Yates, Clapper testify before Senate ... Trump administration defends ban before appeals court ... EPA dismisses group of scientists from board

View this email in your browser May 8, 2017   |   by Eli Watkins and Daniella Diaz "We believed that Gen. (Mike) Flynn was compromised with respect to the Russians"   -- Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates appeared before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Monday, months after President Donald Trump fired her. What she had to say -- on former national security adviser Michael Flynn, Russia and Trump's executive order restricting travel from several majority-Muslim nations -- clashed sharply with the White House. By her side was former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, another former Obama administration official. Both denied that they had been behind leaked classified information in media reports as they spoke at a hearing that was ostensibly about alleged Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 election. Clapper said he didn't know of evidence showing collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, or about the FBI investigation into the matter, until FBI Director James Comey revealed it publicly in March. Yates said her answer on that matter would require revealing classified information. Yates did confirm, however, that she warned the White House that Flynn was at risk of blackmail by Russia and had misled Vice President Mike Pence. Read more from CNN's Tom LoBianco and Stephen Collinson on the blockbuster hearing. All this is also worth reading alongside a headline from CNN's Jim Acosta and Jeremy Diamond earlier in the day: Then-President Barack Obama warned Trump in November against hiring Flynn as his national security adviser. BUZZING The top image is from an archived copy of a Trump campaign website pledge to implement a ban on Muslims from entering the US. The bottom is how the site's page read as of this posting -- with the pledge removed. More from CNN's Dan Merica. BAR TALK Judges appear divided on Trump's travel ban From CNN's Laura Jarrett and Saba Hamedy: The Trump administration on Monday defended President Donald Trump's second travel ban against accusations of Muslim discrimination. "He (President Donald Trump) made it clear he was not talking about Muslims all over the world, that's why it's not a Muslim ban," Jeffrey Wall, acting solicitor general, told federal judges. Discussion focused heavily on Trump's campaign promise to institute a ban on foreign Muslims entering the United States, with one judge pointing out that Trump had never disavowed the pledge. Ten of the 13 judges who heard the case were appointed by Democrats. TIPSY Just a normal Monday: The dictionary talking back to the political class. LAST CALL 5 things you might have missed today EPA removes scientists from key board: The Environmental Protection Agency dismissed half the scientists who serve on a science review board that plays a crucial role in the work the EPA does. The EPA relies heavily on the scientific guidance of the group when it comes to air and water quality when making policy decisions. More from CNN's Rene Marsh and Theodore Schleifer. Climate negotiators have to deal with question of US: The 2015 Paris agreement on climate change still stands, and negotiators are meeting in Germany to work on technical rules for it, but the possibly imminent decision from the US to stay in the deal or leave it altogether is the elephant in the room. More from Politico's Kalina Oroschakoff and Sara Stefanini. Kushner family apologizes for mentioning him on trip abroad: Kushner Companies said that the name drop of White House adviser Jared Kushner at the event in Beijing on Saturday was not intended to be an "attempt to lure investors" to one of its projects in New Jersey. More from CNNMoney's Cristina Alesci and Jill Disis. Members face political fallout over health care: Activists throughout the country have pledged to push members of Congress on health care, with Republicans facing significant pressure at home. Read more from the New York Times' Kate Zernike. States move on "sanctuary cities": Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill banning sanctuary cities over the weekend. Here's a look at where other states stand. More from CNN's Catherine E. Shoichet. CLOSING TIME Tiffany Trump, President Donald Trump's youngest daughter, has been accepted to Georgetown Law's class of 2020. ... Actor Antonio Sabato Jr., who is best known for "General Hospital" and "Melrose Place" and spoke at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last year, is running for Congress in California. ... GOP Rep. Evan Jenkins announces his candidacy for Senate in West Virginia against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. Thanks for reading the CNN Politics Nightcap. Your bartenders are Eli Watkins and Daniella Diaz. The tip jar: nightcap@cnn.com. 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. Share Tweet Forward Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. Your bartenders for CNN Politics' Nightcap are Eli Watkins (@EliBWatkins) and Daniella Diaz (@DaniellaMicaela)— Tips, thoughts and beer recommendations are always welcome at nightcap@cnn.com. Copyright © 2017 Cable News Network, LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved., All rights reserved. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to the CNN Politics Nightcap newsletter. Our mailing address is: Cable News Network, LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences