Former US Ambassador to Ukraine explains why she resigned
Bridget Brink, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that the administration's policy of placing pressure on Ukraine "rather than on Russia as the aggressor" led to her resignation.
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Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
YAHOO POLL: Do you agree with US defence chief's comparison of Donald Trump and Lee Kuan Yew?
In his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a leading security and defence forum focused on the Asia-Pacific, in Singapore on Saturday (31 May), US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth invoked comparisons between President Donald Trump's approach towards the Indo-Pacific and Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's well-known pragmatism, "shaped by a preference for engaging on the basis of commerce and sovereignty – not war". "These two historic men share a willingness to challenge old ways of doing things that no longer make sense. Under President Trump's leadership, we are applying this common sense approach here in the Indo-Pacific and throughout the world," he said. Other polls: YAHOO POLL: Do you support harsher punishments for animal abusers? YAHOO POLL: When in the day is best to take a shower? YAHOO POLL: Have you used an automated bot before? Hegseth was underlining the US' new approach in dealing with the rest of the world, where "America does not have or seek permanent enemies". "The United States is not interested in the moralistic and preachy approach to foreign policy of the past. We are not here to pressure other countries to embrace and adopt policies or ideologies. We are not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues. We are not here to impose our will on you," he said. Still, Hegseth called on Asian countries to increase their defence spending to match levels that the US expects of European allies, saying that they bear the brunt of the 'threat' of China and North Korea in their backyards. Do you agree with Hegseth's comparison of US President Donald Trump and Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's "common sense" approach? Related China says Hegseth is touting a Cold War mentality in calling the country a threat Top defense officials say Ukraine war has blurred lines, exposing global threats Did China take a back seat by not having its defence minister attend this year's Shangri-La Dialogue?
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trey Hendrickson predicted to lose contract standoff with Bengals
As written here consistently, barring a shocker, it has long felt like the Cincinnati Bengals will eventually emerge the "winners" of the contract standoff with star defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Those Bengals just happen to hold the vast majority of the leverage during this latest contract impasse with Hendrickson, despite the All-Pro's recent 20-plus minute airing of grievances at a team practice. Advertisement Despite this, Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated slots Hendrickson losing the standoff as one of his bold predictions for the season: "The alternative is to become Haason Reddick, which, for a player entering his age-31 season, cannot be appetizing. By taking the Bengals' reported current offer, Hendrickson can upgrade his salary by nearly $12 million and, while still being underpaid, improve upon his prospects for next offseason more by staying in Cincinnati than he could as a year-to-year mercenary for less on another roster." RELATED: Bengals UDFA is already turning heads at OTAs By now, Bengals fans know that isn't all that bold, though. This is merely the latest offseason dustup with Hendrickson over a contract. Past years have featured short one-year extensions and even reported threats of retirement. This offseason featured the Bengals actually granting him permission to seek a trade that never happened due to his age, production level, contract demands and trade asking price, to name a few factors. Advertisement Right now, Hendrickson is simply using every last bit of leverage he has left to make noise before the fines start to kick in during mandatory minicamp this month and training camp after that. He's extremely unlikely to actually miss games at his age with millions of dollars lost in fines while hurting his value with other teams. Hendrickson will likely wind up "losing' this affair in the form of a massive pay raise over the short-term, but just not for the exact number or years he and his reps seek. RELATED: Cincinnati Bengals players missing OTAs list ahead of training camp This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Trey Hendrickson predicted to lose contract standoff with Bengals
Washington Post
28 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Trump, frustrated with some judges, lashes out at former ally and conservative activist Leonard Leo
NEW YORK — Conservative legal activist Leonard Leo helped President Donald Trump transform the federal judiciary in his first term. He closely advised Trump on his Supreme Court picks and is widely credited as the architect of the conservative majority responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade. But Trump last week lashed out at Leo, blaming his former adviser and the group Leo used to head for encouraging him to appoint judges who are now blocking his agenda. Trump called Leo, the former longtime leader of the conservative Federalist Society, a 'real 'sleazebag'' and 'bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America.' Trump's broadsides came after a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked his sweeping tariffs, ruling that he had overstepped his authority when he invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to declare a national emergency and levy tariffs on imports from almost every country in the world. While an appeals court soon intervened and allowed the administration to continue collecting the tariffs while the legal fight plays out, the decision — and Trump's fury at Leo — underscored the extent to which the judiciary is serving as a rare check on Trump's power as he pushes the bounds of executive authority. The judiciary has intervened as he has ordered mass deportations, deep cuts to university funding and the firing of federal workers en masse. Trump's words reflect his broad frustrations with the judiciary, including members of the Supreme Court he appointed on Leo's recommendation, who have allowed some of his more controversial efforts to move forward, but blocked others. Trump's rhetoric also appeared to be a tactic to shift blame for setbacks to his agenda — this time notably pointing the finger at a person who once helped Trump build credibility with conservative voters. But it's unclear what — if anything — Leo had to do with the tariff decision. Leo said that neither he nor the Federalist Society was involved in shaping appointments to the trade court. He offered only praise for Trump. 'I'm very grateful for President Trump transforming the Federal Courts, and it was a privilege being involved,' he said in a statement. 'There's more work to be done, for sure, but the Federal Judiciary is better than it's ever been in modern history, and that will be President Trump's most important legacy.' Trump's fury came via Truth Social after the court tried to halt the central plank of the president's economic agenda: sweeping tariffs that have rattled global financial markets, dismayed longtime trading partners, and prompted warnings about higher prices and inflation. In response, Trump issued a lengthy and angry missive criticizing the judges behind the decision, accusing them of 'destroying America' and saying he hoped the Supreme Court would quickly reverse 'this horrible, Country threatening decision.' Trump then referred to his first term as president, saying he 'was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges. I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real 'sleazebag' named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.' 'I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations,' he wrote. 'This is something that cannot be forgotten!' He added: 'Backroom 'hustlers' must not be allowed to destroy our Nation!' Some conservatives, including legal scholars, have been among those pushing back against Trump's trade wars, arguing the Constitution makes clear the power of the purse belongs to Congress, not the president. In April, the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a nonprofit group that Bloomberg Law reported is affiliated with Leo and Charles Koch, filed a separate lawsuit challenging Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports , also accusing him of acting in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. That move earned the ire of prominent Trump backers like Laura Loomer, who accused both Leo and the Federalist Society of working to undermine the president. The panel Trump assailed included judges appointed by Presidents Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, as well as Timothy Reif, whom Trump nominated to the trade court during his first term. Reif, a Democrat, had previously worked for the U.S. Trade Representative in both the Obama and Trump administrations. In a questionnaire submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of his confirmation process, Reif described working on a long list of Democratic campaigns. He volunteered on Edward Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1980, driving the press van in Kennedy's motorcade. He served as press secretary for John Lindsay's Senate campaign in 1980 and volunteered for New Jersey Rep. Rush Holt's reelection effort in 2000, when his responsibilities included 'driving and accompanying candidate's mother to campaign events.' He also volunteered for John Kerry in 2024 and Obama in 2008, and donated small amounts years ago to the Clintons and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He appears to have participated in one Federalist Society-affiliated event : a panel on international trade in 2011 held by the Georgetown Law Student Chapter. The Federalist Society and Reif did not respond to requests for comment Friday. The White House did not respond to questions about why Trump blamed Leo and the Federalist Society for the decision, but Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson, doubled down, calling Leo 'a bad person who cares more about his personal ambitions than our country.' 'These judges must ditch their corrupt allegiance to Leonard and do the right thing for the American people before they completely destroy the credibility of our judicial branch,' she said. Leo is not a household name, but few people have done more to advance conservative legal causes in the U.S. via a sprawling network of conservative groups. Decades ago, he began to execute a plan to build a pipeline for conservative talent, working to identify, support and promote law school students and lawyers who shared his originalist view of the Constitution, and helping them reach the nation's most powerful courts. Such efforts have reshaped the courts and Republican politics , culminating in Trump's first term with the appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices . Leo's work also has prompted protests outside his home. The Federalist Society got its start on college campuses when Reagan was president. It was conceived as a way to counter what its members saw as liberal domination of the nation's law-school faculties. During his 2016 campaign, as Trump worked to win over social conservatives wary of electing a thrice-married New York businessman, he promised that the Federalist Society would oversee his judicial nominations, assuring their non-liberal bona fides. 'We're going to have great judges, conservative, all picked by the Federalist Society,' Trump told Breitbart News radio. And indeed, all three of the Supreme Court Justices Trump went on to nominate had appeared on a list famously compiled by Leo, who took a leave of absence as executive vice president of the society to serve as an outside adviser in the selection process. Leo has since stepped back from the Federalist Society and is now working to extend his reach beyond the courts with the Teneo Network , which he has described as an effort to 'crush liberal dominance' and create pipelines of conservative talent 'in all sectors of American life,' including Hollywood, entertainment, business and finance.
