Monday, April 8

á           The Trump administration listed IranÕs military unit, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization, the first time the U.S. has branded a foreign governmental entity as a terrorist organization.

á           Sixteen Democratic and Independent senators called on immigration authorities to restore a policy of presumptive release for pregnant women after  a stillbirth in government detention earlier this year and an increase in the  number of miscarriages in 2018.

á           Rep. Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, called for committee chair Jerrold Nadler to immediately bring special counsel Robert Mueller to the Capitol to testify on his as-yet-unreleased report on Russian contacts with President Donald TrumpÕs campaign — and whether Trump himself obstructed the probe.

á           The Daily Beast reported that the Office of the Special Counsel (not to be confused with Special Counsel Robert MuellerÕs team) is investigating whether any officials were retaliated against for raising concerns about a possible nuclear deal between the U.S. and the Saudis.

á           U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg temporarily blocked enforcement of the Migrant Protection Protocols, which require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are pending, saying the program probably violates the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Administrative Procedures Act and other legal protections.

á           A day after Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was forced to resign, the White House announced the removal of Secret Service Director Randolph D. ÒTexÓ Alles.

Tuesday, April 9

á           The chairs of five House committees sent letters to the White House, Justice Department and top Trump health officials seeking information on the administrationÕs recent decision to support the health care lawÕs full elimination in court. They called it a Òsudden and significant reversalÓ that violates the federal governmentÕs longstanding precedent of defending its own laws.

á           House Democratic leaders canceled a vote on the budget bill among pushback from progressives wanting more spending on domestic priorities.

á           Administration officials said that the administration is considering a revised version of its family separation tactic at the U.S.-Mexico border that would force parents to choose whether to remain detained as a family or agree to a separation to keep their children out of custody.

Wednesday, April 10

á           Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin denied House DemocratsÕ demand to release six years of President Donald TrumpÕs tax returns, saying the department could not complete its review in time for DemocratsÕ Wednesday deadline.

á           Trump signed two executive orders seeking to make it easier for firms to build oil and gas pipelines and harder for state agencies to intervene. Critics said the orders on pipelines would violate authority delegated to states under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act and other legislation.

á           The House approved, on party lines, a bill to restore net neutrality, although it is expected to be defeated in the Senate.

Thursday, April 11

á           The Justice Department revealed a indictment dated March 6, 2018, of WikileaksÕ Julian Assange, who was arrested earlier Thursday, charging him with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion in relation to his work with Chelsea (then Bradley) Manning.

á           CNN reported that Justice Department officials expect to bring additional charges against Assange.

á           The House Energy and Commerce Committee is launching an investigation into whether top EPA officials violated ethics rules by launching a rollback of air pollution regulations that benefited their former lobbying clients in the electric utility sector.

á           Republican Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Cory Gardner (Colo.), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) have said they would oppose the nomination of Herman Cain to the Federal Reserve Board and Sen. Kevin Cramer (N.D.) said, ÒIf I had to vote today, I would vote no.Ó

á           Ex-lobbyist David Bernhardt was confirmed as Interior Secretary.

á           The Washington Post reported that White House officials have tried to pressure U.S. immigration authorities to release detainees onto the streets of Òsanctuary citiesÓ to retaliate against TrumpÕs political adversaries.

Friday, April 12

á           In an early morning tweet, Trump confirmed the Washington Post report on Thursday, saying, ÒDue to the fact that Democrats are unwilling to change our very dangerous immigration laws, we are indeed, as reported, giving strong considerations to placing Illegal Immigrants in Sanctuary Cities only.

á           The Washington Post reported that a federal workplace investigation of AccuWeather, a federal contractor headed by current NOAA nominee Barry Myers, found rampant sexual harassment and retaliation.

á           In an op-ed, Jenny Durkan, mayor of Seattle, said ÒSeattle is not afraid of immigrants and refugees É What does scare us? A president and federal government that would seek to weaponize a law enforcement agency to punish perceived political enemies.Ó

Saturday, April 13

á           Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a two-page letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig rejecting Treasury Secretary MnuchinÕs remarks Wednesday that Treasury would miss the HouseÕs initial April 10 deadline for producing TrumpÕs tax returns and setting a new deadline of April 23.

á           CNN reported that Trump told Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan he would grant McAleenan a pardon if he were sent to jail for breaking U.S. law. The comment was reportedly made last week during a visit to the border at Calexico, and it was not clear if the comment was a joke.

Sunday, April 14

á           No news to report.