Daily Update | March 15, 2018
Take Care // 3/15/18 //
Students nationwide walked out of school to protest gun violence in an effort to pressure Congress to pass gun control legislation. The Fifth Circuit upheld most of SB4, the Texas ban on sanctuary cities. Alejandra Pablos, a nationally-recognized reproductive justice and immigrant rights leader, was the latest activist to be taken into custody by ICE. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is appointing interim U.S. attorneys who are loyalists to President Trump to districts in which the President may face litigation. Sessions is also reviewing a recommendation to fire Andrew McCabe, the former FBI Deputy Director, just days before McCabe's scheduled retirement.
IMMIGRATION
The Fifth Circuit upheld most of SB4, the Texas ban on sanctuary cities (The Hill, Crimmigation).
Alejandra Pablos, a nationally-recognized reproductive justice and immigrant rights leader, was the latest activist to be taken into custody by ICE (Law Prof Blog).
The White House told GOP leaders that President Trump may be open to a short-term DACA deal (WaPo).
- Republicans expressed hesitation at the idea (Politico).
DEMOCRACY
Last year, the Chair of the Republican Party in Chicago passed on allegations of voter fraud to a member of President Trump’s voter fraud commission, through an intermediary at the DOJ (Talking Points Memo).
JUSTICE & SAFETY
The administration should transparently address the limits of the “unwilling and unable” doctrine that determines the legality of U.S. presence in Syria, writes Tess Bridgeman at Just Security.
Students nationwide walked out of school to protest gun violence in an effort to pressure Congress to pass gun control legislation (NYT, WSJ).
- Lawmakers have only taken modest action (WaPo).
- The walkouts arrive just when national attention to the issue has faded (WaPo).
President Trump did not personally address the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England, instead allowing aides to release a statement (NYT).
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is appointing interim U.S. attorneys who are loyalists to President Trump to districts in which the President may face litigation, writes Jeff Hauser at Slate.
REGULATION
Diplomats and civil servants at the State Department prepare for a dramatic shift in style (WaPo).
- Gardiner Harris reviews Tillerson’s last few days at NYT.
- The new Secretary of State faces a personnel crisis, writes Kate Oh at Just Security.
- Rex Tillerson never stood a chance, writes Rep. Brendan F. Boyle at The Hill.
- The NYT writes that the nomination of Pompeo as Secretary of State reflects President Trump’s desire to surround himself with America First loyalists.
- WaPo examines the reasons for Tillerson’s firing.
A new House bill would change the leadership of the CFPB to a five-member panel (The Hill).
The administration was right to block Broadcom’s merger with Qualcomm, writes the Editorial Board of the NYT.
RULE OF LAW
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is reviewing a recommendation to fire Andrew McCabe, the former FBI Deputy Director, just days before his scheduled retirement (WSJ).
CHECKS & BALANCES
VA Secretary David Shulkin is under investigation for allegedly having a member of his security team shop with him and then carry furniture into his home (The Hill).
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE
Rep. K. Michael Conaway, who led the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian interference, softened his characterization of a key finding on Tuesday (NYT, WaPo).
- The Committee will vote on the report next week (WaPo).
- Rep. Trey Gowdy broke from the Committee to state that Russia was working to undermine Hillary Clinton’s candidacy.
The end of the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation may mean that the House pays more attention to Special Counsel Robert Mueller (NYT).
Tags:
Immigration Rule of Law Conflicts Checks & Balances Regulation Democracy Justice & Safety Russian Interference