National
Learjet crash near New York City kills 2 crew members
Emergency responders reached the scene a short time later and worked for more than an hour to extinguish the blaze. Witnesses said the plane crashed into two buildings and burst into flames. Members of the FAA were also en route to the scene. No passengers were on the plane when it crashed and there are no reports of injuries on the ground. [Full Article...]
Will Sessions Views Continue to Block Sentencing Reform?
Sessions said the new policy is needed to enforce the law "fairly and consistently ", calling for the nation to go back to mandatory minimum sentencing for serious crimes. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reversed course from the previous Obama administration and told the nation's 94 U.S. attorneys to " charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense ". [Full Article...]
If Cornyn Picked to Replace Comey, Senate Would be in Disarray
Cornyn, the second-ranking Senate Republican, has in recent weeks become a more outward defender of President Trump. So unless the conference gives Cornyn a waiver to serve longer, the senior senator from Texas will go from the number two Republican in the Senate to just another senator, albeit one with seniority. [Full Article...]
Supreme Court rejects appeal over NC voter ID law
But the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the state provided no evidence of the kind of in-person voter fraud the ID mandate would address. Last July, a federal appeals court found the controversial law was created to "target African Americans with nearly surgical precision". [Full Article...]
Reports say Callista Gingrich will be nominated as Vatican ambassador
Trump will nominate Gingrich for the post in the coming days, two sources told the AP, although the White House has refused to confirm the selection. Schlageter said Callista Gingrich's time producing the documentary about Pope John Paul helped her create professional relationships and friendships in the US and Rome that will serve her well should she be confirmed to the post. [Full Article...]
Trump warns ousted Federal Bureau of Investigation chief against talking to media, threatens 'tapes'
The Federal Bureau of Investigation probe and parallel congressional investigations have cast a cloud over Trump's presidency since he took office on January 20, threatening to overwhelm his policy priorities. The briefing began with National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster discussing the president's upcoming trip to the Middle East and Europe, despite threats from President Trump earlier in the d... [Full Article...]
UNESCO passes resolution critical of Israel's actions in Jerusalem
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Malki welcomed the result of the vote , saying that the world had chosen to "stand on the side of what is right in the face of [Israel's] injustice, occupation and its illegitimate policies". Israeli President Reuven Rivlin released an Israel Independence Day greeting in English, in which he called it "the Independence Day of all the Jewish people". [Full Article...]
Trump moves to settle Israeli-Palestinian conflict
He's crediting Trump for his wisdom and says he believes they can be "true partners.to bring about a historic peace treaty ". " I've always heard that perhaps the toughest deal to make is the deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians ", he continued. [Full Article...]