First Draft on Politics: Ushered Out With a Tweet

President Trump effectively forced the long-anticipated exit of a top adviser who has cooperated extensively with Robert S. Mueller III. View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Thursday, August 30, 2018 [NYTimes.com/Politics »]( [Donald F. McGahn II, as the White House counsel, has been known for his willingness to say no to President Trump.] Donald F. McGahn II, as the White House counsel, has been known for his willingness to say no to President Trump. Doug Mills/The New York Times Good Thursday morning, Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today: - President Trump surprised Donald McGahn, the White House counsel, by abruptly announcing that Mr. McGahn, who has cooperated extensively in the [investigation into Russian election interference]( would be leaving his job this fall. - Andrew Gillum’s primary victory in the Florida governor’s race is the latest in a series of high-profile triumphs for black, female or gay Democratic candidates, creating a November election cast that [contrasts with that of Republicans](. - Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is preparing new policies on campus sexual misconduct that would bolster the rights of students accused of assault, harassment or rape and [reduce liability for institutions]( of higher education. - Mr. Trump tried to make China the scapegoat for his stalled diplomacy with North Korea, accusing it of [undermining the American-led pressure campaign]( against Pyongyang. - By the time he died, Senator John McCain had carefully stage-managed a four-day celebration of his life — and an [unmistakable rebuke to Mr. Trump]( his agenda. - [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 [Climate Fwd: Newsletter]( What on Earth is going on? Sign up to get our latest stories and insights about climate change — along with answers to your questions and tips on how to help. [• Sign Up »]( SCENES OF REMEMBRANCE [Capturing How McCain Is Being Honored Across the Country]( By MARISA SCHWARTZ TAYLOR AND CAITLIN O’HARA [Pallbearers carrying the coffin of Senator John McCain to lie in state at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on Wednesday.]( Pallbearers carrying the coffin of Senator John McCain to lie in state at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on Wednesday. Caitlin O’Hara for The New York Times From the Arizona State Capitol to Washington National Cathedral, Senator John McCain will be honored in a series of memorial services this week. Here are vignettes of the ceremony and sentiment. [View the collection >>](  [Representative Ron DeSantis addressed the crowd at an event in Sarasota, Fla., last month.]( [Get to Know DeSantis, Republican Nominee for Florida Governor]( By KAREN ZRAICK Representative Ron DeSantis, who represents Florida’s Sixth District, is a loyal Trump supporter, a regular on Fox News and a Navy veteran. He’s also under fire after saying voters should not “monkey this up” by electing his black rival. [Andrew Gillum at his campaign headquarters in Tallahassee, Fla., on Wednesday.]( [Gillum Pulled Off the Upset of a Lifetime, but Now Comes the Hard Part]( By PATRICIA MAZZEI AND JONATHAN MARTIN After the surprise victory of Andrew Gillum, a progressive, 39-year-old black man, in the Democratic primary for Florida governor, he must now find a way to raise enough money for a grueling general election. [China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, at sea in April. First launched by the Soviet Union in 1988, it was sold for $20 million to a Chinese investor who said it would become a floating casino, though he was in reality acting on behalf of the People’s Liberation Army Navy.]( [With Ships and Missiles, China Is Ready to Challenge U.S. Navy in Pacific]( By STEVEN LEE MYERS China’s Navy is now the world’s largest. It has altered the military balance in Asia in ways the U.S. is only beginning to digest. [A coal-burning power station in Cheshire, Ohio. The mercury regulation under review chiefly affects pollution from coal-fired plants.]( [E.P.A. to Reconsider Obama-Era Curbs on Mercury Emissions by Power Plants]( By CORAL DAVENPORT It is the latest effort by the Trump administration to revisit or weaken environmental rules. Mercury has been tied to brain damage and other ailments. [

Rudolph W. Giuliani said his letter to the Romanian president was part of his private practice and had “nothing to do with the U.S. government.”

]( [Giuliani Criticizes a Graft Crackdown in Romania]( By KIT GILLET President Trump’s personal lawyer said his letter to the Romanian president was part of his private practice and had “nothing to do with the U.S. government.” [Michael R. Bloomberg is said to have decided to move his economic forum from Beijing to Singapore after a Chinese partner asked last week to postpone the event.]( [Bloomberg Moves New Forum for Elites From China Amid Fallout of Trade War]( By EDWARD WONG Organizers are moving the event to Singapore after a Chinese partner for the conference, planned by Michael R. Bloomberg, requested that it be postponed. [A pharmacy technician in the inpatient pharmacy at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, which is among the many hospitals in the country in the 340B plan.]( The New Health Care [A Little-Known Windfall for Some Hospitals, Now Facing Big Cuts]( By AUSTIN FRAKT A drug-discount program meant to help the poor has grown beyond its original intent and may have inadvertently raised costs. Big clashes have erupted over planned federal cuts to what is known as 340B. [Jazmín Méndez was among the last residential customers of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority to have service restored after Hurricane Maria.]( Fact Check of the Day [Trump Claims ‘We Did a Fantastic Job in Puerto Rico’]( By LINDA QIU Mr. Trump asserted that Puerto Rico’s power utility was “dead” and that electricity was “gone” even before Hurricane Maria hit last September. The utility was in disrepair but operational, and the island was not in the dark. [Supporters of Andrew Gillum cheered at his primary night party on Tuesday.]( [4 Takeaways from Tuesday’s Primaries]( By ALEXANDER BURNS Races for governor have often yielded centrist candidates, but voters in Florida, Oklahoma and Arizona chose a different route. And women, once again, made a strong showing in House races. [Joseph H. Hunt, left, who has been Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s chief of staff for most of the last year, will lead the Justice Department’s civil division.]( [Administration Picks Career Justice Dept. Official to Defend Its Policies]( By KATIE BENNER AND BEN PROTESS Joseph H. Hunt will lead the department’s civil division, which defends the administration in legal challenges over issues like census questions and lawsuits against the president. 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