Daily Update | May 2, 2018
Lark Turner, Karen Kadish // 5/2/18 //
President Trump responded to oral argument in Hawaii v. Trump by explicitly stating that he does not apologize for his campaign statements calling for a “Muslim Ban.” The Trump administration proposes making disability a “heavily weighted negative" factor in determining whether to grant an immigrant a visa or permanent residency. A list of questions that Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russia’s election interference, would like to ask President Trump was obtained by The New York Times. Seventeen states are suing to challenge the EPA’s decision to ease car-emission regulations.
TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS AND LITIGATION
A list of questions that Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russia’s election interference, would like to ask President Trump was obtained by The New York Times.
Trump’s campaign has reportedly spent $228,000 on legal expenses for Michael Cohen, raising questions about campaign finance violations (ABC News).
Stormy Daniels is suing Trump for defamation via Tweet (WaPo).
IMMIGRATION
Federal agencies have begun closing “loopholes” that provide protections for unaccompanied minors, writes Eli Hager at The Marshall Project.
A federal judge gave the government leave to appeal his order permitting two linked lawsuits challenging the repeal of DACA, reports Alan Feuer at The New York Times.
Seven states have sued the Trump administration to try to end DACA, writes Lawrence Hurley at Reuters.
DOJ stumbles to try and find a record of a supposed “crystal clear” Sept. 25 statement indicating President Trump did not intend to impose a Muslim ban, writes Leah Litman at Take Care.
- President Trump responded to oral argument in Hawaii v. Trump by explicitly stating that he does not apologize for his campaign statements calling for a “Muslim Ban,” writes Adam Liptak at The New York Times.
The Trump administration proposes making disability a “heavily weighted negative factor[]” in determining whether to grant an immigrant a visa or permanent residency (Disability Scoop).
DEMOCRACY
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel issued a warning to FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly for violating the Hatch Act, which forbids most federal officials from engaging in partisan advocacy, when he advocated for the reelection of President Trump at CPAC, writes John Hendel at Politico.
JUSTICE & SAFETY
The military is becoming increasingly politicized, and that’s concerning, writes ML Cavanaugh at Just Security.
New Trump export policies on weapons emphasize economic benefit of weapons trade in contrast to the usual foreign policy justifications provided, writes Rachel Stohl at Just Security.
REGULATION
The White House announced it would delay a decision to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on the European Union, Canada and Mexico for another 30 days, writes Ana Swanson at The New York Times.
Seventeen states are suing to challenge the EPA’s decision to ease car-emission regulations, report Alejandro Lazo and Timothy Puko at The Wall Street Journal.
Promised “investment boom” from GOP tax cut has yet to materialize (NYT).
- Sen. Marco Rubio says “there’s no evidence” the cuts have dramatically helped American workers (WaPo).
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
Chief of Staff John Kelly reportedly tells staff under him that Trump is an “idiot” who “doesn’t even understand what DACA is” (NBC).
- Kelly says the NBC report “is total BS” (WaPo).
Trump’s number-one criteria for his staff — loyalty — is “creepy” and autocratic, writes Helaine Olen at The Washington Post.
The president’s remarks at an 80-minute unscripted address in Michigan this past weekend were “outrageous,” writes James Downie at The Washington Post.
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE
Designating Russia as a sponsor of terrorism — which it is — would backfire, argues Daniel Byman at Lawfare.
Tags:
Immigration Regulation Democracy Civil Rights Justice & Safety Removal from Office Russian Interference