Top Political News provided by The Washington Post©

• ‘Everyone signed one’: Trump is aggressive in his use of nondisclosure agreements, even in government
  The spat between the president and former adviser Omarosa Manigault Newman has highlighted his penchant for often unenforceable NDAs.
• The never-ending conspiracy theory about bots following Trump on Twitter
  It's not bots. It's new users.
• Trump calls Omarosa Manigault Newman ‘that dog’ as she continues publicity tour
  A tweet from the president was fired off shortly after his former aide appeared on CBS to promote a book that depicts him as a racist.
• Trump campaign files arbitration action against Omarosa Manigault Newman
  The move comes as the former White House aide promotes a tell-all book.
• Trump’s response to Omarosa continues a pattern some find concerning
  Many black women have long felt uniquely disrespected by President Trump.
• The alleged Trump n-word tape is suddenly less hypothetical
  Aides have adjusted their denials, and CBS has released a tape of them apparently discussing it in which one says "he said it."
• When Trump faces a negative story, Fox News pivots to the economy
  The economy is doing well under President Trump. Fox News (really) wants you to know that.
• Trump’s response to Omarosa continues a pattern some find concerning
  Many black women have long felt uniquely disrespected by President Trump.
• ‘Like a dog’: Trump has a long history of using canine insults to dehumanize enemies
  Trump is the first president in more than a century not to have a dog, and his dislike for the pets shows in his frequent put-downs.
• Woman throws pair of stuffed lips at Sen. Doug Jones, heckles him for keeping open mind on Brett Kavanaugh
  At a Birmingham town hall, the Alabama senator was reportedly heckled for saying he’d keep an open mind on Trump’s Supreme Court nominee.
• Why it’s not unusual for Paul Manafort’s legal team not to call witnesses
  Part showmanship, part risk aversion.
• The alleged Trump n-word tape is suddenly less hypothetical
  Aides have adjusted their denials, and CBS has released a tape of them apparently discussing it in which one says "he said it."
• Florida candidate who was caught touting a fake college diploma drops out of race, reports say
  "It was not my intent to deceive or mislead anyone,” Melissa Howard said.
• When Trump faces a negative story, Fox News pivots to the economy
  The economy is doing well under President Trump. Fox News (really) wants you to know that.
• Trump’s rationalization for calling women ‘dogs’ helped define his campaign
  In the first minutes of the first debate, Trump was asked to explain himself on the matter.
• Trump knew exactly what he was doing when he called Omarosa a ‘dog’
  Trump has been criticized for calling women "dogs" and other well-known sexist slurs before. He knew what he was doing.
• The Energy 202: How to get Trump to sign climate legislation? Put it in a defense bill.
  The Pentagon is preparing for climate change, even if other agencies aren't.
• The Finance 202: Trump's trade spat with Turkey has little downside for the U.S.
  That could embolden his use of tariffs as a diplomatic strategy.
• The Daily 202: By overturning ballot initiatives, more lawmakers are rejecting the will of their voters
  Democrats and Republicans, from D.C. to S.D. and Maine, disregard the outcome of popular referendums.
• The Health 202: Health-care competition in Charlottesville a dramatic example of Obamacare's resilience
  The law's not actually dead.
• Hundreds of scholars have signed a statement defending the international institutions that Trump has attacked
  These institutions have produced unprecedented peace and prosperity.
• The Cybersecurity 202: Def Con hackers couldn't crack a mock voter database. It's a rare bright spot for election security.
  It should bring state election officials some relief.
• Plenty of congressional hearings are not circuses. Here’s how we know.
  Often, members of Congress are genuinely trying to learn about the issues.
• Primary elections: Wisconsin and Minnesota voters pick nominees in key contests
  Two Midwestern and two deep-blue states will choose candidates Tuesday.

Roll Call©

• For Former Felons, Voting Rights Could be a Click Away
  Millions of new voters could register across the country, starting Tuesday, with the launch of an online tool meant to help former felons restore their right to vote. The Campaign Legal Center’s website, restoreyourvote.org, attempts to guide users through a sometimes confusing jumble of state laws to determine whether past convictions or unpaid fines would keep them from the ballot box.
• Cost Isn’t Everything. Pentagon Should Judge Contractors on Cybersecurity, Report Says
  The Pentagon should take into account the cybersecurity capabilities of defense contractors in addition to cost and performance measures when awarding contracts, a U.S. government-funded think tank recommended in a report published Monday. Through its buying process, the Pentagon “can influence and shape the conduct of its suppliers,” the Mitre Corp. said in a report titled “Deliver Uncompromised: A Strategy for Supply Chain Security and Resilience in Response to the Changing Character of War.”
• Helped Wanted: New Printer for 2020 Census
  The Census Bureau is currently without a printer, less than two years before the national head count begins. That has left the Government Publishing Office to accept new bids for the 2020 census printing contract until Sept 10, after previously awarding the contract to a company that has since filed for bankruptcy. The GPO intends to award the replacement printing and mailing contract in November. This timeline “will ensure there is no negative effect on the 2020 Printing and Mailing Operation or the overall 2020 Census,” according to a Census Bureau statement earlier this month.
• Closing Arguments for Manafort Trial Set for Wednesday, if Jurors Can ‘Pay Attention’
  Closing arguments for the Paul Manafort trial are set to begin Wednesday morning, Judge T.S. Ellis III said in court Tuesday. The Eastern Virginia jury could decide as early as Wednesday evening whether the former Trump campaign chairman is guilty of any of the 18 counts he is facing on tax evasion and bank fraud.
• Democrats Disgusted, Enraged by Trump’s Omarosa Comments
  Democrats in Congress condemned President Donald Trump’s latest batch of derisive comments toward Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former White House aide. After a Tuesday morning tweet in which Trump called Manigault a “crazed, crying lowlife” and a “dog,” several House Democrats took consternation from insults they said were tinged with racial and misogynistic connotations.
• Poll: Near Tie Between MacArthur and Democratic Challenger Kim in New Jersey
  A new poll in New Jersey’s 3rd District shows Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur in a near-tie with Democratic challenger Andy Kim. The Monmouth University survey found MacArthur, a two-term congressman, leading Kim, who served in national security and counterterrorism roles in the Obama administration, 41 percent to 40 percent among all potential voters. Fifteen percent of respondents were undecided. Under a likely voter model based on historical midterms, the result was essentially unchanged, with Kim up a point, 45 percent to 44 percent. 
• Trump’s Turkey Spat Could Rouse Army of Well-Paid, Connected Lobbyists
  Whatever the result of President Donald Trump’s tariff fight with Turkey, it is almost certainly going to rouse a well-financed and deeply entrenched influence peddling operation in Washington. The Republic of Turkey spends hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on well-connected DC lobbyists to promote its interests in Washington. It makes major gifts to American think tanks that do not have to be reported under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. And it donates money to political candidates through PACs like Turkish Coalition USA.
• Kim Schrier Secures Democratic Nod in Hotly Contested Washington Race
  Democratic pediatrician Kim Schrier secured the second-place spot to take on Republican Dino Rossi in Washington’s 8th District, which could be one of the most competitive races in the country.  Schrier declared victory Wednesday morning, more than a week after the primary in Washington. The combination of a crowded Democratic field and mail-in ballots left the race in limbo as ballots were still being counted a week after the election. The Associated Press had still not called the contest as of press time Tuesday.
• Trump Won’t Follow Congressional Directives on Russia and Crimea
  President Donald Trump objects to an effort by Congress to prevent his administration from recognizing Crimea as part of Russia. Crimea is a region in Ukraine that has been occupied by Russia for several years, with the Russian Federation having claimed to have annexed the region in March 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed the territorial matter is settled, but many in Washington disagree.
• Zeldin Again Takes on NFL Player Protests
  New York Rep. Lee Zeldin is again taking on professional football players who protest during the National Anthem, telling them to “stand up and show some respect.” The Republican, who served in the U.S. Army, posted an image of former San Francisco 49ers players Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid kneeling while showing soldiers holding them up.
• Poliquin Again Amps Up Mailings Ahead of Election Deadline
  Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin is flooding Maine's 2nd District with congressional mailers. Poliquin’s mailers highlight his work on the GOP tax legislation passed last year, the opioid crisis, and increasing consequences for sexual harassment on Capitol Hill, the Portland Press Herald reported.
• Trump Calls Former Aide Omarosa a ‘Dog’
  President Donald Trump continued his attacks on his former ally and employee Omarosa Manigault Newman on Twitter on Tuesday, calling his former aide a “dog.” Trump praised White House Chief of Staff John Kelly for firing his former director of communications for the White House Public Liaison Office and contestant on his show “The Apprentice.” 
• What to Watch in Tuesday’s Primaries
  From New England to the upper Midwest, four states are hosting primaries Tuesday. The most interesting contests are in Wisconsin and Minnesota, which both hold primaries for Senate and for several competitive House seats. And in two safe Democratic districts — one in Minnesota and one in Connecticut — primaries will likely pick new members of Congress.
• Education Department’s ‘Gainful Employment’ Repeal Carries High Price Tag
  The Trump administration’s proposal to repeal Obama-era requirements for recipients of federal student aid comes with a price tag of about $5.3 billion over a decade, a figure that is already giving critics ammunition as the Senate prepares to turn to Education Department appropriations this week. The administration’s proposed rulemaking would rescind 2014 regulations requiring colleges and universities to ensure graduates have low debt-to-income ratios or risk losing access to loans and grants that help students afford to attend their programs. The proposal will be open for a 30-day comment period once it’s published in the Federal Register on Tuesday before the department can turn to drafting a final rule.
• Democratic Poll Shows Close Race for Pete Sessions’ Seat in Texas
  Texas Rep. Pete Sessions’ re-election race is looking increasingly competitive, with Democrat Colin Allred polling close to the longtime Republican lawmaker, according to a new internal Democratic survey. The Dallas-area 32nd District is traditionally GOP territory. But this year’s race is considered competitive, in part because the 32nd is one of three Republican-held districts in the Lone Star State that Hillary Clinton carried in 2016. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race a Toss-up. 
• Abuse Allegations Loom Over Minnesota Race to Replace Ellison
  Democratic candidates running for Rep. Keith Ellison’s seat in Minnesota’s deep-blue 5th District are pushing voters to the polls Tuesday, as abuse allegations against the congressman threatened to send them off-message in the campaign’s closing hours. The three front-runners for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nod in Tuesday’s primary declined to take sides when asked at a candidate forum Monday about allegations that Ellison physically abused a former girlfriend — which he has denied. The six-term congressman vacated the 5th District seat to run for state attorney general. 
• Trump Touts New York GOP Senate Candidate at Fundraiser for Vulnerable House Republican
  President Donald Trump’s visit to upstate New York on Monday was ostensibly to fundraise for Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney. But he appeared to spend more time in his opening remarks touting the long-shot GOP candidate for Senate than the vulnerable congresswoman. In his remarks, which were opened to the press less than an hour before the start of the fundraiser in Utica, Trump did endorse Tenney, noting that she invited him to visit New York’s 22nd District and he was happy to oblige, given his many friends there. 
• 3 Takeaways as Prosecution Rests Case in Paul Manafort Trial
  Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s prosecution team on Monday rested its case against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, wrapping up its evidence and witness testimony in just 10 days. The defense will decide whether it will call any witnesses Tuesday morning. If it does not, both sides are expected to deliver closing arguments. Then the jury will decide Manafort’s fate.
• 2 Democratic Women Face Off in Connecticut for Esty’s Seat
  Two women face off Tuesday in a competitive Democratic primary to fill Rep. Elizabeth Esty’s seat in Connecticut’s 5th District.  Mary Glassman, a former local elected official in suburban Hartford, has the state party’s endorsement. But Jahana Hayes, a former national teacher of the year, received enough support at the party convention to qualify for the primary ballot 
• Kavanaugh Feared Looking ‘Silly’ on Flip-Flop on Presidential Records
  Long before the current Senate fight over access to presidential records as part of his Supreme Court nomination, Brett Kavanaugh sent an email to his co-workers in the White House counsel’s office about a soon-to-be-published article on access to presidential records that “makes me look very silly.” Kavanaugh let the office know that Washington Post columnist Al Kamen planned to write a blurb to highlight how he had switched legal positions — now that he was a lawyer in the George W. Bush administration — when it comes to how much power former presidents and their families had to block the release of presidential records.
• Three Men Sentenced in 2015 Killing of Intern for Rob Portman
  The three men who pleaded guilty to the 2015 killing of 23-year-old Matthew Shlonsky, a former Sen. Rob Portman intern, were sentenced in D.C. Superior Court on Monday. Andre Dudley, 22, Marcus King, 22, and Christopher Proctor, 28, each were sentenced for single counts of voluntary manslaughter while armed and two counts each of assault with a dangerous weapon. The sentences carry 18.5 years, 15-20 years and 12-14 years, respectively.
• At Fort Drum Event, Trump Boosts McSally, Does Not Mention McCain
  Arizona politics headed eastward to New York’s North Country on Monday, as President Donald Trump signed a Pentagon policy bill there named after one of his frequent nemeses, Republican John McCain, who went unmentioned by the president, and singled out for praise a woman seeking to become McCain’s Senate colleague: Rep. Martha McSally. McSally made the trip across the country to the Army’s Fort Drum and was  rewarded with a shout-out from Trump, although not an endorsement.
• Minnesota 5th District Candidates Sidestep Ellison Allegations
  Three top Democrats running to succeed Rep. Keith Ellison in Minnesota’s 5th District responded cautiously Monday to allegations that he abused a former girlfriend in 2016. The candidates did not say whether they believed the allegations against the six-term Democratic lawmaker, who has denied that the long-term relationship included physical abuse. They also did not call for him to resign or drop out of his current race for state attorney general. 
• Congressional Budget Office Revises Economic Forecast Downward
  The Congressional Budget Office projects the economy to grow at a rate of 3.1 percent in 2018, a slight revision to the 3.3 percent growth rate the agency forecast in April. The CBO attributed the slight decline in its gross domestic product estimate this year to revised projections of discretionary spending and interest rates.
• Goodlatte’s Son Says Father’s ‘Political Grandstanding’ Ruined Strzok’s Career
  House Judiciary Chairman Robert W. Goodlatte’s son on Monday criticized the firing of former FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok, blaming his father’s “political grandstanding.” Bobby Goodlatte tweeted that Strzok was “a patriot” and called the joint hearing for Stzrok that his father chaired last month a “low point for Congress.”
• Fame and Campaign Fortune Haven’t Saved ‘Iron Stache’ From a Heated Primary
  When Randy Bryce came on to the political scene, he became a Democratic fundraising juggernaut. But the Wisconsin Democrat, who is known by his Twitter moniker “Iron Stache,” hasn’t locked down his primary race in the 1st District, despite a national profile and buckets of money being poured into his campaign. Bryce faces a potentially competitive contest against Janesville school board member Cathy Myers in Tuesday’s primary. 
• House GOP Appropriators Facing Steep Turnover in 116th Congress
  A Democratic “wave” this November, should one materialize, could result in the departure of as many as five senior House Republican appropriators, which would mark the biggest wipeout of major players from one side of the dais in 26 years. Three subcommittee “cardinals” are facing tough re-election fights this November: Commerce-Justice-Science Chairman John Culberson and Military Construction-VA Chairman John Carter, both of Texas, and Homeland Security Chairman Kevin Yoder of Kansas.
• Rep. David Cicilline’s Sister Let Off Hook on ‘Live PD’
  A local Rhode Island police officer let Rep. David Cicilline’s sister, Susan Cicilline-Buonanno, go home without any troubles after pulling her over and administering a sobriety test — on television. The encounter was broadcast on A&E’s “Live PD,” a program that follows roughly six police officers from around the country as they feed delayed video to the show.
• Some House Members Flop In Bids for Governor
  Hawaii Rep. Colleen Hanabusa’s loss in the state’s Democratic gubernatorial primary is the latest example of House members losing their bids for the highest office in a state.  Hanabusa lost the primary Saturday to incumbent Gov. David Ige. Hanabusa returned to the House in 2016 after the death of former Rep. Mark Takai.
• ‘Wacky Omarosa’ Once a Trump Favorite — But No More
  Omarosa Manigault Newman is the latest person to earn one of President Donald Trump’s infamous nicknames, as the president attacked his former adviser on Twitter Monday. “Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time. She never made it, never will,” Trump tweeted. “She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok. People in the White House hated her. She was vicious, but not smart.”
• Beto O’Rourke Drops $1.27 Million in Ads
  Rep. Beto O’Rourke went on the offensive against Sen. Ted Cruz after a fundraising blitz, dropping $1.27 million worth in ads against his opponent. The Democrat’s campaign said it would play ads in all 20 of Texas’ media market.
• California Wildfires Headed to Capitol Hill
  Lawmakers thought they fixed the U.S. Forest Service’s “fire borrowing” problem earlier this year. But the breadth and intensity of fires scorching the West this year is likely to prompt the agency to raid other accounts one last time before budgetary changes go into effect in fiscal 2020. The issue could come to a head once again on Capitol Hill in the coming weeks and months, as lawmakers and the administration weigh the need for another infusion of taxpayer dollars ahead of the midterm elections — and California’s devastating fires have already become a campaign issue.
• Goodlatte’s Son Pushes Democrat Running for Father’s Seat
  Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s son announced he had donated the maximum amount to the Democratic candidate running to succeed his father and urged others to do the same. Bobby Goodlatte announced in a tweet that he had donated  to Jennifer Lewis.
• Police, Opponents Criticize Warren’s Remarks on ‘Racist’ Justice System
  Sen. Elizabeth Warren was criticized by her Republican challengers and law enforcement in Massachusetts after declaring in a speech that the criminal justice system is “racist.” Speaking at New Orleans’ Dillard University last week at an event hosted by Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cedric Richmond, the Massachusetts Democrat said “the hard truth about our criminal justice system: It’s racist ... I mean, front to back.”
• Minnesota DFL Primary Will Shape Toss-up House Race
  Looking at a map of potential Democratic takeover opportunities, Republicans’ see their bright spot in Minnesota’s 8th District. Just how bright it is, however, could largely depend on the outcome of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary on Tuesday. There are few House districts that have attracted more outside spending during the previous two cycles than Minnesota’s 8th, where DFL Rep. Rick Nolan has twice defeated businessman Stewart Mills — the last time by just half a point while President Donald Trump was carrying the seat by 16 points. 
• Minnesota Democrat Keith Ellison Denies He Abused Ex-Girlfriend
  Minnesota Democrat Keith Ellison has denied that he was abusive to an ex-girlfriend. The accusations surfaced just days a primary vote on Tuesday that will decide whether he becomes his party's pick to run for state attorney general. Ellison confirmed that he’d had a long-term relationship with Minneapolis resident Karen Monahan in a statement on Sunday, while denying the accusations. 
• Ed Case’s Comeback Bid Continues in Hawaii Race for Hanabusa’s Seat
  Updated 7:52 a.m. | Former Rep. Ed Case won the Democratic nomination in Hawaii’s open 1st District on Saturday night, and is likely returning to Congress next year to represent the deep-blue seat. Case previously served two terms in the House from the 2nd District. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Case led a seven-way primary field with 40 percent of the vote, The Associated Press reported. Lt. Gov. Doug Chin and state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim trailed behind with 26 percent and 18 percent respectively.
• Collins’ Exit Sends New York Republicans Scrambling to Find Replacement
  Rep. Chris Collins’ decision to suspend his re-election campaign following his recent indictment on insider trading charges has upended the race for his Western New York seat, and Republicans in the area are scrambling to determine their next steps. Two GOP county chairmen said Saturday they expected Collins’ name to be removed from the 27th District ballot. The Republican chairs for the eight counties in the district are expected to meet early next week, potentially on Tuesday, to pick a new nominee.
• Chris Collins Suspends Campaign Just Days After Criminal Indictment
  New York Republican Rep. Chris Collins, who was arrested and indicted on charges related to securities fraud earlier this week, has suspended his re-election campaign. “Democrats are laser focused on taking back the House, electing Nancy Pelosi Speaker and then launching impeachment proceedings against President Trump,” Collins said in a statement Saturday. “They would like nothing more than to elect an ‘Impeach Trump’ Democrat in this District, which is something that neither our country or my party can afford.”
• 3 Takeaways as Second Week of Manafort Trial Ends
  The second week of the tax evasion and bank fraud trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is in the books with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s team expecting to call its final witness to the stand Monday afternoon. After that, the prosecution will rest its case. After a procedural hiccup Friday morning that pushed the start of the day’s testimony to the middle of the afternoon, three of the prosecution’s witnesses took the stand to discuss the bank fraud charges against Manafort. Two employees from The Federal Savings Bank testified about a pair of loans Manafort secured from the bank in 2016. A ticket sales executive for the New York Yankees also testified.
• Trump to Democrats: Give Pelosi Another Chance
  As more Democratic candidates say they will not support keeping Nancy Pelosi as Democratic leader next year, President Donald Trump is urging them to reconsider.  “Democrats, please do not distance yourselves from Nancy Pelosi,” Trump tweeted Friday evening. “She is a wonderful person whose ideas & policies may be bad, but who should definitely be given a 4th chance. She is trying very hard & has every right to take down the Democrat Party if she has veered too far left!”
• Kavanaugh Hearing Date Set for September 4 in Senate
  Updated at 4:19 p.m. | The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a three- or four- day confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh starting Sept. 4, Chairman Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, announced on Friday. That means the marathon hearing will begin the Tuesday after Labor Day.
• Ethics Committee Orders Markwayne Mullin to Pay Back $40,000
  The House Ethics Committee has called for Rep. Markwayne Mullin to return $40,000 to his family business, Mullin West, following a review that concluded the money was paid out to him in a manner that is out of compliance with House rules and the committee’s recommendations. The report released Friday by the House Ethics panel determined that Mullin made a “good faith” effort to seek informal guidance on issues related to his family businesses, but he didn’t take action on the guidance he received. The committee determined that an accounting error led Mullin to “inadvertently fail to fully follow part of the Committee’s advice,” according to the report.
• McConnell Casts Doubt on Legislation to Restrict Trump’s Trade Authority
  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stopped at a water tank manufacturing company Friday in Louisville, Kentucky, to tout the benefits of the Republican tax overhaul, but the conversation not surprisingly turned to trade. The Kentucky Republican said it was unlikely Congress could enact restrictions on President Donald Trump’s trade authority, despite some GOP senators’ efforts to reign in the president’s actions.
• In Minnesota’s 1st District, a Test Between New and Old GOP Candidates
  Jim Hagedorn has done this before — three times, in fact. The Minnesota Republican has never won any of those congressional races in the 1st District, but he’s trying again this year. Hagedorn came within a point of defeating Democratic-Farmer-Labor Rep. Tim Walz in 2016, and now that it’s an open seat — Walz is running for governor — Hagedorn sees another opening.
• Group Files Lawsuit to Challenge Electoral College
  A group is suing two red states and two blue states to change the Electoral College system. Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig and David Boies, who served as former Vice President Al Gore’s lawyer in Bush v. Gore, make up the group according to the Boston Globe.
• Audio Catches Cohen in Blackburn Jump-Off-a-Bridge Bind
  Audio of Tennessee Democratic Rep. Steve Cohencaught him saying he wished President Donald Trump would tell Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn to jump off a bridge. The audio obtained by HuffPost was of Cohen at a community prayer breakfast in Memphis supporting former Gov. Phil Bredesen, who is running for Senate against Blackburn.
• Congressional Leadership Fund Expands Field Offices
  The super PAC backed by House Republican leadership is opening six new field offices in seats the GOP is trying to hold this fall.  Congressional Leadership Fund is adding offices in Illinois, Kansas, North Carolina and Texas, bringing its total number of offices around the country to 40. 
• Snapshot: Chris Collins’ Finances Reviewed
  New York Republican Rep. Chris Collins surrendered to the FBI on Wednesday over criminal insider trading charges. A review of the three-term congressman’s financial disclosures shows the extent of his personal wealth. Collins ranked 13th among House and Senate colleagues in the most recent Roll Call Wealth of Congress index, a ranking of reported assets and liabilities. 
• Primary Elections? Sure, We Got ’Em
  The spectacle of politics and how it fits, or doesn’t, into the nation’s culture. Subscribe to our newsletter here. August might be a sleepy time for legislation, the Senate’s capital busy-work period notwithstanding (See The Kicker below). But this is a midterm election year, and we are still in the thick of primary season.

McClatchy©

• Were Omarosa’s secret recordings illegal?
  Former Trump adviser Omarosa Manigault Newman released multiple secret recordings. Some say the recordings are a serious breach of ethics and security, but did Manigault Newman break the law? One former federal prosecutor weighs in. … Click to Continue »
• Can hackers tamper with your vote? Researchers show it’s possible in nearly 30 states
  Top computer researchers gave a startling presentation recently about how to intercept and switch votes on emailed ballots, but officials in the 30 or so states said the ease with … Click to Continue »
• Details scarce, but White House says it’s actively working to bring Austin Tice home
  Six years after journalist Austin Tice disappeared in war-torn Syria, the State Department says it believes he is alive and that his case has “attention at the highest level” of … Click to Continue »
• ‘Shut down the Senate!’ Supreme Court confirmation roils Feinstein race.
  California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is approaching the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh all wrong, according to her opponent in the state’s Democrat-on-Democrat Senate race. Feinstein is “playing … Click to Continue »
• Health care costs leave Missourians facing tough decisions. How can they be lowered?
  Last year Hattie Saltzman was a 19-year-old diabetic in Kansas City who had to choose between her education and her insulin. Trapped in an individual health insurance plan with high-co-pays … Click to Continue »
• Wildfires still rage. They also shine light on California’s environmental challenges
  The majority of Californians identify climate change as the state’s most serious environmental threat. As California wildfires continue to rage, many of the California Influencers are inclined to agree. Readers … Click to Continue »
• In 2014, political spending at Trump properties was $35K. In 2018, it’s $3.5M
  At least 125 Republican campaigns and conservative political groups spent more than $3.5 million at President Donald Trump’s resorts, hotels and restaurants since January 2017, the month he was sworn … Click to Continue »
• His side-eye at Pence made him famous. But Doug Jones’ son Carson isn’t a gay stereotype
  This is Out Here in America, a podcast by the Sun Herald and McClatchy that explores what it’s like being LGBTQ in the Deep South and other communities in America’s … Click to Continue »
• Erroneous ‘official’ Georgia data is preliminary, state says 12 weeks after primary
  In large red letters atop a Georgia Secretary of State’s office web page featuring precinct-by-precinct vote tallies from the May 22 primary election stand the words: “Official Results.” But the … Click to Continue »
• Florida Influencers: Tallahassee politicians are failing to protect Florida’s environment
  Tallahassee has failed to adequately address the increasing number of environmental problems facing Florida and the next class of elected officials must act far more aggressively to solve them. That … Click to Continue »
• What Clif Bar and campaign ads say about Idaho’s Republican governor nominee
  Editor’s note: This is the first of two profiles of Idaho’s major-party candidates for governor in 2018. Coming next week: Democratic nominee Paulette Jordan. The big question, on this hot … Click to Continue »
• Calling health care a right, most NC influencers say expand Medicaid, keep Obamacare
  The soaring cost of health care, which leaves too many families without health insurance coverage or forces households to choose costly medical coverage over other necessities, is one of the … Click to Continue »
• She could be the first black, female governor. ‘I’m Georgia-grown but Mississippi-raised.’
  Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams says she likes to tell people that she’s Georgia-grown but Mississippi-raised. Abrams returned to her state of birth Friday and regaled attendees of the … Click to Continue »
• ‘Is that all you got?’ McGrath taunts Barr as she pushes back against GOP attack ads.
  Democratic Congressional candidate Amy McGrath is pushing back against the Republican-backed narrative that she’s a liberal outsider in an unconventional ad her campaign released Friday. McGrath said she has intentionally … Click to Continue »
• Republicans threaten Paul Davis with ads about years-old strip club incident
  After Kansas Democrat Paul Davis complained about a Republican ad for falsely stating he supports Nancy Pelosi, the GOP group that funded the TV commercial threatened to start airing ads … Click to Continue »
• Trump campaign asks supporters about Space Force logo, but other space cadets jump in
  The new Space Force announced on Thursday? It has some proposed logos, but apparently only certain people are being asked to help pick one. Hours after Vice President Mike Pence … Click to Continue »
• Venezuelan military deserter faces deportation back to government U.S. calls dictatorship
  A Venezuelan military officer who deserted his country’s army to seek asylum in the United States faces deportation next week, back to the government the U.S. claims is a dictatorship … Click to Continue »
• In South Carolina, Democrats try forgiving a candidate with abuse in his past
  Rep. Jim Clyburn is of two minds about Archie Parnell. A Democrat running to represent South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, Parnell beat his then-wife in 1973. But given his razor-thin … Click to Continue »
• Kansan Sharice Davids gets boost from national Democratic ‘red to blue’ program
  The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Friday named Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids to its “red-to-blue” list of top-tier candidates — a designation that makes her eligible for organizational and fundraising … Click to Continue »
• What we know about Trump’s proposal to punish immigrants who receive public benefits
  Reports that the Trump administration is preparing to deny U.S. citizenship to immigrants who receive any sort of income-based public assistance have unleashed a wave of concern in South Florida. … Click to Continue »
• Trump cabinet officials to inspect California fire damage
  Two Trump cabinet officials are heading to Northern California next week to meet with officials working to contain the deadly Carr Fire, as the administration seeks to show its helping … Click to Continue »
• Votes found in western Kansas narrow Kobach’s lead over Colyer to under 100
  The Republican race for governor just got tighter. Gov. Jeff Colyer’s campaign spokesman said Thursday that 100 votes for Colyer have been found in a western Kansas county, meaning Kansas … Click to Continue »
• Conservative DC group throws money to McGrath’s opponent, 11 other Republicans
  The political affiliate of a major conservative organization is charging into 12 House districts, seeking to insulate Republican candidates from a challenging national environment ahead of November’s midterm elections. Heritage … Click to Continue »
• Blue wave? Republicans say Democrats are overestimating their strength
  Democrats are crowing about forcing the GOP to again defend solidly red territory — this time, Ohio’s 12th congressional district. It’s a sign, they say, of a sure blue wave … Click to Continue »
• Trump, Congress try to breathe life into long-delayed criminal justice reform package
  Jon Ponder has lived both sides of the debate on criminal justice reform. After two convictions for robbery, Ponder, 52, left prison a new man in 2009, he said. He … Click to Continue »
• After milestone win, Sharice Davids to test Dems’ strategy in key suburban district
  Sharice Davids broke through a crowded Democratic field Tuesday to win her party’s nomination to take on Republican congressman Kevin Yoder in November. But the Johnson County lawyer did something … Click to Continue »
• With historic victory, Democrat Sharice Davids to take on Rep. Kevin Yoder
  Sharice Davids made history Wednesday when Kansas Democrats selected the Johnson County attorney as the red state’s first openly gay, Native American nominee for Congress. Davids, the winner of a … Click to Continue »
• Ambassador Haley to announce $9 million in U.S. aid for Venezuelans in Colombia
  The Trump administration will provide an additional $9 million in humanitarian aid for Venezuelan refugees who have fled into Colombia, U.S. officials told McClatchy. Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the … Click to Continue »
• Kobach leads Colyer by 191 votes after Johnson County finishes counting
  Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach led Gov. Jeff Colyer by 191 votes in the Republican race for governor Wednesday morning after Johnson County finished counting votes. The razor-thin margin … Click to Continue »
• Rand Paul delivers letter from Trump to Putin in Russia
  Sen. Rand Paul, one of the few Republicans who has defended President Trump’s outreach to Russia, has gone even further to solidify ties: during a trip to Moscow he announced … Click to Continue »

Politico©

• Trump surges to fore of Manafort trial
  For the first time, the president's name was invoked repeatedly in a trial Trump insists has nothing to do with him.
• Schultz’s 2020 ambitions give Starbucks the jitters
  A partisan run for the White House could be bad for business, company brass and Wall Street worry.
• Mayors muscle into 2020 presidential race
  City Hall has never been a useful springboard to the White House. But that might be changing.
• Bellamy Young reveals how Trump’s presidency changed the arc of Scandal
  The Scandal star said the show “definitely got an extra year” on air because Trump was in the White House.
• Brett Kavanaugh: Who is he? Bio, facts, background and political views
• Raymond Kethledge: Who is he? Bio, facts, background and political views
• Kavanaugh paper chase threatens to draw out confirmation battle
• McDaniel splits with aide over Trump criticism on MSNBC
• Kethledge gets 11th hour push as potential consensus pick for Supreme Court  
  Boosters for the Michigan-based judge are portraying him as eminently confirmable.
• Illinois governor clarifies: ‘Vote for anybody’ but the Nazi