Government in action

Monday, July 16:

Speaking at a press conference in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin at his side, President Trump challenged the findings of the U.S. Intelligence Community that Russian operatives, under orders from Putin, interfered in the 2016 presidential election. ÒThey said they think itÕs Russia,Ó Trump said. ÒI have President Putin; he just said itÕs not Russia.Ó Trump continued, ÒI will say this: I donÕt see any reason why it would beÓ Russia that hacked the election. He added, ÒPresident Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.Ó NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/16/world/europe/trump-putin-election-intelligence.html?emc=edit_ne_20180716&nl=evening-briefing&nlid=7599979120180716&te=1

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced Monday he has 'serious concerns' about Sinclair Broadcast Group's acquisition of Tribune Media, saying he would send the transaction through a lengthy administrative process often viewed as a deal-killer." https://bit.ly/2Lqn4Es

Tuesday, July 17:

á      Sixteen congressional lawmakers testified against TrumpÕs tariffs on newsprint during the final phase hearing before the International Trade Commission. More than 50 members of Congress have written to both the Commerce Department or the ITC in opposition. https://bit.ly/2LmyIDA

á      The leaders of Japan and the European Union signed a deal to create one of the world's largest liberalized trade zones, a contrast to escalating trade disputes between the U.S. and several of its trading partners. https://on.wsj.com/2Jx7C7R

á      Facing sustained criticism from fellow Republicans, his own aides, and even Fox News, Trump insisted he had misspoken at the Helsinki news conference with Putin. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/17/world/europe/trump-putin-summit.html?emc=edit_ne_20180717&nl=evening-briefing&nlid=7599979120180717&te=1

Wednesday, July 18

A Russian woman charged this week with serving as a foreign agent has been in regular contact with Russian intelligence, the Justice Department says, and she attempted to offer sex in exchange for a position with an organization she targeted.

á      "Prosecutors included that information in court documents as part of their request that Maria Butina be detained ahead of her trial because they say she is a 'serious' flight risk." https://n.pr/2JzVnHL

á      ICE has reported 1,310 claims of sexual abuse against detainees from fiscal years 2013 to 2017. Though the agency maintains that this number is relatively low — close to half a million immigrants flow through its detention system each year — watchdog organizations estimate the occurrence of sexual abuse to be significantly higher." https://nyti.ms/2zMViAN

á      The Washington Post reported that Trump loyalists at the Department of Veterans Affairs are taking aggressive steps to purge or reassign staff members perceived to be disloyal to Trump and his agenda for veterans, ahead of Robert WilkieÕs likely confirmation to lead the agency. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-loyalists-at-va-shuffling-purging-employees-before-new-secretary-takes-over/2018/07/18/a4462aae-892d-11e8-8aea-86e88ae760d8_story.html?utm_term=.fe00d0ab756e&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1

Thursday, July 19:

The Trump administration proposed an end to automatic protections for plants and animals under the Endangered Species Act as well as an end to protection of habitats that foster endangered species. U.S. Interior Department Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt said, "These rules will be very protective," and the changes would reduce the "conflict and uncertainty" associated with many animals and plants protected under the Act. Critics said the move was part of the anti-environmental agenda of the Trump administration. They said it would lead to the extinction of many species. NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/07/19/us/ap-us-trump-endangered-species.html

á      In a party-line vote, Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee, under Rep. Devin Nunes, defeated an attempt by panel Democrats to subpoena the interpreter who worked for Trump during his summit with Putin https://bit.ly/2Nr7b1i

President Trump directed his aids to invite President Putin of Russia to visit Washington, adding to the uproar and political confusion following the Trump-Putin summit meeting in Helsinki on Monday. The announcement apparently caught the director of national intelligence Dan Coats unawares when he was informed of it in a live interview by NBCÕs Andrea Mitchell. NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/us/politics/trump-putin-browder-mcfaul.html?emc=edit_ne_20180719&nl=evening-briefing&nlid=7599979120180719&te=1

Friday, July 20:

The New York Times reported prosecutors have discovered a tape recording secretly made by Michael D. Cohen, President TrumpÕs long-time fixer and lawyer, in which the two men discuss hush money payments to a Playboy model two months before the November 2016 presidential election. The model, Karen McDougal, contends she engaged in a year-long affair with Trump in 2006, beginning just after the birth of his son, Barron. TrumpÕs lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, confirmed the existence of the tape, but said that Trump had done nothing wrong. The recording nevertheless cast doubt on statements by the Trump campaign that Trump knew nothing about the payments. NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/20/us/politics/michael-cohen-trump-tape.html?emc=edit_th_180721&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=295858790721

á      Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch sent a letter to Trump, urging him to reconsider his tariff policies and warning that GOP senators may be ready to risk a legislative confrontation with the president unless he reverses course on trade. https://on.wsj.com/2uKQh66

á      Since the summit meeting in Helsinki on Monday, Russia has said presidents Trump and Putin reached agreement on unspecified military matters. Pentagon officials are struggling to understand what those agreements might be because the leaders met alone, and President Trump apparently has not shared the nature of the agreements with the U.S. military. Secretary of Defense James Mattis kept a low profile at the summit in Helsinki and did not attend the Cabinet meeting this week. The Hill:  http://thehill.com/policy/defense/398153-pentagon-put-in-bind-after-trump-putin-summit

 

Saturday, July 21:

á      Buzzfeed reported that emails and documents from Tad Devine, who served at the highest levels of the Bernie Sanders campaign, could be presented as evidence in the Special CounselÕs prosecution of Paul Manafort, Donald TrumpÕs former campaign chair. http://bit.ly/2A05Ahe

The Trump administration disclosed on Saturday a previously top-secret set of documents related to the wiretapping of Carter Page, the onetime Trump campaign adviser who was at the center of highly contentious accusations by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee that the F.B.I. had abused its surveillance powers. ...

á      "The documents made public on Saturday were heavily redacted in places ... Visible portions showed that the F.B.I. in stark terms had told the intelligence court that Mr. Page 'has established relationships with Russian government officials, including Russian intelligence officers'; that the bureau believed 'the Russian government's efforts are being coordinated with Page and perhaps other individuals associated with' Mr. Trump's campaign; and that Mr. Page 'has been collaborating and conspiring with the Russian government.'" https://nyti.ms/2uGnL6y

Sunday, July 22:

á      The Washington Post reported that several years ago Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh suggested that the unanimous high court ruling in 1974 that forced President Richard Nixon to turn over the Watergate tapes, leading to the end of his presidency, may have been wrongly decided. http://bit.ly/2JIhbBa