British Suspect Russia Behind Spy’s Poisoning
British prime minister Theresa May says it’s “highly likely” that Russia is responsible for a spy’s poisoning from a military-grade nerve agent, the Washington Post reports.
Lamb Takes the Lead In Pennsylvania’s 18th
A new Monmouth University poll in Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district finds Conor Lamb (D) leading Rick Saccone, 51% to 45%, “if turnout yields a Democratic surge similar to voting patterns seen in other special elections over the past year.”
“Lamb also has the edge using a historical midterm lower turnout model, albeit by a much smaller 49% to 47% margin. A model with higher turnout overall, similar to a presidential electorate, gives Lamb a 51% to 44% advantage.”
“This marks a turnaround from last month’s Monmouth poll of the race, when Saccone held a small lead in all the models – 49% to 46% in the surge model, 48% to 44% in the high turnout model, and 50% to 45% in the low turnout model.”
In Ivanka’s Office
Washington Post: “On a small table in Ivanka Trump’s well-appointed office sit several pictures of her kids, a framed copy of Trump’s typed ‘Remarks Regarding the Capitol of Israel’ — signed ‘To Ivanka, Love Dad’ in the president’s oversized Sharpie scribble — and the lyrics to Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ handwritten to her by one of the songwriters.”
White House Shocked at Education Secretary’s Interviews
“White House officials were alarmed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ struggle to answer basic questions about the nation’s schools and failure to defend the administration’s newly proposed school safety measures during a tour of television interviews Sunday and Monday,” CNN reports.
“Though DeVos was sworn in to her Cabinet position 13 months ago, she stumbled her way through a pointed 60 Minutes interview with CBS’ Lesley Stahl Sunday night and was unable to defend her belief that public schools can perform better when funding is diverted to the expansion of public charter schools and private school vouchers. At one point, she admitted she hasn’t ‘intentionally’ visited underperforming schools.”
Kudlow Is Trump’s Top Choice for Economic Adviser
Larry Kudlow is the leading contender to head President Trump’s National Economic Council and would take the job if offered it, CNBC reports.
Missouri is the Destination for Child Weddings
Kansas City Star: “Every other state requires some combination of a judge’s order, parents’ permission, premarital counseling or proof of pregnancy. Some flat-out prohibit marriages so young. But in Missouri, brides and grooms as young as 15 can marry with no more than the single approving swipe of their parent’s pen, even if the other parent objects.”
“Even children ages 14, 13, 12 or younger can marry in Missouri, as it remains one of 25 states with no minimum age requirement, although at 14 or younger, a judge must approve.”
“But 15? One signature.”
“The result: A review of some 50,000 marriage licenses shows how Missouri’s lax law has for years turned the state into a destination wedding spot for 15-year-old child brides, often rushing to get married.”
LePage Offers Job to Trump Staffer Accused of Abuse
Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) said that he was “100 percent behind” a former White House speechwriter accused of domestic abuse and even offered David Sorensen his old job back in his administration, the Portland Press Herald reports.
Exchange of the Day
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos spoke with Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes:
STAHL: Why have you become, people say, the most hated Cabinet secretary?
DEVOS: I’m not so sure exactly how that happened. But I think there are a lot of really powerful forces allied against change.
STAHL: Does it hurt?
DEVOS: Sometimes it does. Sometimes it does. Again, I think, I think …
STAHL: Do you ever say …
DEVOS: I’m more misunderstood than anything.
Stormy Daniels Offers to Return Trump’s Hush Money
Stormy Daniels offered to return $130,000 she received from Donald Trump’s personal lawyer in 2016 for agreeing not to discuss the alleged relationship, the New York Times reports.
RNC Builds an Army for November Elections
“Flush with cash and bracing for a challenging midterm election season, the Republican National Committee is preparing to deploy more staffers on the ground in key races than it has at this point in any election in the party’s history,” NBC News reports.
“The RNC will add an additional 170 permanent staffers to its field program by the end of March, more than doubling the number already in the field to over 300. And the party expects to add 200 more before before the start of the summer.”
White House Scolds Cabinet Members on Ethics
“The White House held private meetings with four Cabinet-level officials last month to scold them for embarrassing stories about questionable ethical behavior at their respective agencies,” CNN reports.
“Internal watchdogs have launched at least nine audits, reviews or investigations across several Cabinet agencies, and stories about first-class travel, expensive office furniture, and internal strife have become commonplace.”
It’s Bad News Either Way for Trump
Greg Sargent: “Prediction: If Republican Rick Saccone scrapes out a close win in tomorrow’s special election for a House seat in southwestern Pennsylvania, Donald Trump will claim it was all because of Donald Trump. But if Saccone falls just short, Donald Trump will claim it was all because Saccone didn’t sufficiently emulate Donald Trump.”
“But either way, it will be very bad news for Donald Trump. This isn’t just because this election is deep in the heart of Trump country. It’s also because the failure of the Trump/Republican argument to prevent this contest from being so close also carries ominous signs for the GOP this fall.”
For members: A Wave Is Still Coming Even If Conor Lamb Loses
Qataris Did Not Give Info on Kushner to Mueller
“Qatari officials gathered evidence of what they claim is illicit influence by the United Arab Emirates on Jared Kushner and other Trump associates, including details of secret meetings, but decided not to give the information to Special Counsel Robert Mueller for fear of harming relations with the Trump administration,” NBC News reports.
“Qatari officials believe the meetings — as well as fallout from Qatari business dealings with Kushner — may have influenced President Trump’s public endorsement of a blockade of Qatar by its neighbors that began last year.”
White House Says Trump Would Know About Collusion
“If special counsel Robert Mueller one day proves that someone on the 2016 Trump campaign colluded with Russia, a top White House spokesman may live to regret what he said Sunday,” the Washington Post reports.
Said Raj Shah: “There’s been zero evidence, after a year of investigation, that we’ve seen of actual collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign. The president, who would be aware of any types of efforts, has been pretty clear, understands and knows that there is no collusion. And so, as he has said, this investigation is everything from a hoax to a witch hunt. It’s not going to find any evidence of collusion.”
“Okay, but what if it does? Shah has just ruled out the idea that someone else could have colluded with Russia without Trump’s knowledge. If we find out one day that someone within the campaign did collude, Shah’s remarks suggest that Trump had to have known about it. There’s no other way to read them.”
Trump Jr. Partners with Donor Who Pitched Government
“Donald Trump Jr. has a previously undisclosed business relationship with a longtime hunting buddy who helped raise millions of dollars for his father’s 2016 presidential campaign and has had special access to top government officials since the election,” the AP reports.
“The president’s eldest son and Texas hedge fund manager Gentry Beach have been involved in business deals together dating back to the mid-2000s and recently formed a company — Future Venture LLC — despite past claims by both men that they were just friends.”
A Wave Is Still Coming Even If Conor Lamb Loses
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Ivanka Trump Never Cut Ties with the Trump Organization
McClatchy: “Ivanka Trump — a senior White House adviser who is doing everything from lobbying the Senate on tax policy to representing her father at a G20 summit of world leaders — will pull in more than $1 million a year from the family business that has continued to develop luxury resorts across the globe during the Trump presidency.”
“Some of those Trump-branded developments are hiring state-owned companies for construction, receiving gifts from foreign governments in the form of public land or eased regulations and accepting payments from customers who are foreign officials.”
“Ivanka Trump’s continued relationship with the businesses affiliated with the Trump Organization creates countless potential conflicts of interest prohibited by federal law and federal ethics standards as she works as a special assistant to the president. And just like her father, she is being accused of violating the so-called emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution that forbids government officials — not just presidents — from accepting gifts from foreign governments without the approval of Congress.”