CIT Interviews

This Week in Washington DC, April 26, 2015

This Week In Washington

1.      President Obama signed a bipartisan bill which reforms Medicare’s payment structures and reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

2.      The Senate Finance Committee came to an agreement on a bill that would give President Obama Trade Promotion Authority to negotiate trade agreements abroad.

3.      The Senate, after coming to a bipartisan agreement on a human trafficking bill, confirmed Loretta Lynch to be the first African-American woman Attorney General.

4.      For the first time since 2012, the Affordable Care Act’s approval rating was a net positive, according to a new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

5.      Chris Christie rolled out an “entitlement restructuring blueprint" in New Hampshire "that he said would save more than $1 trillion over 10 years.

Next Week In Washington

Rick Santorum has set up a testing the waters account in anticipation of a possible 2016 presidential bid.

A secretive group that serves as the umbrella operation for leaders and activists within the conservative movement will host two meetings in the coming months.

Chelsea Clinton "is poised to become a major figure in the Clinton campaign.

This Week In Washington, April 10, 2015

This Week In Washington

1.      The White House announced a preliminary agreement with Iran to reduce its uranium enrichment capacities and stockpiles in exchange for the US lightening sanctions.

2.      Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) stepped down from his post as ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after being indicted on federal corruption charges; he was replaced by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)

3.      The U.S. announced it would increase intelligence sharing and coordination as well as provide arms supplies to a Saudi-led coalition fighting against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

4.      The Bureau of Labor Statistics' March jobs report was released, showing a lower-than-expected 126,000 jobs were created, breaking a 12-month streak of 200,000+ jobs being created; estimates on job creation from January and February were revised down by a total of 69,000.

5.      The chair and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committees, Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), announced agreement on a bipartisan bill to reform and restructure the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.

Look Ahead

The Supreme Court will hear the case of Johnson v. United States on whether possession of a short-barreled shotgun should be treated as a violent felony under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

Hillary Clinton (D) leased two floors of office space in Brooklyn for her campaign headquarters on April 1; FEC regulations require that she declare her candidacy or launch an exploratory committee within 15 days after a campaign expenditure of $5000 or more.

This Week In Washington DC, March 13, 2015

This Week In Washington

1.      Former Secretary of State and potential presidential candidate Hillary Clinton apologized during a press conference for using a personal (rather than official) e-mail account during her time as secretary of state.

2.      The Supreme Court heard arguments in King v. Burwell, a challenge to the government's ability to provide health insurance subsidies to states without federal exchanges under the Affordable Care Act.

3.      A group of 47 Republican Senators wrote an open letter to Iran's leaders, warning that future presidents could overturn any nuclear deal agreed upon in negotiations if the Senate does not vote to ratify the treaty.

4.      The Senate failed, by four votes, to overturn President Obama's veto of a bill to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

5.      The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported employers had posted nearly 5 million available jobs at the end of January, the highest level since the peak of the dot-com bubble in 2001. Job openings are up by 28% in the past year, and the ratio of unemployed workers per opening has returned to pre-crisis levels.

Next Week In Washington

1.      DEBT CEILING EXPIRATION: The current suspension of the debt ceiling ends; the Treasury Department will use extraordinary measures for the next several months to manage the country’s payments and stave off the risk of default.

2.      FCC HEARING: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation holds a hearing about the FCC and net neutrality regulation titled: “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission.” The House Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a similar hearing on March 19.

3.      CRUDE OIL EXPORT HEARING: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources holds a hearing to review U.S. crude oil export policy.

4.      DOC FIX DEADLINE: Doctors will see their Medicare payments cut more than 20% unless Congress steps in by the end of the month. Congress is likely to pass another temporary fix; Congress has blocked the payment cuts 17 times in the last 13 years, after mandating the cuts in 1997.

This Week in Washington DC, Feb 26, 2015

This Week In Washington

1.      The FCC voted 3-2 to regulate internet service providers (ISPs) as public utilities under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.

2.      President Obama issued his third-ever veto on a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline; Republicans are planning to hold an override vote, but do not appear to have the support necessary to override a veto. The president will likely use the veto more frequently now that the GOP controls both chambers of Congress.

3.       A new poll shows potential presidential candidate Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) with a double-digit lead among likely voters in the Iowa Republican Presidential Caucuses. However, prediction still have former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) as the favorite to win the nomination overall.

4.      Republican Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a bill that would require the Government Accountability Office to audit any monetary policy decisions made by the Federal Reserve; public approval of the Federal Reserve has become increasingly polarized in recent years.

5.      Alaska and D.C. implemented ballot measures legalizing marijuana this week; Republicans dispute the legality of D.C.'s measure, and have asked Attorney General Eric Holder to file suit against the district.

Next Week In Washington

1.      The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two key cases on March 2 and March 4, including a challenge to the Affordable Care Act's subsidies

2.      Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress on March 3; several Democratic members of Congress are boycotting the speech because Netanyahu agreed to address Congress without informing President Obama beforehand, which some consider to be a breach of diplomatic protocol

3.      After March 15, the Treasury Department will likely implement extraordinary measures to manage the country’s payments and stave off default; prior to that date, expect Congress to begin work on a proposal to raise the debt ceiling

This Week In Washington DC, Jan 30, 2015

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories

1.      President Obama is set to announce plans to eliminate sequestration in his 2016 budget request, seeking an increase in domestic and military expenditures, financed by eliminating "inefficient spending programs" and closing tax loopholes, according to an administration official.

Look ahead: The president's plan is likely to meet with resistance among Republicans, who oppose any net tax increases.

2.      Loretta Lynch, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York and the president's nominee to serve at attorney general, faced the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, offering a careful defense of administration policies on immigration and drug enforcement and repeatedly emphasizing her independence.

Look ahead: While the proceedings served largely as a venue for the airing of Republican grievances against President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, Lynch is expected to win confirmation.

3.      Fresh off a fight over amendments, the Senate passed legislation to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline setting it up for a veto from the Whitehouse.

Look ahead:  It remains unclear whether Senate Republicans can gather enough support to override a presidential veto.  Republicans made the Keystone pipeline a priority for 2015. 

4.      During a largely ceremonial visit to India, the president reached agreement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to greater cooperation on civilian nuclear trade.

Look ahead: India consented to limit the liability of American nuclear suppliers in the event of a power-plant disaster and vowed to implement enhanced tracking of fissile material.

5.      Several Republican presidential hopefuls traveled to summits in Iowa and California in an effort to woo the party's conservative base and secure the backing of major donors.

Look ahead: Even as prospective presidential candidates seek their favor, major GOP donors are taking a measured approach, allowing the field to settle and narrow before committing to a single contender.

This Week In Washington DC, January 22, 2015

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories

1.      President Obama used his 6th State of the Union address to defend his record and champion new policies, touting an improving economy and calling on Republicans to back an ambitious domestic agenda designed to improve the fortunes of the middle class.

Look ahead: While few, if any, of the president's proposals are likely to gain traction in the current Congress, his policy prescriptions appear designed to set the Democratic Party on a more liberal course ahead of the 2016 election.

2.      Facing opposition from female lawmakers over language that could alienate younger and female voters, House Republicans abandoned plans to hold a vote on H.R. 36, which would have outlawed abortions after 20 weeks, instead moving forward with H.R. 7, which would permanently bar federal funding for abortion services.

Look ahead: Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., maintains the 20-week abortion ban "is only delayed—it will be up on the floor soon."

3.      The president proposed $320 billion in additional taxes—largely aimed at high-income Americans—over the next decade, to be used to fund $235 billion in tax breaks for moderate-income earners, as well as other programs.

Look ahead: Congressional Republicans criticized Obama's plan and warned the proposal risks derailing bipartisan efforts on tax reform.

4.      Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa delivered the Republican Party's response to the State of the Union, emphasizing her own humble roots and combining calls for bipartisan cooperation with assertions of Republican dominance.

Look ahead: Ernst's remarks foreshadowed clashes with the administration over the Keystone pipeline, the federal budget, and abortion rights.

5.      Faced with a stagnant economy and the prospect of deflation, the governing council of the European Central Bank voted to purchase €60 billion in public and private sector assets on a monthly basis, from March 2015 through September 2016.

Look ahead: ECB President Mario Draghi acknowledged the quantitative easing could continue beyond the September 2016 deadline if inflation fails to rise near the bank's target of two percent.

This Week In Washington DC, Jan 15, 2015

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories

1.      President Obama continued to preview his State of the Union address this week, traveling the country to promote initiatives to enhance cybersecurity, strengthen consumer and student privacy protections, improve access to high-speed internet, and expand access to higher education.

Look ahead: Several of the president's policy initiatives are likely to meet with Republican resistance in the 114th Congress.

2.      The House voted 236-191 in favor of legislation that would fund the Department of Homeland Security through September, while barring the president's unilateral efforts to shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Look ahead: Given the bill's dim prospects in the Senate and Boehner's openness to a "clean" funding bill, House conservatives' immigration gambit could backfire.

3.      The Obama administration faced widespread criticism for not sending a sufficiently high-level representative to a unity march attended by 44 heads of state. Attorney General Eric Holder, intended as the administration's emissary, ultimately did not attend due to scheduling conflicts; U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley served as the government's representative.

Look ahead: Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Paris in a show of American solidarity with France, and on Feb. 18, the White House will host a Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, convening state and local officials to discuss strategies for preventing violent incidents.

4.      Republican presidential aspirants readied their potential campaigns, as 2012 nominee Mitt Romney works to reconstitute his political operation and backers of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush aim to raise $100 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Look ahead: With establishment Republicans ambivalent about Romney, several potential rivals are making moves of their own, with Sen. Rand Paul hiring strategist Chip Englander to manage his campaign, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie preparing to launch a leadership PAC ahead of an anticipated late-spring campaign announcement.

5.      Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., announced her intention to retire at the end of her current term, creating frenzy among ambitious state Democrats whose progress has been arrested by the endurance of Boxer, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and Gov. Jerry Brown.

Look ahead: State Attorney General Kamala Harris declared her candidacy for the seat, while Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, believed to be weighing a gubernatorial bid in 2018, declined to enter the race.

This Week In Washington DC, Jan 8, 2015

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories

1.      The 114th Congress opened Tuesday, with Republicans holding majorities in both chambers for the first time since 2006, and barreling toward confrontations with the president over the Affordable Care Act, approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, and immigration.

Look ahead: White House press secretary Josh Earnest warned Tuesday the president will not sign legislation approving the oil-sands pipeline.

2.      Speaker John Boehner secured 216 votes Tuesday to retain his gavel, and moved swiftly to exact a measure of revenge against some defectors, removing  Reps. Richard Nugent and Daniel Webster, both of Florida, from the Rules Committee.

Look ahead: Aides suggest those who opposed Boehner could face further repercussions in the weeks to come.

3.      President Obama this week embarked on a three-day, three-state tour designed to take credit for recent improvements in the nation's economy and preview the policy objectives he will outline in his State of the Union address on Jan 20.

Look ahead: After touting the auto industry bailout in Michigan and promoting homeownership in Arizona, the president is expected to promote job training and college affordability during a Friday stop in Tennessee.

4.      The manhunt continues for brothers Said and Chérif Kouachi in connection with Wednesday's shooting at the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, after suspect Hamyd Mourad surrendered to police in Charleville-Mézières.

Look ahead: Some fear the killings could bolster anti-Islamizations movements in Europe.

5.      Payroll-processing firm ADP reports private-sector employers added 241,000 positions in December—led by gains of 194,000 jobs in the services sector—exceeding economists' projections of 226,000 jobs added.

Look ahead: The December jobs report, slated for release Friday morning, is expected to reflect gains of 240,000 nonfarm jobs and an unemployment rate of 5.7%.

This Week In Washington DC, Dec 18, 2014

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories

1.      The Obama administration announced the US will normalize relations with Cuba, opening its first embassy in Havana in more than 50 years, following 18 months of secret negotiations between the two countries and the release of prisoners held by both nations.

Look ahead: Republicans have threatened to impede efforts to confirm an ambassador to Cuba and provide funding for an embassy.

2.      The omnibus appropriations bill cleared the Senate on a 56-40 vote, after stalling due to demands from Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Mike Lee, R-Utah, for a vote to defund President Obama's executive action on immigration.

Look ahead: While Republicans intend to return to a regular budget process, the return of sequestration-induced cuts could spur contentious debates over funding in the next Congress.

3.      On a 76-16 vot, the Senate granted final approval to a short-term extension of 54 tax breaks, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2014, which is expected to add $42 billion to the federal deficit.

Look ahead: Lawmakers expect to resume negotiations on a long-term agreement in the new year.

4.      Federal investigators have linked North Korea to the cyberattack and terrorism threats against Sony Pictures Entertainment, who then canceled the release of The Interview.

Look ahead: This sets a bad precedence of succumbing to cyber threats and will embolden others to make more cyber attacks—look for an increase in cyber attacks.

5.      A six-year extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, which is designed to provide a federal backstop for insurers in the event of a terrorist attack, died in the Senate amid opposition from Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., after passing the House on a 417-7 vote.

Look ahead: While the TRIA program is expected to lapse now that the 113th Congress has adjourned, Senate Republican leaders hope to take up legislation early in the 114th Congress.

This Week In Washington DC, Dec 11, 2015

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories This Week

1.      House and Senate appropriators released an omnibus appropriations bill to fund most of the federal government through Sept. 2015.   

Look ahead: House Republican leaders passed the bill, and now all that is left is for the Senate to pass it Friday.

2.      The Senate Intelligence Committee released its long-awaited, 500-page summary of a classified report on CIA interrogation practices after 9/11, concluding that the controversial methods failed to produce valuable information, despite the agency's continued assurances.

Look ahead: While the Senate panel's report may dim public opinion of the CIA, it is unlikely to dull the agency's influence.

3.      The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 321,000 positions were added to nonfarm payrolls in November, marking the strongest monthly job growth since January 2012, while unemployment held steady at 5.8%. The jobs report reflected a larger-than-expected increase in average hourly earnings.

Look ahead: Despite the gains, economists are concerned Americans remain reluctant to change jobs, a sign of lingering weakness in the labor market.

4.      Attorney General Eric Holder announced a set of draft policy changes for federal law enforcement that will ban the use of religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity as the basis for enforcement actions such as traffic stops, with some exceptions for certain Homeland Security agencies.

Look ahead: The new policy, while binding only on federal agencies, is intended to serve as guidance for state and local law enforcement agencies.

5.      The White House announced $750 million in federal grants to improve early childhood education, coupled with more than $330 million in private commitments and donations.

Look ahead: $200 million will be distributed directly to 18 states working to improve their preschool offerings, and $500 million will go to Early Head Start and Child Care Partnership programs.

This Week In Washington DC, Dec 4, 2014

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories

1.      The House is expected to pass the $585 billion National Defense Authorization Act, following a compromise reached by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon, R-Calif.

Look ahead: The legislation grants the president the authority to expand the military effort against ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria.

2.      President Obama is expected to nominate Ashton Carter, former deputy Defense secretary, to succeed Chuck Hagel in the Pentagon's top post. The Pentagon veteran, who has maintained a low Beltway profile while serving at at some of the leading policy minds in the defense community, has drawn praise from both sides of the aisle.

Look ahead: Carter, a theoretical physicist and former academic who has served in neither Congress nor the military, offers a stark contrast to outgoing Secretary Hagel, but he could face skepticism over his ability to oversee the war against ISIS. Like his predecessors in the role, Carter may not like the White House's micromanagement of Pentagon affairs.

3.      House Republican leaders are finalizing an agreement to avert a government shutdown on Dec. 11, and expect to hold a vote on the legislation early next week.

Look ahead: Speaker John Boehner is relying on limited Democratic support for passage, as a bloc of conservative Republicans is expected to reject the deal.

4.      Attorney General Eric Holder announced the Justice Department will launch a civil-rights investigation into the death of Eric Garner, after a Staten Island grand jury declined to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, sparking protests in New York and around the country.

Look ahead: The department's Civil Rights Division and the office of Loretta Lynch, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and the president's nominee to succeed Holder, will lead the investigation.

5.      The White House announced a three-part "plan to strengthen community policing," and Holder previewed an announcement "in the coming days" of updated federal guidelines to "help end racial profiling, once and for all."

Look ahead: The president assured a diverse group of community leaders Monday he will work to advance race relations for the remainder of his term—"not to solve every problem, not to tear down every barrier of mistrust that may exist, but to make things better."

This Week In Washington, Nov 26, 2015

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories This Week

1.      President Obama's announcement that more than 4 million undocumented immigrants will be eligible to apply for work permits and deferred deportation spurred emotional reactions on both sides of the immigration debate and laid the groundwork for battles with a Republican-led Congress.

Look ahead: In addition to alienating congressional Republicans, the president risks seeing his actions reversed by lawmakers or a successor.

2.      Bipartisan negotiations on legislation to renew and make permanent a raft of expired corporate tax breaks are faltering after President Obama threatened to veto the bill for failing to aid working families.

Look ahead: The measure could add an estimated $450 billion to the federal budget deficit.

3.      After pulling the plug on the regulation in 2011, the EPA proposed tightening the air-quality standard for ground-level ozone, or smog—a standard that's at the center of a fierce lobbying war between industry and environmentalists.

Look ahead: The revisions will lower the current standard of 75 parts per billion to between 65 and 70 ppb.

4.      Protesters clashed with law enforcement following the announcement that a St. Louis grand jury had declined to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. Officers responded with tear gas as demonstrations turned violent, businesses were looted and buildings set ablaze.

Look ahead: Attorney General Eric Holder said a federal investigation into the shooting "remains ongoing," and Wilson could still face civil-rights charges. Still, several legal experts have suggested federal charges are unlikely.

5.      The P5+1 nations and Iran failed to secure a long-term nuclear agreement by the Nov. 24 deadline, but agreed to extend talks pursuant to requests from the U.S. and other world powers.

Look ahead: As the parties remain at odds over a number of issues, the talks will last through the end of June; both sides will meet again in December and they hope to have a political agreement within four months.

This Week In Washington DC, Nov 13, 2014

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories

1.      President Obama is reportedly preparing to announce a 10-point immigration-reform plan, which would include provisions to enhance border security and could shield 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Look ahead: Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, warns that executive action could derail bipartisan efforts to craft an omnibus spending bill. More than 50 House Republicans aim to incorporate language prohibiting unilateral action into legislation funding the government after Dec. 11.

2.      Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., locked in a tough runoff battle with Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy, pushed for a vote on the Keystone XL pipeline, which could come as soon as Nov. 18. The House will vote today on identical legislation sponsored by Cassidy, allowing the measure to proceed directly to the president for signature in the event of passage.

Look ahead: The measure could earn strong support from Senate Democrats, who no longer need the electoral consequences of a vote.

3.      President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an ambitious plan that includes new U.S. emissions reduction targets through 2025 and China's first-ever agreement to curb emissions by 2030, in a move intended to encourage other nations to take similar action.

Look ahead: The announcement, which drew criticism from congressional Republicans, could signal a focus on climate in the 2016 election cycle.

4.      The lame-duck session that opened this week, set to include a raft of stalled legislation, offers lawmakers an opportunity to break the gridlock that has characterized the 113th Congress ahead of the Republican takeover in January.

Look ahead: House Republican leaders plan to stick closely to the plans laid out by outgoing Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., which include reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and reduction of the highest tax rates.

5.      The Labor Department reported 214,000 jobs were added to nonfarm payrolls in October, trailing the 248,000 jobs added in September, while unemployment declined slightly to 5.8%. The figure trailed economists' projections of 230,000 to 235,000 jobs added.

Look ahead: Despite a steady decline in the overall unemployment rate, nearly 7 million Americans are classified as involuntary part-time workers, raising concerns the phenomenon may be structural rather than cyclical.

This Week In Washington DC, Nov 6, 2014

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories This Week

1.      Buoyed by popular frustration with President Obama and congressional Democrats, Republicans seized control of the Senate for the first time in 8 years and expanded their majority in the House, gaining validation of their vision for the nation and raising hopes of an end to congressional gridlock.

Look ahead: House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell outlined their agenda for the 114th Congress, which will include Senate consideration of House-passed jobs legislation, in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal.

2.      Despite a devastating electoral defeat for his party, President Obama plans to stay the course, and will make no significant policy concessions to congressional Republicans, even as he fights to define his legacy in the final years of his presidency.

Look ahead: The president and Republicans in Congress face similar pressure to accomplish major policy objectives over the next two years.  Prediction:  No progress the next 2 years.

3.      Obama reportedly has narrowed to his choices for Attorney General to: Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Labor Secretary Tom Perez; and Solicitor General Donald Verrilli.

Look ahead: Administration officials suggest a decision could come as early as this week; the president remains optimistic that a nominee can be confirmed during the lame-duck session.

4.      Citing the need to present a united front against ISIS, and noting the coalition's strategy is evolving, the president will seek a new Authorization for Use of Military Force in the coming weeks.

Look ahead: Iraqi forces are planning a spring offensive, which will be supported by coalition air power and advisers and is intended to shatter the group's hold on the country's north and west, and assert government control in Mosul and other major cities.

5.      Russian-backed separatists held elections—complete with "monitors" from sympathetic organizations—eliciting praise from the Kremlin and drawing sharp criticism from the European Union.

Look ahead: The election of field commander Aleksandr Zakharchenko to the top leadership post is in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic is expected to preserve the status quo in the region. 

This Week In Washington DC, Oct 24th

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories

1.      The Obama administration released three new Ebola-related policies—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated protocols to minimize risk to health care workers; the Homeland Security Department imposed restrictions on the airports through which travelers may enter the US from West Africa, and the CDC directed those arriving from affected countries to undergo monitoring for 21 days.

Look ahead: The nature of the disease—with its long incubation period and symptoms common to a host of less-serious illnesses—limits the efficacy of some of the preventive measures.

2.      The Canadian capital was thrown into chaos Wednesday as a gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, killing Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, then entered the Parliament building and fired several rounds before being shot by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers.

Look ahead: Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his government will "strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts" to combat terrorism, spurring speculation the Canadian Security Intelligence Service could gain new authority.

3.      U.S. military planes dropped weapons, ammunition, and medical supplies to Kurdish fighters defending Kobani, over the objections of the Turkish government. Two bundles failed to reach their intended targets—U.S. forces destroyed one, and ISIS obtained the other.

Look ahead: The addition of Kurdish peshmerga fighters from Iraq, whom Turkey has granted permission to reinforce their Syrian counterparts, could boost the Kurds' prospects for victory.

4.      Speculation is rising President Obama plans sweeping executive action on immigration, following reports U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has drafted a procurement contract for up to 34 million work permits and green cards over five years, citing "possible future immigration reform initiative requirements."

Look ahead: White House press secretary Josh Earnest warned against "making assumptions … based on the procurement practices" of the Department of Homeland Security.

5.      The Secret Service apprehended Dominic Adesanya after he scaled the White House fence, triggering a brief lockdown, in the seventh such incident this year.

Look ahead: Adesanya, who was previously charged with unlawful entry at the executive complex in July, faces felony charges related to his issuance of threats and kicking of police dogs.