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☆ How different a commander in chief will Trump be?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +27 min

On the face of it, there are sizable differences in foreign policy between Trump and President Joe Biden. In October, the Biden administration again helped to intercept a barrage of around 200 Iranian ballistic missiles, which also caused minimal damage to targets in Israel. Bringing US troops homeIn 2020, the Trump administration signed a US withdrawal agreement from Afghanistan with the Taliban. But after McMaster was pushed out of office in 2018, the Trump administration negotiated with the Taliban the withdrawal agreement of all US forces from Afghanistan. Nonetheless, the incoming Trump administration seems intent on resurrecting Schedule F, an executive order issued in the last months of the first Trump term.

Persons: sneezes, Trump, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, —, Biden, Trump’s, shored, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Andrew Harnik, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Ahmad Gharabli, Israel, Jared Kushner, Qasem Soleimani, Mike Huckabee, Israel — Huckabee, David Friedman, Reagan, JD Vance —, H.R, McMaster, Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo, Haley, Pompeo, Elise Stefanik, Mike Waltz, Florida, George W, Bush, Pete Hegseth —, Lloyd Austin, Jim Mattis, Robert Gates, John Ratcliffe of, Tulsi Gabbard, Vladimir Putin, Basher al, Assad, Putin, Diego Fedele, Ukraine doesn’t, John Bolton, Mark Rutte, Tom Homan, Homan, ” Trump, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, “ It’s, Maura Healey, Stephen Miller, CBS’s, Camp David, It’s, Kim Jong Un Organizations: CNN, Trump, NATO, Ukraine, White, of, Biden, CIA, Liberation Army, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Obama, Getty, West Bank, Abraham Accords, Arkansas Gov, US Defense Intelligence Agency, ISIS, McMaster, UN, GOP, Republican, Special, House Armed Services Committee, Pentagon, Fox News, Senate, Republicans, US Civil, Policy, State Department, Department of Homeland Security, Policy Institute, Rep, House Intelligence, NATO Trump, US Congressional Research Service, Joint Assault Brigade, National Police, of Homeland, American Immigration Council, NBC News, US Bureau of Prisons, Massachusetts Gov, National Guard, Congress, Washington Post, H.R, North, America Locations: Paris, Russia, China, Beijing, South China, United Kingdom, Australia, Taiwan, Washington, United States, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Iranian, Syria, Israel, Yemen, Jerusalem, AFP, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, John Ratcliffe of Texas, Hawaii, Ukraine, Dnipro, Soviet, Toretsk, Crimea, Japan, NATO, “ Russia, Baltic, Western Europe, ”, Korean, North Korean

Trump nominated Wray in 2017 after firing James Comey, but he began to sour on him before he left office in 2021. The 10-year term is designed to keep the FBI director position insulated from political whims. “Kash is frightening at the bureau,” one source familiar with internal deliberations about the role of FBI director. Trump also briefly considered installing Patel as deputy FBI director in the closing weeks of his first administration. The deputy FBI director job is a career position, and not a political appointee, and Attorney General William Barr helped talk Trump out of putting Patel at the bureau.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kash Patel, Christopher Wray, Patel, Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard, Trump, Mike Rogers, Mark Morgan, Jeff Jensen, Louis, Mike Flynn’s, he’s, –, John Ratcliffe, Wray, James Comey, “, Elect Trump, ”, Karoline Leavitt, Vance, Jensen, Rogers, Morgan, “ Kash, ” Patel, Steve Bannon’s, Devin Nunes, Nunes, Gina Haspel, – Patel, William Barr, Wray isn’t, CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Manu Raju Organizations: CNN, FBI, Republican, Customs, Trump, intel, DOD, CIA, House, National Security Council Locations: Mar, Lago, Trump’s, Russia

☆ Intelligence agencies, already anxious over Trump, find some solace in Ratcliffe pick for CIA
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Current and former officials also cautioned not to assume that the intelligence community is uniformly opposed to Trump. Ratcliffe was among a cohort of Trump officials who aggressively sought the release of intelligence related to Russia and the FBI. Telling Trump ‘war stories’Memories of the tumultuous first Trump administration remain fresh in the minds of many career officials. One senior intelligence official said some veterans in his office told “war stories” on the morning after the election. And some fear what they say is the relative inexperience in the intelligence community of the new CIA director.

Persons: Trump, Donald Trump, John Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe, ”, “, it’s, Kash Patel, Department of Defense Kash Patel, Justin Sullivan, Patel, Gina Haspel, —, William Barr, there’s, “ That’s, Bill Burns, National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Patrick Semansky, CNN’s Alex Marquardt, Zachary Cohen Organizations: CNN, CIA, “, Trump, Officials, Trump ’, Republican, Staff, Department of Defense, FBI, ” Trump, White, House, National Intelligence, Marine Locations: Lago, Russia, Minden, Minden , Nevada, declassifying, ODNI, Florida, United States, Iran, Washington , DC, Iraq

☆ Trump picks former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is A Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: 1 min

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named John Ratcliffe as his pick for CIA director in the next administration. Ratcliffe, a former congressman from Texas, was director of national intelligence in Trump's first term. "I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions," Trump said in a statement Tuesday evening. "He will be a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans, while ensuring the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH." Please check back for updates.

Persons: Donald Trump, John Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe, John, Trump Organizations: Intelligence, Constitutional, National Security Locations: Texas

☆ Trump says Musk and Ramaswamy will lead government efficiency group
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Lora Kolodny | In Lorakolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday that Elon Musk and former Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy will lead an efficiency group when his second term begins in January. Trump wrote in a post that the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, will "become, potentially, 'The Manhattan Project' of our time." Trump didn't specify where cuts will take place or when the department may be formed. Musk, who also runs defense contractor SpaceX, has reportedly been stationed at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida since election night. Ramaswamy, who challenged Trump in the Republican primary, is co-founder of investment firm Strive Asset Management.

Persons: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump, hasn't, Musk, Ramaswamy, Pete Hegseth, John Ratcliffe Organizations: Department of Government, Trump, Republican, SpaceX, Fox News Locations: Trump's, Lago, Florida

A firebrand legal adviser to the President-elect and a conservative lawyer under consideration for the post of Attorney General appear to be setting the stage for investigations and prosecution of Donald Trump’s legal adversaries, including Special Counsel Jack Smith and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The threats come as Trump campaign aides say that the president-elect considers his choice for attorney general to be his most important single appointment. Paoletta is among several people under consideration to run the Justice Department, people familiar with the matter tell NBC News. All of those people have claimed—without citing any specific evidence— that the federal prosecutions of Trump by Smith were politically motivated. The Trump Justice Department will have access to every text, email and memo written by everyone on the Smith team on government phones and computers during the investigation.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jack Smith, Letitia James, Mike Davis, Trump, Smith, James, “, ” Davis, Benny Johnson, Davis, ”, Tom Williams, — Mark Paoletta —, Paoletta, ” Paoletta, Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Utah Sen, Mike Lee, John Ratcliffe, Matt Whitaker, Donald Trump, can’t, —, Bill Barr, John Durham, Russia’s, “ Jack Smith Organizations: New York, Trump, Justice Department, Republican, Washington , D.C, Inc, Getty, NBC News, Department, DOJ, NBC, Justice, Democratic, DoJ, CIA, FBI, Trump Justice Department Locations: Washington ,, Missouri, Utah, Newsmax

☆ Former CIA officials worry Trump could politicize and weaponize intelligence agencies
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

Yet Durham found that no senior FBI or CIA officials had committed crimes. Former intelligence officials disagree on whether Trump would seek to use the spy agencies against domestic political opponents, and if he did, how the intelligence workforce and courts would respond. Presidents face few legal constraints when it comes to their authority over the intelligence agencies, legal experts and former senior officials said. Supporters of Trump say dire warnings about the future of the intelligence agencies under a new Trump administration are hysterical and overblown, and that his record at the White House shows that he strengthened the spy agencies. “And the other is the risk that the intelligence agencies will be directed to do things that are either unlawful or inappropriate.”

Persons: Donald Trump, Kash Patel, MAGA, Gina Haspel, Patel, Trump, Marc Short, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Dan Coats, ”, José Luis Villegas, ” Trump’s, Joe Biden, Brian Hughes, Justice Department —, Vladimir Putin, “, ” Trump, Putin, Devin Nunes, John Ratcliffe, Robert O’Brien, Sen, Marco Rubio, Robert Mueller's, Hillary Clinton, Bill Barr, John Durham, Durham, Steve Bannon, ” Bannon, Nixon, Chip Somodevilla, Trump’s, Glenn Gerstell, ” “, Robert Litt, ” Litt Organizations: Lawmakers, CIA, Justice Department, White House National Security Council, NBC News, “, Texas, FBI, Trump, DOJ, Democratic National Committee, Trump White House, Washington , D.C, National Security Agency, White House, National Intelligence, NBC Locations: Minden, Nev, Russian, Moscow, Helsinki, Devin Nunes of California, Russia, Vietnam, Washington ,, ”, Virginia

The West WingOne of Trump’s most important picks will be his White House chief of staff. Karoline Leavitt, who was Trump’s campaign spokeswoman, is being considered as White House press secretary – a job that typically is the most public-facing position in the White House. National security postsTrump has suggested his national security team would be tasked with reassessing the United States’ posture toward Ukraine and Russia, China, Iran, and the simmering conflict in the Middle East. The debate over a renewed Trump’s “America First” agenda is expected to pit Republican national security hawks against the party’s isolationist wing. Secretary of state and national security adviser will be among the most hard-fought positions to stand at the forefront of those shifts.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Howard Lutnick, Linda McMahon, John McEntee, Cliff Sims, Ross Werner, Goldman Sachs, Trump’s, John Kelly, Susie Wiles, Wiles, Russ Vought, Brooke Rollins, Bob Lighthizer, Karoline Leavitt, –, Musk, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Elon Musk, helms, Kennedy, ”, Ken Paxton, Matt Whitaker, Jeff Sessions, Sen, Mike Lee of, of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Mark Paoletta, Kash Patel, Patel, Christopher Wray, James Comey, Jeffrey Jensen, Louis, Bill Barr, Jensen, Michael Flynn, Barr, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Tennessee Sen, Bill Hagerty, Richard Grenell, Grenell, ” Arkansas Sen, Tom Cotton, Keith Kellogg, Ratcliffe, Gina Haspel, Cotton, Mike Waltz, Mike Pompeo, Elise Stefanik, She’s, Morgan Ortagus, David Friedman, Kelly Craft, Scott Bessent, “ He’s, MAGA, he’s, Elon, Hank Paulson, George, Jay Clayton, Lighthizer, McMahon, Doug Burgum, flinch, Jamieson Greer, CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Alayna Treene, Hannah Rabinowitz, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, Trump, White House, Heritage Foundation, White, Pentagon, West, America, Policy Institute, RFK Jr, SpaceX, Senate, Republicans, PAC, Department of Health, Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, Justice and Homeland Security, of National Intelligence, Conservative, FBI, Republican, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, New York Republican, House GOP, United Nations, UN, State Department, Soros, Goldman, George Bush’s, Department, Chinese Communist Party, Securities and Exchange Commission, Treasury, Commerce Department . North Dakota Gov, US Trade Locations: Trump, Central Park, Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, Beach, St, United States, Ukraine, Russia, China, Iran, Florida, Tennessee, Japan, Germany, ” Arkansas, Barr, UN

The Many Links Between Project 2025 and Trump’s WorldFormer president Donald J. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he had nothing to do with Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s conservative policy initiative to reshape the federal government. But Project 2025 has numerous ties to Mr. Trump and his campaign, a New York Times analysis has found. L. ZorcJump to the full list of authors, editors and contributorsSpokespeople for Project 2025 have denied that they are advocates for any particular candidate, and Project 2025 has no official ties to the Trump campaign. To limit the appearance of connection, Mr. Trump’s transition team has been excluding prominent people linked to Project 2025 from its preparations. Project 2025 additionally calls for the dismantling of the federal Education Department, which Mr. Trump has also pledged to do.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Kevin D, Roberts, Edwin J, Trump’s, Albrecht Mark Albrecht, Anderson J, Anderson Jeff Anderson, Anton Michael Anton, Antoni A, Arthur Andrew Arthur, Atkins Paul Atkins, Axelrod Julie Axelrod, Bacon James Bacon, Baehr James Baehr, Baker E, Erik Baptist, Bennett J, Berlau, Berman Russell Berman, Bhagat S, Billy Stephen Billy, Bishop Brad Bishop, Bixby J, Blackman J, Jim, Bovard, Bowman Matt Bowman, Bradbury Steven G, Bradbury, Brashers J, Bronitsky Jonathan Bronitsky, Brosnan Kyle Brosnan, Brown R, Burkett Robert Burkett, Burley Michael Burley, J, Butcher, Mark Buzby, Byfield, Byrd David Byrd, Campau Anthony Campau, Carroll O, Cass B, Cavanaugh Brian J, Cavanaugh, Chretien Spencer Chretien, Christensen V, Coates Victoria Coates, Ellie Cohanim, Cohen Ezra Cohen, Colby Elbridge Colby, Comstock Earl Comstock, Correnti Lisa Correnti, Crowley Monica Crowley, Cunliffe Laura Cunliffe, Sergio de la, Ruyter, Del, Dennis Irv Dennis, DeVore J, Dickerson, Ding Michael Ding, Dodson, Dave Dorey, Eden T, Edgar Troy Edgar, Edlow Joseph Edlow, Ehlinger Jen Ehlinger, Ehrett, Eichamer Kristen Eichamer, Eitel Robert S, Estrada, Farkish Thompson, Feere Jon Feere, Fisher Travis Fisher, Fishman George Fishman, Ford Leslie Ford, Friedman Aharon Friedman, Frohnen J, Frushone Joel Frushone, Fulton Finch Fulton, Gabel Caleigh Gabel, Gaiser Alexandra Gaiser, Garza P, Geller, Gillen J, Gilmore James S, Gilmore, Ginn Vance Ginn, Alma Golden, Gore, D, Greenberg Dan Greenberg, Greenway, Greszler, DJ Gribbin, Grisedale Garrison Grisedale, Grogan Joseph Grogan, Guernsey J, Gunter Jeffrey Gunter, Guy Joe Guy, Guzman Joseph Guzman, Hanania, Harlow David Harlow, Harvey Derek Harvey, Hayes, Edie Heipel, Hemenway Troup, Hoekstra Pete Hoekstra, Hoffman T, Homan Tom Homan, Horner Chris Horner, Howell Mike Howell, Huber Valerie Huber, Hughes Andrew Hughes, Humire, Iacovella, Israel K, Ivory R, Jankowski Roman Jankowski, Jay Carafano James Jay Carafano, Jones, Kao J, Kelson Jared M, Kelson, Kilmartin Ali Kilmartin, Kirchner Julie Kirchner, Kish, Klukowski Kenneth A, Adam Korzeniewski, Bethany Kozma, Kozma Matthew Kozma, Krein, Kurtz, LaCerte David LaCerte, Larkin P, Lawrence Paul Lawrence, Lawrence III James R, Lawrence III, Legates David Legates, Lewis B, Lieberman J, Ligon John Ligon, Lim Evelyn Lim, Lorraine Viña Morgan Lorraine Viña, Loyola Mario Loyola, G, Malcolm J, Masterman, Matthews Earl Matthews, Mauler, McCall, McCotter Trent McCotter, Meadowcroft Micah Meadowcroft, Meese, Melugin, Mermoud, Miller, Mitchell K, Kevin E, C, Morell Clare Morell, Morgan Mark Morgan, Morgen Hunter Morgen, Morrison J, Moy, Murray R, Nabil M, Nasi L, Niemeyer Lucian Niemeyer, Nazak, Milan Nikolich, Nuebel, Kathy Nuebel Kovarik, Orr, Owcharenko Schaefer Nina Owcharenko Schaefer, O’Brien, Michael, Pedersen Leah Pedersen, Pillsbury Michael Pillsbury, Pizzella Patrick Pizzella, Porter K, Kevin Preskenis, Pryor Pam Pryor, Pyle J, Ratcliffe John Ratcliffe, Ray Paul Ray, Reddan J, Richards J, Richardson Jordan Richardson, Richwine Jason Richwine, Ries Lora Ries, Rios, Mark Robeck, Rockas James Rockas, Royce R, Rubinstein Reed Rubinstein, Ruger, Ruse, Sadler J, Sanders, Carla Sands, Sauve, Schaefer, Schuck Matt Schuck, Schwab Justin Schwab, Schweppe, Scribner, Selnick Darin Selnick, Sewell K, Sgamma, Sharp J, Shelton Judy Shelton, Simington Nathan Simington, Smith Loren Smith, Smith J, Spencer A, Spero Adrienne Spero, Spoehr, Onge C, Stanley Chris Stanley, Stannard Paula M, Stannard, Steiger William Steiger, Stein, Stephany Saunders, Stewart Corey Stewart, Stull Mari Stull, Sullivan Katharine T, Sullivan, Swearingen, Sweeney R, Swope Robert Swope, Szabo Aaron Szabo, Katy Talento, Tata Tony Tata, Thurman Todd Thurman, Tolman K, Tonnessen Kayla M, Trotter, Troy C, Tufts Clayton Tufts, Valdez, Mark Vandroff, Vaughan J, Venable, Vollmer, Wallace DeWitt C, Wallace DeWitt, Walsh E, Walsh Erin Walsh, Ward, Waters, William Salter M, Williams Michael Williams, Wolff J, Wolfson Jonathan Wolfson, Alexei Woltornist, Wuco Frank Wuco, Ybarra J, Zadrozny John Zadrozny, ”, John McEntee, James Bacon, Reagan, Howard Lutnick, Joseph R, Biden Jr, Dennis Dean Kirk, Kirk, Mr, “, JD Vance, Roberts’s, Kevin Roberts, Rick Dearborn, Russell T, Evan Vucci, Paul Dans, Dans, Ken Cuccinelli, Christopher Miller, Chip Somodevilla, Samuel Corum, The New York Times Christopher Miller, Biden, Miller’s, Skinner, Gene Hamilton, Hamilton, ” President Biden, Ben Carson, Todd Heisler, Jonathan Berry, Carson, Stephen Moore, Peter Navarro, Navarro, Karen Kerrigan, Ken Cedeno, Edwin Feulner, Robert Bowes Organizations: Heritage, New York Times, Mr, Leadership, Trump, Ivory, Loyola, Poole, Royce, Tufts, Heritage Foundation, The New, The New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, White, White House, Republican, Management, Defense , Homeland Security, State, Homeland Security Department, Defense Department, Twitter, State Department, Justice Department, ”, federal Education Department, Urban Development Department, Republican National Convention, Center for American Progress, Small Business Administration, Small Business, Entrepreneurship Council, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Guernsey, The New York, Palm Beach, Fla, Southern

Trump's team had asked Chutkan to compel prosecutors in special counsel Jack Smith's office to provide them with additional evidence, including "all information" about foreign interference and influence efforts in the 2020 election. It's part of the Trump team's attempt to present Trump's concerns about mass voter fraud — which were roundly rejected by independent arbiters and courts — as "reasonable" and grounded in reality. Judge Tanya Chutkan pushed back on Trump's claims on Wednesday in an order that rejected all but three of his 14 categories of requests for additional evidence. Trump's state of mind is essential to the case, and Smith's team has alleged that Trump "knew" his election lies "were false." The Supreme Court gutted part of Smith's case over the summer with its ruling on presidential immunity, but the case against Trump is — very slowly — churning towards a potential trial.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Donald Trump, Tanya Chutkan, Chutkan, Jack Smith's, Trump, Trump’s, of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Mark Milley, Chris Miller, Mike Pence, Pence, Merrick Garland, Smith's, Trump “, Joe Biden’s, Steven Cheung, Witch Hunt Organizations: Capitol, Trump, Biden Administration, of National Intelligence Locations: Black, Detroit, United States, Trump's

WASHINGTON — A group of national security experts led by Cabinet members from the Trump administration endorsed former President Donald Trump on Wednesday, citing his foreign policy record and calling him "a peacemaker." The group, organized by former Trump national security adviser Robert O'Brien and former National Security Council chief of staff Alex Gray, wrote in a letter that "securing peace" is "the legacy of Trump." The letter comes amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East between Iran and Israel, as well as Russia's war in Ukraine. "The policies of the Biden-Harris Administration have invited conflict, diminished America’s standing around the globe, and imperiled our national security," the letter says. The signers do not include Trump's first secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, or his secretaries of defense, James Mattis and Mark Esper.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Trump, Donald Trump, Robert O'Brien, Alex Gray, Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo, Steven Mnuchin, John Ratcliffe, Jack Smith, William Barr, Barr, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Harris, America’s, ”, Trump's, Rex Tillerson, James Mattis, Mark Esper Organizations: Cabinet, Trump, National Security Council, Republican, National Intelligence, Prosecutors, PBS, Biden, Harris Administration Locations: East, Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Russia

But Iran’s 2020 election interference efforts stand apart from what have become well-recognized interference patterns, according to an indictment from the Justice Department, Treasury Department sanctions, researchers and media reporting, and comments from current and former U.S. officials. That gave them access to Election Night Reporting (ENR) systems, which provide live updates on unofficial results on Election Day. Fake Proud Boys campaignIn the most bizarre and elaborate foreign influence campaign of 2020, Iranian hackers allegedly staged an entirely fictional cyber-enabled fraud and harassment campaign, according to a detailed 2021 Justice Department indictment. The Iranian hackers did successfully steal some voter data from Alaska’s Online Voter Registration System, but otherwise none of it was true. The hackers tried to post it to various platforms online but it gained little traction.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Hillary Clinton’s, Trump, ”, Brandon Wales, William J, Hartman, It’s, Emennet Pasargad, “, Christopher Wray, National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Alireza Miryousefi, Department’s, Joe Biden, Gretchen Whitmer, Chris Krebs, CISA, Miryousefi Organizations: Democratic, Justice Department, Treasury Department, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency, NBC News, Cyber Command, Army, RSA, tinker, U.S, Trump militia, Alaska’s, Stanford University, Google, YouTube, Republican, Trump, National Intelligence, Iran, United Nations, Lee Enterprises, U.S . Capitol, Dominion Voting Systems, FBI Locations: United States, Iran, China, Russia, U.S, Iranian, Tehran, San Francisco, Florida, Moldova, Alaska, American, Omaha, crosshairs, Michigan

☆ Trump claims not to know who is behind Project 2025. A CNN review found at least 140 people who worked for him are involved
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

In addition to people who worked directly for Trump, others who participated in Project 2025 were appointed by the former president to independent positions. Several people involved in Project 2025 didn’t serve in the Trump administration but were influential in shaping his first term. Both Trump and Project 2025 have called for eliminating the Department of Education. Vast network of Trump alliesHowever, Trump’s attempts to distance himself from Project 2025 have already encountered credibility challenges. Shortly after Trump’s Truth Social post last week, Democrats noted a recruitment video for Project 2025 features a Trump campaign spokeswoman.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Trump, Mark Meadows, Stephen Miller, Jay Sekulow, Cleta Mitchell, John Eastman, Brendan Carr, Lisa Correnti, Brett Tolman, Charles Kushner, Trump’s, Tolman, Joe Biden, Danielle Alvarez, “ Team Biden, ” Alvarez, Kevin Roberts, Roberts, ”, Susie Wiles, Chris LaCivita, Paul Dans, Biden, Miller, Russ Vought, Ben Carson, Christopher Miller, John Ratcliffe, Steven Bradbury, Patrick Pizzella –, Mark Morgan, Tom Homan –, –, Kathy Nuebel Kovarik, Ken Cuccinelli, Peter Navarro, Michael Pack, Frank Wuco, Barack Obama’s, David Legates, Mari Stull, President’s, ” Roberts Organizations: CNN, Republican, White, Trump, Heritage Foundation, Mandate, Leadership, Federal Communications, United Nations Commission, Republican Party, “ Team, Democratic, Committee, Heritage, American, Foundation, Department of Education, Affordable, National Weather Service, Trump Administration, America, Center, Management, “ Mandate, Leadership ”, Urban, National Intelligence, Labor, Customs, Border Protection, Immigration, of Homeland Security, US Agency for Global Media, NOAA, State Department, ” “ Conservatives Locations: Trump, Washington, Texas , Alabama, Mississippi, America

☆ European diplomats in DC scramble to gain access to Trump allies for insights
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“We are not that nervous because we know that with Trump it is all about relationships,” said one veteran European diplomat who has been in DC since the Trump administration. “The logic of doing it at Heritage was not lost on us,” said Victoria Coates, a deputy national security advisor to former President Trump who is now a vice president at the think tank. The comments sent European diplomats into over-drive, eager to understand exactly what Trump meant. “If they are worried about how President Trump is going to react to them, they hold it in their hands to do something about it,” Coates said. But European diplomats are not only worried about NATO.

Persons: Donald Trump, jostle, Trump, of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Mike Pompeo, Robert O’Brien, Keith Kellogg, Mike Pence’s, Hillary Clinton, they’ve, ”, –, David Cameron, Antony Blinken, Cameron, Jens Stoltenberg, Jim Lo Scalzo, Stoltenberg’s, Victoria Coates, Stoltenberg, ” Coates, nodded, James Carafano, “, it’s, “ He’s, Mike Johnson, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: CNN, White, NATO, Ukraine, Trump, of National Intelligence, National, European Union, Republican, Russian Central Bank, EU, British, Heritage Foundation, Heritage, GOP, Putin Locations: Washington, Russia, European, Europe, Ukraine, Brussels, West, Russian, South Florida, Brexit, ”, Washington ,, “

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump had a “good faith” basis to question the results of the 2020 election, his lawyers said in demanding that prosecutors turn over any evidence related to voting irregularities and potential foreign interference in the contest won by Democrat Joe Biden. Political Cartoons View All 1267 ImagesBut the Trump team asserts in the 37-page filing that he had reason to question the results. It also revisits the intelligence community's effort in 2020 to discern potential interference by countries including Russia, China and Iran. It quotes from a Jan. 7, 2021 memo from John Ratcliffe, the then-director of national intelligence and a close Trump ally, that said China sought to influence the election. The Trump lawyers have already asked U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to dismiss the indictment, saying he is shielded from prosecution by presidential immunity and arguing that the charges violate his First Amendment rights.

Persons: — Donald Trump, Democrat Joe Biden, Trump, President Trump, Jack Smith's, ”, Hillary Clinton, John Ratcliffe, Smith, Tanya Chutkan Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democrat, Homeland Security, Republican, Democratic, Intelligence Community, Defense, U.S . Capitol, Trump loyalists, Capitol, Trump, U.S Locations: Washington, Moscow, Russia, China, Iran, Russian

Washington CNN —In her new book “Enough,” former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson paints the closing days of the Trump White House as even more chaotic and lawless than she previously disclosed in her shocking televised testimony last summer. “We killed Herman Cain,” Meadows told Hutchinson and asked for his wife’s phone number. Unlike White House communications director Alyssa Farah, who resigned on December 3, 2020, or deputy White House press secretary Sarah Matthews, who left on January 6, 2021, Hutchinson remained. In the summer of 2017, Trump’s first year in office, Hutchinson was an intern in Sen. Ted Cruz’s office. It turns out, Hutchinson writes, that she coordinated with Farah, who is now a CNN political commentator, telling her everything she knew.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Cassidy Hutchinson, Donald Trump, Mark Meadows, Trump, Rudy Giuliani gropes Hutchinson, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, “ Cass, ” Meadows, Hutchinson, Cassidy Hutchinson's, Simon, Schuster, Meadows, “, ” Hutchinson, Herman Cain, Covid, furtively, Hunter Biden, Tony Bobulinski, Mark ’ Meadows, National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Tom Brenner, McCarthy, Ken Paxton, ” Trump, Trump . Hutchinson, Devin Nunes, “ Mark doesn’t, ”, Tony Ornato, Mike Flynn, Sidney Powell, Patrick Byrne, Derek Lyons, Brad Raffensperger, Pat Cipollone, Cipollone, Tony, –, ” Ornato, They’re, Giuliani, Rudy Giuliani, Brendan Smialowski, Alyssa Farah, Sarah Matthews, Donald Trump’s, Hey Cass, Kimberly Guilfoyle’s, ‘, ’, Kayleigh McEnany, Wisconsin Tom Brenner, Trump’s, Sen, Ted Cruz’s, didn’t, Stefan Passantino, Passantino, “ Stefan, Andrew Harnik, Farah, Liz Cheney, Jobs Organizations: Washington CNN, White, Trump White House, Trump, Capitol, White House, GOP, CNN, Secret Service, Republican National Committee, National Intelligence, Texas, Meadows, Georgia, State, Biden, Capitol Hill, Getty, Team Trump, Legislative Affairs, Press, Air Force, Texas Republican Locations: Tulsa , Oklahoma, North Carolina, Meadows, Fulton, Georgia, AFP, Russia, you’re, California, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida

☆ The CIA Politicizes Intelligence on China and Covid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( John Ratcliffe | Cliff Sims | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Review & Outlook: More evidence that the coronavirus may have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology catches up to those who derided the possibility of a man-made Chinese origin. (02/27/23) Images: AP/Reuters Composite: Mark KellyA Central Intelligence Agency whistleblower claims that the CIA rigged a report on the origins of Covid-19 to exonerate China. According to the allegation, the most senior member of a seven-member CIA analysis team “was the lone officer to believe COVID-19 originated through zoonosis.” His six colleagues thought the intelligence and science “were sufficient to make a low confidence assessment” that the disease came from a lab leak.

Persons: Mark Kelly, “, ” Organizations: Wuhan Institute, Virology, Reuters, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA Locations: China, zoonosis

☆ Hillary Clinton: Durham interviewed former Secretary of State on alleged plan to tie Trump to Russia, found no 'provable criminal offense'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Evan Perez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The special counsel was looking into whether any crimes occurred in the handling of an uncorroborated piece of US intelligence indicating Russia knew of a Clinton campaign plan to vilify her opponent, Trump, by tying him to the country. During the Trump administration, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe released some of Brennan’s notes about the intelligence used in his briefing of former President Barack Obama. Ratcliffe publicly said that the intelligence community never corroborated the Russian claims of a “Clinton Plan” to frame Trump, and didn’t know whether it was fabricated. In her interview with Durham’s investigators, Clinton expressed sympathy for Durham’s hunt. Durham concludes that it would be impossible to prosecute anyone for their handling of the intelligence.

☆ Trump's ex-chief of staff Mark Meadows and other top aides must provide more testimony for January 6 investigation, judge rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mark Meadows and other Trump aides were ordered to offer more testimony to a grand jury investigating January 6. A federal judge dismissed Trump's claims of executive privilege in a sealed order last week. Some of them had appeared before the grand jury but declined to answer certain questions about their interactions with Trump, ABC reported. His legal team is expected to appeal Howell's order compelling his aides' testimony, according to ABC. Corcoran was previously ordered to provide more testimony for the investigation after a federal judge rejected his claims of attorney-client privilege.

☆ Judge declines Trump's bid to stop ex-aides from testifying before grand jury in Jan. 6 probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

President Donald Trump is seen on a screen speaking to supporters during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, in Washington, January 6, 2021. A federal judge ordered ex-President Donald Trump's former aides, including his ex-chief of staff Mark Meadows, to testify before a grand jury in Washington, D.C., investigating Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, NBC News reported Friday. In a sealed order, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled against Trump's bid to block his aides from speaking to the grand jury on the grounds of executive privilege, people familiar with the matter told NBC. Trump is expected to appeal the ruling, which was filed in secret because it involves grand jury matters, according to NBC. Trump is also facing a legal threat in Georgia, where a Fulton County grand jury is investigating efforts by him and his allies to interfere in the 2020 election in that state.

☆ Biden aides briefed former Trump officials on the Chinese spy balloon intrusions the ex-president has claimed never happened
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden administration has briefed key former Trump administration officials on China's spy balloons. "It never happened with us under the Trump administration and if it did, we would have shot it down immediately," he said on Sunday. He referenced "recent balloon/"object" incidents," but nothing from the Trump administration. During a February 6 briefing, Kirby told reporters that the Chinese surveillance balloons transited US airspace "for brief periods of time" during the Trump administration. Biden officials reached out to key officials from the Trump administration to offer briefings on the forensics they did.

[1/2] The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Randall HillWASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Sunday it is searching for remnants of the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon it shot down the previous day, in a dramatic spy saga that has further strained American-Chinese relations. A successful recovery could potentially give the United States insight into China's spying capabilities, though U.S. officials have downplayed the balloon's impact on national security. Democrats said Biden's decision to wait to shoot down the balloon until it had passed over the United States protected civilians from debris crashing to Earth. The Pentagon will brief senators on the balloon and Chinese surveillance on Feb. 15, Schumer said.

☆ Republicans criticize Biden for waiting to shoot down Chinese balloon
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. Schumer said downing the balloon into the ocean likely enables U.S. intelligence officials to examine its remnants. The Pentagon will brief senators on the balloon and Chinese surveillance on Feb. 15, Schumer said. Trump on Sunday disputed Austin's statement that Chinese government surveillance balloons had transited the continental United States briefly three times during his presidency. Speaking on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" show, Trump's former director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe also denied such balloon incidents.

☆ How Do Drag Shows Advance U.S. National Security?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( John Ratcliffe | Cliff Sims | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The exportation of American culture has long been one of our nation’s greatest soft-power assets. But instead of using it to affirm Western values and U.S. interests, the Biden administration is proselytizing for woke ideology. The foreign-policy implications could be catastrophic. In an effort to “promote diversity and inclusion,” the State Department is funding “drag theater performances” in Ecuador through cultural grants. The purpose of the grants, according to official documents, is to “support the achievement of U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives, advance national interests, and enhance national security.”

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