First Draft on Politics: A Failed Rally

White nationalist protesters left their rally site outside the White House shortly after arriving. View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Monday, August 13, 2018 [NYTimes.com/Politics »]( [White supremacists marched toward Lafayette Square in Washington on Sunday.]( White supremacists marched toward Lafayette Square in Washington on Sunday. Al Drago for The New York Times Good Monday morning, Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today: - A year after the race-fueled violence in Charlottesville, Va., a small group of white nationalists [marched through downtown Washington]( on Sunday on their way to a rally in front of the White House. The group, which numbered about two dozen, left the event before it was scheduled to begin. - During the Obama administration, the Justice Department would often go to court to [stop states from voter suppression](. But 18 months into President Trump’s term, there are signs of change: The department has introduced no new efforts to roll back state restrictions on the ability to vote, and instead often sides with them. - The life of Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman, [is a tale of greed, deception and ego](. His trial on financial fraud charges has ripped away the facade of a man who worked for the campaign for free to intimate that he was too rich to need the money. - Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former adviser to Mr. Trump, [secretly taped]( John F. Kelly, the White House chief of staff, as he fired her in December in the Situation Room, a breach of security protocols, but one that revealed him suggesting that she could face damage to her reputation if she did not leave quietly. - Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Trump’s lead personal lawyer, said the president [never had a conversation last year]( with James B. Comey, then the F.B.I. director, about ending the investigation into the fired national security adviser Michael T. Flynn, contradicting a memo Mr. Comey wrote at the time. - A flurry of Democratic candidates are [refusing to take contributions]( from groups sponsored by corporations, unions or even other politicians, relying instead on individual donors. And voters are responding. [See what’s coming up next on the primary calendar »]( — The First Draft Team 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 OTTAWA | SEPTEMBER 5 [Canada and the U.S. Midterm Elections]( New York Times journalists will discuss one of the United States’ most consequential congressional elections in a generation. The White House correspondent Julie Hirschfeld Davis will join the political reporters Jonathan Martin and Astead Herndon for a conversation about the midterms. Ian Austen, a Times reporter and author of the Canada Letter newsletter, will moderate the conversation. [• Get tickets here »]( News Analysis [Amid Kremlin Victories, Putin Fails to Persuade West on Russian Sanctions]( By NEIL MACFARQUHAR [President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has yet to translate divisions in the West into fewer sanctions against Russia.]( President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has yet to translate divisions in the West into fewer sanctions against Russia. Anatoly Maltsev/EPA, via Shutterstock From Moscow to Washington to capitals in between, the past few days showcased the way President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia nimbly exploits differences between the United States and its allies. Yet recent events have also highlighted the downside to Mr. Putin’s geopolitical escapades and accentuated where he falls short on matters of vital importance to both himself, and ordinary Russians. President Trump had barely finished catapulting [a belligerent tweet and new sanctions at Turkey]( on Friday before Mr. Putin was working the phone with his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It was vintage Putin, showcasing his seizure of any opportunity to divide the West. But at the same time, the Western sanctions he hoped to get lifted have only been tightened this past week, pushing the ruble down to its lowest levels in years. [Read more »](  [Wisconsin has been in the throes of a political identity crisis for years, one exacerbated by Donald J. Trump’s surprise win in the state in 2016. From cities to rural areas like Reedsburg, the state faces a defining moment in the 2018 midterm elections, starting with a major primary Tuesday.]( [Wisconsin Faces a Political Crossroads Tuesday. Which Way Will It Go?]( By MONICA DAVEY Democrats hope to swing back in their favor a state that played an unexpectedly pivotal role in President Trump’s victory. But it may be too late. [Lisa Page, the former F.B.I. lawyer, who worked on both the Clinton email and Russia investigations.]( [‘Beautiful’ and ‘Lovely’: Trump Tweets Reflect Fixation on Women’s Appearances]( By MAGGIE HABERMAN The president’s comments on Lisa Page and Nellie Ohr made clear his disdain for the two women, who have connections to the Russia inquiry. [Representative Chris Collins of New York after his arraignment on insider trading charges in New York on Wednesday.]( [A Congressman, a Financial Deal and an Intricate Web of Conflicts]( By KATIE THOMAS AND SHEILA KAPLAN The allegations of insider trading against Representative Christopher Collins have revived calls for stricter rules about financial investments or corporate board seats held by members of Congress. [A demonstration against the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh outside the Capitol this month.]( [The Campaign to Stop Brett Kavanaugh Struggles for Liftoff]( By NICHOLAS FANDOS AND CATIE EDMONDSON Activists have mustered seven-figure war chests and troops on the ground, but little energy to stop Judge Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation has materialized. [Trump administration officials say they will still allow states to impose work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries.]( [A Judge Blocked a Medicaid Work Requirement. The White House Is Undeterred.]( By ROBERT PEAR Trump administration officials say they will still allow states to impose work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries, despite a federal court ruling that blocked such requirements in Kentucky. [Bikers and bikes downtown in Sturgis, SD.]( [Trump’s War With Harley-Davidson Has Divided America’s Bikers]( By ALAN RAPPEPORT A move by the company has put one of the country’s most iconic brands in the uncomfortable position of clashing with a president who is immensely popular with most of its customers. [After multiple Miami Dolphins players demonstrated during the national anthem last week, a local police union announced it would no longer participate in a ticket discount program with the team.]( [N.F.L. Anthem Protests Stirring Emotions Even Before the Season]( By KEN BELSON After just a handful of exhibition games, the issue remains as contentious as ever, as illustrated by a police organization’s scolding of the Dolphins last week. [The World Trade Organization’s headquarters in Geneva. The group has been thrust into an uncomfortable position by President Trump’s sweeping steel and aluminum tariffs.]( [Trump’s National Security Claim for Tariffs Sets Off Crisis at W.T.O.]( By ANA SWANSON AND JACK EWING The Trump administration has forced the World Trade Organization into the tough spot of having to make a ruling that could cause problems whatever it does. LIKE THIS EMAIL? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here](. And consider [subscribing to get unlimited access to nytimes.com and our apps.]( ADVERTISEMENT HOW ARE WE DOING? We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to [washington-newsletter@nytimes.com](mailto:washington-newsletter@nytimes.com?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback). FOLLOW NYTimes [Facebook] [FACEBOOK]( [Twitter] [@NYTPolitics]( Get more [NYTimes.com newsletters »](  | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps for just $9.99. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's First Draft newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Change Your Email]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact]( | [Advertise]( Copyright 2018 The New York Times Company 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018