NO COLLUSION: Takeaways From The Indictment Of Russian Operatives

From a security clearance scandal to the special counsel's actions, who knew what when? [NPR Politics]( --------------------------------------------------------------- The Big Picture: Who Knew What When? It’s the question everyone seems to be asking this week — from congressional Republicans (and reporters) [looking into a security clearance scandal]( at the White House to people wondering about the FBI’s [breakdown of protocol]( in trying to stop the alleged shooter at a Florida school before he killed 17 people. Meanwhile, former FBI Director Robert Mueller’s Russia probe [ensnared 13 Russian nationals]( on Friday for interfering in the election. President Trump claimed a measure of victory, pointing out the indictment says NO COLLUSION (the White House did, in fact put this in ALL CAPS in its official statement). Others pointed out that the INDICTMENT says no collusion. Stay tuned. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR's lead political editor --------------------------------------------------------------- ICYMI: Top Stories Another Senate fail: Senators were [unable to pass any immigration legislation]( this week, NPR’s Kelsey Snell reported. The expiration date for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is fast approaching as Congress heads into recess. But does March 5 have any meaning anymore? NPR’s Scott Detrow [explains the shifting deadline](. Meanwhile, in the House, conservative lawmakers are warning House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that this debate could be a “[defining moment]( for him. Romney to run: Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee and former governor of Massachusetts, [officially announced]( that he is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Romney, who was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, took veiled swipes at the president in his announcement video, write NPR’s Brakkton Booker and Domenico Montanaro. Stock market swings: What do [stock market gyrations actually mean]( for someone’s day-to-day finances? Few consumers will take a direct financial hit when the market falls, but it can still more broadly affect attitudes about the economy and the president, reports NPR’s Asma Khalid. Redistricting guide: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to decide three major cases this term that could determine how congressional districts are drawn for the next decade, writes NPR’s Domenico Montanaro. [Here’s your guide]( to the status of redistricting in six key states. White House scandal, continued: It’s been more than a week since White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigned amid reports of alleged domestic abuse by his two ex-wives. Yet there are [still big questions]( raised by his departure, including about his interim security clearance, writes NPR’s Mara Liasson. President Trump’s early comments on his resignation appeared to sympathize with Porter, but now the president says he is “[totally opposed to domestic violence]( writes NPR’s Jessica Taylor. On Friday, the White House released a memo from chief of staff John Kelly calling for [improvements in the security clearance process]( NPR’s Brian Naylor reports. Sentencing bill gets dose of drama: The Senate Judiciary Committee voted overwhelmingly to advance a bill that would ease mandatory minimum sentences for some drug criminals, writes NPR’s Carrie Johnson. Despite broad bipartisan support, Attorney General Jeff Sessions went out of his way to send a letter to committee chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to call the legislation a “grave error.” Grassley responded to his old friend with some [biting words](. Parade price tags: The Department of Defense has come up with several options for President Trump to choose from [for his proposed military parade](. Costs range from $3 million to $50 million, reports NPR’s Tamara Keith and Tom Bowman. — Barbara Sprunt, NPR Politics producer --------------------------------------------------------------- The Russia Imbroglio: 5 Takeaways From Friday's Indictment Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller prefers to let his work do the talking for him. On Friday, he delivered a stemwinder. Thirteen Russians and three Russian entities were [indicted by a federal grand jury]( in connection with the attack on the 2016 election. Much of what Mueller's office charges — [that influence-mongers used Facebook and Twitter]( to turn up the volume and pit American against American — was already public. But [the 37-page indictment]( also includes a number of fascinating new insights. - The scheme began earlier than previously known. - Russians didn't just post from afar. They traveled to the U.S. - Operatives dealt directly with Americans, including some Trump campaign workers. - Trump now acknowledges Russian active measures. - Mueller and the feds have a huge wealth of information at their disposal. [Read the full imbroglio update on NPR.org.]( Briefly: - [What the Russians did]( Lessons from the indictment released on Friday - The Russian threat to elections [will persist through 2018]( spy bosses warn Congress - Can the U.S. combat election interference [if some don’t believe it’s happening]( - Former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulus [was more than a coffee boy]( his fiancée says - [Read last week’s Russia imbroglio update here](. — Philip Ewing, NPR national security editor [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Instagram]( You received this message because you're subscribed to our Politics emails. | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002 [NPR]