Newly-appointed special counsel Jack Smith is moving fast on a pair of criminal probes around Donald Trump that in recent months have focused on the former president’s state of mind after the 2020 election, including what he knew about plans to impede the transfer of power, people familiar with the matter tell CNN. Though he remains in Europe recovering from a biking accident, Smith has … Continue reading Special Counsel Smith speeds ahead on criminal probes surrounding Trump

A rift between the European Union and recalcitrant member Hungary deepened Tuesday when Budapest vetoed an 18 billion euro ($18.93 billion) financial aid package to Kyiv, leaving the other 26 nations to scramble to keep the money supply going. Hungary’s defiant stance also exacerbated an EU dispute over the rule of law under Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his view of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. … Continue reading Hungary blocks EU Ukraine aid, deepening rift with Brussels

Congress is poised to use the annual defense policy bill to eliminate the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate — a major concession by President Biden’s Democratic allies that helps clear the way to passing the sweeping package before year’s end.  In a compromise with Republicans, House Democrats are allowing language into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that repeals the coronavirus vaccine mandate for U.S. service … Continue reading Democrats make major concession on vaccine mandate

The Jan. 6 committee will make criminal referrals to the Department of Justice as the panel wraps up its investigation into the events that led up to the deadly riot. “We have made decisions on criminal referrals,” Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the chairman of the committee, told reporters, saying “we will” on the question of whether referrals will be pursued. He added that consideration of … Continue reading Jan. 6 committee to make criminal referrals to Justice Department

Special counsel Jack Smith has subpoenaed local officials in Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin — three states that were central to former president Donald Trump’s failed plan to stay in power following the 2020 election — for any and all communications with Trump, his campaign and a long list of aides and allies. The requests for records arrived in Dane County, Wis.; Maricopa County, Ariz.; and … Continue reading Justice Dept. subpoenas Ariz., Mich., Wis. officials for Trump communications

Vladimir Putin has managed to drive across the Crimea bridge which was damaged by a bomb attack in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The Russian President took the wheel on Monday and drove across the blitzed Kerch Bridge to the peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. During his surprise visit, the Kremlin leader spoke to workers and discussed repair work with a senior … Continue reading Vladimir Putin brazenly drives across repaired Crimea bridge after huge truck bomb

Emboldened House Democrats ushered in a new generation of leaders on Wednesday with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries elected to be the first Black American to head a major political party in Congress as long-serving Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team step aside next year. Showing rare party unity after their midterm election losses, the House Democrats moved seamlessly from one history-making leader to another, choosing the … Continue reading Hakeem Jeffries set to lead House Democrats

President Joe Biden was in the unusual position Tuesday of being praised by business interests and attacked by his normal allies in the labor movement after calling for Congress to move immediately to block a strike by more than 100,000 union members at the nation’s freight railroads set for the end of next week. The move was a serious setback for the unions, who say … Continue reading Rail unions decry Biden’s call for Congress to block strike. Businesses praise the plan

Former President Donald Trump on Monday unloaded on special counsel Jack Smith, who has taken over oversight of the Mar-a-Lago probe and the Justice Department’s investigation of the 2020 election overturn effort. Trump’s attacks came after Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith, a career prosecutor, in an effort to provide a measure of insulation amid government probes of the announced 2024 presidential candidate.  ‘This fully weaponized monster, … Continue reading Ex-president Trump calls new Special Counsel ‘fully-weaponized monster’