Gina Haspel
Trump sounds off on The New York Times
Driving the Day<p><b>THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE FRONT PAGE</b> has a photo of George H.W. Bush and his daughter Doro paying respects to Barbara Bush http://bit.ly/2HkzlMP … George H.W. Bush greeting well wishers http://bit.ly/2vwmQZ0 … <b>THE NEW YORK TIMES</b> says Bill Clinton and Barack Obama will both attend the …
U.S. PoliticsTrump lashes out at New York Times over Michael Cohen coverage
A federal judge postponed a ruling on a request by President Trump and his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who is now the subject of a federal investigation, for a 90-day delay of a lawsuit filed against them by porn star Stormy Daniels.<p>The Democratic National Committee has sued Russia, President …
Donald TrumpDemocrat Heitkamp Backing War Hawk Pompeo Because Trump 'Entitled to His Own Cabinet''
A day after Sen. Heide Heitkamp, the Democrat from North Dakota, received rebuke for making the "deeply disappointing" announcement she would vote in …
Human RightsGina Haspel deserves confirmation as the next CIA director
There was good news Friday for Gina Haspel, President Trump’s outstanding nominee to be CIA director. The CIA declassified and released a 2011 memo that cleared her of wrongdoing for her role in drafting an order to destroy videotaped evidence of interrogation techniques.<p>Former CIA Deputy Director …
OpinionTrump After Dark: Kim You Believe It edition
North Korea says the country is suspending its missile and nuclear tests and closing its nuclear test site.<p>If it bears out, the stunning announcement put President Donald Trump on the brink of a major foreign policy break through. Per The Associated Press, the announcement from North Korea’s …
Donald TrumpThe “Everything Terrible Trump Has Done” 2018 1st Qtr Brief
Since the Trump Presidency began back in January, we have endeavored to maintain a comprehensive listing of all the administrations misdeeds in the</i> …
Trump AdministrationThe Biggest Stories in American Politics This Week
<b>James Comey’s memos were released, and the war of words between former F.B.I. officials and President Trump continued.</b><p>James B. Comey’s redacted, declassified memos detailing his meetings with President Trump were released late Thursday after the Justice Department sent them to Congress. The release …
Donald TrumpThe Trump administration sure does sell books
In any other administration, the news regarding North Korea — a secret mission by the CIA director to meet with <b>Kim Jong Un,</b> followed by tantalizing hints of North Korean negotiating flexibility — would have blotted out all other topics this week.<p>This being the Trump administration, the Korea news …
Donald TrumpPlaybook: NAFTA concerns rock Capitol Hill
Driving the Day<p><b>SIREN -- NAFTA CONCERNS EXPLODE ON THE HILL …</b> Senior Republican aides on Capitol Hill are growing increasingly concerned about their ability to ratify a NAFTA deal that the White House cuts. They worry that if the president’s negotiators come to an agreement in the coming months, …
U.S. PoliticsThe parade of falsehoods about CIA nominee Gina Haspel
President Trump has picked agency veteran Gina Haspel to replace Mike Pompeo as CIA director. Her candidacy has the support of every CIA director in …
Donald TrumpInside the Comey memos
We’re wrapping up the first week of The Hill's <b>Morning Report</b>, and three cheers for Friday! This comprehensive morning email, a successor to The …
Donald TrumpReplacing ousted Cabinet heads has become harder than Trump planned
First Read is your briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter<p>WASHINGTON — When President Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson a month ago (it seems much longer than that, right?), he and his team probably didn’t …
PoliticsThe CIA Is Getting a Private-Sector Makeover
Brian Bulatao remembers the call as if it came yesterday. After the 2016 election, he was on the phone with his old buddy Mike Pompeo, congratulating …
Private SectorHow Rand Paul could still stop Pompeo
The Kentucky libertarian crosses Trump even after the president heaped praise on him.<p>President Donald Trump is convinced Rand Paul won’t let him down. But the Kentucky Republican is showing no signs of backing off his fight to stop Mike Pompeo from becoming secretary of state.<p>After a telephone call …
U.S. PoliticsFamily of Afghan man tortured by CIA demands US reveal location of his body
Gul Rahman was killed in a secret CIA interrogation facility where he endured being doused with frigid water and shackled naked<p>It took almost 15 years for Gul Rahman’s family to receive a direct acknowledgment that he had been killed in a secret CIA interrogation facility in Afghanistan.<p>Now the …
PoliticsRon Wyden: Without declassified info, Gina Haspel's confirmation hearing will make 'mockery' of Senate
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said the upcoming confirmation hearing for Gina Haspel to lead the CIA will make a "mockery" of the upper chamber if senators …
SurveillanceRex Tillerson Accuses Jared Kushner of Stirring Up Firing Rumors: Report
Freshly fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson suggested that President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, was responsible …
Donald TrumpSenate panel to vote Monday on Pompeo for secretary of state
A Senate committee is set to vote at 5 p.m. Monday on the nomination of CIA Director Mike Pompeo to be secretary of state.<p>Pompeo faces Democratic …
Mitch McConnellMore than 50 Groups Urge Senators to Oppose Gina Haspel to Head CIA
April 19, 2018Dear Senator:We are a diverse group of organizations from the faith, human rights, civil liberties, and open government communities, …
Rights & FreedomsThe Case Against John Doe, American Jihadist
It certainly wasn’t clear at the time—nor is it entirely clear today—but the beginning of the end of the war on terrorism as we know it might have …
Liberal ViewWhy Trump’s pick for CIA Director needs to be stopped
Why Trump’s pick for CIA Director needs to be stopped<p>19 Apr 2018 at 09:06 ET<p>This article originally appeared on Just Security. Gina Haspel’s morally …
CIAOvernight Cybersecurity: Staff changes upend White House cyber team | Trump sends cyber war strategy to Congress | CIA pick to get hearing in May | Malware hits Facebook accounts
<i>Welcome to OVERNIGHT CYBERSECURITY, your daily rundown of the biggest news in the world of hacking and data privacy. We're here to connect the dots</i> …
CybersecurityHow the CIA’s secret torture program sparked a public reckoning in North Carolina
President Donald Trump’s nominee for CIA director, Gina Haspel, is reported to have overseen a U.S. site in Thailand where torture of a suspected …
OpinionMichael Cohen, Most Loyal Guy, Until He Isn’t! Wonkagenda For Thurs., April 19, 2018
Morning Wonketariat! Here’s some of the things we <i>may</i> be talking about today.<p>Trump’s congressional minions are trying to put the screws to Rod …
Donald TrumpWhite House plows ahead with Pompeo nomination: Senate Foreign Relations committee will take a vote on Trump's secretary of state nominee next week
• <b>President Trump confirmed reports that Mike Pompeo went to Pyongyang</b>• <b><br>Visit came before Pompeo's confirmation hearing for secretary of state</b>• <b><br>Trump said</b> …
North KoreaTrump says he’d bail on North Korea talks if they’re not ‘fruitful’
<i>With Eli Okun, Connor O’Brien, Jacqueline Klimas and Wesley Morgan</i><p><b>TRUMP SAYS HE’D BAIL ON NORTH KOREA TALKS IF THEY’RE NOT ‘FRUITFUL,’</b> via POLITICO’s Cristiano Lima: “President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is prepared to walk away from diplomatic discussions with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un …
North KoreaMcConnell, the Senate’s decider, discovers the limits of his control
Mitch McConnell is correct when he boasts of being the Senate’s decider, the person who determines which bills and nominations get considered.<p>“I’m the one who decides what we take to the floor. That’s my responsibility as the majority leader. And we will not be having this on the floor of the …
RepublicansThe Pompeo decision should be easy for red-state Democrats
Secretary of state nominee Mike Pompeo may not get a thumbs-up from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. With libertarian, non-interventionist Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in the “no” camp, an otherwise straight party-line vote would give him 10 votes in favor, and 11 opposed to confirmation. Senate …
OpinionGina Haspel Threatens Intelligence Cooperation: Yet Another Reason for Senators to Vote Her Down As CIA Director
Gina Haspel’s morally indefensible role in the CIA’s torture program makes her unqualified to be the new CIA director. What’s worse, if confirmed as …
SurveillanceTrump After Dark: Haley’s Comet edition
U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley isn’t having it.<p>Not for the first time, President Donald Trump and one of his Cabinet members appear to be somewhat at odds. And in the past this traffic has gone one way. The former South Carolina governor is different, though, POLITICO’s Eliana Johnson and Burgess …
Donald Trump