Tipsheet: GOP authors of tax law double down in campaigns

View in your browser     GOP authors of tax law double down in campaigns By Naomi Jagoda   Republicans on the House’s tax-writing committee are clinging to the new tax-cut law in their reelection races, as the odds of a blue wave in November appear to be increasing. The GOP is facing a number of obstacles in keeping the House, with some worrying that Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) decision not to seek reelection is a sign of trouble ahead. Read the full story here     GOP fractures over push to protect Russia probe By Jordain Carney GOP fissures are widening over President Trump’s apparent consideration of firing special counsel Robert Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Read the full story here     Five things to know from Comey's new book By Brett Samuels The first excerpts from former FBI Director James Comey’s book were released on Thursday, providing his first extensive public recounting of the events surrounding the 2016 election and his brief time in the Trump administration. Here are some of the most notable claims in the book. Read the full story here       Trump to pardon ex-Cheney aide Scooter Libby By Brett Samuels   President Trump is reportedly expected to pardon Scooter Libby, the former chief of staff to then-Vice President Dick Cheney, who was convicted in 2007 for lying to the FBI and obstructing justice. Read the full story here     Trump launches task force to evaluate Postal Service operations By Brett Samuels President Trump announced Thursday he is forming a task force to look at the viability and operations of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on the heels of his tweets accusing Amazon of hurting the organization.  Read the full story here     Pompeo faces difficult panel vote after grilling by Dems By Katie Bo Williams, Morgan Chalfant and Rebecca Kheel CIA Director Mike Pompeo on Thursday faced a grilling from Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, suggesting he faces uncertain prospects to win a panel vote to become the nation’s top diplomat. Read the full story here     Trump meets with Rosenstein at the White House By Jordan Fabian President Trump met with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Thursday amid speculation his job could be in jeopardy. Read the full story here     McCarthy says early leadership elections unlikely By Juliegrace Brufke House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Thursday he doesn't think the leadership election to replace Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will be moved up from its current date in late November, following the midterm elections. Read the full story here     Trump, May vow to deter further use of chemical weapons by Assad By Julia Manchester British Prime Minister Theresa May and President Trump vowed in a phone call Thursday to deter further use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the wake of last week's deadly attack, according to the U.K. leader's office. Read the full story here     Mattis says decision on Syria not yet made despite Trump comments By Ellen Mitchell Defense Secretary James Mattis on Thursday tried to tamp down President Trump’s recent threats of a looming strike on Syria, insisting the commander-in-chief had not yet decided on a response.  Read the full story here     Why the Summit of the Americas is better off without Trump By former Ambassador Patrick Duddy OPINION | While some heads of state attending the eighth Summit of the Americas in Lima, Peru are disappointed that President Trump won’t be attending, others are breathing a sigh of relief. Read the full story here     Several pro-Trump states would be injured by a trade war By David Ascienzo OPINION | As the U.S. and China dance around tariff threats, at times fueling market fears of an impending trade war, the big question is which American exporters will be hurt the most.  Read the full story here     The Washington Post: Trump’s allies worry that federal investigators may have seized recordings made by his attorney By Ashley Parker, Carol D. Leonnig, Josh Dawsey and Tom Hamburger  President Trump’s personal attorney Michael D. Cohen sometimes taped conversations with associates, according to three people familiar with his practice, and allies of the president are worried that the recordings were seized by federal investigators in a raid of Cohen’s office and residences this week. Read the full story here     The New York Times: Justice Dept. can’t tie police funding to help on immigration, judge rules By Jennifer Medina LOS ANGELES — The Justice Department cannot require that local police departments help immigration agents in order to receive federal funding, a federal judge has ruled. Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: Trump sets out tougher approaches to Syria, Justice Department in tumultuous week By Peter Nicholas, Michael C. Bender and Rebecca Ballhaus   President Donald Trump this week stepped up preparations to counter political and military challenges that could reshape his presidency, girding for a strike against Syria and pushing a campaign to discredit the Justice Department. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: Will Democrats pluck the next president from city hall? By Thomas Beaumont and Bill Barrow   Los Angeles’ Eric Garcetti, like other Democratic mayors considering the presidential race in 2020, is hoping to show party activists that his experience running a city can preview success on the national scene. Read the full story here     Reuters: Trump now less likely to sit for Mueller interview: sources By Karen Freifeld An interview of U.S. President Donald Trump by special counsel Robert Mueller was less likely after this week’s FBI raids on Trump’s personal lawyer, two people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Read the full story here         Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up for The Hill Tipsheet       Forward this Tipsheet     You might like         Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  |  Email to a friend  |  Sign Up for Other Newsletters   The Hill 1625 K Street, NW 9th Floor, Washington DC 20006 ©2016 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.