We’re back and we’re reading – everything from “Fox News” to the “Washington Post.” We’re trying to help you keep up with the rapid pace of politics and everyday news. Today, Trump’s chief of staff is stepping down, new legislators make promises to pay their interns and an appeals court rules against Trump’s asylum ban.
Trump’s chief of staff stepping down
President Donald Trump’s chief of staff John F. Kelly will step down by the end of the year.
Kelly’s departure had been rumored for months; in the past year, Kelly was heard telling colleagues, “I’m leaving and I’m not coming back,” according to the New York Times.
Trump’s top choice to replace Kelly is currently Nick Ayers, the chief of staff for Vice President Mike Pence.
New lawmakers intend to pay their interns
Newly elected lawmakers are already breaking historical norms by offering their interns above minimum wage compensation.
The trend began when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) announced this week that she would be paying her interns above minimum wage in an attempt to bring diversity to Capitol Hill. Several democratic lawmakers followed suit.
Among Democratic lawmakers, only 3.6 percent in the House and 31 percent in the Senate offer paid internships. Among Republicans, 51 percent in the Senate and 8 percent in the House offer paid internships, according to the Washington Post.
Appeals court rules against Trump’s asylum ban
A panel of judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused the Trump administration ban on asylum for immigrants that illegally cross the United States-Mexico border, according to NBC News.
“Just as we may not, as we are often reminded, ‘legislate from the bench,’ neither may the Executive legislate from the Oval Office,” Judge Jay Bybee wrote for the majority opinion.
The U.S. Department of Justice had no comment on the ruling.
Palestinian terror group taunts U.S. after failed resolution
Hamas, a Palestinian terror group, verbally attacked the United States after the U.N. General Assembly failed to pass the U.S. resolution that condemned the group’s rocket attacks against Israel.
Hamas stated the result was “a slap in the face of America” and a “victory for the Palestinian resistance,” according to Fox News.
The resolution held 87 votes in support and 58 against with 32 abstentions. The resolution was 30 votes shy of passing.
Trump flips coin at the Army-Navy game
President Trump flew to Philadelphia to toss the coin at the 119th annual Army-Navy football game.
Several members of the Trump administration were also in attendance, including the Secretary of State, Defense Secretary and the Secretaries of the Army and Navy according to CNN.
Although Trump’s toss landed in favor of Navy, Army defeated the Midshipmen with a final score of 17-10.
Justice Department connects Trump to federal crime
The Justice Department stated that President Donald Trump directed illegal payments to two women to silence their claims of an extramarital affair, according to ABC News.
Prosecutors stated in a court filing that Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, arranged the payments to two women during the 2016 election per Trump’s request.
Although Trump is connected, the court filings did not officially charge the president of committing a crime.
That’s all we have for today.
