On Politics: The End of the Trump Foundation

Once billed as the charitable arm of the president’s financial empire, the foundation will dissolve, accused of “a shocking pattern of illegality.” [Trouble seeing this email? View in browser]( [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( December 19, 2018 | Morning Edition Good Wednesday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today. _____________________ • The Donald J. Trump Foundation, once billed as the charitable arm of the president’s financial empire, has agreed to dissolve and give away its assets under court supervision. New York’s attorney general accused it of [“a shocking pattern of illegality,” including coordination with Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign](. • The sentencing of Michael T. Flynn, President Trump’s former national security adviser, was postponed [after the judge expressed “disgust” at Mr. Flynn’s efforts to mislead federal investigators](. • In a rare display of bipartisanship, the Senate approved the most substantial changes in a generation to federal prison and sentencing laws. [House leaders have promised to pass the legislation this week, and President Trump is expected to sign it.]( • The White House signaled that Mr. Trump might back down on his demand for $5 billion from Congress for a wall at the southern border, but [negotiations on a spending deal that would head off a government shutdown remained murky](. ADVERTISEMENT • Hackers downloaded thousands of cables from the E.U.’s diplomatic communications network, revealing anxieties about the Trump administration and [fears that it would provoke Iran into reviving its nuclear program](. • Representative Martha McSally lost her run for the Senate in November. But the Arizona Republican will join its ranks anyway — she has been [appointed to the seat that John McCain held](. • The Trump administration is joining an effort by Mexico to invest billions in Central America, in hopes of [stemming the tide of migrants from the region](. • A report commissioned by the president after the Parkland shooting downplays the role of guns in school violence. Instead, it focuses on rescinding Obama-era disciplinary policies, improving mental health services [and training school personnel in the use of firearms](. ADVERTISEMENT • The Trump administration has banned the possession and sale of bump stocks, [the attachments that enable semiautomatic rifles to fire in sustained, rapid bursts](. • As the Federal Reserve meets this week, it confronts a tale of two economies: Data show continuing, healthy growth, but [Wall Street investors are behaving as if the expansion is in grave danger](. • Some government officials accused of wrongdoing are adopting the president’s response to the Russia investigation: [They say the “deep state” is out to get them](. • The Honduran mother who was photographed pulling her two toddlers to safety as she fled tear gas along the U.S.-Mexican border [has been allowed to submit an asylum claim](. _____________________ Today’s On Politics briefing was compiled by Isabella Grullón Paz in New York. Were you forwarded this newsletter? [Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox.]( Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [onpolitics@nytimes.com](mailto:onpolitics@nytimes.com?te=1&nl=politics&emc=edit_cn_2018121920181219). ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW NYTimes [Facebook] [FACEBOOK]( [Twitter] [@nytimes]( Get more [NYTimes.com newsletters »]( | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's Politics 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