| FBI 'probed whether Donald Trump secretly worked for Russia after Comey firing' Posted: 11 Jan 2019 10:00 PM PST  The FBI secretly launched an investigation into whether Donald Trump was working on behalf of Russia while in office, according to an explosive report by The New York Times. The decision was said to have been taken after Mr Trump fired James Comey, the FBI director leading the Russia election meddling investigation at the time, in May 2017. FBI agents had been weighing up the move for months but decided to act when Mr Trump linked the firing to the relief it would bring from the Russia probe, according to the paper. The move would have put the FBI in an extraordinary position - having to consider whether the US president himself posed a national security risk to the country he was leading. The investigation reportedly was only a few days old when Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel to take over the Russia investigation. It is unknown whether he is still pursuing that line of inquiry. Mr Trump on Saturday morning sent six tweets hitting out at the Russia probe. Referencing the New York Times article, the US president said FBI leaders had launched the investigation "for no reason and with no proof". Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin' James Comey, a total sleaze!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019 The reported decisions date back to the chaotic days in Washington DC after Mr Trump fired Mr Comey just four months into his presidency. The investigation into Russian election meddling - which included whether Trump campaign figures had conspired with the Kremlin - was already up and running, being led by the FBI. Mr Trump reportedly wanted to reference Mr Comey's handling of the Russia investigation in the letter announcing his dismissal. The US president also made the connection in a TV interview, saying "this Russia thing" was a reason he acted. Those two events convinced FBI leaders that they had to investigate whether Mr Trump was knowingly working for or unwittingly being influenced by Moscow, according to The New York Times. Outgoing FBI director Robert Mueller speaks during an interview at FBI headquarters Credit: AP As well as investigating whether Mr Trump has committed obstruction of justice in firing Mr Comey - a criminal offence - the bureau looked into whether he was a national security threat, which is a counterintelligence matter, the paper reported. Mr Mueller's appointed as special counsel around a week after Mr Comey's firing meant that the FBI handed all aspects of its investigation over to his team. Rudolph Giuliani, a lawyer for Mr Trump, played down the significance of the investigation to The New York Times, saying: "The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing." Mr Comey wrote later on Saturday morning: "I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made." — FDR— James Comey (@Comey) January 12, 2019
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| 'Jayme is the hero' sheriff says of Wisconsin girl who escaped captor Posted: 11 Jan 2019 03:35 PM PST  Thousands of volunteers and hundreds of law enforcement officers had searched around the clock around the small town of Barron after Jayme Closs' parents were found shot dead in their home, the front door open and the girl gone. Relying on what Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald called "the will of a kid to survive," a disheveled Closs escaped a house in the tiny town of Gordon where she had been held captive, about 60 miles (100 km) north of Barron. "Jayme is the hero in this case.
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| Justice Ginsburg recovery 'on track,' but she will work from home next week Posted: 11 Jan 2019 09:50 AM PST  Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has no remaining signs of cancer but will continue to work from home next week, the court says.
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| Fellow Dems Chastise Ocasio-Cortez: ‘She Doesn’t Understand How the Place Works’ Posted: 11 Jan 2019 10:53 AM PST  Veterans of the Democratic establishment, unsettled by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's lack of deference to seniority and party unity, have cautioned the freshman lawmaker to direct her potent social-media attacks toward Republicans rather than centrist Democrats. "I'm sure Ms. Cortez means well, but there's almost an outstanding rule: Don't attack your own people," Representative Emmanuel Cleaver (D., Mo.) told Politico.
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| Poland arrests Huawei employee, Polish man on spying allegations Posted: 11 Jan 2019 05:58 AM PST  Huawei, the world's biggest producer of telecoms equipment, faces intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with the Chinese government and U.S.-led allegations that its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the claims, but the allegations have led several Western countries to restrict Huawei's access to their markets.
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| Rep. Steve King rejects the 'label' and 'evil ideology' of white supremacy Posted: 11 Jan 2019 01:04 PM PST  Iowa Republican Steve King tries to explain the context behind racist remarks attributed to him in the New York Times.
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| The Quick Read on the Top Geopolitical Risks of 2019 Posted: 11 Jan 2019 03:31 AM PST  How my risk consultancy the Eurasia Group came up with our annual list
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| Increased costs bit US retailers despite higher holiday sales Posted: 10 Jan 2019 09:11 PM PST  Holiday shopping reports released Thursday underscored anew the challenges US retailers face in the Amazon era -- even if consumers are willing to open their wallets to spend. Shares in Macy's plunged almost 20 percent, while nearly every major retailer was pulled down as well. The results were an ugly finale to a holiday shopping season that opened with high expectations owing to robust consumer confidence amid a strong employment market, relatively low gasoline prices and a boost from tax cuts.
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| Trump interview: President says border situation is 'national emergency' as he edges closer to declaration Posted: 10 Jan 2019 08:25 PM PST  Donald Trump has doubled down on his threat to declare a national emergency to free up federal funds to build a wall on a visit to Texas as part of an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity. Despite the fact any such move would bring legal challenges, Mr Trump said the law is "100 per cent on my side". Critics have accused Mr Trump of "manufacturing" a border crisis to try and get the wall as part of a deal to end a partial government shutdown.
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| Air traffic controllers' union sues over unpaid work during government shutdown Posted: 11 Jan 2019 10:52 AM PST  The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that requiring 16,000 controllers to work without pay violates their constitutional rights and a federal wage law in a lawsuit in federal court in Washington D.C. "America wants its air traffic controllers to be laser-focused on landing planes safely and monitoring America's runways, not distracted by financial issues and anxiety of financial instability," the union said in the lawsuit. NATCA also moved for a court order requiring the government to restore air traffic controllers' pay while the lawsuit is pending. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has funds to pay the workers despite the ongoing shutdown, the union said.
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| Jayme Closs abduction suspect was a quiet student who hoped to join Marines Posted: 12 Jan 2019 03:18 PM PST  Jayme Closs, 13, escaped from a home in Wisconsin where authorities said she was being kept by Jake Thomas Patterson.
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| 911 call reveals when woman who was in vegetative state gives birth Posted: 11 Jan 2019 10:09 PM PST  A new 911 call reveals the moments when a woman at an Arizona care facility who had been in a vegetative state for years suddenly went in to labor, shocking caregivers.
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| The Latest: Canada grants asylum to Saudi woman Posted: 11 Jan 2019 10:15 AM PST  BANGKOK (AP) — The Latest on Saudi asylum seeker who fled alleged abuse by her family (all times local):
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| Russia condemns UK foreign army base plans, says ready to defend interests Posted: 11 Jan 2019 06:47 AM PST  Russia on Friday condemned British plans to open military bases in south-east Asia and the Caribbean and said it stood ready to take retaliatory measures if its own interests or those of its allies were threatened. British defense minister Gavin Williamson told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper last month that London was working on plans to build two new foreign bases "within the next couple of years" after it left the European Union. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, on Friday described Williamson's comments as baffling and warned such plans could destabilize world affairs.
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| China's Huawei fires employee detained in Poland Posted: 12 Jan 2019 06:41 AM PST  Huawei said Saturday it has fired a Chinese employee who was arrested in Poland on espionage allegations, as China's telecom giant distanced itself from the case amid Western concerns that it could act as a proxy for Chinese security services. This week's detention of Wang Weijing follows the December arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer in Canada and US efforts to blacklist the company internationally over security concerns. While China's government has vociferously defended Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou and demanded her release, the firm swiftly sacked Wang, who works at its representative office in Poland.
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| The Oceans Are Warming Faster Than We Thought, a New Study Says Posted: 10 Jan 2019 09:43 PM PST  Sea levels could rise 30cm by the year 2100, according to newly published data
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| TSA agent creates GoFundMe page to cover his expenses amid government shutdown Posted: 11 Jan 2019 11:38 AM PST  Though they aren't receiving paychecks due to the shutdown, TSA agents are still required to show up to work.
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| Inner strength and luck: Abduction survivors reflect on Wisconsin girl's ordeal Posted: 11 Jan 2019 04:38 PM PST  All of them need inner strength and a great deal of luck, according to survivors and experts who have worked with such victims. Surely, Jayme Closs had her own well of fortitude, they said on Friday, celebrating the 13-year-old girl's escape from captivity three months after her parents were murdered in northwestern Wisconsin and she disappeared. As survivors reflected on what it takes to survive such trauma, they praised Jayme for holding on long enough to find an opportunity to break free.
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| Ford axes e-shuttle service Chariot just two years after takeover Posted: 11 Jan 2019 09:04 AM PST  Ford is shutting down its e-shuttle service as the US motoring giant begins a shake-up of its business in an attempt to cut costs. Chariot, a commuter shuttle startup acquired by Ford in 2016 for $65m (£51m), has been available in London as well as 10 US cities, but will see UK operations cease on January 25. All operations of the service will come to an end in March. The San Francisco-headquartered company, which was founded in 2014, emerged as a player in the increasingly expanding tech-transport sector led by Uber. It offers a microtransit service through an app that allows users to book a seat in one of Chariot's turquoise and white transit vans for a cheaper trip during rush hour. The company also operates an enterprise service tailored to business clients. Chariot has carried out just over 3 million rides since its inception but has said that going forward its service "was not sustainable". Technology intelligence - newsletter promo - EOA In 2015, Ford launched its "Ford Smart Mobility" unit to invest in "innovative mobility startups and technologies", and made Chariot its first acquisition. Ford claims the deal made Chariot a "cornerstone of the company's mobility strategy". In a blog post on the startup's website, Chariot's chief executive Dan Grossman expressed gratitude to commuters and partners. "In today's mobility landscape, the wants and needs of customers and cities are changing rapidly. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause Chariot's riders and our enterprise customers," he said. "We are committed to ensuring our customers are aware of the decision and have time to make alternative transportation arrangements."
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| Ex-Watergate lawyer: Michael Cohen is no John Dean but he still might bring down Trump Posted: 11 Jan 2019 05:28 AM PST  Dean was an honest volunteer whose Watergate testimony ruined Nixon. Cohen only cooperated when cornered and his credibility would be trashed in court.
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| Democrats are unwilling to talk funding number for the border wall until government is reopened, says Rep. Garamendi Posted: 11 Jan 2019 10:38 AM PST  lifornia Democrat Rep. John Garamendi says that how to best to secure the border still needs to negotiated.
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| Greek minister criticizes police over clashes with teachers Posted: 11 Jan 2019 12:08 PM PST  ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's public order minister strongly criticized riot police for their handling of a violent protest Friday by school teachers in Athens who were demonstrating against government plans for hiring new teachers.
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| Moscow demands U.S. explain charges against Russian Trump Tower lawyer Posted: 11 Jan 2019 01:18 AM PST  Russia on Friday demanded an explanation from the United States about charges brought against a Russian lawyer who attended a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower who was this week charged in a separate case. Natalia Veselnitskaya, who represented Russian defendants in a money laundering case settled in 2017, has been charged with obstructing justice in that case for submitting a declaration that she falsely represented came from the Russian government independently, U.S. prosecutors said on Tuesday. Speaking at a weekly news conference, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it had become a habit in the United States to open criminal against Russians based on vague claims.
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| 'Bird Box Challenge' crash: Teen was driving with eyes covered, police say Posted: 11 Jan 2019 01:22 PM PST  Police in Utah say a teen driver covered her eyes and participated in the so-called "Bird Box Challenge" when she crashed into another vehicle Monday.
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| US government warns workers paid by mistake not to spend money during shutdown Posted: 12 Jan 2019 05:10 AM PST  As hundreds of thousands of federal workers fretted on Friday about how they will pay bills amid the partial government shutdown, the missed pay-checks turned out to be particularly cruel for nearly three dozen employees at one obscure government agency. Because of an apparent clerical error, a federal division that processes pay-checks for a big chunk of the government workforce mistakenly paid about 30 employees at the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The District of Columbia-based board investigates industrial chemical accidents, but nearly all of the board's employees have been furloughed during the government shutdown.
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| China declares its Moon landing a success as it releases photos of the far side of the Moon Posted: 11 Jan 2019 07:49 AM PST  China has plenty of reason to celebrate here in early 2019, and not just because it's a new year. The country's space agency, CNSA, successfully landed its Chang'e 4 lunar lander on the far side of the Moon and deployed a rover which scientists will use to study the surface. It's a monumental achievement for China, which has been playing a bit of "catch up" in space exploration lately. Now, with its rover exploring the hidden side of the Moon for the first time, the country is declaring the mission a success, and it's shared some new images to boot. "The No. 4 mission is the first mission of the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration project," CNSA said in a translated statement. "For the first time in human history, the spacecraft made a soft landing and patrol survey on the back of the moon, and for the first time realized the relay communication with the Earth on the back of the moon, and with many countries." CNSA emphasized that the success of the mission was thanks to cooperation and contributions from many different countries, citing "significant international cooperation" a major reason for the mission's success. CNSA also published some new panorama and 360-degree images taken by the lander. While China certainly has reason to celebrate the accomplishments thus far with the Chang'e 4 mission, the country still has months of scientific observation and study ahead of it before it can declare all of its objectives complete. One of the most interesting experiments that CNSA will carry out is the observation of a "Lunar Micro Ecosystem" which was installed on the lander prior to its departure. A small module contains a self-sustaining ecosystems consisting of plants, soil, water, and silkworms. The enclosed unit will be used to study the effects of low gravity on an Earth-like ecosystem, but that will take some time. The lander's mission is expected to stretch on for a full year, while the rover will have a shorter three-month mission. China's declaration of success obviously doesn't mean it's ready to wrap things up, but it's nice to know the country's space agency is happy with what it's accomplished thus far.
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| Krispy Kreme announces Chocolate Glaze Collection and sweet deal for new rewards members Posted: 10 Jan 2019 09:01 PM PST ![Krispy Kreme announces Chocolate Glaze Collection and sweet deal for new rewards members]( "Krispy Kreme announces Chocolate Glaze Collection and sweet deal for new rewards members") It's about to become harder to keep some New Year's resolutions. Krispy Kreme is releasing four new chocolate doughnuts Monday.
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| Three killed as Ottawa bus crashes into bus shelter Posted: 11 Jan 2019 04:59 PM PST ![Three killed as Ottawa bus crashes into bus shelter]( "Three killed as Ottawa bus crashes into bus shelter") Three people were killed and nearly two dozen were injured on Friday when a double-decker bus struck a bus shelter in the Canadian capital of Ottawa during rush hour, city officials said. "It is with deep sadness that I report there were three confirmed casualties, two of which were on the bus and one that was on the platform," Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told reporters at a news conference late on Friday. The Ottawa Hospital confirmed on Twitter that it had received nine patients in critical condition from the crash.
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| Pompeo in Bahrain on first leg of tour of Gulf allies Posted: 11 Jan 2019 03:12 AM PST  US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Bahrain on Friday, the first leg of a tour of Gulf monarchies which Washington says are "critical" to confronting Iran and jihadists. "These Gulf partnerships are critical to achieving shared regional objectives -- defeating ISIS (Islamic State group), countering radical Islamic terrorism, protecting global energy supplies and rolling back Iranian aggression," a State Department spokesman said. In Bahrain, Pompeo is due to have a working lunch with King Hamad, Crown Prince Salman and Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa, according to his official programme.
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| Peeps-flavored coffee creamer does, in fact, taste like Peeps Posted: 11 Jan 2019 06:20 AM PST  Craving a little saccharine yellow fluid in your morning coffee? You will love International Delight's new Peeps-flavored coffee creamer. We tried the Easter treat and can confirm that it tastes like Peeps. If you like the taste of Peeps, you will like this. If you do not -- or if you enjoy the taste of coffee in any way -- you will hate it. And while the pastel yellow color isn't what we'd call "appetizing," it is technically appropriate for the Easter season. Said one staffer: "This tastes like a vanilla candle smells."\ Image: International delight SEE ALSO: I tried to drink as much coffee as Lorelai Gilmore The limited edition offering comes in a Peeps-print bottle and costs $3.79 for 32 ounces. It will be available through the Easter season, so you have plenty of time to decide whether you'd like to take the plunge. We will say this: Reese's coffee creamer is good. ## WATCH: These gorgeous 3D-printed snacks are made from food waste
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| Your Doomsday Prep Work Is Done Thanks to This 27-Pound Bucket of Mac and Cheese With a Crazy Long Shelf Life Posted: 11 Jan 2019 08:16 AM PST  Get the supplies then the doomsday bunker
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| Scientists May Have Solved One of Easter Island's Most Puzzling Mysteries Posted: 11 Jan 2019 01:25 AM PST  Scientists believe they may have solved one of the many mysteries of Easter Island's enigmatic statues: why they are there.
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| Macron Launches ‘National Debate' to Assuage Yellow Vest Anger Posted: 10 Jan 2019 08:00 PM PST  The French president promised the "Great National Debate" Nov. 27 as part of his response to the so-called "Yellow Vests" movement, which was to oppose higher gasoline taxes before it morphed into a general clamor about the cost of living and the state of democracy in France. "The politicians are wrong to say it serves no purpose because one of the main lessons from the Yellow Vests is that there's a demand of the French public to have their opinions heard," said Sananes.
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| American Airlines pilots, flight attendants fall ill on Philadelphia to Florida flight Posted: 11 Jan 2019 04:22 AM PST ![American Airlines pilots, flight attendants fall ill on Philadelphia to Florida flight]( "American Airlines pilots, flight attendants fall ill on Philadelphia to Florida flight") The airline says two pilots and three flight attendants asked to be taken to the hospital as a precaution.
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| Trump tweets incorrect immigrant crime statistics in defence of Mexico border wall Posted: 12 Jan 2019 11:32 AM PST  Donald Trump has tweeted incorrect criminal statistics on immigration in as effort to support his border wall and publicly pressure Democrats to hand over $5.6bn (£4.4bn) for its construction.
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| Cadillac will build a Tesla fighter, sources say, as GM's leading EV brand Posted: 11 Jan 2019 05:41 AM PST  And the brand had a great year in China, with sales up 17 percent
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| Trudeau says China ignored 'diplomatic immunity' in detaining Canadian Posted: 11 Jan 2019 11:35 AM PST  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday accused China of ignoring a former Canadian envoy's "diplomatic immunity" when it detained him last month along with a compatriot. Michael Kovrig was arrested on December 10 in China, after taking a leave from his diplomatic posting to work for the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank. China detained former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor last month, accusing them both of activities that "endanger China's security" -- a phrase often used by Beijing when alleging espionage.
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| Everything We Learned about the 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC at CES Posted: 11 Jan 2019 02:19 PM PST |
| Requests to bring in child brides OK'd; legal under US laws Posted: 11 Jan 2019 06:39 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of requests by men to bring in child and adolescent brides to live in the United States were approved over the past decade, according to government data obtained by The Associated Press. In one case, a 49-year-old man applied for admission for a 15-year-old girl.
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| 15 Keto-Friendly Products You'll See in 2019 Posted: 11 Jan 2019 08:33 AM PST ![15 Keto-Friendly Products You'll See in 2019]( "15 Keto-Friendly Products You'll See in 2019") The keto diet was one of hottest diets last year, and it looks like the high-fat, low-carb craze here to stay. ( Here's how I feel about that.) If you're determined to hop on board, food companies have your back. Here are 15 keto-friendly foods you can now find on store shelves:
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| British Traffic Jams, China’s Secret Children and Nurdles: Weekend Reads Posted: 12 Jan 2019 03:00 AM PST  Keeping Wall Promise Is Blocking Other Signature Trump PledgesMore than a dozen federal agencies have been closed in the fight over funding for the wall along the southern border, keeping the president from honoring some high-profile campaign pledges and policy priorities, Ryan Beene and Jennifer A. Dlouhy report. To read about one city where the people voted with gusto to leave the EU and now serve as a warning over the dangers of a second referendum, click here. Watch out for a vote by U.K. lawmakers on May's Brexit deal set for Jan. 15 . The Key to Nancy Pelosi's Legislative AgendaAs the Democratic Party went from the majority to the minority and back again, Nancy Pelosi worked consistently to keep her bloc united and its legislative agenda intact - and virtually everyone in Washington agrees the house speaker is a master strategist.
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