Washington Post
Jennifer Rubin is a conservative blogger for the Washington Post's Right Turn. She is a former contributing editor to Commentary magazine, a contributor to the New York Observer, a columnist for the conservative American Spectator, and the Washington DC Editor for Pajamas Media.
Trump, Tillerson and a fragile state of affairs There's no doubt that the President and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have their differences on more than just foreign policy. The President publicly rebuked the Secretary for saying he's "talking" to North Korea. Tillerson has not denied he once called Trump a "moron." In the meantime, high-level jobs at the State Department have not been filled, and professional diplomats are reportedly leaving in droves. All this, as major decisions have to be made. Next week, the President faces a deadline on the Iran nuclear deal. What's in store for US foreign policy without their expertise? Are lobbyists who profit from their connections now more important than ever before?
Is the President making a new “deal?" At a moment of historic division, the President told reporters yesterday, “The people of the United States…want to see coming together." Specifically he’s coming together with Democrats on Capitol Hill, stepping over Republican leadership in the House and the Senate. As always with this President, the question is, “How long will it last?” One biographer says his “love bombs” have limited fallout. What’s in store for Obamacare, tax cuts, the Border Wall… and next year’s midterm elections?
What should America look like? President Trump is supporting a new Senate bill on legal immigration, called the RAISE Act , standing for "Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment." Trump wants legal immigration based on high skills and earning potential — not on family ties — and he'd reduce it by half. But high-skilled workers may not show up if they can't bring their families, and the economy may need more low-wage workers than it can produce. Beyond economics, this "nation of immigrants" has welcomed newcomers from all over the world, with the goal of "diversity." Will that be replaced by "assimilation" — as America's existential question heats up again?
What's next for the FBI… and the GOP? President Trump says he might appoint a new FBI Director before his first overseas trip starts on Friday. Potential nominees were interviewed over the weekend — including at least two Republicans serving in the House and the Senate. But the President's own explanation of why he fired James Comey has been called "obstruction of justice." Some conservatives are outraged at the Republicans who dominate Congress, but aren't exercising the separation of powers by considering impeachment. Trump might stem the controversy by his choice of a new FBI leader — but Democrats still want an independent investigation of Russia's campaign hacking.
What does it mean to be conservative? Donald Trump’s budget blueprint and the Obamacare replacement have revealed deep divisions among Republicans. What is the party’s philosophy now? And what does it mean to be a conservative?
Administration defends travel ban, despite havoc President Trump's sweeping executive order banning refugees and barring immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries is just three days old, but has already upended hundreds of lives, drawn tens of thousands of protesters to airports around the nation, and spawned five federal lawsuits, as well as global outcry from across the political spectrum. Why is a defining campaign promise causing such confusion? Is it constitutional? Guest host Barbara Bogaev explores the fallout from the President's travel ban.
Trump names Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate In light of the terrorist attack, Donald Trump postponed today’s news conference about his vice presidential selection. Then he tweeted it anyway. We’ll hear how Indiana Governor Mike Pence might affect next week’s convention and the November election. Photo: Gage Skidmore
The Republicans Are Sending a Message: Never Say "Never" Republican Senator Lindsay Graham branded Donald Trump "a race baiting, xenophobic religious bigot," but that was before Trump nailed down his party's nomination. Now Graham is reportedly telling fundraisers in private to get behind Trump's campaign for the White House. Some other former critics who are now public supporters are being compared to hostages making videos to earn release from their kidnappers. But hardliners are still insisting that Trump's not just unacceptable — he's unelectable. Will he unify the GOP or destroy it?
Is Paul Ryan the Right Choice for Mitt Romney? Mitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate has invigorated both Republicans and Democrats. It brings their differences about the role of government into sharper focus—which carries risks as well as benefits for both presidential campaigns. Will Romney have to defend the most radical elements of Ryan’s budget? Will Obama appear even more as if he’s defending an unsatisfactory status quo? Last night on “60 Minutes,” Mitt Romney said his choice of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate was nothing sudden - but the result of a process that’s taken some time. We’ll learn more about Paul Ryan and what he’ll bring to the campaign trail. What’s his likely impact on close contests for the Senate and Congress?
Is Paul Ryan the Right Choice for Mitt Romney? Mitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate has invigorated both Republicans and Democrats. It brings their differences about the role of government into sharper focus—which carries risks as well as benefits for both presidential campaigns. Will Romney have to defend the most radical elements of Ryan’s budget? Will Obama appear even more as if he’s defending an unsatisfactory status quo? Last night on “60 Minutes,” Mitt Romney said his choice of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate was nothing sudden - but the result of a process that’s taken some time. We’ll learn more about Paul Ryan and what he’ll bring to the campaign trail. What’s his likely impact on close contests for the Senate and Congress?
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney Start Squaring Off After yesterday's wins in Wisconsin, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, Mitt Romney is acting like he's the Republican nominee to challenge President Obama . Today, as the President did yesterday, Romney addressed the convention of news executives, and accused Obama of running a "hide and seek" campaign. He referred to the President's accidentally recorded comment to Russian President Dimitri Medvedev—that he'd have more "flexibility" after his re-election. Romney called that a "defining event." But Rick Santorum is not conceding the GOP nomination yet.
The Race for the White House Is Finally On...or Is It? After yesterday's wins in Wisconsin, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, Mitt Romney is acting like he's the Republican nominee to challenge President Obama . Today, as the President did yesterday, Romney addressed the convention of news executives, and accused Obama of running a "hide and seek" campaign, referring to the President's accidentally recorded comment to Russian President Dimitri Medvedev that he'd have more "flexibility" after his re-election. Meanwhile, Rick Santorum insists that it's not over yet. Does Santorum have a chance in Pennsylvania, the state that rejected his Senate re-election bid by 18 percent, or will that be his last stand? Will he and Newt Gingrich create uncertainty all the way to the party convention, or have they become a political sideshow?
Is Mitt Romney a Winner or a Survivor? Mitt Romney won Arizona big time in yesterday's voting, but he took his home state by only three points — and the final count may show that Rick Santorum won an equal number of delegates. Now it's on to caucuses in Washington State on Sunday -- and 10 states on Super Tuesday next week — with more delegates at stake than the total number in contests so far.
Is Mitt Romney a Winner or a Survivor? The Detroit News says, Romney's front-runner status has been "restored." The American Spectator says, "The front runner is bleeding." Mitt Romney won Arizona big time in yesterday's voting, but he took his home state by only three points and the final count may show that Rick Santorum won an equal number of delegates. Now it's on to caucuses in Washington State on Sunday -- and 10 states on Super Tuesday next week -- with more delegates at stake than the total number in contests so far. Did Romney win or did he escape a home-state defeat that could have meant curtains? Does he have the momentum to get by Santorum in Ohio and Newt Gingrich in Georgia? As the process drags on, will it lead to a winner, as it did for the Democrats four years ago, or is the GOP flirting with political disaster?
The GOP Debate and the Republican Party Agenda In his first debate with other Republican hopefuls, Rick Perry got right into the mix, dominating today's news coverage along with Mitt Romney . The next debate is scheduled for Monday. But, aside from the horse race, what is the Republican agenda beginning to look like? Do these very conservative candidates agree more than they disagree on major issues? Are they driven by ideology? What's the role of special interests? We hear excerpts from last night and get different opinions on what's in store for the party, President Obama and the country as a whole. Websites of Republican presidential candidates: Newt Gingrich Michele Bachmann Mitt Romney Rick Perry Ron Paul Herman Cain Jon Huntsman, Jr Rick Santorum
The GOP Debate and the Republican Party Agenda In his first debate with other Republican hopefuls, Rick Perry got right into the mix, dominating today's news coverage along with Mitt Romney . The next debate is scheduled for Monday. But, aside from the horse race, what is the Republican agenda beginning to look like? Do these very conservative candidates agree more than they disagree on major issues? Are they driven by ideology? What's the role of special interests? We hear excerpts from last night and get different opinions on what's in store for the party, President Obama and the country as a whole. Websites of Republican presidential candidates: Newt Gingrich Michele Bachmann Mitt Romney Rick Perry Ron Paul Herman Cain Jon Huntsman, Jr Rick Santorum
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
What happens when America retreats from the world? Is President Trump taking his "America First" agenda to extremes, withdrawing the country from the international stage on trade and climate change, distancing America from its traditional allies across the Atlantic and even threatening to physically isolate the country through the building of a wall along its southern border? León Krauze guest hosts.
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?