Management

Trump Declares National Emergency, Calling Government Border Drug Stats ‘Lies’

In a dark, rambling speech, the president repeated long-debunked arguments — and provided ammunition for likely court challenges.

Management

Analysis: What Trump Could Do If He Declares a State of Emergency

A president’s emergency powers are extensive, and largely unchecked.

Management

Former Trump Officials Are Supposed to Avoid Lobbying. Except 33 Haven’t.

The former officials — including ex-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke — have found ways to sidestep the administration’s ethics pledge. At least 18 of them are now registered federal lobbyists and the rest work in jobs that closely resemble lobbying.

Defense

Trump Announces Second North Korea Summit in State of the Union

The president stuck to the teleprompter in his 82-minute SOTU speech, the second-longest in history.

Management

Trump’s End Run Around Senate Cabinet Confirmation

In a wide-ranging TV interview, the president explained why he prefers acting secretaries over permanent ones—an arrangement that flouts the U.S. Constitution.

Defense

Trump Renews Attacks on U.S. Intelligence Community for Contradicting Him

“They are wrong!” he wrote in Wednesday morning tweets. “Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!”

Defense

Intelligence Chiefs Diverge From Trump On Main Threats to U.S.

The things that worry America’s intelligence community can’t be stopped by a wall.

Defense

The White House’s Move on Venezuela Is the Least Trumpian Thing It’s Done

The Trump administration’s concerted diplomatic effort did not originate on Twitter.

Tech

Trump's Space Ambitions Are Too Big for One President

The reality of space travel squashed his impulsive desire to reach Mars in his first term, rather than the 2030s.

Management

Trump’s Interpreters For Putin Meetings Face Ethical Dilemma

Confidentiality is written into the code of ethics that governs the profession. Will Congress force them to break it to learn the contents of Trump’s private meetings?

Defense

Vaporizing Another Norm, Trump Goes Partisan Inside the Pentagon

The president uses a missile-defense policy rollout to bash Democrats before the military’s senior leaders.

Management

Watchdog: GSA Ignored Ethics Advice on Constitutionality of Trump Hotel Lease

Inspector general blasts “unwillingness” to consider Emoluments Clause violations.

Management

Attorney-General Nominee Breaks With Trump on the Mueller Probe

Bill Barr attempted to assuage Democrats’ fears that he would be beholden to the president, but parts of his testimony still left them unnerved.

Management

Analysis: Can Trump Pardon Himself?

He can certainly try it—but that doesn’t mean he’d succeed.

Management

Nominating a Crony, Loyalist or Old Buddy for Attorney General is a U.S. Presidential Tradition

President Trump has been criticized for the appointment of political allies as attorney general. But history is filled with examples of AGs who were friends and political supporters of the president.

Management

Donald Trump May Spend 16 days at Mar-a-Lago Over Christmas and New Year’s

This would be Trump's longest stay yet at his private Florida resort.

Management

Analysis: John Kelly Couldn't Fix the Trump Presidency

Under Kelly’s guidance, the White House functioned more effectively than it had during the tenure of his predecessor—yet it still remained unfathomably chaotic.

Management

Trump Picks a Washington Insider as His Next Attorney General

William Barr served in the role under President George H. W. Bush from 1991 to 1993 and has been critical of the Russia probe.

Management

Trump Protests Infringement on Executive Branch in Coast Guard Act

Signing statement addresses antitrust laws, president’s authority to close facilities.

Management

Nikki Haley is Emerging From the Trump Administration Unscathed

In an interview with The Atlantic, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to the UN made the case for a values-driven foreign policy, and acknowledged daylight between her and the president.