Tipsheet: Trump urged to quickly fill Pentagon post amid Iran tensions

View in your browser     Trump urged to quickly fill Pentagon post amid Iran tensions BY JORDAIN CARNEY Republicans are urging President Trump to quickly send them his pick to lead the Pentagon after acting Defense chief Patrick Shanahan yanked his name from consideration this week.   Trump signaled late Friday he intends to nominate Army Secretary Mark Esper to permanently fill the role. But Esper, who is set to take over as acting Defense head on Monday, will still need his nomination formally submitted to the Senate. Read the full story here     Washington braces for Trump's next move on Iran BY REBECCA KHEEL The possibility of U.S. military action against Iran loomed large Friday, despite President Trump’s decision to call off a strike. Trump said he reversed course Thursday night because the strike was "not proportionate" to Iran's downing of a U.S. surveillance drone — leaving open the question of whether the president is still searching for a military response he would consider proportionate. Read the full story here     Democrats wary of Trump's 'erratic' approach to Iran BY MIKE LILLIS House Democrats are hammering President Trump for what they are characterizing as his "erratic" approach to escalating tensions with Iran. Read the full story here     Pelosi tells Trump: No 'hostilities' with Iran unless Congress approves BY ARIS FOLLEY   Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Friday emphasized that U.S. military action against Iran "must not be initiated" without congressional approval, after President Trump approved and then reversed a decision to strike Iran over the downing of a U.S. drone this week. Read the full story here       Trump denies new sexual assault allegation: 'I've never met this person in my life' BY BRETT SAMUELS President Trump on Friday denied that he sexually assaulted writer E. Jean Carroll after the longtime advice columnist accused the president of raping her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. Read the full story here     Manafort, Hannity talk Trump, Mueller in previously undisclosed messages BY MORGAN CHALFANT AND JACQUELINE THOMSEN A federal judge has released messages that appear to show former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort discussing special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation with Fox News host and Trump ally Sean Hannity in 2017 and 2018. Read the full story here     Supreme Court sides with immigrant in gun possession case BY JACQUELINE THOMSEN  The Supreme Court on Friday found that prosecutors have to prove that an individual alleged to have illegally possessed a firearm must know that they are part of a group banned from having the gun in the first place. Read the full story here     Buttigieg skips Clyburn fish fry for march in South Bend BY JULIA MACHESTER Presidential candidate and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) will not attend Rep. James Clyburn's (D-S.C.) candidate fish fry this weekend, and will instead stay in his city for a march following a police-involved shooting last week.  Read the full story here     Trump proposal nixes review of long-term climate impacts BY REBECCA BEITSCH The White House on Friday proposed reversing an Obama-era policy that directs agencies to consider the climate impact from various projects. The draft guidance would change the way agencies evaluate the environmental effect of things like pipelines and oil and gas drilling. Read the full story here     Chicago mayor says city won't cooperate over reported ICE raids BY TAL AXELROD Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) said she would take “concrete steps” to support immigrant communities after reports emerged that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would begin raids this weekend to round up families who have received deportation orders. Read the full story here     Democrats can help Trump avoid war with Iran BY JAMES B. FOLEY Opinion | The fact that a military strike on Iran was in fact ordered, but that President Trump called it off at the last minute, only highlights how close we are to getting entangled in another war in the Middle East. It is essential that Democratic leaders resolutely oppose war with Iran and make it clear to the American people that responsibility for such a conflict rests with the president  Read the full story here     Deep fakes: The emerging technology that could interfere with our elections BY REP. YVETTE D. CLARKE (D-N.Y.) Opinion | Deep fake videos are manipulated videos that are so covertly altered using artificial intelligence that it’s indiscernible that these videos have been changed from their original form. To make matters scarier, this growing and emerging technology can be applied in a whole host of ways which can be devastating to our American democracy. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: A half-hour away: How Trump opted against Iran strike BY JONATHAN LEMIRE, LISA MASCARO AND DEB RIECHMANN The planes were ready — their deadly cargo poised for delivery within a half-hour. Read the full story here     The New York Times: Trump's Iran response underlines GOP rift over national security BY JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS Trump's decision has rekindled debate over lawmakers' roles in matters of war and peace and highlighted deep concerns among some Republicans. Read the full story here     Reuters: Iran says it will respond firmly to any US threat as tension spikes BY PARISA HAFEZI AND LISA BARRINGTON Iran said on Saturday it would respond firmly to any U.S. threat against it, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, amid escalating tension between Tehran and Washington over the shooting down of an unmanned U.S. drone by the Islamic Republic. Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: William Barr looking into US finding that Russia wanted Trump to win BY WARREN P. STROBEL AND SADIE GURMAN Intelligence officials express concern that attorney general will challenge 2017 assessment. Read the full story here     The Washington Post: Biden calls for unity but stays publicly mum over remarks about segregationist senators BY ANNIE LINSKEY AND CHELSEA JANES Members of the Congressional Black Caucus met with the former vice president privately on Thursday. At an appearance at a renowned fish fry in South Carolina on Friday, he did not mention his comments. Read the full story here   Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up for The Hill Tipsheet       Forward this Tipsheet     You might like         Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  |  Email to a friend  |  Sign Up for Other Newsletters   The Hill 1625 K Street, NW 9th Floor, Washington DC 20006 ©2016 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.