
Cotton wins third term in Senate for Arkansas: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) won his reelection campaign in Arkansas, securing a third term in the Senate ...
thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6188269-cotton-wins-third-term-in-senate-for-arkansas/

Trump Melts Down Over One of His Stalled Obsessions: The president is annoyed about more than just a midterm election humiliation.
thedailybeast.com/trump-melts-down-over-one-of-his-stalled-obsessions

Senate is skeptical about making daylight saving time permanent despite Trump’s pressure
ocregister.com/2026/10/29/senate-permanent-daylight-saving-time/
Senate skeptical about permanent daylight saving time: Get ready to fall back. The Senate is unlikely to act on a House-passed bill that would make daylight ...
apnews.com/article/daylight-saving-time-senate-trump-f9e065a6f5a3187731ea794b353c3a4f

Trump Urges People to Call Senator Tom Cotton Over Daylight Saving Bill: The president urged people to call Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas and accused him of ...
nytimes.com/2026/10/03/us/trump-tom-cotton-cellphone-number.html
Key FactsTrump Shares Senator Cotton’s Number Amid Daylight Saving Dispute
Oct 4, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cnn.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cnn.com
- Trump posted the number on Truth Social and urged Arkansas residents to call the senator.
- CNN initially reached a full voicemail box; after three rings, an automated message said the wireless customer was unavailable.
- The House passed a nationwide permanent-Daylight-Saving-Time measure 308–117 over the summer; the Senate has taken no action since.
- Cotton opposes changing the status quo and objected in 2025 to passing a similar measure by unanimous consent.
If Tom Cotton were putting Arkansas first, he would give them an extra hour of daylight and, more importantly, they wouldn’t have to run all over their houses, farms, work places, and everywhere else, twice a year, having to change their Clocks, and often forgetting to do so.— Donald J. Trump; Truth Social post about Daylight Saving Time; criticized Sen. Tom Cotton and urged Arkansans to contact him.

Sen. Kennedy: Trump goes from "Zero to a-hole in 3 seconds" - Salon.com: The GOP senator says Trump crossed a line by posting Sen. Tom Cotton's phone number over ...
salon.com/2026/10/04/sen-kennedy-trump-goes-from-zero-to-a-hole-in-3-seconds/

Pres. Donald Trump urges calls to Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton in push for permanent daylight saving time
chicagotribune.com/2026/10/03/trump-urges-calls-cotton-daylight-savings/

Trump foe threatens to reveal president’s phone number if doxxed: Tillis took a swipe at Trump after he posted the cell phone number of Arkansas Sen ...
independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/thom-tillis-trump-phone-number-threat-b3061758.html
Key FactsTillis Calls Hegseth Vote His Career’s Biggest Regret
Oct 6, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: pbs.org
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: pbs.org
- In the Jan. 24, 2025, vote, Tillis’s ballot made the result 50-50; Vice President JD Vance broke the tie.
- Tillis says discussions with the White House, Hegseth and people around him failed to corroborate the worst allegations.
- Tillis writes that he must live with his Kennedy vote and the harm his tenure allegedly caused the country.
- He says at least 30 Republican colleagues privately expressed reservations about many of the president’s actions.
"biggest regret of my career"— Sen. Thom Tillis, in his new book 'How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents', describing his vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary in January 2025.

Republican Senator Tries Desperately to Defuse Trump Tantrum: The GOP senator admitted Trump’s behavior might not have helped his case.
thedailybeast.com/republican-senator-john-kennedy-tries-desperately-to-defuse-trump-tantrum-over-daylight-saving-time/

Supporters are encouraged to call: Trump publishes phone number of a recalcitrant senator
n-tv.de/politik/Trump-veroeffentlicht-Telefonnummer-eines-renitenten-Senators-id31378018.html

GOP Senator Flooded With Venmo Requests After Trump Post: The president put Sen. Tom Cotton’s phone number online, and the internet did its thing.
thedailybeast.com/gop-senator-flooded-with-venmo-requests-after-trump-post/
Key FactsTrump Posts Cotton’s Number, Venmo Requests Follow
Oct 4, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
- Trump posted Cotton’s number on Truth Social early Saturday to pressure support for permanent daylight saving time.
- Cotton said he opposed the proposal because children in Arkansas could attend school in winter darkness.
- The House passed the bill in July, but it remains stalled in the Senate.
- After the account was identified, users submitted payment requests; by Sunday, the Venmo link was unavailable.
No one likes changing the clock, me included, but Congress has enacted permanent Daylight Savings Time multiple times before and repealed it each time once Americans experienced absurdly late sunrises in the winter.— Sen. Tom Cotton spoke on X about daylight saving time and the Sunshine Protection Act.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) weighed after President Trump posted Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) phone number online amid a dispute over permanent daylight saving ... Show more
Senate Republican on Trump posting Cotton's number: 'From zero to a-hole in about 3 seconds'
Senate Republican on Trump posting Cotton's number: 'From zero to a-hole in about 3 seconds'

Cotton’s opponent: ‘Not once’ has daylight saving time come up on campaign trail: Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) Democratic opponent Hallie Shoffner said Tuesday ...
thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6131527-trump-criticizes-arkansas-senator-cotton/

Trump’s feud with Cotton snaps heads in the Senate: President Trump’s doxing of Sen. Tom Cotton over a stalled bill to establish year-round daylight saving time ...
thehill.com/homenews/senate/6130745-trump-doxxed-senator-cotton/

Permanent daylight saving time: Why this Republican senator disagrees with it, despite Trump’s support
thehill.com/homenews/6129610-permanent-daylight-saving-time-why-this-republican-senator-disagrees-with-it-despite-trumps-support/

John Kennedy Rips Trump Posting Tom Cotton's Phone Number: President Donald Trump's shocking move to publicly post a Republican Senator's cell phone number is ...
mediaite.com/media/news/gop-senator-hits-tempestuous-trump-for-posting-his-colleagues-cell-phone-number-he-can-go-from-zero-to-a-hole-in-about-3-seconds/
Trump Fumes at MAGA Loyalist in 385-Word Ragepost: The president launched into a breathless rant which also sent a clear demand to Republicans.
thedailybeast.com/trump-fumes-at-maga-loyalist-in-385-word-ragepost/
Trump shares Republican senator’s phone number in feud over time switch: The president urged people to call Arkansas Republican Tom Cotton, who opposes Trump ...
ebx.sh/ETvN9Q

Cotton demands Pentagon review F-35 supply chain security: Republican Senator Tom Cotton called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to review military supply chain ...
en.yenisafak.com/world/cotton-demands-pentagon-review-f-35-supply-chain-security-3723902

Wait, Are Dems Ahead in ... Arkansas?: Read about a wild poll showing Tom Cotton trailing Hallie Shoffner, Xavier Becerra’s senior slump of a campaign in ...
newrepublic.com/post/214604/tom-cotton-arkansas-poll-hallie-shoffner

GOP Senator Claims Abdul El-Sayed Said America ‘Deserved 9/11,' Then Corrects Himself
huffpost.com/entry/tom-cotton-abdul-el-sayed-september-11-tweet_n_6a74f6cfe4b0a79b03a797cd
A Milwaukee family is seeking answers after 16-year-old Armani Thomas-Cotton was killed in a drive-by shooting. See link below ⬇️
📸 Shane Colpoys
Full story: ... Show more
Family gather to remember teen killed in Milwaukee drive-by shooting
Family gather to remember teen killed in Milwaukee drive-by shooting

GOP senator calls over Capitol Police after reporter asks him about Mitch McConnell
independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/mitch-mcconnell-pete-ricketts-capitol-b3025295.html

Dem Senate hopeful Shoffner pulls promising poll numbers against unlikeable Cotton
arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2026/08/05/dem-senate-hopeful-shoffner-pulls-promising-poll-numbers-against-unlikeable-cotton
🟡NEW: Republican Sen. Tom Cotton has urges the Trump administration to ban government agencies and contractors from using Chinese AI models ... Show more
Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with US Senators Cotton, Fetterman during visit to Washington
jpost.com/israel-news/article-904057
The bill that would make daylight saving time permanent hits a wall in the Senate:
Sen. Tom Cotton, has previously opposed the bill ... Show more

'Iran only understands force': US senator backs Trump as IRGC vows 'severest blows'
wionews.com/world/iran-only-understands-force-us-senator-backs-trump-as-irgc-vows-severest-blows-1784153589413

Tom Cotton, the Senate’s foremost Iran hawk, is in a Trump-induced jam: A decade after blasting a remarkably similar Iran deal, the Intelligence chair is now ...
politico.com/news/2026/06/20/tom-cotton-iran-deal-trump-00968787

Top GOP Senator Tom Cotton Defies Trump in Heated Battle Over DNI Nominee: Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) stood firm against President Trump after the commander in ...
mediaite.com/media/news/top-gop-senator-tom-cotton-defies-trump-in-heated-battle-over-dni-nominee/

Senate Democrats block short-term extensions of FISA 702 spy powers: Senate Democrats on Thursday blocked Republicans’ attempt to pass a short-term extension of ...
thehill.com/homenews/senate/5920406-fisa-702-senate-unanimous-consent/
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Tom Cotton declined to comment on President Donald Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting Director of ... Show more


GOP senators press intelligence officials to assess China AI capabilities: Sens. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) are pressing top intelligence ...
thehill.com/policy/technology/5895902-gop-senators-press-intelligence-officials-to-assess-china-ai-capabilities/
Paid articlePaywall The Week That Broke Trump’s Control Over Congress: GOP senators fought back after Texas endorsement and creation of ‘slush fund’
wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-republican-congress-control-98a13bd9

‘Cotton picking’: US lawmaker condemned for racist comment about Jeffries: US representative Jen Kiggans appears to endorse racist statements about top House ...
aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/12/cotton-picking-us-lawmaker-condemned-for-racist-comment-about-jeffries

How fake armed robberies are being used to get US visas and green cards: In an effort to address fraudulent practices associated with the U-Visa ...
financialexpress.com/immigration/what-is-the-u-visa-and-why-is-a-us-senator-calling-it-an-amnesty-loophole/4232392/

Cotton: Change to marijuana drug classification ‘a step in the wrong direction’: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Thursday criticized the Department of Justice’s ...
thehill.com/homenews/senate/5845759-tom-cotton-doj-medical-marijuana-reclassification/

Trump Goon Reveals Incoming Citizenship Banking Plot: Multimillionaire Bessent also flexed about his global property portfolio.
thedailybeast.com/trump-goon-reveals-incoming-citizenship-banking-plot/

Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton endorses Brian Shortsleeve in MA gubernatorial race
bostonherald.com/2026/04/06/republican-u-s-sen-tom-cotton-endorses-brian-shortsleeve-in-ma-gubernatorial-race/

Republicans Want To Track All Student Visa Holders: Senator Tom Cotton has proposed a bill requiring universities to report all non-U.S ...
newsweek.com/republicans-want-track-all-student-visa-holders-11732674
Tom Cotton pushes back on criticism of the conflict, comparing it to questioning Dwight D. Eisenhower shortly after D-Day and saying success “is going to take ... Show more

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said that he believes U.S. military action against Iran will have “overwhelming support” among Republicans on Capitol Hill ... Show more
Cotton: Iran strikes will have ‘overwhelming support’ among GOP lawmakers
Cotton: Iran strikes will have ‘overwhelming support’ among GOP lawmakers
As Democrats and a few Republicans push for war powers votes in Congress in the wake of President Trump’s strikes on Iran ... Show more

Margaret Brennan: “Is this a managed regime change here, or is the United States betting on regime collapse?”
Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton ... Show more


Top Republican says Trump doesn’t need a ‘plan’ for dealing with Iran’s future: ‘It’s not his job’
independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-tom-cotton-iran-invasion-b2929760.html

Cotton: US strikes will focus on ‘thousands’ of Iranian missiles: Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said that U.S. military strikes over ...
thehill.com/homenews/senate/5761535-cotton-iran-missiles-us-strikes/
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said he had reviewed a whistleblower complaint alleging wrongdoing by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and agrees with ... Show more
Cotton says whistleblower complaint against Gabbard ‘not credible’
Cotton says whistleblower complaint against Gabbard ‘not credible’
Key FactsTulsi Gabbard's Intelligence Controversy Uncovered
Feb 5, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
- A whistleblower complaint filed in May 2025 accuses Tulsi Gabbard of politically restricting a highly classified intelligence report.
- The Intelligence Community Inspector General described the report as the most sensitive urgent concern ever received by the office.
- Congressional leaders are reviewing the case amid concerns about delayed reporting and incomplete transparency.
- Gabbard’s past connections to Russia and public support for Putin and Assad raise questions about her judgment.
This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/Nato had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns.— Tulsi Gabbard on the war in Ukraine and the role of the Biden administration.

Gavin Newsom Eviscerates 2 Republican Bigs In Surgical Posts About Minneapolis: The California governor described one of them as a “heartless fraud.”
huffpost.com/entry/gavin-newsom-jd-vance-tom-cotton-minneapolis_n_697757c4e4b00e79865d80cd

Cotton PAC polling says voters want ICE to ‘tone down’: Polling from a group linked to Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) found that a generous sum of Americans want ...
thehill.com/homenews/senate/5715174-ice-deportation-tactics-pac-poll/

Cotton: New Venezuela leaders ‘need to meet our demands’: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said Sunday that any new leadership in Venezuela would be required “to meet ...
thehill.com/homenews/senate/5671781-cotton-venezuela-leadership-demands/
Key FactsMaduro Denies Drug Charges in High-Profile US Trial
Jan 6, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: dailymaverick.co.za
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: dailymaverick.co.za
- Nicolas Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty to narcotics trafficking and weapons possession charges in a federal court in New York.
- He is accused of managing a cocaine distribution network linked to Colombian rebels and Mexican cartels.
- US Special Forces captured Maduro in Caracas last Saturday, provoking international political backlash and legal debates.
- President Trump aims to reclaim Venezuela’s oil reserves, while the acting Venezuelan government seeks dialogue with Washington.

Tom Cotton Swipes At Dana Bash Asking If The US Is ‘Repeating The Mistakes in Iraq with Venezuela’
mediaite.com/media/news/tom-cotton-swipes-at-dana-bash-asking-if-the-us-is-repeating-the-mistakes-in-iraq-with-venezuela/
Sen. Tom Cotton says new Venezuelan government cannot "continue Nicolás Maduro's ways"
cbsnews.com/news/tom-cotton-venezuela-maduro-face-the-nation/

Cotton defends lack of congressional notification for Maduro operation: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Saturday said the Trump administration did not notify ...
thehill.com/homenews/senate/5670962-cotton-trump-congress-notification-maduro-operation/

Sen. Tom Cotton says survivors of first September boat strike 'were not incapacitated'
nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/tom-cotton-survivors-september-boat-strike-not-incapacitated-bradley-rcna247750

GOP Senator Offers Bonkers Defense for Hesgeth’s Boat Strike: Sen. Tom Cotton dismissed suggestions that the survivors of the strike were trying to surrender ...
thedailybeast.com/gop-senator-offers-bonkers-defense-for-hesgeths-boat-strike/

CNN Anchor Throws Down With Tom Cotton Over Legality of Trump’s Boat Strikes: ‘When Will You V ...
mediaite.com/media/tv/cnn-anchor-throws-down-with-tom-cotton-over-legality-of-trumps-boat-strikes-when-will-you-vote/

Admiral says two survivors on ‘narco boat’ hit with second strike had no way to call for help, report says
independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/admiral-bradley-boat-strike-survivors-b2879119.html

Democrats Call for Release of Boat Strike Footage. Here’s What It May Show: Here’s what lawmakers who’ve seen the footage have said it shows.
time.com/7339227/boat-strike-video-release-caribbean-democrats-republicans-trump-hegseth-bradley/

Sen. Cotton says he has no objection to releasing video of strike that killed two survivors
pbs.org/newshour/politics/sen-cotton-says-he-has-no-objection-to-releasing-video-of-strike-that-killed-two-survivors

Democratic and GOP lawmakers contradict each other in describing ‘double tap’ boat strike footage
independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/adam-smith-senate-cotton-war-crime-b2879764.html

Exclusive: US Republican senator calls for DOJ and Homeland Security to investigate Shein, Temu for counterfeiting
reuters.com/world/us-republican-senator-calls-doj-homeland-security-investigate-shein-temu-2025-12-01/

Tom Cotton Says Double-Tap Strike Survivors Needed to Die After ‘Trying to Flip’ Their Boat Ba ...
mediaite.com/politics/tom-cotton-says-double-tap-strike-survivors-needed-to-die-after-trying-to-flip-their-boat-back-over/

Paid articlePaywall Pentagon weighs release of double-tap strike footage: Trump said he had no problem releasing the video.
axios.com/2025/12/04/trump-hegseth-defense-venezuela-drug-boat
Unauthorized drone flights pose rising threat to U.S. bases, border, civilian events, senator warns
cbsnews.com/news/unauthorized-drone-flights-rising-threat-u-s-bases-border-events-tom-cotton/
In a statement to USA TODAY, CBS News said Gayle King is "a truly valued part of CBS and we look forward to engaging with her about the future ... Show more
CBS News addresses report of Gayle King's 'CBS Mornings' future
CBS News addresses report of Gayle King's 'CBS Mornings' future
The director of the CIA John Ratcliffe said that U.S. President Donald Trump was correct when stating that both China and Russia were conducting secret nuclear ... Show more

CIA director, Senate intel chairman say Trump 'is right' about secret Russian and Chinese nuclear tests
nypost.com/2025/11/03/us-news/cia-director-senate-intel-chairman-say-trump-is-right-about-russian-and-chinese-nuclear-tests/
Key FactsRenewed Nuclear Threats Demand Strategic Overhaul
Nov 1, 2025 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: foreignaffairs.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: foreignaffairs.com
- Since 2009, the nuclear threat landscape has dramatically shifted with China's rapid arsenal expansion and Russia and North Korea employing nuclear weapons more aggressively.
- The United States now faces the unprecedented challenge of deterring multiple nuclear great powers simultaneously while modernizing an aging arsenal.
- Potential coordination between China, Russia, and North Korea raises the stakes for a synchronized nuclear or conventional conflict, threatening global security.
- To maintain credible deterrence, the U.S. must adapt its nuclear forces, reaffirm commitment to allies, and pursue renewed arms control efforts.
Clocks are set to "fall back" this weekend across the United States. Some states have legislation, ready and waiting, to ban the time change ... Show more
Nineteen states are ready to ban the time change. Here's what would need to happen first.
Nineteen states are ready to ban the time change. Here's what would need to happen first.

Massachusetts Sen. Markey’s ‘more daylight’ comment faces renewed heat as clocks go back
bostonherald.com/2025/10/31/massachusetts-sen-markeys-more-daylight-comment-faces-renewed-heat-as-clocks-go-back/

Stefanik urges Treasury to probe CAIR’s alleged Hamas links: U.S. Congressmember Elise Stefanik and Senate Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton have called for ...
news10.com/news/ny-news/cair-responds-to-stefanik-letter/

H-1B visa program under fire as US lawmaker introduces bill to close loopholes: The H-1B visa program has a regular cap of 65,000 and an additional 20,000 for U ...
financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad-us-lawmaker-introduces-bill-to-close-h-1b-visa-loopholes-3997422/

“Imaginary and Unfounded”: Jack Smith Finally Hits Back at MAGA: The former special counsel has responded to a flimsy ethics complaint against him.
newrepublic.com/post/199631/jack-smith-hits-back-maga-ethics-complaint-trump
Key FactsJack Smith's Ethics Probe Deemed Baseless by Lawyers
Aug 26, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cbsnews.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cbsnews.com
- An ethics investigation was initiated into Jack Smith's management of two criminal inquiries involving Donald Trump.
- Smith's legal team dismissed the probe's foundation as imaginary and denied any violation of the Hatch Act.
- They asserted Smith made prosecutorial decisions strictly based on evidence, unaffected by the upcoming election.
- Opponents allege political bias, but Smith's defenders argue that justice must remain independent of political influence.
This investigation is premised on a partisan complaint that suggests the ordinary operation of the criminal justice system should be disrupted by the whims of a political contest.— Jack Smith's attorneys in a letter defending him against the ethics probe.

Office of Special Counsel launches investigation into ex-Trump prosecutor Jack Smith
nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/office-special-counsel-launches-investigation-ex-trump-prosecutor-jack-rcna222625
Key FactsInvestigation Targets Jack Smith for Political Activity
Aug 3, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: orlandosentinel.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: orlandosentinel.com
- Jack Smith, special counsel, faces scrutiny for alleged Hatch Act violations linked to his Trump investigations.
- Smith charged Trump in 2023 with conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified materials.
- Both cases were dropped after Trump’s 2024 presidential win, citing Justice Department guidelines on indicting sitting presidents.
- It is not yet known if similar probes involve other special counsels appointed to investigate Biden.
A political appointee is going to do what the president wants. So, you know, it’s not really functioning as an independent agency.— Richard Painter, the top ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, discussing the independence of the Office of Special Counsel.

Gabbard: ODNI to slash costs, workforce by 40% as part of major intel agency overhaul
usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/20/odni-costs-by-40-percent-big-intelligence-agency-overhaul/85748333007/

Trump demands CEO of US chip maker Intel resign 'immediately': Trump demands CEO of US chip maker Intel resign 'immediately' - Companies - ...
thejakartapost.com/business/2025/08/08/trump-demands-ceo-of-us-chip-maker-intel-resign-immediately.html
Key FactsTrump Demands Intel CEO Resign Over China Ties
Aug 7, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: reut.rs
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: reut.rs
- President Trump called for the immediate resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan due to his connections with Chinese companies.
- Reuters revealed Tan invested at least $200 million in Chinese advanced manufacturing and chip firms, some linked to the Chinese military.
- Intel’s shares dropped 3% following Trump’s comments, as the company pursues a major business transformation.
- Intel’s board remains fully supportive of Tan and emphasizes his commitment to U.S. national and economic security.
The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem.— Donald Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform demanding the immediate resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan due to his ties with Chinese firms.
