President Trump said that he was willing to speak under oath to Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, the New York Times reports.
Said Trump: “I’m looking forward to it.”
Become a member to get many great benefits -- exclusive analysis, trending news, a private podcast, no ads and more!
Trump Allies Profiting from Multiple Outside Groups
President Trump’s close political advisers “are making millions of dollars working for several different entities gearing up for Trump’s re-election campaign — raising questions about whether they are following campaign finance laws designed to keep campaigns from coordinating with big-money outside groups,” BuzzFeed reports.
“Campaigns and party committees are not allowed to coordinate with allied outside groups that are supposed to be independent, such as super PACs and nonprofits. But the Federal Election Commission, which is governed by a board of three Republicans and three Democrats and usually deadlocks on issues, has hardly enforced that rule.”
Trump Will Release Immigration ‘Framework’
The White House said that President Trump will release a framework for what he hopes to see in an immigration reform bill on Monday, Axios reports.
Asked whether that’ll include a path to citizenship for Dreamers, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said: “If I told you now it would kind of take away the fun for Monday.”
Pence Breaks Tie to Confirm Brownback
Vice President Mike Pence broke a 49 to 49 tie in the U.S. Senate to confirm Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback as U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, the Kansas City Star reports.
A final Senate vote to confirm the nomination likely could take place as early as Thursday, officially clearing the way for Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer (R) to succeed Brownback as governor.
Find a Job That Makes a Difference
There are dozens of new job listings over at Political Job Hunt.
Trump and Democrats Split Blame for Shutdown
A new Quinnipiac poll finds the government shutdown hurt Democrats in Congress and President Trump more than Republicans in Congress.
Democrats are responsible, 32% of voters say, while 31% say President Trump is responsible and 18% point to Republicans.
Mueller Wants to Question Bannon About Comey Firing
“Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team wants to question former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon about the firings of national security adviser Michael Flynn and FBI Director James Comey,” CNN reports.
“Bannon is set to interview with Mueller by the end of the month, these people say, as the special counsel’s investigation moves closer to President Trump’s inner circle.”
Corker Praises Trump’s Unpredictability
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) said President Trump’s unpredictability “is paying dividends for the United States abroad as his administration tries to reshape the nation’s role in the world,” the Washington Post reports.
Said Corker: “The president and I haven’t always seen eye to eye. On the other hand, I’ve seen where that unpredictability has been helpful in negotiations.”
He added: “He’s has done an incredible job of rallying the animal spirits in our country, there’s no question.”
Americans Divided on Tax Law’s Impact
A new Pew Research poll finds that opinions are divided about the new tax law’s impact on the country as a whole: 35% say the law will have a mostly positive effect on the country, 40% a mostly negative effect and 15% say it will have little effect.
Intelligence Officials Questioned About Trump
“Senior U.S. intelligence officers including CIA Director Mike Pompeo have been questioned by the U.S. special counsel’s team about whether President Trump tried to obstruct justice in the Russia probe,” sources told Reuters.
“Such questioning is further indication that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s federal investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and potential collusion by Trump’s campaign includes examining the president’s actions around the probe.”
Two More Funding Bills Needed
Playbook: “Congress will need another stopgap spending bill on Feb. 8, because there is no chance the House will have an immigration deal by then, even if the Senate does. Then Congress would pass another stopgap until March — just before the ultimate expiration of DACA.”
Even White Women Are Abandoning Trump
CNN: “While 2020 polling in 2018 is of relatively limited value, a deeper dive into potential Trump head-to-head matchups with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, former Vice President Joe Biden and talk show host Oprah Winfrey reveals a major problem for Trump as he seeks to build a winning coalition in 2020: Women — across virtually every age, education and racial range — have moved against him in major numbers.”
“Biden holds an eye-popping 36-point edge over Trump among women, while Sanders leads Trump by 30 and Oprah bests him by 29. That’s a very different result than in the 2016 election, when Hillary Clinton beat Trump by 13 points among women, according to exit polling. Orders of magnitude different.”
Trump Finally Makes It to Davos
New York Times: “By any measure, he made a lot of money, the kid from Queens, maybe not as much as he boasted, but a fortune. And yet never accepted, never respected, he remained on the outside pressing his nose against the window of the club of elites he both revered and resented.”
“So when President Trump arrives in this snowy, mountaintop resort where financial titans mingle with heads of state in an annual saturnalia of capitalism, it may feel like a moment of vindication. Never invited when he was merely a businessman, Mr. Trump will arrive on Thursday as leader of the world’s last superpower, commanding attention if not admiration. Whatever else, he cannot be ignored now.”
Cruz Holds Single-Digit Lead In Texas
A new Public Policy Polling survey finds that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is leading challenger Beto O’Rourke by 8 points, 45% to 37%. Eighteen percent of voters remain undecided.
Chart of the Day
When it comes to potential government shutdowns, the public views Republicans as more responsible.
Source: Data from ABC News/Washington Post surveys, obtained from searches of the iPOLL databank provided by the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research at Cornell University.
Thanks to Peter K. Enns, Executive Director of the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research and Associate Professor of Government, Cornell University.
Justice Dept. Seeks to Influence Census Questions
“A request by the Justice Department to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census could shift the nation’s balance of political power from cities to more rural communities over the next decade and give Republicans a new advantage drawing electoral boundaries,” the Washington Post reports.
“Population numbers produced by the census are used in many ways, notably to draw political districts and distribute government funds across the country. Adding questions to the decennial survey is usually a controversial and difficult process because of the potential to affect both of those functions — either by suppressing census participation or by creating new ways to define populations.”
“All of it has prompted advocates for Hispanic communities to accuse the Justice Department of wanting to produce a less accurate count in 2020.”
Most Think Trump Should Testify Under Oath
A new CNN poll finds that 78% of Americans think President Trump should testify under oath if asked to by special counsel Robert Mueller. That includes a 59% majority of Republicans, and 75% of independents.
No One Wants Kasich’s Endorsement In Ohio
“In the Republican primary for Ohio governor, no one apparently wants Gov. John Kasich’s (R) endorsement — including the candidate who has it,” the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
“Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (R) told a large group of Clermont County Republicans during her interview for their endorsement last Wednesday that Kasich had endorsed Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and his running mate, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted… But Kasich had endorsed Taylor, his running mate in 2006 and 2010.”
“Taylor was responding to a question about how she separated herself from the governor in a conservative county where that separation could make a difference.”
