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republicans us house representatives expected thursday release tax bill offering plenty flexibility, grapple stubborn internal disagreements paying tax cuts propose embarrassing one day postponement bill unveiling wednesday, lawmakers made plans measure seek trillion tax cuts years likely spell completely offset asked bill would contain permanent corporate tax rate cut percent percent, us house representatives tax panel chairman kevin brady told reporters goal think going take several steps achieve lobbyists said republicans trouble reaching consensus find revenue pay tax cuts would likely make corporate cut temporary result white house meeting advisers, president donald trump told reporters sometime tomorrow, announcing massive tax cuts reform house republican leaders tax panel members slated meet trump white house thursday afternoon mortgage interest k retirement plans federal deficit state local taxes, numerous unanswered questions swirled around tax cut plan lawmakers met evening capitol hill representative tom macarthur, asked fellow republicans could meet ambitious deadline approving tax bill nov thanksgiving holiday, told reporters called lot things prophet one since taking congress white house january, republicans trump yet score major legislative accomplishment change, say, overhaul tax code first time years fast discovering every attempt failed since former republican president ronald reagan historic tax reform unlike nearly three year reagan effort involving public hearings bipartisan cooperation, trump tax plan developed secret months six senior lawmakers white house advisers took little input rank file republicans largely ignored democrats house democratic leader nancy pelosi said statement chaotic delay tax bill release showed republicans pushing half baked tax bill ruinous consequences workers middle class americans macarthur said plan biggest challenge proposed elimination deduction state local tax salt payments, among several revenue raising changes meant offset proposed tax cuts lawmakers lobbyists cited different concerns bill republicans high tax states upper middle class voters would hardest hit salt deduction repeal unsure bill thursday would address concerns representative lee zeldin new york said wanted major changes preserve state local tax deductibility encouraged heard chairman brady refer draft get released final text, said zeldin macarthur, new jersey, said compromise proposal worked maintain cap deductibility property tax payments good start cap would need raised earn support trump, largely playing cheerleader debate, tweeted advice paying cuts great repeal unfair unpopular individual mandate obamacare use savings tax cuts, said twitter post afterward, white house spokeswoman sarah sanders told reporters administration still wanted repeal replace obamacare, still think probably likely something like spring attempt dismantle former democratic president barack obama affordable care act, popularly known obamacare, failed dramatically republican controlled senate july k play another contentious revenue raising proposal plan limit much money americans put k retirement accounts individual retirement accounts iras pre tax basis also proposal limit deductibility interest payments businesses restrictions opposed businesses little access equity financing, including farmers, ranchers small businesses rough framework tax plan unveiled late september, basic components changing originally called reducing number tax brackets three seven, current top tax rate percent reduced percent, win high income taxpayers partly response democrats dismissed plan giveaway corporations wealthy, lawmakers expected restore fourth percent tax bracket increase income level applies, perhaps million, double current level questions remained original framework proposal repeal estate tax inheritances, another policy change would favor wealthy americans discussion ongoing possibly phasing lawmakers also resolved challenge posed trump plan lower tax rate pass enterprises, partnerships sole proprietorships, percent high percent, said

president donald trump wednesday seized deadly new york city truck attack step demands stricter us immigration laws, asking congress end visa program let uzbek suspect country saying might send guantanamo bay day harsh recriminations tuesday attack killed eight people america largest city, trump appeared assign blame incident authorities labeled terrorism top senate democrat chuck schumer, accused trump politicizing national tragedy trump said would consider sending suspect, identified authorities sayfullo saipov, military prison us naval base guantanamo bay, cuba, democratic predecessor barack obama tried failed shut detainee sent guantanamo prison since white house spokeswoman sarah sanders later told reporters trump considers saipov enemy combatant, designation would curtail legal rights trump called suspect animal lambasted us justice system terrorism suspects joke laughingstock since taking office january, trump sought increase deportations illegal immigrations limit legal immigration department homeland security said saipov entered united states called diversity visa program, designed provide path us residency citizens countries historically low rates immigration united states authorities said saipov drove rented truck along bike path lower manhattan, mowing cyclists pedestrians police shot wounded saipov arresting trump reprised stance white house candidate president

us house representatives energy committee wednesday said wants federal emergency management agency fema explain overseeing contracts rebuilding puerto rico power grid devastated hurricane maria letter fema, committee raised questions contracts puerto rico electric power authority prepa two companies whitefish energy holdings cobra acquisitions llc, subsidiary mammoth energy services inc six weeks hurricane swept across island, two thirds residents still without electricity washington preparing spend billions relief territory, home million americans, assistance grid seen one expensive complex pieces aid house energy commerce committee

republicans us house representatives due release tax legislation thursday calling slashing taxes corporations, repealing taxes paid primarily wealthy adjusting taxes families individuals questions final shape bill swirl around washington, following look basic features plan released september, though changes expected reduce us corporate income tax rate percent current statutory percent eliminate corporate alternative minimum tax move territorial tax system longer imposes us corporate tax foreign profits us companies require us corporations return assets held overseas lowered one time tax rates establish minimum global tax aimed overseas profits us corporations prevent tax base erosion pass businesses limit maximum tax rate small businesses non corporate enterprises percent, present maximum rate pass income percent allow immediate full expensing capital investments least five years partially limit business tax deduction debt interest payments cut top individual rate percent percent increase standard deduction taxpayers , , individuals, , , married couples reduce current seven individual income tax brackets three brackets percent, percent percent consider fourth bracket rate higher percent high income americans prevent shifting overall tax burden higher lower income households partially repeal deduction state local tax payments eliminate , personal exemption taxpayers family members create substantial increase child tax credit, , raise income limit qualify credit eliminate higher qualifying income rate married couples create tax credit taxpayers non child dependents repeal individual alternative minimum tax high income taxpayers repeal estate tax paid chiefly richest americans

rollout tax cut plan promoted us president donald trump senior congressional republicans delayed wednesday groups lawmakers special interests dug key provisions, insisting changes contentious issues tax debate, likely play coming weeks months garner enough support pass congress sent trump sign law k republicans eyeing new limits much money americans pump year k retirement accounts pre tax basis lower limits tax free contributions would produce new revenue help republicans pay tax cuts proposed high income earners, corporations wealthy families inheritances taxpayers channel , income tax free k republican tax writers initially proposed lowering cap , and, pushback, number flux firms manage k plans, wall street firms execute trades million americans k accounts could hurt change mortgages americans deduct mortgage interest incomes itemize deductions plan call changing directly call doubling standard deduction, separate tax return line determines eligibility itemizing doubling would mean fewer americans itemizing

alphabet inc google facebook inc wednesday joined legal challenge tech companies decision end protection called dreamer immigrants, companies told reuters legal briefing filed wednesday afternoon deferred action childhood arrivals daca program, protects immigrants brought united states illegally children deportation trump administration decided scrap tech firms argue immigrants vital us economy ending program hit growth filing support lawsuit filed california attorney general xavier becerra northern district california, according filing tech companies signed amicus brief

visa program aimed diversifying us immigrant population came attack president donald trump wednesday learned man accused killing eight people new york city tuesday used enter country sayfullo saipov, charged tuesday truck attack, immigrated united states uzbekistan winning lottery enabling obtain called diversity visa, two government officials confirmed reuters program, established congress coordinated state department, roots efforts bring irish italian immigrants united states citizens countries send relatively immigrants united states enter lottery grants winners permanent us residency applicants must least high school education equivalent, relevant work experience million applicants entered lottery , slots available winners close family members, according state department figures visa program succeeded diversifying mix immigrants come united states year, also drawn criticism vulnerable fraud posing national security risks trump said wednesday would ask congress immediately initiate efforts kill program, republican house judiciary committee chairman bob goodlatte, long called end diversity visas, said statement pose threat safety citizens senate democratic leader chuck schumer helped create program member house representatives also part group lawmakers crafted bipartisan immigration bill would done away program bill passed senate killed republican led house top congressional democrats wednesday defended program, saying subjects visa recipients stringent vetting immigrant visa programs known instance diversity visa beneficiary carrying deadly terrorist attack united states occurred year, egyptian man received diversity visa wife years earlier shot killed two people los angeles airport man earlier sought asylum united states rejected ultimately, allowed stay country wife lottery early , state department deputy inspector general, anne patterson, told congress office believed diversity program contains significant vulnerabilities national security terrorists could attempt use enter united states permanent residents agency watchdog recommended barring citizens countries sponsor terrorism program years, government audits exposed sophisticated fraud schemes targeting program, including extortion rackets, sham marriages use fake identification documents , congress government accountability office issued report noting federal law enforcers believe individuals, including terrorists criminals, could use fraudulent means enter remain united states report found, however, documented evidence diversity visa immigrants posed terrorist threat september state department inspector general report found organized fraud rings masquerading travel agencies hijacked diversity visa program ukraine scheme, ukrainians entered lottery without consent, held money exchange chance claim visa encouraged enter sham marriages

republican democratic us senators wednesday said agreed new package sanctions north korea, senate banking committee would act legislation next week, president donald trump first trip asia since taking office among measures, otto warmbier banking restrictions involving north korea act , named us student died imprisoned north korea, would strengthen expand existing sanctions strengthen congress oversight north korea sanctions would also impose sanctions foreign financial institutions, chinese banks found provide services individual targeted north korea related sanctions us congress, presidential executive order un security council resolution new sanctions bill would require trump, us president, notify congressional committees intention terminate suspend sanctions would also require president submit regular reports system licensing transactions regular briefings congress administration international community working come response north korea nuclear ballistic missiles programs involve potentially catastrophic military action members us congress particular called china, chinese banks, clamp pyongyang north korea year conducted sixth powerful nuclear detonation test fired volley missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles icbms that, perfected, could potentially reach us mainland sanctions bill agreed upon republican senator mike crapo, chairman senate banking committee, sherrod brown, ranking member, along panel members pat toomey, republican, chris van hollen, democrat time come us take lead ensure nations work together isolate kim regime choice change dangerous, belligerent behavior, crapo said statement

us president donald trump recall meeting foreign policy advisers march one suggested could arrange meeting candidate trump russian president vladimir putin, white house said wednesday george papadopoulos, obscure trump campaign adviser, pleaded guilty lying fbi agents contacts people claimed ties top russian officials, first criminal charges alleging links campaign moscow, according court documents released monday according court documents, papadopoulos, chicago based international energy lawyer, told march , , meeting connections could help arrange trump putin meeting asked news briefing republican president recalled suggestion papadopoulos, white house spokeswoman sarah sanders said believe charges papadopoulos made public indictments charging trump former campaign manager paul manafort another aide multiple offenses, including money laundering, conspiracy united states failing register foreign agents new york times said trump, telephone conversation newspaper wednesday, said investigations possible collusion campaign russia come anywhere near personally investigation, know, times quoted trump saying pointing manafort indictment, president said even mention trump there, according times nothing us us intelligence agencies said january russia meddled us presidential campaign discredit trump democratic rival, hillary clinton trump denounced investigations witch hunt russia denies meddling us election manafort rick gates monday pleaded guilty charges, go back decade center manafort work ukraine neither trump campaign mentioned indictment manafort gates

washington research firm paid former british spy company , work dossier outlining russian financial personal links donald trump election campaign, us firm said statement wednesday although public knowledge fusion gps paid work, amount disclosed fusion gps hired former mi officer christopher steele collect information trump advisers fusion gps statement said told congress , paid last year orbis business intelligence, steele company money paid orbis taken million received fees expenses perkins coie law firm, statement said law firm represented democratic national committee hillary clinton presidential campaign, although initial research fusion trump republican primary candidates commissioned conservative website steele reports central investigations special counsel congressional committees us intelligence agency allegations russia tried help trump campaign russia repeatedly denied allegations trump denies collusion moscow officials, calling probes witch hunt oct message posted twitter, president trump said dossier cost much million, without providing evidence never seen republican anger unity concerning lack investigation clinton made fake dossier , , , trump tweeted sources familiar steele work said began working fusion gps may stopped election earlier, washington based conservative website backed wealthy republican donor, washington free beacon, hired fusion conduct research trump republican candidates version story corrected say million instead million paragraph

us senate commerce committee vote next week bipartisan proposal would make easier penalize operators websites facilitate online sex trafficking, panel said statement wednesday us technology companies including alphabet google facebook long opposed legislation would amend known section decades old communications decency act, arguing could thwart digital innovation prompt endless litigation vote setback internet industry, witnessing shifting political fortunes washington range policy issues decades relatively little regulatory scrutiny silicon valley companies generally consider section bedrock legal protection helps shield companies liability activities users legislation republican senator rob portman democratic senator richard blumenthal august came years law enforcement lobbying crackdown online classified site backpagecom, used sex advertising measure would make easier states sex trafficking victims sue social media networks, advertisers others fail keep exploitative material platforms statement, portman said lawmakers act urgency hold online sex traffickers accountable give survivors justice deserve bill attracted bipartisan support third senate companion measure similar backing house representatives republicans control chambers technology lobbyists recent weeks engaged negotiations lawmakers supportive bill attempt narrow impact

chairman house representatives tax committee said wednesday achieving permanent cut us corporate tax rate could take several steps republican representative kevin brady, chairman house ways means committee working write tax reform bill, told reporters goal think going take several steps process achieve brady elaborate comment said senate rules reconciliation bills concern senate rules, tax cuts must expire add federal deficit outside year budget window

virginia democrat danica roem called man conservative opponents attacking views lgbt rights campaigns become united states transgender state legislator roem shy away gender identity one campaign ad, applies makeup bathroom mirror takes hormone pills rather focus politics running transgender woman, prefers discuss traffic gridlock issues nov election virginia house delegates transgender people qualified say, hey, stand stuck traffic right ideas fix this, said roem, year old journalist leaders transportation leaders economic development, yeah, leaders civil rights candidacy comes transgender men women vying voices political arena targeted conservative lawmakers seeking limit rights, notably restricting bathroom access us elections year could double country number transgender officeholders, currently six, according victory fund, works elect lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender candidates group endorsed eight transgender candidates election fall transgender man woman running city council minneapolis mayoral race midvale, utah, school board contest erie, pennsylvania, among contests transgender candidates nearly races election cycle already transgender candidate, , according logan casey, research associate harvard university tracking community electoral push comes republican president donald trump administration reversed guidance public schools allowing transgender students bathroom choice wants ban transgender people military service minority groups also battled discrimination gains polls transgender candidates face unique challenges making case voters often never met another transgender person, least knowingly sort double pronged task lot candidates have, casey said run office persuade people vote also educate means transgender person phillipe cunningham, year old black transgender man running city council minneapolis, thought would chance professional success people would put gender identity marvels support receiving campaign trail people see like, cool know talking about, really love community, said galesburg, illinois, city , , year old chris king lost alderman race earlier year emphasized business development card handed voters also highlighted diversity would bring transgender woman color braced topic become issue public forums, never came percent sure good bad, said king, part time student pet stylist, knows discussed privately would open door conversations happen need happen educate people virginia, roem seeks unseat year republican incumbent house delegates filed bill limit bathroom access transgender people day roem launched candidacy delegate bob marshall state republican party use male pronouns refer roem party recently sent mailers voters district took issue support school policies supporting transgender youth, suggesting wanted push agenda students young kindergarten mailers absolutely attack danica gender identity, john findlay, executive director republican party virginia, said statement marshall reply requests comment roem said republicans resorting bullying years failing address voters quality life concerns left transphobic bs, said email monday roem dreams milestone moment would follow historic win introduction legislature gentlewoman manassas would smile two transgender youth imagines would watching chamber gallery fundamentally changes conversation, said then, let get onto business pursue governing

next round aid help rebuild puerto rico us states destructive hurricanes wildfires unlikely considered congress takes catch spending bill faces dec deadline passage, senate republican said wednesday john cornyn said crush matters would take time, probably get disaster aid consideration massive bill fund federal agencies next sept trump administration said submit congress third round disaster aid mid november could total tens billions dollars congress already provided billion currently, republican controlled congress mainly focused passing major tax reform bill year end disaster aid would help recovery efforts texas, florida, puerto rico us virgin islands following hurricanes harvey, irma maria august september six weeks maria tore puerto rico, island struggling pick pieces, two thirds residents remain without power us territory declared bankruptcy earlier year storm plunged economy deeper uncertainty government wide spending bill could also become magnet measures democrats, minority congress, want attach could include bipartisan plan temporarily bolster affordable care act, commonly known obamacare democrats also hinting end year measure could opportunity force passage legislation protecting deportation young dreamers, people brought illegally united states children

senior us republican democratic senators said wednesday would push ahead efforts reach bi partisan deal rolling back financial rules introduced financial crisis, even leading democratic lawmaker walked away talks comments bolstered hopes among banking lobbyists congress may yet agree legislation roll back aspects dodd frank law, potentially cutting billions costs banks, bi partisan discussions appeared falter senator sherrod brown, leading democrat senate banking committee, said statement wednesday stepping away months long private negotiations committee republican chair senator mike crapo rolling back elements dodd frank law, saying reached impasse wednesday, however, crapo told reporters still working towards regulatory reform bill would renew efforts reach bipartisan compromise intend move forward build bipartisan solution, hope able soon, crapo told reporters bank lobbyists told reuters remained optimistic bill still could passed, saying brown exit cleared path several democrats sympathetic crapo position take negotiations spokespeople senators heidi heitkamp joe donnelly, two banking panel moderate democratic members, told reuters wednesday open rekindling talks congress needs make financial regulatory system work better everyone, willing work anyone deal would accomplish goal, heitkamp said statement donnelly said statement believed still opportunity negotiate relief package community financial institutions protecting consumers ensuring safety financial system house representatives already passed broad rewrite dodd frank legislation, senate ultimately determine what, any, relief republican led congress hands banks industry expectations final deal modest senate republicans need eight democrats support efforts order pass changes dodd frank exact shape regulatory reform bill public bipartisan support easing requirements smaller banks credit unions, reducing number banks face stricter oversight considered critical financial system proved point contention currently, banks billion assets considered systemically important must comply stricter rules republican lawmakers considering raising threshold, opposed powerful democrats including senator elizabeth warren working good faith, clear able reach compromise protects consumers supporting small banks credit unions, said brown statement continue support small banks credit unions, cannot agree gutting protections working people taxpayers version story refiled add missing word following lead paragraph

panel convened us president donald trump tackle opioid crisis called wednesday treatment programs, tighter prescribing guidelines additional drug courts help reduce overdose deaths commission, led new jersey governor chris christie, said recommendations would require funding congress recommend amount trump last week declared opioid crisis public health emergency public health experts broadly welcomed proposed measures sounds like progressive needed move, said professor kosali simon, health economist indiana university, recommendations paul hanly, new york lawyer representing local governments legal battle opioid makers, said recommendations, laudable, would toothless without substantial funding opioids include prescription painkillers, heroin fentanyl americans die daily overdoses, according federal data commission recommended national media campaign encourage opioid addicts seek help percent people need treatment get it, report noted media campaign would encourage addicts stop afraid ashamed seeking help facing addiction urged expansion drug courts, addicts convicted non violent offenses diverted programs combine treatment mandatory drug testing court appearances commission said drug courts, currently offered percent us counties, embrace medication assisted treatment improve outcomes us food drug administration last week announced plans encourage wider use substitute opioids methadone buprenorphine, induce high used help people drug addiction recovery still, dr stefan kertesz university alabama birmingham said communities often lack treatment facilities drug courts send addicts many drug courts charge fees make unaffordable many drug courts often function pay play, kertesz said people come money escape prison sentence report recommended expanding ranks emergency responders allowed administer naloxone treat overdoses also encouraged stricter prescribing guidelines physicians

senate republicans mounted concerted defense one president donald trump nominees federal appeals court wednesday, suggesting nonpartisan lawyers group rating leonard steven grasz qualified bench biased senate judiciary committee hearing grasz nomination, republicans universally praised nebraska lawyer, trump wants fill vacancy th us circuit court appeals st louis negative assessments american bar association, evaluating federal court picks decades, rare last gave appeals court nominee rating qualified nominee withdrawn aba member standing committee federal judiciary voted unanimously poor rating grasz, one member abstaining report focused largely grasz advocacy conservative social issues, including opposition abortion rights many questioned whether mr grasz would able detach deeply held social agenda, pamela bresnahan, chair group judicial nominee vetting committee, said statement wednesday, republican senators questioned credibility process terrific job ordinarily, sometimes ridiculous, case think ridiculous, political, republican senator orrin hatch said, adding would support grasz appointment dustup grasz comes full senate continues confirm trump judicial choices amid republican complaints democrats obstructing process ten confirmed far, including joan larsen, approved wednesday sit federal appeals bench cincinnati aba, largest lawyers group united states, says judicial evaluations non partisan, taking account experience, knowledge law factors, political ideological views nebraska former chief deputy attorney general, grasz defended state partial birth abortion ban, among laws grasz told senators would bound follow supreme court abortion precedents said second interview aba, asked repeatedly personal opinions social issues including abortion nebraska senator deb fischer, republican, called aba rating baseless political character assassination claimed two main evaluators ties democrats bresnahan declined comment wednesday testify judiciary committee nov

two influential us congressmen asked world health organization cancer agency get ready testify work assessing substances cause cancer, citing concerns scientific integrity letter international agency research cancer iarc , seen reuters sent wednesday, part ongoing investigations two congressional committees iarc fueled agency review glyphosate, primary ingredient monsanto co weedkiller roundup letter iarc director chris wild republican chairmen house committee science subcommittee environment said concerned scientific integrity iarc monograph program, assesses whether various substances cause cancer people iarc, semi autonomous part based lyon, france, recent years assessed whether substances diverse coffee, mobile phones processed meat cause cancer

congress consider legislation would regulate bump stocks, attachments allowed las vegas gunman fire semi automatic rifles rapidly, us senator john cornyn said wednesday cornyn, second ranking senate republican, told reporters bureau alcohol, tobacco, firearms explosives atf authority regulate bump stocks, maybe something ought consider giving cornyn, member senate judiciary committee, said urging panel chairman charles grassley call hearing bump stocks like hear atf previously obama administration said feel like authority regulate sure agree that, texas senator said oct , gunman las vegas opened fire outdoor music festival killing people injuring nearly others killing himself, deadliest mass shooting modern us history attachments legal allow semiautomatic rifles operate fully automatic machine guns, heavily restricted united states slide fire solutions, maker bump stocks, announced restarting sales product pause following las vegas shooting

rare high level defector north korea told us lawmakers wednesday disseminating information reclusive country would ultimately effective billions dollars spent address military threat educate north korean population stand disseminating outside information, thae yong ho, chief mission pyongyang embassy britain defected , said appearance congress two days president donald trump first trip asia since taking office asked kind information discussing, thae said background north korean leader kim jong un, like birth date, convey idea family gods said south korean videos, example increasingly available within north us spending billions dollars cope military threat yet much us spend year information activities involving north korea year unfortunately, may tiny fraction, said thae made first visit washington rising international tensions north korea nuclear ballistic missiles program crisis expected dominate trump trip region, includes stop south korea thae also told house representatives foreign affairs committee us officials meet kim least try understand thinking convince risking mass destruction thae said kim thinks force united states accept north korea nuclear power drive us forces korean peninsula reuters reported tuesday washington quietly pursuing direct diplomacy north korea, despite trump public assertion talks waste time amid war words kim, called trump mentally deranged dotard, trump, referred kim little rocket man, many us lawmakers pushing non military solutions crisis representative ed royce, committee republican chairman, called hearing dramatic increase number individuals entities targeted sanctions, without delay thae highest level defector north korea two decades emotional testimony, described life left south korea mixed relative privilege oppression said defected could let sons lead life, like me, modern day slave

us house intelligence committee disclose wednesday sample russian linked content ran social media presidential election, panel top democrat said representative adam schiff said committee would show representative sample russian advertisements posts hearing wednesday lawyers facebook, twitter alphabet google, testifying russian influence networks

republicans plan release language tax legislation early thursday morning, head us house budget committee told bloomberg tv interview wednesday going released tomorrow morning gmt , us representative diane black said, adding republicans still changing language overnight

americans began signing obamacare health insurance plans wednesday, experts expected reduced participation bitter political debate clouds program future republicans congress repeatedly failed repeal replace former president barack obama healthcare law, said drives costs consumers interferes personal medical decisions democrats warned repeal would leave millions americans without health coverage president donald trump promised kill obama affordable care act election campaign, taken steps undermine law declared dead imploding trump administration cut obamacare advertising percent shortened enrollment period half market going extremely confusing going entire complexity choice, said david anderson, health policy researcher duke university obama took social media wednesday, encouraging americans need insurance sign federal healthcaregov website stressed government tax credits would keep coverage affordable obama asked people get word, country works best look one another new trump ad, paid republican national committee, blamed democrats obamacare skyrocketing insurance premiums blocking efforts repeal law obamacare advocates warned sign ups individual insurance coverage law could drop one million people compared nonpartisan congressional budget office estimates four million fewer people sign obamacare private insurance previously forecast due trump policies still, cbo expects total enrollment reach million , around million obtained paid coverage administration officials could immediately say enrollment data would made public trump administration cut enrollment period half six weeks nov dec states using federal healthcaregov website enrollment previously ran jan , many consumers tended sign last two weeks, according state officials organizations help people choose insurance administration also cut billions dollars subsidies insurers use discount pocket medical costs low income americans cut funding groups help people enroll health insurance several insurers exited obamacare markets due concerns subsidies trump actions remained raised monthly premium prices account lost government subsidies senate republicans democrats working legislation stabilize obamacare markets short term, including restoring subsidies trump sought far reaching changes, urged republicans take full scale repeal coming months department health human services said monday premiums popular obamacare plans would rise percent americans eligible obamacare tax credits buy insurance may pay less coverage, middle class consumers get subsidies face much higher prices plans flood information lot population thinks affordable care act already put under, said daniel polsky, professor university pennsylvania executive director leonard davis institute health economics strange premium increases going confusing consumers trump administration planning changes last week, proposed rule giving states flexibility benefits must covered insurance obamacare, insurers cover set benefits, maternity newborn care prescription drugs

paul manafort, former campaign manager president donald trump, three us passports, millions assets ties russian oligarchs, according federal court documents indictment tax fraud money laundering charges manafort associate rick gates pose significant flight risk serious nature charges, strong evidence guilt, wealth history deceptive misleading conduct, federal prosecutors said filing tuesday us district court district columbia manafort, , gates, also worked trump campaign, pleaded guilty monday count indictment, ranging money laundering acting unregistered agents ukraine former pro russian government charges came part federal special counsel robert mueller month old investigation alleged russian efforts tilt presidential election trump favor potential collusion campaign aides allegations related campaign activities reveal close ties russia, include activities , overlaps mens work trump campaign two men house arrest relinquished us passports, million bond set manafort million bond gates defendants substantial ties abroad, including ukraine, spent time served agents government, according government memorandum support conditions release manafort gates connections ukrainian russian oligarchs, provided millions dollars manafort gates next hearing case, set pm gmt thursday, concern bail conditions set monday arraignment manafort longtime us republican operative turning attention political consulting overseas submitted passport application last decade currently holds three us passports, memo said rare legal hold three valid passports people apply one passport limited circumstances, including foreign country deny entry someone holding passport showing travel certain countries visa request processed person needs valid passport immediate travel, state department official said wednesday official could comment manafort passport records said requests one valid passport reviewed case case basis asked information memo, manafort lawyer jason maloni told reuters wednesday client looks forward allegations tried judge jury memo said manafort financial assets substantial difficult quantify listed figures loan applications financial documents since ranged million million manafort gates owned controlled entities accounts worldwide including cyprus, grenadines, seychelles england, said manafort traveled mexico, china ecuador , prosecutors said

president donald trump said wednesday thought federal reserve chair janet yellen excellent declined say pick lead us central bank ahead planned announcement thursday afternoon think janet yellen excellent, trump told reporters meeting cabinet officials asked yellen choice keep leading fed, trump said say think excellent

house representatives republican leaders members ways means committee meet us president donald trump thursday white house, republican aide said meeting take place around pm gmt , aide told reuters wednesday congressional republicans expected unveil tax reform legislation week

us president donald trump wednesday announced choices lead us attorney offices california, maryland, connecticut, texas, new mexico louisiana, white house said statement white house said trump nominate john anderson us attorney new mexico john durham connecticut brandon fremin middle district louisiana robert kyoung hur maryland mcgregor scott eastern district california joseph brown eastern district texas ryan patrick southern district texas nominations subject senate approval

republicans us house representatives delay release long awaited tax legislation one day thursday, head chamber tax writing panel said late tuesday consultation president trump leadership team, decided release bill text thursday, house ways means committee chairman kevin brady said statement pleased progress making remain schedule take action approve bill committee beginning next week, republican lawmaker added tweet tuesday night brady statement, president donald trump said republican house members working hard late toward massive tax cuts know deserve biggest ever republicans, control chambers congress, looking tax reform first legislative victory since trump took office january democrats say trump tax plan giveaway corporations rich two sources knowledge discussions said earlier tuesday bill, expected wednesday, would emerge day later give lawmakers additional time address differences tax treatment retirement savings accounts deduction state local tax payments trump top republicans proposed plan would cut taxes corporations, small businesses individuals trillion decade pay reductions part eliminating trillions dollars deductions tax breaks often fiercely defended us tax code undergone major overhaul since , republican ronald reagan president earlier tuesday, house republicans appeared nearing deal state local taxes would preserve federal deduction property taxes income taxes, potentially removing major obstacle republican representative tom reed new york said sweet spot compromise gaining support among high tax state lawmakers signaled opposition proposal repeal state local tax, salt, deduction another new york republican saw things differently still inclined opposed income tax major factor, said representative peter king going affect country next years, good bad think last time tax reform, like two years debate going days, said salt compromise would reduce, eliminate, disproportional tax impact upper middle class families high income tax states new york, new jersey california states send enough republicans congress derail tax bill house bill expected cut top corporate income tax rate percent percent phase estate tax paid wealthiest taxpayers two three years may also set repatriation rate us businesses profits overseas, according source familiar tuesday meeting house speaker paul ryan conservative groups also likely set percent minimum tax active foreign income us corporations, according lobbyists knowledge negotiations trump administration escalated pro tax plan campaign, vice president mike pence met republicans tuesday, trump hosted industry leaders ryan, white house trump said white house wanted congress pass tax reform bills us thanksgiving holiday nov proposal limit much money americans direct k retirement accounts individual retirement accounts iras pre tax basis meeting resistance, including fund managers handle million accounts republicans initially proposed capping tax free k contributions , , , , figure flux either going strengthen k ira people save more, leave is, brady told reporters senator heidi heitkamp, one democrats courted republicans, said could support lowering cap tax free retirement contributions vote that, told reporters

us senators tuesday pressed facebook inc chief lawyer company catch election ads bought using russian rubles, investigation took long much knows million advertisers democrats republicans senate crime subcommittee hearing fired questions much two hours facebook general counsel colin stretch, said retrospect company done hindsight, broader lens signals missed, stretch said questioning democratic senator al franken company missed political ads bought russian money stretch called russia based ads reprehensible political divisiveness hearing marked first time tech executives appeared publicly us lawmakers russia matter, tone represented dramatic shift fortunes silicon valley, years grown accustomed favorable regulatory treatment united states lawyers twitter inc alphabet inc google also faced questions hearing russians used services, facebook drew bulk senators ire unique role targeted marketing internet facebook broader reach smaller twitter network, offers powerful targeting capabilities google suspect advertising department watched profits go up, democratic senator patrick leahy told stretch, responded facebook committed rooting accounts use fake names lawyers three companies scheduled return capitol hill wednesday two hearings russia ad spending russian government denied intended influence presidential election, republican donald trump defeated democrat hillary clinton facebook, series disclosures two months, said people russia bought least , us political ads published another , facebook posts seen many million americans two years senators said could understand timing facebook disclosures taken facebook months come forward help us understand scope problem democratic senator chris coons asked stretch responded that, us spy agencies alleged january russians meddled last year election, sitting around company following months launched investigation reported results, said facebook also announced steps change treats political ads said hiring , people review ads, compiling publicly searchable archive political ads beginning next year requiring information identity election advertisers coons said wished tech companies sent top executives tuesday rather house lawyers republican senator john kennedy told stretch doubted facebook ability stop people overseas buying us election ads us law bars election spending non americans got million advertisers going tell able trace origin advertisements kennedy asked stretch facebook lawyer responded little company could foreign advertiser used us shell corporation republican senator lindsey graham, chairman crime subcommittee, said wanted help tech companies, also pressed stretch whether iran north korea could try russia united states stretch responded certainly potentially internet borderless hanging facebook, google twitter threat legislation would extend rules governing political advertising television, radio satellite also cover social media companies responded proposals self regulation, saying would create public archives election related ads democratic senator amy klobuchar told witnesses tuesday self regulation would lead patchwork databases uniform system would better voters

california neuroscientist vying unseat republican congressman dana rohrabacher stepped criticism conservative tuesday, demanding return , contribution indicted trump adviser paul manafort orange county seat held rohrabacher key democrats hopes increase numbers us house representatives next year elections neuroscientist hans keirstead, stem cell researcher entrepreneur laguna beach, one seven democrats aiming beat him, according federal election commission got russian tainted congressman taking russian tainted money manafort, keirstead said telephone interview tuesday something put straight federal investigators probing russian interference us election monday charged manafort, lobbyist former trump campaign manager, money laundering rohrabacher, senior member house committee foreign affairs, frequently praised russian president vladimir putin considered role us president donald trump cabinet southern california base orange county decades republican stronghold center support ronald reagan reliably conservative voters sent rohrabacher house nearly years th congressional district undergone profound demographic shifts recent years, one nine republican districts california democrats targeted hillary clinton beat trump district , winning , votes compared , people care environment, care social issues, said drew godinich, spokesman democratic congressional campaign committee california donald trump donald trump republican party longer good match democrats success district, however, far assured despite tilt toward clinton presidency, voters chose rohrabacher democrat suzanne savary six percentage points spokesman, rohrabacher indicated time prepared reject manafort

paul manafort, indicted former campaign manager president donald trump, spent almost million eight rugs two years million clothes shops beverly hills, california, new york city lavish lifestyle

russian lawyer natalia veselnitskaya, met donald trump jr us presidential campaign, wants permission return united states defend claim prosecutors client company failed pay million settlement international money laundering case veselnitskaya represented prevezon holdings ltd, russian controlled company, may year agreed pay nearly million us government settle million russian tax fraud case related hermitage capital, american fund invested russia court filing federal court manhattan monday us prosecutors said settlement payment due oct , letter tuesday filed federal court manhattan lawyers prevezon disagreed half settlement money supposed come million euros owed prevezon us government asked netherlands freeze netherlands lifted hold money october , day imposed new freeze account based complaint william browder, chief executive hermitage capital management, prevezon letter said monday court filing, us prosecutors said million payment due regardless new freeze funds intended file motion enforce settlement letter, prevezon asked court help obtain temporary us immigration status veselnitskaya owner, denis katsyv, could attend upcoming hearings dispute veselnitskaya met donald trump jr new york last year united states represent prevezon money laundering case trump jr said statement time veselnitskaya primarily discussed program adoption russian children russia banned adoptions russian children americans retaliation sanctions imposed us magnitsky act magnitsky act passed congress hermitage capital browder claimed tax fraud scheme involving prevezon uncovered sergei magnitsky, auditor hermitage capital, died russian prison trump jr released emails related meeting last year election described veselnitskaya russian government attorney could provide information would incriminate hillary dealings russia would useful father

former senior adviser president donald trump campaign team, sam clovis, sought distance tuesday george papadopoulos, ex campaign aide pleaded guilty probe russian meddling us election papadopoulos pleaded guilty earlier month lying federal bureau investigation agents dealings russians, including april meeting told russians dirt democratic candidate hillary clinton entailed thousands emails prosecutors special counsel robert mueller team said court records papadopoulos conversations email exchanges unnamed campaign supervisor efforts improve us russia relations setting meetings senior campaign russian officials according records, campaign supervisor conveyed papadopoulos march , , discussion principal foreign policy focus campaign improved us relationship russia source familiar investigation said clovis campaign supervisor referenced court records victoria toensing, lawyer clovis, dispute added client never said improving us russia relations principal foreign policy focus view trump priorities mueller leading probe alleged russian efforts tilt election trump favor potential collusion trump aides russia denies allegations trump denies collusion prosecutors said court records papadopoulos emailed supervisor several others tell met professor turn introduced russian woman russian ambassador london, discussed setting meetings talk us russia ties trump presidency supervisor replied would work campaign make commitment point great work, supervisor added email august , supervisor wrote papadopoulos reference possible record meeting russian officials, saying would encourage another foreign policy adviser make trip response, toensing said dr clovis always vigorously opposed russian trip donald trump staff however, volunteer made suggestions foreign policy matter, dr clovis, polite gentleman iowa, would expressed courtesy appreciation clovis since nominated trump top post chief scientist us department agriculture debbie stabenow, ranking member senate panel vet nomination, told reuters concerned emerging information role trump campaign interactions russia raises serious concerns, said statement nbc news reported tuesday clovis questioned mueller team testified grand jury white house spokeswoman sarah sanders said tuesday trump campaign team provided special counsel emails involving papadopoulos, described case individual wrong thing campaign right thing

president donald trump brushed first indictments probe campaign ties russian election meddling, charges sent clear signal white house trump associates robert mueller means business going trump campaign manager another aide money laundering charges securing guilty plea third campaign adviser, special prosecutor showed would delve deeply past search criminal activity use broad powers aggressively left trump associates worried mueller would target next, despite white house public dismissal developments unrelated president campaign flexing muscles anybody approach investigation letting know really mean it, said former federal prosecutor patrick cotter come you, talk us manafort look happened manafort rick gates charged money laundering, tax fraud, conspiracy defraud united states, counts pleaded guilty monday indictments, closely detail alleged crimes, appeared opening salvo mueller appointed us deputy attorney general rod rosenstein may trump fired fbi director james comey, led investigation whether trump campaign colluded russia influence election mueller given mandate probe potential collusion matters arose may arise directly investigation trump denied collusion russia times described investigation hoax witch hunt russia denied interfering election first indictments monday, mueller showed afraid use powers, trump officials noticed one thing worried bigger scale rosenstein, giving mueller wide berth, created monster, said one former white house official, spoke condition anonymity former trump campaign adviser fretted probe could, result, touch trump businesses, new york times interview july, trump indicated mueller would crossing red line investigated trump family business legal experts said mueller would swayed trump view proper scope investigation think prosecutors concern politicians say red lines drawn, said former federal prosecutor robert capers jens david ohlin, professor criminal law cornell law school, said mueller could targeting alleged financial crimes manafort gates gain cooperation uncover wrongdoing elsewhere number lawyers said guilty plea george papadopoulos, announced mueller team monday, could ultimately provide closer link campaign pressure others open charges manafort gates related campaign work, papadopoulos admitted lied federal bureau investigation contacts foreign nationals believed tied russian government campaign adviser prosecutors said arrested papadopoulos july cooperating government god knows guy going say now, said former trump campaign adviser since cooperating, could set perjury traps others cotter said mueller unveiling papadopoulos guilty plea head arguments case manafort gates russia frank montoya, former senior fbi agent, said manafort indictment papadopoulos plea indicated mueller going bow white house pressure would keep pushing hard uncover wrongdoing pretty much road map going looking money laundering, going looking failure report income, going looking general criminal conspiracies also trump red line going cross going keep looking called collusion, coordination russians undermine democracy, montoya said

republicans us house representatives delay release tax legislation day lawmakers try overcome differences involving treatment retirement savings accounts state local taxes, sources said tuesday two sources knowledgeable discussions said house republican tax committee still expected begin deliberating tax legislation hearings set start monday bill initially expected wednesday, sources said would released thursday instead

representative jeb hensarling, republican chairman us house representatives financial services committee, announced tuesday would retire congress end , marking exit congress leading advocate rolling back strict financial rules hensarling, , texas, said statement would seek election, noting term head banking panel expires time vocal proponent significant deregulation financial sector author sweeping legislation drastically reduce regulations imposed banks today announcing seek election us congress , hensarling said statement although service congress remains greatest privilege life, never intended make lifetime commitment, already stayed far longer originally planned hensarling, first elected congress , architect broad rewrite dodd frank financial reform law overall would eliminated several major powers given regulators financial crisis impose strict new limitations authority bill, financial choice act, expected become law passing house, due insufficient support senate work hailed gop colleagues ambitious effort cut regulation banking industry jeb eloquently articulated conservative vision, leading charge repeal dodd frank deliver freer market gives every american opportunity achieve american dream, said house majority leader kevin mccarthy statement banking lobby groups, including financial services roundtable american bankers association, said hensarling strong leader advanced reforms led economic opportunity better banking steadfast critic rules imposed financial sector crash, became industry ally efforts roll back efforts also made top target advocates stricter rules, said efforts would put americans risk similar meltdown hensarling probably decided spend time banks hope revolving door hit hard way out, said karl frisch, executive director allied progress gop lawmakers announced plans retire facing uphill election battles, hensarling hails deeply conservative district texas remains highly popular , faced republican rivals party primary took percent district vote general election even though district consistently votes republican, resignation provide another opportunity democrats realize hopes taking control house lawyer dan wood, already entered race party nominee seat unlike exiting republicans, hensarling never publicly feuded president donald trump fact, trump considered hensarling post administration election exit set competition take head powerful banking committee representative patrick mchenry vice chair committee, representatives blaine luetkemeyer, bill huizenga, sean duffy also potential contenders, according lobbyists familiar committee one lobbyist said luetkemeyer leading candidate lead panel, mchenry seen rising star house leadership luetkemeyer seriously considering running chairmanship, according spokeswoman hensarling next move unclear lobbyists speculated could take top role conservative think tank like heritage foundation alternatively, could take role administration return home state cowen co analyst jaret seiberg said client note hensarling could top contender take federal housing finance agency, regulates fannie mae freddie mac current fhfa director, mel watt, appointee former president barack obama, serving term expires january

modernizing maintaining us nuclear arsenal next years cost trillion, according report released tuesday congressional budget office report said current plans modernization aging planes, ships missile silos make us nuclear arsenal would cost percent us operated maintained current equipment field cbo study reviewed obama administration plans modernization nuclear arsenal president donald trump january directed secretary defense james mattis conduct review us nuclear forces results could published coming months us house armed services committee member adam smith, democrat washington, said obama era plan congress still seem answers pay effort, trade offs national security efforts report said costs would rise billion billion , peaking around billion year early trump said wants ensure us nuclear arsenal top pack, saying united states fallen behind weapons capacity us officials noted america nuclear modernization lagging behind russia upgrade nuclear triad general paul selva, vice chairman joint chiefs staff, told congress august believed moscow already two thirds way nuclear modernization process august, us air force awarded boeing co northrop grumman corp separate contracts continue development work replacement aging minuteman iii intercontinental ballistic missile system one leg nuclear triad days later air force awarded lockheed martin corp raytheon co separate million contracts continue work replacement agm b air launched nuclear cruise missile detailed development contract allows companies continue work long range standoff weapon yet another leg triad

leading republicans us senate, expressing frustration slowly president donald trump nominees confirmed, tuesday called changes chamber procedures speed approval process believe time change rules senate, senate republican policy committee chair john barrasso told reporters, saying way needed found shorten debate times trump complained bitterly senate rules slowing progress agenda president generally focused criticism senate rule requires votes legislation advance member chamber

white house chief staff john kelly comment us civil war sparked lack compromise drew criticism reignited debate confederate monuments role slavery interview monday night fox news, kelly asked whether virginia church removed plaques honoring confederate general robert e lee president george washington, virginians kelly said figures past could viewed lens current moral values think very, dangerous shows much lack appreciation history history is, kelly said tell robert e lee honorable man lack ability compromise led civil war, men women good faith sides made stand conscience make stand, kelly added comment sparked immediate backlash, critics noting united states made number compromises slavery tensions eventually erupted war north south notion civil war resulted lack compromise belied compromises made enslavement america founding, ta nehisi coates, african american writer, wrote twitter others accused kelly encouraging white supremacists saying lee honorable irresponsible dangerous, especially white supremacists feel emboldened, make fighting maintain slavery sound courageous, bernice king, daughter american civil rights activist martin luther king jr, wrote twitter post white house spokeswoman sarah sanders, asked tuesday kelly comment, told news briefing general kelly simply making point history perfect, mean history replying another question whether figures nathan bedford forrest, confederate general accused war crimes early leader ku klux klan, deserved honored, sanders said president said something left state local governments, representing today president donald trump said confederate monuments, many removed recent years, remain place preserve country heritage stirred tensions deadly rally white nationalists charlottesville, virginia, insisting counterprotesters also blame, drawing condemnation republican leaders praise white supremacists kelly distinguished military career led department homeland security trump tapped chief staff kelly viewed moderating influence turbulent white house, also stepped controversy earlier month, attacked florida congresswoman characterized call trump military widow lost husband niger disrespectful

us senator chuck grassley, head senate judiciary committee, proposed bill tuesday overhaul disclosure rules regarding anyone working behalf foreign government, law received renewed attention paul manafort indicted violating proposed legislation, called disclosing foreign influence act, would close loopholes foreign agents registration act require department justice develop strategy enforcing law, republican senator said statement manafort, longtime republican operative briefly served donald trump campaign manager , business associate rick gates, pleaded guilty monday count indictment contained charges ranging money laundering acting unregistered agents ukraine former pro russian government current law, known fara, requires persons acting behalf foreign government political party disclose department justice work well public communications taken behalf client critics argued reporting requirements fara unclear contains loopholes allow american lobbyists avoid disclosure foreign clients congress passed foreign agents registration act prevent inappropriate influence domestic policy, oversight work uncovered rampant disregard foreign agents lackluster enforcement federal authorities, grassley said statement proposed law would clarify required register, improve investigative tools, including granting authority justice department pursue civil charges, create new reporting requirements fara first passed lead world war ii effort combat german propaganda efforts later amended include lobbyists, according department justice chairman judiciary committee, grassley empowered see bill quickly receives hearing vote

white house said tuesday trump campaign provided special counsel investigating ties russia emails involving george papadopoulos, campaign adviser pleaded guilty lying fbi agents contacts people claimed ties top russian officials think papadopoulos example actually someone wrong thing president campaign right thing, white house spokeswoman sarah sanders said emails voluntarily provided special counsel campaign led process place right campaign fully cooperating helping that, told news briefing

us environmental protection agency announced tuesday bar certain scientists serving independent advisory boards, move critics say could open way industry friendly advisors panels epa barred scientists agency awarded grants past, billing step way preserve independence diversity boards, provide scientific input agency decisions around pollution climate change regulation whatever science comes epa, political science, epa administrator scott pruitt, said release, adding committee members financially independent agency senator tom carper, top democrat senate environment committee, said pruitt decision part epa effort delegitimize work nonpartisan scientists carper added, crusade endangers health every american, cannot tolerated pruitt signaled move speech last week conservative heritage foundation, questioned independence scientists past epa research grants, promised fix situation election campaign last year, republican president donald trump promised roll back environmental regulations democratic president barack obama administration, including limiting carbon dioxide emissions blamed global warming, make government friendly drilling, mining, manufacturing businesses advisory boards created congress serve check epa policies research include epa scientific advisory board, clean air scientific advisory committee, board scientific counselors last year, sab questioned epa report concluded hydraulic fracturing

senate republican leader mitch mcconnell said tuesday lawmakers trump administration path toward reaching deal bill would keep government funded beyond dec job done december eighth, think path that, mcconnell told reporters, without providing details

democratic us senators introduced bill tuesday said would prevent president donald trump launching nuclear first strike north korea own, highlighting issue days republican first presidential trip asia measure would stop trump, us president, launching attack north korea, spending money military strike, without congressional approval, unless north korea first attacked united states tensions washington pyongyang building series nuclear missile tests north korea bellicose verbal exchanges trump north korean leader kim jong un cia said north korea could months away developing ability hit united states nuclear weapon, scenario trump vowed prevent worry president enthusiasm checked advisers around him, democratic senator chris murphy, legislation lead sponsor, told reporters conference call republicans also expressed concern trump rhetoric, none co sponsored bill, backed seven democrats senator bernie sanders, independent republicans control majorities senate house, indication congressional leaders would allow vote similar measures introduced earlier year also failed advance however, backers said might try pass later year introducing amendment legislation must pass spending bill confidence came vote floor senate, would prevail, murphy said lawmakers trying take back control foreign policy white house congress passed bill july barring president lifting sanctions russia without lawmakers approval, senate foreign relations committee monday held hearing new authorization use military force, aumf, exert authority campaign islamic state militant groups hearing, secretary state rex tillerson secretary defense jim mattis said trump authority use force north korea without imminent threat, define threat would

kremlin said tuesday us charges president donald trump former campaign manager paul manafort another aide showed moscow unfairly maligned accusations meddled last year us presidential election federal investigators probing alleged russian interference election, something moscow denies, charged manafort rick gates money laundering monday despite brought part five month old investigation alleged russian efforts tilt election trump favor potential collusion trump aides, charges, going back decade, centered manafort work ukraine former government, russia welcomed russia, officials watching investigation closely since public evidence russian meddling, something far presented, would sure translate tougher us sanctions moscow kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov highlighted absence allegations russia indictment manafort gates, saying tuesday moscow always said never interfered us election assertion challenged us intelligence agencies say unequivocally moscow interfere november vote russia feature charges leveled way countries people feature charges , peskov told conference call reporters moscow never felt guilty feel exonerated now, said, asked whether kremlin interpreted indictment proof repeated denials meddling election true peskov also brushed aside suggestion someone links russian foreign ministry might tried set meeting trump campaign third ex aide, george papadopoulos, announced monday pleaded guilty early october lying fbi russia flagship tv news show took similar line monday evening, saying clear nothing allegations manafort touch russian officials try sway election us investigation internal matter united states, said peskov, moscow following interest peskov laughed purported role papadopoulos, told investigators tried set meeting trump campaign russian leadership unsuccessful quest broker meeting, papadopoulos said met london based professor boasting contacts russian officials unnamed russian woman also mentioned touch someone linked russian foreign ministry peskov, asked kremlin made someone linked foreign ministry allegedly trying set putin trump meeting, said absolutely laughable allegation media reports suggested individual linked ministry ivan timofeev, works moscow based think tank called russian international relations council riac timofeev respond request comment, told gazetaru online news portal august papadopoulos emailed spring spoken possibility organizing trump trip russia timofeev said papadopoulos never made formal request either riac russian foreign ministry visit, however, got impression acting initiative enthusiast little experience russian foreign minister sergei lavrov told reporters tuesday nothing illegal papadopoulos contacting someone riac

president donald trump said tuesday looking corporate tax rate reduction white house seeks phased time hopefully not, trump told reporters asked issue meeting tax reform white house trump said wanted lawmakers pass tax reform bill us thanksgiving holiday late november

industry group lobbyists tuesday called congress overhaul transparency laws govern activity wake indictments two lobbyists, including paul manafort, former campaign manager us president donald trump charges filed justice department special counsel robert mueller alleged manafort business partner rick gates failed properly disclose lobbying foreign government indictment made public, washington lobbyist tony podesta, longtime powerbroker, stepped firm bearing name company came scrutiny investigation work manafort today another unnecessary black eye lobbying profession, said paul miller, lobbyist heads national institute lobbying ethics nile indictments paul manafort rick gates send message lobbying profession type activity cannot tolerated congress time take hard look lobbying disclosure act manafort, longtime republican operative, gates pleaded guilty monday count indictment contained charges ranging money laundering acting unregistered agents ukraine former pro russian government nile previously encouraged congress close loopholes lobbying disclosure act, known lda, make lobbying transparent subjecting activity disclosure requiring lobbyists reveal intermediary hires behalf another organization two separate laws require lobbying disclosure lda, covers domestic interests, foreign agents registration act, manafort charged requires disclosure lobbying behalf foreign entities today, hear echoes crickets go hill asking reforms direct immediate impact, miller said

bipartisan pair us senators plans introduce legislation tuesday seeking boost cyber defenses state election systems, warnings senior us officials future elections may vulnerable foreign interference securing america voting equipment, save, act latest attempt lawmakers respond us intelligence agencies say multi pronged cyber operation, including hacking online propaganda russia presidential election aimed helping president donald trump moscow repeatedly denied accusations bill introduced democratic senator martin heinrich republican senator susan collins, heinrich spokeswoman said currently co sponsors set stronger protections election systems take necessary steps prevent future foreign influence campaigns, nation democratic institutions remain vulnerable, heinrich said statement save act would authorize director national intelligence dni grant security clearance top election official state addition one designee would also allow dni share classified information states threats voting systems several state election officials complained left dark russia attempts probe voting systems campaign department homeland security dhs notify states said targeted russian last month, part due confidentiality classification restrictions dhs january designated voting systems critical part nation infrastructure, making state elections eligible federal protections legislation would write designation law, also create grant program states upgrade systems better fend physical cyber threats clear whether bill would gain momentum otherwise gridlocked congress

republican tax legislation due released week us house representatives include deduction state local income taxes, top house republican tax policy said tuesday house ways means committee chairman kevin brady said radio interview commentator hugh hewitt emerging bill offer relief property taxes brady spoke house republican leaders sought broker agreement republican lawmakers want state local income tax deduction remain asked would relief income side state local taxes, brady replied answer lawmakers high tax states really believe families punished property taxes

federal investigators probing russian interference us election charged president donald trump former campaign manager paul manafort another aide, rick gates, money laundering monday third former trump adviser, george papadopoulos, pleaded guilty early october lying fbi, announced monday sharp escalation us justice department special counsel robert mueller five month old investigation alleged russian efforts tilt election trump favour potential collusion trump aides manafort, , longtime republican operative, gates arraigned federal courthouse washington men pleaded guilty charges count indictment, ranging money laundering acting unregistered agents ukraine former pro russian government judge ordered house arrest men, set million million pounds unsecured bond manafort million unsecured bond gates unsecured bonds, released without pay owe money fail appear court another hearing thursday developments mueller probe weighed us dollar, slipped percent basket currencies mueller investigation others congressional committees alleged russian efforts influence election cast shadow trump first nine months office us intelligence agencies say russia interfered election hacking releasing embarrassing emails disseminating propaganda via social media discredit democratic presidential candidate hillary clinton russia denies allegations trump denies collusion neither trump campaign mentioned indictment manafort gates charges, going back decade, centre manafort work ukraine indictment includes accusations conspiracy united states, failure report foreign bank accounts us government conspiracy launder money, count carries year maximum prison sentence white house spokeswoman said indictment nothing trump campaign showed evidence collusion campaign russia saying day one evidence trump russia collusion, nothing indictment today changes all, spokeswoman sarah sanders told news briefing manafort attorney, kevin downing said statement evidence trump campaign colluded russian government downing said manafort work ukrainians ended , two years joined trump campaign downing accused mueller using novel legal theory prosecute manafort law requiring lobbyists register department justice work foreign government development directly related trump election campaign, emerged monday papadopoulos, former campaign adviser, pleaded guilty earlier month making false statements federal bureau investigation agents mueller office said papadopoulos lied fbi agents timing contact professor london claimed information would hurt clinton papadopoulos, little known former foreign policy adviser campaign, made plea bargain stated since met government numerous occasions provide information answer questions, according court document sanders, white house spokeswoman, said papadopoulos role campaign extremely limited volunteer asked things basically pushed back responded way, said may email quoted papadopoulos indictment, trump campaign employee forwarded message papadopoulos proposing meeting trump russian government another campaign official employee included note, according indictment, read let discuss need someone communicate dt trips someone low level campaign send signal source washington, want identified seen email, said sender manafort recipient gates manafort ran trump campaign june august resigning amid reports might received millions dollars illegal payments pro russian political party ukraine trump reiterated frustration monday mueller probe, called witch hunt sorry, years ago, paul manafort part trump campaign crooked hillary dems focus, trump wrote twitter, referring clinton mueller investigating manafort financial real estate dealings prior work political group, party regions, backed former pro kremlin ukrainian president viktor yanukovich manafort gates generated tens millions dollars income ukraine work laundered money scores us foreign entities hide payments american authorities, indictment said concealed united states work revenue agents ukrainian political parties used wealth lead lavish lifestyle without paying taxes income, said indictment said manafort owned properties manhattan, brooklyn, hamptons, arlington, virginia, elsewhere prosecutors said manafort spent almost million eight rugs two years million clothes shops beverly hills, california, new york city also said making payments four range rovers mercedes benz gates longtime business partner manafort ties russian ukrainian oligarchs also served deputy manafort brief tenure trump campaign chairman

us charges president donald trump former campaign manager paul manafort, washington investigate ukrainian trace , ria news agency cited russian foreign minister sergei lavrov saying tuesday kiev information us presidential election, lavrov told news briefing, ria reported federal investigators probing alleged russian interference us election, something moscow denies, charged manafort money laundering monday neither trump campaign mentioned indictment manafort charges, going back decade, center manafort work ukraine

white house chief staff john kelly said monday special counsel appointed investigate democrats uranium deal obama administration dossier compiled donald trump presidential campaign think probably layman looking kind thing need find someone very, objective get bottom accusations, kelly said interview fox news special counsel would appointed justice department republicans congress last week launched investigation obama era deal russian company bought canadian firm owned percent us uranium supplies republicans said hillary clinton state department approved deal husband charitable foundation received million donation new york times reported clinton, democrat lost republican trump election, participate decision republicans also raised questions whether democrats funded dossier put together last year presidential campaign detailed accusations trump ties russia washington post reported last week marc elias, lawyer clinton, used campaign funds hire fusion gps, firm behind dossier kelly call special counsel investigate democrats comes probe special counsel robert mueller possible collusion trump campaign russians produced first charges guilty plea grand jury impaneled mueller indicted former trump campaign manager paul manafort aide rick gates monday third former trump adviser, george papadopoulos, pleaded guilty early october lying fbi, announced monday

allegations russian meddling elections united states europe fantasies , interfax news agency cited russian foreign minister sergei lavrov saying tuesday without single piece proof, know accused meddling us election, also european states, agency quoted lavrov telling briefing association european businesses russia recently, allegation moscow decided minister appoint south africa general, limit fantasy

top us business lobby china said tuesday concerned us president donald trump administration making sufficient preparation talks imbalances bilateral economic relationship ahead november visit little advance work done visit, said william zarit, chairman american chamber commerce china referring meetings working level officials negotiate outcomes commercial issues trump meeting chinese counterpart xi jinping understand, really much visit, makes us bit concerned may much discussion structural issues, zarit told reporters beijing us commerce secretary wilbur ross bring business delegation beijing trump visit us business community worried deals announced trip could distract solutions long standing complaints discriminatory chinese policies market access restrictions zarit said hoped proposed deals business delegation overshadow real need structural changes economic relationship trump, stop five asian countries first visit region president, arrive beijing nov us officials still waiting chinese response issues raised us china comprehensive economic dialogue july, zarit said, though give specifics called chinese officials master negotiators said us government business community long suffered less strategic view economic relationship think exception administration, zarit said added unreasonable expect progress months trump presidency ross, said united states looking immediate results tangible agreements trump visit, acknowledged market access, intellectual property rights, tariffs complex take longer time negotiate washington beijing launched day economic plan trump first meeting xi april, including industry specific announcements, resumption american beef sales china us business groups expressed disappointment extent outcomes xi vowed monday china would take measures open economy made remarks meeting members advisory board tsinghua university school economics management, including apple inc aaplo chief executive tim cook facebook inc fbo mark zuckerberg china make joint efforts united states take interests concerns consideration, resolve disputes contradictions, engage win win cooperation , xi said according official china daily newspaper frequently made pledges done little assuage foreign companies concerns ownership caps key sectors, autos, securities, insurance, information technology us business lobbies argue members restricted industries chinese companies operate freely us market also criticized beijing made china plan, offers government backing sectors chinese government deems strategic particularly galling foreign tech firms slate new national security cyber security regulations mandate companies store crucial data within china pass security reviews argue could put business secrets risk basically, look that, boils us company competing country, zarit said

year long audit program overseeing us labs handle lethal pathogens ebola anthrax found overworked safety inspectors, absence independent review weak biosafety protections could expose lab workers public harm, government report say tuesday report government accountability office congress followed series mishaps dangerous pathogens inadvertently released report, seen reuters, concluded federal select agent program needs overhaul gao audited laboratory safety oversight following errors could exposed dozens people live anthrax bacteria deadly toxin ricin report guide questioning officials house energy commerce committee oversight subcommittee thursday federal select agent program jointly run us centers disease control prevention cdc animal plant health inspection service aphis us department agriculture according report, chief concern program focused physical security measures, preventing theft labs, needs focus biosafety issues could protect researchers wider public errors gao report also noted many labs using high risk pathogens research belong either cdc usda, recommended congress consider setting fully independent oversight body remove potential conflicts interest select agent program fully meet key elements effective oversight, report stated safety lapses cdc labs captured headlines scientists high level biosecurity lab properly inactivate anthrax bacteria sending material labs fewer safeguards scientists exposed potentially live anthrax, though one fell ill months followed, food drug administration disclosed discovery decades old vials smallpox storage closet, us army lab erroneously shipped live anthrax nearly labs worldwide address concerns conflict interest, cdc aphis made structural changes increase program independence, according gao report, program undergone comprehensive risk management review, even problems lab safety continue come light recently last november, department homeland security found private lab inadvertently shipped ricin

president donald trump top national security aides pushed back monday us lawmakers calling new congressional war authorization, saying would mistake impose geographic time limits campaign islamic state militant groups war fundamentally unpredictable, secretary defense jim mattis told senate hearing potential new authorization use military force, aumf, congress significant step years toward taking back control constitutional right authorize war mattis secretary state rex tillerson told senate foreign relations committee would put us forces risk existing authorizations repealed without new ones place said need new aumf justify ongoing military action aumf provides statutory authority ongoing us military operations al qaeda taliban associated forces, including islamic state iraq syria, isis, tillerson said republican democratic members congress argued years congress ceded much authority military white house sept , , attacks divisions much control exert pentagon stymied repeated efforts pass new aumf republican senator jeff flake, proposed authorization democratic senator tim kaine, said congress buy military conflicts exerting constitutional authority declare war senate, aspire cog feedback loop, flake said argued passing aumf would send important message washington unified us troops, allies adversaries job do, kaine said, questioning whether resistance new aumf simply opposition congressional oversight concerns intensified month four us soldiers killed niger, previously trump talk possibility attack north korea april attack airfield syria republican senator bob corker, committee chairman, said ambush niger shows us forces find combat moment congress passed aumf since measure authorizing iraq war legal justification military action past years older authorization passed days sept attacks, campaign al qaeda affiliates backers new aumf say authorization let presidents wage war wherever like, without answering congress, public example, islamic state exist think american people want united states conducting global, endless shadow war, radar, covert beyond scrutiny, said senator ben cardin, top democrat foreign relations panel mattis said averse new authorization said imposing limits would help non state actors america adversaries non traditional war spanning much globe enemy hopes going quit certain day, know deal step certain border, enemy going exactly that, mattis said trump fellow republicans control majorities senate house representatives deep divisions possible new authorization within party, well republicans democrats republicans echo flake calling congress weigh in, hawkish lawmakers say military commanders decide fight america enemies democrats say want aumf limiting why, long us forces sent fight, others refuse go record supporting conflict

prominent washington lobbyist tony podesta stepped lobbying firm podesta group investigators examine company ties us president donald trump indicted former campaign manager, source familiar matter said monday podesta stepped day federal investigators probing russian interference us election campaign charged former trump campaign manager paul manafort business associate, rick gates, money laundering manafort, longtime republican operative, gates pleaded guilty count indictment charges ranging money laundering acting unregistered agents ukraine former pro russian government indictment manafort gates listed two unnamed firms company company b lobbied several lawmakers behalf ukraine manafort request indictment name podesta group spokesperson podesta group said podesta stepped monday contact investigators special counsel robert mueller team fully cooperating probe spokesperson also said podesta group fully complied law disclosing lobbying behalf european centre modern ukraine, group linked manafort named indictment podesta group filed lobbying disclosures department justice april august saying work pro russian ukrainian group manafort worked podesta group work alongside another washington lobbying firm, mercury llc, also said monday cooperating mueller team charges filed anyone podesta group mercury tony podesta respond requests comment monday podesta head firm bore name million lobbying first nine months , according disclosures firm filed us congress brother john podesta, served chairman presidential campaign democratic candidate hillary clinton, senior white house adviser democratic former president barack obama mueller team investigating alleged russian meddling campaign, neither trump campaign mentioned indictment manafort gates podesta group seen mainly democratic lobbying firm, mercury viewed mainly republican shop mercury subsidiary omnicom group public relations work addition lobbying omnicom reply request comment podesta listed lobbyist several firm largest accounts including wells fargo, lockheed martin, oracle, wal mart, textron general dynamics wells fargo, wal mart, oracle, general dynamic lockheed martin declined comment textron respond request comment

obscure trump campaign adviser pleaded guilty lying fbi agents contacts people claimed ties top russian officials, first criminal charges alleging links campaign moscow, said court documents released monday george papadopoulos, joined trump presidential campaign march , lied january communicating individuals arrange meeting republican presidential candidate donald trump russian president vladimir putin, special counsel robert mueller said documents documents said unidentified campaign official advised papadopoulos around may trump trips someone low level campaign send signal mentioned documents, top trump campaign advisers, including trump eldest son, donald trump jr son law, jared kushner campaign manager paul manafort met trump tower new york june russians claiming derogatory information democratic rival hillary clinton known whether meeting resulted papadopoulos efforts special counsel said papadopoulos

colony northstar inc ended consulting agreement rick gates, former campaign aide us president donald trump, spokesman real estate financial firm said monday gates, working consultant colony six months, according spokesman, indicted monday charges conspiracy launder money failing report foreign bank accounts us government charges part probe robert mueller, special counsel appointed investigate whether russia tried tilt presidential election trump favor, whether members trump campaign colluded effort gates pleaded guilty charges monday david bos, lawyer represented gates appearance federal court, declined comment gates could reached comment longtime associate former trump campaign chairman paul manafort, also indicted monday, gates continued work trump campaign manafort left august gates also worked colony northstar founder executive chairman thomas barrack jr trump presidential inaugural committee, according three sources asked identified barrack chaired committee

mercury public affairs, work paul manafort related lobbying pro russian ukrainian political party, cooperating federal probe russia possible interference presidential campaign, mercury partner said mercury takes obligations follow laws, rules regulations seriously mercury continue fully cooperate office special counsel investigation, michael mckeon told reuters emailed statement

top us regulator wall street took unusual step monday directly asking president donald trump veto resolution allows financial companies block customers banding together sue, request likely ignored consumer financial protection bureau, independent regulator headed democrat richard cordray, finalized rule july barring banks, credit card issuers financial companies requiring customers give rights join group lawsuits, known class actions, take potential disputes closed door arbitration congress recently voted kill rule special resolution trump, republican, expected sign law soon alone power safeguard people ability take action together go court wronged, cordray, expected resign soon run ohio governor, wrote trump white house officials immediately available comment letter class actions, individuals complaint band together lower lawsuit costs trump vetoed legislation since taking office january frequently criticized cordray, appointed former democratic president barack obama, cfpb, established financial crisis protect individuals predatory lending cordray wrote never met spoken trump, many told mind made resolution shortly senate passed resolution last tuesday, white house released statement saying cfpb rule would give consumers fewer options resolve disputes quickly efficiently would primarily enrich trial lawyers administration also said cfpb used faulty research write rule cfpb says five year study mandatory arbitration thorough rule based sound data rule supporters say arbitration stacked favor companies, hire mediators, right trial enshrined constitution friday, military veterans also asked veto regulators almost never make personal pleas vetoes, let alone release requests publicly cordray strained relationship republicans, say much power writes enforces rules fired cause, strict standard nearly impossible meet trump gone far arguing court filings cfpb unconstitutional power fire director

us senate intelligence committee chairman richard burr said monday indictments announced special counsel robert mueller change anything regarding panel investigation potential russian meddling us election change anything investigation, burr said statement received documents interest two individuals named, clearly criminal charges put special counsel purview

defense democratic us senator bob menendez federal corruption trial rested monday, court records showed, case could political repercussions washington nears end eight weeks testimony expected, menendez co defendant, florida ophthalmologist salomon melgen, declined take witness stand defense closing arguments set begin earlier wednesday morning menendez, , accused accepting bribes melgen, including luxury vacations, private flights campaign contributions, exchange using political influence help melgen variety ways lawyers menendez melgen told jury newark, new jersey, nothing wrong actions stemmed close, brother like relationship case could outsized effect capitol hill, republicans hold narrow edge senate menendez convicted either resigns expelled republican new jersey governor chris christie term expires january, governor would presumably name republican replace democratic candidate succeed christie, phil murphy, holds comfortable lead polls ahead state gubernatorial election nov republican effort repeal former president barack obama signature healthcare law failed single vote senate july, party pursuit tax reform expected similarly hard fought defense attorneys ended case monday soon judge overseeing trial, william walls, denied request declare mistrial lawyers argued walls unfairly limited witnesses evidence could present jurors menendez intervened medicare officials melgen behalf agency determined doctor overbilled millions dollars, according prosecutors melgen convicted separately earlier year florida medicare fraud, though new jersey jury heard case addition, senator pressed us officials resolve port dispute dominican republic involving one melgen business ventures issue visas several melgen foreign girlfriends, prosecutors say among witnesses appeared defense two menendez colleagues republican us senator lindsay graham democratic us senator cory booker, new jersey senator men testified menendez good character without reference current charges

paul manafort, businessman longtime republican party operative, surrendered monday federal bureau investigation face first charges produced special counsel investigation alleged russian meddling us presidential election manafort associate rick gates indicted federal grand jury count indictment included conspiracy united states, conspiracy launder money, unregistered agent foreign principal, making false misleading statements seven counts failure file reports foreign banks financial accounts pleaded guilty charges kremlin denied meddled election campaign try tilt vote trump favor trump denied collusion campaign paul manafort manafort veteran republican operative worked washington lobbyist international political consultant former clients include authoritarian leaders late ferdinand marcos philippines russian ukrainian businessmen politicians manafort campaign manager trump campaign summer indictment charge indictment manafort gates says generated tens millions dollars income ukraine work laundered money scores us foreign entities hide payments us authorities least june, manafort gates retroactively registered justice department foreign agents, foreign agents registration act filing showed earned million lobbying behalf party regions, pro russian political party ukraine, indictment said concealed united states work revenue agents ukrainian political parties used wealth lead lavish lifestyle without paying taxes income, prosecutors said indictment says million flowed manafort gates offshore accounts manafort, indictment said, laundered million indictment also alleges manafort gates, along others, conspired defraud united states impeding, impairing, obstructing, defeating lawful governmental functions department justice treasury department manafort indicted nine counts gates indicted eight counts manafort links trump manafort joined trump presidential campaign march later became campaign manager, forced resign august questions emerged previous work political party kremlin backed former ukrainian president, viktor yanukovich business insider reported manafort trump connected since s, trump hired manafort lobbying firm help trump organization , manafort wife bought apartment trump tower new york, manafort still owns lives manhattan, business insider reported charges relate trump nothing campaign allegations collusion russia, said washington attorney john dowd, represents trump russia probe trump confidante said relates president, nothing counts indictment came today, predates tenure campaign special counsel indictment says manafort gates laundered money scores united states foreign corporations, partnerships bank accounts approximately least rick gates rick gates manafort deputy business associate according two former high level trump staffers, gates essentially functioned trump campaign manager two months, collecting paycheck new york times reported june trump transition team ordered preserve materials related ongoing investigations alleged russian meddling election according times, memo special counsel office former transition team also sought specific information five people including manafort gates according indictment, least manafort gates acted unregistered agents ukrainian government, ukrainian political party headed ukraine president, yanukovich, yanukovich indictment said generated tens millions dollars income result ukraine work yanukovich living exile russia since ousted mass street protests kiev departure lit fuse moscow annexation crimea separatist uprising mainly russian speaking eastern ukraine indictment said gates aided manafort obtaining money offshore accounts gates used money pay personal expenses including mortgage, children tuition, interior decorating virginia residence significant gates arrest indictment lays extent gates involvement manafort going back years could potentially open door gates testify manafort others future david sklansky, professor stanford law school former federal prosecutor, said gates could feel pressure cooperate provide testimony trump

attorney former trump campaign manager paul manafort said monday evidence manafort colluded russian government working campaign fact work behalf ukraine ended two years earlier think saw today president donald trump correct evidence mr manafort trump campaign colluded russian government, attorney kevin downing told reporters manafort pleaded guilty money laundering charges mr manafort represented pro european union campaigns ukrainians seeking democracy help ukraine come closer united states eu, downing said activities ended two years mr manafort served trump campaign

new york city mayor bill de blasio fight millionaires tax help repair country largest subway system got boost us senator bernie sanders, one nation popular politicians, endorsed plan monday mayor saying washington say wealthiest people country know what, need start paying fair share taxes, sanders said news conference de blasio manhattan subway station began little late train delays independent senator vermont espouses democratic socialism, sanders lost democratic party presidential nomination hillary clinton remains influential voice party left wing repeatedly tops opinion polls country well liked politicians de blasio wants state tax hike people making , year, saying would generate hundreds millions dollars repairs upgrades century old subway system plan, increase tax rate individual income , percent percent, would also fund half price bus subway rides , city poorest residents new york state, city, runs subway metropolitan transportation authority governor andrew cuomo, fellow democrat, dismissed de blasio plan, saying tax hike would get republican controlled new york senate cuomo proposed charging drivers toll enter parts manhattan, de blasio said would put burden city poorer outer boroughs sanders, new york city native, due join de blasio later monday campaign rally ahead next week mayoral election polls show de blasio comfortably winning second term republican challenger nicole malliotakis independent candidate bo dietl

president donald trump likely pick federal reserve governor jerome powell next head us central bank, source familiar matter said monday, prompting investors push yields treasury notes republican president, considering powell, current fed chair janet yellen three others top central bank job, announce decision thursday, white house official said separately picking powell, soft spoken centrist fed governor since , trump would get combination leadership change continuity offered somebody part yellen run fed kept economy markets steady recent years powell, , supported yellen general direction setting monetary policy, recent years shared concerns weak inflation justified continued cautious approach raising interest rates powell offended people, huge advantage washington kind guy get senate confirmation, administration many problems deal with, said john silva, chief economist wells fargo main challenger powell stanford university economist john taylor, favorite conservative republicans believe monetary policy loose yellen want central bank rely rules setting rates taylor spent last two decades refining pushing wider use rule sets rates be, given certain conditions inflation broader economy rule implies higher critics say taylor run fed would run risk tightening monetary policy fast choking recovery financial crisis recession race fed job shifted yellen, nominated former president barack obama one year term , powell taylor recent weeks financial markets pushed treasury yields higher talk taylor would get job benchmark year treasury notes us yt rr yielding percent mid afternoon trading monday, percent friday fed, holding two day policy meeting week, lifted rates twice year expected december

indictments two former trump campaign aides monday nothing president donald trump campaign show evidence collusion campaign russia, white house spokeswoman said today announcement nothing president, nothing president campaign campaign activity, spokeswoman sarah sanders told news briefing saying day one evidence trump russia collusion, nothing indictment today changes all, added

white house said monday backing proposal phase planned reduction us corporate tax rate asked report house representatives considering five year phase corporate tax cut, white house spokeswoman sarah sanders said president laid principles include phasing reason believe changes front point, added

us president donald trump interfere investigation justice department special counsel robert mueller try fire former fbi director, trump lawyer jay sekulow said monday indictment trump campaign aides president interfering special counsel mueller position, firing special counsel said before, sekulow said interview cnn

former president barack obama, back campaign trail thursday first time since left white house, called voters reject growing politics division said corroding american democracy without mentioning republican president donald trump name, obama told campaign rallies new jersey virginia voters could send powerful message type politics want backing democrats nov elections two states old politics division seen many times before, dates back centuries, obama told cheering crowd newark, new jersey, chanted four years politics see now, thought put bed folks looking years back, obama said st century, th century later stop richmond, virginia, obama said modern politics increasingly reflect basic american values inclusiveness driving people away process got folks deliberately trying make folks angry, demonize people different ideas, get base riled provides short term tactical advantage sometimes feels frustrating, obama said many obama comments appeared thinly veiled swipes trump, whose combative style inflammatory rhetoric led frequent controversy stoked political tensions obama made remarks hours former president george w bush, republican, also took indirect swing trump speech decrying bullying prejudice defending immigrants trade obama appearances aimed driving democratic turnout new jersey virginia, two states holding elections governor year democrats hope obama bring young, minority infrequent voters powered two elections white house polls year elections two contests closely watched see democrats convert grassroots resistance trump electoral wins falling short earlier year four competitive special congressional elections governor races, special election december us senate seat alabama, could offer clues national political mood ahead next year congressional elections, seats house representatives senate seats grabs republicans currently control chambers since leaving white house january, obama frequently forced defend record trump republicans tried gut signature healthcare law roll back immigration environmental policies rarely spoken politics past nine months, obama said critical supporters get friends families vote newark, said one assume victory opinion polls show phil murphy, former investment banker us ambassador germany, comfortable lead republican opponent kim guadagno, state lieutenant governor know noticed that, take election granted, said reference democrat hillary clinton surprise loss last year presidential race political battleground virginia, polls show close contest democrat ralph northam, state lieutenant governor, republican ed gillespie, former republican national committee chairman endorsed trump obama carried virginia , democrat hillary clinton state trump percentage points

charges brought president donald trump former campaign manager officials monday would change white house cooperation special counsel investigating alleged russian intervention election, white house official said white house continues cooperate, official said

president donald trump monday responded charges former campaign manager paul manafort saying allegations predated tenure trump presidential campaign, indictment states activities continued sorry, years ago, paul manafort part trump campaign crooked hillary dems focus trump wrote, referring former democratic opponent hillary clinton indictment says manafort associate rick gates conspired defraud united states

us president donald trump former campaign manager paul manafort surrender federal authorities later monday amid ongoing probe alleged russian meddling presidential campaign, cnn new york times reported, citing unnamed sources times, citing someone involved case, said manafort former business associate rick gates also told surrender us authorities manafort seen leaving home early monday morning, according reuters witness, unclear headed

federal investigators probing russian interference us election charged president donald trump former campaign manager paul manafort another aide, rick gates, money laundering monday third former trump adviser, george papadopoulos, pleaded guilty early october lying fbi, announced monday sharp escalation us justice department special counsel robert mueller five month old investigation alleged russian efforts tilt election trump favour potential collusion trump aides manafort, , longtime republican operative, gates arraigned federal courthouse washington men pleaded guilty charges count indictment, ranging money laundering acting unregistered agents ukraine former pro russian government judge ordered house arrest men, set million million pounds unsecured bond manafort million unsecured bond gates unsecured bonds, released without pay owe money fail appear court another hearing thursday developments mueller probe weighed us dollar, slipped percent basket currencies mueller investigation others congressional committees alleged russian efforts influence election cast shadow trump first nine months office us intelligence agencies say russia interfered election hacking releasing embarrassing emails disseminating propaganda via social media discredit democratic presidential candidate hillary clinton russia denies allegations trump denies collusion neither trump campaign mentioned indictment manafort gates charges, going back decade, centre manafort work ukraine indictment includes accusations conspiracy united states, failure report foreign bank accounts us government conspiracy launder money, count carries year maximum prison sentence white house spokeswoman said indictment nothing trump campaign showed evidence collusion campaign russia saying day one evidence trump russia collusion, nothing indictment today changes all, spokeswoman sarah sanders told news briefing manafort attorney, kevin downing said statement evidence trump campaign colluded russian government downing said manafort work ukrainians ended , two years joined trump campaign downing accused mueller using novel legal theory prosecute manafort law requiring lobbyists register department justice work foreign government development directly related trump election campaign, emerged monday papadopoulos, former campaign adviser, pleaded guilty earlier month making false statements federal bureau investigation agents mueller office said papadopoulos lied fbi agents timing contact professor london claimed information would hurt clinton papadopoulos, little known former foreign policy adviser campaign, made plea bargain stated since met government numerous occasions provide information answer questions, according court document sanders, white house spokeswoman, said papadopoulos role campaign extremely limited volunteer asked things basically pushed back responded way, said may email quoted papadopoulos indictment, trump campaign employee forwarded message papadopoulos proposing meeting trump russian government another campaign official employee included note, according indictment, read let discuss need someone communicate dt trips someone low level campaign send signal source washington, want identified seen email, said sender manafort recipient gates manafort ran trump campaign june august resigning amid reports might received millions dollars illegal payments pro russian political party ukraine trump reiterated frustration monday mueller probe, called witch hunt sorry, years ago, paul manafort part trump campaign crooked hillary dems focus, trump wrote twitter, referring clinton mueller investigating manafort financial real estate dealings prior work political group, party regions, backed former pro kremlin ukrainian president viktor yanukovich manafort gates generated tens millions dollars income ukraine work laundered money scores us foreign entities hide payments american authorities, indictment said concealed united states work revenue agents ukrainian political parties used wealth lead lavish lifestyle without paying taxes income, said indictment said manafort owned properties manhattan, brooklyn, hamptons, arlington, virginia, elsewhere prosecutors said manafort spent almost million eight rugs two years million clothes shops beverly hills, california, new york city also said making payments four range rovers mercedes benz gates longtime business partner manafort ties russian ukrainian oligarchs also served deputy manafort brief tenure trump campaign chairman

investigation possible russian meddling us presidential election enter new phase early monday, first charges resulting probe could unsealed target taken custody federal grand jury approved indictment friday federal judge ordered sealed, source briefed matter told reuters, adding could unsealed soon monday indictment could mark dramatic turn special counsel robert mueller investigation allegations russian interference race possible links officials president donald trump campaign russia investigation cast shadow trump month old presidency widened partisan rift republicans democrats us intelligence agencies concluded january russia interfered election try help trump defeat democrat hillary clinton hacking releasing embarrassing emails disseminating propaganda via social media discredit mueller, former director federal bureau investigation, looking possible links trump aides foreign governments, well potential money laundering, tax evasion financial crimes, according sources familiar probe also exploring whether trump aides tried obstruct investigation mueller appointed lead investigation week trump may firing fbi director james comey, heading federal probe possible collusion russia trump initially said fired comey leadership fbi inadequate later interview nbc, cited russia thing reason trump denied allegations collusion russians called probe witch hunt kremlin also denied allegations sunday, trump tried shift focus back democrats clinton, tweeting russia issue used sidetrack republican push tax reform praising republican anger unity need look whether democrats clinton campaign paid portion dossier detailed accusations trump ties russia special white house counsel ty cobb said president tweets unrelated activities special counsel, continues cooperate investigators led mueller interviewed former white house chief staff reince priebus, former spokesman sean spicer current former white house campaign officials july, fbi agents raided virginia home trump former campaign manager paul manafort, whose financial real estate dealings prior work pro russian political party ukraine investigated mueller team mueller also investigated michael flynn, adviser trump campaign later national security adviser flynn fired post february misleading vice president mike pence extent conversations russian ambassador sergei kislyak last year indictment mueller probe first reported cnn, said target could taken custody monday possibility spurred trump conservative allies call mueller firing sebastian gorka, outspoken former adviser left white house august, said twitter mueller stripped authority investigated executed warrants probe white house said summer trump intention firing mueller even though questioned impartiality republicans also criticized leaks press indictment raised possibility responsible could prosecuted republican senator rob portman said nbc meet press trump defensive russia probe said broad outrage russia attempted meddling

president donald trump plan overhauling us tax system faced growing opposition interest groups sunday, republicans prepare unveil sweeping legislation could eliminate popular tax breaks help pay lower taxes republicans control us house representatives reveal bill wednesday national association home builders, powerful housing industry trade group, already vowing defeat change could affect use home mortgage deductions, republican leaders try head opposition possible changes individual retirement savings state local tax payments trump republicans vowed enact tax reform year first time since plan deliver trillion tax cuts businesses individuals faces challenges even rank file house republicans house senate republicans fast track pass separate tax bills nov us thanksgiving holiday, iron differences december, send final version trump desk january ultimately hand president first major legislative victory analysts say good chance tax overhaul delayed next year nahb, boasts , member firms employing million workers, says bill would harm us home prices marginalizing value mortgage interest deductions incentive buying homes trade group wants legislation offer tax credit equaling percent mortgage interest property tax payments says rebuffed house republican leaders opposed tax bill without tax credit there, working aggressively see defeated, nahb chief executive jerry howard told reuters house ways means committee chairman kevin brady, top house republican tax policy, suggested statement nahb credit could still included, saying hope members congress examine closely determine want included republicans warned trump tax plan entering new difficult phase lobbyists ramp pressure lawmakers spare pet tax breaks groups start rallying things succeed, everything starts unraveling, senator bob corker, leading republican fiscal hawk, told cbs face nation anxiety high tax states one biggest challenges involves proposal eliminate federal deduction state local taxes salt , analysts say would hit upper middle class families high income tax states new york, new jersey california states home enough house republicans stymie legislation brady gave ground weekend, saying would allow deduction local taxes remain restoring itemized property tax deduction help taxpayers local tax burdens, brady said another statement gesture appeared little turn tide opposition salt elimination going sign onto anything full package fully analyzed economists, representative peter king new york told fox news program sunday morning futures fact getting eleventh hour raises real issues me, added lobby coalition representing state local governments, realtors public unions rejected brady statement outright, saying move would unfairly penalize taxpayers states rely significantly income taxes house republicans also faced opposition trump others proposing sharply curtail tax free contributions k programs move retirement savings style account allows tax free withdrawals, rather tax exempt contributions popular k investors house republicans say could permit higher k contribution limits continue talk tax free withdrawals expand amount invest also give option actually taxed later life, house republican leader kevin mccarthy told fox news current cap annual k tax free contributions , corker said congressional tax committees seem falling short goal eliminate trillion tax breaks prevent trump plan adding federal deficit great difficulty getting trillion, said tennessee republican, vowed vote tax reform increases federal debt load stands trillion ohio republican governor, john kasich, told fox news sunday spending entitlement programs medicare, medicaid social security also reviewed part effort pay tax cuts may separate tax bill, needs happen, kasich said

federal grand jury friday approved first charges investigation alleged russian meddling us presidential election, source briefed matter told reuters indictment sealed orders federal judge clear charges target was, source said, adding could unsealed early monday filing charges grand jury washington first reported friday cnn, said target could taken custody soon monday us intelligence agencies concluded january russia interfered election try help president donald trump defeat democratic candidate hillary clinton campaign hacking releasing embarrassing emails, disseminating propaganda via social media discredit campaign special counsel robert mueller, former director federal bureau investigation, investigating whether trump campaign officials colluded russian efforts special counsel finds necessary appropriate, special counsel authorized prosecute federal crimes arising investigation matters, deputy attorney general rod rosenstein said may letter appointing mueller sources familiar mueller investigation said used broad authority investigate links trump aides foreign governments well possible money laundering, tax evasion financial crimes peter carr, spokesman mueller, declined comment friday trump, republican elected president last november, denied allegations campaign colluded russians condemned investigations matter witch hunt kremlin denied allegations mueller investigation also includes effort determine whether trump aides tried obstruct justice special counsel team conducted interviews former white house chief staff reince priebus, former spokesman sean spicer current former white house officials july, fbi agents raided home virginia trump former campaign manager, paul manafort, whose financial real estate dealings prior work pro russian political party ukraine investigated mueller team mueller appointed lead investigation week trump fired fbi director james comey, heading federal probe possible collusion russia trump initially said fired comey leadership fbi inadequate hurt morale, later interview nbc cited russia thing reason russia investigation cast shadow trump nine month old presidency widened partisan rift republicans democrats republican lawmakers earlier week launched investigations examine several trump longstanding political grievances, including fbi probe hillary clinton emails alleged role sale us uranium russian firm mueller team also investigated michael flynn, adviser trump campaign later briefly served national security adviser flynn fired post february misleading vice president mike pence extent conversations russian ambassador sergei kislyak last year trump campaign team, flynn also , contract turkish businessman help discredit us based turkish cleric fethullah gulen, accused turkey government instigating failed coup july former cia director james woolsey, also adviser trump campaign, alleged flynn discussed businessman two turkish government ministers idea covertly spiriting gulen united states face charges turkey jonathan franks, spokesman woolsey, said friday woolsey wife communication fbi mueller team claim woolsey wife, nancye miller, responded every request, whether fbi, or, recently, office special counsel, franks said statement flynn previously denied spokesperson plan ever discussed reuters reported thursday woolsey wife last year pitched million project turkish businessman agreed smaller contract flynn win contract bidding lobbying consulting contract foreign company government illegal flynn came scrutiny waited march retroactively register justice department foreign agent work gulen project

us senator susan collins, republican member intelligence committee, said democrats called testify reports party hillary clinton presidential campaign paid parts dossier detailed accusations president donald trump ties russia washington post reported last week marc elias, lawyer democratic presidential candidate clinton, used campaign funds hire fusion gps, firm behind dossier committees chambers congress investigating origin contents document john podesta, clinton campaign chairman, us representative debbie wasserman schultz, head democratic national committee time, well elias absolutely need recalled testify, collins said appearance cbs face nation difficult imagine campaign chairman, head dnc would know expenditure magnitude significance, collins said perhaps something going certainly, worth additional questioning two witnesses lawyer absolutely, anyone widely reported supporters republican jeb bush, primary opponent trump, initially paid firm research perkins coie, elias law firm, confirmed tuesday hired fusion gps april washington free beacon, conservative online publication backed billionaire republican megadonor paul singer, said friday original funder fusion gps project compile opposition research multiple republican presidential candidates, including trump known steele dossier compiled former mi officer christopher steele, document identified russian businessmen others us intelligence analysts concluded russian intelligence officers working behalf russian government representative trey gowdy, republican runs house oversight committee, said appearance fox news sunday interested whether federal bureau investigation department justice used dossier conducting probes expect democratic national committee objective, gowdy said almost definition, opposition research objective next thing house intel trying find whether us government relied

us president donald trump said saturday would release documents related assassination president john f kennedy except names addresses people still alive strict consultation general kelly, cia agencies, releasing jfkfiles names addresses mentioned person still living, trump wrote series tweets, referring chief staff john kelly

us house intelligence committee saturday said reached agreement related subpoena washington research firm bank records would secure access records panel probe russian meddling presidential election announcement came day federal judge given unnamed bank time respond congressional panel subpoena fusion gps, research outfit hired former british spy compile dossier presidential candidate donald trump washington free beacon, conservative online publication backed billionaire republican mega donor paul singer, said friday original funder fusion gps project compile opposition research multiple republican presidential candidates, including trump trump republicans alleged russians paid fusion gps research dealings president campaign free beacon said material provided came public sources effort separate former british spy dossier allegations russian financial personal links president donald trump campaign associates known steele dossier compiled former mi officer christopher steele, document identified russian businessmen others us intelligence analysts concluded russian intelligence officers working behalf russian government democratic presidential candidate hillary clinton campaign democratic national committee began paying fusion gps april research trump, arrangement later produced steele dossier trump, called allegations campaign collusion moscow hoax, repeatedly called dossier fake news much inflammatory times salacious content dossier verified however, us officials confirmed certain details closed door hearing senate judiciary committee investigators, fusion gps founder glenn simpson said connection firm work dossier legal research lawsuit involving russians attended june trump tower meeting trump son, donald trump jr, son law close aide, jared kushner, former campaign chief paul manafort, sources familiar hearing said

republican led federal communications commission moving quickly undo roadblocks increased consolidation among media companies, potentially unleashing onslaught deals among tv, radio newspaper owners seek better compete online media fcc chairman ajit pai wednesday disclosed plans ask media communications regulator nov eliminate year old ban cross ownership newspaper tv station major market changes would also make easier media companies buy additional tv stations market, local stations jointly sell advertising time move, along expected fcc media rule changes, could usher new era media consolidation could help struggling newspapers tv stations, limit diversity media voices fcc pai cited rising competition advertising websites like alphabet inc google facebook inc reason easing media ownership rules well helping struggling newspapers big media firms including tegna inc nexstar media group inc, cited potential rule change motivating look expansion opportunities near future, decision could also allow sinclair broadcast group s, seeking approval proposed billion acquisition tribune media co, avoid divestitures order get deal approved eliminating outdated regulations unnecessarily hobble local broadcast stations benefit consumers communities across country, said national association broadcasters friday advocacy group free press criticized pai proposal, saying ignores decades runaway media consolidation significantly harmed local news independent voices anne bentley, spokeswoman tegna, tv broadcaster formerly known gannett spun newspapers , said company expects strategic disciplined consolidator pivotal time positive regulatory change nexstar chief executive officer perry sook said statement thursday changes would allow local broadcasters make additional investments localized programming content, people, news resources reporting capabilities roger entner, analyst recon analytics, told reuters rollback rules means see consolidation local level, tv stations tv groups buy local newspapers cbs corp chief executive les moonves said february believed pai deregulatory plans beneficial business rule changes, cbs would strategically want buy april, fcc voted reverse decision limits number television stations broadcasters could buy rules adopted , stations weaker air signals could partially counted broadcaster ownership cap last year, fcc democratic president barack obama said rules outdated conversion digital broadcasting, eliminated differences station signal strength pai said late march also planned take new look current overall limit companies owning stations serving percent us television households

federal grand jury washington friday approved first charges investigation led special counsel robert mueller alleged russian meddling us presidential election, source briefed matter told reuters filing sealed charges first reported cnn

us president donald trump intends nominate michael griffin, former administrator national aeronautics space administration, principal deputy undersecretary defense acquisition, technology, logistics, white house said friday griffin recently served chairman chief executive officer schafer corporation, provider scientific, engineering, technical services products national security sector, white house said statement held top nasa job

new york california democratic governors said friday residents would face hefty tax increases would leave states proposal republican tax plan would eliminate state local tax salt deductions federal income tax andrew cuomo new york jerry brown california spoke joint conference call day republican controlled us house representatives passed measure advanced president donald trump tax plan republican leaders sketched outline tax measures would eliminate tax break, although detailed legislation unveiled next wednesday salt deduction eliminated tax package would disproportionately hit residents states high income taxes, many historically democratic, governors said attack california, new york new jersey, states would vote trump, brown said gross manipulation tax code salt deduction allows residents subtract income taxes paid states local governments total income taxed federal government taxes elimination would one among series measures offset lost revenues envisaged sweeping overall cuts corporate personal taxes analysts say overall tax package would cut taxes companies individuals trillion next decade, many residents high tax states use deduction would pay more, governors said new york, taxpayers would pay average additional , federal income taxes year without salt deduction, cuomo office said separate statement sharp increase taxes would likely lead exodus residents, starting high earners, would see greatest increases, cuomo said higher income people move, said republican lawmakers high tax states voted budget measure thursday express opposition elimination salt deduction republican congressional leaders working allay concerns salt repealed, would expect deterioration credit quality affected states localities medium term, including price pressure housing markets areas bordering states lower local taxes eg, southern new jersey , barclays analysts wrote clients thursday however, municipal bonds issued high tax states localities would likely become even valuable investors, could stronger demand retail investors, bringing yields muni treasury ratios down, barclays said

white house promoted president donald trump tax cut plan friday forecast faster us economic expansion wage growth, independent analysts said plan would swell budget deficit provide little spark economy rival projections reflected many unknowns swirling around plan, expected unveiled legislative form wednesday republicans still undecided hardest parts, pay costly cuts proposed weeks possibly months debate lie ahead project trump promised tackle election campaign september, unveiled rough framework cutting taxes wants congress approve bill, would mark first major legislative victory, end year trump plan tax cuts sort normally reserved times economic recession taking shape congress amid signs economy already growing briskly gross domestic product increased percent annual rate july september period, supported strong business spending equipment, commerce department said friday economic recovery begun former president barack obama recession eighth year showing little signs fatigue amid tightening labor market hard say need tax cuts individual level need provide fiscal stimulus economy already strong, said bernard baumohl, chief global economist economic outlook group princeton, new jersey faced improving economic prospects, republicans shifted rhetoric tax cuts away getting economy moving keeping expansion track analysis released white house economic adviser kevin hassett said slashing top federal corporate tax rate letting businesses write full cost capital investments immediately, proposed plan, would bring faster growth higher wages hassett projections envisioned percent percent increase gdp that, years, could represent additional billion trillion economic output tax policy center, nonprofit washington think tank, released analysis concluded trump tax plan would produce significant, permanent economic boost group said plan would reduce federal tax revenue roughly trillion next decade trillion decade that, adding significantly us national debt already exceeds trillion center said trump tax cuts would drive new activity first, impact would blunted later years rising deficits, forcing federal borrowing finance tax cuts driving borrowing costs private sector hassett told reporters expect tax reform add significantly deficit conceded would become big negative economic growth failed materialize debt level soared framework trump plan unveiled last month called reducing corporate tax rate percent percent, small business rate percent percent top individual rate percent percent also called specifically repealing estate tax inheritances alternative minimum tax, typically paid country highest income earners less clear plan proposals reduce number tax brackets, enhance child tax credit possibly put new limits popular k retirement pension plans details unfinished tax legislation unknown, economic impact unclear, said omer eisner, chief market analyst commonwealth foreign exchange washington hours commerce department reported stronger expected third quarter us economic growth percent hassett said data undercut need tax cuts said economic expansion stronger stock market performance could undermined republican controlled congress fails enact tax cuts firms optimistic regulatory reform also expect corporate tax reform overall tax reform, hassett said thing worried expectations prove incorrect, would expect business capital spending go back disappointing path equity markets decline well kevin brady, chairman us house representatives tax committee, said progress made toward satisfying republicans held back support tax plan could end deduction state local taxes hopeful find good solution them, brady said

us ambassador united nations nikki haley said friday want take job secretary state rex tillerson, whose tenure dogged rumors rifts president donald trump asked reporters whether wanted top us diplomat, haley said want keep conversation focus is, really want good job secretary state tillerson going anywhere, really topic conversation, told reporters kinshasa end week long trip africa offered job, said would say tillerson, former chief executive officer exxon mobil corp, said oct never considered resigning, failed address whether referred trump moron, nbc reported days trump said twitter tillerson wasting time trying negotiate north korea secretary state said washington directly communicating pyongyang nuclear missile programs recently trump said good relationship secretary state tillerson could tougher haley, republican former governor south carolina, traveled ethiopia, south sudan democratic republic congo

president donald trump leaning toward nominating federal reserve governor jerome powell next head us central bank, two sources familiar matter said friday sources cautioned powell emerged leading candidate short list five, trump made final decision could always change mind announcing sometime next week, trump said video statement instagram person hopefully fantastic job someone specific mind think everyone impressed trump said considering powell, well stanford university economist john taylor, post also said ruled renominating current fed chair janet yellen, whose term expires february expected announce pick, would need win senate approval, departs trip asia nov term current fed chair janet yellen ends february , though term federal reserve board governor expire trump working short list five candidates included top economic adviser, gary cohn, former fed governor kevin warsh senior administration official said wednesday trump unlikely nominate cohn given importance role helping lead efforts enact tax reform legislation currently debated congress trump also privately voiced desire put stamp central bank, dimmed prospect giving new term yellen, another source said interview fox business network last friday, trump indicated could nominate powell taylor top jobs central bank vice chair post currently open

us state department friday named russian defense intelligence related entities new sanctions law, belatedly taking step enforce legislation passed overwhelmingly congress law, president donald trump signed aug , requires sanctions individuals engage significant transaction russian entities friday action impose new sanctions, determinations made case case basis, state department officials said republican democratic lawmakers complained trump tardy enforcing law, required list russian entities ready oct list includes major russian arms makers well rosoboronexport, state run russian arms exporter also listed st petersburg based special technology center, former president barack obama sanctioned december, saying played role moscow hacking interference us presidential election russia denied meddling state department officials, briefed reporters condition anonymity, indicated trump administration would move carefully imposing sanctions dealing issues us allies buy russian made weaponry spare parts significance threshold would exclude certain things less significant, one official said obviously going consider totality circumstances state department guidance released friday says determining whether transaction significant, officials would weigh impact us national security size scope importance deal russia defense intelligence sector law requires trump impose sanctions jan transactions found meet definition took place signed legislation august implementing sanctions legislation robustly, keeping understanding congress intent facts precipitated legislation, including interference election, second state department official said official dispute report secretary state rex tillerson eliminated department office charged coordinating economic sanctions office traditionally led senior us diplomat official added individuals throughout department work sanctions coordination work would continue

republican head tax writing panel us house representatives said friday progress made efforts allay concerns among republicans potential elimination federal deduction state local income taxes part tax reform push lawmakers states state local taxes high people benefit federal income tax deduction reluctant contemplate elimination would one several measures aimed offsetting lost revenue sweeping tax cuts planned president donald trump republican leadership congress working lawmakers making progress, yet, house ways means committee chairman kevin brady told fox news channel hopeful end day find good solution budget blueprint central republican efforts enact tax cut package

president donald trump announce next week choice lead federal reserve, white house spokeswoman sarah sanders told reporters friday

united states wants meeting soon aimed reviving four way dialogue itself, japan, india australia deepen security cooperation coordinate alternatives regional infrastructure financing offered china, senior us official said friday called quad discuss cooperate security emerged briefly initiative decade ago

us president donald trump declared opioid crisis public health emergency thursday, stopping short national emergency declaration promised months ago would freed federal money responding growing problem, particularly rural areas, trump declaration redirect federal resources loosen regulations combat opioid abuse, senior administration officials said result money combat crisis critics, including democratic lawmakers, said declaration meaningless without additional funding republican lawmakers called president declaration important step combating crisis epidemic national health emergency, trump, republican, said white house americans, cannot allow continue trump, also called epidemic national shame human tragedy, introduced wife, melania, said made fighting epidemic one top priorities first lady happen us, said president also made personal reference addiction family citing deceased brother fred, alcoholic whose advice imbibe made impression trump, drink alcohol announcement disappointed advocates experts addiction fight, said inadequate fight scourge played role , deaths , according us centers disease control prevention death rate kept rising, estimates show opioids, primarily prescription painkillers, heroin fentanyl, fueling drug overdoses americans die daily related overdoses, according cdc white house commission drug crisis urged trump declare national emergency wednesday, president told fox business network would officials told reporters conference call federal emergency management agency funds would released national emergency already exhausted recent storms struck puerto rico, texas florida administration would work congress help provide additional funding address drug abuse, added said determined public health emergency declaration appropriate expansive review thursday declaration, treatment would made accessible abusers prescription painkillers, heroin fentanyl, ensuring fewer delays staffing department health human services help states grapple crisis trump said would discuss stopping flow fentanyl, drug times powerful morphine, chinese president xi jinping visit asia next month remarks, trump said us postal service department homeland security strengthening inspection packages coming country hold back flood cheap deadly fentanyl, synthetic opioid manufactured china beijing, foreign ministry spokesman geng shuang said china always paid great deal attention international cooperation narcotics listed components fentanyl controlled substances, despite fentanyl abuse problem trump added would consider bringing lawsuits bad actors epidemic several states sued opioid manufacturers deceptive marketing congress investigating business practices manufacturers president also said government focus teaching young people take drugs nothing desirable drugs bad, said thursday declaration allows department labor issue grants help dislocated workers affected crisis hiv aids health funding would also prioritized need substance abuse treatment, officials said candidate, trump promised address crisis, including building wall us mexico border stop flow illicit drugs, touched speech additional actions move would announced coming weeks various agencies, officials said

us state department thursday said belatedly begun informing congress others groups associated russian intelligence defense sectors required law tightening sanctions russia countering america adversaries sanctions act, became law aug , among things imposes sanctions russia punish moscow us intelligence agencies concluded russia carried hacking propaganda campaign meddle us presidential election kremlin repeatedly denied allegations law calls president impose sanctions anyone identifies engaged significant transaction person part of, operates behalf of, defense intelligence sectors russian government law required trump administration specify persons part of, operate behalf of, defense intelligence sectors russian government oct , deadline administration missed us secretary state rex tillerson authorized state department identify people entities, state department spokeswoman heather nauert told reporters said notification congress, well industry, allies partners, begun public guidance matter would posted agency website soon, although suggested would happen thursday expect post full public guidance stategov shortly lot conversations still ongoing congress, industry, allies also partners, nauert said briefing senate foreign relations committee chairman bob corker week said wanted administration answers failed meet deadline implementing sanctions russia however, said spoke deputy secretary state john sullivan phone thursday afterward said statement department guidance good first step responsibly implementing complex piece legislation

twitter inc thursday accused russian media outlets russia today rt sputnik interfering us election banned buying ads network, criticism social network done enough deter international meddling rt sputnik condemned decision, saying twitter encouraged ad spending sales tactics, russia foreign ministry said ban due us government pressure planned retaliate san francisco based twitter said unsigned statement website election meddling something want social network cited report year us intelligence agencies said also done investigations rt sputnik come decision lightly, taking step part ongoing commitment help protect integrity user experience twitter, company said twitter, facebook inc alphabet inc google recently detected suspected russian operatives used platforms last year purchase ads post content politically divisive russia denied interfering election twitter said would take estimated million earned rt global advertising since donate money support external research use twitter civic engagement elections company said would allow rt sputnik maintain regular, non ad twitter accounts accordance rules rt, english language news channel, accused twitter sales staff pressuring spend big advertising ahead election money rt spent, bigger reach american voters twitter would provide, rt said, describing twitter sales pitch said never pursued agenda influencing us election platforms, including twitter twitter declined comment discussions advertisers former twitter employee said sales pitch rt similar company uses lure advertisers twitter, struggled turn profit thursday, twitter said may become profitable first time next quarter slashing expenses ramping deals sell data companies, could help break reliance advertising revenue facebook google immediately respond questions whether would limit russia media ad spending april, reuters reported rt sputnik part plan russian president vladimir putin swing us presidential election donald trump undermine voters faith american electoral system, according three current four former us officials oct , us lawmakers, alarmed foreign entities used internet influence last year election, introduced legislation extend rules governing political advertising broadcast television, radio satellite also cover social media general counsels twitter, facebook google testify nov public hearings senate house intelligence committees alleged russian interference us election twitter wisely positioning able tell committees company taken steps address issues raised, adam sharp, former twitter executive, told reuters thursday russian foreign ministry said ban gross violation united states guarantees free speech retaliatory measures, naturally, follow, ministry spokeswoman maria zakharova said, according ria news agency sputnik, news agency, said website twitter move regrettable, especially russia vowed retaliatory measures us media analysts said transparency, rather ban, would better approach unlike facebook, twitter allows anonymous accounts automated accounts, bots, making service difficult police banning particular person, group country bad policy

us congressional committee thursday set nov deadline puerto rico electric power authority prepa provide information related million contract small montana firm repair damage utility infrastructure caused hurricane maria specifically, size terms contract, well circumstances surrounding contract formation, raise questions regarding prepa standard contract awarding procedures, chairman house natural resources committee, rob bishop, said letter prepa executive director, ricardo ramos media reports whitefish energy holdings entered contract prepa fix utility power grid raised questions among democrats congress others disclosed montana firm contract without competitive bidding process two year old company two full time employees rapidly hiring workers tackle job patching destroyed power grid left us territory without electricity weeks following destructive hurricane bishop letter said emergency circumstances could necessitate emergency relief contracts, transparency accountability government contracting, however, compromised separately, us representatives including greg walden, republican, frank pallone, democrat, asked whitefish letter provide documents related contract energy commerce committee nov whitefish founding partner ken luce said company appreciated efforts gather information lawmakers confidence overall process support people puerto rico whitefish capabilities two democratic us senators urged head congressional watchdog office probe prepa contract, saying concerned bidding process potential high costs senators maria cantwell ron wyden wrote letter eugene dodaro, us comptroller general non partisan government accountability office, copy seen reuters senators said also concerned reports contemporaneous communications whitefish senior members federal executive branch, including secretary interior ryan zinke, contract discussed washington post report week said chief executive whitefish, andy techmanski, zinke acknowledged know one secretary sons worked one techmanski construction sites zinke office techmanski said secretary role whitefish securing contract interior department immediately respond request comment senators letter puerto rico governor ricardo rossello defended contract saying necessary put workers place quickly whitefish, hired workers mostly subcontracts, called criticism unfounded

us president donald trump thursday ordered unveiling , documents related assassination president john f kennedy yielded pressure fbi cia block release records reviewed congress ordered remaining sealed files pertaining investigation kennedy death fully opened public national archives years, oct , , except president authorized withholding trump confirmed saturday would allow release final batch classified records, amounting tens thousands pages, subject receipt information deadline neared, administration decided last minute stagger final release next days government agencies studied whether documents stay sealed redacted law allows president keep material wraps determined harm intelligence operations, national defense, law enforcement conduct foreign relations would outweigh public interest full disclosure , uncensored documents posted immediately national archives website thursday evening

us secretary state rex tillerson spoke thursday myanmar army chief expressed concern reported atrocities rohingya muslims rakhine state, us state department said statement tillerson urged army chief, senior general min aung hlaing, support myanmar government ending violence allowing safe return ethnic rohingya fled area, statement said , rohingya muslims fled rakhine state buddhist majority myanmar, mostly neighboring bangladesh, since security forces responded rohingya militants attacks aug launching crackdown state department considering formally declaring crackdown rohingya muslims ethnic cleansing call min aung hlaing, tillerson also urged myanmar military facilitate humanitarian aid displaced people, allow media access cooperate un investigation allegations human rights abuses, state department said pressure mounted tougher us response rohingya crisis ahead president donald trump maiden visit asia next month attend summit southeast asian countries, including myanmar, manila

former cia director james woolsey pitched million contract two turkish businessmen help discredit controversial us based cleric woolsey adviser donald trump election campaign, three people familiar proposal said eight days formally joining trump campaign adviser national security issues, woolsey met sept , businessmen ekim alptekin sezgin baran korkmaz lunch peninsula hotel new york, said woolsey wife, nancye miller, proposed lobbying public relations campaign targeting fethullah gulen, turkish cleric lives pennsylvania turkish president recep tayyip erdogan accuses gulen instigating failed coup july wants extradited turkey face trial gulen denied role coup email memo seen reuters, woolsey miller sketched plan draw attention cleric possible role coup attempt encourage official investigation activities alptekin, ally erdogan, already agreed one companies , contract consulting firm michael flynn research gulen flynn also trump campaign adviser later became national security adviser fired february woolsey member flynn firm, flynn intel group, according justice department filing firm archive company website, although spokesman woolsey disputed characterization, saying unpaid adviser affiliation loosely defined sept meeting, miller said woolsey better position flynn influence decision makers gulen alleged role coup, according alptekin two people familiar discussion bidding lobbying consulting contract foreign company government illegal, woolsey miller win contract event previously undisclosed meeting shows first time two trump aides competing win lucrative business deal alptekin deal flynn investigated special counsel robert mueller part wider probe whether trump campaign colluded russians tried interfere us presidential election peter carr, spokesman mueller, declined comment jonathan franks, spokesman woolsey miller, said clients investigation flynn central figure mueller investigation conversations russian ambassador sergei kislyak last year waited march retroactively register justice department foreign agent work alptekin filing, flynn lawyer, robert kelner, said work done alptekin company could construed principally benefited republic turkey flynn fired national security adviser february misleading vice president mike pence extent conversations kislyak franks described sept meeting unremarkable said miller could locate email memo remember writing also said woolsey pursued turkish interests economic development proposal wake coup centered around reassuring folks turkey safe place business project focus gulen alptekin said woolsey miller pursued business sept meeting, pitching project target gulen, decided stick contract flynn firm kelner declined comment story white house respond request comment disclosure march flynn contract discredit gulen sparked intense media scrutiny people worked flynn, including woolsey shortly after, woolsey alleged media interviews flynn others had, sept , meeting new york, discussed turkey foreign energy ministers idea covertly spiriting gulen united states turkey flynn denied spokesman ever discussing plan alptekin also denied ever discussed said woolsey claim astounding sought alptekin business meeting following day story fiction, alptekin told reuters franks said woolsey stands account meeting woolsey first proposed million project korkmaz, second turkish businessman, meeting california august proposal outlined email sent miller woolsey aug , printed shown woolsey korkmaz, forwarded alptekin korkmaz, known woolsey years, invited woolsey meeting, according two people familiar meeting korkmaz told woolsey looking someone could handle lobbying public relations project related gulen korkmaz alptekin business ties knew us turkey trade group, according two people knowledge relationship anil leylek, spokeswoman korkmaz company, declined comment franks confirmed august meeting described brief pitch woolsey miller proposal included getting washington insiders like senator jeff sessions, trump attorney general, co author articles situation turkey, engaging influential lawmakers republican senator bob corker, getting woolsey fox news cnn, memo said cost engagement , , , said woolsey, led cia two years former president bill clinton, joined trump campaign september transition team trump election victory november stepped january franks said woolsey unpaid adviser campaign, obligation report efforts pursue work turkish interests, smeared growing speculation indictments could handed soon, surprise others attempting accomplish press cannot grand jury room, franks added

us defense secretary jim mattis flew seoul friday annual defense talks tensions north korea climb ahead visit region next month president donald trump mattis emphasized diplomatic efforts find peaceful solution crisis week long trip asia, even north korea weapons tests bellicose verbal exchanges pyongyang washington stoke fears armed confrontation carried message together today greater chance enduring peace future, mattis said earlier week, looking back three days meetings asian defense chiefs philippines really keep north korea effort firmly diplomatic lane resolution even landing seoul, mattis held meeting philippines monday south korea japanese counterparts, agreed keep bolstering intelligence sharing north korea enhance exercises got roll sleeves work pragmatic planning coordination, told reporters japanese defence minister itsunori onodera warned threat north korea grown critical imminent level cia chief mike pompeo said last week north korea could months away developing ability hit united states nuclear weapons, scenario trump vowed prevent us intelligence experts say pyongyang believes needs weapons ensure survival skeptical diplomatic efforts, focusing sanctions, get pyongyang denuclearize united states thursday imposed sanctions seven north korean individuals three entities flagrant human rights abuses, including killings, torture, forced labor hunting asylum seekers abroad mattis expected meet south korean leaders friday joins top us military officer, marine general joseph dunford, annual security consultative meeting south korea military saturday visit comes trump departs nov japan, south korea, china, vietnam philippines, trip expected dominated nuclear ballistic missile threat posed north korea trump, speech last month united nations, threatened destroy north korea necessary defend allies kim blasted trump mentally deranged despite rhetoric, white house officials say trump looking peaceful resolution standoff options, including military ones, table mattis, part, dismissed idea us allies confused us approach, noting us secretary state rex tillerson recent trip beijing get china pressure pyongyang china north korea biggest trading partner military options defense attack, allies attacked course everyone peaceful resolution, mattis told reporters traveling earlier week one rushing war