Democrats accuse Trump administration of trying to ‘obfuscate the white supremacist threat’ with new categories for domestic terrorism

The FBI has created a new category that “inappropriately” combines white supremacist incidents with those involving “Black identity extremists,” the senators wrote Thursday.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2DKTVlT

Japan is still hungry for ivory. The reason is a personal stamp called a hanko.

Japan is home to the world’s largest legal market in ivory, driven by demand for hankos: the small stamps Japanese use in place of signatures. But activists say that market contributes to illegal elephant hunting, and pressure is mounting to close it down.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2IIhAHx

Venezuela opposition’s plan to oust Maduro crumbles, leaving U.S. to mull next steps

The Trump administration has sent mixed messages about what role, if any, the U.S. military might play in resolving the crisis.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2vwrJhZ

Analysis: Why is Russia clashing with the United States over Venezuela?

It's about the money. And Libya. And Syria.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2ZNyLwC

50 Americans are living in Venezuela’s D.C. embassy. Amid a standoff, Venezuelans say they want it back.

Hundreds of protesters in Washington squared off along barricades blocking the entrance to the embassy.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2VGmwTA

Barr recasts McGahn’s account of Trump’s efforts to push out Mueller

William P. Barr’s view of the episode with the former White House counsel provided the most revealing look yet at his rationale for determining there was not sufficient evidence to charge President Trump with trying to thwart the probe.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2UPeymB

Barr spars with Democrats over ‘snitty’ Mueller letter

During a tense Senate hearing Wednesday, Attorney General William P. Barr denied misleading anyone over the special counsel’s conclusions regarding President Trump.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2IU0eYi

Mueller’s silence enables Trump, allies to dominate the debate over the probe’s findings

Before the Senate, William P. Barr seemed more like a defense lawyer than the top U.S. law enforcement official.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2IT0NBV

Analysis: With ‘snitty’ slip-up, Barr undercuts his argument

Barr suggested over and over that Mueller's letter wasn't really criticizing him. But then he came out and admitted it.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2Libq3a

Barr’s refusal to testify before House panel boosts chance of contempt citation

The attorney general’s refusal to appear escalates an already contentious fight between President Trump and House Democrats over Congress’s oversight role.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2WhEc4Z

Democrats denounce Trump suit to block subpoena of financial records

The filing is the latest in an ongoing fight between House Democrats and the White House.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2ITb6G7

Barr torched his reputation. His testimony added more fuel to the fire.

The attorney general released a spin job on the Mueller report, then misled Congress.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2WlU9XO

Joe Biden doesn’t owe me an apology. Clarence Thomas does.

As “the uncalled witness” in the 1991 Thomas hearings, I believe we have more pressing issues.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2GVXCqX

I was fortunate enough to have Richard Lugar as a trusted friend

The only way to address the dark side of politics and critical issues in our country is by building bipartisan coalitions like he did.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2UPSQio

It’s time to focus on the great migration of humankind to Mars

Human nature demands humanity’s continued outward reach into the universe.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2UYdxZC

Pete Buttigieg, please don’t equate religion with morality

People bring their morality to their religious texts; they don’t get their morality from them.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2GVLoOR

Barr betrayed a friend, lied to Congress and ruined his reputation

He owed better to the special counsel, and to the American people.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2Lh1gzS

Trump’s choice of Moore for Fed ‘is in trouble,’ majority whip says

Republican senators said the White House is aware Stephen Moore lacks the votes for Senate confirmation, and they expect either him to withdraw or the White House to cancel his pending nomination.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2vxQ9YE

Biden says China is ‘not competition for us,’ prompting pushback from Republicans

“This will not age well,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) tweeted in response to Biden’s remark at an Iowa campaign stop.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2DM06pQ

Alleged synagogue shooter espoused Christian theology, raising tough questions for evangelical pastors

John Earnest’s alleged actions have spurred debate among evangelical pastors about the role of a certain stream of Christian theology in shaping Earnest’s worldview.

from Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis https://wapo.st/2ITpkGG