First Draft on Politics: A Lot Happened This Week

It’s hard to keep track of it all. Here are six of the biggest stories driving American politics this week. View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Saturday, April 28, 2018 [NYTimes.com/Politics »]( [Here Are the Biggest Stories in American Politics This Week]( By EMILY COCHRANE [President Trump delivering a toast on Tuesday during the state dinner for President Emmanuel Macron of France.]( President Trump delivering a toast on Tuesday during the state dinner for President Emmanuel Macron of France. Tom Brenner/The New York Times Whether it was President Trump’s first state dinner, the visits of two prominent European leaders, the withdrawal of the president’s nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs or a summit meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea, it was a big week in American politics and diplomacy. Here’s a look back at what you might have missed. Amid allegations about his conduct, Ronny Jackson withdrew his nomination to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. [Current and former colleagues said in interviews that Dr. Jackson was seen in his office as a bully who loosely dispensed strong drugs, kept sloppy records and drank too much.] Current and former colleagues said in interviews that Dr. Jackson was seen in his office as a bully who loosely dispensed strong drugs, kept sloppy records and drank too much. Michael Reynolds/EPA, via Shutterstock Dr. Ronny L. Jackson, the White House physician, withdrew his nomination to be secretary of veterans affairs on Thursday after lawmakers publicized a [litany of allegations]( about him. The accusations included accounts of his liberally giving out prescription medication, being intoxicated at work and presiding over a hostile work environment. President Trump and other top administration officials [strongly defended]( Dr. Jackson, citing favorable performance reviews from previous administrations. But interviews with current and former colleagues showed that [the isolation of the White House medical unit]( hid the perception of Dr. Jackson as a bully who loosely dispensed strong drugs, kept sloppy records and drank too much. Additional Reading [■A History of Ronny Jackson in Fewer Than 70 Words]( [■Trump’s Doctor Accused of Handing Out Ambien. D.E.A. Calls the Practice Illegal.]( [■News Analysis: For Many, Life in Trump’s Orbit Ends in a Crash Landing]( ______ President Trump hosted two world leaders at the White House this week. One reception featured far more pomp and circumstance than the other. [President Trump with President Emmanuel Macron of France on Tuesday at the White House.] President Trump with President Emmanuel Macron of France on Tuesday at the White House. Doug Mills/The New York Times President Emmanuel Macron of France came to the United States with the intention of persuading Mr. Trump to not scrap the Iran nuclear deal next month, but it remained unclear whether he made progress toward that goal. And while Mr. Macron [criticized]( Mr. Trump’s policies in a rare joint address before Congress, [the bromance]( between the two flourished during the visit. Mr. Macron and his wife, Brigitte, were treated to the administration’s first state dinner, a 21-gun salute and a private evening at George Washington’s home. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany [received a less extravagant greeting]( when she arrived on Friday. She reiterated Mr. Macron’s push for the United States to remain part of the nuclear deal and pressed for a stronger commitment that the European Union would be exempt from the coming steel and aluminum tariffs. It’s likely that when Mr. Trump [visits Britain in July]( — an on-again, off-again trip announced Thursday — he will receive a similarly subdued reception. Additional Reading [■Trumps Throw Out Tradition for Their First State Dinner]( [■A National Security Aide’s Departing Wish: Cooking for the State Dinner]( [■President Trump Is Coming to Britain. Here’s What He Can Expect.]( ______ The Supreme Court heard arguments on the president’s travel ban. [Immigrant rights groups had hoped that Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. or Justice Anthony M. Kennedy would join the court’s four-member liberal wing to oppose the ban as unconstitutionally discriminatory against Muslims.] Immigrant rights groups had hoped that Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. or Justice Anthony M. Kennedy would join the court’s four-member liberal wing to oppose the ban as unconstitutionally discriminatory against Muslims. Lawrence Jackson for The New York Times For the first time, the Supreme Court [heard arguments]( over Mr. Trump’s efforts to impose a ban on travel to the United States from several predominately Muslim countries. Although a decision was not made, the court’s five-member conservative majority seemed ready to approve a revised version of the president’s plan. Justices [also heard arguments]( in their third voting-rights case of the term, weighing a long-running dispute over congressional and state legislative districts in Texas. Challengers say the districts discriminate against minority voters. The court[upheld]( the constitutionality of a procedure that eases challenges to questionable patents. In a separate case, it ruled that foreign corporations — in this case, a bank based in Jordan with a branch in New York — [may not be sued]( for complicity in human rights abuses abroad. Additional Reading [■Supreme Court Arguments on Trump’s Travel Ban: Annotated Excerpts]( [■News Analysis: Courts Give Trump a Possible Path Through a Legal Minefield on Immigration]( [■Rod Rosenstein Makes a Timely Supreme Court Appearance]( ______ As a bill protecting the special counsel moved forward in Congress, new developments in the Russia investigation emerged. [Special counsels such as Robert S. Mueller III would be able to appeal their firing to a panel of judges under the legislation that a Senate committee advanced on Thursday.] Special counsels such as Robert S. Mueller III would be able to appeal their firing to a panel of judges under the legislation that a Senate committee advanced on Thursday. J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press The Senate Judiciary Committee [advanced bipartisan legislation]( Thursday that would protect special counsels, like Robert S. Mueller III, who is leading the Russia investigation. And while Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, has said he will not allow the bill to reach the floor for a vote, the bipartisan support in the committee sends a warning message to Mr. Trump about the consequences of firing Mr. Mueller. It was also revealed Friday that the Russian lawyer who met with Trump campaign officials in Trump Tower in June 2016 has [recanted her earlier denials of Russian government ties]( and admitted that she was a source of information for a top Kremlin official. The revelation came hours before Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee [announced]( they had found no evidence that the Trump campaign aided Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election. Rudolph W. Giuliani, the latest high-profile addition to the president’s legal team, is [said to be working to reopen negotiations]( on a possible interview between the president and the special counsel. Mr. Trump [continued to distance]( himself from Michael D. Cohen, his personal lawyer who is under investigation from the Justice Department. Attorney General Jeff Sessions also [declined to say]( whether he had recused himself from the inquiry into Mr. Cohen, given his recusal from the special counsel’s investigation. He also declined to answer when asked if he would quit if Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, was fired. Additional Reading [■5 Takeaways From the House Report on Russian Election Meddling]( [■Michael Cohen to Take Fifth Amendment in Stormy Daniels Lawsuit]( [■With No Nomination From Trump, Judges Choose U.S. Attorney for Manhattan]( [■Manafort’s Lawsuit Taking Aim at Mueller Is Tossed Out of Court]( ______ With a new secretary of state in place, the Trump administration moved forward with outreach — to foreign countries and rappers. [Mike Pompeo, who served for a year as the director of the C.I.A. was confirmed this week as secretary of state.] Mike Pompeo, who served for a year as the director of the C.I.A. was confirmed this week as secretary of state. Erin Schaff for The New York Times The Senate [confirmed]( Mike Pompeo, the former C.I.A. director and a foreign policy hawk, as the country’s 70th secretary of state on Thursday. The confirmation [followed a late approval]( from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which almost failed to give him a favorable vote. On his first full day as secretary of state, Mr. Pompeo [traveled to Europe]( warned that Mr. Trump may withdraw from the Iran deal early next month. He also called for European countries to increase their military spending. Mr. Trump announced Tuesday that he [would dispatch]( Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, and other economic advisers to China next week. With the two countries locked in a tit-for-tat tariff battle, Mr. Mnuchin and the rest of the American delegation will be charged with forestalling an all-out trade war. In an unusual Twitter exchange that bypassed the usual topics of media and politics, Mr. Trump [reached out]( to Kanye West, the bombastic rapper and longtime supporter. The president publicly thanked Mr. West after the rapper praised him on Twitter, asserting that the two were brothers who shared “dragon energy.” Additional Reading [■Jeff Sessions Is Serving, and Doing His Best to Ignore, Trump]( [■The Biggest Nafta Hurdle Now May Be Congress]( ______ In Congress, lawmakers tangled with Trump officials — and with each other. [Scott Pruitt at the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday morning. He later testified before the House Appropriations Committee.] Scott Pruitt at the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday morning. He later testified before the House Appropriations Committee. Pete Marovich for The New York Times In a series of hearings and briefings this week, lawmakers interviewed Mr. Sessions, questioned [the salary]( of the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and grilled Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The most contentious hearing was with Mr. Pruitt, who faced [an entire day]( of questions about his spending, housing arrangements and raises for staff members. But he dodged the blame, [pointing a finger instead]( on decisions made by his employees. The news that Speaker Paul D. Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin, [had asked for the resignation]( of the House chaplain two weeks ago [set off further division]( in Congress. The Rev. Patrick J. Conroy said he believed a prayer he gave while the House was debating tax overhaul legislation is what elicited Mr. Ryan’s ire. Additional Reading [■Shrugging Off Trump Scandals, Evangelicals Look to Rescue G.O.P.]( [■Ms. Kardashian Goes to Washington]( [■Debbie Lesko Wins Arizona Special Election for Congress, Rallying G.O.P.]( [■Menendez Is ‘Severely Admonished’ by Senate Panel for Accepting Gifts]( ______ The leaders of North and South Korea met, a first step toward Mr. Trump’s expected summit meeting with Kim Jong-un. [The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea on Friday in Panmunjom. The two were trailed by an honor guard in 19th-century uniforms.] The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea on Friday in Panmunjom. The two were trailed by an honor guard in 19th-century uniforms. Pool photo Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, [crossed the border]( on Friday to meet with the South’s president, Moon Jae-in, at the village of Panmunjom. The leaders agreed to work to remove all nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula and pursue talks with the United States to formally end the Korean War. It was the first time a North Korean leader had ever stepped foot in the South, something Mr. Trump [applauded]( on Friday. It paves the way for a summit meeting between the American and North Korean leaders. But Mr. Trump [vowed that he would not be fooled]( by the North the way he said his predecessors had. The Trump administration [also abruptly redirected]( Washington’s pick to be ambassador to Australia, and instead named him the American envoy to Seoul. It fills a diplomatic void right before Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim are scheduled to meet. Additional Reading ■The Interpreter: [An Unpredictable Trump and a Risk-Prone Kim Mean High Stakes and Mismatched Expectations]( [■Fear and Hope in South Korea on Eve of Summit With Kim Jong-un]( [■Parents Sue North Korea Over College Student’s Death After Time in Prison]( Was this helpful? 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