Africa Finds New Friends as Trump Upends Global Order
As relations between most of Africa and the US sour over President Donald Trump's trade war, other global powers are lining up to forge closer ties with the continent.
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Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
White House aims to fast-track key Federal Reserve pick
The White House is working over the August recess to build momentum for a key Federal Reserve nominee the administration wants in place next month. Stephen Miran, whom President Donald Trump tapped to temporarily serve on the Federal Reserve's board, has been meeting with members of the Senate Banking Committee, which will need to green-light his nomination before the full Senate can vote on confirmation. Miran met Tuesday with Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), a member of the panel, and had a call last week with Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.). Miran is scheduled to have additional meetings with senators in the coming days, with invitations for one-on-ones extended to Republican members of the Banking panel. 'The White House has been aggressively pushing Dr. Miran's nomination to the Federal Reserve Board, setting the stage for his quick confirmation when the Senate returns in September,' said a White House official Tuesday. 'With the President's strong backing, there's clear momentum to get this done.' Underscoring how big of a priority it has become for the Trump administration to seat Miran quickly, Banks said in a statement he returned to Washington Tuesday to meet with him, instead of waiting until after the Senate's current weekslong break. 'It's so important that he is confirmed before the Federal Reserve's September meeting,' said Banks. Installing Miran by this time would represent a lightning-fast confirmation process for the Senate, which is in recess until Sept. 2. Banks added that Miran has 'done a great job as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers to advance President Trump's pro-working class agenda and I look forward to voting for his confirmation ASAP.' Miran, who currently serves as Trump's chief economist, was tapped to temporarily fill the vacancy created on the bank's rate-setting committee by the resignation of Gov. Adriana Kugler. If confirmed, he would hold the seat until Kugler's term expires on Jan. 31, 2026. He'll be coming up for consideration at a time when multiple Senate Republicans have publicly tried to sway Trump against firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell, warning that any perception of meddling in the agency's independence would have severe consequences for the market. Trump, who has relentlessly criticized Powell and surveyed a group of Republicans last month on whether he should remove him, has nevertheless said repeatedly that he doesn't intend to fire the Fed chief, whose leadership term ends in May. Still, Miran's confirmation would give Trump a close political ally at the central bank, which is designed to be insulated from short-term political pressure — and questions about Miran's links to Trump are all but guaranteed to come up as the Senate debates the nomination. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Banking Committee, vowed to have 'tough questions' for Miran 'about whether he'd serve the American people as an independent voice at the Fed or merely serve Donald Trump.' Yet as long as Republicans on the panel stick together, they would be able to advance Miran's nomination over opposition from Democrats. Republicans can lose three of their own members on the floor and still let Vice President JD Vance break a tie. Miran is likely preparing for the line of inquiry. Though he haspreviously called for overhauling the structure of the Federal Reserve, he told CNBC in an interview earlier this month that "I've always been clear that the independence of the Fed is of paramount importance.' Victoria Guida contributed to this report.
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Get rid of mail-in voting? Trump goal sparks debate, threatened lawsuits
Trump has long railed against mail-in voting but experts say states and the Congress control election rules rather than the president. WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's latest push to end absentee voting has ignited a firestorm of criticism and intense debate about the nation's election rules as the next midterm and presidential campaigns kick into gear. Election-law experts said a president has no role in governing elections. Advocacy groups threatened lawsuits aiming to block Trump. And Democrats braced for a political fight heading into the 2026 and 2028 election cycles as they look to rebound after a disastrous 2024 campaign. 'The Constitution gives states and Congress the power to run elections," said Michael Waldman, CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. "Presidents have no lawful role.' But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Aug. 19 that Trump would work with lawmakers to end mail-in voting because "this is a priority for the president." Here's what you need to know: How popular is mail-in voting? Mail-in voting is widespread and popular. Out of 155 million votes cast in 2024, nearly 47 million were mailed in, according to the Election Assistance Commission. Most states allow absentee voting for no reason, but some states require an excuse to avoid showing up in person. Eight states and Washington, DC, allow elections to be conducted entirely by mail, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington state mail ballots to all registered voters. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read said vote-by-mail elections are secure, accurate and honest. 'If he actually understood or cared about the American people, he'd know mail-in-voting is the best way to protect everyone's right to vote, especially rural folks, elderly people and hourly workers,' Read said. 'Mail-in-voting meets citizens exactly where they are: in their living rooms and around their kitchen tables.' Trump seeks to end mail-in voting Trump said Aug. 18 he would sign an executive order to abolish mail-in voting, which he slammed as vulnerable to fraud. Trump has long complained about absentee voting, since before the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down many in-person events. 'We're going to end mail-in voting," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "It's a fraud." Trump's announcement came while special House races are pending in Arizona and Tennessee; New Jersey and Virginia will be choosing governors in November this year; and some big-city mayors will be chosen in New York and elsewhere. The whole country will be voting on House races and one-third of the Senate 2026, and for president in 2028. Despite Trump's claims, election experts said voting is the most secure in history. "As we have said repeatedly, our election infrastructure has never been more secure and the election community never better prepared to deliver safe, secure, free and fair elections for the American people," Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said after the 2024 election. David Becker, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research, which works with election officials of both parties to ensure secure elections, said ballots are the most verifiable and recountable in history with only Louisiana not voting on paper. Audits confirm the results, he said. And Congress approved ID requirements to register to vote in the 2002 Help America Vote Act, which followed the razor-thin victory of President George W. Bush over Al Gore in 2000. Trump, Democrats expect political fight over mail-in ballots Trump argued the 2020 presidential result was rigged after what his aides called a "red mirage" of an Election Day lead disappeared as mail-in ballots were counted and Joe Biden won the White House. "I, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL TO BRING HONESTY AND INTEGRITY BACK TO OUR ELECTIONS," Trump said in a social media post Aug. 18 advocating an end to mail-in voting. During the 2024 campaign, Republicans supported mail-in voting to avoid handing Democrats an advantage even as Trump occasionally criticized them. But the GOP sought an Election Day deadline for mailed ballots to be counted. Leavitt said the White House will work with lawmakers at federal and state levels to change the law. 'When the Congress comes back to Washington, I'm sure there will be many discussions with our friends on Capitol Hill and also our friends in state Legislatures across the country to ensure we're protecting the integrity of the vote for the American people," Leavitt said. But Democrats vowed to fight Trump efforts to undermine mail-in voting. While Republicans in the House could potentially approve a bill, it would face a steep challenge in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster and where the GOP holds a 53-47 majority. 'Senate Democrats will make sure that any and every measure that would make it even more difficult for Americans to vote will be dead on arrival in the Senate and will continue to fight to protect our democracy," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York. Experts: States control election rules, not presidents The Constitution unambiguously says states regulate elections and only Congress can change that, Becker said. 'Getting rid of mail voting, which has been around since at least the U.S. Civil War, and which is offered by the vast majority of states, red and blue, is an incredibly bad idea that would make our elections much less secure and vulnerable to interference,' said Becker, a former election lawyer at the Justice Department. 'He has zero power to change election policy with the swipe of the pen, as the founders expressly stated.' Walter Olson, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, said Trump "has no constitutional authority to end mail voting by executive order." "The Framers of the U.S. Constitution took care to keep the main responsibility for administering elections with the states and localities, which are in no way mere 'agents' of federal authorities," Olson said. Advocacy groups expect lawsuits if Trump moves against mail-in voting Federal courts have repeatedly recognized the state role in elections, including when a judge largley blocked Trump's March executive order dealing with elections. In Massachusetts, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper, an appointee of President Barack Obama, blocked parts of Trump's order that sought to require voters to prove they are citizens and to prevent states from counting mail-in ballots after Election Day. Trump is appealing. "The Constitution does not grant the president any specific powers over elections," Casper wrote. Advocacy groups said getting rid of mail-in voting could discourage millions of people who appreciate the flexiblity of avoiding voting in person on Election Day. "Many veterans, grappling with service-related disabilities like mobility impairments or PTSD, rely on this accessible method to vote independently and privately from home, avoiding the physical and emotional toll of in-person polling," said Naveed Shah, political director for Common Defense, a group representing military veterans and their families. Advocates from several groups expected lawsuits to challenge any Trump order seeking to abolish mail-in voting. 'We are prepared to protect mail-in voting in court against unfounded and unconstitutional attacks, as we have in Pennsylvania, Mississippi and other states,' said Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Voting Rights Project. 'Access to mail-in voting is necessary to a fair and inclusive electoral process.'
Miami Herald
27 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
U.S. warships nearing Venezuela pack quite a punch. Here is what they can do
Three U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are expected to take positions off the coast of Venezuela this week, forming the centerpiece of a new operation ordered by President Donald Trump to combat drug cartels across Latin America. The warships — the USS Sampson, USS Jason Dunham and USS Gravely — are Arleigh Burke class destroyers, the backbone of the Navy's surface fleet. Known for their versatility and advanced combat systems, the ships are designed to counter threats from air, land, sea and even undersea simultaneously. Their arrival adds a potent mix of firepower, surveillance and flexibility to a region increasingly viewed by the Trump administration as a corridor for narcotics smuggling and transnational crime. According to U.S. defense officials cited by Reuters, about 4,000 sailors and Marines will be committed to the mission, which will also include P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, additional warships, and at least one nuclear-powered attack submarine. Together, the deployment represents one of the most robust naval task forces positioned in the Caribbean in recent years. Here are the key facts about the warship's capabilities: At the heart of each destroyer is the Aegis combat system, a combination of radar, computing power and missile technology that allows for real-time detection and engagement of multiple threats. Developed during the Cold War and continuously upgraded, Aegis provides the ships with a level of situational awareness and automated command that few navies in the world can match. The system's phased-array radar can track hundreds of airborne and surface contacts simultaneously, feeding data to the ship's combat information center. That information enables commanders to launch defensive or offensive strikes in seconds, whether intercepting an incoming cruise missile, engaging hostile aircraft, or directing Tomahawk missiles at land targets hundreds of miles away. Commissioned in 2007, the Sampson is a Flight IIA variant of the Arleigh Burke class and one of the earlier destroyers to feature helicopter hangars, significantly extending its reach. Named for Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, who commanded U.S. naval forces during the Spanish-American War, the ship adds modern capabilities to its historical lineage. The ship's arsenal centers on a 96-cell vertical launch system, which can be loaded with a diverse mix of weapons. That includes Tomahawk cruise missiles for long-range land attacks, standard missiles for air and missile defense, and ASROC, Anti-Submarine Rocket missiles for undersea warfare. Sampson also carries a 5-inch/62-caliber deck gun for surface use and naval gunfire support, as well as a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System — a rapid-firing Gatling gun — for last-ditch defense against missiles or aircraft. Sampson's embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopters are equipped with sonar, torpedoes and advanced sensors that extend the ship's anti-submarine capabilities far beyond the horizon. The Dunham, commissioned in 2010, honors Marine Corps Corp. Jason Dunham, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save fellow Marines in Iraq. The destroyer is one of the Navy's newest warships. Built at Bath Iron Works in Maine, Jason Dunham measures 510 feet in length and displaces more than 9,000 tons at full load. The ship is powered by four gas turbines that allow speeds exceeding 30 knots, enabling rapid maneuverability in dangerous waters.\ The Dunham's combat systems mirror those of her sister ships, with the Aegis system at the core, backed by the same 96-cell VLS. With a crew of about 380, the Dunham integrates advanced electronic warfare suites, towed sonar arrays, and layered missile defenses, allowing the destroyer to operate independently or as part of a larger strike group. Commissioned in 2010, the Gravely honors Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely Jr., the first African American to command a U.S. Navy warship, a major fleet, and eventually a numbered fleet. Like the Dunham, the Gravely is equipped with the latest Aegis systems, a 96-cell launcher, and the ability to employ Tomahawk land-attack missiles or intercept incoming ballistic threats. The ship's Seahawk helicopters provide additional surveillance, anti-submarine and strike capabilities. The Gravely's combination of long-range sensors, missile defenses and multi-domain versatility makes the ship a crucial asset for high-threat environments. The three Arleigh Burke-class ships are part of a wider U.S. naval surge into the Caribbean. Supporting assets include P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, capable of tracking submarines and surface ships over vast distances with advanced radar, sensors and sonobuoys. An attack submarine, whose exact class and name has not been disclosed, is also expected to operate in the area, adding stealth and long-range strike options to the task force. Together, the forces represent a formidable deterrent to potential adversaries. In addition to combating drug trafficking, their presence sends a strong message in the Western Hemisphere. While the stated purpose of the deployment is counternarcotics, the operation highlights the Navy's ability to move powerful assets into a politically sensitive region on short notice. Venezuela, already at odds with Washington, is viewing the presence of three missile-armed destroyers just off its shores as a direct threat. Reacting to news of the increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro announced on Monday that his government will activate a special plan to mobilize over 4.5 million militia members across the country to 'defend national sovereignty.'
