Here are the main events that occurred in Politics this week:

1. Federal Judge Rules Against Trump Administration’s New Immigration Policy

A federal judge on November 20 ordered the Trump administration to resume accepting asylum claims from migrants no matter how they entered the US, dealing a temporary setback to the President’s attempt to clamp down on a huge wave of Central Americans crossing the border. Judge Jon Tigar of the US District Court for the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the government from carrying out a new rule that denies protections to people who enter the country illegally. The order, which suspends the rule until the case is decided by the court, applies nationally. “Whatever the scope of the president’s authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden,” Judge Tigar wrote in his order.

2. President Donald Trump Reportedly Said He Wanted Justice Department to Prosecute His Political Opponents 

According to a New York Times article published on November 20, President Donald Trump told the White House counsel in the spring that he wanted to order the Justice Department to prosecute two of his political opponents: his 2016 challenger, Hillary Clinton, and the former FBI director James Comey. Donald McGahn, a Justice Department lawyer, rebuffed the President, saying that he had no authority to order prosecution. McGahn noted that while he could request an investigation, that could prompt accusations of abuse of power. To underscore his point, McGahn had White House lawyers write a memo for President Trump warning that if he asked law enforcement to investigate his rivals, he could face a range of consequences, including possible impeachment.

3. Russia, Ukraine Conflict Heats Up After A Year of Relative Calm

After a year of relative calm, the ongoing territorial disputes between Russia and Ukraine heated up late this week. On November 25, the Ukrainian navy said that Russian authorities closed off the Kerch Strait amid a confrontation with Ukrainian naval vessels. Earlier this year, the Russian government opened a 19-kilometer bridge across the strait, creating a road linking Russia’s Krasnodar region with the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. In a statement released shortly after the incident, the Ukrainian ministry of defense said traffic through the strait had been blocked by a tanker anchored near the Kerch Strait bridge. Russian state news agency TASS, quoting Alexei Volkov, the general director of the Crimean seaports, said traffic through the strait had been closed for security purposes.

4. Trump Administration Authored Report Says that Climate Change Damage is “Intensifying Across the Country”

On November 23, the US government released a long-awaited report stating the effects of global warming and climate change in the US are worsening and that the potential for irreversible environmental damage is steadily increasing. The report’s authors, who represent numerous federal agencies, say they are more certain than ever that climate change poses a severe threat to Americans’ health and pocketbooks, as well as to the country’s infrastructure and natural resources. And while it avoids policy recommendations, the report’s sense of urgency and alarm stands in stark contrast to the lack of any apparent plan from President Trump to tackle the problems, which, according to the government he runs, are increasingly dire.

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5. Preliminary “Black Friday” Sales Reports Reveal that Online Sales Brought in a Record $6 Billion in the US

More shoppers turned to the internet for deals to kick off the holiday shopping season as opposed to shopping at traditional retail stores, data released on November 24 revealed. Black Friday pulled in $6.22 billion in online sales, up nearly 24% percent from a year ago and set a new record high, according to Adobe Analytics, which tracks transactions for 80 of the top 100 internet retailers in the US including Walmart and Amazon. These figures arrived as many retailers have pushed big digital deals, days in advance of the holiday weekend.

Here are the main events that occurred in Politics this week:

1. Trump Administration Reimposes Sanctions Against Iran

Described as the “biggest series of sanctions ever implemented by the US against another country,” the Trump Administration imposed a series of crushing and punitive sanctions against Iran on November 5. The package of severe economic penalties imposed against Iran by the US is the most significant part of President Trump’s decision last May to abandon the Iranian nuclear agreement of 2015 (JCPOA), which he has described as a “disaster” and a significant security risk for US allies in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia and Israel. Despite the stringent nature of the sanctions, there are several exceptions that could reduce their effectiveness. For example, Iran’s biggest oil customers India and China are exempt from the sanctions. Despite several gaps, Iran’s shipping, banking, and oil industries could take a significant hit and its already weakened currency could plunge even further due to the sanctions.

According to President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and National Security Advisor John Bolton, the primary rationale behind the sanctions is the claim that the JCPOA  did nothing to deter Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and that the restrictions imposed by the agreement must become permanent. Additionally, the Trump Administration desires the Iranian government to abandon its ballistic missile development and to stop supporting violent extremist groups in the Middle East. The main areas of the Iranian economy that are sanctioned under the new law are its oil, banking, aeronautics, and medical industries. Additionally, the new sanctions blacklisted 50 Iranian banks and subsidiaries, more than 200 people and ships, Iran’s national airline and more than 65 Iranian aircraft. Under such sanctions, the US can seize assets under its jurisdiction that are owned by blacklisted people and entities. The sanctions also forbid commercial relations with those people or entities.

The international reaction to the newly imposed sanctions against Iran by the US has been overwhelmingly negative. Despite countries such as Saudi Arabia and Israel enthusiastically supporting the Trump Administration’s policy, other countries such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia were quick to condemn the sanctions as “punitive” and as having no justification. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that his country would “proudly break” the reimposed sanctions and that Iran was engaged in “an economic war” with the US, and Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, an outspoken critic of President Trump, said the sanctions reinforced what he called the growing isolation of the United States.

Today, US defied UN top court & Security Council by reimposing sanctions on Iran that target ordinary people. But US bullying is backfiring, not just because JCPOA is important, but because the world can't allow Trump & Co. to destroy global order. The US—& not Iran—is isolated. pic.twitter.com/206g1BFqbU

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) November 5, 2018

2. Democrats Announce Plans to Release President Donald Trump’s Tax Returns if they Win House of Representatives

Democrats are preparing to use an obscure law to try to obtain a copy of President Donald Trump’s tax returns if they win control of the House or Senate after the midterm elections, a scenario that could force one of the President’s most trusted aides to reveal his most closely guarded secret. Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary, said in an interview that he would honor any legal requests from Congress to release the President’s tax returns. But the demand would undoubtedly thrust Mnuchin into the position of balancing his loyalty to President Trump with a legal requirement to deliver the returns. “The first issue is they would have to win the House, which they haven’t done yet,” Secretary Mnuchin said during an interview in Jerusalem last week. “If they win the House and there is a request, we will work with our general counsel and the IRS general counsel on any requests.” Secretary Mnuchin said his team would analyze any demands for the president’s returns and fulfill them if required by law. Asked whether a request made for political purposes would be legal, Mnuchin disagreed, saying he did not want to stake out any legal positions.

An IRS provision stemming from the 1920s appears to give the Trump Administration little legal room to ignore such a request. The law states that the leaders of the House and Senate tax-writing committees have the power to request taxpayer information from the Internal Revenue Service and asserts that “the secretary shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request.” “On a plain reading of the statute, I think the baseline ought to be, they ask for taxpayer information, they’re entitled to it,” said Neal Wolin, who served as the Treasury Department’s general counsel from 1999 to 2001. House and Senate Democrats have made several unsuccessful attempts to obtain President Trump’s tax returns and say they intend to try again if they gain control of either chamber.

Donald Trump was the first presidential candidate in decades to refuse to release his taxes. After promising to do so, he cited a continuing IRS audit as a reason his lawyers were advising him against releasing them before ultimately settling on the argument that the American people are not that interested in his finances. Portions of President Trump’s returns that have become public have shed light on the legal maneuvers he has used to reduce his tax liabilities. A complete release of his filings could offer additional insight into his business ties, charitable giving and wealth. After withholding the documents for so long, President Trump is unlikely to hand over his taxes without a fight. Rudolph Giuliani, President Trump ’s lawyer, said this month that it would be a struggle for Democrats to prove that they have a legitimate oversight objective and that it would be a “heck of a good battle” for the president.

Most tax experts agree that Congress has the authority to request taxpayer returns. There is some legal debate about whether the motivations for such a request matter and under what circumstances the returns can be made public. Andy Grewal, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law, argued in the Yale Journal on Regulation last year that President Trump could order the IRS not to disclose his returns if he can make the case that the congressional request has been made out of “personal animus” rather than for legitimate legislative reasons. Democratic congressional aides have said taxpayer returns can be released publicly if the chairman and ranking member of a tax-writing committee agreed to do so or if the majority of the committee votes in favor of disclosure. In 2014, the Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee helped to set that precedent by voting along party lines to release some taxpayer information related to an investigation into whether the IRS was wrongfully targeting conservatives.

https://youtu.be/jCcO2hQ-g10

3. President Trump, Former President Obama Campaign Hard Ahead of the Midterm Elections

Using Air Force One as a campaign shuttle, President Donald Trump traveled to Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri on November 5, the eve of crucial midterm balloting that is perceived as the most significant referendum yet on his presidency. President Trump acknowledged the importance of the midterm races earlier in the day in a conference call with his strongest supporters. “If we don’t have a good day, they will make it like it’s the end of the world,” Trump said. “Don’t worry. If we do have a good day, they won’t give us any credit.” Over 200,000 people were listening in to the call, according to Brad Parscale, the Trump/Pence campaign manager. “There’s a great electricity in the air,” Trump told reporters just before boarding Air Force One for the flight to Ohio. “I think we’re going to do very well.”

At a second rally of the day in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the President continued that theme, asserting that “if the radical Democrats take power, they will take a wrecking ball to the economy and the future of our country.” He also called on the attendees to vote for Republicans “to end the assault on America’s sovereignty” by Democrats. Trump then traveled to Cape Girardeau in the state of Missouri for a third, similar political event. “You can stop them with your vote tomorrow,” the President said of the opposition candidates, accusing them of the politics of “anger, division, and destruction.”

Political scientists of both parties have noted that President Trump’s midterm campaign tactics are unlike what any other president has done. “It really is unprecedented,” said political science professor David Cohen at the University of Akron in Ohio. “No president has ever campaigned as much in the midterms as Trump has.” Additionally, other observers see the Trump events as of significant value to the Republican party as a whole. “The kind of people that come to them are not typical Republicans. They are Trumpsters. Getting that segment of the electorate out in 2016 was critical to Trump’s win in 2016, and getting them out to vote in 2018 can only help Republicans,” said University of New Hampshire political science professor Andrew Smith.

In addition to President Donald Trump’s relentless campaigning for Republican candidates, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have made some stops for Democratic candidates. In a stop in Northern Virginia on November 5, Obama said “how we conduct ourselves in public life is on the ballot,” a delicately veiled criticism of Trump and some prominent Republican candidates. “What I’m seeing all across the country is this great awakening,” Obama added, standing alongside incumbent Senator Tim Kaine and congressional nominee Jennifer Wexton in a campaign office. “In that great awakening, I feel hopeful.”

Most polling shows that the Republicans are highly favored to retain control of the Senate, with several vulnerable Democrats in states Trump won such as North Dakota, Indiana, Montana, and Missouri likely losing their re-election bids. Despite optimism for the Republicans holding onto the Senate, pollsters have noted that many Republican-held House districts are trending towards the Democrats and expect the Republicans to lose their House majority. Such an outcome would halt the President’s ability to get key legislation approved, and would put the chairpersons’ gavels of committees in the hands of Democrats certain to launch an array of investigations into the Trump administration.

Here are the main events that occurred in Politics this week:

1. Diplomatic Rift Emerges Between Saudi Arabia and Turkey Regarding the Possible Assassination of Dissident Saudi Journalist on Turkish Soil

The disappearance and likely murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has resulted in much international outcry this week.

The disappearance of the Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi this week has set off a diplomatic feud between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, a bipartisan uproar in the US Congress, tremors of uncertainty about how to deal with Saudi Arabia, and a noisy spat between the White House and its closest Arab ally. Khashoggi was last seen on October 2 in the Saudi embassy in Turkey, retrieving paperwork for a marriage. Turkish officials and Turkish President Erdogan allege that he was killed by a team of Saudi assassins, whereas Saudi officials state that he left the facility on his own volition. If it transpires that Khashoggi was killed, either deliberately or in a botched kidnapping, it will strengthen the sense that Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), the Saudi crown prince, and de facto ruler, is more of a rogue than a reformer and that his reformist rhetoric is little more than a facade. Additionally, such a revelation may negatively impact Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the West and prevent the country from assuming status as the major power in the Middle East.

https://youtu.be/KnBReMwkMrY

Jamal Khashoggi was well known and well liked by journalists and diplomats who traveled to the kingdom. He had worked in the Saudi embassies in Washington and London, and some suspected he had also worked for Saudi intelligence. Then, over the years in the Saudi news media, he established himself as a kind of unofficial spokesman for the royal family, which often preferred to speak through surrogates. His independent streak and empathy for the Western perspective made him a uniquely talented, well-liked contact for foreign journalists and diplomats seeking to understand the royal perspective. The rise of Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) into power in 2016 and the subsequent increase of political oppression within Saudi Arabia, however, convinced Khashoggi that he no longer had a place in Saudi Arabia. He then relocated to the US and became a columnist for the Washington Post, in which capacity he relentlessly criticized the Saudi government. Due to his sharp criticism of the Saudi Government, he soon became a significant target for the Saudi government to eliminate.

Overall the disappearance and possible death of Jamal Khashoggi has resulted in mixed reactions amongst the international community. The Turkish government has condemned Saudi Arabia for their actions in the investigation, claiming that they are deliberately covering up the truth and that the assassination of a dissident journalist may have “negative implications” regarding the relationship between both countries. On the other hand, the Trump Administration has thus far handled the incident in a cautious manner. In a Twitter post on October 15, President Donald Trump said in a Twitter post that he had just discussed the case with King Salman, who denied any knowledge of what had happened to Khashoggi, and that he was “immediately sending” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to meet with the king. Later, in brief remarks to reporters, Trump said that from his conversation with the king, “it sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers, who knows.” US officials have speculated that if Saudi Arabia confirms suspicions that Khashoggi was killed, it will propose that rogue elements acted on their own, not under orders from the highest levels of power in the kingdom. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s ally Israel similarly supported the statements by the Saudi government in the matter, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that “Israel does not trust the reports on Khashoggi coming out of Turkey and has more trust in what Saudi Arabia is saying.”

Just spoke with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia who totally denied any knowledge of what took place in their Turkish Consulate. He was with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2018

2. President Trump Signs “Music Modernization Act” Into Law

President Donald Trump signed the Music Modernization Act, a landmark media law revision, into law this week.

On October 11, President Trump signed the Music Modernization Act into law Thursday, finalizing landmark reform to United States copyright law. praised by industry leaders and musicians alike, the act offers vital renovations to copyright law in a digital streaming era. The bill reached President Trump’s desk following unanimous passing votes in the US Senate and House of Representatives. Flanked by musicians including Kid Rock, Mike Love, Sam Moore, John Rich, and Kanye West, President Trump stated that the law “closes loopholes in our digital royalties laws to ensure that songwriters, artists, and producers receive fair payment for licensing of music.” “I’ve been reading about this for many years and never thought I’d be involved in it, but I got involved in it. They were treated very unfairly. They’re not going to be treated unfairly anymore.” Trump further stated.

Moments ago, President Trump signed the Music Modernization Act, which will close loopholes in our digital royalty laws to ensure that songwriters, artists, producers, and providers receive fair payment for the licensing of music. pic.twitter.com/yeQxBI15V0

— The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) October 11, 2018

The Music Modernization Act was passed unanimously by both houses of Congress and is praised as a rare piece of bipartisan legislation. The law itself includes three critical updates to existing copyright laws implemented in 1976 and 1998.

• One such provision is the creation of an organization, led by songwriters and publishers, charged with overseeing a mechanical licensing database. The organization plans to ensure copyright owners are paid when songs are streamed on services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon.
• Additionally, under the new law, artists and their descendants receive royalties on songs recorded before 1972. This closes a digital radio loophole that prevented satellite radio providers from being obligated to pay royalties on songs released before 1972. This provision will potentially make all recordings produced in the US going back to 1889 (the first year in which pre-recorded cylinder records were offered for sale to the public) copyrighted.
• The final provision of the law was the establishment of a uniform payment process for music producers to receive royalties.

Overall, the reaction to the Music Modernization Act has thus far been positive, though recorded sound archivists have criticized some of the provisions of the bill In a statement. Recording Industry Association of America president Mitch Glazier said, “The Music Modernization Act is now the law of the land, and thousands of songwriters and artists are better for it. The result is a music market better founded on fair competition and fair pay. The enactment of this law demonstrates what music creators and digital services can do when we work together collaboratively to advance a mutually beneficial agenda.” On the other hand, recorded sound archivists have expressed some concern with the provision stipulating that all recordings produced in the US potentially fall under copyright law. They feel that expanded copyrights will discourage efforts to preserve historic sound recordings. Additionally, they also note that enforcing this provision will be difficult at best considering that information regarding many of the earliest recording artists is difficult to find at best and that their proper descendants may not be able to be identified.

3. President Donald Trump’s Approval Rating Increases Ahead of Midterm Elections, Boosting Republican Chances at the Polls

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has increased steadily over the past two months, potentially boosting Republican chances in the November midterm elections.

President Trump’s approval rating rose five percentage points since late August but remains substantially below 50% heading into the midterms, according to a poll released on October 15. The most recent survey by ABC/Washington Post found that 41% of adults approve of President Trump’s job performance, up from 36% in late August. The poll found that 54% of those surveyed disapprove of Trump’s performance. Trump was bolstered in the latest poll by strong marks on his handling of the economy and foreign policy, with over 50% approving his handling of both areas. On the other hand, a majority of voters still criticize President Trump for his alleged ethical violations and feel that he does not have the proper temperament characteristic of prior Presidents.

President Donald Trump’s overall approval rating has remained between 32% and 45% in all of the polls administered since he assumed office. Additionally, nearly all of the polls show that President Trump has the approval of over 90% of all Republican voters, 45% of political independents, and only 5% of all Democratic voters. A possible explanation for President Trump’s increase in approval is the confirmation of his second Supreme Court nominee, Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The confirmation followed a bitter fight over Kavanaugh’s nomination, which ended with a 50-48 vote to put him on the nations highest court. Additionally, the continued economic growth is another factor that has helped President Trump retain approval amongst many voters.

Overall, the improving poll numbers of President Donald Trump and several policy victories may end up helping the Republican Party going into the midterm elections. For example, the Republican party has gained much ground in many key Senate races and is now in the lead in the critical states of Tennessee, Arizona, New Jersey, and Nevada, previously thought to be leaning towards the Democratic party in this year’s Senate races. Additionally, President Trump’s steadily increasing poll numbers may have helped Republican Senate candidates solidify their leads in states such as Missouri, Indiana, North Dakota, and Florida. Despite the improving poll numbers of Republicans in many Senate races, the Democratic party holds a 17% lead in polling for the House of Representatives and are likely to have a net gain of gubernatorial seats. This polling may result in a relatively unusual Congressional situation next year, with the Republicans having a more substantial Senate majority than they currently have, but the Democratic party controlling the House of Representatives for the first time since 2010.

4. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley Announces Her Resignation

UN Ambassador Nikki Haley announced her resignation from the Trump cabinet this week.

President Donald Trump announced on October 9 that US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has resigned and will leave her post by the end of the year. Sitting side-by-side in the Oval Office, Trump praised Haley as a “fantastic person” who has “done an incredible job” and said he would gladly welcome her back into his administration down the line. “She’s done a fantastic job and we’ve done a fantastic job together. We’ve solved a lot of problems and we’re in the process of solving a lot of problems,” Trump said. “She told me probably six months ago, ‘You know maybe at end of the year — at the end of the two year period — but by the end of the year I want to take a little time off, I want to take a break,’” he added. Ambassador Haley served almost as a shadow secretary of state during the first year of the administration, wielding more influence than the man who held the job, Rex Tillerson, and winning the confidence of President Trump with her strong defense of his policies at an institution filled with foreign officials opposed to his worldview, even as he sometimes chafed at her ambition. Her influence has been curtailed in recent months as new national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reclaimed policy and political ground that their predecessors ceded, but she departs with her relationship with Trump intact.

Nikki Haley portrayed her departure as coming at a natural time, after accomplishing what she wanted. Many senior officials were surprised by the announcement and learned she was leaving just minutes before the news leaked, she was already in the West Wing with Trump preparing for the announcement, and lamented that it came so quickly after the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, which the White House hoped would continue to receive heavy news coverage. “It was a blessing to go into the UN with body armor every day and defend America,” Haley said. “And I’ll always do that; I’ll never truly step aside from fighting for our country. But I will tell you that I think it’s time.” With questions swirling about what she will do next, Haley was quick to shoot down the idea that her ambitions include taking on Trump if the president looks vulnerable heading into his reelection in 2020. “For all of you that are going to ask about 2020, no, I’m not running for 2020,” Haley said unprompted with Trump sitting beside her. “I can promise you what I’ll be doing is campaigning for this one. So, I look forward to supporting the president in the next election.” Trump grinned through her remarks, but they startled White House aides who already viewed her warily as a potential threat and a skeptic of the president’s overall agenda. “That’s so good, Nikki,” Trump said. “Thank you.”

Overall Nikk Haley leaves behind a mixed legacy as UN Ambassador. Whereas many support her relentless defense of American interests in a rapidly-changing world stage, critics argue that she used her position to defend serial human rights violators such as Saudi Arabia and Israel and stood by while they committed various crimes throughout the Middle East. Additionally, Ambassador Haley is criticized for he overtly aggressive rhetoric towards the governments of Russia, China, Iran, and Syria, arguing that such rhetoric increases the chances of war between the US and all four countries. There has been much speculation regarding who PResident Donald Trump will appoint to replace Ambassador Haley. Thus far, President Trump has narrowed down his choice to five individuals, including White House aide Dina Powell, former German Ambassador Richard Grenell, and even his son-in-law Jared Kushner. President Trump announced that he will name Haley’s successor shortly before she steps down this coming January.

Here are the main events that occurred in Politics this week:
1. Former Trump Aide Paul Manafort pleads guilty and agrees to cooperate with Mueller investigation

Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort conceded to committing several federal crimes and agreed to work with the Justice Department in their investigation of the Trump Campaign’s alleged crimes.

After months of vowing to fight for his innocence, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort conceded to committing several federal crimes and agreed to work with the Justice Department, including in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Manafort pleaded guilty in federal court in Washington, DC, on September 14 to one count of conspiracy against the US and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice due to attempts to tamper with witnesses. Friday’s court activity signals Mueller’s investigation will continue and delve deeper into what Manafort knows. Even in lessening the charges against Manafort, prosecutors still have significant leverage over him if he isn’t helpful to their investigation. Manafort’s decision to cooperate with Mueller comes just weeks after President Donald Trump called Manafort a “brave man” who would not “make up stories in order to get a ‘deal’” after he was convicted in a separate trial in Virginia. He also admitted to all the other crimes Mueller accused him of since last October, from money laundering and bank fraud to foreign lobbying violations related to his work for pro-Russian Ukrainians. Those charges will be dropped if he completely complies with the cooperation agreement. “I plead guilty,” Manafort said to the judge near the end of the hour-long hearing. Special counsel’s office senior prosecutor Andrew Weissmann told the judge that under Manafort’s plea agreement, the other charges will be dropped after he is sentenced in both Virginia and DC “or at the agreement of successful cooperation.”

I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. “Justice” took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to “break” – make up stories in order to get a “deal.” Such respect for a brave man!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

Manafort’s cooperation deal means he will have to meet with the special counsel’s office when they want to speak with him about other criminal activities, turn over all documents relevant to the investigation, testify when needed and never lie to them. The terms do not prevent other parts of the Justice Department or state and local authorities from bringing new charges. He also could face administrative claims from the government, the agreement says. “Your client shall testify fully, completely and truthfully before any and all Grand Juries in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, and at any and all trials of cases or other court proceedings in the District of Columbia and elsewhere,” the plea agreement, which Manafort signed a day before, says. While President Donald Trump is not mentioned in Friday’s filing, nor is Manafort’s role in his campaign, the news of the cooperation comes as the President continued to lambast the Mueller investigation on Twitter this week. In a statement to the press after the news of Manafort’s cooperation, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said, “This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.”

In recent days as the Manafort plea talks were ongoing, the President’s legal team expressed confidence that if Manafort signed a cooperation agreement it wouldn’t have anything to do with the President, according to a source briefed on their thinking. In a statement on September 15, the President’s attorney Rudy Giuliani reiterated that confidence. “Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the President did nothing wrong,” said Giuliani. The White House had previously distanced itself from Manafort and downplayed his time leading the Trump campaign. But last month, Trump expressed sympathy for him and encouragement that he hadn’t flipped. “I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family,” President Trump tweeted the week of Manafort’s conviction in his Virginia trial. “‘Justice’ took a 12-year-old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to ‘break’ – make-up stories in order to get a ‘deal.’ Such respect for a brave man!”

In their filing, prosecutors describe Manafort’s scheme to take in more than $60 million from pro-Russian Ukrainians and launder that money to avoid paying taxes. His admissions include his use of offshore bank accounts to move the money, deceiving his accountants and bookkeeper and then spending the money on lavish purchases and real estate. He also admitted to lying to banks about his assets to gain millions of dollars in loans as a way to supplement his income, according to the filing. “Manafort cheated the United States out of over $15 million in taxes,” the filing states, adding that in order to commit the crimes, he relied on help from both his longtime deputy Rick Gates and the Russian Konstantin Kilimnik.

2. Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Under Fire For Alleged Sexual Assault

Sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh were revealed this week.

What was expected to be a relatively easy confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh took an interesting turn this week with the revelation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford, currently a Palo Alto University Psychology professor. On September 16, Ford went public with her allegation of sexual misconduct on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Speaking with the Washington Post, Ford said that Kavanaugh attempted to assault her several times when they were in high school during the early 1980s. The report was issued shortly after it had been revealed that Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) had received a letter detailing alleged sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh. The constituent letter sent to Feinstein was initially kept confidential by the Senator, and its existence was only revealed to the public after a report last week by the Intercept. Soon after, other outlets started reporting about the letter as well. At the time, Feinstein would not comment publicly on the matter, saying that she had “received information from an individual concerning the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities.” As a result of the allegations, both Kavanaugh and Ford will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 17, further dragging on an already strenuous conformation process.

Brett Kavanaugh immediately denied the allegations, stating that”he had never done anything like what the accuser describes — to her or to anyone. Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday. I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the Committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity.” Additionally, in response to the allegations, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee released a letter signed by 65 women who knew Kavanaugh when he attended Georgetown Prep that attempts to refute the allegations. “Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity,” the letter reads, in part. “In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.”

Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the overall response by politicians from both political parties has been mixed. Senior officials in the Trump Administration said that the new allegation has no bearing on Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. There was “no way” Kavanaugh’s nomination would be withdrawn after the accusation was revealed. “If anything, it’s the opposite,” said an attorney close to the Trump Administration. “If somebody can be brought down by accusations like this, then you, me, every man certainly should be worried.” On the other hand, all ten Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have called on the nomination vote to be postponed. Additionally, Former Vice President Joe Biden (who is gearing up for a potential 2020 Presidential run) stated that “Professor Ford deserves a fair and respectful hearing” and called for Kavanaugh to step down if the allegations are in fact true.

Former Vice President Joe Biden reacts to the Kavanaugh allegation, reviving memories of Anita Hill's hearing https://t.co/VnEwbr43ZV pic.twitter.com/lUA7Lc8BQT

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 17, 2018

3. US recalls diplomats in El Salvador, Panama, Dominican Republic over Taiwan

The US broke off diplomatic ties with El Salvador and several other Latin American countries this week due to the fact that they broke off diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

On September 15, the Trump Administration said that it has recalled its top diplomats in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Panama over those countries’ decisions to no longer recognize Taiwan. President Donald Trump has expressed concern over the rising number of countries that have cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China. El Salvador switched ties last month, while the Dominican Republic did so in May and Panama made the move last year. Self-ruled Taiwan now has formal relations with only 17 countries, almost all of them small and less developed nations in Central America and the Pacific, including Belize and Nauru. Like most other countries, the US does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but is the island’s main arms supplier and strongest international backer.

The actions on the part of the Trump Administration are triggered in part by an ever-declining relationship between the US and China. In recent weeks, the ongoing trade war between the US and China has expanded, with China placing $60 billion in tariffs on goods produced in the US, whereas, the US has placed $200 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods. The status of Taiwan plays a central part in much of the disputes between the US and China. Even though Taiwan has been under self-rule since 1949, the Chinese government considers Taiwan to be one of its provinces and has threatened to use force to bring Taiwan under its rightful control.

Here are the main events that occurred in Politics this week:
1. Two of President Trump’s Aides Convicted For Various Crimes

On August 21, Michael Cohen, President Trump’s longtime personal attorney, admitted Tuesday to violating federal campaign finance laws by arranging hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal “at the direction” of then-candidate Trump. In entering the plea, Cohen did not specifically name the two women or even Trump, recounting instead that he worked with an “unnamed candidate.” But the amounts and the dates all lined up with the payments made to Daniels and McDougal. In total, Cohen pleaded guilty to five counts of tax evasion, one count of making false statements to a financial institution, one count of willfully causing an unlawful corporate contribution, and one count of making an excessive campaign contribution. Cohen could have received up to 65 years in prison if convicted of all charges. However, as part of his plea deal, Cohen agreed not to challenge any sentence between 46 and 63 months. The deal does not involve a cooperation agreement with federal prosecutors.

In addition to the conviction of Michel Cohen, Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chairman, was also convicted in his financial fraud trial on August 21, bringing a dramatic end to a politically charged case that riveted the capital. The verdict was a victory for the special counsel, Robert Mueller, whose prosecutors introduced extensive evidence that Manafort hid millions of dollars in foreign accounts to evade taxes and lied to banks repeatedly to obtain millions of dollars in loans. Mr. Manafort was convicted of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining 10 counts, and the judge declared a mistrial on those charges. Kevin Downing, a lawyer for Manafort, said the defense was “disappointed” by the verdict and that his client was “evaluating all of his options at this point.”

Overall, the reaction to the conviction of two of President Donald Trump’s closest confidantes was mixed. In a statement to the press, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said “There is no allegation of any wrongdoing against the President in the government’s charges against Mr. Cohen. It is clear that, as the prosecutor noted, Mr. Cohen’s actions reflect a pattern of lies and dishonesty over a significant period of time.” Additionally, President Trump was quick to criticize the integrity and legal skills of his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, saying on Twitter that “anyone looking for a good lawyer should not retain the services of Cohen.” President Trump also used the announcement of the indictments as another opportunity to criticize the Mueller probe, calling it a “Witch Hunt” and stating that its only purpose is to delegitimize his Presidency.

If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

At the congressional level, both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), gave no reaction to the indictments, perhaps signaling a reluctance on the part of senior Republican Party leaders to openly criticise the President during the lead-up to the Midterm elections. On the other hand, members of the Democratic Party were quick to comment on the indictments and denounce the Trump Administration for its actions. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a frequent Trump critic and a potential presidential contender in 2020, called for legislation to protect Mueller instead of pursuing impeachment proceedings. “I think that what Congress needs to do right now is we need to make sure that special prosecutor Mueller is fully protected from being fired by Donald Trump,” Warren said during a CNN interview. Additionally, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issued a statement denouncing Trump but did not call for impeachment, saying it is “not a priority” and that Democrats should instead focus on the president’s actions and allow Mueller to complete his investigation.

2. Senator John McCain Dies At 81

John McCain, who endured six years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam before becoming the 2008 Republican presidential nominee and serving Arizona for nearly 36 years in Congress, died On August 25 at age 81. Destined to be remembered among the political giants of American history, McCain disclosed in July 2017 that he had been diagnosed with a deadly form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. McCain was a two-time presidential candidate, losing the GOP nomination in 2000 to then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush and the general election in 2008 to Barack Obama. The unsuccessful White House bids were spotlight moments in a long political career that began with his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982. After two terms, McCain ascended to the Senate in 1986, replacing legendary Republican Senator Barry Goldwater. McCain was easily re-elected to the Senate in 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010 and 2016 and became chairman of the influential Armed Services Committee in 2015.

Despite the fact that he generally aligned with Neoconservatives on foreign policy and called for increased US military intervention in the Middle East, John McCain developed a reputation as a moderate Republican overall. For example, McCain was a champion of efforts to reform the campaign finance system, culminating with the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002, sought to eliminate the practice of Congressional “earmarks,” and opposed Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) in 2017. Most notably, McCain emerged as an outspoken critic of the Trump Administration and the shift towards Fascism by many Republicans, stating that Trump’s actions do not represent the core values the Republican Party holds and threatens to place the US on the wrong path in the realms of both domestic and foreign policy.

Due to his reputation as a rare voice of moderation in an increasingly divisive political atmosphere, politicians on both sides of the aisle have expressed sadness over John McCain’s death. Despite the fact that they both clashed on numerous occasions, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that “John McCain’s life shone as a bright example. He showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacrifice are not outdated concepts or clichés, but the building blocks of an extraordinary American life.” Additionally, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) mentioned that John McCain’s “dedication to his country was unsurpassed” and that he was “never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all but rare.” Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush also praised the life and legacy of one of their strongest political rivals, calling him a “man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order” and stating that he is an embodiment of “the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed.” In contrast to the praise even many of his strongest opponents offered,  President Donald Trump had a muted reaction to McCain’s death, refusing to issue a statement praising McCain’s life and opting to not fly the flag at half-staff (which is the typical custom of the President to do when a member of Congress dies in office) in honor of McCain.

"Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order.” […] Full statement by President George W. Bush https://t.co/FQVYWIUyGL pic.twitter.com/W8LCxJXRLi

— George W. Bush Presidential Center (@TheBushCenter) August 26, 2018

The death of John McCain also raises an important question of which political party will be in control of Congress after the Midterm election. Due to McCain’s death, the Senate is now effectively tied, with Vice President Mike Pence being the tie-breaking vote. The fact that the Senate is this close may prevent much of the Trump Administration’s agenda from passing and give the Democrats a greater chance at winning full control over the Senate. With regard to McCain’s replacement, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has announced that he may appoint a replacement who has a similar political outlook to President Trump. Due to the fact that President Trump is highly unpopular in Arizona (and will likely lose the state assuming that he will run for re-election n 2020), the appointed candidate to McCain’s seat will likely not win a full-term.

3. Trump Administration Announces Plan to Roll-back “Clean Power Plan”

On August 21, the Trump administration revealed a plan to scale back an Obama-era rule designed to cut planet-warming emissions from the nation’s power plants. The proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency will reportedly hand authority to states to create their own rules for coal-fired power plants. That would give states the option to impose looser restrictions that allow utilities to emit more greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and other pollutants — or to defer taking any action. The measure also stands to relieve pressure on the coal industry, a sector President Donald Trump has vowed to revive. Coal miners have seen their fortunes fade as coal-fired plants retire ahead of schedule, under pressure from cheap natural gas and falling prices for renewable energy projects.

More stringent regulations implemented in 2015 by former President Barack Obama put stress on the coal industry by requiring power plants to undertake expensive upgrades or shut down. President Obama’s signature Clean Power Plan established the first nationwide rules for carbon emissions. It set emissions goals for each state and gave them many options to reduce climate pollution, with the goal of cutting the nation’s emissions by 32 percent below 2005 levels. The new plan from the Trump Administration does not set a hard goal for nationwide emissions reductions, according to reports. It is projected to allow 12 times more greenhouse gas to be emitted over the next decade than under the Clean Power Plan and asks states to focus on requiring coal plants to take steps to run more efficiently. In contrast, the Clean Power Plan allowed states to meet their goals by taking measures that would push coal out of the energy mix, including adding more solar and wind farms or converting coal plants to natural gas facilities. The Trump plan would also give states a chance to forgo creating any new rules by allowing them to explain why they do not need to take action. It is possible that several states (namely Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Arkansas) could pursue that option, given significant opposition to Obama’s plan.

The proposal by the Trump Administration to gut the Clean Power Plan has resulted in a major outcry by environmental groups and represents another effort by the Administration to gain political support in the Appalachian and Ozarks regions of the US (both of which are regions in which fossil fuel production is a major industry). Additionally, the actions will contribute greatly to the problem of global warming. “These are the two biggest sectors of the economy that contribute to greenhouse gases in the country and are just hugely significant in terms of emissions,” said Janet McCabe, the Environmental Protection Agency air chief under President Obama. “The science is just getting clearer and clearer every day,” McCabe said. “I don’t know how many times people need to hear that we’re having the warmest summer on record or how many storms people need to see. This is no fooling.”

4. Iran Sues US in ICJ Over Reimplementation of Sanctions

On August 26, Iran filed a lawsuit with the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ), arguing that the US has violated terms of a 1955 Treaty governing economic relations between both countries regarding the fact that it has re-instead sanctions against Iran over its alleged nuclear program. The treaty was signed by US President Dwight Eisenhower and Iranian Prime Minister Hossein Ala‘ two years after the US, UK, and Israel orchestrated a coup that removed Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh from power. The primary purpose of the agreement was to strengthen the Iranian economy after the Shah assumed more powers after Mossadegh’s overthrow. When presenting the case before the ICJ, a lawyer from Iran said the US is promoting a policy “intended to damage” Iran’s economy, companies, and people, and that its actions are “plainly a violation” of the treaty. On the other hand, the US said the ICJ has no jurisdiction regarding its disputes with Iran and that the provisions of the 1955 agreement do not apply to the current Iranian government.

https://youtu.be/84bIMo6S6lY

The ICJ is expected to hold public hearings until August 30 and is expected to issue its final ruling at the end of September. Based on the language of the treaty and the fact that the Iranian government has not explicitly renounced the agreement, the court will determine that it is still binging and that the US has an obligation to abide by its provisions. Because it has previously ignored other court ruling regarding Iran, the US will likely not abide by the court’s decision and will continue its imposed sanctions against Iran

Here are the main events in Politics that occurred over the past week:

1. President Donald Trump Puts Forward Tax Reform Proposal

President Donald Trump unveiled the first preliminary details of his tax cut proposal in a speech in Springfield, Missouri this week,

In a speech in Springfield, Missouri on August 30, President Donald Trump unveiled his proposal for tax reform. Declaring that “lower taxes on American business means higher wages for American workers,” President Trump has put forward the most serious effort to reform the US tax code since the 1981 and 1986 tax cuts signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. Thus far the details regarding the Trump tax plan have been limited, but the plan consists of three different components. The first part of the plan is to reduce the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 15%. The two other parts of the plan are the reduction of the top income tax rate to 25% (the lowest rate since 1931) and the reduction in the number of tax brackets from seven to three.

The response to the Trump Administrations tax reform plan has been mixed overall. Many Congressional Republicans and Libertarian organizations such as CATO Institute have enthusiastically came out in favor of the plan, arguing that it will boost economic growth and allow the US to retain a competitive advantage in the global economy. On the other hand, critics of the plan argue that the wealthiest 1% will see the lions share of its benefits and that it (along with the Trump Administration’s proposed defense spending increases) will increase the federal budget deficit to record levels. It can be argued that President Trump’s tax reform proposal will likely be passed by Congress on a party-line vote, with Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) being the only Democrats who may support the plan under certain conditions.

2. Trump Ramps up Russia Tension with Consulate Shutdown

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced the closure of three Russia consulate buildings in the US in response to Russia’s reciprocal actions.

On September 1, the Trump administration retaliated against Russia for expelling American diplomats by closing down Russia’s oldest consulate in the United States along with two other diplomatic facilities in the latest sign of tensions between the US and Russia. The closures were launched by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and members of the State Department as done in the spirit of “parity.” Members of the Rusian government such as President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have reacted by accusing the U.S. of escalating tensions, leaving the door open for further retaliation against the US government. Additionally, it is possible that several of Russia’s allies such as Iran, Syria, and China may implement retaliatory sanctions against the US in response to the closure of the Russian consulates.

Trump critics and neoconservative members of Congress such as Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Linsey Graham (R-SC) have hailed the new restrictions on Russian diplomats and argue that the US needs to implement increasingly hardline policies meant to weaken the Russian government and, ultimately, to force Russian President Vladimir Putin from power. On the contrary, critics of these actions argue that the escalating tensions between the US and Russia threaten to entirely derail the relationship between both countries and places both on the path to a devastating war.

3.  Tensions Between North Korea and Japan Escalate

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned North Korea’s missile test and has pledged to work with the Trump Administration and the South Korean government to formulate an effective response.

Tensions between North Korea and Japan began to escalate this week after several weeks of relative calm. On  August 27, North Korea fired a missile that flew over Japan in the countries most recent test. The test (which experts said appeared to have been a recently developed intermediate-range missile) came as the US and South Korea conducted annual military drills in the Korean peninsula, amid loud North Korea protests. The missile flew over the northern island of Hokkaido and landed harmlessly in the sea, after a flight of nearly 1,700 miles. Despite the fact that the missile was harmless and that its test had little strategic value, the propaganda value for the North Korean government was immense and serves to increase public support for the government of Kim Jong-Un. TV programs in Japan were interrupted with a rare warning screen announcing the missile’s flight over the country and the government spoke of the missile launch in dire terms.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the launch and asserted that “North Korea’s reckless action is an unprecedented, serious and a grave threat to our nation.” Additionally, Abe told reporters that he had spoken by telephone with President Trump and that the stances both countries have regarding North Korea are “completely matched.”  The United States, Japan, and South Korea also asked for a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the test sometime within the next few days. The recent test by North Korea and the almost hysterical reaction to it by the US and its regional allies shows that the rhetoric of the Trump Administration and the overall policies of the US in the Pacific Region over the past six decades have worsened an already-unstable situation and makes the effects of any miscalculations on the part of governmental leaders even more widespread and lasting.