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| Make-or-break day for Pruitt | Trump calls into 'Fox & Friends' for wild interview | Trump on Cohen: 'Nothing to do with me' | Dems grill Diamond and Silk | Panel approves bill to protect Mueller | Senate poised to confirm Pompeo | VA pick withdraws | Macron's surprise DC lunch spot | National Pretzel Day |
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You know what sounds like fun? Having to remember every excruciating detail of the last year in front of not one, but two congressional panels: |
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| EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has a make-or-break day as he testifies in back-to-back congressional hearings on the Environmental Protection Agency's 2019 budget. The hearings though are being dominated by the numerous ethical controversies swirling around Pruitt and the EPA. Livestream and live blog: http://bit.ly/2JpKcl6 |
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| HIGHLIGHTS: |
| Pruitt on his learning process: "I have nothing to hide as it relates to how I've run the agency for the past 16 months. I'm not afraid to admit that there's been a learning process." http://bit.ly/2r3eUKf On the infamous 'privacy booth': Pruitt blamed the EPA's career, non-political lawyers for the controversy over his $43,000 soundproof privacy booth, saying that the attorneys believed it was legal. Keep in mind: The Government Accountability Office ruled last week that the expenditures were illegal. http://bit.ly/2HA63FW |
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| SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: |
| The vibe -- Pruitt's demeanor: "Pruitt is speaking so fast that he's stumbling over his words." (From NBC's Rebecca Shabad) http://bit.ly/2r0WRo4 The gist -- it was pretty tense: "Ooof, this [Pruitt] hearing is getting rough. Dems going for jugular as Pruitt dodges and weaves around yes/no questions. This pattern is likely to continue all day." (Comment from Mashable's Andrew Freedman) http://bit.ly/2FggCw9 Next up -- Pruitt testifies in the afternoon: Here's a livestream of Pruitt's 2 p.m. hearing. http://bit.ly/2Hzccm8 |
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If you need a refresher: |
| Via CNN, here's a list of all the controversies Scott Pruitt is embroiled in. Think: Traveling first class, security expenses and a questionable D.C. rental from a lobbyist. Bullet-point list: https://cnn.it/2r1u7dX |
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| THE UNEXPECTED THORN IN PRUITT'S SIDE: |
| Via The Hill's Timothy Cama, Scott Pruitt's biggest threat to his tenure at the EPA could be a government official little known outside of Washington: Arthur Elkins, the EPA's inspector general. How so: http://bit.ly/2HQiaCp |
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Meanwhile -- In another room on Capitol Hill, Pelosi is wooing a very young audience: |
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| It's Thursday. Today is Bring Your Kids to Work Day -- hope your have your earplugs and fun-sized candy bars ready! 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. |
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| NEWS OF THE MORNING -- TRUMP CALLS INTO FOX & FRIENDS | |
When I'm having a bad day, I also call into 'Fox & Friends,' so I get it: |
| President Trump called into "Fox & Friends" this morning for a freewheeling interview. Here are the highlights: |
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| 'MICHAEL COHEN,' YOU SAID? DOESN'T SOUND FAMILIAR. IS IT 'CONE' OR 'COE-HEN?': |
| President Trump downplayed his ties to his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, saying he has no legal exposure to Cohen. "This has nothing to do with me," Trump said. "I've been told I'm not involved. ... I don't his know business … I have nothing to do with his business." Keep in mind: Cohen has worked as a lawyer, fixer and executive at the Trump Organization for more than a decade. http://bit.ly/2I5XT9L What to know about Cohen: Michael Cohen now plans to assert his Fifth Amendment rights in the lawsuit filed against him by adult-film star Stormy Daniels. Details: http://bit.ly/2Fj82wx |
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| ON THE MOSCOW TRIP: |
| President Trump said he did spend the night in Moscow the night before the Miss Universe contest in 2013. He also accused former FBI Director James Comey of lying in memos detailing their conversations. Why this is newsy: Comey's memos alleged that President Trump told him he hadn't stayed the night in Russia during that trip. http://bit.ly/2HSjbtr |
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| TIDBIT ON MELANIA'S BIRTHDAY: |
| "Trump tells Fox & Friends that he decided to call into their show because it's Melania's birthday. So, what did he get the First Lady? 'Maybe I didn't get her so much. I got her a beautiful card.' " http://bit.ly/2KfPpNP |
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| IT WASN'T TRUMP THAT ENDED THE INTERVIEW, BY THE WAY: |
| " 'We're running out of time' Doocey says to Trump. On what planet would a TV host end a freewheeling interview with a president?" (Comment from Mic's Emily C. Singer) http://bit.ly/2qXcGey |
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| FULL VIDEO -- THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW IS PRETTY COMPELLING: |
| Watch: http://bit.ly/2Kivvlq |
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| THIS A.M. -- RONNY JACKSON WITHDRAWS HIS NOMINATION | |
Peace out, Ron Jack: |
| This morning, White House physician to the president Ronny Jackson withdrew as President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Why: Mounting accusations of misconduct. http://bit.ly/2HucCdg |
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| MORE ALLEGATIONS KEPT PILING UP: |
| Senate Democrats released a new batch of allegations yesterday, including claims that he provided a "large supply" of opioid painkillers to a White House military staffer and wrecked a government vehicle after getting drunk at a Secret Service going-away party. Jackson denied wrecking a car, saying that he had "no idea" where that story came from. http://bit.ly/2HucCdg |
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| BRING YOUR KIDS TO WORK DAY IN WASHINGTON | |
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This video is adorable!: |
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Click here to see the full video: http://bit.ly/2HQvWF7 |
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#SaveTheSpecialCounsel: |
| The Senate Judiciary Committee just approved legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired. The vote: 14-7 in a bipartisan vote. Why this is newsy: This is the first formal measure to protect Mueller that has advanced. http://bit.ly/2vRIYgK Republicans who voted for the bill (4): Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Chuck Grassley (Iowa) and Jeff Flake (Ariz.). Republicans who voted against the bill (7): Sens. Orrin Hatch (Utah), Mike Lee (Utah), John Cornyn (Texas), Mike Crapo (Idaho), Ben Sasse (Neb.), John Kennedy (La.) and Ted Cruz (Texas) opposed it. Will this bill actually pass in Congress? Eh, probably not: The bill doesn't have the 60 votes necessary to pass the Senate, and has even less of a chance to pass the more conservative House. It also would be unlikely to win the two-thirds support needed to override a veto. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said there is no need for the legislation and that the upper chamber will not take it up. |
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| Photo from the room: 
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Pompeo's week is getting better and better: |
| The Senate is voting to confirm CIA Director Mike Pompeo as the new secretary of State. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2vOKO1V |
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This hearing is nuts: |
| Via The Hill's Ali Breland, Democrats clashed with pro-Trump YouTube megastars Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson-- better known as "Diamond and Silk" -- over alleged social media bias against them during a Congressional hearing today. http://bit.ly/2HSEaMU Just trust me, you'll want to see this: https://cbsn.ws/2HvmYtj |
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This is confusing: |
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| The House and Senate are in. Noon: The Senate will hold votes on nominations, including Mike Pompeo for secretary of State. 1 p.m. EDT: Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates speaks at a Georgetown Law event. Details: http://bit.ly/2HuKZRl 1:30 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence joins Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) for a jobs announcement. Pence then leaves Indianapolis for Washington, D.C. 4 p.m. EDT: First and last votes in the House. Just announced — July 13: President Trump will visit the United Kingdom to meet with Prime Minister Theresa May. http://bit.ly/2vOza7a |
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| 10:30 a.m. EDT: President Trump spoke at the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride in the East Room of the White House. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2FjCM0r |
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| NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...: | |
| Today is National Pretzel Day! |
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I think about this 'Matilda' chocolate cake scene way too often: |
| Prime Video got the actors from Matilda to recreate the scene where Ms. Trunchbull made Bruce Bogtrotter eat the chocolate cake. Wow, everyone in this scene has aged well! Watch: http://bit.ly/2HZmhtq |
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Just in case your day was *too* productive: |
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| And because you made it this far, here are laugh-out-loud funny photos of pets: http://bit.ly/2vUitaG |
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