Jun 30, 2018 - Economy & Business

Former ICE spokesman says agents have a "hard time with this too"

Photo: Marlon Correa/The Washington Post via Getty Images

James Schwab, a former spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's San Francisco division, defended the department's agents Saturday against growing calls from the Left to abolish ICE completely.

"It just doesn't make sense to me. Immigration enforcement is important, both sides agree on that. If you get rid of it, then what? You need something there ... These are parents themselves. I know people aren't sympathetic to deportation officers, but they have a rough time with this too and I think more so under this administration."
— Schwab, in an interview with CNN's Van Jones

Go deeper: Top Democrats see danger on sudden party push to abolish ICE

Go deeper

Ursula Perano
41 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies at 87

Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Photo: Tom Brenner/Getty Images

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died of metastatic pancreatic cancer at age 87, the Supreme Court announced Friday evening.

Why it matters: Ginsburg had suffered from serious health issues over the past few years. Her death sets up a fight over filling a Supreme Court seat with less than 50 days until the election.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Jacob Knutson
56 mins ago - Politics & Policy

NYT: White House drug price negotiations broke down over $100 "Trump Cards"

President Trump with Mark Meadows, his chief of staff, on Sept. 3 at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Negotiations on a deal between the White House and pharmaceutical industry to lower drug prices broke down last month after Mark Meadows, the president's chief of staff, insisted that drugmakers pay for $100 cash cards to be mailed to seniors before the election, according to the New York Times.

Why it matters: Some of the drug companies feared that in agreeing to the prescription cards — reportedly dubbed "Trump Cards" by some in the pharmaceutical industry — they would boost Trump's political standing weeks ahead of Election Day with voters over 65, a group that is crucial to the president's reelection bid, per the Times.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

In photos: Virginians line up for hours on first day of early voting

Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

In some parts of Virginia, people waited in line up to four hours to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting, according to the Washington Post.

The big picture: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to already have an impact on how people cast their votes this election season. As many as 80 million Americans are expected to vote early, by mail or in person, Tom Bonier, CEO of TargetSmart, a Democratic political data firm, told Axios in August.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow