Section: The Mercury News (USA)
‘Predawn raid’: Two words that just added huge intrigue to the Russia investigation
By Aaron Blake, (c) 2017, The Washington Post What we know, thanks to The Washington Post’s Carol D. Leonnig, Tom Hamburger and Rosalind Helderman: Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was served with a surprise search warrant at his home two weeks ago. What we don’t know but would very much like to: Why in the world that was...
Analysis: Trump’s reboot of sanctions ushers in `new normal’ for Russia
By Anna Andrianova | Bloomberg News As Russia hunkers down for “decades” of U.S. sanctions, the chill in geopolitics is threatening to turn into a deep freeze for an economy retooling after the crash in oil prices. Related Articles Trump signs ‘seriously flawed’ Russian sanctions bill U.S. says ExxonMobil violated Russia sanctions while...
Analysis: Trump adds disdainful flourish to Russia signing
By Emily Tamkin | Foreign Policy President Donald Trump may have felt forced to sign the new sanctions legislation into law. After all, it came to him with overwhelming Congressional support, in response to alleged Russian meddling in the election that put him in the White House, and exists in part to make it more difficult for Trump to...
With Scaramucci debacle, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner again prove they are lousy personnel managers
When Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner landed plum White House jobs, their boss, President Donald Trump, gave both powerful portfolios over a wide range of national and international policy issues. Related Articles Watch: Anthony Scaramucci’s crazy phone call to New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza, the dramatic reenactment Week before ouster,...
Putin says US will have to shed 755 from diplomatic staff
By NATALIYA VASILYEVA MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday the United States would have to cut its embassy and consulate staff in Russia by 755, heightening tensions between Washington and Moscow three days after the U.S. Congress approved sanctions against Russia. In response, the U.S. State Department deemed it “a...
Spokesman: Trump may veto Russia sanctions bill
By Karoun Demirjian | Washington Post WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s spokesman suggested Thursday that Trump may veto a massively popular bill designed to restrain his ability to roll back sanctions against Russia, despite the very strong likelihood that lawmakers will have the votes to override it. White House communications...
Rick Perry pranked by fake Ukraine prime minister
U.S Energy Secretary Rick Perry embraces Mexico’s Secretary of Energy Pedro Joaquin Coldwell, after they made a joint statement in Mexico City, Thursday, July 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) WASHINGTON (AP) — Energy Secretary Rick Perry has been fooled by a pair of Russian pranksters impersonating the prime minister of Ukraine. Perry...
Trump ex-campaign chair talks with Senate investigators
By CHAD DAY and MARY CLARE JALONICK WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman met with Senate investigators Tuesday, providing his recollection of a Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer and agreeing to turn over contemporaneous notes of the gathering last year, according to people familiar with the closed-door...
House passes Russia sanctions bill, setting up veto dilemma for Trump
By Mike Debonis and Karoun Demirjian | Washington Post WASHINGTON — The House on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to advance new financial sanctions against key U.S. adversaries and deliver a foreign-policy brushback to President Donald Trump by limiting his ability to waive many of them. Related Articles Cooperation with Russia becomes central to...
Maybe Justin Bieber wants to start his own church, report from Down Under says
As Justin Bieber shocked the worldwide Belieber community Monday by canceling the remaining 15 dates of his Purpose tour, he explained he’s fine but needed to take a break after 16 intense months of being on the road. Related Articles Justin Bieber ‘just over it,’ cancels tour’s final shows Celebrity photos: Ariana Grande,...
