News You Need to Know

Friday, April 20, 2018

Trump has ‘weathered Comey’ but Cohen is ‘consuming him,’ White House source says

by Jeff Zeleny

CNN

A week after the tell-all book from James Comey exploded onto the scene, President Donald Trump is telling aides and confidants something he rarely does: He's pleased at how Republicans and the White House led the charge to try and discredit the former FBI director.

Push for special counsel bill shows G.O.P.’s rising fear Mueller will be fired

by Carl Hulse

The New York Times

Senator Mitch McConnell’s unilateral declaration this week that he would not allow a vote on legislation to protect the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, provoked outrage from Democrats who said Mr. McConnell was giving President Trump carte blanche to oust the leader of the investigation into Russian election interference and the president’s inner circle.

Scott Pruitt’s ethics inquiries widen, and G.O.P. support shows cracks

by Coral Davenport

The New York Times

Some of the most reliable conservatives in Congress are starting to speak out against Scott Pruitt, the chief of the Environmental Protection Agency who is now facing a barrage of ethics and spending questions.

Razor-thin Senate majority, bloody primary fights hamstring GOP

by Michael Scherer, Sean Sullivan, Josh Dawsey

The Washington Post

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is scrambling to reassert control over a Republican Party hamstrung by a razor-thin governing majority and riven by increasingly bloody primary fights.

Seeking foreign money, G.O.P. donor pushed for Trump to golf with Malaysian premier

by Mark Mazzetti, David Kirkpatrick

The New York Times

White House aides were worried enough about a visit last year by Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia, under investigation by American prosecutors who say he embezzled $3.5 billion from a state investment fund, that he was denied the customary photo in the Oval Office with President Trump.