The Hill Articles: February 22, 2019

Average tax refunds down double-digits, IRS data shows R. Kelly turns self in after being charged with aggravated sexual abuse White House warns Maduro as Venezuela orders partial closure of border with Colombia Judge tosses North Carolina mandatory voter ID amendment citing gerrymandering YouTube bans anti-vaccination videos from running advertisements Kids confront Feinstein over Green New Deal Congress should ratify USMCA trade deal now Oregon governor says automatic voter registration has been a ‘phenomenal success’ Trump administration directs 1,000 more troops to Mexican border Pentagon won’t say if it will seek congressional approval to move billions for wall Can progressives govern? Trump considering meeting with China’s Xi next month to finish trade deal Florida governor suspends mayor over allegations of attempted murder Dems plan hearing on emergency declaration’s impact on military Trump selects Kelly Craft for United Nations ambassador Trump says he’ll ‘100 percent’ veto measure blocking emergency declaration Trump says he hasn’t spoken to Barr about Mueller report Federal judge refuses to delay ruling on census citizenship question NASA names facility for ‘Hidden Figures’ inspiration Katherine Johnson Trump steps up attack on Planned Parenthood  Overnight Health Care — Presented by National Taxpayers Union — Trump bans abortion providers from family planning program | White House doesn’t back GOP governor on drug imports | HHS declines to provide witnesses for family separations hearing Cohen informed prosecutors about Trump Organization’s business dealings: report Ivanka Trump endorses Nikki Haley’s daughter for student vice president Trump responds to Coast Guard official accused of terror plot: ‘It’s a shame’ Hillicon Valley: Telecom industry to fundraise for Senate chair ahead of privacy hearing | Report finds apps sharing personal data with Facebook | DNC offers campaigns cybersecurity tips Interior looking to rely on staffers with less training for park law enforcement: report Microsoft employees protest US Army contract Europe’s trust in Iranian promises is severely misplaced DOJ investigation into former Interior chief goes to grand jury Colorado moves closer to passing bill to ban schools from teaching abstinence-only sex education Governors should reject unscientific and discriminatory approaches to drug pricing Mueller pushes back on Stone’s claim CNN was tipped off about arrest Puerto Rico governor says Trump won’t meet to discuss hurricane relief Arizona panel votes to expand vaccine exemptions Overnight Energy: Natural gas export project gets green light | Ocasio-Cortez says climate fight needs to address farming | Top EPA enforcement official to testify NY, California and Washington threaten to sue over Trump rule to restrict abortion referrals White House doesn’t back DeSantis on drug importation from Canada Gabbard hits back at Meghan McCain after fight over Assad Dems call on Trump to fire Acosta Firing bad federal government workers should not be difficult Overnight Defense: Dems tee up Tuesday vote against Trump’s emergency declaration | GOP expects few defections | Trump doubles number of troops staying in Syria to 400 DNC unveils new security checklist to protect campaigns from cyberattacks Dems press Barr to make Mueller report public Mueller won’t deliver report to Justice Dept. next week Trump administration agrees to keep 400 troops in Syria Trump on Robert Kraft charge: ‘Very sad’ Role of carbon tax in Green New Deal Klobuchar ate salad with her comb, ordered aide to clean it: report Sanders endorses Oakland teachers strike Politics of unresolved issues flare with new India-Pakistan tensions Dems have uphill battle in appealing to religious base, says pollster Cuomo directs NY agencies to investigate Facebook over report of secret acquisition of private data Trump’s HHS declines to provide witnesses for hearing on family separations First the moon, now China plans to launch space-based solar power satellite Pollster: ‘Not atypical’ for evangelicals to believe God had a hand in Trump’s election Virginia Republicans invite Fairfax and his accusers to testify Former Iowa Gov. Vilsack won’t challenge Ernst for Senate in 2020 Pollster says economic downturn would be detrimental to Trump’s reelection South Dakota governor: State ‘devastated’ by Trump trade wars Report: Apps are sharing sensitive data with Facebook without informing users Congress should oppose the UN-SAFE Act On The Money: Dems set Tuesday vote on Trump’s emergency declaration | Most Republicans expected to back Trump | Senate plots to avoid fall shutdown drama | Powell heading before Congress Trump’s approval rating ‘fine’ for now, will need to pick up by 2020, says pollster Washington bureaucrats are handing China keys to 5G kingdom Dem in disputed North Carolina race says he’ll run for special election R. Kelly charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse Trump bans abortion providers, referrals from family planning program Mexican president to help El Chapo’s sisters visit him in US Dem strategist says Clinton ‘absolutely’ has a role to play in 2020 Chicago media teaches master class with careful coverage of Smollett story GM extends manufacturing at Detroit plant until January Botswana, home to nearly one-third of Africa’s elephants, mulls lifting hunting ban ‘Medicare for all’ would limit health care choices even more Sarah Sanders: Trump hasn’t ‘at any point’ done anything but ‘condemn violence against journalists’ What America’s Thinking: February 22, 2019 News media has sought to ‘delegitimize’ Tulsi Gabbard, says liberal journalist President Trump’s job approval dips after State of the Union bump The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Anticipation builds for Mueller report Mom says teacher gave her son unwanted ‘Dumb and Dumber’ haircut over dress code violation Union leader says Green New Deal would make infrastructure bill ‘absolutely impossible’ WTO’s many faults are on full display — now it must improve Arizona marshal disciplined after he threatened to arrest a 12-year-old journalist Brown, Rubio trade barbs over ‘dignity of work’ as Brown mulls presidential bid Left-leaning journalist: Sanders would be ‘formidable candidate’ against Trump Graham: ‘Handful’ of GOP senators will vote to block Trump’s emergency declaration Regulators approve Louisiana natural gas export terminal New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft charged in prostitution ring A roadmap for the US in DRC and other budding African democracies Congress should terminate trumped-up national ‘emergency’ UN nuclear watchdog: Iran maintains compliance with 2015 pact Marijuana legalization is not driving increases in violent crime New York preps state charges for Manafort in case of a Trump pardon: report House conservative co-sponsors bill to block Trump’s emergency declaration Klobuchar to meet with Jimmy Carter, Stacey Abrams during Georgia campaign swing Elementary school apologizes for ‘insensitive’ Underground Railroad activity White House says 200 troops to remain in Syria ‘a rough estimate’ EU prepared to respond to possible Trump auto tariffs Fix the criminal justice system to open up our economy Sneaker blowout costs Nike billions Panel discussion: Why is Hillary Clinton meeting with Amy Kobuchar and Joe Biden? Clinton hits EPA for approval of pesticide dump: ‘We need bees!’ LiUNA union leader Terry O’Sullivan slams Green New Deal proposal North Carolina reporter says there could be ‘new crop’ of GOP candidates in 9th Congressional District race Barkley on Smollett: He should have just gone to ‘Liam Neeson’s neighborhood’ Journalist Michael Tracey explains why Sanders is ‘formidable’ 2020 contender ‘Empire’ suspends Jussie Smollett Telecom industry to throw fundraiser for Senate chair the night before data privacy hearing Dems set up Tuesday vote to block Trump’s emergency declaration Will Congress overturn President Trump’s border emergency declaration? Disputed North Carolina House race will be re-run after fraud allegations Ex-Trump campaign aide suing to over NDAs says former VA official tried to hack her devices ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett maintains innocence Ocasio-Cortez explains ‘farting cows’ comment: ‘We’ve got to address factory farming’ U.S. farm exports expected to drop nearly $2 billion amid US-China trade dispute West Virginia teachers just struck against a windfall for public schools White House ‘looking into’ Acosta role in Epstein case North Carolina reporter says Harris was ‘struck’ by son’s testimony in ballot tampering case Governors must highlight commitment to free trade Former patients accuse ex-Fox News medical pundit of sexual exploitation Trump says ‘witch hunt’ must end as reports say Mueller preparing to file report Dems introduce resolution to overturn Trump’s emergency to build wall FBI’s human rights investigators critical to prosecuting ‘atrocity crimes’ Defending the First Amendment, even for Roger Stone Dem lawmaker: Mueller report ‘belongs to the American people’ Steve King says he will run again in 2020: ‘I have nothing to apologize for’ A strong estate tax will ensure equal treatment of wealth and wages Kurdish-led Syrian administration cheers Trump decision to leave troops in region Rising: February 22, 2019 Father of Alabama woman who joined ISIS sues Trump administration Rahm Emanuel to Jussie Smollett: ‘If you want to get paid more, get an agent’ US should take pride in the lifesaving role our foreign aid has provided Who should fund US research and development? North Korea cuts rations, warns of food crisis ahead of Trump-Kim summit: report Celtics’ Kyrie Irving wears NY Times ‘truth’ shirt after game Macron, Merkel to meet to discuss Brexit, US relations Space Force is a bureaucratic mess in search of a problem Russia extends detention of US citizen accused of spying: report Time’s Up CEO resigned after sexual misconduct accusations made against her son Gabbard: If guilty, Smollett should apologize, ‘be prosecuted to fullest extent’ Why Georgia is the place for black migration and politics Smollett meets with ‘Empire’ cast and crew, insists he’s innocent: report Dems wish civil rights icon John Lewis happy birthday: ‘We are stronger because of you’ The Hill’s Morning Report — Emergency declaration to test GOP loyalty to Trump Smollett controversy roils political world Dems to use democratic socialist label against Sanders Don’t look for House GOP to defy Trump on border wall Senate plots to avoid fall shutdown brawl It’s Bernie Sanders vs. Elizabeth Warren in New Hampshire