News from the note…
A round up of the day’s news that might be of interest to you.
Consider this an OPEN THREAD, folks. Chat about any of the stories listed, share links to stories that caught your eye today, and generally have a good time discussing whatever you want.
Giuliani says Mueller could end obstruction probe by September
From CNN
Rudy Giuliani said Sunday that special counsel Robert Mueller is aiming to finish the probe into potential obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump by September.
Giuliani, Trump’s attorney, confirmed to CNN that Mueller’s office shared its timeline with him about a month ago. The New York Times first reported on Mueller’s time frame.
The former New York mayor said Mueller gave him the information within the context of a discussion about whether Trump would do an interview with the special counsel. Giuliani said the impression he got was that Mueller was saying if the President did do an interview, then the investigation could be wrapped up by that date.
GOP lawmakers want Trump to stop bashing Congress
From The Hill
Senate Republicans want President Trump to stop taking jabs at Congress over its inability to get things done.
Trump loves to tout results and bash lawmakers when they do not move fast enough on his priorities.
Trump warned Senate Republicans through Twitter a week ago that they should get the annual spending bills passed before the August recess, a high bar for a chamber that didn’t pass any regular appropriations bills in 2017.
White House walks back Chinese tariff plans
From Axios
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said during an appearance on Fox News Sunday that around $150 billion worth of proposed tariffs on Chinese goods are on hold as the two countries continue trade negotiations to reduce their deficit.
Hawaii lava finally reaches the Pacific — only to create another deadly danger
From CNN
First it was catastrophic lava. Then it was sulfur dioxide. Now Big Island residents have yet another danger to worry about.
Laze — a mashup of “lava” and “haze” — is a nasty product formed when hot lava hits the ocean, sending hydrochloric acid and volcanic glass particles into the air.
And now it’s a real threat after lava crossed Highway 137 late Saturday night and entered the Pacific Ocean, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.Laze can cause lung, eye and skin irritation. And it has proven deadly in the past.
GOP builds massive shadow army in fight for the House
From Politico
A super PAC bankrolled by casino mogul Sheldon Adelson tears up the standard playbook of drowning voters in ads.
Republicans have amassed a sprawling shadow field organization to defend the House this fall, spending tens of millions of dollars in an unprecedented effort to protect dozens of battleground districts that will determine control of the chamber.
The initiative by the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), now includes 34 offices running mini-campaigns for vulnerable Republicans throughout the country. It has built its own in-house research and data teams and recruited 4,000 student volunteers, who have knocked on more than 10 million doors since February 2017.
Mueller probing Israeli businessman connected to UAE
From The Hill
Special counsel Robert Mueller is probing Israeli businessman Joel Zamel after it was revealed he met with Donald Trump Jr. prior to the 2016 presidential election, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Journal reviewed a subpoena regarding Zamel’s work, including his crowdsourced analysis firm known as Wikistrat and a private intelligence firm known as the Psy Group.
The two firms have reportedly taken the interest of Mueller’s team.
A Sunday Bonus Note from the “The Truth is Stranger than Satire These Days” file
How Trump changed everything for The Onion
From Politico
The comedy website has had to develop new strategies and new characters for a president who often defies satire.
