Terry Branstad

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A Noteworthy Visit to Tibet Is Underway

Terry Branstad is first US ambassador to make the trip since 2015

(Newser) - The US ambassador to China is making a rare visit to Tibet to meet local officials and raise concerns about restrictions on Buddhist practices and the preservation of the Himalayan region's unique culture and language. The US Embassy in Beijing said Terry Branstad is visiting the Tibetan Autonomous Region...

After Huawei Arrest, China Hauls in US Ambassador

Incensed Beijing also has words for Canadian envoy, wants tech exec released ASAP

(Newser) - China wasted little time in summoning the US ambassador to Beijing on Sunday to protest the detention of a Huawei executive in Canada—immediately on the heels of warning Canadian envoy John McCallum that there would be "grave consequences" if Meng Wanzhou is not released. Vice Foreign Minister Le...

Top US Diplomat in China Quits Over Trump Policy

He refuses to implement climate withdrawal

(Newser) - America's top diplomat in China has stepped down because he refuses to implement President Trump's policies. David Rank, a career diplomat with 27 years in the foreign service, had been acting ambassador in Beijing since January 2016 and chose to depart even though his replacement, former Iowa Gov....

Trump Makes 2 New Big Picks for His Team

President-elect wants Gen. John Kelly for DHS, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad for China ambassador

(Newser) - Add two more names to the "Trump administration" list. The president-elect has named his pick for Homeland Security secretary, as well as for the US ambassador to China. For DHS: retired four-star Marine Gen. John Kelly, sources close to the transition team tell the AP . Kelly, who oversaw Gitmo,...

Iowa Governor: Let's Kill Our Straw Poll

It's a political relic, says GOP's Terry Branstad

(Newser) - The Iowa straw poll may be a political tradition for the GOP, but the state's own Republican governor thinks it should be retired. The Ames poll has "outlived its usefulness" except as a fundraiser for the party, Terry Branstad tells the Wall Street Journal . In more than 30...

GOP Govs to Romney: Hey, Economy's Not That Bad

Reelection interests clash with Romney's strategy

(Newser) - When Mitt Romney visited Iowa last month, he released an ad highlighting struggling, unemployed Iowans—which sort of irked Terry Branstad, the state's Republican governor. "My state is seeing significant growth," Branstad tells the Wall Street Journal , saying he didn’t know why Romney tried to stress...

Pink Slime Maker's Plants to Officially Close

Just one to remain open, at reduced capacity

(Newser) - In March, Beef Products Inc. halted work at 75% of its plants—and those conveyor belts will remain off. The purveyor of pink slime will close processing plants in three states this month because of the controversy surrounding its meat product, company officials announced yesterday. About 650 jobs will be...

Pink Slime-Loving Governor Has Task for Congress

...figure out source of the 'smear campaign' against the 'healthy, safe' product

(Newser) - He tried chowing down on pink slime, but Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is ready to take his lean-finely-textured-beef-love one step further: He wants Congress to pitch in. Branstad on Monday called for a congressional investigation into how the pink slime "smear campaign" began. Of course, Branstad has his own...

GOP Governors Not Touching 2012 Race

Some fret over dividing party, others think endorsements don't matter

(Newser) - The National Governors Association gathered in Washington over the weekend—and though DC is abuzz over who the GOP nominee will be, most Republican governors are resolutely sitting on their hands. The majority haven't yet endorsed a candidate, and probably won't until the nomination is near, Politico notes—...

Iowa Governor Thinks Rick Perry Is Running

Texas governor drops yet another hint that he's in for 2012

(Newser) - In the for-what-it's-worth department: Iowa's governor says he's pretty sure that Rick Perry will join the 2012 race for president. "I get the definite impression he's very likely to run," Terry Branstad tells the AP . Perry called his fellow Republican governor yesterday, saying that...

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