Marginalize’ Ilhan Omar and Other Pro-Palestinian Advocates

Women’s March co-leader Linda Sarsour suggested on Twitter Tuesday that the controversy over remarks by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) was part of a “pattern” in which the right-wing tries to marginalize “prominent voices who dare speak up for Palestinians.” Read

Ted Cruz: Take El Chapo's $14 Billion in Seized Drug Profits and Use It to Build the Wall

Shortly after a federal jury in New York on Tuesday found the notorious Mexican drug lord known as “El Chapo” guilty of drug trafficking, weapons violations and other counts, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) drew attention to his pending legislation to have the gangster’s seized assets used to secure the Southwest border, “including the completion of a wall.” Read

Calls For Democratic Leadership to Remove Rep. Ilhan Omar From House Foreign Affairs Committee

The Democratic leadership should go further than condemning Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for comments widely viewed as anti-Semitic and should remove her from her recently-announced House Foreign Affairs Committee assignment, some critics argued on Monday. Read

UN Chief Meets With Maduro Regime, Despite US Request to Deal Only With ‘Legitimate Guaidó Government’

The U.S. and 50 other nations have recognized Venezuela’s National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó as interim president, but in New York on Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with the leftist regime’s foreign minister, as his office continues to stress its cooperation with “the government of Venezuela.” Read

Ayatollah Khamenei Tweets: We Want 'Death to the American Politicians Currently in Power'

As the regime in Tehran marks the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wants Americans to know that “Death to America” doesn’t apply to everyone, just to leaders like President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton. Read

UN Human Rights Council Gears Up For a New Israel-Bashing Session

Eight months after the Trump administration withdrew from the U.N. Human Rights Council, the Geneva-based body is preparing for a month-long session that will include multiple resolutions condemning Israel and consideration of a report investigating deadly violence along the Israel-Gaza border last May. Read

Rep. Ilhan Omar Under Fire For Tweets Insinuating Lawmakers Are Paid Off for Supporting Israel

Stoking fresh controversy, Minnesota Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar on Sunday posted a pair of tweets insinuating that the pro-Israel lobby pays members of Congress to support Israel, upsetting critics ranging from the American Jewish Committee to Chelsea Clinton. Read

US Envoy: Maduro Should Leave Venezuela; He Has ‘Friends in Places Like Cuba and Russia’

The United States would like to see Venezuela’s leftist dictator leave the country to help facilitate the transition to democracy there, U.S. special representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said Thursday, noting that Nicolás Maduro has “friends in places like Cuba and Russia.” Read

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Immigration and Customs Enforcement ‘Does Not Deserve a Dime’

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) joined freshmen colleagues outside the Capitol on Thursday to call for an end to funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, accusing it of “repeatedly and systematically” violating human rights and pursuing a “radical agenda.” Read

Trump Expects Official Declaration of Caliphate’s Demise Next Week; 'But Remnants Can Be Very Dangerous'

President Trump said on Wednesday he expects the military coalition fighting ISIS to formally declare the end of the terrorist group’s hold on territory in Syria and Iraq as soon as next week. Read

Rep. Ilhan Omar on Trump’s Socialism Comments: ‘Most of Us Were Laughing’

Responding to President Trump’s State of the Union criticism of socialism, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said Wednesday “most of us were laughing,” and argued that the president – whom she called a “liar-in-chief” – seemed unaware of just how popular policies like “Medicare-for-all” are. Read

Congresswomen in White Sit Stone-Faced as Chamber Cheers Trump’s Call to Ban Late-Term Abortion

An enduring image from the 2019 State of the Union address: a bloc of Democratic congresswomen, dressed in “suffragette white,” sitting in stone-faced silence as colleagues cheered President Trump’s request for “Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb.” Read

Senate Passes Legislation Allowing Boycotts of Anti-Israel Boycotters

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed in a 77-23 vote legislation strengthening U.S. support for Israel and Jordan, sanctioning the Assad regime in Syria, and enabling state and local governments to divest from any company or fund which boycotts, divests from, or sanctions Israel. Read

Trump on Afghanistan and Syria: ‘Great Nations Do Not Fight Endless Wars’

President Trump on Tuesday underscored his determination to bring home U.S. troops from Syria and to seek a political settlement in Afghanistan in line with the “new approach” he pledged when campaigning for the White House, declaring that “Great nations do not fight endless wars.” Read

Trump: Only ‘Foolish Wars, Politics, or Ridiculous Partisan Investigations’ Can Stop our Economic Miracle

President Trump in his State of the Union address Tuesday night took a swipe at what he called “ridiculous partisan investigations,” saying that they, along with “foolish wars” and “politics,” were the only thing that could stop the “economic miracle” now underway in the United States. Read

With Second Summit Looming, North Korea Urges US Actions, End to Sanctions

As the U.S. envoy for North Korea holds talks along the DMZ Tuesday to prepare for a second summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks, regime media outlets repeated calls for the U.S. to take “practical” actions in response to steps already taken by Pyongyang. Read

Iraqi Politicians Mull Measure to Expel US Troops After Trump’s ‘Watch Iran’ Comment

Politicians in Iraq – where the leading parties are more supportive of Iran than the U.S. – are responding coldly to President Trump’s remark that he wants to keep American troops in Iraq to keep an eye on Iran. Read

Trump on Pulling Troops From Afghanistan, Syria: ‘We’ve Got to Get Out of These Endless Wars’

President Trump has voiced his determination to get America out of “endless wars” like the one in Afghanistan, while making clear he wants to keep a military presence in Iraq, both to keep a watch on Iran and to have troops close at hand in the event terrorist groups rear their heads in the region. Read

Putin Suspends Participation in INF Treaty, Approves New Mid-Range Missile Options

Following the United States’ lead, Russia will suspend participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, President Vladimir Putin said at the weekend, giving his defense minister the go-ahead to pursue new land-based intermediate-range missile options. Read

IAEA Chief Complains of ‘Pressure’ Over Iran Nuclear Inspections

Insisting once again that Iran is complying with the 2015 nuclear deal, the head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog complained this week that attempts – he didn’t say by whom – to pressure the agency on inspections were “counter-productive and extremely harmful.” Read

Rep. Ilhan Omar: Trump and GOP Saw Freshmen Coming ‘And So They Shut Down the Government’

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Thursday portrayed the recent partial federal government shutdown as a preemptive response by President Trump and the Republican Party to the arrival in Congress of outspoken freshmen like herself and Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Read

Sen. Cotton on Biggest-Ever Fentanyl Seizure: ‘A Dirty Bomb Coming Across Our Southern Border’

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers searching a cucumber-laden tractor trailer at the Nogales crossing on the U.S.-Mexico border at the weekend found and seized the largest shipment of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl in CBP history. Read