Jan 16, 2019

Georgia man arrested for plotting to attack White House

Photo: Al Drago via Getty Images

A Georgia man was arrested Wednesday for plotting to attack the White House and other federal buildings with homemade explosives and an anti-tank rocket, CNN reports.

Details: The criminal complaint notes that a community member contacted the FBI in March 2018 to say that 21-year-old Hasher Taheb had been radicalized. Taheb allegedly told an FBI informant around August that he planned to travel to Islamic State territory and that he was selling his car to fund the trip, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Authorities say he was acting alone.

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Orion Rummler

America's dwindling executions

The Trump administration wants to reboot federal executions, pointing to a 16-year lapse, but Pew Research reports the government has only executed three people since 1963.

The big picture: Nearly all executions in the U.S. are done by states. Even those have been steadily dropping for two decades, per the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) — marking a downward trend for all executions in the country.

Go deeper48 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Jonathan Swan, Margaret Talev

Top NSC official may be moved after "Anonymous" rumor fallout

President Trump at the Daytona 500. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Top Trump administration officials are in discussions to reassign deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates to the Department of Energy from the National Security Council, per two sources familiar with the planning.

Why it matters: Coates' working relationship with National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, who elevated her to the deputy role only months ago, has strained amid an effort by some people inside the administration to tag her as "Anonymous" — a charge she has vehemently denied to colleagues.

Go deeper1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Orion Rummler

Jeff Bezos commits $10 billion for climate change research

Bezos at Amazon Smbhav in New Delhi on Jan. 15. Photo: Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced the launch of his "Earth Fund" on Monday via Instagram to fund climate change research and awareness.

What he's saying: Bezos says he's initially committing $10 billion to fund "scientists, activists, and NGOS" that are working on environmental preservation and protection efforts.

Go deeper1 hour ago - Energy & Environment