Washington (CNN)While President Donald Trump and Nick Ayers were still in the middle of negotiations about him replacing John Kelly as chief of staff, Trump had already given Ayers a task, according to a source familiar with the discussion. He wanted him to conduct a thorough review of how the West Wing operates, including evaluating staffing, in order to make it more politically focused over the next two years. Trump has become increasingly concerned in recent weeks about what his administration is facing come January, when newly empowered Democrats are expected to unleash the full force of their oversight powers on the Trump administration. Those include compelling Cabinet secretaries to testify, requesting the President's tax returns and scrutinizing some of his most controversial policy decisions. Trump often complained that Kelly, a retired four-star Marine general, was not politically shrewd enough for the task. Ayers not taking job as White House chief of staff The … [Read more...] about Amid chief of staff search, Trump increasingly anxious over political future
Politics
Why not wreck the planet? It could save your political skin
Tom Chivers is a science writer who has worked at BuzzFeed and the Daily Telegraph newspaper. The opinions in this article belong to the author. (CNN)There is a certain mindset in politics, present the world over and across the political spectrum, which distrusts expertise. That mindset is presently revealing itself in Australia, where this week a small group of conservative-minded members of parliament held the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, hostage over climate policy. Turnbull's center-right Liberal party had pledged to reduce emissions from Australia's energy companies more than a quarter (from 2005 levels) by 2030, a key part of its efforts to meet its international obligations. But several of his own MPs, led by his predecessor as prime minister and long-term rival Tony Abbott, forced him into a climbdown by threatening to vote against the legislation. Turnbull's government barely has a majority in the House of Representatives, and losing such a key vote could have led … [Read more...] about Why not wreck the planet? It could save your political skin
Huawei: We’re still leading the world on 5G, despite political attacks
Dongguan, China (CNN Business)Huawei is firing back against the US-led campaign to push it out of major markets, insisting it's still on track to lead the world in the introduction of 5G technology. "Despite efforts in markets creating fear about Huawei, using politics to interfere with growth, customers continue to trust us and continue to work with us and build networks with our technologies," Deputy Chairman Ken Hu told reporters in the Chinese city of Dongguan on Tuesday. Hu was speaking during a turbulent period for the Chinese company, one of the world's biggest makers of smartphones and telecommunications equipment. Its chief financial officer is under arrest in Canada, facing possible extradition to the United States, and its products are coming under increasing scrutiny from businesses and governments over security concerns. Despite decisions this year by Australia and New Zealand to block wireless operators from using Huawei to build their 5G networks, Hu expressed … [Read more...] about Huawei: We’re still leading the world on 5G, despite political attacks
Khashoggi’s fate could sink MBS in brutal Saudi politics
No one could have predicted this. Only two weeks ago, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was preparing to host foreign investors at a lavish event being described as "Davos in the desert." Here, MBS -- as he is colloquially known -- would show off his Vision 2030 plan for the kingdom and present to the world his future for a modern Saudi Arabia and charm international investors to back his plans. What a difference the alleged murder and dismemberment of a Saudi critic at the country's consulate in Istanbul makes. The disappearance of Saudi-insider-turned-critic-in-exile Jamal Khashoggi has spooked friends that Saudi Arabia desperately needs. Forensics expert and former diplomat among Saudi team probed by Turkish officials Bin Salman's conference, a staged event designed to present a transformed Saudi Arabia, is looking likely to be a significantly less impressive affair, as investors and business leaders are dropping out in horror at the events of the past … [Read more...] about Khashoggi’s fate could sink MBS in brutal Saudi politics
GOP opposition to birth control is politics, period
Danielle Campoamor is an editor at Romper and a columnist for Bustle. She received an award from Planned Parenthood for media excellence. The views expressed here are solely hers. View more opinions on CNN. (CNN)After an election in which more than 100 women were elected to Congress, Nevada voters eliminated the state's "tampon tax," and according to some exit polls, two-thirds of those who voted in the midterms support Roe v. Wade, the American people have made one thing overwhelmingly clear: women deserve and are capable of being in positions of power, whether it's in Washington, DC or in their doctors' offices. Danielle Campoamor Yet two extreme anti-abortion measures passed in Alabama and West Virginia on Election day, both of which could criminalize certain forms of contraception and fertility treatment along with abortion care, if Roe v. Wade is ever struck down. And the day after the midterms, the Trump administration issued new rules allowing employers to deny … [Read more...] about GOP opposition to birth control is politics, period