“Trump tells advisers he wants to end key Obamacare subsidies. Many senior aides oppose the move for fear it will backfire politically.” More …
Executive Branch
The executive branch personnel (White House) including the president, the cabinet and advisors.
Trump’s Russia Scandal Is Becoming a Corruption Scandal
“The Washington Post reported Friday that investigators have identified a current White House official as a person of interest in its financial probe.” More …
Timeline of Trump–Russia Connections: 1984 to Present
“This timeline sets out events, denials, investigations, and other information about contacts between Russian and pro-Russian individuals and Donald Trump and his associates from 1984 through present. You can explore the timeline by scrolling through all events, or limit the events you review by topic. The timeline is a work in progress, and will be continually updated as news emerges.” More …
Special Counsel Ups the Stakes for Trump Empire
Legal threats to Trump’s business empire and presidency were largely diffuse before former FBI Director Robert Mueller was named by the Justice Department as special counsel. Almost everything now falls into the broad authority given to special counsel Robert Mueller. He was authorized to investigate “any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated” with the Trump campaign and “any matter that arose or may arise directly from the investigation.” More …
Trump’s Border Wall: A Land Grab from American Property Owners
“The next battle over the border barrier will be eminent domain.” More …
Trump’s FCC Kicks Off Effort to Roll Back Net Neutrality Rules
“Scandal isn’t slowing down one part of the Republican agenda: The Federal Communications Commission took the first formal step toward dismantling Obama-era net neutrality rules Thursday, kicking off what’s likely to be a bitter and months-long lobbying battle over the future of internet regulation. The commission voted along party lines to begin the process of rolling back the rules, which require internet service providers like Verizon and Comcast to treat all web traffic equally. The telecom industry has criticized the rules as burdensome and unnecessary regulations, but supporters among startups and online tech companies say they ensure ISPs don’t abuse their position as internet gatekeepers to favor some websites over others. The net neutrality order, passed by the FCC’s then-Democratic majority in 2015, represents one of the signature policy achievements of the Obama administration.” More …
Trumponomics: Cooking Up an Economic Agenda
The Economist Interview: “Donald Trump’s economic strategy is unimaginative and incoherent.” More …
We said, They said, Trump said
“As the Trump administration swings from one crisis to another, the president and his staff aren’t always on the same page. POLITICO took a look at the Trump administration’s evolving storylines, from Russia to the border wall.” More …
Health Insurers Plan Big Obamacare Rate Hikes — and They Blame Trump
“The growing frustration with the Trump administration’s management — reflected in letters to state regulators and in interviews with more than two dozen senior industry and government officials nationwide — undercuts a key White House claim that Obamacare insurance marketplaces are collapsing on their own. Instead, according to many officials, it is the Trump administration that is driving much of the current instability by refusing to commit to steps to keep markets running, such as funding aid for low-income consumers or enforcing penalties for people who go without insurance.” More …
Is There a Point to All This Cruelty from the Department of Education?
“While we’re on the subject of bad hiring in the executive branch, let’s not forget that Betsy DeVos, the Secretary of Education, was the single most obviously unqualified Cabinet nominee—Grizzlies!—in the history of the republic. On Thursday, from The Washington Post, we find that DeVos is finding ways to fulfill her life’s dream of destroying public education and monetizing all those bright shiny faces.” More …