On Politics: Trade Deficit Hits Record $891 Billion

The increase was driven by some factors outside President Trump’s control, but many of the president’s policies contributed to the wider gap. [Trouble seeing this email? View in browser]( [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( March 7, 2019 | Morning Edition Good Thursday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today. _____________________ • One of President Trump’s goals was to narrow the country’s trade deficit. But amid a global economic slowdown, weaker demand for American goods, a trade war with Beijing and Mr. Trump’s $1.5 trillion tax cut, [the trade deficit has hit a record $891 billion](. • Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former lawyer, gave documents to the House Intelligence Committee that back up his claim that Mr. Trump’s current personal lawyers [worked on the false testimony he delivered to Congress](. • Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, said that lawyers for several people facing scrutiny in the investigations into the Trump campaign and presidency had [contacted him to see whether the president would pardon their clients](. • Rusty after years in the minority, House Democrats have stomped on their own messages, fallen prey to Republican maneuvers and now are in open battle over an [anti-Israel comment from a freshman representative from Minnesota, Ilhan Omar](. ADVERTISEMENT • House Democratic leaders have put off a vote on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism and bigotry after a backlash from rank-and-file lawmakers who said Ms. Omar [was being unfairly singled out](. • Senator Martha McSally, Republican of Arizona and the first woman in the Air Force to fly in combat, said that she was raped by a superior officer while serving, [an experience that almost led her to quit the military](. • The Justice Department is forming a task force [to root out abuse of foreign lobbying restrictions]( which prosecutors — most notably the special counsel — have targeted with renewed vigor in recent years. • The Trump administration [formally ended rules]( requiring the government to annually make public its estimates of civilian bystanders killed in airstrikes outside conventional war zones. ADVERTISEMENT • Trade talks between the United States and the European Union are off to a rocky start, with the two sides [clashing over what should be on the table in the first place](. • Kirstjen Nielsen, the Homeland Security secretary, implored Congress to confront what she called a “humanitarian catastrophe” on the southern border by supporting the call for a border wall and [changing laws to crack down on asylum seekers and illegal border crossings](. • Supreme Court justices are getting expert assistance from a group of hip-hop stars who filed a brief on Wednesday urging the court to hear [a rapper’s First Amendment challenge to his conviction for threatening police officers in a song](. • The House Oversight and Reform Committee is [investigating allegations of voter suppression]( in Georgia under Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who has since become governor. • Melania Trump, the first lady, went on a glossy tour of three different states this week to promote her anti-bullying initiative, “Be Best.” [But]( questions followed her along the way.]( _____________________ 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_2019030720190307). 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 2019 The New York Times Company | 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018