On Politics: Tabloid Company Agrees to Cooperate in Trump Hush-Money Inquiry

Prosecutors took a big step in their inquiry into payouts made to two women ahead of the 2016 election, saying that The National Enquirer’s parent company was cooperating. [Trouble seeing this email? View in browser]( [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( December 13, 2018 | Morning Edition Good Thursday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today. _____________________ • In a major step in the investigation of hush-money payments made to two women who said that they had affairs with President Trump, prosecutors announced that The National Enquirer’s parent company was cooperating. [The company played]( role in keeping the women silent ahead of the 2016 election](. • In the same sweep, Michael D. Cohen, a former lawyer for Mr. Trump, implicated the president in the hush-money scandal during his sentencing on Wednesday, in which [he received three years in prison](. • Rudolph W. Giuliani’s work as Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer has raised his profile as a contractor around the world. But as the special counsel investigation grinds onward, [should Mr. Giuliani be trying to]( up business for his consulting firm from foreign governments?]( • American government-funded broadcasters that are the country’s voice to the world have endured a series of recent scandals blurring the line between journalism and political messaging. [Now they are bracing for the arrival of a new leader sent by](. ADVERTISEMENT • The recent arrest of a top Chinese technology executive at the Trump administration’s request seemed certain to prompt a geopolitical showdown pitting Beijing against Washington. [Instead, China]( taken a measured response to the](. • Nancy Pelosi neared a deal with Democratic dissidents to set a term limit for her own speakership in the House, most likely sealing the votes she needs for the gavel but limiting the power of her team. [The potential agreement would signal a major power shift for Democrats](. • A planned stretch of new border wall in South Texas may be the first to be built under the Trump administration. But Elon Musk’s planned site for SpaceX, his private rocket company, [could stand]( the way](. • The North Carolina legislature approved a bill that would require new primaries if the state elections board called for a new vote in an election. The measure opens the door for Republicans to consider [backing a new candidate in the disputed race in the Ninth Congressional District](. ADVERTISEMENT • Julián Castro, the former housing secretary in the Obama administration, announced he was forming a presidential exploratory committee, [the first potential step toward a bid for the White House in 2020](. • Tom Steyer, the Democratic billionaire who called for the impeachment of Mr. Trump, is considering a presidential run himself. His novel approach to staffing a potential campaign includes an anonymous LinkedIn page [advertising jobs in three of the first four states that will kick off the nominating contest](. • Mr. Trump directed federal agencies to steer spending toward certain distressed communities across the country — part of his administration’s push to turn a tax break included in last year’s $1.5 trillion tax package into a [broader effort to combat poverty and geographic inequality](. • New allegations have arisen since The New York Times published a report two weeks ago on physical and emotional abuse at T.M. Landry, a school celebrated for landing black students in elite colleges. [Now the Louisiana State Police have begun an official investigation into the school](. _____________________ Today’s On Politics briefing was compiled by Margaret Kramer and Isabella Grullón Paz in New York. Were you forwarded this newsletter? [Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox.]( Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [onpolitics@nytimes.com](mailto:onpolitics@nytimes.com?te=1&nl=politics&emc=edit_cn_2018121320181213). ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW NYTimes [Facebook] [FACEBOOK]( [Twitter] [@nytimes]( Get more [NYTimes.com newsletters »]( | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's Politics newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Change Your Email]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact]( | [Advertise]( Copyright 2018 The New York Times Company | 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018