The Hill Articles: December 18, 2018

Trump signed letter of intent for Moscow Trump Tower talks, contradicting Giuliani Dem senator: Bombshell Facebook report shows need for federal privacy law Ousted NPR news chief partnering with ex-Fox News execs for new site Facebook let tech firms view users’ private messages, data: report Senate passes criminal justice overhaul, handing Trump a win Trump knocks Dems: Border wall will be ‘artistically designed’ and ‘beautiful’ Oregon white nationalist hospitalized after clash with activists Gender pay gap will take over 200 years to close: World Economic Forum Senator: Congress may fund government until February VA left millions unspent for veterans suicide prevention: GAO Lamar Alexander’s exit marks end of an era in evolving Tennessee Trump retreats on shutdown Mellman: If only you couldn’t vote Bottom Line Overnight Defense: Trump orders Pentagon to create Space Command | White House signals it wants to avoid shutdown | Judge delays Flynn sentencing Nikki Haley: Saudi Crown prince must stop ‘thuggish’ behavior Webb: Trump critics — look beyond the one-liners, focus on his actions Budowsky: Save The Weekly Standard Hillicon Valley: Russian disinformation targeted Mueller | Facebook under fire from civil rights groups | Activists push Facebook boycott | NY cable customers get refund for slow internet service Conservatives scramble to change criminal justice bill Thousands of migrant children could be released under newly relaxed Trump policy Comey defends FBI actions on Flynn in House interview Comey’s ‘who cares?’ reply recalls ‘what difference?’ retort Overnight Health Care — Presented by the National Taxpayers Union — Warren unveils drug pricing bill | Surgeon general seeks more restrictions to prevent youth vaping | Anti-abortion groups call on NIH chief to resign Trump Foundation to sell off remaining assets including Trump paintings, Tebow-signed helmet Trump golf club housekeeper who admitted she’s undocumented asks for asylum Fox News says it won’t let Tucker Carlson be ‘censored’ Overnight Energy: Ethics panel clears Grijalva over settlement with staffer | DC aims to run on 100 percent clean energy by 2032 | Judges skeptical of challenge to Obama smog rule Nancy Pelosi has more to lose than Donald Trump with next two years Former Flynn associate pleads not guilty to charges of lobbying on behalf of Turkey DC Circuit upholds mystery grand jury subpoena Cleveland man alleges racial profiling after police called to bank On The Money: White House looks to avoid shutdown | Plan for short-term spending bill gains support | Trump warns Fed against rate hike | Mnuchin blames Dems in part for deficit | Warren wants probe into consumer bureau name change Northeast states pledge to cut transportation emissions Mnuchin downplays Trump’s talk of middle-class tax cut We must stay patient with North Korea Grijalva cleared of wrongdoing in $48K settlement with female staffer Clinton Foundation exec mocks Trump Foundation closing amid legal trouble Short-term spending bill plan gains steam ahead of shutdown deadline Anti-abortion groups call on NIH chief to resign in fight over fetal tissue Ryan aide to join hedge fund lobbying group Mnuchin blames Democrats in part for deficit Watering down water protection Shep Smith: Theory Flynn was tricked by FBI ‘floated by its defenders here and elsewhere’ all blew up GOP pollster says there could be bipartisan progress on health care, infrastructure Senators voice confusion over Trump’s border wall position New Yorkers receiving $75 refund from cable company for slow internet Mexico considering $30 billion Central American investment to stop migrant crisis — US should, too Nevada to become first state with majority-women legislature DC Council votes to legalize sports betting John Kasich pitches soon to be shuttered Ohio GM plant to Elon Musk: ‘Call me’ Ethics complaints against Kavanaugh dismissed because they don’t apply to Supreme Court justices DC passes bill to make city run on 100-percent clean energy by 2032 Biden: Trump has destroyed relationships with allies through ‘torrent of antagonism’ Battle over North Carolina voter identification law moves ahead READ: Transcript of Comey’s interview with House Republicans Klobuchar on 2020: ‘I do think you want voices from the Midwest’ Israel boycott fight roils Democrats in year-end spending debate Tariffs hit Americans where it hurts: Their pets Dem pollster says it’s ‘misstated wisdom’ to assume competitive primaries damage presidential nominees Schumer blasts GOP request for immigration ‘slush fund’ Undoing the damage Pruitt and Zinke did to our environment Contract worker sues school district after losing job for refusing to sign pro-Israel pledge Former Florida elections official Snipes sues to be returned to job Blind amphibian that buries head in sand named after Trump Group launches campaign to ‘Draft Beto’ for 2020 White House bid DC court dismisses lawsuit seeking Trump’s tax returns Trump: ‘Too early to say’ if shutdown will be averted McConnell predicts no shutdown: Trump ‘flexible’ on border deal Crenshaw reaches out to Pete Davidson after troubling Instagram post Trump preps his scapegoat for the next recession: The Fed Rasmussen poll: One-third of GOP voters would contribute to private fund for Trump border wall Gun rights group says it will sue over bump stock ban Schiff calls on Flynn to testify before House Intelligence Committee Incoming Dem Ayanna Pressley to work in her hero Shirley Chisholm’s old office after trade Macron must convince the French to take their economic medicine Medicare drug proposal will prevent new medicines from coming to market White House has asked all Cabinet agencies for wall funding Ocasio-Cortez had highest percentage of small donors in midterms: report Minimum age rules for firearm purchases don’t reduce violence, Trump’s school safety panel says White House refuses to take back claim that Flynn was ambushed Trump to attend World Economic Forum in Davos for second straight year Kamala Harris top 2020 choice in poll of women of color Dem strategist: Corporate America ‘only’ entity standing up to rhetoric on right-leaning networks Dem pollster says voters are fatigued over news of Trump ‘wrongdoings’ New Trump campaign ad asks supporters to call 1-800 hotline to thank him Dem pollster says Trump’s base will be galvanized if he’s impeached on weak evidence Dems, celebs push movement to #LogOutFacebook Roger Stone fundraising off promise not to testify against Trump Facebook under fire from civil rights groups Rivaling chants of ‘USA,’ ‘lock him up’ greet Flynn after sentencing hearing Poll: Majority of Americans believe midterm elections were secure from hacking Poll finds 60 percent say it is likely Mueller’s probe will uncover crimes committed by Trump Health care will suffer if judge’s ACA rule stands NJ newspaper mocked after declaring ‘We’re All Gonna Die’ in front-page headline Union urges key Dem to investigate how AT&T is using GOP tax-law savings Veteran industry lobbyist to leave American Petroleum Institute Rosy jobs reports are misleading: Crisis is coming, and fixes are few Judge delays Flynn sentencing after sharply criticizing former Trump aide What America’s Thinking: December 18, 2018 Major US cities see crime, murder rates drop in 2018 Nikki Haley: ‘Israel wants a peace agreement but it doesn’t need one’ Detective in ‘Making a Murderer’ files defamation lawsuit against Netflix, producers Judge to Flynn: ‘Arguably, you sold your country out’  The Hill’s 12:30 Report — Flynn awaits sentencing | White House signals it wants to avoid shutdown Presidential historian: Trump’s actions may be ‘definition of treason’ if he knew about Russian interference efforts Attorney says there is growing support for taking on abuses in civil asset forfeiture Judges skeptical of case against Obama smog rule America’s crisis isn’t opioids—it’s ignorance Look out ‘losers’ — Trump focused on ‘winning’ Son-in-law of man whose property was taken by county government says he can’t believe it can happen in U.S. Female DC figures come together for ‘Celebration of Washington Power Women’ Senate leaders eye large spending package after White House softens stance on wall Policy director says lack of US leadership has hindered climate change progress in ‘big’ way NY state senator apologizes after tweeting ‘kill yourself’ at user who called him out over parking placard Investigation blames regulatory failure for black lung ‘epidemic’ Russian disinformation campaign included ‘pro-Jill Stein sentiments’ Study: Female politicians, journalists abused every 30 seconds on Twitter Trump will win the China trade war Yemeni mother granted visa to see dying son in California hospital Cher leaving Google, Facebook in protest White House release Trumps’ 2018 official Christmas portrait Democratic Party tweets ‘same’ to Bill Nye blasting climate change deniers Are we safer a year after Washington Amtrak derailment? Poll: Dem challengers lead or statistically tie GOP governor of Kentucky Trump administration bans bump stocks Conservative policy adviser says some Republicans have fallen into trap of attacking pre-existing condition coverage Trump charity agrees to dissolve amid allegations of a ‘shocking pattern of illegality’ Pittsburgh eyes gun crackdown after synagogue shooting White House signals it wants to avoid shutdown Ex-NASA engineer builds glitter bomb for revenge on package thieves Colbert: Does Trump think ‘Saturday Night Live’ is news? Gaming industry lobby names new chief States have new roadmap for health care reform GOP lawmaker to appeal judge’s ruling upholding Maine’s new voting system Fewer Americans list immigration, health care as country’s top problems after midterms: Gallup Ex-Louisiana officers indicted after video showing them slamming 14-year-old to the ground Trump directs creation of Space Command as 11th combatant command Arizona gov taps McSally for McCain Senate seat Watch Live: White House holds press briefing Dem senator: McConnell does not want a shutdown but must stand up to Trump Conservative policy adviser says judge’s move to strike down ObamaCare was a ‘case of judicial activism’ Make Trump own the shutdown over his ill-advised border wall US risks human rights abuses by funding border wall WaPost media columnist calls for banning Kellyanne Conway from the news Report: US joins ranks of world’s most dangerous places for journalists for first time Alan Greenspan: Bull market is not intact, has ‘really fumbled’ Mazie Hirono: ‘Walls are closing in’ on Trump Survey: Three-quarters of CEOs have apologized to global partners for Trump’s rhetoric Bolton rolls out Trump’s Africa policy to grim reception, but I’m reserving judgment Warren calls for probe into Trump name change for consumer bureau Migrant woman seen fleeing tear gas with children at border seeking asylum: report Ilhan Omar: Every day Trump gets closer to being impeached CBS refuses to pay ex-CEO Les Moonves’ severance package amid sexual misconduct allegations UK couple who named baby after Hitler sentenced to jail for being in neo-Nazi group Michigan Supreme Court set to hear case brought by residents who had homes foreclosed for as little as $8 Poll shows majority of Americans think Robert Mueller will find President Trump committed crimes More than a tantrum Policy expert weighs in on plan to keep Paris climate agreement alive Policy writer Avik Roy discusses health care Surgeon general calls for more restrictions to battle youth vaping Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn faces up to 6 months in prison Michelle Obama reflects on ‘refreshing’ tradition of sharing candy with George W. Bush Chris Matthews: Trump Jr., Ivanka ‘stand as the next dominoes to fall’ Trump thanks reporter for ‘honesty’ on Steele dossier Warren unveils bill to lower drug prices by letting government manufacture them Netanyahu’s son blocked from Facebook for posts promoting ‘hate speech’ Giuliani: Trump ‘might agree’ to more written answers for Mueller Ocasio-Cortez eyeing Jeffries as 2020 target: report Judge rules cops, schools had no duty to shield students in Parkland shooting lawsuit 10 pieces of evidence against most diabolical Russian spy ever Sanders tops straw poll of progressives while Warren places fourth The FIRST STEP Act will make us safer without the Cotton-Kennedy amendments Trump: Facebook, Twitter and Google bias is ‘ridiculous’ Crazy California an outlier? No, we are the canary in the coal mine Rising: December 18, 2018 Cop demoted after putting retired police dog in shelter Trump warns Fed against rate hike: ‘Feel the market,’ ignore ‘meaningless numbers’ Missing: Fiscal sanity in Washington Black bear that recovered from wildfire burns has been killed by hunter The need for transparency and reform in proxy voting Trump wishes Flynn ‘good luck’ ahead of former aide’s sentencing The Hill’s Morning Report — What a shutdown would mean for the government The Memo: GOP frets as Trump shutdown looms Flynn sentencing marks keystone moment in Mueller investigation Leading contenders emerge to replace Zinke as Interior secretary