On Politics: White House Staffer Alleges Security Clearance Irregularities

At least 25 people got security clearances from senior administration officials after career employees denied them, a whistle-blower told Congress. [Trouble seeing this email? View in browser]( [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( April 2, 2019 | Morning Edition Good Tuesday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today. _____________________ • A manager in the White House’s Personnel Security Office said senior administration officials granted security clearances to at least 25 people whose applications had been denied by career employees. We don’t know who the people are yet, but we do know the applications were originally rejected for reasons including [foreign influence and conflicts of interest](. • Hours after a House panel released her deposition, the White House whistle-blower, Tricia Newbold, did something unexpected: [She went back to work](. • A second woman has accused Joe Biden of touching her in a way that made her feel uncomfortable, intensifying the scrutiny of the former vice president’s [physical interactions with women as he prepares for a likely presidential bid](. • The National Rifle Association is trying to defeat a provision in the new Violence Against Women Act that could deny firearms to abusive boyfriends. [But the N.R.A.’s power on Capitol Hill is increasingly being challenged](. ADVERTISEMENT • Democrats are not satisfied with the attorney general’s assurances that he will deliver a full, albeit redacted, copy of the special counsel’s report to Congress by mid-April. [So they’re preparing to vote to subpoena the full report](. • President Trump, famously fixated on the popularity of his brand, may not like how it’s faring by one metric. His “E-score,” which marketers and advertisers use to gauge a public figure’s appeal, [is not pretty](. • A trade deal with China would probably include a promise from the country to buy billions’ worth of American goods. But executing that pledge would reinforce the Chinese state’s role in the economy, [something the Trump administration doesn’t want](. • Months after the success of rare bipartisan legislation overhauling the criminal justice system, Mr. Trump is putting the issue front and center. [But his budget allocates only $14 million for the law’s programs, a fraction of what the legislation calls for](. The White House promised to close the gap. ADVERTISEMENT • In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Missouri may execute a prisoner by lethal injection [despite a medical condition that he says will result in an excruciating death](. • Senator Kamala Harris announced on Monday that her 2020 campaign raised $12 million in the first quarter, [which will probably make her one of the best-funded competitors in the Democratic primary](. • And Pete Buttigieg said his campaign had [raised more than $7 million in that same time frame]( a significant sum for a mayor who was little known outside of South Bend, Ind., a few months ago. • A lawsuit has turned Holland Christian High School, the alma mater of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, into Exhibit A as Ms. DeVos moves [to overhaul the law that governs school sexual assault](. • Will Venezuela be the place where Mr. Trump, who has often seemed to tolerate Russian provocations, [finally draws a red line]( _____________________ 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_2019040220190402). 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