Feb 2, 2018 - Politics & Policy

K.T. McFarland withdraws nomination for Ambassador to Singapore

Image: Tom Williams / Getty Images

K.T. McFarland, President Trump's former Deputy National Security Adviser, withdrew her nomination for U.S. Ambassador to Singapore.

Why it matters: McFarland's chances of being confirmed stalled after an email revealed she knew about Michael Flynn's contacts with then-Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, despite testifying to the Senate that she knew nothing of their communications.

Trump said in a statement that Democrats had chosen to "play politics" with McFarland's nomination, when in reality there were Republican senators who also had questions about her role in the ongoing Russia investigation.

I am disappointed that K.T. McFarland has withdrawn from consideration to be Ambassador to Singapore. K.T. served my Administration with distinction. Unfortunately, some Democrats chose to play politics rather than move forward with a qualified nominee for a critically important post. I wish K.T. the best as she uses her considerable wisdom and skill as a commentator to explain to the American people how to make American foreign policy great again.
— President Donald Trump

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Fadel Allassan
4 mins ago - Politics & Policy

House Democrats unveil new $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief proposal

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Photo: Liz Lynch/Getty Images

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Monday unveiled House Democrats' new $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief proposal.

Why it matters: Negotiations with the Trump administration have stalled since the House passed its $3 trillion HEROES Act in May. The pared-down bill, which is $200,000 smaller than Democrats' most recent proposal, is part of Pelosi's last-ditch effort to strike a deal with the White House.

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Axios
Updated 7 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7 p.m. ET: 33,238,168 — Total deaths: 999,667 — Total recoveries: 22,980,342 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7 p.m. ET: 7,143,521 — Total deaths: 205,003 — Total recoveries: 2,766,304 — Total tests: 101,308,599 — Map.
  3. Business: Companies are still holding back earnings guidance.
  4. Health: Trump announces plan to distribute 150 million rapid tests —The childless vaccine.
  5. Media: Fauci: Some of what Fox News reports about COVID-19 is "outlandish"
  6. States: Cuomo extends New York moratorium on evictions until 2021.
  7. World: India the second country after U.S. to hit 6 million cases.
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Fadel Allassan
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Ex-officer pleads not guilty to charges related to Breonna Taylor killing

Brett Hankison is charged with three counts of wanton endangerment. Photo: Courtesy by the Shelby County Sherrif's Department

The former Louisville police officer charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection with the raid that led to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, an unarmed Black woman, pleaded "not guilty" on Monday, the Courier Journal reports.

The big picture: The announcement of charges against Brett Hankison, who was fired from the department in June, set off nationwide protests last week. None of the officers involved in the raid were indicted on homicide or manslaughter charges related to Taylor's death.

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