Jacob Miller  //  1/31/19  //  Daily Update

Senator Lindsey Graham wrote a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray asking for FBI testimony on the arrest of Roger Stone. Democrats have offered an initial deal within the House and Senate that would give new customs officers and scanning technology to search cars and attempt to find opioids, but have not offered any funding for President Trump’s proposed border wall. President Trump met with with Mick Mulvaney, Jared Kushner and other officials to discuss potentially using emergency powers towards the border wall. Kansas lawmakers are seeking an amendment that would effectively ban abortion under state law, even if it would remain federally legal. President Trump called his intelligence officials “extremely passive and naive” on Iran after facing criticism over his administration’s policies in testimony before Congress. The Ninth Circuit upheld a terror-reporting tool used by the federal government, finding that the government did not need to show “reasonable suspicion” to share information about individuals potentially suspected of activity linked to terrorism.

TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS & LITIGATION

Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office filed a memo opposing the disclosure of information considered sensitive as part of the special counsel’s investigation in the case U.S. v. Concord Management and Consulting, LLC (WSJ).

• Read the memorandum here.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) wrote a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray asking for FBI testimony on the arrest of Roger Stone (WaPo).

IMMIGRATION 

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) on stated in a letter that he is considering subpoenaing Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen if she does not agree to testify about the situation on the border ahead of a potential second government shutdown (Hill).

Democrats have offered an initial deal within the House and Senate that would give new customs officers and scanning technology to search cars and attempt to find opioids, but have not offered any funding for President Trump’s proposed border wall (NYT, WaPo).

President Trump met with with Mick Mulvaney, Jared Kushner and other officials to discuss potentially using emergency powers towards President Trump’s proposed border wall (Politico).

CIVIL RIGHTS 

The Supreme Court is effectively deciding the future of Roe v. Wade when it decides whether or not to block a Louisiana law designed to close all of the state’s abortion clinics, argues Mark Joseph Stern for Slate.

Kansas lawmakers are seeking an amendment that would effectively ban abortion under state law, even if it would remain federally legal (Wichita Eagle).

JUSTICE & SAFETY

The annual Worldwide Threats hearing with national security leaders had a different tone, emphasizing the Trump administration’s threats to American safety in addition to issues from abroad, writes Ned Price for Just Security.

President Trump called his intelligence officials “extremely passive and naive” on Iran after facing criticism over his administration’s policies in testimony before Congress (NYT).

The Ninth Circuit upheld a terror-reporting tool used by the federal government, finding that the government did not need to show “reasonable suspicion” to share information about individuals potentially suspected of activity linked to terrorism, writes Nicholas Iovino for Courthouse News Service.  

• Read the full opinion here. 

The Trump administration’s fight with China will increase in intensity after the charges against Huawei as China vows to fight back going into future trade talks (Hill).

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp has publicly stated that he has access to President Trump, but only began having contact with the Executive Office of the President when his wife began working for the Trump administration in late 2017 (CREW).

REGULATION 

Lack of regulation allows companies to mislead consumers with claims of having “green” or “eco-friendly” products, writes Joseph DeQuarto for The Regulatory Review.

CHECKS & BALANCES

The House of Representatives should provide an important check the Trump administration’s attempts to harm democratic institutions, but Democrats should be cautious not to be overly partisan in doing so, writes the New York Times editorial board.

There is an upcoming fight between House Democrats and the Trump administration, which will involve a dispute over Congressional powers and executive privilege, writes Margaret Taylor for Lawfare.

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