Top Political News provided by Roll Call©

• A Plea for the Old School Senate: Senators Really, Really Want to Move Spending Bills This Time
  What could have been a contentious meeting about shortening Senate debate time for nominations turned into more of a bipartisan conversation among some of the most senior senators at taking another shot at moving regular spending bills. “Let’s pick an appropriation bill, put some training wheels on it and head it to the floor. Let’s see how this works,” Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin said. “We’ve got to educate ourselves.”
• Democrats Still Not Satisfied With CIA Disclosures About Gina Haspel
  The CIA will be providing senators with an opportunity to review more classified information about President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the agency in a secure room deep beneath the Capitol. But some senators are not convinced about the commitment to transparency about nominee Gina Haspel, the current deputy director who spent much of her career serving in clandestine capacities.
• White House: No Red Flags In Multiple Jackson Background Checks
  The White House on Wednesday continued defending embattled Veterans Affairs Secretary nominee Ronny Jackson, saying multiple background checks have turned up no red flags. And, for the first time, a senior official said an internal review could happen as his nomination appears stalled. With his Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee confirmation hearing still on hold amid allegations he over-prescribed medication, was drunk on the job and fostered a hostile work environment, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters he has undergone four federal background checks since becoming a White House doctor.
• Texas Governor Wants Blake Farenthold to Pay for Special Election
  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is asking former Rep. Blake Farenthold to pay for the June 30 special election to fill the seat the congressman vacated when he resigned earlier this month. Abbott wrote a letter to Farenthold Wednesday to “demand” that he “cover all costs” for the June 30 special election in Texas’ 27th District.
• For House Democrats, Leadership Questions Persist
  House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer declined to echo Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn’s call for a new leadership team should Democrats fail to win control of the House in the midterms. Clyburn told Politico at a fish fry event in his home state of South Carolina this weekend that if House Democrats are still in the minority come November “all of us have to go.”
• We Made a List of All the Russia, Trump Investigations So You Don’t Have To
  Hacking, Facebook ads and pee tapes. News keeps breaking around Russia’s involvement in the 2016 elections, but who’s investigating the firehose of information? Here’s our list:
• Macron Denounces Nationalistic Wave That Propelled Trump to White House
  French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing a joint meeting of Congress, denounced the wave of nationalistic fervor that helped Donald Trump capture the White House and urged U.S. lawmakers to seek a new and broader deal with Iran. After spending a day and a half with Trump and first lady Melania Trump that included private meals, cheek kisses, hand-holding and backslapping, the French president broke with his political alter ego on several issues.
• Bank Group Plans Midterm Ads, Starting With Tester, Budd
  The American Bankers Association said Wednesday it would weigh into midterm congressional campaigns for the first time with independent expenditure TV ads, beginning with “six-figure” buys in Montana and North Carolina. “These ads are a concrete example of our stepped-up political engagement efforts,” American Bankers Association President Rob Nichols told hundreds of bankers at the association’s government relations conference in Washington Wednesday.
• Special Election For Farenthold’s Seat Set For June 30
  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called a June 30 special election to fill former Rep. Blake Farenthold’s seat. The filing deadline for candidates is Friday at 5 p.m. local time. Registered voters in Texas’ 27th District can cast their ballots during the early voting period from June 13 through June 26.
• Hunter Trying to Set Up Legal Defense Fund
  Embattled California Rep. Duncan Hunter is trying to set up a legal expense fund as he faces a federal criminal investigation for misuse of campaign dollars. The legal defense fund would allow people to contribute more than the limits set for campaign contributions, the San Diego-Union Tribune reported.
• Protesters Stage ‘Retirement Party’ for Issa
  Demonstrators at outgoing California Rep. Darrell Issa’s district office threw the Republican a “retirement party” after protesting there weekly for more than a year. Issa critics had been holding protests at the congressman’s office for roughly 65 weeks, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
• White House Uses Obama to Try to Salvage Jackson Nomination
  The White House is trying to salvage Ronny Jackson’s nomination for Veterans’ Affairs secretary by citing former President Barack Obama, even after President Donald Trump publicly advised him to step aside. Hours after Trump told reporters he would not continue as the nominee if he were in the White House physician’s shoes, a senior official shared information touting Jackson’s record. The information included praise from Obama, including the 44th president’s recommendation that Jackson, a Navy officer, be promoted ahead of his peers.
• Macron Expected to Avoid ‘Netanyahu Approach’ in Joint Meeting
  The Iran nuclear deal will be front and center when French President Emmanuel Macron addresses a joint meeting of Congress Wednesday — but he is not expected to strike the same bellicose tone as the last world leader who discussed the pact in the House chamber. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took his place in the House chamber on March 3, 2015, and delivered a forceful speech that warned House and Senate members that the then-emerging deal would “inevitably” cause a war.
• Heitkamp Highlights Family Ties in First TV Ad
  Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is highlighting her family in her first television ad of the 2018 election cycle. The North Dakota Democrat is looking to stress her ties to the state as she bids for a second term. Heitkamp is one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats up for re-election this year, running in a state President Donald Trump carried by 36 points in 2016. Watch: Will the Chambers Flip? Redditors Want to Know
• Republican Debbie Lesko Wins Arizona Special Election
  Updated Wednesday, 12:04 a.m. | Former Republican state Sen. Debbie Lesko won the special election in Arizona’s 8th District on Tuesday night, but her victory margin for a seat that President Donald Trump easily carried in 2016 appeared to be relatively slim. The Associated Press called the race with Lesko leading Democrat Hiral Tipirneni, 53 percent to 47 percent in early ballots, which accounted for an estimated 75 percent of the total votes cast, according to the Arizona secretary of state’s office. The seat opened up after former GOP Rep. Trent Franks resigned in December amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
• Here’s What You Should Know About 3 Special Elections Other Than Arizona 8
  All eyes are on Arizona tonight but at least three more upcoming special elections will take place ahead of the 2018 midterms. If you missed it, here’s the skinny on the Arizona 8th District contest between Republican Debbie Lesko and Democrat Hiral Tipirneni to fill Trent Franks seat, which he vacated in December over allegations of sexual impropriety.
• Macron Calls for New Iran Talks to Build On Deal Trump Loathes
  French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday proposed a new nuclear accord with Iran, an apparent attempt by the youthful European leader to keep the existing pact in place while assuaging President Donald Trump’s concerns. Macron made the announcement after several hours of private meetings earlier in the day with the U.S. president at the White House. His call for a new deal came hours after Trump slammed the existing Obama-era pact, calling it “terrible” and “insane” and “ridiculous” while saying it fails to address Iran’s missile program or activities in the region.
• Trump Opens Door for Ronny Jackson Exit
  Updated 6:55 p.m. | President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his Veterans Affairs nominee, Ronny Jackson amid allegations of drinking on the job and creating a hostile work environment even as he opened the door for his White House doctor to withdraw his nomination. “I’ll always stand behind him,” the president said.
• Democratic Majority Would Act Quickly on Guns, Dreamers, Infrastructure, Pelosi Says
  If Democrats control the House in 2019 they would quickly schedule floor action on gun violence prevention, protections for “Dreamers” and infrastructure, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday.  “When we win and we take over in January, some of the issues that will come up soon are the issues we are asking the speaker to take up now,” Pelosi said, naming those three issues.
• Conservative Court Nominee Highlights Smoother Path to Bench
  Updated 4:29 p.m. | Appeals court nominee Kyle Duncan has advocated on behalf of conservatives in legal fights over contentious cultural issues such as abortion and LGBT rights, leaving behind the kind of paper trail that might have dissuaded presidents from putting him through the Senate’s confirmation process. Donald Trump is not such a president.
• Spending Bill, Tariffs Drive Lobbying as 2018 Elections Approach
  An omnibus appropriations package, steel tariffs, regulatory work on the new tax law and general uncertainty about the nation’s direction on policy and governing fueled K Street business during the first three months of this year. The politics of the coming November midterm elections will consume the Capitol for much of the rest of 2018, as lawmakers debate a farm bill, possible new disclosures for social media companies and federal spending beyond Sept. 30.  
• Former Florida Reps. Murphy and Jolly Floating Bipartisan Governor Bid
  Two former Florida congressmen are mulling joining forces on a bipartisan ticket to run for governor. Former Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Democrat, is considering running alongside former Republican Rep. David Jolly, depending on the results of a poll Murphy commissioned this week, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
• McCain at Home Recovering From Another Surgery
  Sen. John McCain has been discharged from the hospital and spent time at his ranch in Arizona on Monday night, according to a tweet from his wife, Cindy. Last Sunday, McCain, 81, was admitted to Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and underwent surgery to treat an intestinal infection related to diverticulitis, his office announced in a press release last week. He emerged from the operation in stable condition.
• Warren Challenger Sues to Keep ‘Fake Indian’ Signs Up
  An independent Senate candidate in Massachusetts is suing to keep his sign calling Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren a “fake Indian” in place. Shiva Ayyadurai is suing the city of Cambridge after he was told to remove two signs with Warren wearing an Indian headdress, the Washington Times reported.
• Allegations of Excessive Drinking and Hostile Work Environment Delay VA Nominee’s Hearing
  The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will delay confirmation hearings for Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump’s pick to run the Department of Veterans Affairs, after allegations rose from his past. An aide with ranking Democrat Jon Tester confirmed to Roll Call that hearings were delayed after Chairman Johnny Isakson told the Washington Post and CNN.
• Macron Visit Will Highlight Iran Deal, Trade Differences
  It was all smiles and handshakes Monday afternoon when French President Emmanuel Macron arrived outside the West Wing. But Republican and Democratic lawmakers are expected to intently watch the youthful European leader’s talks with President Donald Trump. Macron’s polished black limousine pulled into the White House’s West Wing entrance with a spring breeze perfectly pitching the flags of each country affixed to his hood. When the 40-year-old French president greeted his 71-year-old political alter ego, the personal bond they both often laud was on public display.
• Here’s What Tonight’s Arizona 8th Special Election Means for 2018
  The special election in Arizona’s 8th District will set the stage for a hotly contested Senate race and a handful of competitive House races in the Grand Canyon State. And both parties are watching for indications of what’s to come in November. More than 150,000 people have already voted in the contest to replace Republican Rep. Trent Franks, who resigned in December amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Democrats are hopeful they can make the race close even though President Donald Trump carried the suburban Phoenix-based district by 21 points in 2016. And Republicans know analysts will be looking at the outcome for signs of a potential blue wave.
• New Budgeting Software Hopes to Help Democratic Campaign Managers
  The surge of Democratic candidates this cycle has given way to a new crop of campaign managers who are taking their first crack at managing millions of dollars.  And up until recently, there wasn’t a streamlined way for them to handle the money coming in and spend down to zero, which is the most important job for managers. 
• Senate Majority PAC Defends Tester in First Statewide Ad in Montana
  A Democratic super PAC is defending Montana Sen. Jon Tester from a recent attack by Americans for Prosperity with a TV ad of its own. Senate Majority PAC, which supports Senate Democrats, is debuting its first statewide TV ad in Montana on Tuesday, backed by a $400,000 buy.
• After Coons Demonstrates Comity, Pompeo Avoids Dubious Distinction
  CIA Director Mike Pompeo narrowly avoided historical ignominy on Monday when the Foreign Relations Committee approved his nomination to be secretary of State. It took more steps to advance President Donald Trump’s nominee than anyone might have anticipated going into the meeting, including what in the modern Senate was a magnanimous gesture from Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.
• GOP Rep. Lamborn Does Not Qualify for Primary Ballot, State Court Rules
  Updated 7:27 p.m. | The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn has not qualified for the GOP primary ballot. The court ruled Lamborn violated state rules when collecting the 1,000 GOP signatures needed to qualify for the primary ballot. State law says the signature collectors must be Colorado residents, and the state Supreme Court determined one of the collectors was not, reversing a lower court decision.
• Rand Paul Flips, Will Support Mike Pompeo Nomination
  Sen. Rand Paul, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a series of tweets sent just before the panel was scheduled to gavel into session, that he would support the nomination of CIA Director Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State. “Having received assurances from President Trump and Director Pompeo that he agrees with the President on these important issues, I have decided to support his nomination to be our next Secretary of State,” Paul said
• Indivisible Combatting Sexual Harassment at Candidate Level
  A group founded by former Capitol Hill staffers wants to increase pressure on congressional offices to build harassment-free environments even before members are members. When the progressive group Indivisible Project questions candidates to see how well they align with their resistance agenda, they also ask, “If elected, will you make every effort to create work spaces for your staff that are safe and free from all forms of sexual harassment?”
• Texas Attorney General Allows Special Election for Farenthold’s Seat
  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton gave permission to Gov. Greg Abbott to hold a special election to fill former Rep. Blake Farenthold’s seat. Paxton issued a non-binding opinion that said a court would agree to set aside election laws to allow for the governor to suspend certain laws if they interfere with disaster recovery, according to the Texas Tribune.
• Democrats’ Poll Puts Grimm Up by Double Digits Over Donovan
  A new Democratic poll of voters in the Republican primary for Rep. Dan Donovan’s seat shows challenger Michael Grimm up by 10 points, but the incumbent says that’s what they’d like you to believe. Grimm led Donovan, 49 percent to 39 percent, among GOP voters in New York’s 11th District in the poll released by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the House Democrats’ political arm, which hopes to flip the seat blue in November.
• Former Ryan Staffer Bryan Steil To Run for Former Boss’ Seat
  A former staffer to House Speaker Paul D. Ryan announced he would run for his former boss’ seat in Wisconsin’s 1st District. Bryan Steil, who serves as a regent for the University of Wisconsin, said he would run as a “problem solver,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
• Khanna Writing Internet Bill of Rights
  California Rep. Ro Khanna has been tapped by Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to write legislation defining Internet users’ rights to their data. In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Khanna said he was frustrated after Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s hearings on Capitol Hill showed many members did not understand basic concepts about the internet.
• Pompeo Confirmation Debate Highlights Another Week of Senate Nomination Feuds
  CIA Director Mike Pompeo seems all but assured to be confirmed as secretary of State this week. The question is how much pain will senators go through along the way. The way forward should become clear after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee convenes late Monday afternoon to formally vote on advancing Pompeo’s nomination — probably without a favorable review.
• Election Year History Belies Ambitious Talk on Appropriations
  November might seem far away, but the midterm elections’ impact on spending bills is already on display, amplified by internal Republican jockeying for leadership positions in the House. Election years tend to chill swift movement on appropriations bills — especially when there’s potential turnover in leadership of one or both chambers. That’s in part because lawmakers want to focus on campaigning and are back home more than usual, and party leaders tend to want to shield vulnerable members from tough votes.
• Who Can Fill Paul Ryan’s Shoes in the House GOP?
  The brain drain from departing House Republicans with policy expertise had sparked worry among party insiders even before Speaker Paul D. Ryan announced his plans to retire. Now, the extraordinary attrition, along with a potentially brutal upcoming midterm campaign, is enough to send the GOP into panic mode.
• Fearing New Government Rules, Tech Titans Promise Security Vigilance
  SAN FRANCISCO — New European privacy rules, the spotlight on Facebook’s role in the 2016 elections, and the potential that cyberattacks targeting devices could harm consumers in their homes are propelling the tech industry to question its security practices and prompting top executives to promise to make amends. During five days at the annual RSA Conference last week in San Francisco, top executives from the world’s largest technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, IBM, CISCO, McAfee and Symantec, said they took the scrutiny seriously and would not only step up to make their own devices and software safer but also work with thousands of vendors worldwide urging them to do the same.
• Mitt Romney Faces GOP Primary in Utah
  Mitt Romney will head to a primary in the Utah Senate race after falling short of the threshold needed to win the nomination at the GOP convention Saturday. Romney had hoped to garner 60 percent of the delegate votes to win the nomination, but 51 percent backed state Rep. Mike Kennedy instead, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Romney garnered 49 percent of the vote.
• CIA Releases Report Finding Haspel Not at Fault in Destruction of Torture Tapes
  The Central Intelligence Agency released an unclassified but partially redacted version of an internal memo Friday finding “no fault” on the part of current director nominee Gina Haspel regarding the destruction of infamous tapes. The tapes showed the use of harsh interrogation tactics on detainees who had been subject to rendition at so-called “black sites.” Clarity about Haspel’s involvement is one key to the deputy director’s chances for Senate confirmation to be the director.
• Trump, French President Macron to Disagree Privately, Official Says
  There will be ample smiles and handshakes for the camera, but don’t expect the U.S. and French heads of state to agree on much behind closed doors when they meet next week in Washington. A number of contentious issues — from the Iran nuclear deal to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs to Syria — will be on the agenda next week when President Donald Trump hosts French President Emmanuel Macron for a visit that largely will be symbolic.
• Analysis: For Trump, Wins and Losses During Abe Summit
  White House aides set a low bar for their boss ahead of his two-day summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — and President Donald Trump often cleared it with ease. But experts say there were a few stumbles too. Trump aides made clear they had no “deliverables” in mind ahead of the Tuesday-Wednesday talks, which touched on everything from a new round of trade talks to dealing with North Korea to their respective golf games. That diplomat-speak refers to agreements or other things the White House wants meetings with world leaders to produce.
• DNC Files Lawsuit against Trump, Russia and WikiLeaks for 2016 election
  The Democratic National Committee filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump campaign, the Russian government, Wikileaks and other close associates alleging a massive conspiracy to undermine the 2016 U.S. presidential election and help now-President Donald Trump win. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan, says that the Trump campaign worked with the Russian government and its spy agencies to collude against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by hacking the Democratic Party’s computer networks and leaking the stolen information.
• Photos of the Week: House Heads Out Early, Senate Welcomes a Baby
  House members scrambled out of town on Wednesday this week  — a day earlier than originally scheduled. And on Thursday the Senate made history by welcoming an infant onto the chamber’s floor. Sen. Tammy Duckworth gave birth on April 9, and the rules were changed to accommodate the new mom. Without further ado, here’s the entire week in photos:
• Arizona Teachers Latest to Walk Out, Members Supportive
  Arizona teachers voted Thursday night to join their counterparts in states such as West Virginia and Kentucky protesting wage and benefit cuts. Teachers in the state voted through the Arizona Education Association to participate in a statewide walkout Friday to fight for better pay and school funding.
• Texas Governor Wants ‘Emergency’ Special Election for Farenthold’s Seat
  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants to have a special election to replace former GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold as soon as possible, and he’s asking whether he can suspend certain election laws to do so. Abbott sent a letter Thursday to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton outlining his desire to hold a special election soon and asking what laws he could bypass to speed up the process.
• Complaint Against Crapo Over Controversial Condo
  A liberal watchdog group filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Sen. Mike Crapo for fundraisers he held at the same condominium that caused controversy for EPA administrator Scott Pruitt. The Campaign for Accountability filed the complaint on Thursday that Crapo’s campaign committees did not report paying for the use of the condo on campaign filings, Bloomberg reported.

The Washington Post©

• VA nominee considers withdrawing as new allegations emerge of drinking, wrecking government vehicle
  In the two-page summary of interviews conducted by the Democratic staff of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Ronny L. Jackson also stands accused of a “pattern” of handing out medications with no patient history, prescribing medications to himself, and contributing to a hostile work environment with “a constant fear of reprisal.”
• Kanye West, from ‘Bush doesn’t care about black people’ to praising Trump’s ‘dragon energy’
  A guide to the times the entertainer has stirred the political pot.
• Supreme Court’s conservative justices appear to back Trump’s authority for travel ban
  They are reviewing whether the measure is meant to protect or to fulfill anti-Muslim campaign promises.
• French President Macron charms both parties in an impassioned speech to Congress
  Amid frequent standing ovations, Macron recalls the long history of U.S.-French relations and shared values. But he warned that ‘what we cherish is at stake.’
• Kanye West, from ‘Bush doesn’t care about black people’ to praising Trump’s ‘dragon energy’
  A guide to the times the entertainer has stirred the political pot.
• Trump's past comments about pleading the Fifth look pretty ominous now
  Trump suggested innocent people don't plead the Fifth. Then his lawyer, Michael Cohen, did it.
• The lengthy list of allegations against Ronny L. Jackson, annotated
  They are mere allegations, but it is quite the list.
• Trump's past comments about pleading the Fifth look pretty ominous now
  Trump suggested innocent people don't plead the Fifth. Then his lawyer, Michael Cohen, did it.
• VA nominee considers withdrawing as new allegations emerge of drinking, wrecking government vehicle
  In the two-page summary of interviews conducted by the Democratic staff of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Ronny L. Jackson also stands accused of a “pattern” of handing out medications with no patient history, prescribing medications to himself, and contributing to a hostile work environment with “a constant fear of reprisal.”
• Sessions backtracks on pausing legal aid for immigrants facing deportation
  The attorney general said a program to advise detainees of their rights will continue during a financial review.
• Tester’s scrutiny of Trump’s VA choice offers political peril and opportunity
  Republicans have targeted the Montana Democrat in a state Trump won handily in 2016. Tester has been a contradiction, embracing Trump at times while defying him at others.
• Michael Cohen to invoke Fifth Amendment right in Stormy Daniels case
  President Trump’s personal attorney told a federal judge that he would invoke his constitutional right not to incriminate himself in a lawsuit brought by the adult entertainer.
• HUD Secretary Ben Carson to propose raising rent for low-income Americans receiving federal housing subsidies
  The proposal legislation, which would require congressional approval, would increase the amount some of the lowest-income households are expected to pay for rent by three times, according to the administration’s proposal obtained by The Washington Post.
• Trump needed new lawyers for Russia probe. He found them at a tiny Florida firm.
  Jane and Martin Raskin, husband and wife, are former federal prosecutors who were hired after meeting the president at Mar-a-Lago. Now they could help determine Trump’s fate.
• Kanye West's late registration of support for Trump has his fans watching the throne
  The Trump-West interaction, explained in 60 Kanye song titles.
• Republicans got a win in Arizona — but it just made them more nervous
  Party leaders warned incumbents against complacency and urged them to brace for the worst in November’s midterm elections.
• Rapper Kanye West calls Trump 'my brother' — 'very cool!' Trump responds
  West visited the soon-to-be president in Trump Tower after the 2016 election. More recently, he has mused about running for president himself.
• Giuliani reopens negotiations about presidential interview with Mueller, but cautions special counsel that Trump remains resistant
  The president is ‘extremely opposed’ to the idea of sitting down with the special counsel, according to an adviser.
• Mulvaney discloses 'hierarchy' for meeting lobbyists, saying some would be seen only if they paid
  Mick Mulvaney has been running the CFPB since late November. Democrats worry that he is weakening the consumer watchdog.
• Democrats don’t mind the Syria strike but hate what Trump is doing on Syria
  Sixty-five percent of Democrats who support the Syria strikes disapprove of the president's Syria policy.
• Nikki Haley’s unique Trump Teflon
  Haley appears to have become the most popular member of a Trump administration that makes it difficult to be loved.
• The White House is abandoning Scott Pruitt
  Sarah Huckabee Sanders's chilly nondefense: “We're evaluating these concerns, and we expect the EPA administrator to answer for them."
• CIA refuses to declassify more information about Gina Haspel, Trump’s pick to lead the agency
  Democrats want more details about her career made public before the Senate considers her nomination to become director.
• French President Macron said 'fake news,' and everyone heard their own definition
  In a speech to Congress, the French president appeared content to let all listeners imagine that his definition of “fake news” matches their own.

Politico©

• Priorities USA super PAC ramps up fundraising for 2018
  The Democratic group raised $4.5 million in the first quarter, plus $2.2 million for an allied nonprofit.
• Trump risks political blowback from his base on Syria
  The president, who campaigned on a noninterventionist platform, has followed the path of his predecessors and reversed himself in office.
• Emotions run high at gun-control demonstration
  Speakers and volunteers pushed a voter registration drive and vowed to oust lawmakers who oppose gun control.
• Emails reveal conservative alarm over ‘Obama holdovers’ in Trump administration
  ‘A cleaning is in order,’ wrote a former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, as State Department officials reassigned a career diplomat of Iranian descent.
• U.S. imposes new sanctions on Russian entities over 2016 election meddling
  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says America will level additional sanctions 'to hold Russian government officials and oligarchs accountable.'
• Top takeaways from the Texas primary
  Democratic enthusiasm was real, but not as off-the-charts statewide as early voting numbers had hinted.
• Trump comes in last in expert presidential rankings survey
• Inside Biden's 2018 — and possibly 2020 — plans
  The former VP will be the busiest high-profile Democratic surrogate in the midterms. But some contributors want to know his 2020 plans.
• February 2018
  Political cartoons from the desk of Matt Wuerker.
• Sanders: Flake criticized Trump 'because he has terrible poll numbers'

McClatchy©

• How one Republican held up the U.S. Senate over Cuba travel policy
  The U.S. Senate ground to a halt last week, and Cuba was the culprit. After months in limbo, Donald Trump's pick to lead NASA finally appeared to have enough support … Click to Continue »
• GOP operative switches teams in race to replace Barton
  The Republicans running to replace retiring Rep. Joe Barton have overhauled campaign staff ahead of next month's runoff – with a top consultant bouncing from one candidate to the other. … Click to Continue »
• Trump jokes about being immortalized on Mount Rushmore
  President Trump joked about one day being immortalized on the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial located in South Dakota. Trump made the comment during an appearance in Youngstown, Ohio in July 2017. … Click to Continue »
• ‘Come pick out a mountain’: Trump’s dream is to have his face on Mount Rushmore, SD congresswoman says
  Make room, Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. President Donald Trump dreams of snagging a spot on Mount Rushmore, according to U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), who says it’s among the … Click to Continue »
• Robert Mueller is getting some unlikely support from TV ads. By Republicans. On Fox News.
  A new group founded by prominent Republicans is taking its pro-Robert Mueller message straight to President Donald Trump's most loyal supporters in North Carolina and South Carolina via his favorite … Click to Continue »
• Texas super PAC is raising money to unseat Ted Cruz
  A Texas Democratic donor is raising money for a super PAC to help Senate hopeful Beto O’Rourke — against the wishes of the candidate, who has asked super PACs to … Click to Continue »
• Trump administration deports Venezuelans while pledging aid
  Despite promising millions of dollars to help fleeing Venezuelans and exhorting allies in the region to "do more" about the starvation and oppression of the Venezuelan people, the Trump administration … Click to Continue »
• Congress approved testing food aid reforms. An impatient House GOP won't wait for results
  Four years ago, the Republican-dominated House okayed spending millions on experimental programs to aid low-income Americans in finding work and no longer depending on the nation's food aid program. It … Click to Continue »
• ‘Year of the woman’? Not so much in California
  The numbers are eye-popping. Last week, EMILY’s List, a political organization dedicated to electing Democratic women to office, announced that over 36,000 women had contacted them about running for office … Click to Continue »
• Paul switches, says he’ll back Pompeo after talking to Trump
  Sen. Rand Paul wanted assurances that Mike Pompeo would not advocate more war and that the White House would at least discuss curbs on government surveillance. Once he heard what … Click to Continue »
• GOP leaders ignore their Capitol Hill border expert
  In Texas, a super PAC aligned with GOP House leadership is eagerly promoting Rep. Will Hurd’s work on immigration and security. But in Washington, on some of the issues Hurd … Click to Continue »
• Senators worry Koch brothers have too much influence in Trump administration
  A group of Democratic senators is asking the administration to explain its ties to Charles and David Koch after the conservative, wealthy brothers bragged to donors that they were responsible … Click to Continue »
• Hawley raises far less than McCaskill despite Trump’s help
  Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley is the only Senate candidate President Donald Trump has helped with fundraising, but Hawley still only managed to raise less than half the amount collected … Click to Continue »
• Miami husband-and-wife legal duo to join Trump defense in Russia investigation
  A husband-and-wife legal team from Miami is joining President Donald Trump’s personal legal team in the special counsel's Russia investigation. Jane Serene Raskin and Marty Raskin, two former federal prosecutors … Click to Continue »
• ‘A kangaroo court’: Why Tillis has been traveling to Turkey to see an imprisoned pastor
  Sen. Thom Tillis flew to Turkey last month to assure a North Carolina pastor that the American people would not forget about him as he awaited trial onaccusations of espionage … Click to Continue »
• Pompeo meets with Paul as he hunts for votes for his confirmation
  A skeptical Sen. Rand Paul met behind closed doors with President Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of state on Thursday, as the president tried to avoid an embarrassing defeat for … Click to Continue »
• Trump policies, rhetoric unlikely to scare immigrant voters away from polls
  Democratic concerns that President Donald Trump’s tough immigration policies might keep immigrants from voting may be unfounded. Activists working with immigrant voters say a “climate of fear” — stoked by … Click to Continue »
• Conservatives turn to Trump for cover as 2018 outlook deteriorates
  Conservative leaders, increasingly worried about a challenging 2018 campaign, are intensifying their appeals to evangelical voters frustrated with Washington, warning that failure to support GOP lawmakers in November will imperil … Click to Continue »
• After Bernie, progressive Democrats storm the ballot — even in NC
  Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent whose insurgent progressive movement shook up the 2016 Democratic primary campaign, will be in Durham on Thursday for a public event at Duke University … Click to Continue »
• Mitch McConnell — yes, that Mitch McConnell — moves to legalize hemp across the country
  Embracing the hemp industry was a savvy political move for Kentucky Rep. James Comer, the only Republican to win statewide in 2011 during an otherwise tough year for his party. … Click to Continue »
• Ad calls on senators to vote against Pompeo over China business
  With Mike Pompeo's nomination to be secretary of state already uncertain, a Democratic group is launching a new ad campaign urging more senators to oppose him for failing to disclose … Click to Continue »
• In Pompeo, Trump sees a guy he can trust
  Outgoing CIA Director Mike Pompeo enjoys President Donald Trump's trust like few others. So it is little surprise that Trump entrusted Pompeo with a crucial mission: Go and sit down … Click to Continue »
• Democrat leads the pack in fundraising for retiring GOP Rep. Joe Barton’s seat
  National Democrats aren’t targeting retiring GOP Rep. Joe Barton’s Arlington-area congressional district — but a Democrat is raising more money than both of the Republicans in the race. Public relations … Click to Continue »
• Pro-Trump donors helping out vulnerable House Republicans – in anti-Trump districts
  Donors with ties to President Donald Trump are contributing to the campaigns of vulnerable California House Republicans running in districts where Trump is not considered popular. Reps. David Valadao, Jeff … Click to Continue »
• 'She served unfailingly:' Presidents, family and more react to Barbara Bush's death
  After former first lady Barbara Bush died at 92 on Tuesday, everyone from her family to past presidents — not to mention the past presidents in her family — reacted … Click to Continue »
• AG Hawley: Greitens committed ‘potentially criminal acts’ involving veterans charity
  Attorney General Josh Hawley announced Tuesday that his office has uncovered potential criminal wrongdoing by Gov. Eric Greitens, a fellow Republican, and has turned that evidence over to the St. … Click to Continue »
• Gov. Brown: Guard is chomping at the bit ready to go
  California Governor Jerry Brown answered questions about the National Guard being stationed at the U.S.-Mexico border during a session at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on April 17, 2018. … Click to Continue »
• Missouri Republicans set for civil war as Hawley accuses Greitens of potential crime
  Missouri Republicans appear on the verge of a civil war roughly half a year ahead of an election that could decide control of the U.S. Senate. Attorney General Josh Hawley, … Click to Continue »
• FBI making 'a lot of progress' in finding answers on health attacks in Cuba
  The FBI is closer to finding answers about the mysterious attacks that caused health ailments in at least 24 U.S. diplomats, relatives and intelligence agents in Havana, Republican Sen. Marco … Click to Continue »
• Abe hopes to turn ‘little smile’ into steel exemption in Mar-a-Lago summit
  WASHINGTON When President Donald Trump signed a new law on steel and aluminum tariffs, he mentioned Japan and the "little smile" on its leader’s face reflecting what Trump believed to … Click to Continue »