Editor’s Note: This story is an update of a report CNN did over the summer reflecting the changes in Jared Kushner’s role in his father-in-law’s political organization in the wake of Donald Trump winning the election. Jared Kushner has kept a relatively low-profile despite amassing billions of dollars in properties Throughout 2016, his role as political operative for his father-in-law has grown substantially News this week that Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is at the center of the infighting inside the President-elect’s transition team highlights the larger role Kushner has carved out for himself since the campaign trail. The 35-year-old businessman-turned-political operative has had a crucial role in his father-in-law’s incoming presidency and that is only expected to increase. A source with knowledge of this situation told CNN Tuesday that Kushner could likely end up with a top national security clearance as a key adviser to his father-in-law, a position which is expected for him. While Trump has shared much of the spotlight with his adult children, Donald Jr., Eric and Kushner’s wife, Ivanka, the real estate mogul has also taken time publicly express his appreciation for the role his son-in-law has played largely behind the scenes. As he wrapped up the Republican nomination after a crucial victory in Indiana’s primary earlier this year, Donald Trump singled out Kushner for praise, immediately after thanking his top campaign staffers, including then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort, then-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and spokeswoman Hope Hicks. “Honestly, Jared is a very successful real estate person, but I actually think he likes politics more than he likes real estate. And he is very good at politics,” Trump said. 5 things that grabbed us about Corey Lewandowski Kushner’s reaction to his father-in-law’s flattery – bashfully tilting his head downward, blushing at the compliment – embodied the stark differences between the two men. While both expanded the real estate businesses their fathers built, Kushner has kept a relatively low-profile despite amassing billions of dollars in properties over his decade in the cutthroat New York real estate market. Trump cultivated his image and bolstered his brand in the New York tabloids with tales of sexual escapades, dates with models and hyperbolic valuations of real estate deals. And his campaign has been defined by his controversial and at-times outrageous proposals and no-holds-barred tactics. Kushner, by contrast, rarely sits for interviews and only rarely appears on television. And when he does, he doesn’t abandon his shyness and mild-mannered demeanor. At just 25, Kushner delved into another industry, publishing, when he purchased The New York Observer in 2006, which just last week announced it would end its print edition and continue as an online-only publication. After joining Trump sporadically on the campaign trail – standing quietly alongside his wife for brief moments on stage before adoring crowds of Trump supporters – Kushner took on his first campaign task by helping his father-in-law craft the policy and language for his speech in March before the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. The speech was no small affair for Trump, who used a teleprompter for the first time as he delivered the remarks before an audience skeptical of his commitment to protecting Israel. Kushner went on to add more responsibility within the campaign, spending more time with Trump. He helped the presumptive Republican nominee adjust to the reality of fundraising, which Trump largely eschewed during his primary campaign, a source told CNN. “Jared has been very helpful on the fundraising side,” the source said. The abrupt firing in June of Lewandowski underscored Kushner’s growing influence. He was “intimately involved” in the decision, one source told CNN, noticeably putting his power and influence to the test in making the case to Trump that he should dump Lewandowski. Kushner, along with Trump’s children, repeatedly butted heads with Lewandowski, who they felt was undermining their efforts to steer Trump in a more positive direction, multiple sources said. And rumors also swirled that Lewandowski was trying to plant negative stories in the press about Kushner to undercut Kushner’s influence. How Corey Lewandowski overplayed his hand Hours after his firing, even Lewandowski sang Kushner’s praises. “He’s helped us from the onset,” Lewandowski told CNN’s Dana Bash, noting that Kushner has helped the campaign grow “a stronger social media presence.” Fired Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski: ‘No regrets’ Kushner is no stranger to controversy or the media glare. His life took dramatic turn in 2004 when his father Charles Kushner, a real estate developer and top Democratic campaign donor, was arrested and charged with federal crimes, including tax evasion, witness tampering and campaign finance violations. The elder Kushner would strike a plea deal and serve two years in prison, catapulting his son to the heights of power in the family’s top-tier real estate development firm. Kushner’s father was prosecuted by then-US Attorney Chris Christie. Christie who later went on to become New Jersey governor also ran Trump’s transition team until last week when the reins were handed over to incoming Vice President Mike Pence. Sources said this week that Kushner has been irritating some allies in his recent efforts to purge the transition team of Christie associates, including former Rep. Mike Rogers, who until Tuesday served as a national security adviser for Trump’s transition.


US military dropped 21,600-pound bomb on ISIS network of tunnels near Pakistan border Strike killed 36 ISIS fighters, officials say, but ISIS media wing denies deaths or injuries The US military on Friday defended its decision to drop its most powerful non-nuclear bomb on ISIS positions in Afghanistan, describing it as a “tactical” move. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, was dropped Thursday night on a network of fortified underground tunnels that ISIS had been using to stage attacks on government forces. The strike in Nangarhar province near the Pakistan border killed 36 ISIS fighters, Afghan officials said. The US military previously estimated ISIS had 600 to 800 active fighters in the area but was unclear whether it had hoped to strike more. The blast destroyed three underground tunnels as well as weapons and ammunition, but no civilians were hurt, Afghan and US officials said. However, ISIS denied that any of its fighters were killed or injured, according to a statement in Arabic distributed by the terror group’s media wing, Amaq News Agency. The US military was quizzed Friday on whether the 21,600-pound behemoth, known as the “mother of all bombs” for its extraordinary force, was necessary for that particular target. The GPS-guided bomb is capable of destroying an area equivalent to nine city blocks. “This was the right weapon against the right target,” Gen. John Nicholson, commander for US forces in Afghanistan, told a press conference. “It was the right time to use it tactically against the right target on the battlefield.” Nicholson gave a vague response to reporters’ questions on who ordered or greenlighted the strike, saying only that he enjoyed a certain amount of “latitude” to make decisions in his chain of command. The general confirmed the strike was carried out in coordination with Afghan officials and said rigorous surveillance had been conducted to prevent any civilian deaths. “Let me be clear – we will not relent in our mission to fight alongside our Afghan comrades to destroy ISIS-K in 2017,” he said, referring to the terror group’s regional branch. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he approved of the strike and that it was designed to support Afghan and US forces conducting clearance operations in the region. But former President Hamid Karzai accused the United States of using Afghanistan as “a testing ground for new and dangerous weapons.” The bomb was dropped as Washington faces increased scrutiny over its military actions in the Middle East, including three US-led airstrikes in the past month that reportedly have killed civilians or allies. On Tuesday, the US-led coalition in Syria killed 18 of its own allies from the Syrian Democratic Forces in what was described as a misdirected airstrike. The United States is also investigating two strikes in Iraq and Syria, which Iraqi officials and activists in Syria say killed dozens of civilians. US bomb hits ISIS target in AfghanistanCaves and tunnels used for smuggling Why the MOAB and why now?Trump won’t say if he approved strikeWhy did the US use the MOAB?How serious is Afghan ISIS threat? US bomb hits ISIS target in AfghanistanCaves and tunnels used for smuggling Why the MOAB and why now?Trump won’t say if he approved strikeWhy did the US use the MOAB?How serious is Afghan ISIS threat? But President Donald Trump said Thursday that the Afghanistan bombing was “another successful job.” The bombing – along with the first US military strikes against the Syrian regime last week – mark a dramatic change in attitude for Trump, who advocated an isolationist, “America first” foreign policy during his election campaign. In just the last week, Trump has overseen the use of some of the most powerful weaponry in the US arsenal. He once said the invasion of Afghanistan was a mistake, though he later walked back that statement, saying he “always supported” US involvement in the country. Residents in Afghan villages kilometers away from the target area felt Thursday’s powerful strike. One resident living around 2 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the blast told CNN he heard an “extremely loud boom that smashed the windows of our house.” “We were all scared, and my children and my wife were crying. We thought it had happened right in front of our house,” he said. “I have witnessed a countless number of explosions and bombings in the last 30 years of war in Afghanistan, but this one was more powerful than any other bomb as far as I remember.” Another Afghan man, 46-year-old Abdul, who lives 3 kilometers from the site, described the thick cloud of dust that formed after the deafening blast. “We were unable to see each other at home because of the excessive dust inside the room,” he said. “I was feeling that boom till the morning.” Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s ambassador to the United States, said the colossal MOAB was dropped after fighting had intensified over the last week. US and Afghan forces had been unable to advance because ISIS –  which has expanded into Afghanistan in recent years – had mined the area with explosives. Related article Why the 'mother of all bombs' and why now? Locals told CNN that more than 3,000 families had fled the district in the past year or so since the militant group established its presence. One man, who did not want to give his name for fear of ISIS retaliation, said there were no civilians left in the area the group controlled. The region butts up against the porous Pakistan border. The rocky landscape is dotted with caves and defensive tunnels, making it easy to hold and hard to attack, according to Nic Robertson, CNN’s international diplomatic editor, who has reported from the Afghan mountains. The war in Afghanistan has largely slipped from public consciousness, replaced by the conflict in Syria and ongoing tensions over North Korea, but there are still around 8,400 US troops in the country engaged in counterterrorism operations. Those troops are separate from a wider NATO-led effort to train, advise and assist the Afghan army and police force. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee in February, Nicholson, the commander, warned of a stalemate in Afghanistan. He told US lawmakers the current troop level was insufficient and there was a “shortfall of a few thousand” advisers to train the Afghans. According to CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen, “the war in Afghanistan is at its lowest point for the Afghans and their American allies since the Taliban were overthrown in the months after 9/11.” The Taliban “control or contest” about a third of the population of the country, Bergen said, citing senior US military officials. That’s around 10 million people – more than the population ISIS controlled in Syria and Iraq at the height of its power during the summer of 2014, he said. Thursday marked the first time a MOAB has been used in the battlefield, according to US officials. Developed during the Iraq War, the munition is an air blast-type warhead that explodes before hitting the ground to project a massive blast from all sides. During the final stages of testing in 2003, military officials told CNN the MOAB was mainly conceived as a weapon employed for “psychological operations.” Military officials said then they hoped such a huge blast would rattle Iraqi troops and pressure them into surrendering or not even fighting. As originally conceived, the MOAB was to be used against large formations of troops and equipment or hardened above-ground bunkers. The target set has been expanded to include targets buried under softer surfaces, such as caves or tunnels. CNN’s Ehsan Popalzai, Ryan Browne, Zachary Cohen, Jim Acosta, Jeremy Diamond and Euan McKirdy and journalist Saleem Mehsud contributed to this report.

US military use of MOAB bomb on ISIS in Afghanistan


Syrian reports suggest mosque hit; US says al Qaeda meeting targeted US will investigate allegations of civilian casualties, military official says The US military has said it conducted airstrikes in a northern Syria location where local reports say a mosque was struck and more than 40 people died, but the military denies it bombed a place of worship. Instead, a US military official said, Thursday’s airstrike along the border of Idlib and Aleppo provinces struck a building believed to be hosting an al Qaeda meeting near a mosque. That building was 40 to 50 feet from the mosque, but recent satellite imagery shows the mosque still is standing, the official said. Related video McCain: 'More latitude' for commanders in Syria News about the airstrike emerged from local reports, via the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, saying warplanes bombed a mosque in the village of al-Jena, killing at least 42 people and injuring dozens of others. Most of those killed were civilians, the observatory said. The group, which did not say whose warplanes conducted the strike, said search and rescue efforts were ongoing and told CNN the death toll was expected to rise because dozens of people remained under rubble. The attack was also documented by the Syria Civil Defense, better known as the White Helmets, which seemed to corroborate that the strike hit a mosque in the village. The volunteer emergency medical service posted video of what it says shows its rescue operation amid the ruins of the mosque. The US military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that American planes conducted an airstrike in the area in question. The building struck was not a mosque and was not being used as one, the official said. The strike is believed to have destroyed half that building, where al Qaeda militants were thought to be meeting inside, the official said. The airstrike killed “several terrorists,” the US military said in a statement Thursday. Deputy al Qaeda leader killed in Syria US Central Command will look into any allegations of civilian casualties in the area, the official said. Idlib has been a significant safe haven for al Qaeda in recent years, the official added. Related video Dozens dead after airstrike hits Syrian school In January, a strike destroyed an al Qaeda camp, where more than 100 fighters were being trained in terror tactics. Earlier reports suggested that airstrike killed as many as 300 people. The United States has targeted al Qaeda fighters in Syria in past strikes. The Pentagon said 10 al Qaeda operatives were killed near Idlib in February. A US senior defense official told CNN an unmanned drone carried out that strike. US says it killed bin Laden-era al Qaeda leader in Syria US airstrikes have hit civilian facilities before. In 2015, a US airstrike hit a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders in Kunduz, Afghanistan, killing 42 people. CNN’s Hamdi Alkhshali contributed to this report.


Editor’s Note: Dr. Zaher Sahloul is the president of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), a nonprofit organization that represents more than 5,000 Syrian American physicians in the United States. The views expressed are his own. Zaher Sahloul: U.S. should take lead on stopping chemical weapon attacks Helpless locals expect more "ghastly attacks," writer says “I tried to scream, but I couldn’t take a deep breath. No one noticed when I tried to scream – everyone was overwhelmed by the number of victims.” I sat with my colleague Moustafa, a nurse in his early 20s, at a field hospital in Sarmin, Syria, as he described the chaos in his hospital on March 16, when barrel bombs filled with chemical gas struck. At around 9 p.m. that day, the hospital received a wave of people experiencing chemical exposure symptoms – difficulty breathing, burning eyes, mouth secretions. He described washing and desperately trying to treat a small boy, Mohammad, who was foaming at the mouth. His sisters lay dead on top of their dead grandmother nearby. Moustafa says that as he treated the boy, he began to cough and was struggling to breathe. He rushed outside to breathe fresh air, but the air smelled like bleach. He passed out and woke up inside the hospital, receiving oxygen. He survived the chemical exposure. Baby Mohammad did not. He died along with his two sisters, his grandmother, and his parents. I decided to take the dangerous trip last month to Sarmin and Binnish in the suburbs of the northern city of Idlib, a major battleground in recent months, to speak with the brave doctors and nurses there. There are believed to have been at least six more similar attacks since the one in March, in addition to daily bombing and shelling using “conventional” weapons. Barrel bombs filled with choking agents have not been as deadly as those filled with shrapnel and explosives, but are particularly dangerous in that they spread fear, panic, and confusion. I interviewed more than 30 doctors, nurses, civil defense volunteers, and regular citizens about the chemical attacks and inspected the Sarmin field hospital and the site of the March 16 attack. It was springtime in northern Syria – the flowers and grassy countryside were a stark contrast to the buildings that lay in rubble. After years of barrel-bombing in many areas of Syria, everyone, including children, can identify not only the sound of helicopters but also of jet fighter aircraft, air-to-surface missiles, and mortar shells. Many people I spoke with about the chemical attacks described hearing the sound of barrels hitting the ground without explosion. People typically celebrate when a barrel bomb does not explode in Syria, but in these cases, initial joy turned into a nightmare. Patients young and old that I saw presented similar symptoms, consistent with exposure to a choking agent –  shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, burning eyes, nausea, and vomiting. Some developed pulmonary edema and choked to death. When a choking agent is inhaled, it reacts immediately with the normal water droplets in the linings of the nose, throat, and lungs to form acid, which burns the lung tissues and dissolves the cells, causing the lungs to fill with fluid. The victims suffocate. Medical staff and civil defense members developed similar symptoms after close contact with patients. None had proper protective equipment and had used primitive masks that we use in hospitals to prevent inhalation of bacteria, not chemical agents. On April 16, four days after my visit to Sarmin, I spoke about these attacks, along with my Syrian colleague Dr. Tennari who directed the only makeshift field hospital in Sarmin, in front of the U.N. Security Council in a special closed session. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said after the meeting that, “If there was a dry eye in the room, I didn’t see it.” However, after four years of relentless killing, the Syrian people deserve more than emotion. They deserve action. My organization, the Syrian American Medical Society, and other nongovernmental groups have collaborated on a chemical weapon preparedness and response program. The program included training of medical staff, distribution of antidotes, like Atropine, and public awareness materials, and the establishment of decontamination treatment centers in dozens of locations across Syria. Sadly, these preparedness efforts continue to be necessary. Helpless locals expect more ghastly attacks resulting in many more casualties. Strangely enough, there seems to be no chemical weapon preparedness and response program in government-controlled areas. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact Finding Mission, designed to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use, has not yet entered Idlib, and it took OPCW more than five months to confirm the use of Chlorine in Syria with “high confidence” last year. Meanwhile, the Security Council has passed two resolutions about Syria that are largely being ignored. Syria gave up some of its chemical weapons, but the attacks continue. The reality is that it is not enough to send another fact finding mission to prove that chlorine has been used. The children who suffocated to death while asleep in their basement are painful enough proof of what has been going on. Having seen its so-called redline crossed frequently, the U.S. government should lead the Security Council to implement its own resolutions on Syrian chemical weapons, assign responsibility for the recent attacks and hold the culprits accountable in court. In addition, the U.S. should work with its allies in the region, especially Turkey and Jordan, to establish protected zones for civilians and displaced people in northern and southern Syria to prevent further dropping of chemical agents – and barrel bombs – from helicopters. If this is not done quickly, the United States and the United Nations will risk losing what is left of their credibility in the eyes of Syrians and in the region. Extremists will rejoice at the new opportunity to recruit desperate youth. As I sat with Moustafa, I asked him and the other members of the hospital and volunteer teams what they wanted me to tell the ambassadors in the U.N. Security Council? They all chose the words “protect us.” or “Himayah” in Arabic. And that is what we should do. Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion. Read CNNOpinion’s Flipboard magazine.


CNN will host town hall meetings with the GOP presidential candidates in South Carolina on Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. ET Ted Cruz bill would rename Chinese embassy address after jailed dissident China warns bill would have serious repercussions for U.S.-China ties Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz drew fire from a new quarter Tuesday, when the Chinese government tore into the Texas senator for a bill he pushed through the Senate last week. The legislation would rename a part of the street across from China’s embassy after a pro-democracy activist jailed by Beijing. It would effectively change the embassy’s address to “1 Liu Xiaobo Plaza,” after the Nobel Peace Prize winner serving an 11-year sentence in part for publishing an anti-Communist manifesto calling for political freedoms. China’s Foreign Ministry blasted Cruz’s bill as a “political farce” and warned that it would have serious repercussions for its relationship with the U.S if it were to pass the House and become law. The measure cleared the Senate in a unanimous voice vote on Friday. Victoria Coates, Cruz’s national security advisor, told CNN that the candidate understands the U.S. has strong ties to China and that he doesn’t want to be “overtly antagonistic.” But she said Cruz feels that human rights have been ignored “since the beginning of the Obama administration, since Secretary (of State Hillary) Clinton went to Beijing in February 2009 and said we were going to have a separate track for human rights. The Chinese said they interpreted that as human rights on the back burner.” The tiff comes as President Barack Obama meets in California with Southeast Asian leaders, in part to discuss increasingly assertive Chinese moves in the South China Sea and reassure China’s neighbors that the U.S. is committed to protecting their interests in the region. RELATED: Terrorism on agenda as Obama hosts Southeast Asian leaders “If the relevant bill is passed into law, it will cause serious consequences,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement, which also called Cruz’s bill “contrary to the basic norms” of international relations. “We demand the U.S. Senate stop promoting the bill and hope the U.S. executive authorities put an end to this political farce,” the spokesman said. A White House official, speaking anonymously to discuss sensitive issues, dismissed Cruz’s bill as a “stunt.” “While we continue to impress upon China the imperative of respecting human rights and releasing Liu Xiaobo, as well as other political prisoners, we do not believe Sen. Cruz’s ploy to rename a street in Washington, D.C., is an effective way to achieve either goal,” the official said. “In fact, legislative stunts such as this complicate our efforts.” The administration has indicated that President Barack Obama would veto the bill if it reached his desk, with the White House official saying, “We oppose this approach and would prefer to work with Congress on more productive ways to address our shared goal of improving human rights in China and around the world.” Cruz hit back, saying in a statement that “the Obama administration’s veto threat is yet another outrageous example of its eagerness to coddle an authoritarian Communist regime at the expense of pro-American dissidents.” “The moral high ground enjoyed by the United States is an advantage when dealing with a country like China, not something to be voluntarily abandoned,” Cruz continued. “How ironic it is that the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize laureate is threatening to veto a bill honoring the 2010 one.” It’s not the first time in this presidential campaign that a candidate has used China in an attempt to demonstrate tough foreign policy chops. GOP front-runner Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he would have China declared a currency manipulator on his first day in office. That idea is supported by U.S. manufacturers who argue that China keeps its currency artificially low to make its exports cheaper, but Obama, like predecessor George W. Bush, has preferred to use international pressure and diplomacy to try to move China. RELATED: China brushes off Donald Trump ‘disturbances’ In September, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman dismissed Trump’s pledge as a mere “disturbance” that wasn’t to be taken seriously as an official U.S. government position. Cruz has been using campaign appearances to stress that he would pursue a muscular foreign policy without concern for what he on Tuesday labeled a culture of political correctness at the Pentagon. In Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, he told troops that their ready-to-eat rations would never be gluten-free and that under his leadership, the military would be “feared by our enemies and trusted by our allies.” The Texas Republican has often used China as a foil. He introduced a resolution to rename the street across from China’s embassy in a leafy northwest Washington neighborhood in September and then again in October. The sprawling Chinese embassy compound was designed by I.M. Pei and opened in 2009, one of more than a dozen diplomatic missions located in upper Washington. Both times, Cruz’s effort was blocked by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democratic, who objected that Cruz had given his colleagues only one hour’s notice before introducing the resolution. “Maybe people don’t believe diplomacy makes a difference, but I do,” Feinstein said at the time. “I think there will be ample time for the President to speak with the President of China and for some of us to speak as well.” Related gallery Moments from Ted Cruz's career Undeterred, Cruz introduced his bill on February 12. The Senate cleared the bill later that day at the same time that Cruz lifted a hold he had long placed on a slew of diplomatic nominations – including ambassadors to Norway and Sweden and the State Department’s under secretary for political affairs – to protest of the Iran nuclear deal. National-level politicians have gotten interested in this local Washington street before. In 2014, a bi-partisan group of lawmakers, including Hose Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, asked Washington’s mayor to rename the street after Liu Xiaobo to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square killings. Since the street is actually federal property, Virginia Republican Rep. Frank Wolf also put an amendment in the 2015 State Department spending bill that required Secretary of State John Kerry to change the street name. The House appropriations committee approved the amendment, but it was later dropped. There is also precedent for such a move. In 1984, the year Soviet athletes boycotted the summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, and a year after then-President Ronald Reagan declared the Soviet Union an “evil empire,” the Senate passed a measure changing the official address of the USSR’s embassy on Washington’s 16th Street to No. 1 Andrei Sakharov Plaza, in honor of the anti-Soviet dissident and Nobel laureate. The Senate took the step after Sakharov went on a hunger strike in 1984 after the government prohibited his wife from traveling abroad for medical treatment. CNN’s Chieu Luu and Ted Barrett contributed to this report.

Ted Cruz's bill to rename the street address of the Chinese embassy


Marco Rubio dropped out of the presidential race after losing the primary in his home state of Florida Rubio struggled to win states against Donald Trump and Ted Cruz and banked his campaign future on winning Florida Marco Rubio is dropping out of the presidential race after losing the Florida primary to Donald Trump and failing to unite the Republican establishment against the billionaire front-runner. “We live in a republic and our voters make these decisions,” Rubio said in Miami Tuesday night as his supporters booed Trump’s victory. His speech was a thinly veiled rebuke of Trump’s campaign tactics, as he warned that it would have been easier for him to exploit the anger and anxiety driving the race. He warned that the politics of division were going to leave America a “fractured nation.” “America is in the middle of a real political storm, a real tsunami and we should have seen this coming,” Rubio said. “While we are on the right side,” he said,” this year, we will not be on the winning side.” Rubio, the 44-year-old first-term senator, had positioned himself as the only person who could stop Trump, and had gone on the attack, memorably bringing up the size of the Trump’s hands during a campaign rally and at a presidential debate. His campaign slogan was “a new American century” – as he tried to send the message that America needed a new generation of leadership that could deal with the challenges ahead. It was also a way to spin his relative youth, and short time in the U.S. Senate as an advantage. He drew heavily from his life story on the trail. The child of Cuban immigrants, Rubio’s parents worked menial jobs like bartending and hotel cleaning to provide for their children. His stump speech drove home the message that Americans should leave their children better off than they were, and warned that dream was slipping away. After not winning any of the early contests, Rubio’s advisers and donors banked on him consolidating the establishment vote – particularly after Jeb Bush quit the race – and winning in big states like his home of Florida. Meanwhile, Trump continued to lead the pack and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz became the second favorite, picking up the first contest of Iowa and far more states than Rubio along the way. Rubio tried several tactics to deal with Trump. At first, he mostly ignored the front-runner, aiming his fire instead for his closest competitors for the nomination like Cruz and Bush. But as Trump continued to roll, Rubio made a sudden strategy change at the GOP debate in late February in Houston. That night and in successive days, Rubio unleashed a torrent of opposition research combined with schoolyard insults, suddenly mentioning Trump by name and hand size in his stump speeches. Trump responded in kind, making a crude joke about his penis size at a following debate, and seemed to get the better of the tiff against “Little Rubio,” who lost momentum rather than gain it after the attacks. Rubio’s other major stumble came much earlier in the campaign, in the first primary on the calendar. At the New Hampshire debate before the Granite State’s contest, Rubio fell into his habit of repeating his one-liners, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie mocked him brutally for doing so. The widely panned debate performance was followed by a dismal fifth place finish in that early primary, only made worse by establishment rival Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s surprise second place placement. The Cuban-American did get his mojo back, though, nabbing the highly sought-after endorsement of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to best Cruz for second in that state and Nevada. And after Bush’s departure from the race, a slew of establishment Republicans ran to endorse Rubio, including Haley being joined by the sitting governors of Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee and New Mexico. Rubio lost every one of those states, except New Mexico, which has yet to vote. The campaign has blamed other candidates for some of their troubles, including singling out Kasich as a spoiler. Kasich’s share of the vote especially stung in Virginia on Super Tuesday, where Rubio came within 3 percentage points of beating Trump. But despite his campaign’s argument that an establishment candidate could win if the slate of candidates would just narrow, anti-establishment candidates Trump and Cruz only picked up steam in the wake of Rubio’s endorsement avalanche, as Rubio fell back to third and fourth place in races. His last stand came down to his home state of Florida, which was called for Trump as soon as polls closed at 8 p.m.


Schiller was around for some of the most controversial moments of Trump's political career Comey's firing is now a key part of Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation Keith Schiller, one of President Donald Trump’s closest confidants and longtime associates, denied on Tuesday to congressional Russia investigators the salacious claims about Trump’s 2013 trip to Moscow that appeared in the opposition research Russia dossier about Trump, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Schiller, who quit his White House job in September, appeared for a closed-door interview to the House intelligence committee on Tuesday. He was by Trump’s side for many years, including the trip to Moscow, but Schiller said little to the committee about past events involving Trump, according to the sources, telling lawmakers repeatedly that he could not recall or was not aware a number of potential Russia connections with Trump associates, which Democrats continually asked about. Trump’s activities while in Moscow for that event have been the subject of rampant speculation ever since the January leak of a 35-page dossier written by former British spy Christopher Steele. The dossier also accuses the Trump campaign of colluding with Russia as part of its active measures campaign to influence the election and defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Several of the dossier’s most salacious claims have not been independently corroborated, and Schiller denied them on Tuesday. The hearing with Schiller provided an opportunity for lawmakers to try to learn more about the Trump campaign’s contacts with Russians and Trump’s links to Kremlin-friendly interests in his business career. Schiller joined the Trump administration as director of Oval Office operations, but he left after about eight months. During the campaign, “it mattered more to me what Keith Schiller thought of me than what the campaign manager thought,” a former top Trump campaign aide told CNN in May. Being so close to Trump for so long means Schiller was around for some of the most controversial moments of Trump’s political career. Related article Who is Keith Schiller, the man Trump sent to fire Comey? Trump dispatched Schiller in May to hand-deliver a letter to the FBI headquarters, informing then-Director James Comey of his termination. Comey was on a work trip on the other side of the country, but CNN cameras spotted Schiller entering and then leaving the FBI building. Comey’s firing is now a key part of Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into potential obstruction of justice. Mueller’s team has recently interviewed White House witnesses who could shed light on Comey’s firing. And CNN reported last week that White House senior adviser Jared Kushner turned over documents about the firing to Mueller’s investigators. Trump has said that years earlier, Schiller joined him on a trip to Moscow for the Miss Universe pageant. The significance of the event, held in November 2013, wasn’t clear at the time. But now, the contacts Trump made as part of that deal are coming back in a big way. That deal was struck between Trump and Aras and Emin Agalarov, the father-and-son team of billionaires that own a major development firm in Russia. The Miss Universe pageant was held at one of their properties in Moscow. The dossier’s broad assertion that Russia waged a campaign to interfere in the election is now accepted as fact by the US intelligence community. CNN also reported earlier this year that US investigators have corroborated some aspects of the dossier, specifically that some of the communications among foreign nationals mentioned in the memos did actually take place. Video obtained exclusively by CNN showed Schiller, Trump and other Trump associates sharing a dinner in June 2013 with the Agalarovs and their associates, including British publicist Rob Goldstone, who represents Emin Agalarov in his musical career. The day after the dinner in Las Vegas, the Trump Organization announced it would bring Miss Universe to Moscow. The Agalarovs stayed in touch with Trump after the 2013 event and re-entered the picture in summer 2016. Through the publicist, Emin Agalarov reached out to Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., in order to broker a meeting between Trump campaign officials and a Russian lawyer. The publicist said the Russian government was eager to offer information that would “incriminate” Clinton. Trump Jr. took the meeting and the rest is history – it became a major political scandal after it was revealed this summer, nearly one year after it took place, and amid sprawling federal investigations into the Trump campaign’s links to Russia. Trump Jr. denies colluding with the Russians and says he didn’t get anything useful from the meeting. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correctly identify the pageant that Schiller and Trump traveled to Moscow for in 2013. It was the Miss Universe pageant. It has also been updated to correct the month of the 2013 Las Vegas dinner that Trump and his associates had with the Agalarovs and their associates.


President Donald Trump says a GOP memo declassified on Friday “totally vindicates” him in the Russia probe. In a Saturday morning tweet, Trump denied any collusion or obstruction and called the investigation “an American disgrace.” “This memo totally vindicates ‘Trump’ in probe,” Trump tweeted Saturday morning. “But the Russian Witch Hunt goes on and on. Their was no Collusion and there was no Obstruction (the word now used because, after one year of looking endlessly and finding NOTHING, collusion is dead). This is an American disgrace!” This memo totally vindicates “Trump” in probe. But the Russian Witch Hunt goes on and on. Their was no Collusion and there was no Obstruction (the word now used because, after one year of looking endlessly and finding NOTHING, collusion is dead). This is an American disgrace! On Friday, Trump approved the public release of a memo spearheaded by GOP House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes that alleges the FBI abused its surveillance authority. The highly controversial memo alleges that then-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe told the House Intelligence Committee that no surveillance warrant would have been sought for a Trump campaign aide without a disputed opposition research dossier on Trump and Russia. The memo is the most explicit Republican effort yet to discredit the FBI’s investigation into Trump and Russia, alleging that the investigation was infused with an anti-Trump bias under the Obama administration and supported with political opposition research. Related article The Nunes memo: 5 takeaways The memo tries to connect what Republicans believe was a flawed application to monitor former Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page to the overall counterintelligence investigation into potential collusion between Russians and the Republican campaign. But the memo undermines its own argument about the application being overly reliant on the dossier. It notes that the application also included information regarding Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, suggesting there was intelligence beyond the dossier in the Page application. Related article Did the Nunes memo undermine its own core argument? A former senior national security official told CNN that the President’s tweet on Saturday shows he acted for “personal purposes.” “As a public servant I was taught to never take official action for personal gain. That is exactly what our president has done,” the former official said. “He personally ordered the declassification of the memo, not for political purposes, but for personal purposes. The proof of that is his claim that he has now been ‘vindicated’ by the memo. In my view this conflict of interest is the real story. Not the memo itself, which doesn’t contain much we didn’t already know.” The FBI issued a rare public warning on Wednesday that the GOP memo omits key information that could impact its veracity. Democrats, meanwhile, have slammed the memo as an inaccurate and misleading portrait intended to undermine Mueller’s probe and disputed what the memo concluded about McCabe’s testimony on the dossier as the basis for a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant. There are currently several investigations into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, but Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 election. CNN’s Jeremy Herb and Jake Tapper contributed to this report.


Editor’s Note: This article contains language that some may find offensive. Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson is determinedly anti-PC; courts controversy Broadcaster has caused offense for racist remarks in the past Friends with UK PM David Cameron and former news head Rebekah Brooks At the time it probably seemed like fun: Jeremy Clarkson and a crew from the top-rated BBC TV show Top Gear driving a Porsche in Argentina. The only problem was that the car’s registration plate, H982 FLK, appeared to refer to the 1982 Falklands War between the UK and Argentina, fought over a remote British colony off the coast of Patagonia, which both countries claim. The conflict, which claimed the lives of 655 Argentinian servicemen and 255 Britons, ended with a British victory. Clarkson and the rest of the production team were in the country filming a TV special on a remote highway that passes through Chile and Argentina, and the number plate sparked anger among locals over the perennially touchy subject of the war. As the crew attempted to flee by road to Chile, they were attacked by an angry crowd who hurled rocks and bricks at the Porsche and other cars in the convoy. Clarkson, who fronts Top Gear, later said an angry mob tried to attack them with pickax handles and shouted “burn their cars.” Related video Top Gear star suspended for 'fracas' “This was not some jolly jape that went awry. For once, we did nothing wrong,” he told The Sun. Top Gear producers said the numbers and letters on the registration plates had not been chosen deliberately. The motoring show, fronted by Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, has made a name for itself globally with risky stunts and a brand of blokish humor that often treads the line and regularly steps over it. Clarkson is determinedly anti-politically correct among the topics he rails about, both on the show and in his newspaper and magazine columns. Favored topics include environmentalism, traffic laws and liberals. The latest “fracas” has seen Clarkson suspended by the BBC, which broadcasts Top Gear, for allegedly hitting a producer. The presenter, who is one of the BBC’s highest earners, has previously caused offense during shoots in foreign countries and regularly court controversy at home. In July 2014, Clarkson came under fire for a racist comment made during a Top Gear special in Myanmar. The slur came during a show segment which showed hosts Clarkson, Hammond and May looking at a bridge they had built over the River Kwai as a local man walked over it. “That is a proud moment. But there’s a slope on it,” Clarkson said. Related video Is this the end of Top Gear? “You’re right,” co-star Hammond replied. “It’s definitely higher on that side.” Following complaints, the UK’s media watchdog, Ofcom, said the use of the word “slope,” which is a derogatory term, was offensive and that the episode broke broadcasting rules. The show’s executive producer Andy Wilman said in a statement, that they “[regretted] any offense caused,” adding, “when we used the word ‘slope’ … it was a light-hearted word play joke referencing both the build quality of the bridge and the local Asian man who was crossing it.” Over the years, Clarkson has been in trouble for an apparent series of racist comments including characterizing Mexicans as “lazy and feckless” and saying that everyone who traveled to India got “the trots.” He was also accused of using the “n-word” while filming the motoring show by UK newspaper The Mirror. “Eeny, meeny, miny moe …,” he sang in video footage published by The Mirror, “Catch a nigger by his toe.” I did not use the n word. Never use it. The Mirror has gone way too far this time. Initially, Clarkson vehemently denied the accusation on Twitter but following public condemnation and calls for the BBC to fire him, he begged viewers for forgiveness in a video statement posted online. “I’d actually used the word I was trying to obscure. I was mortified by this, horrified. It is a word I loathe,” Clarkson said. Among the condemnations was a sternly worded statement from 10 Downing Street, the office UK Prime Minister David Cameron – a friend of Clarkson’s – saying he would “certainly not” use the n-word. According to the BBC, the PM’s spokesperson added that he felt it was “absolutely right that there has been an apology.” Both Clarkson and the UK prime minister have homes in an affluent, rural part of central England known as the Cotswolds. They are part of a wealthy group of media, politics and showbiz acquaintances who live in and around Cameron’s Oxfordshire constituency. They have been dubbed “The Chipping Norton Set.” Among them is former News International CEO and editor of The Sun and The News of the World, Rebekah Brooks, who came to prominence during the News International phone hacking scandal, for which she was acquitted. They also include former Blur musician Alex James and Elisabeth Murdoch, daughter of News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch. In an article for the Daily Telegraph, former chief political commentator Peter Oborne described “The Chipping Norton Set” as “an incestuous collection of louche, affluent, power-hungry and amoral Londoners.” Clarkson’s popularity also comes from regular columns in venerated newspaper, The Sunday Times and tabloid The Sun. A recent Sunday Times column with the headline “Phrasebook, tick. Local currency, tick. Tracksuit, tick. I’m off to the north” attracted the ire of people from the northern English city of Liverpool. He wrote: “People up there (north) earn less, die more quickly, have fewer jobs and live in houses that are worth the square root of sod all.” Local newspaper, The Liverpool Echo, which pointed out that Clarkson is a northerner himself, published a series of responses to the piece from local people who described him as “stuck in the past” and “a fake southerner” whose comments were “as dated as his double denims.”


Here is a look at the life of US President Joe Biden. Birth date: November 20, 1942 Birth place: Scranton, Pennsylvania Birth name: Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. Father: Joseph Robinette Biden Sr., car salesman Mother: Catherine Eugenia (Finnegan) Biden Marriages: Jill (Jacobs) Biden (June 17, 1977-present); Neilia (Hunter) Biden (August 27, 1966-December 18, 1972, her death) Children: with Jill Biden: Ashley; with Neilia Biden: Naomi Christina, Robert Hunter, Joseph Robinette “Beau” III Education: University of Delaware, B.A., 1965; Syracuse University Law School, J.D., 1968 Religion: Roman Catholic Had a stuttering problem as a child. Biden’s son, Beau Biden, was the attorney general of Delaware. Delaware’s longest serving senator. 1968-1970 - Defense attorney for criminal cases in Wilmington, Delaware. 1970-1972 - Serves on the New Castle County Council in Delaware. 1972 - Is first elected to the Senate at age 29, defeating Republican Senator J. Caleb Boggs. Wins reelection in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996 and 2002. December 18, 1972 - While Christmas shopping, Biden’s first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and daughter, Naomi Biden, are killed in a car accident. His sons are badly injured, but survive. January 5, 1973 - Is sworn in as US senator of Delaware at son Beau Biden’s bedside in the hospital. 1987-1995 - Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. June 9, 1987 - Enters the 1988 presidential race, but drops out three months later following reports of plagiarism and false claims about his academic record. February 1988 - Undergoes surgery to repair an aneurysm in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. January 20, 1990 - Introduces a bill that becomes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The act addresses sexual assault and domestic violence. It is signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994. 2001-2003 - Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 2002 - Votes to authorize military intervention in Iraq, but later becomes a vocal critic of the conflict. 2007-2009 - Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. January 31, 2007 - Files a statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission to run for president. August 1, 2007 - His memoir, “Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics,” is published. January 3, 2008 - Announces his withdrawal from the presidential race. August 23, 2008 - Is named the vice-presidential running mate of Barack Obama. November 4, 2008 - Is elected vice president of the United States. January 15, 2009 - Resigns from the US Senate. January 20, 2009 - Is sworn in as vice president of the United States. February 7, 2009 - Delivers his first major speech as vice president at a security conference in Germany. September 1, 2010 - Presides over a ceremony in Iraq to formally mark the end of the US combat mission in Iraq. November 6, 2012 - Obama and Biden are reelected, defeating Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. January 20, 2013 - Is sworn in for his second term as vice president of the United States. October 2, 2014 - Speaking at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Biden tells attendees that ISIS has been inadvertently strengthened by actions taken by Turkey, the UAE and other Middle Eastern allies to help opposition groups fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. October 4, 2014 - Biden speaks by telephone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding remarks made at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He apologizes “for any implication that Turkey or other allies and partners in the region had intentionally supplied or facilitated the growth of ISIL or other violent extremists in Syria.” May 30, 2015 - Biden’s eldest son, Beau Biden, passes away from brain cancer at age 46. October 21, 2015 - Says he will not seek the presidency, announcing that the window for a successful campaign “has closed.” January 12, 2017 - Obama surprises Biden by presenting him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a White House ceremony. February 1, 2017 - Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, launch the Biden Foundation, an organization that will work on seven issues: foreign policy; Biden’s cancer initiative; community colleges and military families; protecting children; equality; ending violence against women; and strengthening the middle class. February 7, 2017 - Is named the Benjamin Franklin presidential practice professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where he will lead the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement. He will also serve as the founding chair of the University of Delaware’s Biden Institute, the university announces. March 1, 2017 - Biden receives the Congressional Patriot Award from the Bipartisan Policy Center. He receives the honor in recognition of his work crafting bipartisan legislation with Republicans and Democrats. November 14, 2017 - Biden’s memoir, “Promise Me Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose,” is published. March 26, 2019 - At an event in New York, Biden says that Anita Hill “paid a terrible price” when she testified in 1991 that she had been sexually harassed by now-Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, adding that he regrets he didn’t give Hill the “hearing she deserved.” As the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman at that time, Biden presided over Thomas’ confirmation hearings. March 29, 2019 - Lucy Flores, the former Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Nevada, makes allegations against Biden in an essay for The Cut, an arm of New York magazine, writing that Biden made her feel “uneasy, gross, and confused” in 2014 when, at a campaign rally in Nevada, she says he kissed her on the back of the head. March 31, 2019 - “In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort,” Biden says in a statement. “And not once – never – did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention.” April 3, 2019 - Biden releases a video on Twitter, saying that he will be “more mindful about respecting personal space in the future.” The video comes in the wake of multiple allegations he made women feel uncomfortable in their encounters, including a woman claiming Biden made her feel uncomfortable at a 2009 Connecticut fundraiser. Two additional women, including Alexandra “Tara” Reade, also told the New York Times that Biden made them feel uneasy by the way he touched them. April 25, 2019 - Announces he is running for president in a campaign video posted to social media. Hours later, the Biden Foundation board chair, Ted Kaufman, announces the immediate suspension of all the organization’s operations. June 6, 2019 - Biden announces that he has changed his mind on the Hyde Amendment, dropping his long-held support for a measure that blocks federal funds for most abortions. He says his decision was driven by a wave of state laws restricting the procedure. October 23, 2019 - Biden’s campaign signals that it is dropping its objection to the creation of an outside group to defend against attacks from President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. March 25, 2020 - Reade says on a podcast that Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 while she was an aide in his Senate office. May 1, 2020 - During an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Biden denies allegations made by Reade that he sexually assaulted her, stating “I am saying unequivocally. It never, never happened, and it didn’t.” Biden’s campaign also releases a 21-paragraph statement addressing the allegations. Biden also sends a letter to the secretary of the Senate requesting the release of any documents related to a sexual assault allegation made by Reade. August 11, 2020 - Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, names Kamala Harris as his running mate. November 7, 2020 - Days after the election on November 3, CNN projects Biden is elected the 46th president of the United States. November 24, 2020 - Biden becomes the first presidential candidate to win more than 80 million votes. November 29, 2020 - Biden’s doctor says that Biden has hairline fractures in his foot and will “likely require a walking boot for several weeks” after he slipped while playing with his dog, Major. January 20, 2021 - Takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts during an inauguration ceremony at the Capitol and delivers an inaugural address focusing on unity. Later in the day, Biden signs 17 executive actions, including halting border wall construction, reversing the travel ban targeting largely Muslim countries, and stopping the United States’ departure from the World Health Organization. April 14, 2021 - Biden formally announces his decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan before September 11, 2021. June 27, 2021 - Biden directs military forces to conduct defensive precision airstrikes against facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups in the Iraq-Syria border region, according to a news release from the Department of Defense. March 8, 2022 - Biden announces his administration is banning Russian oil, natural gas and coal imports to the United States in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. April 4, 2022 - Biden says the atrocities allegedly committed by Russian forces in Bucha, Ukraine, are a “war crime” and calls for a trial to take place against Russian President Vladimir Putin. July 21, 2022 - Biden tests positive for Covid-19. According to a White House statement, he is experiencing “mild symptoms,” and will take Paxlovid, Pfizer’s antiviral drug. September 18, 2022 - In an appearance on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Biden says he believes the Covid-19 pandemic is “over,” but acknowledges the US still has a “problem” with the virus that has killed more than 1 million Americans. The US government still designates Covid-19 a Public Health Emergency and the World Health Organization says it remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. October 6, 2022 - Biden pardons all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession, a move that senior administration officials said would affect thousands of Americans charged with that crime. December 13, 2022 - Biden signs into law the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that mandates federal recognition for same-sex and interracial marriages. January 8, 2023 - Biden visits the US-Mexico border for the first time as president. January 12, 2023 - Attorney General Merrick Garland appoints Robert Hur to take over the investigation into the Obama-era classified documents found at Biden’s home and former private office. Classified records are supposed to be stored in secure locations. February 20, 2023 - Biden visits Kyiv for the first time since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost a year ago. April 25, 2023 - Biden formally announces 2024 reelection campaign. February 8, 2024 - Following a yearlong investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents, special counsel Robert Hur releases a report that concludes Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified military and national security information but Hur recommends Biden not face charges.


Special counsel Robert Mueller has provided lawyers for President Donald Trump a list of questions as part of ongoing negotiations regarding an interview with the President, according to a recent report from The New York Times. Mueller wants “to ask follow-up questions, but put forward the list as a start,” two sources told the Times. The news comes almost two months after CNN reported Mueller had provided Trump’s lawyers with a range of topics for the interview. CNN – citing a a source familiar with the matter – reported that the special counsel initially offered the list of topics after the President’s attorneys requested to whittle down Mueller’s areas of interest. Topics included learning more about the President allegedly asking former FBI Director James Comey to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Mueller also wants to know about Trump’s reaction to Comey’s May 2017 testimony on Capitol Hill, which reportedly angered the President. Additionally, investigators want to learn more about the President’s outreach to intelligence leaders about the Russia investigation. Additionally, Trump’s lawyers “appear to be feeling increasingly uneasy” about their status with the President as the special counsel’s probe into Russian election meddling continues, the Times reported Saturday. Trump recently met with veteran Washington lawyer Emmet T. Flood to discuss joining his legal team, according to the Times. But Trump’s personal lawyers – John Dowd and Jay Sekulow – did not know about the meeting, the Times reported, raising their concern over being pushed aside in handling special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian election meddling. As CNN reported in January, Trump himself has said he is “looking forward” and would “love to” meet with Mueller. But he did say any interview would be “subject to my lawyers,” who believe that Trump should not be required to do that. The Justice Department announced Friday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had fired former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, just days before he was set to receive his pension. McCabe had been frequently taunted by Trump. On Saturday, Dowd released a statement calling for an end to the Mueller investigation. “I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia collusion investigation manufactured by McCabe’s boss James Comey based upon a fraudulent and corrupt dossier,” Dowd said. Dowd told CNN he was speaking on his own behalf, although he had earlier told the Daily Beast, which first reported the statement, that he was speaking on behalf of the President. Dowd’s comment wasn’t authorized by the President, a person close to Trump told CNN. His statement came as Trump lashed out against Mueller and his team on social media, questioning the team’s impartiality and dismissing the investigation as a “witch hunt.”


NEW: State Department spokesperson: 'There is a morale issue in this building" Senators: Diplomats leaving State Department 'paint a disturbing picture' Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is facing a wave of withering bipartisan criticism that his effort to reform the State Department is instead spurring an exodus of talent that undermines American diplomacy and endangers the nation. The turmoil surrounding Tillerson’s stewardship of the State Department deepened this week as lawmakers questioned key elements of his strategy to shrink what he sees as a bloated bureaucracy. Sens. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who chairs the Armed Services committee, and Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, said low morale and a perceived flood of career diplomats leaving Foggy Bottom “paint a disturbing picture.” In a Wednesday letter to Tillerson, the senators expressed “deep reservations” about his staffing decisions, which, they said, “threaten to undermine the long-term health and effectiveness of American diplomacy.” Voicing concerns over a recent halt in hiring new foreign service officers – a move they say will result in a lack of experienced personnel in the future – the lawmakers urged Tillerson to lift a hiring freeze and promote experienced Foreign Service officers. Sen. Benjamin Cardin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, warned a “high-level decapitation of leadership” has “put our country in danger.” “This situation is alarming,” he told reporters Wednesday. Even Tillerson’s typical allies, such as Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, have tough words for the secretary of state. The Tennessee Republican earlier this week slammed Tillerson’s reorganization efforts, saying, “I don’t think they are anywhere close to having a plan to present relative to the reforms that they want.” By Friday afternoon, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert acknowledged the trouble, especially when it comes to morale. “Sure, there is a morale issue in this building,” she told reporters. “And that’s why I say, you know, folks, hang in there. We have a lot of work to be done. Please don’t give up. Don’t give up on this building. Don’t give up on what America is doing. Don’t give up on the importance of this job and career.” The rebukes mark the latest headache for Tillerson, whose rocky first year in office has been marked by disagreements with President Donald Trump and an inability – or unwillingness – to connect with career staff at the State Department, which has led to plummeting morale. Tillerson’s management struggles combined with widespread reports that he’s frustrated in the job are fueling constant speculation that his days in the administration are numbered and that CIA Director Mike Pompeo is waiting to take over. (For his part, Tillerson insists he isn’t going anywhere and is scheduling work-related trips into next year.) The lawmakers’ concern about staffing was prompted by a letter from the president of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), a union for US foreign service personnel, excoriating the State Department’s leadership. Ambassador Barbara Stephenson told union members the top ranks of the foreign service are leaving “at a dizzying speed.” Career ambassadors are the most elite US diplomats in the foreign service, equivalent to a four-star general. Fewer than 60 individuals have attained the rank since it was instituted in 1955. Of the five people who held the rank at the beginning of the administration, three have since retired or quit. Stephenson lamented the department’s partial hiring freeze and predicted the loss of top talent will be felt for years. (Tillerson has approved 2,300 exemptions from the hiring freeze as of last month, according to the State Department. That includes more than 300 foreign service officers and 150 civil service staff employees.) More cuts are in the offing. The Office and Management and Budget has ordered the State Department to slash 8% of its full-time employees, which total about 25,000 people. Because attrition alone will not meet that goal, OMB has directed Tillerson to offer buyouts and early retirement incentives of $25,000 to the first 641 people who sign up by the end of April. Still, State Department officials are pushing back on assessments that Foggy Bottom is hemorrhaging talented employees. They argue there are more senior diplomats on hand today than at the beginning of the Obama administration. There are currently 983 senior foreign service officers, with 63 more waiting for Congress to approve their promotion to senior tiers, according to State Department figures. This is more than the 931 when President Barack Obama took office in 2009. (There were more than 1,000 senior foreign service officers on hand at the height of the Obama years.) Ultimately, aides say Tillerson is focusing on building the State Department for the future, including the next generation of leadership. “Secretary Tillerson is very proud of the work America’s diplomats put in every day,” said R.C. Hammond, a senior Tillerson aide. “As the employee-led review identifies solutions, we will be coming to Congress with reforms that will create new tools for our diplomats to do their job. We are hopeful every senator will be supportive of these efforts.” The White House did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Tillerson was overseas much of this week as the bipartisan criticism of his management stacked up. Following his trip through Asia alongside Trump, Tillerson went to Burma, but is now back in Washington hosting a conference with African ministers. Tillerson refuses to label Rohingya crisis ‘ethnic cleansing,’ calls for investigation As the battle over staffing unfolds, multiple sources tell CNN morale inside the State Department is at the lowest level in years, largely because of the perceived talent flight and an insular and distrustful approach from Tillerson and his team that’s being interpreted by longtime employees as not valuing their input. Nancy McEldowney spent 30 years in the foreign service, holding senior positions in Washington, Turkey and Azerbaijan and served as the ambassador to Bulgaria. She left her most recent post in June as director of the Foreign Service Institute over what she called “inept and negative management” by Tillerson and his team. She said several career foreign and civil service officers were unceremoniously removed from their posts in the Trump era. “It’s not just demoralizing for the senior officer who is treated this way,” she said. “What kind of message is this to the hundreds of people who worked for them and the thousands of people who knew them?” As the new director of the masters program at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, McEldowney said she continues to encourage her students to join the foreign service. But she added: “If this is the reward for loyal service, young people are asking, ‘Why should we bother applying to the State Department?’” Trump’s assertion earlier this month that “I am the only one that matters” in formulating foreign policy has also contributed to widespread unease that career expertise is not valued. Adding to the sense of frustration inside the State Department are instances in which returning ambassadors and people who were detailed to other agencies have been assigned low-level jobs in Foggy Bottom, such as answering Freedom of Information Act requests. “I used to advise the President on national security and now I’m reviewing FOIA letters,” one mid-level career officer who was detailed to another agency under Obama said. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this.” Several other senior officers say they have been given signals they should move on from the State Department because there is no way to get ahead. Tillerson has downplayed reports of low morale, telling Bloomberg Businessweek in a recent interview, “I’m not seeing it.” Calling the State Department reform effort “employee-led,” Tillerson has held several meetings with young diplomats to garner their ideas and has been spotted in the State Department cafeteria holding brown bag lunches with mid-level officers. But several senior career officers have said those sessions amount to a “fig leaf” where Tillerson appears to take the opinions of foreign service officers into account. “People are in a room talking, but are they people with breadth and depth of experience?” one senior career official asked. “Not necessarily.” The officer said Tillerson, who moved up the ranks of Exxon-Mobil to ultimately lead the company, “has no use for anyone with experience.” Several senior career officers are serving in top positions in an acting capacity until political appointees are confirmed and have been given high profile assignments. They include Susan Thornton, the acting assistant secretary for East Asian affairs, who recently traveled to Asia with Trump and has emerged as Tillerson’s top adviser on Asia. Tim Lenderking, a senior diplomat in the department’s Mideast bureau, has also taken the lead on the dispute between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. “If you tie the hot spots of the world Secretary Tillerson is focusing on, you can name a career official who is sitting outside his office waiting to talk to him every day,” Hammond said. Tillerson has praised the Foreign Service officers who have stepped up, challenging the notion their expertise was being ignored. “These people are engaged with our counterparts in leading this diplomatic effort,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month. “I’m proud of them. They are doing a great job.” Foreign service officers serve across Republican and Democratic administrations, but there is widespread dissatisfaction among this group with the direction of Trump’s foreign policy. Even before he took office, more than 1,000 diplomats signed a “dissent” cable voicing concern about what they viewed as dangerous rhetoric contrary to American values. “The State Department has a history of frank discussion before policy decisions are made,” McEldowney said. “But we were told early on there is a ‘trust deficit’ and if you want to rebuild that trust, get in line and follow the policy.’ But internal debate does not equal disloyalty or disobedience. Quite the contrary.” Said one career officer of the foreign service: “We have always been a grumpy group.” The diplomat went on: “This is not just about how the place is managed. It is about the politics, policy and a whole approach to diplomacy. We are a country in the midst of serious political change that will have a profound impact on how we do our foreign policy and people are having to come to terms with that.” For young officers willing to cool their heels and wait out the chaos, the departures of the senior diplomats could present an opportunity to move up the ranks more quickly than expected. But for many senior and mid-level officers who likely would have stayed longer under another president, the winds of change present an opportunity to serve their country in different way. Several diplomats who recently retired are preparing bids for Congress in 2018 and beyond. “I leave with immense pride with what I did here,” said one senior officer who joined the Foreign Service with George W. Bush and is retiring next month. “I have a considerable amount of intelligence. I have an MBA. I can make as much money as I choose or I can find other ways to be of service. I think Rex Tillerson needs us more than we need him.”


There’s something about being far above the hubbub of the Big Apple’s streets, especially in the summertime, when humidity levels soar and the concrete feels like it’s emanating heat waves. “Being on a New York City rooftop gives you this special pleasure of feeling part of the city, inside it, but at a distance,” says Ray Chung, director of design at The Johnson Studio, the firm behind the rooftop lounge at The Wit Hotel in Chicago, among other projects. “Walking down the streets is one thing, but being able to let your guard down and see the city reduced in size – all the while still breathing the same air and still hearing the buzz of the city – it can be intoxicating,” says Chung. Drinks just taste better 10 stories up, especially when a cool night breeze is blowing. So what exactly makes for a good rooftop bar? Chung says there are several key factors. “One of the most important moments … is the first view coming off the elevator,” he says. “Where else do you get to have such a theatrical reveal – doors opening in slow motion to the top of the city?” Of course, space planning, comfortable seating, spectacular views and a creative and varied menu are important as well, the latter in particular. “Unique food and drink offerings are becoming a given,” says Chung, “and a top-notch bartending crew can be a draw on its own. But really, as long as there’s a view and fresh air, people will come.” Here are some of the best rooftop bars in Manhattan. PHD Terrace at the Dream Midtown hotel is newly renovated and has doubled in size, with expansive views of Times Square and midtown Manhattan. There’s a menu of small bites, such as the BLT deviled egg and Murray’s meatballs served with house-made pickles. Bottle service is available for the high rollers in the house. Otherwise, try one of the specialty cocktails like the Hot to Trot (tequila, cucumber, jalapeno) or the Singani Sour (made with the Bolivian spirit Singani 63, lemon and grapes). For a group, the Mega Mule ($185) – a giant Moscow Mule made with either vodka or tequila – is a fun option. In the Lincoln Center area, the 12th floor of the Empire Hotel is home to the Empire Rooftop, a new property from the team behind the fabulous and sadly shuttered Campbell Apartment (which recently reopened under new ownership). The lounge spans 8,000 square feet with east- and west-facing terraces, two bars and a fireplace. The menu has a range of small plates on offer, including Koreatown fried chicken wings, fried mac and cheese and Moroccan spiced lamb sliders. Cocktails include a barrel-aged old fashioned, the signature Empire Sunset (made with rum, vodka and citrus) and carafe cocktails, including a pineapple-jalapeno margarita and Prohibition Punch. Take a bite out of these 9 New York sandwiches The Roof at Park South is located on top of the Park South Hotel, offering views around the Gramercy and Flatiron neighborhoods of Manhattan. The food and beverage programs are top-notch as well, with a drinks menu from beverage director Ted Kilpatrick and food from James Beard Award-winning chef Tim Cushman. That means you can snack on yellowtail poke tacos, fried artichokes and a Cajun poached shrimp cocktail, while sipping decadent drinks such as Dukes’ Martini (“freezing cold Plymouth gin” with a bit of caviar for garnish) or Miami Vice (layers of pina colada and strawberry daiquiri). Sometimes, the best way to see Times Square is from high above the teeming crowds. St. Cloud Social, atop The Knickerbocker, is named after the hotel that was originally at the site where The Knickerbocker is now located. The focus here is on luxury – there are sky pods in the corners that you can reserve for private parties, a cigar lounge and small plates from chef Charlie Palmer. The menu is seasonal, but right now expect to find a Maine lobster roll, short rib sliders and a charcuterie plate. Cocktails include the Rake, Shovel and Hoe (gin, Irish whiskey, lemon) and three different types of margaritas, each one made using a different tequila and flavorings. STK Rooftop is really more of an al fresco steakhouse than a rooftop bar, but the views, food and drinks found here make it worth your while. The Rooftop is part of STK Downtown, and you can watch the light fade on the Hudson River and the High Line from this perch. This year, there is a new slushie cocktail (also available at STK Midtown Patio), called the Frozen Mule – essentially, a frozen version of a Moscow Mule. The menu is packed with prime meats, raw bar options and classic steakhouse sides. You can also come for brunch at STK Rooftop, while enjoying a sunlit view of downtown Manhattan and menu items like a fried chicken sandwich or tater tots with caviar and crème fraiche. Rockefeller Center is one of New York City’s most popular destinations, frequented by tourists from all over the world. Way up at the top of the Rock, adjacent to the iconic Rainbow Room, is Bar SixtyFive, which at 65 stories above the city streets offers unparalleled views in every direction. The atmosphere here is on the swanky side – men are asked to wear suit jackets or collared shirts, and there’s a $65 per person minimum for outdoor seating. The cocktail menu keeps pace with a range of expertly mixed classics like a Manhattan or the 1915 Gin and Tonic, as well as contemporary creations such as Sage and Apple made with vodka, sage and New York State maple syrup. If you’re hungry, you can order snacks or large plates like the Szechuan peppercorn filet of beef. Great breakfast, lunch and dinner options in NYC The building housing the Jane hotel played a part in the downtown NYC music and arts scene of the ’80s and ‘90s. Back when it was called Hotel Riverview and the accommodations were shabbier, the ground floor theater hosted productions of rock musicals like “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “tick, tick… BOOM!” The building is still going strong, and The Jane Rooftop – which was once RuPaul’s apartment – offers amazing views of the Hudson and downtown waterfront area. The octagonal bar and outdoor terrace is open to both guests and drop-ins, and you can find food and craft cocktails like the Little White Lie (gin, apricot brandy, Lillet and lemon). This penthouse lounge sits 30 stories above Midtown Manhattan atop The Kimberly hotel. There are three separate indoor and outdoor areas, amazing views of the city’s bustling streets spreading out in all directions and an excellent food and drinks menu. The dress code here is business casual, so arrive looking smart. The beverage menu reads like a book of poetry, with cocktails like the Chrysler, Rum Service and Mistress described with eloquent flourishes that draw you in. Case in point: the “alluring ruby red” Mistress “unfolds into a mysterious and flawless blend of citrus, Pisco, elderflower and a whisper of licorice.” This rooftop bar is open year-round, but the summer months are surely the best time to visit. Jonah Flicker is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer who covers food, drink, travel and lifestyle for a variety of outlets. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @gustatoryonline.


Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces clashed Friday in Jerusalem and the West Bank amid heightened tensions in the region and elsewhere over US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. A 30-year-old Palestinian was shot and killed during clashes in eastern Gaza, Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health said, with more than 300 people injured across the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, 50 of whom needed hospital treatment. Most of the injuries were minor, the ministry said, adding that they were caused by bullets, rubber bullets, tear gas and asphyxiation. Protesters in the West Bank and Gaza began to disperse in the early evening, the Israeli military said. In Gaza, Israeli aircraft hammered Hamas targets. A 54-year-old Palestinian man died from injuries sustained during an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to a report from the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, quoting the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Fifteen people were injured, WAFA said. An Israeli army statement said what it called violent riots had broken out in about 30 locations across the West Bank and Gaza. The main disturbances in the West Bank were in Hebron, Al-Arroub, Tulkarm, Ramallah, Qalqilya and Nablus. About 3,000 protesters were involved in the West Bank unrest, with 28 people arrested and about 65 injured, it said. In Gaza, about 4,500 Palestinians were demonstrating at six locations along the border with Israel, the army said, with protesters rolling burning tires and throwing rocks at IDF soldiers. “IDF soldiers are responding with riot dispersal means,” the military said. “During the riots IDF soldiers fired selectively towards dozens of main instigators and hits were confirmed.” In the West Bank town of Bethlehem, a CNN team saw Israeli soldiers fire rubber bullets and tear gas while Palestinian protesters threw rocks, marbles and Molotov cocktails. Tires burned, sending up thick black smoke, in a town which would normally be busy with tourists in the run-up to Christmas. Brief scuffles broke out by the Damascus Gate entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City, where protesters chanted slogans and held Palestinian flags aloft. Extra police units have been mobilized in Jerusalem and the Old City, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld tweeted. No incident occurred inside the al-Aqsa mosque compound during Friday prayers, but security measures continue around the city, he said. Israeli Defense Forces said air force aircraft struck a Hamas training compound and ammunition warehouse in Gaza in response to projectiles fired earlier. The Palestinian Islamist group controls Gaza. The IDF said two projectiles were fired from Gaza at southern Israel. One was intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system and no injuries were reported, the IDF said. Troops were searching for the other. “The IDF holds Hamas solely responsible for all hostile acts against Israel emanating from the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said. Violent protests and international condemnation had already followed Trump’s move Wednesday, when he also committed to moving the US Embassy to the holy city. Both Palestinians and Israelis claim Jerusalem as their capital. Some Palestinian factions called for three “days of rage” to protest the decision, culminating Friday. At least 49 people were injured Thursday during protests over Trump’s decision, the Palestinian Red Crescent said. Thirteen Palestinians were arrested overnight into Friday morning in Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, a nongovernmental organization that provides legal aid to Palestinians arrested by Israeli authorities. Trump’s move has roiled Muslims around the world and loomed large during prayers on Friday, Islam’s holy day. The governments of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia were among those to speak out against Trump’s decision. A number of Western allies have also been critical. Big crowds marched through the streets of Amman, Jordan, in a show of opposition to Trump’s move. Jordan is a key US ally in the region. A protest march also set off from Istanbul’s Fatih mosque after Friday prayers. Demonstrators waved Palestinian and Turkish flags, as well as banners proclaiming solidarity with the Palestinians. Dogukan Sevinc, a municipal worker attending the rally, told CNN the protesters were not against anyone but were “defending Muslim rights” in the wake of the US decision. “They don’t respect anyone – they care just about Jews and Christians. The world is not just Jews and Christians,” he said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will receive Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ankara on Monday to discuss “the recent developments in Jerusalem and the situation in Syria,” Erdogan’s office said. Police in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, said an estimated 5,000 protesters gathered outside the US Embassy after prayers. They dispersed peacefully by 3 p.m. local time. The Indonesian capital of Jakarta also saw protesters gather near the US Embassy. Demonstrators held a banner that said “Trump is enemy of humanity.” Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a statement the country’s citizens should take part in  protests, according to official news agency IRNA. “It is vital that that the Muslim world and all other freedom-seeking nations across the globe thwart this evil plot,” the statement said. At an emergency meeting, US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council that the United States is still committed to a two-state solution. “The United States is not predetermining final status issues. We remain committed to achieving a lasting peace agreement. We support a two-state solution if agreed to by the parties,” Haley said. Speaking in Paris, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem “is not something that will happen this year, probably not next year.” Tillerson said that Trump had ordered the State Department to “start the process of making the move,” but that it would take time. It still needed to acquire a site, make construction plans, ensure necessary authorizations, and then start building the embassy itself. He also said that Trump’s decision did not “indicate any final status for Jerusalem,” adding that the “final status would be left to the parties to negotiate and decide.” A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cast doubt on whether he will receive US Vice President Mike Pence during a planned visit to the region later this month. Speaking to broadcaster Al Jazeera, spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said: “Jerusalem is more important than Mike Pence – we will not abandon Jerusalem just to receive Mike Pence.” Abu Rudeineh stopped short of confirming that Abbas would not receive Pence. Jibril Rajoub, who has been floated as a possible successor to Abbas, told CNN that Pence – who used the phrase an “eternal undivided Jerusalem” in a campaign advertisement last year – is not welcome in the Palestinian territories. Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, called for a new “intifada,” or uprising. He also described the US-Israeli alliance as “satanic.” The first two intifadas were periods of Palestinian uprisings against Israeli rule. The second began in September 2000 and was particularly violent, with rocket attacks and suicide bombings targeting civilians and military operations by Israeli security forces. Nearly 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis died between 2000 and 2005 during the second intifada. RELATED: Palestinians enraged by Trump decision The Trump administration cast the step as a “recognition of reality” that Jerusalem has long been the seat of the Israeli government. For Trump, the embassy move also fulfilled an election campaign promise. But the decision was met with skepticism by some of Trump’s international peers, who are concerned it could be the final nail in the coffin of the two-state solution and could provide recruiting fodder to radicals. The UN partition plan drawn up in 1947 envisioned Jerusalem as an “international city.” During the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel took control of the eastern part of Jerusalem from Jordan and later annexed it. Israel still holds the land, which much of the world now considers occupied territory. Palestinians say that any eventual two-state solution should include the return of East Jerusalem, which would serve as the new country’s capital. READ: What is the two-state solution? CNN’s Andrew Carey and Ian Lee reported from Jerusalem and Laura Smith-Spark wrote from London. CNN’s Vasco Cotovio, Natalie Gallon, Jomana Karadsheh, Gul Tuysuz, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, Schams Elwazer, Hande Atay Alam, Joe Sterling and Hilary McGann also contributed, as did journalists Yosef Riadi and Zan Azlee.


A lot has changed on the Korean peninsula in just matter of months – threats of fire and fury have been replaced with handshakes and optimism – but for the military organization that monitors threats to North America, it might as well be 2017 when it comes to North Korea. North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the joint Canada-US organization tasked with warning of incoming threats from the sky, continues to monitor North Korea’s nuclear program with the same intensity it did at the height of North Korea’s missile testing. In fact, NORAD and US Northern Command Center Director Col. Travis Morehen, a Canadian, says the organization still gets three or four intelligence reports on the country’s nuclear program every day. “We’ve been watching the same as we were previously, the same as we watch any other nation that poses a threat to the United States and Canada,” he said. Morehen has been “standing watch” at the helm of the NORAD command center during five North Korean missile tests and says it’s not the political rhetoric that shapes their decision-making, it’s what he calls the “hard intelligence.” “We have a job to do that’s measured in minutes and seconds and for us to try and account for the political rhetoric, it doesn’t fit in. We’re worried about pieces of metal flying through space coming to North America,” he said. CNN was granted rare access to NORAD’s Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Colorado Springs to mark the organization’s 60th anniversary. The complex houses NORAD’s alternate command center, located nearly a mile inside the mountain and buried under 2,400 feet of solid granite. The primary command center is located at nearby Peterson Air Force base, but in the event of a serious real-life nuclear threat, the operation would shift to Cheyenne Mountain, and for good reason. It’s secured by two massive 23-ton blast doors, completely sealing it off from the outside world to survive a nuclear strike, or maintain communications after an electromagnetic pulse attack. Outside of training, those doors have sealed shut only once before: September 11, 2001. The 15 buildings inside are built on 1,300 giant springs built to allow them to bounce in the event of a nuclear strike or earthquake. And inside the command center, there is enough powerful technology to detect a missile launch anywhere on the globe within seconds. Related article Trump announces North Korea summit will be in Singapore “We like to say it’s the most secure facility in the world,” said Steven Rose, the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station deputy director. Originally built during the Cold War to defend against Soviet bombers, it’s now used to detect the latest missile launches abroad, and monitor potential threats to domestic air traffic. It is also equipped to detect marine threats like the movement of military submarines. If a Chinese or Russian sub were headed to North America, it’s NORAD’s job to know. If North Korea launches a missile, the roughly 30 people inside the command post are trained to react within seconds – determining whether the missile could reach North America, and if so, notifying Washington and Ottawa so decisions can be made about a potential response. President Donald Trump is no longer calling Kim “Little Rocket Man,” and Kim is no longer calling Trump “mentally deranged.” Instead, Trump has found a new foe when it comes to nuclear threats: Iran. Since the President announced the United States would pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, the country’s President Hassan Rouhani has yet to fully commit to staying in the deal – meaning the world could soon have a second aspiring nuclear power. But that hasn’t changed the calculus much inside the NORAD command post. Morehen says intelligence coming out of Iran doesn’t always match the nation’s fiery political rhetoric – not to mention that fact that Iran has yet to demonstrate the capability to strike North America. “We try not to look really hard at what is being said in the news. It’s rhetoric. So once again we focus on the hard movement of capabilities, the deployment of missiles, the deployment of submarines and bombers,” he said. CNN’s Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report


Iraqi forces make some progress as they seek to advance toward Tikrit The city, best known to Westerners as Saddam Hussein's birthplace, was taken by ISIS in June Iraqi forces appeared Wednesday to be making progress on the third day of a major offensive intended to push ISIS fighters out of the city of Tikrit. The Iraqi soldiers are reportedly approaching the city from five directions, as they seek to prevent ISIS militants from either escaping from Tikrit or sending in reinforcements to bolster its defense. The operation is part of a wide-scale offensive to retake Tikrit and Salahuddin province ordered by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday. It has highlighted the role played by neighboring Iran in the fight against ISIS, at a time when the United States and five other world powers are negotiating with Tehran on a controversial deal to curb its nuclear program. The semiofficial Iranian FARS news agency reports that Qassim Sulaimani, the commander of the elite Iranian Al-Quds Brigade, is helping oversee the operation to retake Tikrit. Iran has provided advisers, weapons and ammunition to the Iraqi government. According to the Pentagon, there may be Iranians operating heavy artillery and rocket launchers as well. Despite the reported Iranian assistance, the Iraqi forces face no easy task as they seek to advance on Tikrit. Besides the direct threat posed by ISIS fighters, they must also avoid the large numbers of homemade bombs that litter the approaches to the city. Iraq has not asked the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS to provide air cover for the operation to retake Tikrit. ISIS released a number of propaganda images Wednesday, showing several vehicles and dozens of ISIS militants with their weapons, which it said were part of a military reinforcement of Salahuddin province. CNN cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the photographs. How the U.S. and Iran found common interests Why battle for Tikrit will defeat ISIS Tikrit fell to ISIS in June of 2014, after the group’s capture of Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul. Tikrit is best known to Westerners as the birthplace of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. ISIS, the radical Sunni militant group, has been on a murderous campaign to establish a caliphate across swaths of Iraq and Syria. Related video Key battlegrounds in fight against ISIS On Monday, Iraqi forces approached Tikrit from several fronts, Iraqiya TV reported, engaging with ISIS north of the city at al-Alam and south of the city at al-Dour. The element of surprise probably was not a factor, as reports of Iraqi troops amassing near Tikrit were widely shared. What awaits the Iraqi army is most likely a long, hard slog and not a quick rout. Tikrit is a big city, and the army and its associated militias have had problems recapturing much smaller towns from ISIS. There have been several failed attempts to recapture Tikrit since the second half of 2014. While Iraqi forces have gained some territory in the area, it has generally been under ISIS control for the last eight months or so. Prime Minister al-Abadi, who is also commander in chief of the armed forces, said on Twitter that he would “oversee the operation to liberate Tikrit” from ISIS. The joint Iraqi forces fighting to retake Tikrit include Iraqi troops, members of the Shia al-Hashed al-Shaabi militia, members of the Sunni Sons of Salahuddin brigades and other Sunni tribal fighters. The offensive involves around 30,000 fighters in all. Rights group Human Rights Watch on Wednesday urged government forces to protect civilians from revenge attacks by pro-government militias as they fight to retake Tikrit. The rights group said it had documented “numerous atrocities against Sunni civilians by pro-government militias and security forces” after they recaptured other towns. Human Rights Watch also warned that ISIS could seek to use civilians as human shields. “All commanders in Tikrit need to make sure that their forces protect civilians and allow them to flee the combat zone,” said Joe Stork, the group’s deputy Middle East and North Africa director. “Past fighting raises grave concerns that Tikrit’s civilians are at serious risk from both ISIS and government forces, and both sides need to protect civilians from more sectarian slaughter.” CNN’s Ben Wedeman reported from Baghdad and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London. CNN’s Mariano Castillo and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report.