Rand Paul defends troop withdrawal in Syria, reduction in Afghanistan
The senator from Kentucky praised President Trump for withdrawing 2,000 Americans troops from Syria
Syria
Trump ousts Mattis 2 months early, taps Shanahan as acting defense chief
Decision follows a sharply critical resignation letter by defense secretary of the president's foreign policy
Trump tweets about Mattis, Syria withdrawal and McGurk exit
Trump criticized the media, writing "if anybody but your favorite President, Donald J. Trump" withdrew troops from Syria, "that person would be the most popular hero in America"
Top U.S. envoy in ISIS fight resigns
Brett McGurk had been planning to exit his post in February. But sources tell CBS News that he informed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that he will accelerate his departure due to a strong disagreement with President Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria. He submitted his resignation on Friday, CBS News' "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan reports.
Top U.S. envoy in ISIS fight resigns
Brett McGurk, envoy for coalition to defeat ISIS, resigns over Trump's sudden decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria
Russia’s U.N. envoy on U.S. relations: "We don't want to be loved," just "respected"
"We want a dialogue on issues which are important," said Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia
Allies concerned over Mattis resignation
Defense Secretary James Mattis announced his resignation Thursday following President Trump's decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria and Afghanistan. Mattis will remain on the job for two more months. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.
Mattis resigns, rebukes Trump's approach
Defense Secretary James Mattis says he will leave the Trump administration at the end of February. Mattis said the president has a right to a defense secretary whose views are "better aligned" with his own. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin explains what led to Mattis' decision.
Mattis resigns, stresses respect for allies
Defense Secretary James Mattis will leave his post at the end of February. He handed in his letter of resignation just one day after President Trummp announced the U.S. would pull its troops out of Syria. Retired Navy SEAL Dave Sears discusses Mattis' leadership and what his exit means for the Trump administration.
Winnefeld on "concerning" Mattis resignation
Defense Secretary James Mattis announced he will resign after President Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. Retired Adm. Sandy Winnefeld, CBS News military and homeland security analyst and former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when Mattis led the U.S. Central Command, joins "CBS This Morning" from Denver to discuss the implications of the general's departure.
Mattis resigns amid disagreements with Trump
Defense Secretary James Mattis abruptly announced he will resign after President Trump stunned advisers with this week's decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. Sources tell CBS News the president is also ordering 7,000 troops to leave Afghanistan – a position Mattis also opposes. David Martin reports.
The final straw that triggered Mattis to resign
Lawmakers from both parties voiced concerns and criticism about the defense secretary's abrupt resignation
Pentagon ordered to begin planning troop drawdown in Afghanistan
The news broke the same day Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced he will depart the Trump administration
Lawmakers react to Mattis’ surprise resignation announcement
Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressed concern about Mattis' resignation
Putin's end-of-year press conference
Russian President Vladimir Putin held his year-end press conference, where he praised President Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. He also warned of the growing threat of nuclear war between Russia and the United States. Markos Kounalakis, a foreign affairs columnist for McClatchy News and visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, joins CBSN with analysis.
Putin defends Trump at press conference
At his annual end-of-year news conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists he welcomed President Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria. He said "major advances" have been made in the fight against ISIS. CBS News foreign correspondent Charlie D'Agata reports.
James Mattis resigns as defense secretary
Mattis said in resignation letter to Trump that he has right to defense secretary "whose views are better aligned with yours"
Major takeaways from James Mattis' resignation letter
The outgoing secretary of defense made it clear that he had disagreements with Trump's approach to the world
U.S. ally in Syria warns troop pullout will lead to ISIS resurgence
"The war against terrorism has not ended and [ISIS] has not been defeated," Syrian Democratic Forces said
"Assad has won," expert says, as Trump pulls troops from Syria
Republicans and Democrats alike are condemning the president's decision to withdraw U.S. forces
Trump's Syria withdrawal plan worries allies
Critics say President Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria would jeopardize the coalition's mission and hurt allies, creating a vacuum for ISIS or other terror groups to thrive. Joshua Geltzer is the executive director for Georgetown Law's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council. He joins CBSN to explain why President Trump should rethink his decision.
12/19: CBS Evening News
Trump abruptly orders withdrawl of U.S. troops from Syria; Sully the service dog will head to a new adventure after the holidays
Ian Bremmer: "Assad has won" in Syria
CBS News senior global affairs contributor and Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss President Trump's decision to withdraw all U.S. ground troops from Syria. He says the U.S. in not creating a vacuum by withdrawing troops, and there are other things the country could be doing with the money.
Putin warns of growing threat of nuclear war
"The danger of the situation escalating is being downplayed," Putin said during his annual end-of-year news conference
Putin backs Trump's Syria decision
Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcoming President Trump's plan to remove U.S. troops from Syria. Putin is holding his famously-long, end-of-the-year press conference in Moscow on Thursday, taking questions from hundreds of Russian and foreign journalists. Charlie D’Agata reports.
live updates
Government shutdown live updates as impasse enters second day
The first government shutdown in nearly seven years is underway as Republicans and Democrats remain at an impasse over 2025 funding. Follow live updates here.
The facts behind the shutdown debate over health care and immigrants in U.S. illegally
One of the main lines of attack leveled by Republicans amid the government shutdown is that Democratic lawmakers want to give immigrants in the U.S. illegally free healthcare — which Democrats deny.
At least 4 wounded in attack outside synagogue in Manchester, England
Police in the English city of Manchester say a vehicle ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue left at least four members of the public wounded.
Exclusive
Head of Eisenhower library resigns after sword spat with Trump administration
A dispute over a gift given by President Trump to King Charles forced out the museum boss, sources say.
Jane Goodall, renowned conservationist, dies at 91
British conservationist Jane Goodall spent her life researching and educating others about chimpanzees and the natural world.
Gaza flotilla boats intercepted by Israel dozens of miles from Gaza coast
Israel says Gaza flotilla activists, including Greta Thunberg, are safe and being transferred to Israel after their boats were intercepted at sea.
Investors are unfazed about the government shutdown. Here's why.
Data shows government shutdowns tend to have a modest impact on financial markets and the broader U.S. economy.
Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt retakes prime West Wing office space
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is reclaiming the press secretary's traditional West Wing office — a roomy space with a fireplace.
Two Delta planes collide on taxiway of New York's LaGuardia Airport
There were no serious injuries after two passenger jets had a collision on the taxiway of LaGuardia Airport, officials said.