How Republican Budget Cuts Would Make the Opioid Epidemic Even Worse

The following report by Eliza Schultz and Katherine Gallagher Robbins was posted on the Center for American Progress website January 12, 2017:

In 2015, opioid-involved overdoses claimed more than 33,000 livesa fourfold increase from 1999. Opioid overdoses caused nearly as many deaths in the United States as traffic accidents and twice as many as homicides. The toll of the epidemic is tremendous for those who struggle with addiction, as well as families, communities, and the economy. But while some Republican officials have promised to address addiction and support at-risk populations—President-elect Donald J. Trump pledged in October to provide every individual with addiction “access to the care and the help that he or she needs”—the House Republican agenda will hardly abate the opioid crisis. Instead, it is poised to do immense damage. Indeed, new analysis shows that repeal of the Affordable Care Act alone would strip 222,000 people with an opioid addiction of some or all of their health insurance coverage—and that is not the only way that House Republicans could do damage. Continue reading “How Republican Budget Cuts Would Make the Opioid Epidemic Even Worse”

Federal ethics chief blasts Trump’s plan to break from businesses, calling it ‘meaningless’

The following article by Lisa Rein was posted on the Washington Post website January 11, 2017:

The head of the federal Office of Government Ethics on Wednesday denounced President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to separate the presidency from his business empire as “wholly inadequate” and said it does not meet the standards met by the “best of his nominees.”

“The ethics program starts at the top,” Director Walter Shaub said at a Brookings Institution forum in Washington. “We can’t risk creating the perception that government officials will use their positions for personal profit.” Continue reading “Federal ethics chief blasts Trump’s plan to break from businesses, calling it ‘meaningless’”

Fact-checking President-elect Donald Trump’s news conference

The following article by Glenn Kessler of the Washington Post appearing on the Chicago Tribune website January 11, 2017:

President-elect Donald Trump finally held a news conference, but as is typical, he often made claims that have been repeatedly debunked or discredited. Here’s a guide to 15 of his more notable statements, in the order in which he made them. Continue reading “Fact-checking President-elect Donald Trump’s news conference”

Justice Department inspector general to investigate pre-election actions by department and FBI

The following article by Matt Zapotosky and Sari Horwitz was posted on the Washington Post website January 12, 2017:

The Justice Department inspector general will review broad allegations of misconduct involving the FBI’s investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email practices and the bureau’s controversial decision shortly before the election to announce the probe had resumed, the inspector general announced Thursday.

The probe will be wide ranging — encompassing the FBI’s various public statements on the matter, whether its deputy director should have been recused and whether FBI or other Justice Department employees leaked nonpublic information, according to a news release from Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. Continue reading “Justice Department inspector general to investigate pre-election actions by department and FBI”

How Trump’s cabinet picks compare to Obama and Bush’s nominees

Priya Krishnakumar, Lorena Ingiguez Elebee, Kyle Kim, Nina Agrawal and Joe Fox with the L.A. Times have compiled an interactive chart showing you how Donald Trump’s cabinet picks differ from Barak Obama’s and George W Bush’s.

Visit their site, and click on the different options to see who stays and who goes.

What Trump is really saying in his tweets: I’m weak

The following commentary written by Eugene Robinson was posted on the Washington Post website January 9, 2017:

President-elect Donald Trump talks to reporters at Mar-a-Lago on Dec. 28 in Palm Beach, Fla. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Seriously? Is President-elect Donald Trump so thin-skinned that even criticism from Meryl Streep triggers a nasty, over-the-top response? What kind of crybaby have Americans elected as their leader?

“One of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood,” Trump absurdly called the most acclaimed actress of our time, demonstrating that he is no more prepared to become critic in chief than commander in chief.

Are there more important things to think and write about than Trump’s latest Twitter tantrum? Yes and no. Trump threatens to snatch health insurance coverage from millions, enact huge tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, reverse progress against climate change, destabilize the Western alliance, pick fights with China while cuddling up to Russia — the big-issues list is long and frightening. But I believe it would be foolish not to examine the personality and the psychological makeup of the man who will soon be in the White House. Continue reading “What Trump is really saying in his tweets: I’m weak”

Trump confidants serving as presidential advisers could face tangle of potential conflicts

The following post by John Wagner and Ylan Q. Mui was posted on the Washington Post website January 8, 2017:

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn will have the ear of President-elect Donald Trump as an adviser focused on cutting government regulations. But Icahn also stands to benefit if his advice is taken: It could make the energy companies and others in which he has a stake more profitable. Continue reading “Trump confidants serving as presidential advisers could face tangle of potential conflicts”