Federal deficit soared to $3.1 trillion for fiscal 2020 thanks to pandemic relief spending
The federal government’s deficit for fiscal 2020 was $3.1 trillion, the highest deficit on record, the Treasury reported Friday.
Washington
‘No choice for him’: Thousands join Women’s March in DC protest against Trump and Amy Coney Barrett
Nearly four years after thousands of people descended upon the streets of Washington, D.C., the day after President Trump’s inauguration, they took to the streets again on Saturday in an attempt to stop him from being reelected to the White House.
Ratcliffe sends watchdog referral and begins declassification on classified House GOP report on Russian meddling
The nation’s spy chief has sent the intelligence community’s watchdog an investigative referral related to a 2018 Republican-led House Intelligence Committee report that critiqued some of the tradecraft in the Obama-era Intelligence Community Assessment of 2017 on Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Biden and DNC raise record $383 million in September for election campaign fund
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) together raised a record-breaking $383 million for their election campaign fund in September, AP News reports. This amount brings Biden’s total campaign funds to $432 million in the final leg of the presidential race. President Trump’s campaign has not yet released its fundraising total for September.
Mike Pompeo urges Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday urged Saudi Arabia to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel and committed to enhancing defense and security cooperation between Washington and Riyadh.
Pro-Antifa Colorado Democratic Party figure talks violence in Project Veritas sting
For someone identified as a dedicated Colorado Democratic Party activist, Kristopher Jacks has some decidedly undemocratic ideas.
Netanyahu won’t reveal secret parts of UAE deal in Knesset until after MKs vote
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has bowed to requests to appear before the Knesset to explain classified portions of the normalization agreement with the United Arab Emirates – but not before Thursday, when the Knesset plenum votes to approve it.
Lebanon, Israel have ‘productive’ first talks on setting maritime border
Lebanon and Israel, still technically at war, held unprecedented talks under UN and US auspices Wednesday to settle a maritime border dispute and clear the way for oil and gas exploration within a “reasonable time.”
Trump asks Supreme Court to block Manhattan district attorney subpoena for tax returns
President Trump’s lawyers filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court on Tuesday asking it to block a subpoena forcing the president to release his tax returns.
Only 50% of public willing to get COVID-19 vaccine: Poll
Fewer people than ever would be willing to get a vaccine for the coronavirus if one were available right now.
Emboldened Antifa increasingly violent as national profile rises
Antifa’s profile is rising so quickly that it even got name-checked at last week’s presidential debate.
Thousands of scientists sign declaration that COVID-19 lockdowns have “devastating” impact
Around 15,000 scientists and doctors from around the world, and both sides of the political aisle, have now signed a document stating that coronavirus lockdown measures are having a “devastating” effect on public health, the Washington Times reports. Initiated by doctors from Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford University, the Great Barrington Declaration was published on Tuesday. Doctors and scientists have continued to sign up for it since then.
‘I do not tolerate ANY extreme violence’: Trump fires back at Gov. Whitmer after she calls him ‘complicit’ in foiled kidnapping plot
President Trump slammed Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s response to the coronavirus Thursday and addressed her suggestion that he was “complicit” and encouraged an alleged plot to kidnap her.
Federal deficit tripled to $3.1 trillion in fiscal year 2020, largest as share of the economy since World War II
The federal deficit for fiscal year 2020 was $3.1 trillion, triple last year’s figure, the Congressional Budget Office estimated Thursday.
US Announces Sanctions on 18 Iranian Banks
The U.S. government imposed new sanctions on 18 Iranian banks as Washington turned up the pressure on Tehran by further isolating it from the global banking system and hindering the country’s attempts to build nuclear weapons.
Countering China on tech minerals
President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at countering China’s drive to corner the international market on rare earth minerals — key elements used in high-tech products that are the backbone of the U.S. economy and key weapons systems.
SCOTUS to decide whether individual federal employees can be sued for violation of religious freedom
The Supreme Court heard a case Tuesday in which it was asked to rule on whether a person can sue individual members of federal government agencies for violation of their religious freedom, the Washington Examiner reports. The lawsuit being heard was filed by Muslim and religious liberty advocates.
Harris: Biden Admin Will Repeal Tax Cuts ‘On Day One’
Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris said a Biden-Harris administration would not raise taxes while at the same time saying tax cuts passed by Republicans would be eliminated.
John Ratcliffe provides 1,000 pages of materials in response to John Durham documents request
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe revealed that he has handed over nearly 1,000 pages of documents to assist in the Justice Department’s inquiry into the Trump-Russia investigators being led by U.S. Attorney John Durham.
Biden vows to pass legislation to ensure abortion remains ‘law of the land’
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has stated he would want to pass legislation cementing Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court case which legalized abortion, as the “law of the land,” the Washington Examiner reports. During an NBC town hall Monday, Biden said such legislation would be the “only responsible response” to President Trump’s nomination of pro-life judge Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court.