VP Pence & Speaker Ryan Push Healthcare Reform and More 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. "Vice President Mike Pence, Paul Ryan push health care overhaul in Janesville"

"Vice President Mike Pence spoke here Friday alongside other top Republicans to unite his party around a replacement of Obamacare — a challenge that could define the presidency of Donald Trump."

"With both conservative and moderate Republicans shaky on the plan, Pence sought to shore up support by heading to the hometown of House Speaker Paul Ryan to visit headquarters for a chain of farm supply stores. It was a clear signal that the White House wants other Republicans to fall in line behind the House leadership's plans to replace the Affordable Care Act."

Read more at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

2. "Trump tours private school in Florida, promoting choice"

"President Donald Trump toured a private religious school in Florida on Friday, praising it as an ideal institution for "disadvantaged children" while re-emphasizing that his education agenda will focus on school choice."

"Trump visited St. Andrew Catholic School in Orlando, dropping in on a fourth-grade classroom and shaking hands with students who said they were learning about the history of Florida. When one girl said she wanted to own her own business, he said with a smile that she's "gonna make a lot of money. But don't run for politics.""

Read more at The Associated Press.

3. "Trump prods Schumer, Pelosi over old Russian meetings; Schumer says he’ll ‘happily’ talk it over"

"President Donald Trump lashed out at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday, who has called for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign over the uproar about his contacts with Russians."

"Trump tweeted a photo of the Democratic senator from New York and Russian President Vladimir Putin laughing and holding Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Trump said "we should start an immediate investigation" into Schumer's ties with Russia, calling him a "total hypocrite." He did not accuse Schumer of any specific wrongdoing."

Read more at CNBC.

4. "Yellen indicates Fed likely to hike interest rates this month"

"Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signaled Friday that the Fed will likely resume raising interest rates later this month to reflect a strengthening job market and inflation edging toward the central bank’s 2 percent target rate."

"Yellen also said in a speech at the Executives Club of Chicago that the Fed expects steady economic improvement to justify additional rate increases. While not specifying how many rate hikes could occur this year, Yellen noted that Fed officials in December had estimated that there would be three in 2017."

Read more at CBS News.

5. "Fired reporter accused of threatening some Jewish centers, cyber-stalking"

"A former reporter who was fired for fabricating sources was arrested Friday and accused of making some of the bomb threats against Jewish institutions that have so rattled Jews recently."

"Juan Thompson, 31, was charged with one count of cyber-stalking for making at least eight threats as part of an attempt to intimidate a particular person after their romantic relationship ended, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York."

Read more at CNN.

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: Office of the Speaker / Public Domain)