TRUMP - Russian Agent?

"Denying he ever worked for Russia, Trump calls the question a ‘disgrace’" PBS NewsHour 1/14/2019

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SUMMARY:  On Monday, President Trump denied being a Russian agent after The New York Times reported the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation into whether he was acting on Russia’s behalf.  He called the FBI officials who launched the inquiry “scoundrels” and “dirty cops.”  But questions remain about his interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.  Nick Schifrin reports.

"Sen. Warner [D-Va]: ‘Legitimate questions’ need to be answered about Trump and Russia" PBS NewsHour 1/14/2019

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SUMMARY:  The New York Times reports that the FBI launched a counterintelligence investigation into whether President Trump was working on behalf of Russia after Trump fired FBI director James Comey.  Today, the President denied being under Russia's influence.  Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va) tells Judy Woodruff whether he believes Trump and what we still don’t know about Trump’s meetings with Vladimir Putin.

"‘Plenty’ is still unknown about Trump’s interactions with Putin, says former NSC staffer" PBS NewsHour 1/14/2019

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SUMMARY:  Questions remain about President Trump's meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as about Trump's broader ties to Russia.  To analyze why the corresponding counterintelligence investigations are 'unprecedented,' Judy Woodruff sits down with Andrew Weiss a former National Security Council staffer, and David Kris previously the Justice Department's top national security official.

"‘I really don’t’ believe Trump acts in ways that help Russia, Sen. Risch [R-Idaho] says" PBS NewsHour 1/15/2019

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SUMMARY:  Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) the new Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that there is no feeling that he knows of, in Washington, that Russia can be trusted or embraced.  Risch talks with Nick Schifrin about why he sees China as the U.S.’s “largest concern,” the pain for American farmers caused by the President’s trade war, the American commitment to Kurdish forces in Syria and more.

KOREA SUMMIT - The Trump Giveaway

Trump gives Kim recognition and no more joint military exercises with South Korea, and Kim promises nothing (no verifiable, complete nuclear disarmament) in return.  This was a Trump ego trip.

"Trump and Kim begin historic summit with cordial greeting" PBS NewsHour 6/11/2018

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SUMMARY:  Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un met for the first time at a resort off Singapore's coast, the first time a U.S. President has been face-to-face with a leader of North Korea.  Nick Schifrin joins Judy Woodruff from on the ground in Singapore.

"What’s up for negotiation at the North Korea summit?" PBS NewsHour 6/11/2018

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SUMMARY:  In Singapore, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered optimism that a Tuesday summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would set conditions "for future, productive talks."  Nick Schifrin joins Judy Woodruff from on the ground in Singapore to offer a preview of the meeting and what’s at stake.

"Why previous North Korea negotiations have failed" PBS NewsHour 6/11/2018

HINT:  Dictators are even bigger liars than Trump.

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SUMMARY:  The road to Tuesday's summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore has been long and dangerous, littered with fraught diplomacy, broken agreements, and threats of war.  Nick Schifrin looks back at how we got here.

"Why Kim leaves Singapore with real achievements" PBS NewsHour 6/12/2018

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SUMMARY:  President Trump and Kim Jong Un held a whirlwind summit in Singapore and set lofty goals, but provided few details on how to achieve them.  From Singapore, Nick Schifrin joins Judy Woodruff to outline the agreement and discuss whether each side got what they wanted.

"Sen. Risch: North Korea diplomacy going in the right direction" PBS NewsHour 6/11/2018

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SUMMARY:  President Trump deserves credit for turning relations with North Korea around, says Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) but more work needs to be done and more nuance is needed on the issue of the future of military exercises with South Korea.  Risch joins Judy Woodruff to discuss first steps in North Korea diplomacy, the issue of human rights, plus Trump pulling the U.S. out of the G-7 joint communique.

"Sen. Cardin: U.S. can’t make concessions without North Korea action" PBS NewsHour 6/12/2018

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SUMMARY:  Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md) says that he's pleased that President Trump used diplomacy to meet face-to-face with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but now it's necessary to see North Korea implement changes to show it's serious about eliminating its nuclear weapons program.  Cardin joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the issue of human rights and Trump’s controversial treatment of allies at the G-7.