The Patriot Post® · Tuesday Top News Executive Summary

National Security

ASYLUM CLAMPDOWN: “Being part of a family that’s harassed by a gang isn’t enough on its own to qualify for asylum, Attorney General William P. Barr ruled Monday, in the latest effort by the administration to put a cap on the expanding universe of asylum claims. Mr. Barr overturned a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals, which had ruled that being part of a targeted family could qualify as a distinct social group, which is a key element of valid asylum claims.” (The Washington Times)

NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS: “The Trump administration on Monday issued new sanctions against a North Korean official who the United States accuses of aiding Pyongyang’s illicit nuclear weapons and ballistic missile research programs. The latest disclosures indicate that a senior North Korean official sought to import and export sensitive materials through Vietnam, a matter that is rankling U.S. diplomats working to push North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un back to the negotiating table.” (The Washington Free Beacon)

VETOS SUSTAINED: “The Senate on Monday failed to override President Trump’s vetoes of resolutions blocking his arms deal with Saudi Arabia, marking the latest setback for critics of Riyadh. Senators voted 45-40, 45-39 and 46-41 on the override attempts, falling well short of the two-thirds majority needed to nix Trump’s veto.” (The Hill)

Government & Politics

PARDONS: “President Donald Trump granted full pardons Monday to five individuals previously involved in offenses like transporting marijuana and drug-trafficking. The president decided John Richard Bubala, Roy Wayne McKeever, Rodney Takumi, Michael Tedesco and Chalmer Lee Williams were worthy of Executive Grants of Clemency after ‘a careful review of the files’ of each individual, according to an official statement from the Office of the Press Secretary.” (The Daily Caller)

9/11 VICTIM FUND SIGNED: “President Trump welcomed 9/11 first responders to the White House Monday morning, as he signed a bill that will ensure continued funding for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. The bill ensures that first responders suffering from illnesses such as lung disease and cancer as a result of their experiences helping at the sites of the 2001 terror attacks will continue to receive government aid.” (Fox News)

RACE BAIT: “The executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) resigned Monday after Democratic lawmakers and DCCC staffers lashed out publicly at the organization’s leadership over their failure to prioritize racial diversity.” (National Review)

Technology

HEALTH-CARE TRANSPARENCY: “The Trump administration wants to force hospitals to disclose to patients how much they charge for all supplies, tests and procedures. A new proposal released Monday aims to make it easier for patients to shop around for the best price by forcing hospitals to disclose what are often secret rates negotiated with insurance companies. Under the policy, hospitals would be required to post online all charges for all items and services provided by the hospital beginning Jan. 1, 2020.” (The Hill)

CREDIT-CARD BREACH: “Capital One … announced Monday that a hacker had accessed about 100 million credit card applications, and investigators say thousands of Social Security and bank account numbers were also taken. The FBI has arrested a Seattle area woman, Paige A. Thompson, on a charge of computer fraud and abuse, according to court records.” (The Washington Post)

Around the Nation

MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZED: “New York governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday signed a law that decriminalizes the recreational use of marijuana in the state but stops short of legalizing the drug. … Under the new law, possession of under two ounces of marijuana will be a misdemeanor punished by a fine. In addition, individuals convicted of certain marijuana-related charges in the past will see those convictions expunged from their records.” (National Review)

EQUAL PAY — AND THEN SOME: “Facing mounting public pressure in a fight over equitable pay, U.S. Soccer said the World Cup champion women’s national team has been paid more than the men’s team. According to a letter released Monday by U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro, the federation paid out $34.1 million in salary and game bonuses to the women between 2010 and 2018 as opposed to $26.4 million paid to the men. The total does not include the value of benefits received only by the women, like health care.” (Associated Press)

Closing Arguments

POLICY: The Fed is courting disaster by leaving interest rates too low (New York Post)

POLICY: Lack of funding is not what ails American schools (National Review)

HUMOR: Rep. Omar and husband to divorce, agree to see other siblings (Genesius Times)

For more of today’s editors’ choice headlines, visit In Our Sights.

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