
Russia hawks face new dilemma over Trump’s 50-day Putin deadline
CNN
The Russia hawks’ initial reaction to President Donald Trump’s tougher stance on Vladimir Putin was positive.
The Russia hawks’ initial reaction to President Donald Trump’s tougher stance on Vladimir Putin was positive. That included a Monday joint statement from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal calling Trump’s threat of ramped-up economic penalties if Russia doesn’t cut a peace deal in next 50 days “a real executive hammer to drive the parties to the negotiating table.” But a day later, a real sense of skepticism about Trump’s threats has crept in. The Russians have basically shrugged it off and even treated it as a green light to take what they can in the next several weeks. Ukrainians and foreign leaders have expressed fears about what happens over the next 50 days. And even some Trump allies in Congress and elsewhere are wondering: Why the delay? Why not pass the sanctions legislation that more than 80 senators already support today? Trump by Tuesday afternoon rejected criticisms of that timetable. “Oh, I don’t think 50 days is very long, and it could be sooner than that,” he said. “I don’t think 50 days is very long. “

Janet Mills and her allies are counting on a gender gap to narrow Platner’s wide lead ahead of the June 9 primary to decide who will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. They are betting that the unfiltered style that has brought Platner widespread attention as someone who could help Democrats reach young men will backfire with women.

As a shrinking number of Transportation Security Administration agents work to keep hourslong security lines moving despite not being paid, President Donald Trump stepped into the fray Saturday, announcing he will send Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports by Monday if Congress doesn’t agree to a plan to end the partial government shutdown.











