Pentagon Says ‘JK’ on Asking National Guard for Their Bonuses Back, Clinton Team Seeks Distance from Lobbyists and More You Missed in Politics Today

It’s difficult to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in this country and to break through the clutter, so we’re here to make it easier. Here’s what we at Countable are reading today:

1. The Big Story: "Pentagon halts effort to recover Guard enlistment bonuses"

The Pentagon caused an uproar by ordering "about 10,000" National Guardsmen in California to return enlistment bonus payments and “tuition assistance they received by mistake.” But on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Ash Carter reversed that order, saying that while some in the California National Guard intentionally abused the system, many of those who received the payments were not aware that they weren’t entitled to them.

"This process has dragged on too long, for too many service members," Carter said. "Too many cases have languished without action. That's unfair to service members and to taxpayers."

Read more at Reuters.

2. "Clinton sticks with Obama’s strict lobbying rules — for now"

"Hillary Clinton’s presidential transition team … which has tried to keep a low profile in order to not appear overly confident in a Clinton victory," is limiting lobbyist’s access to influence her policy agenda. The attempt to keep lobbyists at arm’s length from the transition team, is “an early indication that Clinton is unlikely to abandon all of the lobbying restrictions imposed by Barack Obama.” Her campaign’s policy team, however (which is separate from the transition staff planning how she’ll run the White House post-election) “continues to be the point of contact for companies, consultants and lobbyists to send policy memos.”

Read more at Politico.

3. "For First Time, U.S. Abstains On U.N. Resolution Criticizing Cuba Embargo"

"The U.N. General Assembly votes every year on a resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba. The U.S. has always opposed the symbolic measure," but on Wednesday, the U.S. abstained for the first time. The vote is part of the Obama administration’s efforts to normalize relations with the country and end the embargo, which hasn’t been popular with many in Congress.

Read more at NPR.

Tell your reps

Learn more about the Cuba embargo and let your reps in Congress know whether you think they should end it or keep it in place.

4. "The Trials of Sheriff Joe"

Controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio was charged on Thursday with misdemeanor contempt of court for continuing immigration raids in Maricopa County, Arizona, "against a federal judge’s injunction." Arpaio not only faces six months in jail, but potentially his last reelection race. Democrat Paul Penzone has “a comfortable lead” over 84-year-old Arpaio in the race for the sheriff’s office that the Republican has held since 1993.

Read more at The Atlantic.

5. "Key EpiPen competitor due in 2017 at 'very, very low' cost"

Drug company Kaleo plans to reintroduce the Auvi-Q, its epinephrine auto-injector for severe allergy sufferers "in the first half of 2017 … at a ‘very, very low’ cost to patients, according to the company’s CEO. The move comes as Mylan, the maker of EpiPens, has been investigated by Congress and come under increasing public fire for huge price increases over the last several years. “It's unclear how the price of the [Auvi-Q] will compare to the EpiPen or its upcoming generic version."

Read more at USA Today.

— Sarah Mimms