The Daily Countable: Trump's on fire & fires FBI's #2. Plus, who's heard of the "COVFEVE act"?
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A fresh, new week, friends. And thank goodness for it.
President Donald Trump had important things to say on Twitter this weekend, starting with Friday night's firing of the FBI's #2 official, Andrew McCabe. That move came a mere 2 days before McCabe was scheduled to retire from the post.
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2018
The President has not clearly outlined what "lies and corruption" he alleges were going on "at the highest levels of the FBI."
Trump and one of his top lawyers also released tough words criticizing the ongoing Russia Investigation and its leader, Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
"The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime…WITCH HUNT!" -- President Donald Trump
On the Radar
Meanwhile, a series of bombshell stories opened new questions on several fronts:
Russian entities hacked into the controlling software of America's energy infrastructure. One tech-expert told the New York Times, "They have the ability to shut the power off." More here.
The Trump Organization has been subpoenaed by the Russia Investigation requesting business documents, including some related to Russia. It is the first time, publicly at least, that Special Counsel Mueller's investigation has approached Trump's personally controlled company.
After his inauguration, President Trump required some in his administration to sign broad, strict non-disclosure agreements, according to reports in the Washington Post and other news outlets. One catch? White House employees don't actually work for the President -- they work for the United States government, so it is unclear if those NDAs could be upheld in court.
Under the Radar
In honor of March Madness and politicians’ penchant for pithy bill acronyms (anyone remember what the USA PATRIOT Act stood for?), we’ve put together a tournament in which you — Countable users — can choose the best bill acronym of the 115th Congress. Check it out -- there are some real doozies!
Your Gov at a Glance 👀
The White House: President Trump in DC & Manchester, NH
- After his daily intelligence briefing, The President and First Lady board Air Force One, and depart for Manchester, NH.
- At Manchester Community College, President Trump delivers remarks about combating the opioid crisis.
- The President and First Lady return to the White House.
The House of Representatives: In Session
- Voting on a bill to require Homeland Security to report to Congress on the threat of vehicular terrorism.
- Voting on 10 other bills.
The Senate: In Session
- Voting on the confirmation of Kevin McAleenan to be Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.
- Taking a procedural vote on a bill to make it a federal crime for websites to promote prostitution or sex trafficking.
Tomorrow's Preview
- The House will vote on a bill to exempt non-bank financial firms (like mutual funds) from the Dodd-Frank Act's stress testing requirements.
- The Senate will continue debate on the bill to make it a federal crime for websites to promote prostitution or sex trafficking.
And, in the End…
On a personal note, the now-steady drumbeat of incredible, uncommon and crazy news has given me a whole new understanding of the word "mind-numbing." I mean, if you haven't already dedicated your life to news (read: insane people), it seems like it would be impossible to sustain the kind of attention it requires to keep up with the pace and import of current events (read: having a real life). So I'm truly interested: how do you keep up while also setting boundaries? And what can we at Countable do to help? Be in touch --
—Andrea Seabrook
Talk to Managing Editor Andrea Seabrook via email, andrea [at] countable.us, or on twitter, @RadioBabe. And don’t forget to keep in touch @Countable.
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