John Shaw
Washington, D.C.
Congressional Correspondent, Market News Int'l. Author, JFK in the Senate: Pathway to the Presidency
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Articles by John Shaw
Column: Finland’s president offers a compelling plan for a new world order
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger argued that a statesman should be a visionary and educator while serving as a bridge between the past and future. Exceptional leaders, he wrote, “help people reach from where they are to where they have never been, and sometimes, can scarcely imagine going.” This formulation captures the role that Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, aspires to play in global affairs.
Commentary: Nancy Pelosi has distinguished herself as a history-making stateswoman
President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Freedom to former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/TNS) "The difference between a politician and a statesman," said James Freeman Clarke, a 19th century American theologian and writer, "is that the politician thinks about the next election while the statesman thinks about the next generation." Nancy Pelosi, a Democratic...
Opinion | How Russia Became the Street Bully of Space
Russia’s new nuclear space weapon has spurred White House and congressional warnings about Moscow’s irresponsibility on the global stage. Russia’s move isn’t surprising, given its frustration over the war with Ukraine and its failure to contain or fracture the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Yet this is another chapter in Moscow’s long decline in space leadership. The post-Sputnik space race of the 1960s is a tale of American moon-landing triumph.
Taken together, SCOTUS decisions invite Congress to remove insurrectionist Justices legislatively
Thursday, Mar. 07, 2024 Thursday, March 07, 2024 at 11:40:06a GMT The Supreme Court made two consequential pro-Trump rulings recently, which, taken together, lead to an unexpected invitation to a Democratic Congress to remove them, the Supreme Court majority, from office. 1.
MGH Institute of Health Professions's Dr. Kimberly Truong Receives Award for Diversity Work
Kimberly A. Truong, PhD, received the 2021 DEI Champion, Publisher’s Award from Color. Boston graduate school's Chief Equity Officer is recognized by Color, a company focused on empowering professionals of color. I am honored to be bestowed this recognition for being a leader in transforming institutions of higher education into more equitable and just organizations.” — Kimberly A.
Remembering Colin Powell
Remembering Colin Powell Colin Powell, former U.S. secretary of state, dies at 84 of COVID. Colin Powell is likely to be remembered by historians as an inspirational, successful, compelling, but also a tragic American military and political leader. The child of Jamaican immigrants, Powell was an indifferent student at City College of New York. Then he joined the college’s Reserve Officers Training Corps program and became committed to, and transformed by, the U.S. Army.
Book Review: Our last best hope for America
George Packer, a staff writer for The Atlantic and award-winning author of several non-fiction books, is one of the most penetrating, persuasive, and important writers in the United States. He is consistently fair-minded, skeptical, and willing to challenge political orthodoxy and conventional wisdom. He wrote a remarkable book about the Iraq War, a probing biography of Richard Holbrooke, and a stunning account of the economic and social unraveling of America’s middle class.
Book Review: Former UN Secretary General offers insights and critiques of his term
History will not regard Ban Ki-moon as a commanding or charismatic secretary general of the United Nations. A somber, cautious, and conservative diplomat from South Korea, Ban was not an arresting figure on the global stage. However, Ban believes he was a consequential, even visionary, secretary general, and he has written a memoir to make his case. Resolved: Uniting Nations in a Divided World is an explanation and defense of Ban’s decade (2007-17) as secretary general.
Book Review: ‘The Middle Way: How Three Presidents Shaped America’s Role in the World’
While polls show the majority of the American people reside in the political center, the two main parties have moved steadily apart. Democrats have shifted to the left and Republicans have lunged to the right. This has made governing in the United States exceptionally difficult, both for domestic and foreign policy. “The Middle Way: How Three Presidents Shaped America’s Role in the World” by Derek Chollet looks at the foreign policy styles of Dwight D. Eisenhower, George H.W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Acclaimed historian looks at inextricable link between humanity and war
Historian Margaret MacMillan skyrocketed to global prominence nearly two decades ago with the publication of “Paris 1919,” a riveting and authoritative account of the hugely consequential peace conference following World War I. Since then, she has written about the causes of World War I, President Richard Nixon’s 1972 trip to China and the uses and abuses of history.
Richard Haass Offers Ambitious Primer in ‘The World’
Richard Haass’s ambitious and valuable book “The World: A Brief Introduction” has an unlikely provenance. One of the most respected foreign policy analysts in the United States, Haass had a conversation about a decade ago during a fishing trip with a student from Stanford University and was surprised that this young man lacked even a rudimentary grasp of global affairs.
Trait velocities reveal that mortality has driven widespread coordinated shifts in forest hydraulic trait composition
The health span of supercentenarians might be partly explained by the expansion of T cells that kill infected or abnormal cells.
U.S. Historians Frame Challenges Posed by Trump Presidency into Broader Context
By John T. Shaw Uploaded on December 20, 2018 American historians have long been troubled by Donald Trump, first when he was a longshot presidential candidate, then as the Republican nominee for president and especially now as the occupant of the White House.
Shaw: Daunting but different leadership challenges face Springfield, Washington, D.C.
By John T. Shaw Thursday Jan 17, 2019 at 1:54 PM By John T. Shaw It seems likely that 2019 will be one of the most challenging and consequential years in recent Illinois and American history. Meeting these challenges will require leaders in both Springfield and Washington, D.C., to display qualities that have been in short supply in recent years: vision, courage, compassion, civility, fairness and wisdom. Decisions of considerable gravity confront leaders in Springfield and Washington this year.
Is There a Statesman in the House? Either House?
by John T. Shaw It seems likely that 2019 will be one of the most challenging and consequential years in recent American history, perhaps on par with 1974. When Robert Mueller’s investigation of President Donald Trump concludes and his report is likely sent to Congress, a time of reckoning will be upon us. The United States will need leaders in both parties to display a quality that has been in short supply in our country in recent years: statesmanship.
Shaw: It's time for a new era of statesmanship in Springfield and Washington
By John T. Shaw Wednesday Dec 26, 2018 at 11:35 AM We need quality leaders in both parties in Springfield and Washington, D.C., who offer vision, courage, compassion, civility, fairness and effectiveness. We need statesmanship. Statesmanship is a pattern of leadership, and an approach to public service, that focuses on long-term considerations and is unafraid of difficult choices. Statesmanship involves bipartisanship.
Practical Chess Beauty by Yochanan Afek
I am happy to announce we have a new book on the way: Practical Chess Beauty by Yochanan Afek. To quote from the cover: “Solving studies is well established as an effective method of chess improvement. In Practical Chess Beauty one of the world’s greatest study composers, Yochanan Afek, shares his finest creations.
Steil’s ‘Marshall Plan’ Details Forgotten Era of American Greatness
In the current political climate, it’s often difficult to recall that there was a time, not so many decades ago, when American political leaders were respected around the world as strategic and competent, as kind-hearted and tough-minded. Few initiatives better exemplified American effectiveness and excellence than the Marshall Plan, the economic assistance program designed to help rebuild Europe after the devastation of World War II.
Rising Star, Setting Sun: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and the Presidential Transition that Changed America
Reading John T. Shaw’s historical account of the 1960 presidential transition from the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower to John F. Kennedy is a disquieting experience. For better or worse, we are presently living in perilous times, regularly shuttling between announcements of “Breaking News!” with presidential tweets thrown into the mix on a regular basis. For many citizens, each day requires a filtering process as we determine which news events merit attention.
Letter to the editor | Dreamers must be making big bucks
In the Feb. 6 edition of The Tribune-Democrat, writer Rachel Allen boasted on behalf of 800,000 Dreamers that they pay $11.64 billion in taxes. She didn’t say over what period of time, but she probably meant per year. She also didn’t say where she got her figures, but what they work out to is $14,550 per illegal immigrant per year. A quick check with a couple of tax preparers here in town reveals that a tax bill like that is paid by someone grossing about $100,000 a year.
US Sen Finance Boss: Lew Nov 3 Debt Deadline Looks 'Fungible'
--Sen. Hatch: Take Nov 3 Debt Deadline 'Seriously' --Hatch: Admin Must Do More To Present 'Hard' Debt Data --US Senate Finance Chief: Take Nov 3 Debt Deadline 'Seriously' WASHINGTON (MNI) - With speculation swirling on Capitol Hill about how debt ceiling legislation will advance, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch took several sharp jabs at the Treasury Department's new debt ceiling deadline, saying it looks "fungible".
Beginners in prescribing practice: Experiences and perceptions of nurses and doctors
To investigate and compare the experiences and perceptions of nurses and doctors in becoming prescribers. The development of core skills, knowledge and attitudes as a prescriber is among the present foci of current medical education, and the requirements for ongoing mentorship, support and education for novice medical prescribers have been identified as important training components.
US House Freedom Caucus Set To Add Conflict To Fiscal Debate
--Group of Three Dozen Conservatives Hold Balance of Power in the House --Key Group Will Shape Spending, Debt Ceiling, Tax Reform Debates WASHINGTON (MNI) - House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell face a very challenging autumn. They confront a backlog of daunting fiscal issues, relatively narrow Republican majorities in their respective chambers, virtually united Democratic opposition to their plans, and a new president who is inexperienced, volatile, and erratic.
In Prelude To Fall, US Senate Leaders Clash Over Tax Reform
--Senate Majority Leader McConnell Vows'Historic Effort' To Overhaul Tax Code --Senate Minority Leader Schumer Says GOP Appears Poised To Replicate Mistakes WASHINGTON (MNI) - Looking ahead to Congress's fall legislation agenda, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed Wednesday to lead a "historic effort" to overhaul the U.S. tax code, adding he hopes Democrats will join an effort that could transform the American economy.
US Sen. McConnell: Health Care Bill Is Not On August Schedule
--Senate Majority Leader McConnell Rebuffs Trump On Senate Agenda --Sen. McConnell: Senate To Focus on Several Nominations, Veterans and FDA Bill WASHINGTON (MNI) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Tuesday presented the Senate's schedule for the next two weeks and signaled he has no intention to accede to President Donald Trump's demand that the Senate continue to work on health care legislation.
US's McConnell: Need To Pass Debt Hike In 'Next Month Or So'
--Senate Majority Leader McConnell Says He And Sen. Schumer Met Tuesday With --Sen. McConnell: Must 'Never, Ever Default' On Debt --Sen. Schumer: Need to Know House GOP Stance on Debt Ceiling Legislation WASHINGTON (MNI) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met earlier in the day with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on debt ceiling legislation, adding they will continue to discuss the best "way forward" on the issue.
US Congress Week: Senate GOP Regroups After Health Bill Defeat
--Senate Republicans Ponder Response to Health Bill Debacle --WH Budget Chief: Senate Should Defer All Action Until Health Care Passes WASHINGTON (MNI) - With the House already departed from Washington for its August recess, Senate Republicans are now trying to assemble an agenda for the first two weeks of August -- and beyond. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been working since May on a strategy to pass health care legislation.
US's McConnell Brushes Aside Trump Demand To Stay On Health
--Senate Majority Leader Leader Convenes Senate, Turns To Judicial Appointment --White House Spokeswoman Says Gen. Kelly Will Have 'Full Authority' as White WASHINGTON (MNI) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell convened the Senate Monday afternoon and quietly--but clearly--dismissed the demand of President Donald Trump that the Republican-controlled upper chamber continue working on health care legislation.
US Budget Week Ahead: Agenda in Tatters, GOP Seeks Fall Plan
--Republican Seven Month Quest To 'Repeal and Replace' Obamacare Implodes --GOP Set To Shift To Budget Outline, Tax Reform --Tsy's Mnuchin Tells Congress It Has Until End of Sept To Lift Debt Ceiling WASHINGTON (MNI) - With their legislative agenda in shambles, the Republican majority in Congress is now scrambling to assemble a strategy for the autumn that funds the government for the 2018 fiscal year, increases the statutory debt ceiling, and advances the GOP's long-cherished goal of...
US Hill Faces Chaotic Day W/Flood of Health, Spending Amend
--House To Vote on 54 Spending Bill Amendments, Senate Could Confront A Hundred WASHINGTON (MNI) - If you like order, precision or even the absence of total chaos, it would probably make sense to avoid Capitol Hill Thursday. The Senate will continue to debate legislation to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act and is expected to begin considering scores of amendments to the underlying Republican bill.
US Hill GOP Leaders, Mnuchin Say Tax Reform Won't Have BAT
--Republican Leaders Outline Tax Reform Principles --GOP Leaders Say Details Will Be Developed In Congress's Two Tax Panels WASHINGTON (MNI) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, and the Republican congressional leadership vowed Thursday to push forward with a "once in a generation" opportunity to overhaul the tax code, declaring their package will not include the controversial border adjustment tax.
US Tsy's Mnuchin: 'Very Focused' On Passing Debt Ceiling Bill
Soon As Possible WASHINGTON (MNI) - Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Thursday he remains "very focused" in working with Congress to increase the statutory debt ceiling in a timely way. During a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee, Mnuchin said he believes it's important to increase the debt ceiling as quickly as possible.
US House Speaker Ryan: 'Working To Get' Tax Reform 'Consensus'
--House Speaker Ryan Says GOP Is Trying To Secure An Agreement On 'Framework' --Rep. Ryan: 'Anybody's Guess' What Kind of Health Bill Senate May Pass WASHINGTON (MNI) - House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday that congressional Republican leaders and the Trump administration are "working to get consensus" soon on a tax reform "framework." At a briefing, Ryan said Republican talks continue on what specific policy provisions such a tax reform framework might include and when it will be unveiled.
JP Resident Receives Award from MGH Institute of Health Professions School
Jamaica Plain resident Gregory Lof, PhD, CCC-SLP, was the recipient of an award from MGH Institute of Health Professions graduate school in Boston. Lof, who teaches in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disease received the 2017 Professor Emeritus. Lof is also Acting Dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
US's McConnell Pledges 'Wide Open' Senate Health Bill Debate
WASHINGTON (MNI) - Vice President Mike Pence broke a tie vote Tuesday in the Senate, allowing a Senate motion to advance that launches a debate on health legislation. The Senate initially voted 50 to 50 on the motion to begin debate on the health bill. Pence then cast the deciding vote to commence the debate. After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate debate on health care will be "wide open." "This is going to be an open amendment process," McConnell said.
US House Speaker Ryan: GOP Agrees on Four FY18 Spending Bills
--House Speaker Ryan Says Sequence of Budget Votes Is 'Academic Exercise' --House Majority Leader McCarthy: House Will Return To Session If Senate Passes WASHINGTON (MNI) - House Speaker Paul Ryan said Tuesday that Republicans have reached an agreement on four of the 12 annual spending bills for the 2018 fiscal year and will approve them this week as a package. "We have consensus on these four bills," Ryan said a briefing with his House Republican leadership team.
US Senate Plows Through Health Debate, House Takes on Spending
--Senate Maj Leader McConnell: Must 'Keep Up The Work' on Health Legislation --House To Tackle Large FY 2018 Spending Package WASHINGTON (MNI) - The Senate will continue to debate Wednesday legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but no alternative plan appears to command majority support in the Senate. The Senate voted Tuesday to begin debate on health care legislation, but then later soundly rejected the Senate Republican health plan.
US's McConnell: Senate To Hold Key Health Vote In 'Few Hours'
--Senate Majority Leader Urges GOP to Support His Motion To Begin Health Care --Sen. McConnell: Coming Vote Is 'Critical First Step' To Repeal Obamacare --Sen. Schumer: Not Sure What Health Plan Is Being 'Cooked Up' by McConnell WASHINGTON (MNI) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday the Senate will hold a key procedural vote "in a few hours" on whether the Senate should begin debating health legislation. The Senate has just adjourned.
US Congress Week: Senate To Hold Key Health Care Overhaul Vote
--House To Consider Package of Four FY 2018 Spending Bills --Tsy's Mnuchin To Testify Thursday To House Financial Services Panel --Senate Banking Panel To Hold Hearing Thursday on Quarles --Senate Panels To Hear From Trump Family, Campaign Mgr Behind Closed Doors WASHINGTON (MNI) - With the August recess approaching for the House and looming in the near distance for the Senate, congressional Republicans are frantically seeking some legislative accomplishments.
US's McConnell: Vows Senate Will Hold Key Health Vote Tuesday
--Senate Majority Leader Urges GOP to Support His Motion To Begin Health Care --Sen. McConnell: 'Obamacare Teeters on The Edge of Total Collapse' WASHINGTON (MNI) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed Monday to go forward with a key procedural vote Tuesday on whether the Senate should begin debating health legislation.
US Budget Week Ahead: House GOP Set To Shift Fiscal Gears
--FY 2018 Budget Blueprint Likely To Sit Until The Fall WASHINGTON (MNI) - For years, Republicans have professed deep respect for "regular order," a term meant to affirm the GOP's belief that Congress should follow its long established rules and traditions. But since taking full control of Washington this past January, the GOP has turned "regular order" on its head, especially as it pertains to fiscal policy.
US House Speaker Ryan: 'Going To Get' Tax Overhaul In 2017
--House Speaker Ryan Says This Is 'Once in A Generation Moment' --Ryan: U.S. Has 'Worst Business Tax Code in the Industrial World' WASHINGTON (MNI) - Reprising familiar themes and proclaiming abundant confidence, House Speaker Paul Ryan predicted Thursday that Congress will pass comprehensive tax reform this year. "We're going to get this done in 2017," Ryan said in remarks at the New Balance factory in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
US House GOP Still Faces Tough Sledding on FY 2018 Budget
--Moderate Republicans Balk At Entitlement Cuts, Conservatives Want More --Senate Majority Leader Offers Tribute To McCain, Praises Trump For Health Care WASHINGTON (MNI) - The House Republican leadership cleared its first major fiscal hurdle Wednesday evening when it managed to muscle through the House Budget Committee a GOP-drafted fiscal year 2018 budget resolution.
US House Budget Panel Passes GOP FY 18 Budget on 22 to 14 Vote
--GOP Budget Would Paves Way For Special Procedure To Use For Tax Bill WASHINGTON (MNI) - After nearly 12 hours of debate and votes on more than two dozen amendments, the House Budget Committee approved late Wednesday a Republican-drafted fiscal year 2018 budget resolution. The House Budget Committee approved on a party line 22 to 14 vote the budget drafted by the panel's Republican chair, Diane Black.
US House Budget Panel Debate Begins On Strongly Partisan Note
--House Budget Chair Black Says GOP Budget Alters Fiscal Path In Positive Way --Top Dem on House Budget Panel Says GOP Plan Reflects Worst Features of Trump WASHINGTON (MNI) - The House Budget Committee began its consideration Wednesday of a Republican-drafted fiscal year 2018 budget resolution in a sharply partisan way. The Budget panel's chair, Rep. Diane Black, said her plan would positively alter the trajectory of American fiscal policy while the top Democratic on the committee, Rep.
US's McConnell: Will Hold Key Procedural Health Vote Next Week
--Senate Majority Leader McConnell: Senate To Vote Next Week To Take Up WASHINGTON (MNI) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday the Senate will vote next week to take up legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In remarks at the White House after Senate Republicans met with President Donald Trump, McConnell said the Senate vote next week will be a procedural one. He added that if 50 senators vote to take up the bill, the legislation could be amended.
US Congress Week: GOP Seeks To Move Budget, Regroup On Health
--Senate GOP Delay Health Care Vote Due To Illness of McCain; Divisions Continue --House Budget Panel Likely To Unveil GOP's FY 2018 Budget Resolution --Senate Finance Committee To Hold Hearing Tuesday on Tax Reform, Tsy Nominee WASHINGTON (MNI) - Congressional Republicans face another critical week on Capitol Hill as they try to infuse energy and coherence into their faltering legislative agenda. The GOP faces critical decisions on health care, budget, and debt ceiling legislation.
US Sens. McConnell, Schumer Clash Over Fate of Health Law
--Senate Majority Leader McConnell: Senate To Vote Soon To Repeal Obamacare --Senate Minority Leader Schumer: Trump Now 'Actively Trying To Undermine' Heath WASHINGTON (MNI) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday the Senate will vote "in the very near future" on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, acknowledging there is not currently a Republican consensus on what should replace the health law.
US House Budget Chair Calls GOP Plan Bold, Dems Say Brutal
--House Budget Chair Black Says GOP Budget Is 'A Plan For Action' --Rep. Black: House Budget Panel Will Pass GOP Budget Wednesday --Top Dem on House Budget Panel Says GOP Plan is Badly Flawed WASHINGTON (MNI) - House Budget Committee Chair Diane Black said Tuesday the House Republican fiscal year 2018 budget would change the "culture" of Washington and alter the trajectory of American fiscal policy, transforming budget deficits into a small surplus by FY 2027.
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