| | | | Syria poses foreign policy test for Trump | | President Donald Trump faces a foreign policy test after activist groups said at least 70 people, including at least 10 children, have been killed in what is suspected to be one of the deadliest chemical attacks in Syria in years.
Politico's Nahal Toosi writes: "Just last week, top aides to President Donald Trump declared that ousting Bashar Assad from power is no longer a priority for the United States, calling the Syrian strongman's continued rule a 'political reality' that needs to be accepted. Now, reports of a deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria have brought home another reality: priority or not, Assad still poses a political problem for Trump, and it's one that won't simply vanish by blaming former President Barack Obama."
There's a Trump tweet for everything. Trump's official statement today -- attacking former President Barack Obama's handling of Syria -- directly contradicts what Trump said in 2013.
Here's Trump's statement today: "Today's chemical attack in Syria against innocent people, including women and children, is reprehensible and cannot be ignored by the civilized world. These heinous actions by the Bashar al-Assad regime are a consequence of the past administration's weakness and irresolution. President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a "red line" against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing."
And here's his 2013 tweet: | | "You are doing profound things, taking on enormous embedded issues. ... I want to wish you really good luck with the Chinese." -- Steve Schwarzman, the CEO of Blackstone, lavishing praise on President Donald Trump at a televised town hall. He was one of several CEOs to lob compliments in Trump's direction. | | | Susan Rice, the former White House national security adviser, is battling accusations she improperly handled classified intelligence about associates of President Donald Trump. Conservative media outlets reported that Rice requested the identities of Americans included in intelligence reports derived from surveillance of foreign entities. She said that even if those names were "unmasked" by a member of the Obama administration, that information wouldn't be disseminated broadly.
Some of President Trump's top supporters -- including son Donald Trump Jr. and top aide Kellyanne Conway -- elevated Internet troll Mike Cernovich on Twitter this week after he wrote on Medium that Rice revealed the names of Trump transition aides collected in surveillance of foreign officials. | | | Here's the thing: Cernovich has publicly made a long, long list of racist, misogynistic and otherwise terrible comments. He pushed the bogus "Pizzagate" conspiracy and has tweeted, among other things, that "diversity is code for white genocide," "date rape does not exist" and "feminism is collective action for ugly women." He also warned followers against going on "black Twitter." Talking Points Memo's Esme Cribb rounds up some of the most offensive comments from the man Trump's allies are promoting. | | Health care talks intensify -- but no changed minds yet | | The efforts continue: Vice President Mike Pence will speak with House lawmakers for the second time in 24 hours tonight as Republicans continue to push ahead with efforts to build consensus and finally make good on their promises to repeal Obamacare.
But House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters what he'd already told his fellow Republicans: There is no new agreement or bill, only ongoing and positive conversations. "I don't want to put some kind of an artificial deadline because we're at that conceptual stage," he said today.
Some lawmakers are still skeptical: The second ranking Republican in the Senate, John Cornyn, downplayed chances of a revived health care plan. "God bless them ... I think they've got a way to go. I heard the speaker talk about 'conceptual.' They were at concepts. So, they have a way to go, but if they send us a bill, we'll take it up," he said. More from CNN's Lauren Fox, Deirdre Walsh and Phil Mattingly. | | | President Donald Trump had two events today -- a town hall with CEOs and a speech at the North America's Building Trades Unions National Legislative Conference -- where, at each event, he pulled out a huge chart that illustrates all the regulations needed to build highways, which are affecting his $1 trillion infrastructure plan. | | 3 things you may have missed today | | New bill would stop warrantless border device searches: A new bipartisan bill would prevent Americans' electronic devices from being searched at the border without a warrant, a response to an increase in such electronic searches. More from CNN's Tal Kopan.
Trump-allied group unveils pro-Neil Gorsuch ad: Titled "Confirm Judge Gorsuch," the 30-second digital spot by Making America Great will run nationally starting Tuesday. More from CNN's Elizabeth Landers.
House Russia investigators plot next steps: Members of the House Intelligence Committee got back to work setting up the next steps in their investigation, even as opposing forces threaten to pull the sides apart again. More from CNN's Tom LoBianco and Manu Raju. | | | Chelsea Clinton says her mom is doing "great," but she is likely not planning on running for office again. ... Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Tom Perriello in the Virginia governor's race. ... Ivanka Trump's stake in a luxury hotel in Washington renews ethics questions. | | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Check out Five Things for Your New Day, CNN's morning newsletter. Give us five minutes, and we'll brief you on all the news and buzz people will be talking about. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
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