Republican Party

By James George Jatras*

Every living nation needs symbols. They tell us who we are as one people, in what we believe, and on what basis we organize our common life.

Ties between NATO and Russia are at their most difficult phase since the Cold War, the alliance's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said, blaming Russia for its role in the Ukraine conflict.

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee are swiftly moving forward with calls to set up a special counsel to investigate the 2016 election, but focus exclusively on the actions of officials in the Barack Obama administration — including Attorney General Loretta Lynch — and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Russia took its first steps on Friday to retaliate against proposed American sanctions for Moscow’s suspected meddling in the 2016 election, seizing two American diplomatic properties and ordering the United States Embassy to reduce staff by September.

Photo: kremlin.ru

Russia ordered the United States to cut its diplomatic staff by September 1 and said it was seizing a dacha compound and warehouse used by US diplomats in retaliation for new US sanctions against Moscow.

The Senate blocked the latest Republican attempt to repeal Obamacare in a dramatic floor vote early Friday morning, yet again stalling — for now — the key campaign goal that eludes the GOP six months into the Trump administration.

The House of Representatives of the US Congress passed a bill to tighten sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea, the world agencies said.

The US Senate voted 51-50 Tuesday to proceed with a debate on Republican plans to repeal Barack Obama's health care reforms, according to France24.

The vote was a victory for President Donald Trump, who spent weeks cajoling, strong-arming and warning Republicans to get on board with his effort to overhaul Obamacare.

President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget will save $190 billion over the next ten years by requiring able-bodied adults to work to receive food stamps.

EU commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker called for an urgent debate on Brussels's response if European companies are affected by US anti-Russian sanctions. The announcement is made by the Financial Times, cited by TASS.