Political Wire

Become a member to get many great benefits -- exclusive analysis, trending news, a private podcast, no ads and more!

Ex-CIA Officials Give ‘Briefing Book’ to Candidates

March 28, 2019 at 7:11 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Two former top CIA officials have compiled an unclassified report on the major national security challenges facing the United States, which they are distributing to every candidate running for president,” the Washington Post reports.

“The report, which former acting CIA directors Michael Morell and John McLaughlin call a ‘briefing book,’ is modeled on the classified oral briefing that the intelligence community provides to the nominees of each major political party running for president, usually after the nominating conventions.”

Republicans Warn Trump to Back Off Tariffs

March 28, 2019 at 7:04 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“In a series of private meetings and conversations with Trump over the past few months, Senate Republicans have pleaded with him not to impose a new round of tariffs on foreign automakers — fearing they could debilitate Trump-backed states and cast the economy into a recession ahead of the 2020 election. But Trump isn’t heeding the warnings so far,” Politico reports.

“Behind closed doors, GOP senators push back on Trump consistently when he brings up existing tariffs on steel and aluminum or potential tariffs on automakers, according to Republican senators. But Trump doesn’t back down from his position: He says the threat of tariffs gets the attention of trading partners — like China — who need to permit more imports of American products.”

Mueller Quickly Closes Up Shop

March 28, 2019 at 7:00 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “In a matter of days the special counsel has downshifted from investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election to the managerial tasks involved in packing up papers, disbanding staff and handing off cases. Almost everything left to argue in court — like Wednesday’s hearing involving a mysterious foreign company fighting a Mueller subpoena — has been given to career prosecutors in permanent offices.”

Prison-Hardened Grimm Wants Back In Congress

March 28, 2019 at 6:55 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Michael Grimm is trying to come back from the dead — again. The former Republican congressman and tax felon told Politico in an interview that he’s very close to launching the second bid for his old seat in as many years.”

“The move by the scandal-tainted tough guy, who once threatened to throw a reporter off a balcony, could jeopardize Republicans’ chances in a district key to the party’s hopes of recapturing the House in 2020. And national Republicans appear to be closing ranks behind a different candidate: state Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R), the GOP nominee for mayor of New York City two years ago.”

Biden Way Ahead In Democratic Race

March 28, 2019 at 6:43 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Quinnipiac poll finds Joe Biden is the top choice of Democrats with 29%, followed by Bernie Sanders at 19%, Beto O’Rourke at 12%, Kamala Harris at 8%, Pete Buttigieg at 4% and Elizabeth Warren at 4%.

Georgia Moves Forward With Insecure Voting Machines

March 28, 2019 at 6:39 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is poised to sign a bill to overhaul the state’s voting system with machines that are widely considered vulnerable to hacking,” Politico reports.

“The new equipment would replace the state’s paperless, electronic machines — technology so risky that a federal judge said last year that its continued use threatened Georgians’ ‘constitutional interests.’ But security researchers say similar risks exist in the new electronic machines that the GOP-led legislature has chosen, which would embed the voter’s choice in a barcode on a slip of paper.”

Most Americans Want Mueller Report Released

March 27, 2019 at 7:27 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new CBS News poll finds 77% of Americans, including majorities of both Republicans and Democrats, think the full Mueller report should be released to the public.

“But the partisan splits that have long marked the investigation remain even after it is done: Republicans say the report has cleared the president. Democrats are unconvinced and want their party in Congress to continue looking into the Russia matter, though most Americans overall feel they should drop it.”

Trump’s Executive Orders Are Mostly Ineffective

March 27, 2019 at 6:06 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Los Angeles Times reviewed 101 executive orders President Trump has signed since inauguration day, and interviewed experts, advocates and administration officials about their effects.

“Many were geared toward favored political constituencies, including veterans, blue-collar workers and evangelical Christians. Few moved policy significantly; generally the orders created committees or task forces, demanded reports or pressed for enforcement of existing laws.”

“The president’s executive orders are more modest, though Americans wouldn’t know it from the ceremonies the White House stages. Many orders seek action from Cabinet secretaries, something Trump could easily accomplish with a phone call.”

No Majority for Brexit Alternatives

March 27, 2019 at 5:53 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Britain’s House of Commons failed to get a majority on any of the eight alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, the BBC reports.

Of course, there’s no majority for May’s deal either.

The BBC and The Guardian have good live blogs.

Abrams Says Race Played Role In Beto’s Rise

March 27, 2019 at 5:12 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Stacey Abrams, the Democrat who narrowly lost the Georgia gubernatorial race in 2018, said she believes race may be playing a role in Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke’s rising popularity after his failed Senate run,” she told MSNBC.

“Abrams suggested that she and former Democratic Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum did not receive the same attention as the former Texas congressman, whose popularity skyrocketed after losing his 2018 Senate race.”

Judge Blocks Medicaid Work Requirements

March 27, 2019 at 5:09 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A U.S. District Court judge in Washington rejected the Trump administration’s efforts to require poor people on Medicaid to be compelled to seek work in exchange for health benefits, blocking a Kentucky program for a second time and saying rules in effect in Arkansas “cannot stand,” the Washington Post reports.

McAuliffe Looks Likely to Run for President

March 27, 2019 at 4:45 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) is moving closer to a 2020 presidential run, CNN reports.

“McAuliffe has been telling Democratic allies that he is leaning toward jumping into the Democratic presidential race next month… The former governor has long said he would make a decision by the end of March, with a potential announcement later in April.”

Trump Pick for Fed Board Owes Back Taxes

March 27, 2019 at 4:29 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Stephen Moore, the conservative economics commentator chosen by President Trump for a seat on the Federal Reserve board, is being pursued by the federal government for $75,000 in taxes that it alleges he owes, The Guardian reports.

Moore said he disputed the IRS claim and was “eager to reach an agreement” with authorities but had been frustrated by bureaucracy at the agency.

Majority Say Trump Not Exonerated of Collusion

March 27, 2019 at 4:11 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new CNN poll finds 56% of Americans say President Trump and his campaign have not been exonerated of collusion with the Russians, but that what they’ve heard or read about the report shows collusion could not be proven.

Just 43% say Trump and his team have been exonerated of collusion.

“Republicans and Democrats are on opposite sides of this question: 77% of Republicans say the President has been exonerated, 80% of Democrats say he has not. Independents break against exoneration — 58% say the President and his campaign were not exonerated.”

Theresa May Offers to Resign

March 27, 2019 at 1:34 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

British Prime Minister Theresa May has told Tory MPs she would not remain in her post for the next phase of the negotiations with the European Union if her Brexit deal passes the House of Commons, the BBC reports.

Said May: “I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to secure a smooth and orderly Brexit.”

Collins ‘Appalled’ Trump Wants to Throw Out Obamacare

March 27, 2019 at 1:27 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said she’s “surprised” and “appalled” by the Trump administration’s decision to argue in court that the Affordable Care Act should be thrown out, Axios reports.

Said Collins: “I’m appalled. I think the Justice Department has a duty to defend the duly enacted laws… I was surprised and disappointed. If the president disagrees with a law, then he should should ask Congress to repeal or change that law. He should not try to get rid of it through the courts.”

Trump Doubles-Down on Obamacare Threats

March 27, 2019 at 12:46 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump reiterated that the Republican party will now be the “party of great healthcare,” CBS News reports.

Said Trump: “I mean it 100 percent, I understand healthcare now, especially very well. A lot of people don’t understand it, we are going to be, the Republicans, the party of great healthcare. The Democrats have, they’ve let you down, they came up with Obamacare, it’s terrible.”

However, Republican leaders have privately told Trump to back off his efforts to have the law overturned in the courts.

Mueller Grand Jury ‘Continuing Robustly’

March 27, 2019 at 12:40 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A federal prosecutor said in court that the special counsel’s grand jury investigating Russian collusion into the 2016 presidential election is “continuing robustly” despite the end of Robert Mueller’s probe, Politico reports.

“The fact the grand jury is continuing its work adds a new layer of uncertainty to the Mueller probe, which Attorney General William Barr announced on Friday was finished.”