Stephen Dinan

Trump’s speech used as evidence against him in court

President Trump's effusive praise of Elon Musk during his speech to Congress this week is already coming back to bite him, with one of his legal challengers saying he contradicted his own Justice Department's assurances to a judge.

March 5, 2025

Vance says deportations aren’t higher because Biden ‘gutted’ DHS system

Vice President J.D. Vance defended the Trump administration's pace of immigration arrests and deportations Wednesday, saying they are trying to rebuild a Homeland Security operation that was "gutted" by President Biden.

March 5, 2025

Sanctuary mayors blame Trump for scaring immigrants

Facing increasing pressure from Washington, sanctuary city mayors came to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to defend themselves, insisting their refusal to fully cooperate with federal immigration agents and officers makes their communities better.

March 5, 2025

Social Security downplays Trump’s numbers on dead people still on the books

The Social Security Administration said Wednesday that it does have people with impossible ages still on its books, as President Trump said earlier this week, but that doesn't mean they are getting benefits.

March 5, 2025

Vance tours border, touts plummet in border crossings

Vice President J.D. Vance visited the border in Texas on Wednesday and said the lower illegal immigration numbers are proof that the Biden migrant surge was a matter of resolve, not laws.

March 5, 2025

GSA erases public list of federal properties to be sold

The General Services Administration already has removed an online list of more than 400 "non-core" federal properties it said it wanted to sell off.

March 5, 2025

Federal watchdog blocks Trump’s firing of thousands at Agriculture Department

The Merit Systems Protection Board moved Wednesday to block the Trump administration's attempt to fire thousands of probationary workers at the Agriculture Department, saying the action may have violated the law.

March 5, 2025

‘No quid pro quo’: NYC Mayor Adams tells Congress he didn’t strike deal with Trump

New York City Mayor Eric Adams told Congress under oath on Wednesday that his new stance on unauthorized immigrants isn't the result of any deal with the Trump administration.

March 5, 2025

Supreme Court derails Trump admin’s freeze on $2B in foreign aid, sides with lower court

The Supreme Court delivered an early victory Wednesday to President Trump's opponents, ruling that a federal judge can order the administration to pay nearly $2 billion in foreign assistance money the White House had put on hold.

March 5, 2025

Mohammad Sharifullah charged as scout in Afghanistan airport bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops

U.S. authorities announced charges Wednesday against Mohammad Sharifullah, the man they said acted as a scout ahead of the suicide bombing that killed 13 American troops during the 2021 troop withdrawal in Afghanistan.

March 5, 2025

Trump announces arrest of terrorist who killed 13 Americans in Afghanistan withdrawal

President Trump on Tuesday announced the arrest of the "monster" who orchestrated the bombing that killed 13 American troops at the Kabul airport during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.

March 4, 2025

Trump says American dream ‘bigger and better than before’

President Trump on Tuesday declared that Americans are regaining their confidence and the American dream is now "unstoppable" in an address before a joint session of Congress that was marked by interruptions from Democrats.

March 4, 2025

Trump signs order renaming wildlife refuge after girl slain in illegal immigrant crime

President Trump announced Tuesday that he has renamed a wildlife refuge in Texas after a 12-year-old girl he said was slain by two illegal immigrant gang members.

March 4, 2025

Transgender mice: Trump slams bizarre government spending

President Trump brought his budget-cutting fight directly to the country Tuesday night in his address to Congress, ticking off some of the strangest spending items that taxpayers are funding.

March 4, 2025

Trump demands Democrats applaud his ‘incredible wins’

President Trump lashed out at Democrats during Tuesday's address to Congress, complaining that they were refusing to applaud anything he has done.

March 4, 2025

Trump admin to hold fire sale for 400 agency buildings; Pelosi site deemed ‘threat to public safety’

The Trump administration has listed more than 400 federal properties it says it wants to ditch -- including some high-profile agency buildings in Washington and the office building in San Francisco that bears the name of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

March 4, 2025

Trump’s personnel office walks back order to fire probationary employees

The Trump administration's Office of Personnel Management issued new guidance on Tuesday making clear it is not ordering federal agencies to fire probationary employees.

March 4, 2025

Judge rebuffs Trump firing, orders MSPB chairwoman restored to post

A judge on Tuesday restored Cathy Harris to her job as chairwoman of the federal Merit Systems Protection Board, ruling that President Trump's attempt to fire her was illegal.

March 4, 2025

Supreme Court slaps down EPA over wastewater treatment rules

The Supreme Court ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, finding that it created a moving target for local governments trying to comply with wastewater treatment standards.

March 4, 2025

Feds dismantle smuggling ring that brought in 20,000 illegal immigrants

A migrant smuggling operation that helped bring at least 20,000 illegal immigrants into the U.S. has been broken up with the arrest of four Guatemalans.

March 3, 2025