Sarah Sanders said the president is looking at mechanisms to remove clearances of former Obama-era intel officials
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Trump considering revoking security clearances from 6 ex-officials
Sarah Sanders said the president is looking at mechanisms to remove clearances of former Obama-era intel officials
Original post:
Trump considering revoking security clearances from 6 ex-officials
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Monday confirmed Pentagon official Robert Wilkie to be secretary of Veterans Affairs, charged with delivering on President Donald Trump’s campaign promises to fire bad VA employees and steer more patients to the private sector. Wilkie won approval on a bipartisan vote of 86-9, securing the backing of many Democrats after insisting at his confirmation hearing that he will not privatize the government’s second-largest department. It was a moment of respite from the sharp political divisions engulfing Trump’s other nominees in the final months before congressional midterm elections. Wilkie is Trump’s third pick for the job in 18 months. The longtime public official says he will “shake up complacency” at VA, which has struggled with long waits in providing medical treatment to millions of veterans. In an 86-9 vote, the United States Senate has confirmed Robert Wilkie as our new Secretary of Veterans Affairs. pic.twitter.com/LyRDU5zTA9 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 23, 2018 In a statement released by the White House, Trump applauded the confirmation vote and said he looked forward to Wilkie’s leadership. “I have no doubt that the Department of Veterans Affairs will continue to make strides in honoring and protecting the heroic men and women who have served our nation with distinction,” he said. Trump selected Wilkie for the post in May after firing his first VA secretary, David Shulkin, amid ethics charges and internal rebellion at the department over the role of private care for veterans. Trump’s initial replacement choice, White House doctor Ronny Jackson, withdrew after allegations of workplace misconduct surfaced. Wilkie, a former assistant secretary of defense under President George W. Bush, has received mostly positive reviews from veterans’ groups for his management experience, but the extent of his willingness to expand private care as an alternative to government-run VA care remains largely unknown. Trump last year pledged he would triple the number of veterans “seeing the doctor of their choice.” Currently more than 30 percent of VA appointments are made in the private sector. Under repeated questioning at his hearing, the Air Force and Navy veteran said he opposed privatizing the agency of 360,000 employees and would make sure VA health care is “fully funded.” When pressed by Sen. Jon Tester, the top Democrat on the panel, if he would be willing to disagree with Trump, Wilkie responded “yes.” “I have been privileged to work for some of the most high-powered people in this town,” said Wilkie, currently a Pentagon undersecretary for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. “They pay me for their opinions, and I give those to them.” Wilkie’s main task in the coming months will be carrying out a newly signed law to ease access to private health providers. That law gives the VA secretary wide authority to decide when veterans can bypass the VA, based on whether they receive “quality” care, but the program could face escalating costs. Some Democrats have warned the VA won’t be able to handle a growing price tag, putting it at risk of budget shortfalls next year. Major veterans’ groups want full funding for core VA medical centers, which they see as best-suited to veterans’ specialized needs such as treatment for post-traumatic stress. As VA secretary, Wilkie also will have more power under a new accountability law to fire VA employees. Lawmakers from both parties have recently raised questions about the law’s implementation, including how whistleblower complaints are handled and whether the law is being disproportionately used against rank-and-file employees rather than senior managers who set policy. “The tone has been set by President Trump on the direction of VA reforms,” said Dan Caldwell, executive director of the conservative Concerned Veterans for America. “There have been a tremendous number of bills passed in the last year and half, and all will require a lot of work to make sure they are properly implemented.” Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, praised Wilkie as “eminently qualified,” saying he will “bring stability and leadership” to VA. Wilkie served as acting VA secretary after Shulkin’s firing in March, before returning to his role as Pentagon undersecretary. He will replace current acting VA secretary Peter O’Rourke, who clashed with the VA inspector general after refusing to release documents relating to VA whistleblower complaints and casting the independent watchdog as an underling who must “act accordingly.” Under pressure from Congress, the VA agreed last week to provide documents to the IG. (© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Senate Confirms Robert Wilkie For Veterans Affairs Secretary
Pusha T, renowned rapper and President of Kanye West's GOOD Music record label, tied the knot with his longtime fiancé Virginia Williams over the …
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Pusha T's Wedding Photos Got The Meme Treatment With Clipse Lyrics And Diss Track Jokes
Pusha T, renowned rapper and President of Kanye West's GOOD Music record label, tied the knot with his longtime fiancé Virginia Williams over the …
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Pusha T's Wedding Photos Got The Meme Treatment With Clipse Lyrics And Diss Track Jokes
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) — President Donald Trump is warning the Iranian president that he will face dire consequences for threatening the United States. Trump tweeted late Sunday night in all capital letters: “NEVER EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKE OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE.” He added: “WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!” To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2018 Earlier in the day, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said America “must understand well that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace and war with Iran is the mother of all wars.” Iran’s state-owned news agency IRNA dismissed Trump’s tweet, describing it as a “passive reaction” to Rouhani’s remarks. MORE FROM CBS NEWS “I think the president has been pretty strong since day one in his language towards Iran,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders to reporters on Monday. “He was responding to comments made from them and he’s going to continue to focus on the safety and the security of the American people.” Sanders on @POTUS ' tweet at Iran: “I think the president has been pretty strong since day one in his language towards Iran. He was responding to comments made from them and he's going to continue to focus on the safety and the security of the American people.” pic.twitter.com/veQ95G8PDq — CBS News (@CBSNews) July 23, 2018 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s “strong stance” after years in which the Iranian “regime was pampered by world powers.” Trump earlier this year pulled the United States out of the international deal meant to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon and ordered increased American sanctions. With the economic pressure, Trump said earlier this month that “at a certain point they’re going to call me and say ‘let’s make a deal,’ and we’ll make a deal.” Iran has rejected talks with the U.S., and Rouhani has accused the U.S. of stoking an “economic war.” Rouhani also suggested Iran could immediately ramp up its production of uranium in response to U.S. pressure. Potentially that would escalate the very situation the nuclear deal sought to avoid — an Iran with a stockpile of enriched uranium that could lead to making atomic bombs. On Sunday in California, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was strongly critical of Iran, calling its religious leaders “hypocritical holy men” who amassed vast sums of wealth while allowing their people to suffer. In the speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Pompeo castigated Iran’s political, judicial and military leaders, accusing several by name of participating in widespread corruption. He also said the government has “heartlessly repressed its own people’s human rights, dignity and fundamental freedoms.” He said despite poor treatment by their leaders, “the proud Iranian people are not staying silent about their government’s many abuses.” “And the United States under President Trump will not stay silent either. In light of these protests and 40 years of regime tyranny, I have a message for the people of Iran: The United States hears you,” he said. “The United States supports you. The United States is with you.” (© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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Trump Tweets Warning To Iran’s President
Michael Cohen secretly recorded a conversation with President Trump shortly before the election
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Was it legal for Michael Cohen to secretly tape Trump?
Police release surveillance photos and a composite sketch of the man suspected of fatally shooting a cardiologist who once treated former President George H.W. Bush
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Surveillance photos released after George H.W. Bush’s former doctor killed
Police release surveillance photos and a composite sketch of the man suspected of fatally shooting a cardiologist who once treated former President George H.W. Bush
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Surveillance photos released after George H.W. Bush’s former doctor killed
President Trump has blamed former President Barack Obama for not doing enough to speak out about Russian meddling
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John Kerry defends Obama administration’s warnings on Russian meddling
The onetime secretary of state suggested President Trump blasts opponents to distract from critical issues like Russia
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John Kerry: Trump deriding Joe Biden "shows fear"
President Trump’s grandfather on his father’s side was from Germany. The President’s mother was from Scotland. Before Mr. Trump headed to his summit this week with Vladmir Putin, he spent some time with “CBS Evening News” anchor Jeff Glor at his golf club in his mother’s homeland.
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Trump on his family history
President Trump’s grandfather on his father’s side was from Germany. The President’s mother was from Scotland. Before Mr. Trump headed to his summit this week with Vladmir Putin, he spent some time with “CBS Evening News” anchor Jeff Glor at his golf club in his mother’s homeland.
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Trump on his family history
A manhunt is underway for the suspect who fatally shot a well-known cardiologist in Houston while he was biking to work. Dr. Mark Hausknecht once treated President George H. W. Bush for an irregular heartbeat. Kenneth Craig reports.
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Manhunt underway for suspect who killed Houston doctor
A manhunt is underway for the suspect who fatally shot a well-known cardiologist in Houston while he was biking to work. Dr. Mark Hausknecht once treated President George H. W. Bush for an irregular heartbeat. Kenneth Craig reports.
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Manhunt underway for suspect who killed Houston doctor
Dr. Mark Hausknecht treated former President George H.W. Bush in February 2000 for an irregular heartbeat
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George H.W. Bush’s former doctor fatally shot near hospital