The Biggest Stories in American Politics This Week
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Version 0 of 1. President Trump revoked the security clearance of John O. Brennan, the former C.I.A. director under President Barack Obama, on Wednesday, citing his “erratic” behavior and “increasingly frenzied commentary.” It was an act of retaliation that alarmed members of the intelligence and spy community and a potential threat of using presidential power against anyone connected to the Russia investigation. Mr. Brennan, in an opinion article in The New York Times, said the decision was politically motivated and an “attempt to scare into silence others who might dare to challenge him.” The president has indicated that he might revoke the clearances of other officials — including a career employee at the Justice Department, Bruce Ohr — in response to their criticism or perceived opposition. F.B.I. Agent Peter Strzok, Who Criticized Trump in Texts, Is Fired Embracing Conspiracy Theory, Trump Escalates Attack on Bruce Ohr Citing Costs, Trump Retreats From Massive Military Parade in Capital Voters in four states went to the polls on Tuesday, and a transgender woman in Vermont, a Muslim woman in Minnesota and a black woman in Connecticut all clinched groundbreaking victories in their primaries. (Here are more takeaways from the election results.) In an effort to take over the House, Democratic lawmakers are letting candidates tailor their messages to their districts. The strategy deviates from that of successful midterm elections in the past — and puts off the question of the party’s identity. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York mocked Mr. Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan on Wednesday, saying that America “was never that great.” It drew the attention of his Republican opponent for governor and, eventually, the president. Pelosi, Under Threat in Her Own Party, Says She Is Building Bridge to New Leaders ‘Don’t Run This Year’: The Perils for Republican Women Facing a Flood of Resistance In a Divided Era, One Thing Seems to Unite: Political Anger Want to Be President? Just Ask Iowans Jurors in the trial of Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman, began deliberations this week, but have not reached a verdict. On Thursday, they asked the judge a few questions, including, “Can you please redefine reasonable doubt?” On Friday, Mr. Trump called Mr. Manafort’s trial “sad,” but did not discuss a potential pardon for his former aide. Defense lawyers for Mr. Manafort rested on Tuesday, without calling any witnesses to defend him against tax and bank fraud charges. Prosecutors, in turn, argued that the evidence they had presented was “overwhelming.” The Paul Manafort Trial: What the Jurors Will Consider The Rise and Fall of Paul Manafort: Greed, Deception and Ego Manafort Trial’s Spectators: ‘Why Go to Cancun’ When You Can See History? Meet the Special Counsel Team: So Careful They Won’t Even Disclose Their Shake Shack Orders The Trump administration agreed to return to the negotiating table with China this month in an effort to ease trade tensions. The United States and Mexico also appear close to a deal on the North American Free Trade Agreement, although Canada was not party to the talks. Officials said on Thursday that they planned to create a special post to coordinate an economic pressure campaign on Iran. And on Friday, the Treasury Department announced economic sanctions against Burmese security forces for what American officials described as their role in “ethnic cleansing” against Rohingya Muslims. The move comes after the department imposed new sanctions on Wednesday against three organizations and an individual accused of helping ship goods to North Korea. Trump’s Trade War Is Rattling China’s Leaders U.S. Will Not Spend $230 Million Allocated to Repair Devastated Syrian Cities Trade War Worries Iowa Republicans in a Close House Race Mr. Trump and Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former contestant on “The Apprentice” who later became an assistant to the president, clashed repeatedly this week over claims made in her coming book. The president called her “that dog” and a “crazed, crying lowlife,” while Ms. Manigault Newman stood by her claims and released a recording that she said proved that a member of the Trump family tried to buy her silence. The Trump campaign said on Tuesday that it had filed an arbitration case against Ms. Manigault Newman. The conflict appeared to shed light on one requisite for working at the White House: Mr. Trump seemed to acknowledge for the first time that his aides must sign nondisclosure agreements. Melania Trump, a Mysterious First Lady, Weathers a Chaotic White House White House Memo: Once Dry Discussions, Cabinet Meetings Are Now Part of the Trump Show For News Media, a Day of Solidarity in a Summer of Unease |