First Draft on Politics: The Biggest Stories in American Politics This Week

View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Saturday, June 9, 2018 [NYTimes.com/Politics »]( [The Biggest Stories in American Politics This Week]( By EMILY COCHRANE [President Trump arriving Friday at a Canadian military base in Quebec for the Group of 7 summit meeting.]( President Trump arriving Friday at a Canadian military base in Quebec for the Group of 7 summit meeting. Doug Mills/The New York Times Defiant about his foreign policy and trade tactics, President Trump traveled to Canada for a series of meetings with American allies. On Thursday, Mr. Trump had skirmished with the leaders of France and Canada over trade, and later that night, he abruptly announced [his decision to leave the summit meeting]( in Quebec early. Much of the tension stemmed from Mr. Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada called “insulting and totally unacceptable.”President Trump, unusually isolated and at odds with his counterparts, [arrived Friday in Canada]( for an annual summit meeting with some of the United States’ closest allies. Before he left Washington, he raised the prospect of welcoming Russia back into the Group of 7 and he vowed not to back down on tariffs. Once Mr. Trump leaves Quebec, he will head to Singapore, where he is expected to meet next week with Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea. Additional Reading [■White House Analysis Finds Tariffs Will Hurt Growth, as Officials Insist Otherwise]( [■Trump Says a ‘Big Operation’ Kept Melania Trump From G-7]( ■News Analysis: [Trump Greets Plans for North Korea-Syria Meeting With Deafening Silence]( In an extraordinary assertion of power, Mr. Trump declared that he has “the absolute right” to pardon himself. [President Trump in May in Nashville. This week he called the appointment of the special counsel “totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL.”] President Trump in May in Nashville. This week he called the appointment of the special counsel “totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL.” Tom Brenner/The New York Times Mr. Trump [declared Monday on Twitter]( that he had “the absolute right” to pardon himself for any crime. The assertion came as his legal advisers continue to argue that as president, Mr. Trump [is above obstruction statutes](. The president also declared [on Twitter]( that the appointment of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel in the Russia investigation, was [“totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL!”]( Later that day, Mr. Mueller [accused]( Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman, of trying to tamper with witnesses. And on Friday, the special counsel [brought]( new obstruction charges against Mr. Manafort and one of Mr. Manafort’s associates. On Wednesday, Mr. Trump [offered clemency]( to a woman serving life in prison for a nonviolent drug conviction, a case championed by Kim Kardashian West, and on Friday he said he was [considering pardoning]( [Muhammad Ali](. (Mr. Ali’s conviction, however, was overturned nearly 50 years ago.) Additional Reading [■Trump Team Pushed False Story Line About Meeting With Kremlin-Tied Lawyer, Memo Shows]( [■Giuliani Speaks for Trump. Except When He Doesn’t.]( ■White House Memo: [Why Is Trump Mad at Sessions? A Tweet Provides the Answer]( [■With Mueller Closing In, Manafort’s Allies Abandon Him]( It was a busy week for the judicial system. [Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, leaving the Supreme Court in December. The court said on Monday that a Colorado panel’s decision against him had been infected by religious animus.] Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, leaving the Supreme Court in December. The court said on Monday that a Colorado panel’s decision against him had been infected by religious animus. Zach Gibson for The New York Times The Supreme Court [narrowly ruled on Monday in favor]( of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The court [also turned away a request]( from the Justice Department to discipline lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union for helping an undocumented teenager get an abortion. On Thursday, a former Senate aide was [arrested in an investigation]( of classified information leaks, where prosecutors also seized years’ worth of phone and email records from a New York Times reporter. The investigation was the first known instance of the Justice Department seeking a reporter’s data during the Trump administration, signaling that the aggressive tactics employed under President Barack Obama will probably continue. Also Thursday, prosecutors from the Justice Department told a federal court that it [would no longer defend provisions]( of the Affordable Care Act that protect consumers with pre-existing medical conditions. If that argument is accepted, insurers could again deny people coverage because of their medical conditions or history. Additional Reading [■Trump Praises Arrest of Former Senate Committee Aide in Leaks Inquiry]( [■How The Times Decides When to Publish Leaked News]( [■American ISIS Suspect Fights Plan to Release Him in Syria]( California and seven other states held primaries for the midterm elections. [Katie Porter, right, a progressive California Democrat running for Congress, at her election night event on Tuesday in Irvine. She advanced to the general election.] Katie Porter, right, a progressive California Democrat running for Congress, at her election night event on Tuesday in Irvine. She advanced to the general election. Eric Thayer for The New York Times Primary elections dominated on Tuesday. In New Jersey and seven other states, Democrats [enhanced their prospects]( for potentially taking control of the House. Their challengers include a former Navy pilot, a veteran White House national security adviser and a conservative pro-gun state senator. Both major parties [avoided worst-case scenarios]( in California: Democrats had candidates set to advance in [seven of the most competitive districts]( while Republicans avoided a shutout in the races for Senate and governor. Also Tuesday, Senator Mitch McConnell [announced]( that he was canceling the majority of the Senate’s August recess, which could keep vulnerable Democrats from leaving Washington to campaign. Additional Reading [■5 Takeaways From Tuesday’s Primary Elections]( [■New Mexico Could Elect First Native American Woman to Congress]( [■The Most Powerful Conservative Couple You’ve Never Heard Of]( [■California Democrats Favor Mainstream House Candidates, Despite Liberal Energy]( Scott Pruitt, the embattled head of the Environmental Protection Agency, faced more controversy over his apparent misuse of power. [A senior aide to Scott Pruitt, above, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, performed personal errands for him, according to a congressional transcript.] A senior aide to Scott Pruitt, above, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, performed personal errands for him, according to a congressional transcript. Tom Brenner/The New York Times Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, faced renewed backlash over the demands he made of his aides as new documents and congressional testimony were made public. According to the new information, Mr. Pruitt [used a top aide essentially as a personal assistant]( having her try to procure a used mattress from the Trump International Hotel and to help search for an apartment for him. The aide, Millan Hupp, was also said to have helped him obtain tickets to last year’s Rose Bowl game. Ms. Hupp and another top aide in the agency [both resigned]( this week. Mr. Pruitt [also tasked another aide]( with helping him seek a business opportunity for his wife with the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, documents released Tuesday show. Additional Reading [■The Chemical Industry Scores a Big Win at the E.P.A.]( ■From April: [12 Scott Pruitt Investigations: The Running List of E.P.A. Troubles]( HAVE A CONFIDENTIAL NEWS TIP? Do you have the next big story? Want to share it with The New York Times? We offer several ways to get in touch with and provide materials to our journalists. [Learn More »]( ADVERTISEMENT LIKE THIS EMAIL? 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