Woodbridge

Why split with Sessions may pit Trump agenda against Trump himself

The Trump presidency has, at times, adopted the style and tone of “The Apprentice,” the reality television show that made Donald Trump a household name. The Sessions imbroglio suggests to political observers that Mr. Trump has fealty to his and his own first, a stance that could jeopardize his own policy agenda and spark more serious conflicts – with Republican allies in Congress, and perhaps even with his own voters. For lawmakers, who have rushed to defend Mr. Sessions, there's an additional concern: a desire to protect rule of law and the independence of the US Justice Department.

McCain to Senate: Focus less on winning, more on problem-solving

“We’ve been spinning our wheels on too many important issues because we keep trying to find a way to win without help from across the aisle,” said the politician respected and beloved by colleagues, after Republicans agreed in a tight party-line vote to debate a rejoinder to the Affordable Care Act. It’s not the first time a senator has denounced one-sided lawmaking, and health care is not the first issue to illustrate this.

The prodigal Greeks return to financial markets

The European Union’s experiment with a single currency was almost derailed seven years ago when its weakest member, Greece, was caught lying about what turned out to be a mountain of debt. Now with the 19 countries in the eurozone finally experiencing a robust recovery, Greece is once again in the spotlight. This time, however, it is for Greece’s return to the global financial markets for the first time in years.

Syria pivot? Why anti-Assad rebels, dropped by CIA, could land with jihadists.

President Trump's reported suspension of a covert CIA program to fund, arm, and train Syrian rebels is seen as signaling the end of US efforts to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on the battlefield. The move, which some commentators have characterized as appeasing Russia, Mr. Assad’s most powerful backer, has left thousands of mainstream rebels struggling to navigate a battlefield suddenly tipped against them, without a patron, without guidance – and for some – without a cause. Recommended: How well do you understand the conflict in Syria?