Monday, Sept. 16

á           The World Trade Organization announced it will grant the U.S. permission to impose tariffs on the European Union over a prolonged fight over subsidies given to European plane maker Airbus.

á           The House Oversight and Reform Committee sought documents via a letter from Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao as part of an investigation into what it called Òtroubling questionsÓ into whether Chao misused her position for personal and family benefit.

Tuesday, Sept. 17

á           NBC reported that U.S. intelligence officials have said that the attack on a major Saudi oil facility last Saturday by low-altitude cruise missiles originated in Iranian territory. U.S. officials are considering additional sanctions against Iran.

á           The Trump administration announced that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will fly to the Persian Gulf Wednesday to discuss a response to the attack on Saudi oil facilities as IranÕs supreme leader ruled out any direct talks with the U.S.

á           California Republican Rep. Paul Cook announced his retirement from Congress, the latest in a series of other House Republican retirements.

á           Politico reported that National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow and White House Trade and manufacturing advisor Peter Navarro are involved in negotiations between General Motors and the United Auto Workers over a new contract, after workers went out on strike Monday.

á           In a speech to the National Automobile Dealers Association, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said he will revoke CaliforniaÕs long-standing waiver to allow it to set stricter air pollution standards for cars and light trucks.

Wednesday, Sept. 18

á           The Federal Reserve made a modest reduction of a quarter point but did not predict another rate cut before the end of the year, leading to criticism from President Donald Trump.

á           Trump named Robert C. OÕBrian, who served as the U.S.Õs top hostage negotiator, as his new national security advisor, after the departure of former national security advisor John Bolton.

á           ÒI have just instructed the Secretary of the Treasury to substantially increase Sanctions on the country of Iran!Ó Trump said on Twitter. The comment came after Iranian news agencies reported that Iran warned the United States it would broadly retaliate against any attacks in the wake of crippling strikes on the Saudi oil industry over the weekend.

á           The Washington Post reported that TrumpÕs communications with a foreign leader are part of a whistleblower complaint that has created a standoff between the acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, and Congress.

Thursday, Sept. 19

á           A new bill drafted by Sens. Mitt Romney (R.-Utah) and Jeff Merkley (D.-Ore.) largely tracks TrumpÕs previously announced crackdown on vaping.

á           The Food and Drug administration announced it has begun a criminal investigation into the supply chain for various vaping products in light of at least 530 people with a mysterious vaping-related lung disease.

á           The House voted overwhelmingly to keep the government open through late November, setting up a showdown later this year over TrumpÕs border wall that could lead to another government shutdown before Thanksgiving.

á           The Washington Post and the New York Times repoted that the whistleblower complaint against Trump regards a call to Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine.

Friday, Sept. 20

á           Multiple news outlets reported speculation that the whistleblower complaint against Trump concerns Trump making U.S. aid to Ukraine contingent on a Ukrainian investigation into Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden.

á           Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan signed a deal with El Salvador which will allow the U.S. to divert asylum seekers from the U.S. border to that country.

á           Trump approved the deployment of additional U.S. troops and air defense to Saudi Arabia in response to requests from that country and the United Arab Emirates to help protect Òcritical infrastructureÓ from attacks by Iran.

Saturday, Sept. 21

á           Nothing to report.

Sunday, Sept. 22

á           IranÕs President Hassan Rouhani criticized a new U.S.-led coalition patrolling the Persian Gulf, saying the U.S. and other Western nations should ÒdistanceÓ themselves from the region.