5 takeaways from Joe Biden’s big interview with George Stephanopoulos

President Biden gave the most important TV interview of his career Friday…

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4757491-biden-interview-abc-takeaways/

Disney heir joins other Democrat backers to pause donations until Joe Biden steps aside

"This is realism, not disrespect," Disney told CNBC, adding "if Biden does not step down the Democrats will lose. Of that I am absolutely certain. The consequences for the loss will be genuinely dire." 

In her statement, Disney said vice-president Kamala Harris could be an alternative candidate to beat Trump. "If Democrats would tolerate any of her perceived shortcomings even one tenth as much as they have tolerated Biden's … we can win this election by a lot," she said…

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/05/joe-biden-election-donors-abigail-disney-pause

Why Ditching the WHO Will Backfire on Trump - POLITICO

If the past is any guide, the president’s politically-motivated decision to withdraw from the international organization could come back to haunt the U.S. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/05/30/pulling-out-of-the-who-wont-help-trump-290610

Europeans shift troops from Iraq, warn fight against Islamic State is imperiled because of U.S. actions - The Washington Post

Islamic State and other militants "would be the only winners" of a U.S.-Iran conflict, British foreign secretary says.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europeans-shift-troops-from-iraq-warn-fight-against-islamic-state-is-imperiled-because-of-us-actions-on-iran/2020/01/07/e2b25a00-3157-11ea-971b-43bec3ff9860_story.html

Assembly of 3,000 Afghans calls for immediate truce, ‘orderly’ departure of foreign troops - The Washington Post

After four days of talks, the loya jirga sent a united message that it wants the 17-year war to end...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/assembly-of-3000-afghans-calls-for-immediate-truce-orderly-departure-of-foreign-troops/2019/05/03/a9366476-6b8f-11e9-bbe7-1c798fb80536_story.html

During NRA speech, Trump drops out of another global arms treaty - The Washington Post

President Trump announced Friday that he would end U.S. support for a global arms pact known as the Arms Trade Treaty in the latest illustration of his aversion to international agreements and world governance.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-expected-to-distance-itself-from-global-arms-treaty/2019/04/26/82e19736-f0ee-4cfe-b086-a6b5d89c1ec8_story.html

Trump administration abandons United Nations committee on racism - Daily Kos

The Trump administration has made a concerted effort to distance the United States from international affairs, including from its longtime allies, but a special Team Trump focus has seemingly been on withdrawing from international human rights conversations. That effort continues....
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1850269

Michigan’s Top Lawyer Just Pulled Out of Three Church/State Separation Lawsuits | Hemant Mehta | Friendly Atheist | Patheos

Elections have consequences, and Michigan will no longer be wasting time fighting right-wing battles now that there’s a progressive in the top legal office. Attorney General Dana Nessel announced yesterday that Michigan would be pulling out of eight lawsuits that her predecessor, Bill Schuette, pushed them into.

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/02/01/michigans-top-lawyer-just-pulled-out-of-three-church-state-separation-lawsuits/

Trump giving 'new life' to Islamic State, former envoy says - Raw Story

President Donald Trump's decision to pull US troops from Syria was made without deliberation, left allies "bewildered" and has rejuvenated the Islamic State group, the official formerly in charge of fighting the jihadists said Friday. ...
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/01/trump-giving-new-life-islamic-state-former-envoy-says/

ISIS has lost 98% of the territory it once had in Syria, but that doesn't necessarily mean the US has defeated it - Business Insider:

President Trump has announced that the US has defeated ISIS in Syria and that he plans to pull back all 2,000 US troops from the country. Since then, there have been contradictory statements from administration officials at the highest level. ....
https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-01-14/when-us-pulls-out-syria-what-happens-isis

Pence declares ‘ISIS is defeated’ hours after attack kills U.S. troops - The Washington Post

In remarks to diplomats at the State Department, the vice president made no mention of the lives lost as he defended President Trump's withdrawal decision. ....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pence-declares-isis-is-defeated-hours-after-attack-kills-us-troops/2019/01/16/ecc8d1e6-7967-4446-8ed0-afc282e03181_story.html

After Trump Declared Victory Against ISIS, the Military Decided to Hide the Strikes That Are Still Happening

The US-backed coalition to fight ISIS has quietly stopped revealing important details about strikes taken against the terrorist group, despite combat intensifying in recent weeks. .....
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/01/after-trump-declared-victory-against-isis-the-military-decided-to-hide-the-strikes-that-are-still-happening/

Max Boot on US reversal in Syria: 'I'm wondering if Jim Mattis can unresign now' - The Hill

Conservative commentator Max Boot wondered aloud on Monday "if [former Defense Secretary] Jim Mattis can unresign now" amid the "bizarre spectacle" of an apparent reversal of President Trump's plan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria.....
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/424182-max-boot-on-us-reversal-in-syria-im-wondering-if-jim-mattis-can-unresign-now

Why Trump’s withdrawal from Syria is bad news for Israel — and good news for Iran - Vox

It could turn a simmering conflict into something much more dangerous. ....
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/3/18159364/trump-syria-withdrawal-israel-iran-hezbollah

U.S. Ramps Up Bombing of ISIS in Eastern Syria Following Trump Withdrawal Announcement - The Intercept

The fiercest attacks have occurred in Al Kashmah, a village on the Euphrates River near the border with Iraq, according to three sources in eastern Syria. ....
https://theintercept.com/2019/01/03/syria-bombing-troop-withdrawal/

Lindsey Graham’s description of Trump’s Syria withdrawal plan sounds suspiciously like a plan to stay in Syria - The Washington Post: Analysis |

In the Republican senator's retelling, the president's new Syria plan seems a lot like the old plans. ....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/12/31/lindsey-grahams-description-trumps-syria-withdrawal-plan-sounds-suspiciously-like-plan-stay-syria/

'Part of Putin's plan': Retired general explains how Trump is doing Russia's bidding in Syria - Raw Story

On Friday, Retired Rear Admiral John Kirby explained to CNN host Jim Acosta that there are "serious repercussions" to President Donald Trump's decision to abruptly withdraw American troops out of Syria. ....
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/12/part-of-putins-plan-retired-general-reveals-how-trump-is-aiding-russia/

US withdrawal from Syria will endanger Kurds, Arabs, Christians - The Hill

Four years of partnership should not be tossed aside because of an impetuous presidential tweet. ....
https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/422990-us-withdrawal-from-syria-will-endanger-kurds-arabs-christians

Was Trump blackmailed into pulling out of Syria? - Raw Story

"There doesn't seem to be any strategic rationale for the decision," the former presidential candidate said....
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/12/trump-blackmailed-pulling-syria/

Russia, Iran and Turkey will step into vacuum US leaves in Syria - The Hill

The reversal in US policy throws into question the Trump administration's commitment to its allies on the ground in Syria. ....
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/422275-russia-iran-and-turkey-will-step-into-vacuum-us-leaves-in-syria