Daily Update | May 24, 2018
Roshaan Wasim // 5/24/18 //
A federal judge ruled that President Trump’s decision to block Twitter users based on their political views constitutes a violation of the First Amendment. Moderate House Republicans demand a vote on immigration. President Trump says he will cancel a proposed summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unless the North Korean regime first accepts a list of unspecified demands. The FBI admits overstating the number of locked smartphones it has been unable to access because of encryption. The EPA bars reporters from a national summit on toxic chemicals. The White House sets a meeting for Republican congressional leaders regarding an F.B.I. informant who contacted members of the Trump campaign during the Russia investigation.
TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS AND LITIGATION
Rudy Giuliani, President Trump’s attorney, says President Trump should do an interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller (WaPo).
- The New York Times looks at how the Robert Mueller investigation could end for President Trump.
A federal judge ruled that President Trump’s decision to block Twitter users based on their political views constitutes a violation of the First Amendment (WSJ, WaPo).
- The court’s ruling is available here.
IMMIGRATION
Centrist House Republicans demand a vote on immigration, writes Carl Hulse at The New York Times.
- The Washington Post analyzes three reasons moderate Republicans are backing an immigration vote.
President Trump demands tougher immigration laws on a visit to the epicenter of MS-13 killings (NYT).
CIVIL RIGHTS
Senate Democrats introduce a bill to amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (WaPo).
- The bill is available here.
The House passes a bipartisan prison reform bill known as the First Step Act (The Atlantic).
- The bill is available here.
- Vox explains the proposed reforms.
- The Marshall Project analyzes whether the First Step Act constitutes “real” reform.
Senators release a bipartisan proposal to overhaul Capitol Hill’s sexual harassment policy (Politico, LA Times).
President Trump is proving to be the most fearlessly pro-life president in history, writes Marc A. Thiessen at The Washington Post.
Stacy Abrams wins the Democratic primary in Georgia, becoming the first black woman to be a major party’s nominee for governor (NYT, Politico).
DEMOCRACY
The EPA bars reporters from a national summit on toxic chemicals for two consecutive days (Politico).
President Trump repeats unconfirmed claims of spies inside his campaign (NYT).
Congressional Democrats question whether the Trump administration complied with a federal data collection law in adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census (The Hill).
JUSTICE AND SAFETY
President Trump says he will cancel a proposed summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unless the North Korean regime first accepts a list of unspecified demands (WSJ).
Mike Pompeo says the denuclearization of North Korea is a top national security priority (WSJ).
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the State Department will respond “proportionately” to Venezuela’s expulsion of American diplomats (NYT).
Vice President Mike Pence vows to take “swift” action following Venezuela’s expulsion of American diplomats (Politico).
President Trump says trade talks with China are progressing “nicely” but hints that a final agreement may be beyond reach, writes Louis Nelson at Politico.
The White House disinvites China from participating in a major naval exercise (WaPo).
Talks to renegotiate NAFTA have reached a stalemate on U.S. auto demands, writes Robbie Whelan at The Wall Street Journal.
Jared Kushner, advisor to President Trump, gets full White House security clearance reinstated permanently (WaPo, LA Times).
The FBI admits overstating the number of locked smartphones it has been unable to access because of encryption (NYT).
President Trump is inflicting long-term damage on the U.S.-Israel alliance, writes Max Boot at The Washington Post.
REGULATION
The Senate gives final passage to a major overhaul of the veterans health care system, sending the legislation to President Trump (NYT, WaPo).
The OPM’s proposed cuts to federal employee retirement benefits would hurt air traffic controllers and the aviation industry, writes Paul Rinaldi at The Hill.
Congress approves bill giving patients a “right to try” experimental drugs (NYT).
The White House is in talks to cancel some proposed budget cutbacks (Politico).
An internal memo reveals that White House officials considered whether to “ignore” federal climate change research (WaPo, LA Times).
The IRS will issue guidance on state efforts to circumvent limits on state and local tax deduction (The Hill).
A group of House Democrats accuse FCC Chairman Ajit Pai of trying to evade congressional oversight of his agency (The Hill).
CHECKS AND BALANCES
President Trump has managed to make a substantial imprint on the U.S. judicial system, writes Melissa Quinn at The Washington Examiner.
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE
Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former attorney, developed close connections with a Russia-tied C.E.O. (NYT).
White House sets meeting for Republican congressional leaders regarding an F.B.I. informant who contacted members of the Trump campaign during the Russia investigation (NYT).
- Only two Republican lawmakers will be allowed to review classified information at the meeting (WaPo).
Evgeny Friedman, a long-time business partner of Michael Cohen, pleads guilty in a state tax fraud case that requires him to cooperate in any ongoing investigation (Politico).
Tags:
Immigration Checks & Balances Regulation Democracy Civil Rights Justice & Safety Russian Interference