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.

This Week In Washington DC, October 16, 2014

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories This Week

1.      Two nurses from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital contracted Ebola from patient Thomas Duncan, who died at the hospital Oct. 8th, triggering criticism of the institution's protocols and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention response.

Look ahead: In a policy shift, the CDC will send a team of experts within hours to any hospital with a confirmed Ebola case.

2.      Administration officials confirmed President Obama will wait until after the election to nominate a replacement for Attorney General Eric Holder. The president is said to be considering White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler or Solicitor General Donald Verrilli for the post.

Look ahead: Obama's decision to defer the nomination until after the election could frustrate efforts to confirm his nominee before the end of the year.

3.      The Obama administration announced initiatives designed to return the long-term unemployed to the workforce, including $170 million in federal grants for job training and related programs.

Look ahead: Vice President Biden and Labor Secretary Perez met Wednesday with business leaders to discuss measures that could improve the hiring prospects for the long-term jobless. 

4.      Kurdish forces are gaining the upper hand in the battle for Kobani, Syria, aided by the U.S.-led coalition's intensified airstrikes against ISIS militants.

Look ahead: The Obama administration continues to assert the success of Operation Inherent Resolve, even as the president acknowledges setbacks and predicts a "long-term campaign."

5.      Voter-identification laws saw mixed results this week, with the Supreme Court blocking implementation of Wisconsin's law and the Arkansas Supreme Court invalidating its state's law, and a federal appellate panel reinstating Texas's statute.

Look ahead: Opponents of the Texas law have appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court in a last-ditch effort to bar enforcement during the midterms.

This Week In Washington DC, Oct 9, 2014

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories

1.      The Supreme Court declined to hear challenges to Appeals Court rulings striking down same-sex marriage bans.  A 3-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit invalidated Idaho and Nevada's prohibitions on same-sex marriage, but Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy granted Idaho officials' request for a temporary stay.

Look ahead: Attention now turns to other federal appellate courts, where pending cases involve same-sex marriage bans in a host of states.

2.      ISIS has captured additional territory in Kobani, Syria, even as the U.S.-led coalition intensifies its air campaign. The Turkish government continues to resist international pressure to join the fight against the militant group.

Look ahead: The Obama administration acknowledges airstrikes are insufficient to repel ISIS, but maintains the Syrian opposition, not U.S. forces, must oppose the group on the ground.

3.      Thomas Duncan, the Liberian citizen diagnosed with Ebola while visiting Dallas, died Wednesday, spurring questions about the speed and efficacy of his treatment. American photojournalist Ashoka Mukpo is receiving experimental drug brincidofovir, and has received a plasma donation from Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly.

Look ahead: Officials will begin screening passengers whose travel originated in West Africa—no matter the number of intermediate stops—for fevers using no-touch thermometers at five major U.S. airports.

4.      The Labor Department reported employers added 248,000 positions to payrolls in September, exceeding economists' projections of 215,000 jobs added, as unemployment dipped to 5.9%.

Look ahead: The minutes from the September meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee reveal policymakers' concerns about a strengthening dollar and slowing inflation, signaling a reluctance to raise interest rates in the near term.

5.      Ahead of the open enrollment period that begins Nov. 15, federal officials previewed a reconfigured, streamlined HealthCare.gov, which CEO Kevin Counihan touts as a vast improvement over last year.

Look ahead: With millions of previously uninsured Americans—including those with preexisting conditions—already covered, the second round of open enrollment will focus on a tougher-to-reach population, for whom the price of insurance remains prohibitive.

This Week in Washington DC, Oct 2, 2014

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories

1.      President Obama acknowledged the US underestimated the threat posed by ISIS and overestimated the Iraqi military's capacity to counter the group, while emphasizing the international character of the conflict.

Look ahead: The White House maintains its position that "there will not be U.S. ground invasion of Iraq or Syria."

2.      Following an oversight hearing during which lawmakers questioned her capacity to lead the agency amid revelations of serious security lapses, Secret Service Director Julia Pierson resigned after only 18 months at the helm.

Look ahead: Joseph Clancy, a former chief of the agency's presidential-protection division, who later headed corporate security for Comcast, will serve as acting interim director.

3.      Thomas Duncan, a 42-year-old Liberian national, was diagnosed with Ebola after arriving in the United States, and is undergoing treatment at a Texas hospital.

Look ahead: The CDC has dispatched 10 experts to Dallas, where authorities are monitoring as many as 100 people who may have come into contact with Duncan, to oversee Duncan's treatment and the effort to prevent new infections.

4.      The government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who was inaugurated this week pursuant to a power-sharing agreement with former rival Abdullah Abdullah, signed a bilateral security agreement with the US.

Look ahead: Under the pact, approximately 9,800 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan at the start of 2015.

5.      Economic data was mixed this week, with ADP reporting private-sector employers added 213,000 positions in September, and consumer spending increasing 0.5% in August, but consumer confidence dipping unexpectedly and home prices rising at their slowest pace in 20 months.

Look ahead: The Labor Department's employment situation report for September, due for release Friday, should provide more clarity, following August's disappointing showing of 142,000 jobs added to nonfarm payrolls.

This Week In Washington DC, Sep 25, 2014

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories

1.      The US, joined by Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, began aerial bombardment of ISIS positions in Syria. The airstrikes also targeted the Khorasan Group, described by Pentagon officials as comprised of "seasoned al-Qaida veterans."

Look ahead: The airstrikes are just one component of a multifaceted campaign that President Obama and other leaders predict will continue for some time.

2.      During an appearance at the U.N. Climate Summit, the president characterized climate change as an "urgent and growing threat" requiring the leadership of the world's largest nations. In a subsequent address to the U.N. General Assembly, Obama called on every nation to act on global warming.

Look ahead: The European Union unveiled new emissions targets, while the U.S. and China maintained existing targets and touted progress toward their goals.

3.      Corporations are scrambling to determine the effects of the Treasury Department's new rules on taxation of offshore income, which are designed to dis-incentivize corporate tax inversions.

Look ahead: The new regulations will not impede the merger between Burger King and Tim Horton's, but could impact a host of pending inversions.

4.      In the three West African countries hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak—Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone—a total of more than 2,800 people have died and 5,843 have been infected, up from 1,346 deaths and 2,458 infections one month ago, according to a report from the World Health Organization.

Look ahead: The CDC reports Liberia and Sierra Leone could see 21,000 Ebola cases by Sept. 30 and 1.4 million cases by Jan. 20 if the outbreak is not controlled.

5.      In a result that reassured British investors, Scottish voters on Sept. 18 rejected a bid to sever their bonds with the United Kingdom.

Look ahead: U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron hailed the "clear result" of the referendum and pledged certain powers to Scotland, in keeping with an earlier agreement with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, and Labour leader Ed Miliband.

This Week In Washington DC, Sep 18, 2014

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories

1.      The House approved President Obama's plan to equip and train members of the Syrian opposition as part of the administration's strategy against ISIS. The president emphasized the US will not deploy ground troops in Iraq, despite Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey's refusal to rule out the possibility.

Look ahead: Even absent a U.S. infantry presence, experts say small special forces teams could operate alongside Iraqi troops, providing guidance and calling in air support.

2.      The House approved a continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 11 and reauthorize the Export-Import Bank through June 2015.

Look ahead: The Senate is scheduled to begin consideration of the stopgap funding measure this afternoon; a vote on passage could occur several hours later.

3.      The Federal Reserve announced plans to conclude the central bank's monthly asset purchases in October, but left unchanged its forward guidance that the federal funds rate should remain near zero for "a considerable time" after the end of quantitative easing.

Look ahead: Fed officials increased slightly their projections for the benchmark rate at the end of 2015, suggesting a swifter rate rise than had previously been forecast.

4.      The Census Bureau reported the national poverty rate dipped from 15% in 2012 to 14.5% last year—the first decline since 2006—as more Americans obtained full-time employment, and the child-poverty rate decreased from 21.8% to 19.9%.

Look ahead: The decline is attributable to population growth, as the number of Americans living at or below the federal poverty line was unchanged and household incomes remained flat.

5.      Scottish voters head to the polls today in a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom, weighing national identity against economic certainty. Nationalists argue Britain has deprived Scotland of its share of oil and gas revenues, but are accused of relying on an unduly optimistic assessment of the industry.

Look ahead: A vote for independence could create risks, but also opportunities, in Edinburgh, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyd's Bank have threatened to shift their legal bases to London.

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This Week In Washington DC, Aug 21, 2014

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories

1.      Militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria released a video of apparent beheading of American journalist James Foley—an act the group framed as a response to U.S. airstrikes against ISIS fighters in Iraq, after seeking a multimillion ransom from the U.S. govt.

Look ahead: The military, which mounted a failed rescue mission for Foley and other American hostages earlier this summer, conducted new airstrikes following the release of the gruesome video; it is unclear whether the administration will change tactics in the fight against ISIS.

2.      Protests continued this week in Ferguson, Mo., as police released the name of the officer who fatally shot Michael Brown, as well as an incident report detailing the teenager's alleged involvement in a robbery, but the violent clashes with law enforcement appeared to decline as Attorney General Eric Holder arrived for meetings.

Look ahead: A St. Louis County grand jury has begun hearing evidence in the case, as investigators sift through conflicting accounts of the events of August 9.

3.      Long-term peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed Tuesday, with Hamas restarting its rocket barrages and Israel its aerial bombardment of Gaza.

Look ahead: Qatar, which provides financial backing for Hamas and refuge for its exiled leader, has been accused of helping to derail the talks; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to continue the military campaign "with all means and as is needed."

4.      Republican establishment candidates prevailed in this week's primaries, as former Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan defeated Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell and 2010 nominee Joe Miller in the Senate race, and Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead held off a challenge from physician Taylor Haynes and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill.

Look ahead: Sullivan will face Democratic Sen. Mark Begich, whose strategy relies heavily on his Alaskan roots and independence from the national party; Mead squares off against pilot Pete Gosar, who previously served as state Democratic Party chairman and ran unsuccessfully for the gubernatorial nomination in 2010.

5.      Dr. Kent Brantly and aid worker Nancy Writebol, who contracted Ebola while treating patients in Liberia, have recovered from the virus, and have been discharged from Emory University Hospital, even as authorities attempt to prevent an outbreak in a Monrovia slum following a weekend raid on a quarantine facility.

Look ahead: While scientists' immediate priority is to control the spread of the virus, their long-term objectives depend on identifying the origin of Ebola.