Tue, December 3, 2024

by: Brian Stokes

Justice Dept.'s Apolitical Tradition Is Challenged by 2 Presidents

The post-Watergate norm that political leaders should steer clear of criminal cases is being tested from opposite ends of the political spectrum.

by: Brian Stokes

Cuomo: Me, Trump and Adams are the same.

President Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter Biden — and his admission that the Department of Justice has been beset by "raw politics" and "selective prosecution" — is breathing new life into the claims from Trump, Adams and Cuomo that they are targets of a weaponized justice system.

by: Brian Stokes

Progressives' Plan for Handling Trump Is Too Clever to Work

Sanders, Warren, and other progressives are looking to steal some of Trump's populist street cred. Their plan will just deny Democrats a united front.

by: Brian Stokes

Singh says NDP election campaign will be 'gutsy' and 'unapologetic'

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh joined MPs Tuesday to lay out his vision for the NDP's 2025 federal election campaign. Citing the need to address the struggles of Canada's working class, Singh said his campaign will not be one that's careful or cautious,

by: Brian Stokes

France's government looks on the brink of collapse. What's next?

by: Brian Stokes

Syrian rebels advance close to Hama city, piling pressure on Assad and his allies

By Maya Gebeily and Suleiman Al-Khalidi BEIRUT/AMMAN (Reuters) -Syrian rebels advancing against government forces pushed close on Tuesday to the major city of Hama, rebels and a war monitor said, after their sudden capture of Aleppo last week rocked President Bashar al-Assad.

by: Brian Stokes

Thousands of Federal Employees Land Work From Home Deal Ahead of Trump

A Biden administration appointee has agreed to lock in hybrid work protections for tens of thousands of Social Security staff, part of a slew of organized labor efforts that complicate President-elect Donald Trump's efforts to reshape the federal workforce.

by: Brian Stokes

How Trump's Cabinet Picks Compare To The Selection Of Corporate CEOs

President-elect Donald Trump's selections to serve in his cabinet and head government agencies sent shockwaves in some quarters and provided important leadership lessons.

by: Brian Stokes

Illegal immigrant from China shipped weapons to North Korea from California: DOJ

An illegal immigrant from China allegedly shipped weapons from California to North Korea, according to federal prosecutors.

by: Brian Stokes

Republican senators torn over FBI background checks for Trump Cabinet picks

Republicans senators returned to Washington after Thanksgiving recess to a renewed peppering of questions about President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks.

by: Brian Stokes

Attack on agartala mission: Protests mount, Yunus moves for national unity

Amid demonstrations in the capital and different districts over the attack on Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has initiated a series of dialogues to achieve national unity.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump (and Canada) would not actually like it if Canada joined the U.S.

The president-elect's flippant comment to the Canadian prime minister might worry Canadians, but the scenario would also not be good for Republicans.

by: Brian Stokes

South Korea president declares emergency martial law, sending shockwaves across country

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an unannounced late-night TV address Tuesday, accusing the country's main opposition party of sympathizing with North Korea and of anti-state activities.

by: Brian Stokes

Wisconsin judge strikes down law stripping government workers of collective bargaining rights

A Wisconsin judge overturned a state law that prevented public employees from collective bargaining Monday. The legislation, known as Act 10 and passed in 2011 under former Gov. Scott Walker (R), was declared unconstitutional.

by: Brian Stokes

Junet Mohamed slams Kenyans criticising his support for Ruto's policies: "Bwana mdomo ni yangu"

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has defended his political choices, asserting his right to support President William Ruto's administration despite criticism.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs

President-elect Donald Trump is underscoring his intention to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp., and he's pledging to use tax incentives and tariffs to strengthen the iconic American steelmaker.

by: Brian Stokes

Ontario spent highest-ever amount on government ads, auditor says

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government spent three times the amount of money on government advertising in the last fiscal year as it did the year before - the highest amount ever - and most campaigns were more partisan than informational,

by: Brian Stokes

Cayuga County Republicans choose new elections commissioner

At the local level in New York, county election boards are led by bipartisan commissioners — one representing the Democratic Party and one representing the Republican Party. The party committees select the commissioners, who are formally appointed by the county Legislature.

by: Brian Stokes

Jill Biden's final foreign trip as first lady will close with her and Trump at Notre Dame cathedral

Jill Biden was departing Tuesday on her final solo foreign trip as first lady, a six-day, four-country jaunt through Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar that wraps with her and President-elect Donald Trump joining other dignitaries in Paris to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral.

by: Brian Stokes

"Caleb Amisi warns opposition leaders against arrogance toward Kenyans: "That is not who we are"

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has warned opposition leaders in the Kenya Kwanza regime to stop their grandiosity and arrogance while addressing the public.

by: Brian Stokes

Liberal MP Paul Fletcher sees red over teals, but look deeper and there's more at play

On Monday night at the Sydney Institute, Paul Fletcher ripped off a fiery denunciation of the "teals" - the independent candidates who two and a half years ago tore a significant hole in the ranks of the parliamentary Liberal Party.

by: Brian Stokes

Biden acknowledges horrific history of slavery that has connected the US and Angola while projecting optimism for future ties

President Joe Biden on Tuesday acknowledged how the horrific history of slavery has connected the United States and Angola while delivering a hopeful vision for the future in a major speech from a country that was the point of departure for millions of enslaved Africans.

by: Brian Stokes

British Steel faces nationalisation under Government plans

The nationalisation of British Steel is being considered by Government ministers, The Telegraph can reveal...

by: Brian Stokes

Why are Donnelly and Martin still ministers despite not being re-elected?

Stephen Donnelly and Catherine Martin were two of the highest profile TDs to lose their seats in Election 24, but despite that they will remain ministers until a new government is formed.

by: Brian Stokes

Will Dogecoin Price Jump to $1 As DOGE's Elon Musk Set to Addresses Congress on Dec 5?

by: Brian Stokes

Biden did it: Most regulation-filled Federal Register ever at 96,088 pages

by: Brian Stokes

House Republican: 'Hard decisions' needed on Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said Tuesday that lawmakers will ultimately face tough choices on spending in next year's unified GOP government, suggesting cuts may be coming to social welfare programs. "We're gonna have to have some hard decisions.

by: Brian Stokes

Musk and Ramaswamy Are Making a Big Mistake

They want to blame the bureaucrats, but they're going to need those very same bureaucrats if they want to get anything done.

by: Brian Stokes

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy agree on 'need to scrutinize' US funding for NGOs

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy both declare that government funding of non-governmental organizations needs to be scrutinized.

by: Brian Stokes

Here Are the Republicans Kash Patel Wants to Target

Trump's pick to be FBI director has expressed an intent to mount a revenge-a-thon that will include not just Democrats.

by: Brian Stokes

Tax Reform Bill: Why Tinubu Should Adjust VAT Component, Islamic Cleric Gumi Explains

As northern governors criticize the proposed Tax Reforms Bill, Sheikh Gumi has backed the proposed legislation and urged President Tinubu to adjust the VAT component

by: Brian Stokes

Aspiring applicants worry EPA environmental justice grant funding will be rescinded before it's awarded

The Biden administration has so far awarded nearly $266 million, according to an EPA database, leaving more than half—or just over $334 million—vulnerable to reversal efforts from Trump officials or Republican lawmakers.

by: Brian Stokes

'Childless Cat Lady' Taylor Swift tops Yale list of 2024's most notable quotations

Pop superstar Taylor Swift tops a list of 2024's most notable quotations compiled by Yale University, with her declaration that she's a "childless cat lady" while endorsing Kamala Harris for president.

by: Brian Stokes

Wyoming and Montana Republicans vow to challenge Biden decision to block coal mining in area

by: Brian Stokes

Black Republicans feel left out of Trump's second-term picks

As President-elect Donald Trump fills out his Cabinet and closest advisers, African American Republicans ask why more Black people haven't been selected.

by: Brian Stokes

What is happening in north-western Syria and why now?

Rebels have captured a swathe of land during their largest offensive against the government in years.

by: Brian Stokes

Maharashtra government formation LIVE updates: Devendra Fadnavis meets Eknath Shinde at his official residence

Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde continues to recover from illness, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed two central observers and has called for its Legislature Party meeting on Wednesday (December 4, 2024) in Mumbai, likely paving the way for the appointment of Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister.

by: Brian Stokes

RFK Jr. Is in the Wrong Agency

If Trump truly wanted RFK Jr. to fulfill those parts of their pledge to "Make America healthy again," he should have picked a different job for the would-be health secretary. Since endorsing Donald Trump for president,

by: Brian Stokes

New findings from Sam Altman's basic-income study challenge one of the main arguments against the idea

New findings from Sam Altman's basic-income study show recipients valued work more after getting monthly payments.

by: Brian Stokes

Mar-a-Lago Draws Rich and Powerful in Weeks Before the Inauguration

The role of Trump's resort in geopolitics and transition planning as the president-elect prepares to take office.

by: Brian Stokes

Stopping Trump from Using the LA Olympics to Burnish His Strong-Man Image

Activists, community leaders, and organizers are already teaming up to prevent LA28 from becoming an echo of the 1936 Nazi Olympics.

by: Brian Stokes

India's ruling elite engaging in divisive politics, anti-Bangladesh rhetoric: Adviser Nahid

by: Brian Stokes

Is weather modification real? A Florida lawmaker is trying to ban it. What are chemtrails?

Is the government trying to control us through chemtrails? Florida Sen. Ileana Garcia wants to stop a practice conspiracy theorists have warned about.

by: Brian Stokes

First government formation talks to take place before end of the week

The final of the 174 Dáil seats were filled on Monday evening following last Friday's election. Fianna Fail will have 48 seats in the next Dáil, followed by Sinn Féin on 39 and Fine Gael on 38.

by: Brian Stokes

Politics latest: Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out more tax rises - just one week after she did

Rachel Reeves has refused to repeat a promise made to business leaders just a week ago not to raise taxes again. Meanwhile, talks between Keir Starmer and the Greek PM have reignited debate over the future of the Elgin Marbles.

by: Brian Stokes

'Do You Think It's OK to Lie!?' Fox News' Jessica Tarlov and Jesse Watters Brawl Over Trump FBI Nominee Kash Patel

Fox News' Jessica Tarlov and Jesse Watters brawled over Donald Trump's nomination of Kash Patel to lead the FBI on Monday. The post 'Do You Think It's OK to Lie!?' Fox News' Jessica Tarlov and Jesse Watters Brawl Over Trump FBI Nominee Kash Patel first appeared on Mediaite.

by: Brian Stokes

First key meetings in government formation talks due to begin today

The three biggest parties, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are all expected to hold their first post-election parliamentary party meetings on Wednesday, where newly-elected TDs will get their say about government formation options. The Labour Party, meanwhile, will hold a parliamentary party meeting on Thursday.

by: Brian Stokes

What Musk and Ramaswamy Don't Get

They want to blame the bureaucrats, but they're going to need those very same bureaucrats if they want to get anything done.

Justice Dept.'s Apolitical Tradition Is Challenged by 2 Presidents

The post-Watergate norm that political leaders should steer clear of criminal cases is being tested from opposite ends of the political spectrum.

The article from The New York Times, published on December 3, 2024, discusses the ongoing debate over the independence of the Justice Department. It highlights how recent political pressures and actions by the executive branch have raised concerns about the department's autonomy. Key points include the appointment of special counsels, the handling of politically sensitive investigations, and the implications of these actions on public trust in the justice system. The piece also examines historical precedents of Justice Department independence, contrasting them with current practices under the administration. It notes that while the Justice Department has traditionally operated with a degree of independence to ensure impartiality, recent events suggest a potential erosion of this principle, prompting calls from legal experts and former officials for stronger safeguards to protect the department's integrity.

Read the Full The New York Times Article at:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/03/us/politics/justice-department-independence.html