Monday, Oct. 21

á           Nearly 1,000 United States troops formerly stationed in northern Syria crossed the Iraqi border as part of President Donald TrumpÕs withdrawal decision, which was criticized across the political spectrum as a betrayal to the U.S.Õs Kurdish allies. Trump said it was Òtime to bring our soldiers back home,Ó but later Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the troops would move into western Iraq Òto help defendÓ against ISIS militants.

á           Trump suggested he would keep some U.S. troops in Syria to protect oil resources. When reporters asked him about the Kurds, Trump answered, ÒWe never agreed to protect [them] for the rest of their lives.Ó

á           The Justice Department issued regulations mandating DNA collection for legal migrants in official entry points.

Tuesday, Oct. 22

á           Joining a growing list of testimonies that confirm the quid pro quo story at the heart of the impeachment inquiry, acting ambassador to Ukraine William B. Taylor told investigators Trump said he would withhold security aid to Ukraine unless UkraineÕs president Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to investigate TrumpÕs political rivals.

á           The Trump administration moved to allow the use of water diverted from the San Francisco Bay-Delta for arid farmland irrigation. The plan, to be finalized in January, endangers the delta smelt, a small fish with no commercial value but whose health indicates the overall quality of the bay delta ecosystem.

á           The House of Representatives unanimously passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act. The act expands a 2010 law signed by former President Barack Obama by making animal cruelty a federal offense with a prison time penalty of up to seven years.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

á           Dozens of House Republicans tried to block impeachment proceedings by storming the secure room where the testimony of impeachment witness Laura K. Cooper was about to take place. The Republicans said they were Òprotesting the closed-door nature of the proceedings,Ó according to the Times.

á           Trump announced Turkey agreed to a permanent cease-fire in northeastern Syria.

á           The Trump administration sued the state of California in an attempt to prevent the state from stepping over the federal government in international emissions-curbing leadership and to block portions of its greenhouse gas reduction program.

Thursday, Oct. 24

á           Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, who died last week at the age of 68, became the first African-American elected official to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol, a tradition in which the body of a person of national importance is displayed in a public place to be honored before burial.

á           A federal judge fined Secretary of Education Betsy Devos for contempt of court when she violated an order to end loan collection owed by students to a defunct, for-profit college chain.

á           Joe BidenÕs presidential campaign announced he would accept the assistance of super PACs, political action committees that engage in independent, unlimited fundraising to indirectly support a political campaign. Biden previously denounced super PACs in a show of good faith toward middle class voters and grassroots organizing, and explained the change of heart as a necessity to better finance the battle against Trump.

á           Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced a resolution condemning the impeachment inquiry in the House. The resolution calls for a vote to formalize the inquiry, which happened during the Nixon and Clinton impeachment processes but is not constitutionally required, and to offer Republicans the same subpoena-issuing authority as Democrats.

Friday, Oct. 25

á           Official Treasury figures indicated the U.S. federal budget deficit increased this year by 26% to $984 billion, its highest in seven years, in large part as a result of TrumpÕs tax and spending policies.

á           Russian operative Maria Butina, who infiltrated conservative Republican groups during the 2016 election as a firearms advocate, was deported to her home country after serving 15 months in federal prison.

á           Federal judge Beryl A. Howell ruled that the impeachment inquiry was legal and legitimate even without a formal vote by lawmakers. Howell also ordered access to special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIÕs secret grand jury evidence to the House Judiciary Committee.

á           Impeachment witness Charles M. Kupperman, former deputy national security advisor, filed a lawsuit to rule on whether he can testify in the impeachment inquiry. Trump claimed to invoke Òconstitutional immunityÓ to prevent Kupperman from testifying, which left him in an uncertain legal position.

á           At the request of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Department of Transportation announced the suspension of flights between the U.S. and nine airports in Cuba starting in December.

Saturday, Oct. 26

á           Philip T. Reeker, acting assistant secretary in charge of European and Eurasian Affairs, told impeachment investigators he repeatedly pleaded with State Department leaders to defend top Ukraine ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch from false attacks purportedly orchestrated by TrumpÕs personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Sunday, Oct. 27

á           In a nationally televised address, Trump announced the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a commando raid after a five-year manhunt.