Live: U.S. Politics
Live U.S. political coverage.
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Senate Democrats delay committee votes on Sessions, Mnuchin, Price
By Susan Cornwell and David Lawder
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democrats on Tuesday postponed votes on several of President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, citing their responsibility to do a "thorough vetting," while Republicans accused them of unreasonable delays in considering the picks.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee exploited Senate rules to delay until Wednesday a vote on Senator Jeff Sessions' nomination to be attorney general. That job was in the spotlight after Trump fired the acting attorney general on Monday over her refusal to defend his executive order blocking nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
Democrats also boycotted a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee where votes had been scheduled on Steve Mnuchin to be Treasury secretary and Tom Price to head the Health and Human Services Department. Since at least one Democrat is required to be present for the committee votes to take place, no votes were held.
Despite the delays, all three nominees are considered likely to be confirmed once their names are sent to the full Republican-led Senate.
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Exclusive: Trump's travel ban polarizes America - Reuters/Ipsos poll
Americans are sharply divided over President Donald Trump's order to temporarily block U.S. entry for all refugees and citizens of seven Muslim countries, with slightly more approving the measure than disapproving, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday. -
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Here's a round-up of some of the top stories from the Trump presidency today:
TRAVEL BAN AND IMMIGRATION
- Some of the seven Muslim-majority countries affected by Trump's executive action on U.S. entry will not likely be taken off the list soon, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly says.
- Legal challenges to Trump's first moves to restrict the flow of people into the United States are spreading as Massachusetts and San Francisco sue to challenge two of his executive orders.
- A group of technology companies will discuss filing an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit challenging Trump's order on U.S. entry.
Mexico sees signs the U.S. government is taking a more flexible view of how to pay for a border wall and meetings to craft bilateral relations could take place soon.
SUPREME COURT
- Trump will unveil his pick for the U.S. Supreme Court as Democrats, still fuming over Republicans' refusal to act on former President Barack Obama's nominee last year, gird for a fight.
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
- Trump calls on the pharmaceutical industry to boost U.S. production and lower prices, while also vowing to speed approval for new medicines.
MARKETS
- The dollar tumbles, heading for its worst start to a year in more than a decade, while stocks cement their biggest losses in six weeks as Trump adds uncertainty to the market.
A dizzying stream of market-moving tweets and policy talk by Trump is finding a hopeful but anxious audience among professional investors looking to make stockpicking great again.
STATE DEPARTMENT
- Roughly 900 U.S. State Department officials sign an internal dissent memo critical of Trump's travel ban for refugees and immigrants, a source says.
TRADE
- The threat of an import tax mobilizes a broad range of companies in the United States and abroad in a lobbying effort largely out of the public eye partly to avoid conflict with Trump.
- U.S. food producers and shippers are trying to rush exports to Mexico and line up alternative markets as concerns rise that their business will be hurt by trade and immigration clashes between Trump and the Mexican government.
CABINET
- Trump's choices to head the Education, Interior and Energy departments get committee approval but nominees for Treasury, Labor and Health hit bumps.
LGBT
- Advocates say they were bracing for moves by the Trump administration to roll back LGBT equality, despite a White House statement vowing to uphold protection in the workplace.
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About 900 State Department officials sign dissent memo - source
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Roughly 900 U.S. State Department officials signed an internal dissent memo critical of President Donald Trump's travel ban for refugees and immigrants from six Muslim-majority countries, a source familiar with the document said on Tuesday.
A senior State Department official confirmed that the memorandum in the department's "dissent channel" had been submitted to management.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Monday he was aware of the memo but warned career diplomats that they should either "get with the program or they can go."
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After Press Secretary Sean Spicer referred to Mar-a-Lago, a resort and golf club in Florida owned by Donald Trump, as the 'Winter White House,' people on Twitter were quick to poke fun at the phrase or fling criticism, while turning it into a hashtag,Calling it the #WinterWhiteHouse doesn't change fact that it's Trump's private property. This should alarm anyone concerned w/transparency2:03 PM - 31 Jan 2017
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i called #WinterWhiteHouse and asked when I could sign up for my tour,as all Americans get to tour The WH( 561) 832-2600 they hung up on me2:10 PM - 31 Jan 2017- Reply
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@thehill I just wanna know when I can schedule my tour of the #WinterWhitehouse I mean, he said it's the other White House2:18 PM - 31 Jan 2017- Reply
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Going to a charity event a resort you own is a vacation. Don't get it twisted. #WinterWhiteHouse2:25 PM - 31 Jan 2017- Reply
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2:42 PM - 31 Jan 2017- Reply
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Airports falling apart. Government falling apart. President going to Florida for vacation, possibly some golf?… https://t.co/O3vvWifskI1:42 PM - 31 Jan 2017- Reply
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San Francisco sues Trump over sanctuary city order
San Francisco filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging President Donald Trump's executive order directing the U.S. government to withhold money from cities that have adopted sanctuary policies toward undocumented immigrants. -
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Trump pushes drugmakers for lower prices, more U.S. production
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday met with top executives from some of the biggest drugmakers, calling on them to boost U.S. production and lower prices, while he also promised to speed up approval times for new medicines. -
Some nations affected by U.S. immigration order may stay on list -official
Some of the seven Muslim-majority countries affected by President Donald Trump's executive action on immigration will not likely be taken off the list any time soon, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said on Tuesday.
Kelly said people from the seven targeted nations who hold dual citizenship will be allowed to enter the United States on the passport of a non-restricted nation.
The new Homeland Security secretary faced questioning about the executive order Trump signed on Friday that halted travel to the United States by people with passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, and stopped the resettlement of refugees for 120 days.
There was widespread confusion at airports around the world as customs officials and airlines struggled to interpret the new rules. Several lawsuits have been filed blocking portions of the order, which drew harsh criticism from Democrats, human rights organizations and some Western U.S. allies.
Since the order, 721 travelers trying to enter from the seven countries were denied entry, according to Kevin McAleenan, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.
Kelly said federal immigration and customs officials were in compliance with the court orders on immigration and no agent knowingly or intentionally violated them.
(Reporting by Julia Edwards Ainsley and Doina Chiacu; Editing by James Dalgleish)
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San Francisco sues Trump over sanctuary city order
San Francisco filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging President Donald Trump's executive order directing the U.S. government to withhold money from cities that have adopted sanctuary policies toward undocumented immigrants.
The lawsuit, filed by San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, marks the first court challenge over the sanctuary order filed by one of the targeted cities.
(Reporting by Dan Levine; Editing by Tom Brown)
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Kushner divests equity in major NYC property
Jared Kushner has divested his equity interest in 666 Fifth Avenue, a 39-story office and retail building on Manhat -
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Pharma and biotech shares jump after Trump comments
- Pharma and biotech co shares up in volatile trade after President Donald Trump said he'd push for lower drug prices, but also for a quicker approval process for drugs.
- Trump was meeting with chief executives of a number of top drugmakers, including Novartis AG, Merck & Co Inc, Johnson & Johnson, Celgene Corp, Eli Lilly & Co, and Amgen Inc.
- Nasdaq Biotech Index .NBI last up 1.5 pct, reversing earlier losses. S&P 500 health care index. SPXHC up 0.8 pct, best-performing sector in S&P 500 .SPX, which was still downn0.4 pct on the day.
- iShares Nasdaq Biotech ETF IBB.O gaining 2 pct.
- Merck, Amgen, Eli Lilly, and Celgene all adding 0.8-2.0 pct, and among the biggest positives for the SPX.
- Pharma and biotech shares shot higher initially after Trump's election amid a strong relief rally as win calmed investor fears of tough action on drug pricing.
Though shortly thereafter, choppy trade set in as investors awaited further details from Trump.
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Trump set to name high court pick as Democrats plan fight
ReutersPresident Donald Trump was set to unveil his pick for a lifetime job on the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday as Democrats, still fuming over the Republican-led Senate's refusal to act on former President Barack Obama's nominee last year, girded for a fight. -
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Putin says Russia will follow up fast after Ukraine call with Biden
MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia would send ideas to Washington within a week to follow up his talks with U.S. President Joe Biden on the Ukraine crisis.
