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McCain Steps In to Ease Tension With Australia Over Trump Insult McCain Steps In to Ease Tension With Australia Over Trump Insult
(35 minutes later)
■ Senator John McCain steps in to assure Australia that the United States remains a stalwart ally after President Trump insulted its prime minister.■ Senator John McCain steps in to assure Australia that the United States remains a stalwart ally after President Trump insulted its prime minister.
■ Uproar over a “technical fix” to sanctions on Russian intelligence proves to be misplaced.
■ Mr. Trump has threatened Iran on Twitter, grabbing the spotlight after a night of troubling news reports.■ Mr. Trump has threatened Iran on Twitter, grabbing the spotlight after a night of troubling news reports.
■ Mr. Trump has summoned the bipartisan leadership of Congress’s tax-writing committees to meet on Thursday and start talking about tax overhauls.
Mr. Trump’s blustery phone call with Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, was enough to pull the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee into the diplomatic breach.Mr. Trump’s blustery phone call with Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, was enough to pull the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee into the diplomatic breach.
In a remarkable statement, Mr. McCain, Republican of Arizona, announced that he had called Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Joe Hockey, to assure him of an “unwavering support for the U.S.-Australia alliance.”In a remarkable statement, Mr. McCain, Republican of Arizona, announced that he had called Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Joe Hockey, to assure him of an “unwavering support for the U.S.-Australia alliance.”
Mr. Trump angrily berated Australia’s prime minister after the leader pressed Mr. Trump to honor an agreement to accept 1,250 refugees from an Australian detention center. He then followed up with a Twitter post announcing his displeasure.Mr. Trump angrily berated Australia’s prime minister after the leader pressed Mr. Trump to honor an agreement to accept 1,250 refugees from an Australian detention center. He then followed up with a Twitter post announcing his displeasure.
For Mr. McCain, a Vietnam War hero, that was too much, apparently.For Mr. McCain, a Vietnam War hero, that was too much, apparently.
When word got out that the Trump Treasury Department has adjusted sanctions against the F.S.B., Russia’s successor intelligence agency to the Soviet-era K.G.B., the response was predictable: President Trump had eased penalties on an intelligence agency that had intervened on his behalf in the election, critics screamed.
“Russia attacked our democracy. It should be punished. Instead, President Trump is easing sanctions against its team of hackers, the F.S.B.,” declared Representative Eric Swalwell, Democrat of California.
Not so fast.
The fix to the sanctions was actually ordered by Obama administration officials who had intended to implement it before leaving. And officials who remain at Treasury from the Obama days support the change.
The technical explanation is this: Apparently Russian border and customs officials are connected to the F.S.B., so theoretically, any visit to Russia that involves payment of a border tax is a violation of sanctions — it would be material support to the F.S.B. That goes well beyond former President Barack Obama’s intent.
The adjustment keeps the sanctions focused on the intelligence unit of the agency.
Mr. Trump does know how to please his audience.Mr. Trump does know how to please his audience.
The mainstream news media lit up Wednesday night with tales of Mr. Trump’s call with Australia’s prime minister, and his apparent suggestion that American forces might invade Mexico to get control of the drug trade.The mainstream news media lit up Wednesday night with tales of Mr. Trump’s call with Australia’s prime minister, and his apparent suggestion that American forces might invade Mexico to get control of the drug trade.
Even conservatives were a bit taken aback.Even conservatives were a bit taken aback.
The president was in turn defiant, bellicose and diversionary. Early Thursday morning, he joined the saber rattling of his national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, when he threatened Iran over a ballistic missile test that challenged a United Nations Security Council resolution that had called upon Tehran not to undertake such launches.The president was in turn defiant, bellicose and diversionary. Early Thursday morning, he joined the saber rattling of his national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, when he threatened Iran over a ballistic missile test that challenged a United Nations Security Council resolution that had called upon Tehran not to undertake such launches.
That was hardly his first salvo. He made no effort to shake the Australia story. He got the White House involved in a student riot at the University of California, Berkeley, that forced the cancellation of an appearance by the Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos, a prominent figure in the white nationalist “alt-right.”That was hardly his first salvo. He made no effort to shake the Australia story. He got the White House involved in a student riot at the University of California, Berkeley, that forced the cancellation of an appearance by the Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos, a prominent figure in the white nationalist “alt-right.”
And he claimed the presidential mantle by bringing up his unscheduled trip to Dover Air Force Base to greet the remains of an American commando killed in a raid in Yemen. He had been studiously silent before, saying he was respecting the wishes of the family of the deceased.And he claimed the presidential mantle by bringing up his unscheduled trip to Dover Air Force Base to greet the remains of an American commando killed in a raid in Yemen. He had been studiously silent before, saying he was respecting the wishes of the family of the deceased.
So about Mr. Trump’s Iran tweets.So about Mr. Trump’s Iran tweets.
Iran was hurting from international sanctions before the nuclear deal between Tehran and five world powers, including the United States, was concluded in July 2015. It was having a hard time finding customers for its oil, ports were closed to its ships and banking relationships were suspended.Iran was hurting from international sanctions before the nuclear deal between Tehran and five world powers, including the United States, was concluded in July 2015. It was having a hard time finding customers for its oil, ports were closed to its ships and banking relationships were suspended.
But there was no evidence of imminent collapse.But there was no evidence of imminent collapse.
And that $150 billion? It belonged to Iran but had been frozen. And it turned out not to be $150 billion, an extreme estimate. By most accounts from American government officials, it was south of $50 billion.And that $150 billion? It belonged to Iran but had been frozen. And it turned out not to be $150 billion, an extreme estimate. By most accounts from American government officials, it was south of $50 billion.
The era of Mr. Trump has been as partisan as it gets in its short life, but the promised rewrite of the tax code — something that hasn’t been accomplished in three decades, despite a lot of talk — won’t get done with one party alone. Presidents define themselves by whom they defend.
So Mr. Trump has summoned Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, chairman of the Finance Committee; Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the committee’s ranking Democrat; Representative Kevin Brady of Texas, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee; and Representative Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, the panel’s lead Democrat; to meet at the White House Thursday morning. Six months into his first term, President Obama — answering a shouted question at a White House news conference — stood up for Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. of Harvard after the African-American legal scholar and racial commentator was briefly arrested for disorderly conduct after trying to open the jammed lock on his own front door in Cambridge, Mass.
Huge hurdles stand in the way of a tax overhaul, although both parties profess to want it. Are changes needed for both the corporate tax code and personal taxes, or would the business side be enough, since Republicans and Democrats agree that the corporate code is such a hopeless morass that it is costing jobs and economic growth? “I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That’s just a fact,” Mr. Obama said — and thus ensued an uproar over the president and the police that culminated in the July 30, 2009, “Beer Summit” between the president, Mr. Gates and the arresting officer, in a gesture of reconciliation.
Should an overhaul raise more revenue (perhaps to pay for infrastructure spending), bring in the same amount of taxes as the current code, or cut taxes over all? On Thursday morning, Mr. Trump took to Twitter in defense of the First Amendment and Mr. Yiannopoulos — who is known for his racially incendiary rants and a Florida speech he gave in the wake of last year’s Orlando nightclub shooting titled “Ten Things I Hate About Islam.”
How progressive should the tax code remain? Mr. Yiannopoulos of Breitbart, the website once run by Mr. Trump’s chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, was scheduled to speak at the University of California, Berkeley, on Wednesday but canceled after 150 masked protesters set fires, tossed aside protective barricades, broke windows and hurled firecrackers at police officers.
Those questions will certainly not be answered Thursday, but the long struggle may well begin. That prompted an early morning Twitter-threat from Mr. Trump, who once offered to pay supporters’ legal bills if they bashed protesters at his political rallies:
Representative Patrick McHenry, Republican of North Carolina, wants the Federal Reserve to stop talking about financial regulation with other countries, citing President Trump’s dictum that the United States must put America first.
In a letter to Fed Chairwoman Janet L. Yellen, Mr. McHenry blasted the Fed’s meetings with foreign regulators as unacceptable and unauthorized. He demanded that the Fed suspend such meetings until Mr. Trump names his own people to run the central bank.
“It is incumbent upon all regulators to support the U.S. economy, and scrutinize international agreements that are killing American jobs,” Mr. McHenry wrote. “Accordingly the Federal Reserve must cease all attempts to negotiate binding standards burdening American business until President Trump has had an opportunity to nominate and appoint officials that prioritize America’s best interests.”
Mr. McHenry is vice chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, which oversees the Fed, but he does not appear well-versed in the relevant laws. The Fed’s regulatory authority was not altered by Mr. Trump’s election, and Mr. Trump cannot replace Ms. Yellen until her term ends in February 2018.
Andrew Puzder’s confirmation hearing to be the next secretary of labor appears to be in trouble, having been postponed four times as he tries to divest from the company he leads.Andrew Puzder’s confirmation hearing to be the next secretary of labor appears to be in trouble, having been postponed four times as he tries to divest from the company he leads.
Adding to his troubles, an ethics watchdog group filed a petition on Wednesday to unseal court documents related to the divorce of Mr. Puzder.Adding to his troubles, an ethics watchdog group filed a petition on Wednesday to unseal court documents related to the divorce of Mr. Puzder.
In some of the sealed documents, Mr. Puzder’s former wife, Lisa Fierstein, appears to have alleged that Mr. Puzder physically abused her.In some of the sealed documents, Mr. Puzder’s former wife, Lisa Fierstein, appears to have alleged that Mr. Puzder physically abused her.
The Washington-based group, the Campaign for Accountability, argued that the allegations are directly relevant to Mr. Puzder’s nomination because the Labor Department is charged with assuring workers’ physical safety.The Washington-based group, the Campaign for Accountability, argued that the allegations are directly relevant to Mr. Puzder’s nomination because the Labor Department is charged with assuring workers’ physical safety.
“If confirmed Mr. Puzder would be responsible for and oversee policy for millions of working American women,” the group’s executive director, Daniel Stevens, said in a statement. “Before the Senate acts, the public has a right to know if Mr. Puzder abused his wife.”“If confirmed Mr. Puzder would be responsible for and oversee policy for millions of working American women,” the group’s executive director, Daniel Stevens, said in a statement. “Before the Senate acts, the public has a right to know if Mr. Puzder abused his wife.”
George Thompson, a spokesman for Mr. Puzder, who is currently chief executive of the parent company of the fast food outlets Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, called the petition “a shameless attempt to smear an individual who has shown nothing but dedication to creating jobs.”George Thompson, a spokesman for Mr. Puzder, who is currently chief executive of the parent company of the fast food outlets Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, called the petition “a shameless attempt to smear an individual who has shown nothing but dedication to creating jobs.”
Mr. Puzder and Ms. Fierstein divorced in 1987, and the following year she filed a petition for damages, obtained by Politico, alleging physical abuse. In the legal wrangling over the petition, the two sides cited earlier documents, now sealed, that also allege abuse. A St. Louis County judge dismissed the petition, and Ms. Fierstein has since recanted her allegations.Mr. Puzder and Ms. Fierstein divorced in 1987, and the following year she filed a petition for damages, obtained by Politico, alleging physical abuse. In the legal wrangling over the petition, the two sides cited earlier documents, now sealed, that also allege abuse. A St. Louis County judge dismissed the petition, and Ms. Fierstein has since recanted her allegations.
Michael A. Kahn, a Missouri lawyer with experience in privacy rights cases, said a decision on the documents would hinge on the judge’s assessment of whether there is “good cause” to unseal them. Mr. Kahn said the odds were long but that the allegations of abuse coupled with the high-profile position to which Mr. Puzder has been nominated could give the effort a “toehold.”Michael A. Kahn, a Missouri lawyer with experience in privacy rights cases, said a decision on the documents would hinge on the judge’s assessment of whether there is “good cause” to unseal them. Mr. Kahn said the odds were long but that the allegations of abuse coupled with the high-profile position to which Mr. Puzder has been nominated could give the effort a “toehold.”
The blows keep coming for Mr. Trump’s executive order barring some foreigners from entering the United States.
First, there were the mass protests at international airports as the ban went into effect. Then, there were the court orders. Now, the Department of Homeland Security’s internal auditor is getting into the act.
The office of the department’s inspector general announced late Wednesday that it would review the agency’s implementation of the executive order, which suspended the entry of all refugees for 120 days and blocked for 90 days citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The auditor said the review was a response to requests from Congress and whistle-blowers, and to complaints received on a hotline.
In addition to reviewing how the Homeland Security Department implemented the executive order, the inspector general’s office said it would review the agency’s adherence to court orders and allegations of individual misconduct.
The inspector general’s office said it could review other issues as well.
The office did not say how long the review would take.
Mr. Trump campaigned vigorously against what he called the unfair economic practices of China. His new trade council director wrote a scathing book against China, the world’s largest nation. His trade representative has been similarly pointed.
But his daughter Ivanka Trump and her daughter were spotted Wednesday night at the Lunar New Year reception at the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
Let the Supreme Court advertising war begin.Let the Supreme Court advertising war begin.
A liberal advocacy group is beginning to run television ads against Mr. Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, with plans to target some states represented by moderate Democratic senators.A liberal advocacy group is beginning to run television ads against Mr. Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, with plans to target some states represented by moderate Democratic senators.
The ad, which includes a clip of a judicially robed man ripping the Constitution, is set to appear for one week in a dozen states, according to the group, People for the American Way. These include several states — like North Dakota, West Virginia and Missouri — that Mr. Trump carried easily in last year’s election but that still have a Democratic senator.The ad, which includes a clip of a judicially robed man ripping the Constitution, is set to appear for one week in a dozen states, according to the group, People for the American Way. These include several states — like North Dakota, West Virginia and Missouri — that Mr. Trump carried easily in last year’s election but that still have a Democratic senator.
Conservative groups have set off on a multimillion-dollar effort to support Judge Gorsuch that includes television advertising and planned events at megachurches. People for the American Way would not disclose the amount of money it was spending to run its ads.Conservative groups have set off on a multimillion-dollar effort to support Judge Gorsuch that includes television advertising and planned events at megachurches. People for the American Way would not disclose the amount of money it was spending to run its ads.