Author: Deb Riechmann
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Trump administration squares off with drugmakers over plan
WASHINGTON • With midterm elections less than two weeks away, President Donald Trump is pushing a plan to lower prices for some prescription drugs, and Friday it put his administration on a collision course with the pharmaceutical industry. Top administration officials pushed back on drugmakers’ charge that the plan would import “socialized” price controls. Trump…
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Russian woman charged in first 2018 election meddling case
WASHINGTON • The U.S. accused a Russian woman Friday of helping oversee finances of a sweeping effort to sway American public opinion through social media in the first federal case alleging foreign interference in the 2018 midterm elections. The criminal complaint against Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova alleges Russians are using some of the same techniques to…
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Trump visits areas hit by Michael
LYNN HAVEN, Fla. • President Donald Trump marveled at the roofless homes and uprooted trees he saw Monday while touring Florida Panhandle communities ravaged by the force of Hurricane Michael. Trump toured devastated coastal communities by air, land and foot before he and the first lady helped hand out bottled water at a Federal Emergency…
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UN’s Nikki Haley to leave in latest Trump shake-up
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the latest shake-up for President Donald Trump’s turbulent administration, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley abruptly announced Tuesday she is resigning at the end of the year, raising fresh questions about the Trump team and about the outspoken diplomat’s own political ambitions. The news blindsided some key U.S. allies and many congressional Republicans…
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Trump calls for effort to protect elections
WASHINGTON • Responding to wide-ranging criticism that it lacked a clear national strategy to protect U.S. elections, the White House said Thursday that President Donald Trump has directed a “vast, government-wide effort” to protect the cornerstone of American democracy. John Bolton, the national security adviser, also wrote in a letter to Senate Democrats that “President…
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Gina Haspel confirmed as 1st woman to lead the CIA
WASHINGTON — Veteran spy Gina Haspel will become the first female director of the CIA on Thursday after six Democrats joined Republicans in a Senate confirmation vote that overrode concerns about her role in the spy agency’s harsh interrogation program after 9/11. The 54-45 vote split both parties, and the margin was the closest for…
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CIA nominee wins Senate panel backing, confirmation expected
WASHINGTON — Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the CIA, won the backing of the Senate intelligence committee on Wednesday, paving the way for her expected confirmation to lead the spy agency. The panel voted 10-5 to advise the full Senate to confirm Haspel, whose nomination has renewed debate over the harsh interrogation…
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CIA nominee toughens interrogation stance, picks up support
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s CIA nominee appeared to be on a path toward confirmation as she picked up support from key Democrats Tuesday and toughened her public stance against harsh interrogation. “With the benefit of hindsight and my experience as a senior agency leader, the enhanced interrogation program is not one the CIA should…
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Trump defends CIA nominee, says she is ‘tough on terror’
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday defended Gina Haspel, his nominee to head the Central Intelligence Agency, dismissing debate over her involvement in a harsh interrogation program and arguing Democrats want her out because she “is too tough on terror.” Trump said on Twitter that Haspel has “come under fire because she was too…
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US intelligence boss to AP: Security clearances are ‘broken’
WASHINGTON — The U.S. government’s system of security clearances for top officials is “broken” and must be completely overhauled, the Trump administration’s intelligence chief told The Associated Press, as questions swirl about how a top White House aide kept his access to highly sensitive information and the president despite accusations of domestic violence. Dan Coats’…