Former Defense Secretary Mattis Issues Stunning Rebuke Of Trump Jim Mattis, who resigned as Trump's defense secretary nearly a year and a half ago, accuses the president of dividing the nation and warns against "militarizing our response" to protests.Mark KatkovRetired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, who resigned as President Trump's defense secretary nearly a year and a half ago over policy differences, has issued an extraordinary critique of the White House's handling of nationwide unrest, saying Trump has sought to divide Americans and warning against "militarizing our response" to the protests....…Former Defense Secretary Mattis Issues Stunning Rebuke Of Trump Jim Mattis, who resigned as Trump's defense secretary nearly a year and a half ago, accuses the president of dividing the nation and warns against "militarizing our response" to protests.Mark KatkovRetired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, who resigned as President Trump's defense secretary nearly a year and a half ago over policy differences, has issued an extraordinary critique of the White House's handling of nationwide unrest, saying Trump has sought to divide Americans and warning against "militarizing our response" to the protests....WW…

Poland's Nationalist President Andrzej Duda Narrowly Wins Reelection President Andrzej Duda's victory further empowers Poland's ruling Law and Justice party, which has worked to weaken the country's independent judiciary and free press.Mark KatkovPoland's conservative president, Andrjez Duda, 48, narrowly won reelection to a second five-year term Sunday, further calling into question the country's commitment to Western-style democracy and continued membership in the European Union. Turnout, at nearly 70% of eligible voters, was the highest since the fall of communism in 1989. Sunday's...…Poland's Nationalist President Andrzej Duda Narrowly Wins Reelection President Andrzej Duda's victory further empowers Poland's ruling Law and Justice party, which has worked to weaken the country's independent judiciary and free press.Mark KatkovPoland's conservative president, Andrjez Duda, 48, narrowly won reelection to a second five-year term Sunday, further calling into question the country's commitment to Western-style democracy and continued membership in the European Union. Turnout, at nearly 70% of eligible voters, was the highest since the fall of communism in 1989. Sunday's...WW…

U.S. Broadcasting Agency Will Not Extend Visas For Its Foreign VOA Journalists Dozens of foreign nationals working in the U.S. for Voice of America may have to leave the country, putting some at risk of retribution from their nations' governments.Mark KatkovUpdated at 2 p.m. ET Dozens of foreign nationals working as journalists in the U.S. for Voice of America, the federal government's international broadcaster, will not have their visas extended once they expire, according to three people with knowledge of the decision. Those people — each with current or past ties to the agency — said the...…U.S. Broadcasting Agency Will Not Extend Visas For Its Foreign VOA Journalists Dozens of foreign nationals working in the U.S. for Voice of America may have to leave the country, putting some at risk of retribution from their nations' governments.Mark KatkovUpdated at 2 p.m. ET Dozens of foreign nationals working as journalists in the U.S. for Voice of America, the federal government's international broadcaster, will not have their visas extended once they expire, according to three people with knowledge of the decision. Those people — each with current or past ties to the agency — said the...WW…

Another Unwanted U.S. Record: 50,000 New Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day : Coronavirus Updates Johns Hopkins University's tracking site shows almost 2.7 million confirmed cases in the U.S. as of Wednesday. Total U.S. deaths from COVID-19 are more than double those of Brazil, which ranks second.Mark KatkovIn a grim accounting of the coronavirus's progress in the United States, another milestone was reached Wednesday: more than 50,000 new cases reported in a single day. , which tracks the virus worldwide, says the total number of cases reported in the U.S. stands at 2,686,480, an increase of...…Another Unwanted U.S. Record: 50,000 New Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day : Coronavirus Updates Johns Hopkins University's tracking site shows almost 2.7 million confirmed cases in the U.S. as of Wednesday. Total U.S. deaths from COVID-19 are more than double those of Brazil, which ranks second.Mark KatkovIn a grim accounting of the coronavirus's progress in the United States, another milestone was reached Wednesday: more than 50,000 new cases reported in a single day. , which tracks the virus worldwide, says the total number of cases reported in the U.S. stands at 2,686,480, an increase of...WW…

Effort To Remove Calif. Gov. Newsom Collects Enough Signatures To Force Recall Vote The announcement by the California secretary of state's office kicks off a months-long complex timeline before the recall petition is certified and an election date set.Mark KatkovProponents of the effort to remove Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California from office have collected enough valid signatures for a recall election, the California secretary of state's office announced Monday. The announcement kicks off a 30-business-day period in which those who signed the recall petition may withdraw their...…Effort To Remove Calif. Gov. Newsom Collects Enough Signatures To Force Recall Vote The announcement by the California secretary of state's office kicks off a months-long complex timeline before the recall petition is certified and an election date set.Mark KatkovProponents of the effort to remove Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California from office have collected enough valid signatures for a recall election, the California secretary of state's office announced Monday. The announcement kicks off a 30-business-day period in which those who signed the recall petition may withdraw their...WW…

Florida Senate Approves Restrictions On Voting, Drop Boxes The bill passed on a near party-line vote, with one Republican joining all Democrats in opposition. Among other changes, the legislation would put an end to 24/7 ballot drop boxes.Mark KatkovThe Florida state Senate on Monday approved tighter vote-by-mail regulations in a bill that in recent days was after neighboring elicited widespread . A stronger version of the Florida legislation is still under consideration in the state's House of Representatives. The two chambers must approve an identical measure for it to reach Republican...…Florida Senate Approves Restrictions On Voting, Drop Boxes The bill passed on a near party-line vote, with one Republican joining all Democrats in opposition. Among other changes, the legislation would put an end to 24/7 ballot drop boxes.Mark KatkovThe Florida state Senate on Monday approved tighter vote-by-mail regulations in a bill that in recent days was after neighboring elicited widespread . A stronger version of the Florida legislation is still under consideration in the state's House of Representatives. The two chambers must approve an identical measure for it to reach Republican...WW…

Biden Administration Restores Aid To Palestinians, Reversing Trump Policy : Biden Transition Updates The acting U.S. ambassador to the U.N. announced a renewed commitment to the two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and a resumption of U.S. contact with Palestinian leaders.Mark KatkovJust six days after taking office, the Biden administration took a sharp turn in U.S. policy in the Middle East, announcing it will resume contact with Palestinian leaders and restore U.S. contributions to the U.N. agency which provides aid to Palestinians. The changes were announced in a...…Biden Administration Restores Aid To Palestinians, Reversing Trump Policy : Biden Transition Updates The acting U.S. ambassador to the U.N. announced a renewed commitment to the two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and a resumption of U.S. contact with Palestinian leaders.Mark KatkovJust six days after taking office, the Biden administration took a sharp turn in U.S. policy in the Middle East, announcing it will resume contact with Palestinian leaders and restore U.S. contributions to the U.N. agency which provides aid to Palestinians. The changes were announced in a...WW…

Uganda Security Forces Ordered To Stop Detention Of Losing Presidential Candidate A judge ruled Monday that security forces surrounding the home of Bobi Wine, who lost a disputed election to President Yoweri Museveni, must leave. It's not clear if the ruling will be obeyed.Mark KatkovA Uganda judge has ordered state security forces, who have kept the losing presidential candidate Bobi Wine detained in his home since mid-January, to stop surrounding Wine's residence. Wine, 38, a popular singer whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, was the main opposition candidate in the Jan. 14...…Uganda Security Forces Ordered To Stop Detention Of Losing Presidential Candidate A judge ruled Monday that security forces surrounding the home of Bobi Wine, who lost a disputed election to President Yoweri Museveni, must leave. It's not clear if the ruling will be obeyed.Mark KatkovA Uganda judge has ordered state security forces, who have kept the losing presidential candidate Bobi Wine detained in his home since mid-January, to stop surrounding Wine's residence. Wine, 38, a popular singer whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, was the main opposition candidate in the Jan. 14...WW…

Army Secretary Says A 'Non-Scalable' 7-Foot Fence Is Going Up Around U.S. Capitol : Capitol Insurrection Updates Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said the fence will be in place for at least the next 30 days. He added that 6,200 members of the National Guard will be in the region by this weekend.Mark KatkovUpdated at 3:24 p.m. ET Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy announced Thursday that a "7-foot non-scalable fence" is being erected around the entirety of the U.S. Capitol, and it will be in place for at least the next 30 days. McCarthy also said 6,200 members of the National Guard will deploy to the...…Army Secretary Says A 'Non-Scalable' 7-Foot Fence Is Going Up Around U.S. Capitol : Capitol Insurrection Updates Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said the fence will be in place for at least the next 30 days. He added that 6,200 members of the National Guard will be in the region by this weekend.Mark KatkovUpdated at 3:24 p.m. ET Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy announced Thursday that a "7-foot non-scalable fence" is being erected around the entirety of the U.S. Capitol, and it will be in place for at least the next 30 days. McCarthy also said 6,200 members of the National Guard will deploy to the...WW…

ISIS Claims Credit in Vienna Attack That Killed 4 The Islamic State group claimed credit for Monday's rampage in central Vienna. The attacker was shot by police.Mark KatkovUpdated at 6:03 p.m. ET The Islamic State has claimed credit for the shooting spree in the city center of Vienna, Austria in a statement released by the group Tuesday, according to Reuters and the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors online extremist content. At least four people were killed and 14 others wounded, seven with life-threatening injuries, in the attack. Police shot and killed the gunman later identified as...…ISIS Claims Credit in Vienna Attack That Killed 4 The Islamic State group claimed credit for Monday's rampage in central Vienna. The attacker was shot by police.Mark KatkovUpdated at 6:03 p.m. ET The Islamic State has claimed credit for the shooting spree in the city center of Vienna, Austria in a statement released by the group Tuesday, according to Reuters and the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors online extremist content. At least four people were killed and 14 others wounded, seven with life-threatening injuries, in the attack. Police shot and killed the gunman later identified as...WW…