| Jon Huntsman: What would he bring as US ambassador to Russia? Posted: 02 Mar 2017 02:30 PM PST ![Jon Huntsman: What would he bring as US ambassador to Russia?]( "Jon Huntsman: What would he bring as US ambassador to Russia?") Whoever the next US ambassador to Russia is, he or she will be tasked with a daunting assignment: representing American interests to an important government at a time when Congress and the White House are divided on how to pursue those interests. One name that is "in the mix," White House officials say: former Utah governor and 2012 Republican presidential primary candidate Jon Huntsman. Prior to his presidential bid, he served as the ambassador to China, another key international partner, under former President Barack Obama.
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| Could a 'Facebook' for democracy help save American politics? Posted: 02 Mar 2017 02:26 PM PST ![Could a 'Facebook' for democracy help save American politics?]( "Could a 'Facebook' for democracy help save American politics?") Anyone who's spent much time on Facebook and Twitter might not have much faith that online discussion could be the savior of democracy, but that's precisely what one team recommends. Lamenting the lack of useful policy suggestions in recent years, a new paper published Thursday in the journal Science takes aim at bridging the bitter political divides causing friction in both the US and Europe. The authors propose a model of "deliberative" democracy, which they say could promote engagement and dialogue between citizens and representatives.
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| Trump administration says US may defy WTO rulings: What does that mean? Posted: 02 Mar 2017 02:01 PM PST ![Trump administration says US may defy WTO rulings: What does that mean?]( "Trump administration says US may defy WTO rulings: What does that mean?") On Wednesday night, the Trump administration released the 2017 Trade Policy Agenda to the public. The document, which was also sent to Congress, outlines a new approach to trade, with a focus on tougher bilateral trade deals which President Trump has touted as a way to get better "deals" for the United States. It also stands in stark contrast with decades of support for the WTO by the US, which was heavily involved in the creation of the organization even before officially came into being in 1995.
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| In first public office role, Ben Carson confirmed by Senate to lead HUD Posted: 02 Mar 2017 02:01 PM PST ![In first public office role, Ben Carson confirmed by Senate to lead HUD]( "In first public office role, Ben Carson confirmed by Senate to lead HUD") Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon and presidential candidate on the 2016 Republican ticket who has never held political office, won Senate confirmation on Thursday for secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). President Trump's cabinet member will oversee nearly 5 million homes that receive rental assistance, programs that provide assistance to low-income Americans, and a $47 billion annual budget. Acknowledging his lack of experience, Carson has said he will embark on a "listening tour" to hear from career HUD employees and public servants across the country, according to the Chicago Tribune.
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| An early test of Trump’s ‘America First’ at the UN Posted: 02 Mar 2017 12:48 PM PST ![An early test of Trump's 'America First' at the UN]( "An early test of Trump's 'America First' at the UN") When President Trump first proclaimed an "America First" approach to foreign affairs, it was not clear if he meant the American people or American values. On Feb. 28, the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, put forth a resolution in the Security Council to punish Syria for its latest use of chemical weapons on civilians in a war that has lasted nearly six years. The Trump administration, along with Western allies, was alarmed at a new UN report that found Syrian helicopters had dropped internationally banned chlorine bombs in residential areas last year, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties.
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| Russia is a scandal the White House just can’t shake Posted: 02 Mar 2017 12:11 PM PST ![Russia is a scandal the White House just can't shake]( "Russia is a scandal the White House just can't shake") Russia is becoming the scandal the Trump administration just can't shake. A steady drip of revelations regarding the Trump team's communications with Russian officials is dismaying congressional Republicans as well as Democrats, leading to calls for a more intensive investigation into the circumstances and substance of these connections. In particular, many lawmakers were surprised on Wednesday night by a report in The Washington Post that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had twice spoken with the Russian ambassador during the presidential campaign.
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| Can Trump and Congress turn outreach into legislation? Posted: 02 Mar 2017 11:05 AM PST ![Can Trump and Congress turn outreach into legislation?]( "Can Trump and Congress turn outreach into legislation?") To get anything done in Washington, a president's got to keep the lines of communication open with Capitol Hill. President Trump, with some notable exceptions, appears to have that pipeline flowing – though largely to his own party. Mr. Trump lost no time inviting lawmakers to the White House.
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| White House says no further discipline for Kellyanne Conway is needed Posted: 02 Mar 2017 08:27 AM PST ![White House says no further discipline for Kellyanne Conway is needed]( "White House says no further discipline for Kellyanne Conway is needed") The White House concluded in a letter to the Office of Government Ethics released on Wednesday that presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway acted "inadvertently" when she endorsed first daughter Ivanka Trump's clothing and jewelry line during a Fox News interview on Feb. 9. The letter from White House Deputy Counsel Stefan Passantino made no mention of having disciplined Ms. Conway – a course of action that the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) had earlier recommended for consideration, citing a "strong reason to believe" she had violated ethics rules.
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| Beyond Jeff Sessions, Russia says officials have daily talks with 'US partners' Posted: 02 Mar 2017 06:44 AM PST ![Beyond Jeff Sessions, Russia says officials have daily talks with 'US partners']( "Beyond Jeff Sessions, Russia says officials have daily talks with 'US partners'") Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday he was unaware that US Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, had met during the presidential campaign but described meetings of the sort as routine for diplomats. According to the officials cited by the Post, Sessions met the Russian ambassador on two occasions: once, at a public Heritage Foundation event in July, and again in September, this time in private, at the office of the then-senator and senior member of the chamber's Armed Forces Committee.
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| How would 'merit-based' systems change US immigration? Posted: 02 Mar 2017 04:13 AM PST ![How would 'merit-based' systems change US immigration?]( "How would 'merit-based' systems change US immigration?") President Trump called for the United States to shift toward a national immigration system more closely resembling a "merit-based" model employed by Canada, Australia, and others, in a speech before Congress on Tuesday. "Switching away from this current system of lower-skilled immigration, and instead adopting a merit-based system, we will have so many more benefits," he said, according to transcripts. Recommended: Could you pass a US citizenship test?
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| After Trump issues executive order backing HBCUs, work remains for their supporters Posted: 01 Mar 2017 03:03 PM PST ![After Trump issues executive order backing HBCUs, work remains for their supporters]( "After Trump issues executive order backing HBCUs, work remains for their supporters") After meeting with leaders from dozens of America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday aimed at strengthening these institutions.
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