Author: chicagoinquirer

by Fatima Hussein and Mary Clare Jalonick WASHINGTON  — Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Majority Leader John Thune are digging in ahead of this week’s deadline to keep the government open, showing little evidence of budging even as both sides have agreed to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. Republicans say Democrats need to help them pass a simple extension of government funding by Tuesday night to avoid a shutdown and they will not agree to negotiate until after it’s approved. Democrats say they want immediate talks on health care, and they are…

by Mark Sherman and Lindsay Whitehurst WASHINGTON  — President Donald Trump ‘s administration is asking the Supreme Court to uphold his birthright citizenship order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. The appeal, shared with The Associated Press on Saturday, sets in motion a process at the high court that could lead to a definitive ruling from the justices by early summer on whether the citizenship restrictions are constitutional. Lower-court judges have so far blocked them from taking effect anywhere. The Republican administration is not asking the court…

by Ken Moritsugu and Jamey Keaten SHANGHAI  — China has said it would no longer seek the special treatment given to developing countries in World Trade Organization agreements — a change long demanded by the United States. Commerce Ministry officials said Wednesday the move was an attempt to boost the global trading system at a time when it is under threat from tariff wars and protectionist moves by individual countries to restrict imports. It was not clear whether the announcement would lead to greater access for foreign goods to China’s vast market. The U.S. and many European countries have long…

by Michael R. Sisak and Larry Neumeister NEW YORK — Lawyers for music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs urged a New York federal judge Monday to sentence him early next month to no more than 14 months in prison for his conviction on two prostitution-related charges, meaning he’d go free almost immediately if the judge agreed. The lawyers made their arguments in a written submission to Judge Arun Subramanian, who has already rejected a proposed $50 million bail package, signaling that he doesn’t believe the Grammy-winning artist is close to being released. “Mr. Combs’s celebrity status in the realms of music,…

by Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking WASHINGTON  — President Donald Trump will meet with the Democratic leaders in Congress this week ahead of a looming risk of a federal government shutdown. Trump has agreed to meet with Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who are insisting on talks as the Democrats work to preserve health care programs as part of any deal to fund the government ahead of next week’s Oct. 1 deadline. That’s according to two people familiar with the situation and granted anonymity because they are unauthorized to discuss it. The meeting is set for Thursday, one…

by Mark Kennedy NEW YORK — ABC will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show in the wake of criticism over his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, officials with the network said Monday. “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” said a statement from the network. ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely on Wednesday after comments he made about Kirk, who was killed Sept. 10, in a monologue. Kimmel said “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on…

by Mark Kennedy NEW YORK — Hundreds of Hollywood and Broadway stars — including Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Selena Gomez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep — are urging Americans “fight to defend and preserve our constitutionally protected rights” in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension. More than 430 movie, TV and stage stars as well as comedians, directors and writers added their names to an open letter Monday from the American Civil Liberties Union that argues it is “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.” The move comes less than a week…

by Sam Magdy CAIRO — Egyptians reacted with outrage this week after officials said that a 3,000-year-old bracelet that had belonged to an ancient pharaoh was stolen from Cairo’s famed Egyptian Museum and then melted down for gold. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said in televised comments late Saturday that the bracelet was stolen on Sep. 9 while officials at the museum were preparing artifacts for an exhibit in Italy. He blamed “laxity” in implementing procedures at the facility and said that prosecutors were still investigating. The bracelet, containing a lapis lazuli bead, belonged to Pharaoh Amenemope, who reigned…

by Andrew Seligman CHICAGO — Ben Johnson had just presented game balls to Caleb Williams and Tremaine Edmunds in a raucous locker room. There was one more to give. Williams tossed the ball to Johnson and the players mobbed their coach. After two brutal losses to start the season, the Bears sure felt better after this. Williams tied a career high with four touchdown passes and Chicago gave Johnson his first win as an NFL head coach by beating the Dallas Cowboys 31-14 on Sunday. “It’s awesome,” Williams said. “The trust and belief and hard work and just all of…

by Lisa Mascaro WASHINGTON  — As a possible federal shutdown looms, the Democratic leaders of Congress are demanding a meeting with President Donald Trump to negotiate an end to what they call “your decision” to shutter government offices if no action is taken by the end-of-the month deadline. Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said Saturday that Republicans, at Trump’s insistence, have refused to enter talks. Democrats are pushing to preserve health care programs as part of any deal to keep government running past the Sept. 30 funding deadline. “We write to demand a meeting in connection with your…