Politics

Politics & Government

Week In Politics: CIA Nominee Gina Haspel, North Korea And Trump's Lawyer Michael Cohen

5:34pm May 11, 2018

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with political commentators Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post and Erick Erickson, who runs blog The Resurgen and hosts "The Erick Erickson Show" on WSBRadio about President Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen, Trump's foreign policy in North Korea and Iran and the confirmation battle over Trump's nominee to run the CIA, Gina Haspel.

Queue Listen Now

Politics & Government

Sen. McCain's Absence Looms Over Senate

5:34pm May 11, 2018

by Susan Davis

Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain hasn't stepped foot in the U.S. Senate this year. His absence looms large over the chamber this month.

Queue Listen Now

"We thought we had somebody on our side and now Zinke pulls this on us," rancher Craig Verasjka says. "We're not happy."

Ranchers Sour On Trump Administration Over Proposal To Bring Back Grizzly Bears

5:34pm May 11, 2018

by Kirk Siegler

Some rural leaders in Washington state say they felt blindsided by a surprise decision to restart a grizzly reintroduction plan.

Queue Listen Now

CIA nominee Gina Haspel testifies before the Senate intelligence committee on Wednesday. Alleged Sept. 11 planner Khalid Sheikh Mohammed says he has information that could be relevant to her nomination.

Sept. 11 Architect Wants To Tell Senators About Torture But Says Haspel Classified It

5:12pm May 11, 2018

by Laurel Wamsley

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed says he has information that could be relevant to Gina Haspel's nomination as CIA director. After his capture, Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times by the CIA.

Politics & Government

Addition Of Emmet Flood To Trump's Legal Team Could Signal A Different Approach

4:52pm May 11, 2018

by Ryan Lucas

Former colleagues and legal adversaries describe Flood as smart, cerebral and a fierce defender of executive privilege, and say his hiring likely signals a more adversarial approach by the White House toward special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Queue Listen Now

Politics & Government

Secretary Of State Pompeo Meets With South Korean Counterpart

4:52pm May 11, 2018

by Michele Kelemen

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his South Korean counterpart met at the State Department on Friday. The meeting comes on the heels of Pompeo's visit to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

Queue Listen Now

Ambassador Joseph Yun Weighs In On Upcoming U.S.-North Korea Meeting

4:52pm May 11, 2018

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Ambassador Joseph Yun, former special representative for North Korea policy, about the upcoming meeting between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and what denuclearization means to both parties.

Queue Listen Now

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., pauses before speaking to reporters during a meeting of the National Defense Authorization Act conferees in Washington.

McCain Irrelevant, 'He's Dying Anyway,' White House Official Reportedly Says

4:46pm May 11, 2018

by Scott Neuman

The remark, attributed to Kelly Sadler, a special assistant to President Trump, was first reported by The Hill and later confirmed by The Associated Press.

Scholars from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Indonesia attended a conference on Friday to discuss stability in Afghanistan. Indonesian President Joko Widodo (center) shakes hands with Qibla Ayaz, chairman of Pakistan's Council of Islamic Ideology.

70 Muslim Clerics Issue Fatwa Against Violence And Terrorism

4:44pm May 11, 2018

by Sasha Ingber

The scholars from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indonesia met Friday to discuss peace in Afghanistan. They said "violent extremism and terrorism" contradict "the holy principles of Islam."

Michael Cohen leaves federal court in New York on April 26. Four corporations, including AT&T, have acknowledged hiring Cohen to provide access to Trump administration officials.

Politics & Government

Were Trump Lawyer Cohen's Actions Legal?

3:43pm May 11, 2018

by Peter Overby

Corporations paid Michael Cohen six-figure fees, apparently to fix them up with White House officials. The lobbying law has a loophole for that.