Stephen Dinan

DOJ tells Illinois to handle shutdown fight in state courts

The Trump administration struck a blow for federalism Friday, filing papers in court telling Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker that the fight over his coronavirus shutdown order belongs before a state judge, not in federal court.

May 22, 2020

Marco Rubio demands probe of Planned Parenthood’s coronavirus stimulus loans

Sen. Marco Rubio, chairman of the committee that oversees the Small Business Administration, demanded an investigation Friday into how Planned Parenthood affiliates were able to access coronavirus stimulus loans that the government now says they clearly didn't qualify for.

May 22, 2020

Donald Trump faces deadline to punish China aggression toward Hong Kong

If President Trump is looking for an early opportunity to strike back at China amid the coronavirus crisis, one is about to land on his doorstep.

May 21, 2020

Judge punishes Trump administration over mishandling of census citizenship question

A federal judge ruled Thursday that the administration misled the court over President Trump's determination to ask about citizenship on this year's census, and ordered the government to pay attorney fees as a means of punishment.

May 21, 2020

Democratic Party official admits to stuffing ballot boxes in Philadelphia elections

A Philadelphia elections judge and Democratic Party official pleaded guilty Thursday to stuffing ballot boxes in favor of Democratic candidates in elections in 2014, 2015 and 2016, while collecting thousands of dollars in cash to make the changes.

May 21, 2020

Donald Trump cancels border wall section over rising costs

The Trump administration told a federal court Wednesday that it has canceled a portion of border wall it had planned to build near Yuma, Arizona, saying costs for other parts of the wall are coming in higher than anticipated and there's not enough money to go around.

May 20, 2020

Hispanic Democrats tell Trump to stop deportations during coronavirus pandemic

Hispanic Democrats in Congress begged the Trump administration on Wednesday to stop all deportations, saying the U.S. could actually be spreading the coronavirus back to other nations by sending their citizens back home.

May 20, 2020

Millionaires are able to claim unemployment in coronavirus stimulus

The federal government is poised to pay out tens of millions of dollars in unemployment benefits to millionaires who find themselves out of work during coronavirus and are still can collect $600 a week under the stimulus bill despite their wealth.

May 20, 2020

Marco Rubio vows probe of Planned Parenthood taking coronavirus aid

Top Republicans demanded an investigation into Planned Parenthood Tuesday after reports that some of its clinics were granted loans under the coronavirus small business stimulus program.

May 19, 2020

Unemployment benefits keeping potential workers at home

Uncle Sam found it was actually pretty easy to get people to stop working during the coronavirus crisis -- all it took was a generous $600-a-week boost in unemployment.

May 19, 2020

Gavin Newsom, California warned over coronavirus limits on churches

The Justice Department issued a warning to California Gov. Gavin Newsom Tuesday telling him his coronavirus shutdown plans seem to trample on religious liberties by subjecting houses of worship to stricter limits than many businesses.

May 19, 2020

U.S. announces indefinite extension of border ban to stop coronavirus

The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is indefinitely renewing its coronavirus anti-illegal immigration border policy, which allows Border Patrol agents to quickly return most apprehended migrants back across the border.

May 19, 2020

CBO more optimistic about economic recovery after coronavirus crisis

The Congressional Budget Office released new projections Tuesday showing a more optimistic view of the economy as it revives from the coronavirus crisis, saying unemployment will rebound faster than the analysts had projected.

May 19, 2020

Tom Coburn’s anti-duplication effort has saved Uncle Sam $393 billion: GAO

The late Sen. Tom Coburn's anti-duplication crusade turned 10 years old this year -- and it's led to $393 billion in cost savings for the federal government over that time, according to the latest report Tuesday from the Government Accountability Office.

May 19, 2020

ICE detainee dies of apparent suicide after failing to win coronavirus release

A South Korean migrant awaiting deportation after being convicted of murder-related charges died over the weekend while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, the agency announced Tuesday, saying it appeared he took his own life.

May 19, 2020

Trump’s coronavirus immigration pause wins majority support: Poll

A majority of voters support President Trump's partial immigration pause during the coronavirus pandemic -- though they do list other steps such as working on COVID-19 testing and developing a vaccine as higher priorities, according to a new poll Tuesday.

May 19, 2020

Leslie Matla, Juan Sanchez arrested in Tijuana kidnapping ring

Federal prosecutors said Monday they'd arrested a man and woman who they say were part of a cross-border kidnapping ring that grabbed Americans in Tijuana, demanded payment from family back in the U.S., and used the woman -- an American citizen -- to collect the money because she could cross the border despite coronavirus restrictions.

May 18, 2020

Donald Trump increases China confrontations, blocks Huawei trade

President Trump is stepping up his confrontations with China as the U.S. death toll mounts from the COVID-19 pandemic, blocking trade with Chinese tech giant Huawei, halting some U.S. retirement investments in China and floating the suggestion that Beijing should compensate the world for the coronavirus first discovered in Wuhan.

May 17, 2020

China threatens sanctions against Americans who sue over coronavirus

China is lashing out at American lawmakers who are seeking to have the country face accountability in U.S. courts for the coronavirus, according to a government-controlled newspaper that reported that Beijing is ready to "hit back" with its own sanctions.

May 17, 2020

Citizenship agency faces ‘drastic’ coronavirus cash crunch, begs Congress for $1.2 billion

The federal agency that handles citizenship and other legal immigration applications warned Congress late last week that it's running out of money during the coronavirus crisis and will soon have to take "drastic actions" unless Congress comes up with $1.2 billion in emergency cash.

May 15, 2020