AMBASSADOR/GOVERNMENT/MIKE PENCE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Vice President Mike Pence tried to enlist America’s ambassadors in the shutdown fight on Wednesday [1-16-19], telling the diplomats they each have ‘a role to play as we take the battle forward on Capitol Hill to secure our border.’ But even as Pence urged the embassy chiefs to defend President Donald Trump’s tough immigration policy, he did not mention the partial government shutdown’s impact on U.S. diplomatic staff stationed across the globe. Hundreds of embassy employees have been furloughed amid the stalemate over Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion in border wall funding. Pence made the remarks in a wide-ranging speech at the State Department, where about 180U.S. ambassadors gathered this week for a Chiefs of Mission conference. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decided to move ahead with the conference despite the shutdown. A State Department spokesman said the gathering was essential to national security and the conduct of U.S. foreign affairs.”
–Deirdre Shesgreen, “Vice President Pence tries to enlist U.S. ambassadors in the shutdown fight, but doesn’t mention furlough,” USA Today, January 16, 2019 2:45 pm