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