6/20/18  //  Daily Update

President Trump, in a speech to the National Federation of Independent Business, defended his actions against border-crossing families. The Trump administration is challenging nationwide injunctions, which have halted several high-profile policies, in a sanctuary city case. A George W. Bush-appointed judge found proof of voter fraud utterly lacking, ruling against Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. The Trump administration withdrew the United States from the U.N. Human Rights Council, the world’s most important human rights body. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross shorted stock in a shipping firm days after learning that reporters were preparing a negative story about his dealings with the company. A federal court ruled that the Trump administration does not need to evaluate the climate change impact of leasing federal land for coal mining.

6/19/18  //  Daily Update

The Department of Homeland Security has undertaken a zero-tolerance immigration policy, separating children from their parents. Attorney General Jeff Sessions narrowed eligibility for asylum to victims of domestic violence and expanded the universe of families who fall victim to the administration’s policy of separating families. The Supreme Court sidestepped decisions on partisan gerrymandering, ruling against the challengers. President Trump directed Pentagon officials to move towards a “space force” that would become the sixth branch of the military. President Trump is expected to nominate Kathy Kraninger as CFPB director—the nomination, under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, extends Mick Mulvaney’s tenure as Acting Director.

5/7/18  //  Daily Update

The Solicitor General made an erroneous factual representation to the Supreme Court during travel ban oral argument. Gina Haspel, nominated to head the CIA, sought to withdraw her nomination over questions about her role in the agency’s torture program. President Trump, speaking to the NRA, suggested that civilians with guns would have stopped the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris. The French government and survivors of the attacks condemned the remarks. President Trump’s legal team has taken a combative tone with special counsel prosecutors, which is likely to further delay the outcome of the probe. The rise of a permanent impeachment campaign over the past two decades has made it much harder to impeach a corrupt president, even when we may truly need to do so.

2/9/18  //  Daily Update

On this week’s Versus Trump, Charlie Gerstein and Easha Anand discussed the Russia investigation, the Nunes memo, and whether President Trump will be interviewed by the Special Counsel. The White House has advised government agencies to prepare for a government shutdown as Congress struggles to pass a budget before the midnight deadline. ICE officials are reportedly looking into the agency joining the Intelligence Community. Buried in the White House and House Intelligence Committee’s back-and-forth over the Nunes memo is an effort by White House Counsel Don McGahn to weaken congressional oversight.

2/8/18  //  Daily Update

Russian hackers successfully penetrated voter registration systems in several states prior to the 2016 election, said Jeanette Manfra, the head of cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security. A California judge ruled that a bakery can continue to refuse to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples. Alaska is at the heart of a legal challenge aimed at getting the Supreme Court to revisit Citizens United. The Senate reached a two-year budget deal that raises spending but does not address immigration.

1/29/18  //  Daily Update

Attorney General Jeff Sessions called for restrictions to legal and illegal immigration and an end to sanctuary cities. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law sued the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security for blocking information related to the now-defunct Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. A bipartisan group of 54 lawmakers urged the Trump administration to reinstate an Obama-era policy giving states leeway to allow for recreational marijuana. Responding to reports that President Trump considered firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller, several Republican lawmakers urged the President against firing Mueller.

11/22/17  //  Daily Update

According to the DHS Inspector General, federal agents violated court orders because of the confusion surrounding the rollout of the first travel ban. The Trump administration petitioned the Supreme Court to allow the revised “travel ban” to go into effect while the government appeals a nationwide injunction issued by a federal district judge in Hawaii. A federal court ruled that President Trump’s executive order targeting sanctuary cities is unconstitutional. A federal judge cleared the way for transgender individuals serving in the military, declaring President Trump’s transgender ban “capricious, arbitrary, and unqualified." About a dozen State Department officials have formally accused Secretary of State Rex Tillerson of violating rules regarding child soldiers. The FCC released its plan to eliminate core net neutrality rules.

11/21/17  //  Daily Update

The Trump administration announced that 59,000 Haitians living in the United States under a temporary status must leave within the next year-and-a-half. The Trump administration returned North Korea to the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The Trump administration filed suit to block the AT&T/Time Warner merger. Special Counsel Robert Mueller sent a broad request to the Department of Justice for documents covering Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recusal decision and about the firing of then-FBI Director James Comey.

10/18/17  //  Daily Update

A federal judge in Hawaii issued a nationwide injunction against President Trump’s revised travel ban, blocking the administration from enforcing key provisions of its policy. Today, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee will have their first chance to question Attorney General Jeff Sessions since his confirmation. Today, a federal judge will hear argument in the emoluments case against President Trump brought by CREW and private plaintiffs.

10/17/17  //  Daily Update

A lawsuit has been filed against the groups that organized the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, which resulted in one death and many injuries. Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in anticipation of white supremacist Richard Spencer’s scheduled speech at the University of Florida. President Trump is considering abandoning his nominee for drug czar, Tom Marino, after reports emerged that Marino pushed legislation that would make it more difficult to stop the flow of painkillers to the black market. A group of mental-health professionals has launched “Duty to Warn,” a group advocating for the removal of President Trump using the Twenty-fifth Amendment. And, according to the New Yorker, President Trump “joked,” describing Vice President Pence’s views on gay people, that “he wants to hang the all.”

9/20/17  //  Daily Update

Additional briefs are filed in the Supreme Court in the travel ban case, and commentary ensues. Reports emerge about close industry ties for several of the President's pending nominees. And the Senate confirms a new Solicitor General in a close vote.

9/7/17  //  Daily Update

Fifteen states sue the Trump Administration over the announced revocation of DACA. A group of prominent conservatives file an amicus brief in the Supreme Court urging the Court to rule partisan gerrymandering unconstitutional. And commentary on, and opposition to, President Trump's recent judicial nominations continues.

8/23/17  //  Daily Update

The President may be considering pardoning controversial former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio. The Trump Administration is also reportedly considering providing legal protections for DREAMers who entered the country illegally as children. And Take Care's book symposium on "Congress's Constitution" continues.

8/22/17  //  Daily Update

The Trump administration is working with local sheriffs and law enforcement on new strategies to move undocumented immigrants from local jails to federal custody. Steve Bannon’s exit from the White House was delayed and heavily negotiated in light of the violence in Charlottesville. Recent polling shows a majority of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s response to the deadly protests in Charlottesville. President Trump has agreed to a new strategy for Afghanistan that will likely result in thousands more U.S. troops in the region.

8/15/17  //  Daily Update

Commentary and reaction about President Trump's handling of the events in Charlottesville abound. The President said he might pardon controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio. And DOJ filed a brief in the case regarding the President's twitter usage.