Associated Press
Josh Lederman covers foreign policy, national security and the State Department for the Associated Press.
PROFILE
Josh Lederman
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FROM Josh Lederman
To the Point
In China, Trump tries a charm offensive President Trump is in China, a country he accused of economic abuse during last year's campaign. Today in Beijing, the president called the economic playing field "very one-sided and unfair," but acknowledged "Who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the benefit of its citizens. I give China Great credit." Josh Lederman, who covers foreign policy for the Associated Press , delves deeper into Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping, the president of another major world power.
To the Point
US withdraws embassy staff from Cuba, issues travel warning Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the safety of American employees in Havana cannot be guaranteed. He's ordered more than half of the US staff in Havana withdrawn from the island and ordered travel warnings for all Americans. Josh Lederman, who covers foreign policy for Associated Press , says US officials are not being very specific about the incidents and are simply calling them "specific attacks."
To the Point
Will US allies be wary of sharing intel with the administration? On the eve of departure for his first trip overseas, President Trump is embroiled in another controversy. It's about reports that he shared highly classified information with two high-ranking Russians. At a press briefing this morning, National Security Advisor General H.R. McMaster told reporters, "What was shared was wholly appropriate given the premise of that conversation... and is consistent with the routine sharing of information between the Pres and any leaders with whom he's engaged." The Associated Press reports that one European country says it was anything but "routine." Josh Lederman covers foreign policy, national security and the State Department for the Associated Press.
To the Point
Tillerson waits in Moscow, keeps talking tough to Russia Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will spend tonight at the US Embassy in Moscow. Before leaving the G7 meeting in Lucca, Italy, he accused Russia of failing in its commitment to remove chemical weapons from Syria. "It's unclear whether Russia failed to take seriously its obligation seriously or Russia had been incompetent. But this distinction doesn't much matter to the dead. We can't let this happen again." Josh Lederman of the Associated Press is one of few reporters travelling with Tillerson and joins us from Moscow.
To the Point
A new president. What comes next? For the 45th time, America has accomplished a peaceful transition of power-- leaving the country with a sense of uncertainty about the future. President Donald Trump's inaugural address repeated familiar themes from his campaign for office. The President painted a dark picture of the nation's current condition, and promised to disempower the Washington elite — but he was short on specifics. Did he reassure the majority of Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton?
To the Point
President Obama Hosts Trump at the White House The formal transition of power began today when the President-Elect arrived at the White House. The meeting went on for an hour and a half. Just last week, President Obama called Donald Trump unqualified for the office. Today he told reporters that he was "encouraged by the interest in President-Elect Trump's wanting to work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces" and said he hoped Trump would be successful. As President-Elect, Trump had kind words for the President he's trashed in public for the past 18 months. "We discussed a lot of situations, some wonderful some difficult. I very much look forward to dealing with the President in the future including counsel." Josh Lederman, White House reporter for the Associated Press , has more on the meeting.
To the Point
Mixed Reviews for President Obama's Last Personal "Pivot" to Asia After Hawaii, the Midway Atoll and Hangzhou, China, Mr. Obama is now in Laos — the first sitting president to visit that country. He won't hold that office for long, and this trip is important in his final effort to bolster US influence in the Pacific-Asia region. Along the way, he talked Syria with Vladimir Putin, and he was called an "SOB" by the President of the Philippines. He finalized the climate-change deal with China — but the Trans Pacific Partnership may never pass Congress. We hear about successes and failures.
To the Point
Obama calls Trump "unfit" to serve, urges GOP to drop support President Obama is playing a major role in this year's campaign and today he repeated his assessment of Donald Trump, calling him "unfit to be president." The President said if either John McCain or Mitt Romney had defeated him, there still would have been disagreements… but that either of them could have done the job."But that's not the situation here. And that's not just [his] opinion, that's the opinion of prominent Republicans. So there has to come a time when you say "Enough." The President made the comments in a press conference with Singapore's Prime Minister, who was at the White House to talk up the TransPacific Partnership, the trade deal opposed by both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Josh Lederman, White House reporter for Associated Press , has more.
To the Point
Presidential Politics and the US Supreme Court President Obama today named a distinguished judge to fill the vacancy on the US Supreme Court. The nominee is a veteran, Merrick Garland , Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, who is well regarded by Senators of both parties. Nevertheless, Republicans were ready to Just Say "No" — not to the judge himself but to his nomination by an outgoing president. They accuse Obama of politicizing the court — the same charge Democrats have leveled against Republicans under similar circumstances. That's intensifying this year's race for the White House just one day after another round of primary elections.
To the Point
Obama to Travel to Cuba Next Month White House officials today said President Obama will meet with Cuban President Raúl Castro and political dissidents when he makes an official trip to the island next month. The historic visit will mark the first time a sitting US president sets foot in Cuba in 88 years. (Calvin Coolidge arrived on a battleship, Obama's trip will be very different.) Josh Lederman is White House correspondent for the Associated Press .
To the Point
Joe Biden's "Moon Shot" and "Cancer Politics" This month's State of the Union Address was unusually short of sweeping, long-range promises, but President Obama did endorse the ambitious goals of Vice President Biden's "Moon Shot" against cancer. The disease takes hundreds of different forms and varies from person to person. The Vice President says he can't promise a single "cure." Instead, his "Moon Shot" is aimed at doubling the rate of progress toward prevention and treatment -- by replacing competition with collaboration. When cancer researchers don't share information, he's learned, promising work can be lost in what scientists call the "Valley of Death." With profit-making companies entitled to guard their secrets, we hear how a master politician is coping with "cancer politics."
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Obama at National Security Council Meeting on ISIS Strategy In a rare move today, President Obama opened a meeting of his National Security Council called to discuss strategy against the Islamic State. Then he spoke with reporters, telling them, "We are hitting ISIL harder than ever. Coalition aircraft, our fighters, bombers and drones have been increasing the pace of airstrikes -- nearly 9000 as of today. Last month in November, we dropped more bombs on ISIL targets than in any other month since this campaign started." Josh Lederman, White House reporter for the Associated Press , has more on this story.
To the Point
Obama Rejects the Keystone XL Energy Pipeline After seven years of contentious debate, President Obama has finally rejected the Keystone XL pipeline , designed to take 800,000 barrels of Canadian tar sands oil to the Gulf Coast of Texas. At the White House today, the President listed his reasons. "The pipeline would not make a meaningful, long-term contribution to our economy. So if Congress is serious about wanting to create jobs, this is not the way to do it." He also said it would not lower gasoline prices or make the US more energy secure. Josh Lederman, White House reporter for the Associated Press , has more on the President's decision.
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To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
To the Point
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?