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.
Trump White House advertises at a Hill job fair amid staff exodus
From Politico
The White House – which has been having trouble filling positions as it bleeds staffers – is now trying to find recruits at a conservative job fair on the Hill.
“Interested in a job at the White House?” is the subject line of an email that was blasted out widely to Republicans on the Hill late Wednesday advertising the upcoming event.
It promises that “representatives from across the Trump administration will be there to meet job seekers of every experience level.” A person familiar with the planning said that Johnny DeStefano, who oversees the White House personnel department, and Sean Doocey, a deputy assistant to the president for presidential personnel, are expected to be on hand, among other officials from the West Wing.
Rosenstein to ask House to investigate committee staff: report
From The Hill
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will ask the House to probe it’s committee staff, according to a report from CNN.
A Justice Department official told CNN that Rosenstein plans to “request that the House general counsel conduct an internal investigation of these congressional staffers’ conduct” this week.
The development comes as Fox News reported on Tuesday that Rosenstein threatened to subpoena emails, phone records and other documents from lawmakers and staff on the House Intelligence Committee.
White House counsel McGahn recused his office from Mueller probe
From Politico
White House Counsel Don McGahn recused his entire staff last summer from working on the Russia investigation because many of his office’s lawyers played significant roles in key episodes at the center of the probe, former White House attorney Ty Cobb said on Wednesday.
McGahn made the decision to halt his staff’s interactions with Special Counsel Robert Mueller because many of his own attorneys “had been significant participants” surrounding the firings of national security adviser Michael Flynn and FBI Director James Comey, Cobb said.
Canadian foreign minister won’t rule out sanctions targeting Trump Organization
From The Hill
Freeland was asked by a Canadian lawmaker during a question period Tuesday whether the nation’s government has considered sanctions targeting Trump’s businesses, rather than the American people, in response to Trump’s tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, according to the Canadian magazine Maclean’s.
Freeland did not reject the idea, saying that the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration against Canada, Mexico and other nations are “illegal” and “unjustified,” according to the magazine. She also echoed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s criticism, saying Trump’s national security justification is an insult to Canadians.
“We are now in a consultation period. We welcome ideas from all Canadians on what should and what should not be in our retaliation list,” she added, according to Maclean’s.
Scoop: Classified Israeli report raises doubts over Trump-Kim summit
From Axios
A classified report from Israel’s foreign ministry raises doubts over President Trump’s optimistic statementsabout his summit with Kim Jong-un, and determines the U.S. retreated from its positions on several issues relating to North Korea’s nuclear program.
Behind the scenes: The classified report, which I obtained a copy of, provides an initial analysis of the summit. It was circulated yesterday by the research department of the Israeli foreign ministry to all Israeli embassies around the world and to many senior officials at the Prime Minister’s office and other government agencies.
White House defends Trump’s salute of North Korean general: ‘It’s a common courtesy’
From The Hill
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday defended President Trump’s decision to salute a North Korean military officer, calling it “common courtesy.”
“It’s a common courtesy when a military official from another government salutes that you return that,” she said.
North Korea’s KCTV news channel aired footage from Trump’s recent summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The video shows Trump shaking hands with Kim and another North Korean official.
Top Trump aide Marc Short to leave White House before midterms: report
From The Hill
White House legislative affairs director Marc Short is planning to leave his job ahead of the 2018 midterms, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
Sources told the Journal that Short is planning on departing the White House sometime this summer, citing “diminishing returns” on getting President Trump’s legislative goals through Congress ahead of the November elections.
When the Journal asked Short for comment, he replied, “There are so many leaks in this building.”
What they’re saying: How both sides are spinning the FBI report
From Axios
The Department of Justice’s inspector general released its report on the FBI’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe before the 2016 election, criticizing James Comey, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page but finding no evidence that the FBI’s investigation was compromised by political bias.
The big picture: The report manages to weave together some of the most polarizing political events of the last few years — and the spin has already begun on both sides of the political spectrum.
