Monday, May 13
á
China raised tariffs on about $60 billion worth
of U.S. goods in retaliation for President Donald TrumpÕs threatened tariff
increase on Chinese imports. Financial markets fell almost 3 percent in
response.
á
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Apple in a
lawsuit that alleges Apple is a monopoly for requiring app developers to sell
through its portal.
á
The New York Times reported that an analysis of
FBI data from 2007 to 2016 showed slight decreases in violent and property
crime over the period regardless of whether the population of undocumented
immigrants rose or fell.
á
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
made an unexpected trip to Brussels to push European foreign ministers to join
the U.S. in its escalating fight with Iran over its nuclear program. At least one,
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, said he feared that unintentional
escalation from the United States and Iran could spark a conflict
á The Washington Post reported that, in the weeks before they were ousted from their jobs last month, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and top immigration enforcement official Ronald Vitiello challenged a secret White House plan for mass family arrests in a blitz operation against migrants in 10 major U.S. cities.
Tuesday, May 14
á
Donald Trump. Jr., agreed to testify again
before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
á
The Washington Post reported that Justice
DepartmentÕs Office of Legal Counsel issued a legal opinion earlier this month
saying that the Food and Drug Administration does not have authority over drugs
used in lethal injections.
Wednesday, May 15
á
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone,
in a 12-page letter to House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler, that the CommitteeÕs
investigation of TrumpÕs alleged abuses of power is an improper assertion of
congressional authority and intended to ÒharassÓ a political opponent, and does
not have a legitimate purpose.
á
CNN reported that it obtained an internal email
that outlined plans for the Transportation Security Administration to send
almost 600 officials to the U.S. southern border to help deal with migrants.
á
Trump signed an executive order giving the
government broad powers to block American companies from doing business with
foreign firms believed to put U.S. national security at risk.
á
The State Department ordered all Ònon-emergency
U.S. government employees to leave Iraq, affecting the embassy in the capital,
Baghdad, and a consulate in the city of Irbil.
Thursday, May 16
á
Trump unveiled an immigration plan that
prioritizes skilled workers over those with family already in the country,
although it stands little chance of becoming law.
á
The EPAÕs inspector general recommended that the
agency should consider recovering nearly $124,000 in improper travel expenses
by former EPA chief Scott Pruitt, but the EPA said it believes the trips were
properly authorized, making cost recovery inappropriate.
Friday, May 17
á
Trump agreed to lift tariffs on metal imports
from Mexico and Canada and postponed a decision on whether to impose tariffs on
imported autos for six months.
á
The first of several hearings around the country
in lawsuits asking that the president be prohibited from spending money on a
border wall without CongressÕ permission, took place before Judge Haywood
Gilliam in Oakland.
á
The House passed a bill to ban discrimination
based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but the measure is not
expected to get a vote in the Senate.
á
The Washington Post reported that an attempt by
TrumpÕs senior advisor Stephen Miller to engineer a new shake-up at the
Department of Homeland Security was blocked this week by Kevin McAleenan, DHSÕ acting secretary, who said he might leave
if not given more control over the department.
á
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin
rejected a subpoena from the House Ways and Means Committee demanding TrumpÕs
tax returns.
Saturday, May 18
á
Rep. Justin Amash
(R.-Mich.), a critic of Trump who has entertained a run against him in 2020,
became the first Republican lawmaker to say the president Òengaged in
impeachable conductÓ based on the Mueller report. He also said Attorney General
William Barr had Òdeliberately misrepresentedÓ the findings.
Sunday, May 19
á
Sen. Mitt Romney on CNNÕs State of the Union
said that, although he had reached a different conclusion from Amash, he thought AmashÕs
statement was Òcourageous.Ó