Tipsheet: GOP women face steeper climb in Trump era

View in your browser     GOP women face steeper climb in Trump era BY MELANIE ZANONA House GOP women are facing a far tougher challenge than their male colleagues as they seek to replenish their dwindling ranks on Capitol Hill. Part of the difficulty for female GOP candidates, according to lawmakers and political operatives, is that they find themselves having to answer for President Trump’s controversial policies and heated rhetoric toward women in ways their male colleagues don’t. Read the full story here     Five takeaways from the bombshell Cohen, Manafort filings BY MORGAN CHALFANT Prosecutors made a series of bombshell filings in the cases of Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort that carry significant warning signs for President Trump. Read the full story here     Prosecutors connect Trump to illegal payments during the campaign BY CHRIS MILLS RODRIGO For the first time, federal prosecutors in New York said that President Trump directed his former lawyer Michael Cohen to make two illegal payments during the 2016 presidential campaign. Read the full story here     Comey reveals new details on Russia probe during House testimony BY JACQUELINE THOMSEN AND OLIVIA BEAVERS Former FBI director James Comey testified to House lawmakers that the counterintelligence investigation into possible conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign began by examining four Americans. Read the full story here     Flake: Mueller bill has votes to pass Senate BY JORDAN FABIAN AND TAL AXELROD   Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said that he believes legislation protecting special counsel Robert Mueller could pass the Senate, if Republican leadership would agree to bring it up for a vote. Read the full story here       John Kelly to leave White House at year's end BY JORDAN FABIAN AND TAL AXELROD  President Trump announced on Saturday that White House chief of staff John Kelly will leave his job by the end of the year, the latest and highest-profile move in a shake-up of Trump's team following Republican losses in November's midterm elections. Read the full story here     US-Saudi relationship enters uncharted territory BY REBECCA KHEEL The divide between Congress and the White House’s perception of Saudi Arabia has widened into a chasm in recent weeks, raising difficult questions on the future of U.S.-Saudi relations. Read the full story here     Trump’s economy teetering on trade tensions, volatile markets BY SYLVAN LANE Rising trade tensions with China, a fading economic outlook and questions about rising interest rates are posing new challenges to President Trump as he prepares for his reelection campaign. Read the full story here     Trump to nominate Mark Milley as next Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman BY JESSE BYRNES President Trump announced Saturday that he would nominate Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley to become the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Read the full story here     Disputed North Carolina race raises prospect of congressional probe BY LISA HAGEN AND MAX GREENWOOD Allegations of election fraud in a closely divided North Carolina House race are raising the prospect of a congressional inquiry that could leave the fate of the seat hanging in the balance for weeks, or even months. Read the full story here     Heather Nauert is the wrong choice for UN ambassador BY HARRY J. KAZIANIS Opinion | There is room in the Trump administration for the bright, talented Heather Nauert, a former Fox & Friends host and current State Department spokesperson. Nauert easily could succeed Sarah Huckabee Sanders as the face of the White House press operation. She could be a senior adviser to the president who helps shape his messaging, from improving his Twitter game to polishing his TV image, or even acting as a top surrogate across the media landscape. She could move over to the Trump 2020 campaign — in coming months, when special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation may conclude, they will need all the help they can get. Read the full story here     Cohen and Manafort pose new problems for President Trump BY JOHN HERBST Opinion | This week, President Trump can claim two legal stings from dead bees, in the familiar forms of Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort. Indeed, the two late Friday court filings by special counsel Robert Mueller and one by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York are very detailed accounts of how to get stung by dead bees. Read the full story here     The Associated Press:  Analysis: Russia probe threatens Trump, those in his orbit BY JULIE PACE The more that special counsel Robert Mueller and federal prosecutors reveal, the darker grow the legal clouds over President Donald Trump. Read the full story here     The Washington Post Republican anxiety spikes as Trump faces growing legal and political perils BY ROBERT COSTA AND PHILIP RUCKER The White House is adopting a “shrugged shoulders” strategy to the Russia probe, calculating that GOP base voters will believe whatever the president tells them. Read the full story here     Reuters: Trump calls for end to Mueller probe despite Russian campaign bid findings BY JONATHAN LANDAY AND DAVID MORGAN U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday renewed his call to end a federal probe into Russian election meddling, describing the investigation as a “witch hunt” a day after U.S. prosecutors detailed a previously unknown attempt by a Russian to help his 2016 presidential election campaign. Read the full story here     CNN: Trump faults Paris climate agreement as protests in France continue BY VERONICA STRACQUALURSI President Donald Trump blamed the Paris climate accord as demonstrations in France continued to protest over an increase in fuel tax and other grievances Read the full story here     The New York Times: The wooing of Jared Kushner: How the Saudis got a friend in the White House BY DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK, BEN HUBBARD, MARK LANDLER AND MARK MAZZETTI The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, cultivated a relationship with Mr. Kushner for more than two years. It has paid off well for the Saudis. 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.