| NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE FLYNN INVESTIGATION — LET’S KEEP PLAYING THIS ROUSING GAME OF ‘JENGA’ WITH THE RUSSIA PROBE: The House Intelligence Committee will issue subpoenas to former national security adviser Michael Flynn in its investigation into Russian interference, following in the footsteps of the Senate Intelligence Committee. https://bit.ly/2rA5S91
It’s Wednesday. I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.
OK, OK, SO, THE POPE AND DONALD TRUMP WALK INTO A BAR…: President Trump met Pope Francis at the Vatican this morning as part of the president’s tour of world religions. Who arrived with Trump: First lady Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner.
Lol, these facial expressions: https://bit.ly/2rzae0g
Trump’s aides: “Note which WH aides Trump brought along to meet Pope Francis: Scavino, Schiller and Hicks. Three originals.” https://bit.ly/2qOMK5Q
The introductions sounded awkward: Here’s the pool report: https://bit.ly/2rQ48Wx
LATEST IN THE MANCHESTER ATTACK — LIKELY NOT A LONE WOLF: Via BBC, British Home Secretary Amber Rudd said today that it is “likely” the man behind Monday’s bombing in Manchester, England, did not act alone. “[Monday’s attack] was more sophisticated than some of the attacks we’ve seen before, and it seems likely — possible — that he wasn’t doing this on his own,” she said of Salman Abedi. Also new: Three more arrests have been made — four people are now in custody. https://bbc.in/2rhjEhh
ALSO NEW: Via Reuters, the French interior minister said the Manchester bomber had “proven” ties to ISIS. https://reut.rs/2qPsUHR
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY — NEW CBO HEALTHCARE SCORE: The Congressional Budget Office is slated to release its analysis of the revised American Health Care Act — the very analysis that House Republicans declined to wait for when pushing the bill through their chamber in early May. Here’s what to watch for: https://bit.ly/2qVYzIc
SO I REALIZE THIS IS AWKWARD, BUT WE ALREADY PUT DOWN A DEPOSIT FOR A ‘PEACE OUT, OBAMACARE’ SOIREE. CAN YOU GUYS SPEED THIS UP…?: Via The Hill’s Jordain Carney, Senate Republicans are under mounting pressure to pass an ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill before the congressional recess in August. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is wary of committing to a specific deadline — he remembers the mess in the House — but the White House, House GOP members and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price are nudging the Senate. https://bit.ly/2qW9Rd6
NEW TODAY — WELP, JOE LIEBERMAN’S 15 MINUTES OF FAME ARE OVER: Via CNN’s Sara Murray and Eugene Scott, former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is no longer the front-runner to become the next FBI director. Back to the drawing board: Last week, President Trump said last week he was “very close” to a replacement. But the president has decided he now wants to see a broader list of candidates. https://bit.ly/2rzKeSq
WHY THE RUSSIA GOOGLE ALERT KEPT BUZZING: Three senior intelligence officials testified yesterday surrounding Russia’s actions in the 2016 presidential election. What we learned: https://bit.ly/2qVpCTW
- Former CIA Director John Brennan was concerned about contacts between Russia, Trump campaign associates.
- Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats isn’t talking about reports claiming Trump asked him to deny there was evidence of collusion.
- Republicans are making the debate about the lack of evidence for collusion.
- The Senate Intelligence Committee is going after Flynn.
- The scrutiny on leaks is growing.
FRIENDS DON’T CALL FRIENDS ‘NUT JOBS’: Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) does not consider former FBI Director James Comey a “nut job.” “Yeah, I don’t agree with that,” he said this morning, when asked if he’s concerned about the comment President Trump reportedly made about Comey. “And he’s not … I like Jim Comey … I know that there are people on both sides of the aisle concerned by decisions that he made.” https://bit.ly/2qkdZ4N
SPOTTED ON THE D.C. METRO — I DON’T CARE IF IT’S FICTION; WHO WOULD BE DUMB ENOUGH TO BE ON A METRO PLATFORM WITH FRANK UNDERWOOD…?: “House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey was spotted in Washington, D.C., earlier this week, including on the D.C. metro. Former chief official White House photographer Pete Souza chronicled the day. Photos: https://bit.ly/2qW0Fpo
COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK — THE BRAINS BEHIND THE OPERATION: Via The Hill’s Ben Kamisar, campaign aides and state chairs from the 2016 presidential race are stepping out from behind the scenes for their own runs for office, looking to build on the momentum from their former presidential hopefuls’ bids. Examples: Ed Meier (D-Texas), Clinton policy aide; Nick Ayers (R-Ga.), Trump/Pence senior adviser; state Rep. Geoff Diehl (R-Mass.), Trump state co-chair; Pete D’Alessandro (D-Iowa), Sanders Iowa campaign coordinator; and Lena Epstein (R-Mich.), Trump state co-chair. https://bit.ly/2qbGw1a
SOCCER STARS AMONG US: After last fall’s elections, Democrats snagged a much-needed victory in their 5-3 win over Republicans during the 2017 congressional soccer game yesterday. Lol, you know that joke had to be made. Dem squad: Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (Ore.), Ruben Kihuen (Nev.), Rick Larsen (Wash.) and Kathy Castor (Fla.). GOP squad: Reps. Don Bacon (Neb.), Darin LaHood (Ill.), Todd Young (Ind.), Gus Bilirakis (Fla.), Erik Paulsen (Minn.) and David Valadao (Calif.). Other notable guests: CNN’s Chris Cillizza, Roger Bennett, co-host of the soccer show “Men In Blazers,” and former Ambassador of Mexico Arturo Sarukhan. More from The Hill’s Ali Breland: https://bit.ly/2rzLSDC |
