First Draft on Politics: Mueller Subpoenas Trump Organization

View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Friday, March 16, 2018 [NYTimes.com/Politics »]( [It was not clear why the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, issued a subpoena instead of simply asking for documents from the Trump Organization.]( It was not clear why the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, issued a subpoena instead of simply asking for documents from the Trump Organization. Doug Mills/The New York Times Good Friday morning, Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today: - The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, has [subpoenaed the Trump Organization]( to turn over documents, including some related to Russia. The order is the first known instance of Mr. Mueller demanding records directly related to President Trump’s businesses, bringing the investigation closer to the president. - The Trump administration imposed sanctions on a series of Russian organizations and individuals [in retaliation]( for election interference and other “malicious” cyberattacks. The sanctions targeted many of the same Russian organizations and operatives indicted by Mr. Mueller. - The White House accused Russia of engineering a series of cyberattacks that targeted American and European nuclear power plants and water and electric systems, and [could have sabotaged or shut power plants off at will](. - In the nine months since he gushed over his cabinet in its first full meeting, Mr. Trump [has fired or forced out]( a half-dozen of the “incredible, talented” people in the room that day. And the purge at the top may not be over. - Mr. Trump repeated his false assertion that the United States runs a trade deficit with Canada, the morning after telling Republican donors privately that he had [deliberately insisted on that claim]( in a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada without knowing if it was true. Some Canadians [remain baffled]( - Larry Kudlow, Mr. Trump’s pick to lead the National Economic Council, is a Wall Street economist, a polished television host and, [most of all]( an evangelist for supply-side economics, which espouses that cutting taxes on businesses and the rich will rain down benefits on everyone else in the country. — The First Draft Team HAVE A CONFIDENTIAL NEWS TIP? Do you have the next big story? Want to share it with The New York Times? We offer several ways to get in touch with and provide materials to our journalists. [Learn More »]( ADVERTISEMENT Climate Fwd: [What on Earth Is Going On?]( Subscribe to our Climate newsletter to get the latest stories and insights about climate change. We’ll also answer your questions and provide tips on what you can do. [• Sign Up »]( On Washington [Facing a Democratic Wave, Republicans Refuse to Throw Trump Overboard]( By CARL HULSE [President Trump at a campaign rally on Saturday in Moon Township, Pa., in support of Rick Saccone, the Republican candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania's 18th District.]( President Trump at a campaign rally on Saturday in Moon Township, Pa., in support of Rick Saccone, the Republican candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania's 18th District. Tom Brenner/The New York Times If Republicans and President Trump are going down to defeat in November’s midterms, they are evidently going down together. Faced with a [mortifying special election loss]( in what had been a Trump-loving Pennsylvania House district, Republicans on Capitol Hill did not point fingers in the president’s direction. Instead, they blamed their candidate, Rick Saccone, for running a lackluster effort while crediting the president with putting Mr. Saccone within reach of victory by firing up Trump supporters at a rally last weekend. “The president came in and helped close this race and got it to where it is right now,” Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Wednesday as he and his fellow Republicans sought to put the best possible gloss on the latest and most definitive portent yet that their party — not to mention his own speakership — is in severe peril in a very challenging midterm election climate. Statements like those and other recent developments highlight just how reluctant Republicans are to put any daylight between themselves and Mr. Trump despite obvious political danger ahead. [Read more »Â](  [Larry Kudlow, a longtime cheerleader of President Trump, will assume the role as his top economic adviser.]( [Larry Kudlow’s Not-So-on-the-Money Predictions]( By DEBORAH B. SOLOMON AND KITTY BENNETT Mr. Kudlow’s forecasts, which will soon carry new weight as the president’s top economic adviser, have not always been on the mark. Here is a look back at some of his economic predictions that did not bear out. [At his State of the Union address, President Trump heralded a plan to force recipients off federal housing vouchers, food assistance and Medicaid if they were not willing to do “a hard day’s work.”]( [Trump’s Vow on Welfare Faces an Uncertain Future]( By GLENN THRUSH Disagreement among Republicans and the president’s ambivalence have helped to thwart a favorite conservative proposal. [Representative Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said a Senate bill was only a starting point for negotiations on loosening some Dodd-Frank restrictions.]( [Republicans Find Undoing Bank Rules Is Easier Said Than Done]( By ALAN RAPPEPORT AND EMILY FLITTER The Senate this week passed a bipartisan bill to roll back parts of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulation law. House Republicans aren’t satisfied. [North Korea’s foreign minister, Ri Yong-ho, in New York last year. Sweden confirmed on Thursday that Mr. Ri was coming to the country for talks.]( [North Korean Envoy in Sweden Amid Planning for Trump-Kim Meeting]( By GERRY MULLANY Sweden, which has played an intermediary role between North Korea and the United States in the past, confirmed that Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho was headed to the country for talks. [Streaming Soon: A Fight Over AT&T, Time Warner and the Future of TV]( By CECILIA KANG The Justice Department’s case to block AT&T’s $85 billion merger with Time Warner is set for trial next week, in one of the most anticipated antitrust battles in years. [A factory for the smartphone maker Oppo in Dongguan, China. The tariffs could extend to more mundane products, including consumer electronics, apparel and even shoes.]( [Trump Readies Sweeping Tariffs and Investment Restrictions on China]( By ANA SWANSON Before the dust has settled on a plan to introduce tariffs on foreign metals, the White House is readying another major trade action. [Jerome L. Dodson, founder and chief executive of Parnassus Investments. Its Endeavor fund is one of Qualcomm’s largest shareholders.]( [With One Battle Over, a Bigger One Looms for Qualcomm: Apple]( By JAMES B. STEWART Resolving its fee dispute with Apple could raise Qualcomm’s share price above what it would have been under a Broadcom takeover, a major shareholder said. [An Air Force cargo jet in 2016 at a base in the Persian Gulf where drones were launched against the Islamic State. With drone technology just one area open to advances in artificial intelligence, a task force will explore how the government can work better with tech leaders to develop its A.I.]( [Pentagon Wants Silicon Valley’s Help on A.I.]( By CADE METZ Older tech companies have long had ties with military and intelligence. But employees at internet outfits like Google are wary of too much cooperation. LIKE THIS EMAIL? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here](. ADVERTISEMENT HOW ARE WE DOING? We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to [washington-newsletter@nytimes.com](mailto:washington-newsletter@nytimes.com?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback). 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