Trump, Iran and impeachment

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VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE FRI, JAN 03, 2020 CNBC POLITICS EDITOR'S NOTE Hello,   The new year is beginning on a sober and scary note.   American forces on Thursday launched an attack in Iraq and killed Iran's top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, on President Trump's order. The airstrike rattled markets, juiced tensions in the already-tense Middle East, and stoked global fears of an expanded conflict.    Trump, who previously claimed President Obama would start a war with Iran to win reelection, defended his decision as critics accused him of needlessly escalating America's standoff with the Middle Eastern nation. The president tweeted that Soleimani, a feared figure who was a deadly adversary to the United States, "should have been taken out many years ago!"   Iran swiftly vowed revenge. Some analysts suggested that any armed conflict that stems from Soleimani's killing could be confined to Iraqi soil. There were also concerns that Iran could launch cyberattacks against U.S. businesses.   But the immediate future is murky, both in terms of how this will unfold on a global scale and in the U.S., where Trump is facing an impeachment trial and a tough reelection fight.   The only thing that's clear is we're just three days into 2020, but the world is already a much different place than it was in 2019.   Thanks for reading.   Thoughts? Email me at CNBCPolitics@nbcuni.com.     Have friends or colleagues who might like this newsletter? They can sign up here. For more on the intersection of business and politics, sign up for the weekly Capital Exchange newsletter here. Mike Calia @Michael_Calia KEY STORIES  Trump tweets after US kills Iranian general: 'He should have been taken out many years ago!' On Trump's order, U.S. forces launched an airstrike that killed Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani. Iran is vowing to retaliate. Senate returns as Trump impeachment trial and Soleimani killing hang over Washington Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer could speak Friday about the looming impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Iran vows to retaliate over the killing of its top military commander "The U.S. bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter. 'A stick of dynamite into a tinderbox' – 2020 Democrats rip Trump's decision to kill Iranian General Soleimani Top 2020 Democratic contenders slammed the decision to take out Iran's top commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, in an airstrike in Baghdad, saying the attack will likely lead to escalation. Elizabeth Warren raises $21.2 million in the fourth quarter after warning about a decline in donations Sen. Elizabeth Warren raised $21.2 million in the fourth quarter, putting her behind former Vice President Joe Biden, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Iran has shown a talent for cyberattacks, and businesses may be a prime target for retaliation Iran has explicitly shown its ability to conduct widespread cyberattacks against U.S. businesses in response to American action, notably against the biggest U.S. banks throughout 2012 and 2013, one expert said. Years before killing Qasem Soleimani, Trump warned Obama would start war with Iran to get reelected Trump's order for the attack on Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Quds Force, came 10 months before the U.S. presidential election — in which Trump is seeking a second term in the White House — and weeks after the House impeached him. FDA bans most fruit- and mint-flavored nicotine vaping products The Food and Drug Administration is banning most fruit- and mint-flavored nicotine vaping products in an effort to curb a surge in teen use, the agency said Thursday.       Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2020 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. A property of NBCUniversal. 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes and Market Data and Analysis. Data also provided by THOMSON REUTERS