Daily Update | March 29, 2018
Helen Marie Berg, Caroline Cox // 3/29/18 //
Under a Trump Administration proposal, immigrants who accept public benefits could be denied legal U.S. residency. Oral argument in the Supreme Court’s second case on partisan gerrymandering this term revealed a lack of consensus on the issue. President Trump has left unfilled dozens of vital diplomatic positions. A district court has found that that D.C. and Maryland have standing to sue President Trump for violating the emoluments clause by accepting business from foreign leaders at the Trump Hotel. The President’s most unpopular policies have some similarities—one is that they are laden with animus.
IMMIGRATION
Under a Trump Administration proposal, immigrants who accept public benefits could be denied legal U.S. residency (WaPo).
The California Department of Justice has issued a guidance document for state and local law enforcement agencies explaining its sanctuary state policies and their limits (WaPo).
President Trump is stirring confusion about border wall construction by taking credit for a wall replacement project that began in 2009 (LA Times).
CIVIL RIGHTS
Under Secretary Ben Carson, HUD has scaled back enforcement of fair housing laws (NYT).
Opponents of the Trump Administration’s effort to ban transgender individuals from military service say that the President is creating a modern “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” (NYT).
The recently passed omnibus spending bill increases funding to immigration detention centers that promote President Trump’s interest in stronger immigration enforcement, writes Kathryn Johnson at The Hill.
DEMOCRACY
Oral argument in the Supreme Court’s second case on partisan gerrymandering this term revealed a lack of consensus on the issue (WaPo).
JUSTICE & SAFETY
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s visit to China may strengthen his hand in his eventual meeting with President Trump (NYT).
The opposing viewpoints of Jared Kushner and Attorney General Jeff Sessions on criminal justice reform are leading to uncertainty about the Trump Administration’s stance on the issue (NYT).
The FCC will ban Chinese technology in FCC-funded broadband projects (Ars Technica).
John Bolton’s ability to navigate the federal bureaucracy worries critics of his hawkish views (Politico).
President Trump has left unfilled dozens of vital diplomatic positions, writes Tracy Wilkinson at the Los Angeles Times.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
A district court has found that that D.C. and Maryland have standing to sue President Trump for violating the emoluments clause by accepting business from foreign leaders at the Trump Hotel (WaPo).
REGULATION
President Trump fires VA Secretary Dan Shulkin and plans to replace him with Rear Adm. Ronny L. Jackson, the President’s personal physician (WaPo).
The newly appointed general counsel of NLRB has some big changes in mind (On Labor).
The EPA agrees to test Israeli technology that creates drinking water from water vapor after a request to do so from Sheldon Adelson (WSJ).
Without explanation, the CFPB has stopped publishing monthly complaint reports, notes Barbara S. Mishkin at Consumer Finance Monitor.
NHTSA plans to scrap an Obama-era rule that increased penalties for automakers who violated fuel efficiency standards by more than 150 percent (The Hill).
Scott Pruitt is disparaging the mission of the EPA and should be removed, argues John Podesta at The New York Times.
The country’s debt is growing at an alarming rate and no one is paying attention, points out Ed Rogers at The Washington Post.
RULE OF LAW
The President’s most unpopular policies have some similarities—one is that they are laden with animus, explains Joshua Matz at Take Care and The Washington Post.
Conspicuous corruption and the wasteful spending of public money seems to be a trend among President Trump’s cabinet members (The Atlantic).
CHECKS & BALANCES
Democratic lawmakers send letter to DOJ officials urging them to make a public commitment that they will not interfere with the Mueller probe (The Hill).
Republican Senator Thom Tillis joins Democratic Senator Chris Coons to author a bill to prevent the removal of Robert Mueller (Politico).
- Legislation to prevent the removal of Robert Mueller should pass, perhaps with some procedural tweaks, argues Steve Vladeck at Lawfare.
- Does the proposal of this legislation indicate that Mueller’s removal is imminent? asks Amber Phillips at The Washington Post.
Congress and the Court should act as a check on the President, but his Cabinet members should not be expected to, argues Mark A. Thiessen at The Washington Post.
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
John Dowd allegedly discussed pardons for Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn with their lawyers, possibly to influence their decision to cooperate with investigators (NYT).
- Dowd may be guilty of obstruction of justice for this offer (Shugerblog, Just Security).
- The Washington Post offers some potential explanations of the pardon offers.
- The White House claims there was never a discussion of pardons (Politico).
President Trump’s apparent failure to find suitable legal representation could have dire consequences for him,suggests Randell B. Eliason at The Washington Post.
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE
The FBI has found that Paul Manafort and Rick Gates were in touch with a business associate who had ties to Russian intelligence official during the 2016 campaign (WaPo).
- The discovery marks the most direct connection between the Trump campaign and Russia to date (WaPo).
- The Washington Post maps out the President’s alleged connections to Putin.
The DOJ Inspector General will review the applications to surveil former Trump campaign advisor Carter Page (WaPo).
Tags:
Immigration Rule of Law Conflicts Checks & Balances Regulation Democracy Civil Rights Justice & Safety Removal from Office Russian Interference