This past winter, a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned chemical company needed help fending off the possibility of new sanctions from the Trump administration on their solar industry. So they did what any smart company would do: They hired the firm reportedly comprised of D.C.’s best-connected lobbyists. The company, REC Americas LLC, is a subsidiary of a subsidiary of a subsidiary of ChemChina, the Chinese pesticide behemoth that made a whopping $45 billion in revenue in 2015, per The Wall Street Journal . And the firm is Ballard Partners, helmed by two Trump World insiders: Brian Ballard, a key member of Trump’s 2016 fundraising team, and Susie Wiles. In the first three months of 2018, according to disclosures forms , REC Americas LLC dolled out $50,000 to Ballard Partners to lobby the White House and the office of the U.S. Trade Representatives over solar panel policy and trade tariffs. And that wasn’t the only company turning to the firm for help on that specific matter. … [Read more...]

The Taliban on Monday issued an order forbidding the shaving or trimming of beards in the southern province of Helmand, threatening to punish barbers who violate the directive. The provincial Taliban government’s vice and virtue department issued the order to barbers in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital, arguing that the policy, which is reminiscent of hardline Taliban rule in the 1990s, is in line with Shariah law, according to The Associated Press . “If anyone violates the rule [they] will be punished and no one has a right to complain,” the order reportedly said. ADVERTISEMENT It did not, however, specify what penalties the barbers would be subject to if they violate the no-shaving-or-trimming policy. The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan last month, toppling the existing government amid the U.S.’s troop withdrawal from the country. The insurgent group has since announced its interim government , which includes a number of hardline leaders from … [Read more...]

Gen. Mark Milley Mark Milley Overnight Defense & National Security — Presented by AM General — The Quad confab Top Foreign Affairs Republican seeks declassification of Afghan intel Overnight Defense & National Security — Presented by AM General — Defense bill takes center stage MORE is expected to face a GOP grilling on Tuesday and Wednesday weeks after a number of Republicans said he should resign for threatening the principle of civilian control of the military. Milley, the chairman of the joints chiefs of staff, was criticized for “treasonous” behavior by Sen. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio Rubio The Memo: Biden's immigration problems reach crescendo in Del Rio Democrats face bleak outlook in Florida The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Dems attempt to tie government funding, Ida relief to debt limit MORE (R-Fla.) and others after revelations in a new book, “Peril,” that Milley assured his Chinese counterpart that the … [Read more...]

While the federal sex crimes investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has not fueled the kinds of explosive headlines it generated when the news first broke in late March, the case shows no signs of a slowdown. In fact, legal experts told The Daily Beast, the perceived lull is nothing outside the norm and can be chalked up to a number of factors—including a wide range of charges that investigators could be exploring. Although Gaetz and his allies like to interpret the lack of charges as an indication of innocence, the delays could just as easily suggest that the charges that could be coming down the pike are extremely grave and complex. And if you were looking for an indication of just how seriously Gaetz himself is taking the prospect of charges, look no further than the high-powered team of attorneys the beleaguered Florida man has brought on for his defense. That team features a trio of powerful litigators from New York City, well outside the bounds of the Middle District … [Read more...]

Lawrence C. Levy is executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University and a former columnist and editorial writer at Newsday who has covered eight presidential elections. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion at CNN. (CNN) In the spring of 2020, when there was still time for President Donald Trump to shift the focus of his re-election campaign, his attorney general, William Barr, reportedly offered the candidate sound ( if expletive-laden ) advice on the power and predilections of moderate suburban voters. Lawrence C. Levy According to Bob Woodward and Robert Costa in their tell-all book "Peril," Barr told Trump: "There are a lot of people out there, independents and Republicans in the suburbs of the critical states, that think you're an a------" and "don't care about your f------ grievances." Barr went on and told the President that if he didn't soften his tone and turn his attention … [Read more...]

Denouncing their actions as "outrageous," President Joe Biden vowed there would be consequences for the Border Patrol agents photographed riding horseback while swinging reins and charging at Haitian migrants trying to enter the country . "Those people will pay," the president said. On Sunday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, had a different message for any federal agents who might get into trouble - the Lone Star State has a job waiting for you. Abbott, appearing on "Fox News Sunday" with Chris Wallace, said the agents were "simply maneuvering horses." Their actions were necessary, he added, because the Biden administration was failing at one of its most basic constitutional duties: to "secure the sovereignty of the United States of America." If any agents lose their jobs, Abbott said he had a backup waiting for them: "I will hire you to help Texas secure our border." Abbott's offer came a little more than two weeks after mostly Haitian migrants started flocking to the … [Read more...]