INSIDER
Trump's attacks on US justice system after his conviction could be used by autocrats, say experts
Read full article: Trump's attacks on US justice system after his conviction could be used by autocrats, say expertsDonald Trump attacked the U.S. criminal justice system after his historic guilty verdict.
The West has sanctioned Russia's rich. But is that really punishing Putin and helping Ukraine?
Read full article: The West has sanctioned Russia's rich. But is that really punishing Putin and helping Ukraine?Western officials say sanctions against Russiaโs billionaires are meant to isolate President Vladimir Putin, choke off support for his war and turn powerful business allies against him.
In Russia-Ukraine war, more disastrous path could lie ahead
Read full article: In Russia-Ukraine war, more disastrous path could lie aheadOne year after President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine both countries are preparing for offensives that could set the stage for a potentially even more disastrous phase of the war.
In unlikely wartime role, Zelenskyy inspires Ukraine's fight
Read full article: In unlikely wartime role, Zelenskyy inspires Ukraine's fightWestern leaders feared for the life of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a year ago and the U.S. offered him an escape route as Russian forces bore down on Ukraineโs capital.
Jan. 6 hearings traced an arc of 'carnage' wrought by Trump
Read full article: Jan. 6 hearings traced an arc of 'carnage' wrought by TrumpThe Jan. 6 congressional hearings have paused, at least for now, and Washington is taking stock of what was learned about the actions of Donald Trump and associates surrounding the Capitol attack.
Kazakhstan adds uncertainty to talks with Russia on Ukraine
Read full article: Kazakhstan adds uncertainty to talks with Russia on UkraineRussiaโs decision to send paratroopers into Kazakhstan, where a crackdown on violent anti-government protests has left dozens dead, injects additional uncertainty into upcoming talks over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Fiona Hill, a nobody to Trump and Putin, saw into them both
Read full article: Fiona Hill, a nobody to Trump and Putin, saw into them bothIn her new book, Fiona Hill lays out her experiences as the Russia adviser in Donald Trumpโs White House and the circumstances behind her riveting congressional testimony in Trump's first impeachment.
Trump's presidency not just a blip in US foreign policy
Read full article: Trump's presidency not just a blip in US foreign policyBut Trumpโs imprint on Americaโs place in the world โ viewed as good or bad โ will not be easily erased. U.S. allies arenโt blind to the large constituency of American voters who continue to support Trumpโs nationalist tendencies and his belief that the United States should stay out of world conflicts. The national security and foreign policy staff that he has named so far are champions of multilateralism. The United States has pledged to pull all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 1, just months after Biden takes office, but it's unclear if he will. IRANIn 2018, Trump pulled the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal, in which world powers agreed to lift sanctions on Tehran if it curbed its nuclear program.
Riot? Insurrection? Words matter in describing Capitol siege
Read full article: Riot? Insurrection? Words matter in describing Capitol siegeThen it became an assault, a riot, an insurrection, domestic terrorism or even a coup attempt. The language used by the American media to describe last week's Capitol siege proves one thing whatever your perspective: Words matter. Phrases like โmob,โ โriotโ and โinsurrectionโ were appropriate, noted John Daniszewski, vice president and editor at large for standards. There was no riot, insurrection or stormingโ at the Capitol. The New York Times, Washington Post, CBS, NBC, ABC and CNN have all used riot to describe the day.
Hacked networks will need to be burned 'down to the ground'
Read full article: Hacked networks will need to be burned 'down to the ground'Experts say its going to take months to kick elite hackers widely believed to be Russian out of U.S. government networks. The hackers have been quietly rifling through those networks for months in Washingtons worst cyberespionage failure on record. Experts say there simply are not enough skilled threat-hunting teams to duly identify all the government and private-sector systems that may have been hacked. Many federal workers โ and others in the private sector โ must presume that unclassified networks are teeming with spies. The Pentagon has said it has so far not detected any intrusions from the SolarWinds campaign in any of its networks โ classified or unclassified.
Ex-Trump adviser plans book on future of polarized America
Read full article: Ex-Trump adviser plans book on future of polarized AmericaWASHINGTON Fiona Hill, a key witness in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry, is going to be sharing her views about the future of a polarized America. The New York-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media announced on Wednesday that it has acquired a book by Hill, former deputy assistant to the president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council at the White House. Senior editor Alex Littlefield acquired North American rights to the book from Andrew Nurnberg Associates, based in London. Hill's book, titled There Is Nothing for You Here: Opportunity in an Age of Decline," is to be released in the fall of 2021. She said she joined the Trump White House because she shared the Republican presidents belief that relations with Russia needed to improve.
Whats next: Impeachment hearings enter crucial stretch
Read full article: Whats next: Impeachment hearings enter crucial stretch(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON, DC The House impeachment hearings are entering a crucial second week as Democrats are set to hear from eight additional witnesses about President Donald Trumps dealings with Ukraine. Whats ahead on the impeachment schedule:A PARADE OF WITNESSESThe House intelligence committee, which is conducting the impeachment hearings, has set a breakneck schedule ahead of the Thanksgiving recess. Morrison will testify alongside Volker, who was also involved in White House meetings. "There was no ambiguity," said Vindman, an Army officer detailed to the White House who showed up at the deposition in his military uniform. House Democrats are hoping to finish the process by the end of the year.
Time and again, envoys Ukraine tale differs from others
Read full article: Time and again, envoys Ukraine tale differs from othersA look at how Sondlands account differs from that of other witnesses:ON INTERACTIONS WITH MICK MULVANEYTHEM: Multiple witnesses describe a cozy relationship between Sondland and the White House acting chief of staff. Fiona Hill, another White House national security official, says Sondland repeatedly talked of meetings with Mulvaney. ___ON HIS ROLE IN UKRAINE POLICY:THEM: Hill describes a blowup with Sondland in June when he asserted he was in charge of the administrations Ukraine policy. Irritated and shocked, she said she responded, youre not. And I said, Who has said you're in charge of Ukraine, Gordon? Hill said. He said he doesnt recall mentioning Ukraine investigations or Burisma.
Trump's former Russia adviser says she wasn't on Ukraine call
Read full article: Trump's former Russia adviser says she wasn't on Ukraine call(CNN) - Fiona Hill, President Donald Trump's former top Russia adviser, told lawmakers Monday that she had high praise for Trump's ousted US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch and spoke out about her concerns when Yovanovitch was removed, according to sources familiar with her testimony. Hill also told lawmakers Monday that she was not part of Trump's July call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but she was involved with pre-call planning, according one of the sources. When the call took place on July 25, Hill had left the National Security Council. A career in foreign policyDuring Hill's testimony on Monday, Democrats may focus on her skepticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the think tank, before she joined the organization, Hill served as a national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia with the National Intelligence Council.
Trump's losses mount in stunning day of setbacks
Read full article: Trump's losses mount in stunning day of setbacksDemocrats said the White House tried to prevent Yovanovitch's testimony on Thursday evening, so they were forced to issue a subpoena. 'No authority'There was another signal Friday that the White House strategy of refusing to cooperate could face an uphill battle. That ruling preceded a day of setbacks on Trump's immigration agenda, designed around efforts to limit migrants from entering the country. Trump appeared nonplussed by the immigration setbacks as he departed the White House on Friday afternoon for a rally in Louisiana. "It impedes democracy," Stephen Miller, who leads Trump's efforts on immigration, told reporters in the White House driveway.