Trump Ends Week On Economic High Note, Amid Volatile Midterms Season

Ex-Trump attorney poised to offer Mueller bombshell testimony in Russia imbroglio, report says; Giuliani calls Cohen “liar in chief” [NPR Politics]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh listens to President Trump announcing his nomination in the East Room of the White House on Monday.]( Evan Vucci/AP The Big Picture: Trump Breathes Sigh Of Relief The president took a victory lap Friday when he [announced the second quarter’s 4.1 percent gross-domestic product growth](. That came two days after he and the European Union Commission president announced [an easing of trade tensions]( and a commitment by the EU to increase purchases of soybeans and liquefied natural gas from the U.S. Both were much-needed announcements, as Trump has been [facing a backlash on his trade policies]( that have resulted in retaliatory tariffs that have hurt Midwestern farmers, [automakers]( and manufacturers, as well as criticism of his posture toward Russia. An [NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll out this week]( found nearly two-thirds of Americans don’t think he’s been tough enough on Russia. Still, [Russia]( the [Mueller probe]( and his [back-and-forth with his former lawyer Michael Cohen]( loom in the background, as we head into August and the midterm election season ramps up. And while Trump may be breathing a sigh of relief this week and telling Americans [not to believe “what you’re seeing” or “reading,”]( views of him seem to be baked in four months before [this volatile election]( where no single issue has broken through yet. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR's lead political editor --------------------------------------------------------------- [Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh listens to President Trump announcing his nomination in the East Room of the White House on Monday.]( CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images ICYMI: Top Stories Campaigns vulnerable to hacking: Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., announced Thursday that her staff was targeted by a Russian phishing attempt similar to that waged against 2016 Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, and McCaskill’s likely not alone. Campaigns are highly vulnerable to cyber-threats, [NPR’s Miles Parks reports]( and they are among the most valuable targets for hackers seeking to interfere in U.S. elections. As the midterms approach, there’s reason to believe other campaigns could be under attack. Conservative hard-liner running for House speaker: [Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan announced Thursday]( that he will run for speaker of the House in a challenge to retiring Speaker Paul Ryan’s hand-picked successor, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. The announcement came a day after Jordan and 10 other members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus filed articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a move that Ryan opposed. As NPR’s Brian Naylor reports, Jordan is currently facing allegations that he knew about sexual abuse during his time on the Ohio State wrestling coaching staff more than 20 years ago. Emoluments, defined: A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a lawsuit alleging President Trump’s business interests violate the Constitution can move forward despite a Department of Justice request to dismiss the case. Not only is the ruling a blow to Trump, NPR’s Peter Overby reports, it’s also [the first time a federal court has defined “emolument,”]( a term found in the Constitution's two Emoluments Clauses. Truth and Trump: On Tuesday, President Trump told the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars that [“what you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening”]( — a moment which NPR’s Ron Elving argues helps us understand Trump’s view of the world. Who are the Democratic Socialists of America?: With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s surprise Democratic primary win in New York’s 14th Congressional District, [the Democratic Socialists of America have gained new prominence](. It’s been 20 years since a member of the DSA was in a national seat, NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben and Kenny Malone report, and while the group’s electoral gains this year aren’t likely to be all that big, their increased visibility is a big deal. As one DSA charter member put it: "This is the most important moment in DSA's history.” Conservative women take on Tennessee: In the “year of the woman,” Republican candidates Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Rep. Diane Black [aren’t emphasizing gender in what could be historic Tennessee races]( NPR’s Jessica Taylor reports. While both women have broken barriers during their political careers, their gender rarely comes up with voters. As Black said, “I don't run my campaign as a female. I run my campaign as a qualified candidate." — Libby Berry, NPR Washington Desk intern --------------------------------------------------------------- [Michael Cohen, former personal attorney for President Trump, exits the Loews Regency Hotel, May 11, 2018 in New York City.]( Drew Angerer/Getty Images The Russia Imbroglio: Will Michael Cohen Turn State's Evidence? Donald Trump's onetime attorney Michael Cohen says he's prepared to tell the FBI that Trump knew about and approved the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower at which a Russian delegation offered dirt on Democrats to Donald Trump Jr. and other Trump campaign heavies, CNN reports. President Trump has denied in the past that he knew about it and he denied it again following the cable network's explosive story, [as NPR's Brian Naylor reported](. Cohen says he could testify about being in the room with the Trumps when, Cohen says, then-candidate Trump gave the green light to his eldest son to hold the meeting with the Russians, according to CNN. But Cohen also has no paperwork, audio recordings or other hard evidence to back up his story, CNN also reported. Rudy Giuliani, one of the president's personal attorneys in the Russia investigation, jumped on that when he began responding to the CNN report — not only does Cohen not have anything to back up his story, and not only is he in a serious jam with federal investigators in New York City, he also doesn't tell the truth about anything — he's the "liar in chief," [as Giuliani told NPR](. What would it mean if Cohen actually were to give this testimony to investigators? It might corroborate other evidence that special counsel Robert Mueller already has. There have been earlier suggestions, from elsewhere, that Trump knew about the meeting. But, to be clear, the case for collusion has not been proven and Trump and everyone else in the Trump camp denies it. The notion of collusion or a conspiracy is a "hoax," Trump frequently says, and Mueller's investigation is a "witch hunt." [Read the full imbroglio update on NPR.org](. Briefly: - [Russian hackers targeted the most vulnerable part of U.S. elections. Again.]( - [Trump is open to visiting Russia if Putin invites him]( White House says - Trump [denies report he knew in advance of Trump Tower meeting]( with Russians - Russians [unsuccessfully tried to hack computers]( of Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill - [Rosenstein impeachment sputters]( on Capitol Hill - Maria Butina's lawyer [demands proof of alleged sex-for-job proposition]( - Trump on recording: ["What kind of a lawyer would tape a client?"]( - [NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll]( Americans don't think Trump is tough enough on Russia - [Pompeo faces skeptical lawmakers]( after Trump summits raise concerns - Trump, now acknowledging Russian interference, [claims it's aimed at helping Dems]( - What you need to know [about the much-discussed Carter Page FISA document]( - [Catch up on the previous imbroglio update here]( — Philip Ewing, NPR's national security editor --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [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]