The government in
action
á Monday, March 5
á The speaker of
the House, Paul Ryan criticized the president over his decision to impose
tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, saying they could lead to a damaging trade war. http://politi.co/2I7C9tG
á
Republican Sen. Thad Cochran of Missouri said he will resign
from the Senate when the spending-bill process is completed due to health
issues. A special election for his seat will be held in November on the same
day as the mid-term elections. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/us/politics/thad-cochran-retire-senate.html
á Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg said he does not plan to comply with a subpoena
from Special Counsel Robert Mueller. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-trump-aide-sam-nunberg-called-before-grand-jury-says-he-will-refuse-to-go/2018/03/05/24c8b86a-20a9-11e8-badd-7c9f29a55815_story.html?utm_term=.f982d9ecb27c
Tuesday, March 6
á North Korean leader,
Kim Jong-un told a South Korean envoy in Pyongyang,
that he is willing to meet with President Donald Trump to discuss giving up his
nuclear weapons without prior conditions. Kim is reported to have said that
North Korea will refrain from further rocket tests and rescind a previous
demand that the United States and South Korea stop joint military exercise in
and around the Korean Peninsula. https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/xw53nk/kim-jong-un-offers-to-halt-nuke-tests-in-exchange-for-us-talks
á
One day after saying he would not testify, former Trump aide Sam Nunberg
told The Associated Press that he was angry over MuellerÕs subpoena and request
to have him turn over thousands of emails and other communications with other
ex-officials, but predicted that, in the end, he would probably comply. http://bit.ly/2FhzrnG
á Adult entertainment star and director
Stormy Daniels filed suit against Donald Trump asking to be released from an
agreement in which she was allegedly paid $130,000 by Trump attorney Michael
Cohen to keep silent before the 2016 election about an alleged affair with
Trump in 2006. https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/porn-star-stormy-daniels-sues-president-trump/2018/03/06/1ad8e60a-21a7-11e8-a589-763893265565_story.html?utm_term=.56d9408836f9
Wednesday, March 7
á The United States
sued the State of California over its so-called ÒsanctuaryÓ policies that
protect undocumented residents from federal extradition efforts. The Department
of Justice also asked the court for a preliminary injunction to stop the laws
from being enforced while the lawsuit is pending. https://www.npr.org/2018/03/06/591301485/justice-department-sues-california-over-immigration-laws
á
Politico
reported that the EU is set to impose tariffs on a wide range of American
products to retaliate against TrumpÕs tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum.
https://bloom.bg/2FWVvkf
á The Veterans Administration Inspector
General released a report blaming a culture of complacency at the Department of
Veterans Affairs medical center in Washington D.C., since at least 2013, for
widespread problems there. https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/07/politics/washington-dc-va-hospital-inspector-general/index.html
Thursday, March 8
á Trump formally
initiated a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum, but
exempted Mexico and Canada, at least temporarily, while negotiations over NAFTA
are in progress. The tariffs were greeted with stiff resistance and threats of
retaliation, but for his part, Trump said he welcomed a Òtrade war.Ó https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/after-trump-promises-tariff-announcement-staff-scrambles-to-figure-out-what-hell-say/2018/03/08/5e1483e4-22e6-11e8-86f6-54bfff693d2b_story.html?utm_term=.c7855ca3b9fc&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-n
á
The Associated Press reported that TrumpÕs top lawyer, White House counsel
Don McGahn, has issued at least 24 ethics waivers to
key administration officials at the White House and executive branch agencies.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/mcgahn-issued-24-ethics-waivers-key-admin-officials
á Chung Eui-yong,
the South Korean national security adviser, told reporters at the White House
that Trump will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong
Un by May. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-has-invited-president-trump-to-a-meeting/2018/03/08/021cb070-2322-11e8-badd-7c9f29a55815_story.html?utm_term=.655b8ba2a817&wpisrc=al_news__alert-world--alert-national&wpmk=
Friday, March 9
á The strong
economy showed sustained strength as measured by FridayÕs jobs report that
surpassed expectations. The country added 313,000 jobs in February, and the
jobless rate remained at 4.1 percent. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/09/business/economy/jobs-report.html
Saturday, March 10
á President Trump
travelled to Moon Township, Pennsylvania, to hold a campaign rally, and to urge
voters to elect Republican congressional candidate Rick Saccone.
Saccone and Democrat Conor Lamb are
virtually tied in polls leading up to a special election for PennsylvaniaÕs
18th congressional district to replace Rep. Tim Murphy. During the rally, Trump
called for the death penalty for drug dealers. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-to-rally-in-pennsylvania-ahead-of-special-house-election/2018/03/10/3eed9dc0-23f4-11e8-86f6-54bfff693d2b_story.html?utm_term=.69a669dd982a
Sunday, March 11
á The White House
unveiled a series of gun control proposals as well as efforts to protect
children. The initiatives are intended strengthen security at schools by arming
some staff, potentially including teachers. They would also strengthen
background checks for persons purchasing guns. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/377872-white-house-unveils-new-gun-proposals-in-wake-of-florida-shooting?rnd=1520811486?userid=280231