Tipsheet: High stakes as Trump heads to Hill

View in your browser     High stakes as Trump heads to Hill By Alexander Bolton   President Trump and Senate Republicans will huddle Tuesday on Capitol Hill in hopes of finding something that has eluded them all year: party unity. Republicans are in broad agreement about the need to pass tax reform, but are struggling to get on the same page as they begin what is likely to be a grueling debate over legislation. Leading voices in the GOP have said that success on a tax bill could decide whether Republicans sink or swim in next year’s elections, raising the stakes for everyone involved. Read the full story here     Five things to watch for at Trump-Senate meeting By Jordain Carney President Trump will meet with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill for the first time since taking over the White House. Read the full story here     Frenzy builds as tax legislation nears By Naomi Jagoda   President Trump and GOP lawmakers hope to get a bill enacted by the end of the year so they can claim a victory ahead of the midterm elections. Read the full story here       Many Calif. Dems silent on backing Feinstein By Mike Lillis Most of Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Golden State colleagues in the House are declining to endorse her reelection bid in its earliest stages, highlighting the frustrations of younger Democrats bristling at the perceived lack of upward mobility for future party leaders. The Hill contacted the offices of all 39 Democrats in California’s House delegation over the past week to gauge the level of support for the veteran incumbent seeking a fifth full term. Twelve have endorsed Feinstein; one is backing state Sen. Kevin de León; a handful said they’re staying neutral; and most did not respond at all.   Read the full story here     Rivalry on right emerges between ‘the two Marks’ By Scott Wong In recent years, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) has burnished a reputation as a conservative hard-liner, unwilling to compromise with Democrats or his own GOP leadership. But lately, it’s the chairman of another conservative House caucus, a fellow North Carolina Republican also by the name of Mark, who’s been taking a more conservative stance. Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Mark Walker has staked out positions to the right of Meadows on ObamaCare insurer subsidies, disaster relief and tax reform as he seeks to reestablish the RSC as the dominant conservative voice in Congress. Read the full story here     Poll: GOP voters want McConnell to step down By Jonathan Easley   A majority of GOP voters say Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) should resign as majority leader, according to a new poll. Read the full story here     Top DCCC aide bullish on 2018 prospects By Rafael Bernal   The executive director of the House Democrats’ campaign arm is making a bullish prediction about the party’s prospects to retake the lower chamber next year. Read the full story here     Dunford pledges more transparency on Niger attack By Rebecca Kheel The top general in the United States pledged Monday to keep the public, the media and Congress informed of the investigation into the ambush in Niger as questions continue to swirl about the circumstances of the attack. Read the full story here     Senate Republicans push Trump to join ObamaCare talks By Peter Sullivan The White House has sent a list of changes it would like to see made to the health-care bill, but some Republicans say the White House should skip the middleman and negotiate directly with Democrats. Read the full story here     Trump officials quash litigation rule for farms By Lydia Wheeler   The Trump administration is rescinding an Obama-era rule that would have made it easier for independent farmers to bring lawsuits against big food companies they raise chicken and other livestock for. Read the full story here     Time for Jeff Sessions to investigate Hillary Clinton on Russia collusion By David Bossie OPINION | When the story broke in April 2015 that the Obama administration, with the help of Hillary Clinton’s State Department, paved the way for Russia to gain control of 20 percent of America’s uranium, it sent shock waves through the halls of power in Washington. Read the full story here     As clickbaiter-in-chief, Trump gets clicks, but loses influence By Robert Alexander OPINION | We have Clinton Rossiter to thank for the phrase “the president wears many hats.” Read the full story here     The Washington Post: In sparring with a grieving widow, Trump follows his no-apology playbook By Philip Rucker and Michael Scherer The fight pitting President Trump’s words against those of the widow of a fallen soldier has distracted from the administration’s agenda. But Trump’s actions during the episode this week have followed a formula he has long used for winning a skirmish: Make it a fight, use controversy to elevate the message and never say sorry. Read the full story here     The New York Times: Trump opposes 401(k) change, roiling debate over tax bill By Jim Tankersley President Trump said that he would oppose a cap on contributions to the popular tax-deferred retirement plans, effectively killing one G.O.P. plan to help pay for a $1.5 trillion tax cut. Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: US to allow refugees from all countries but with new rules By Laura Meckler and Shane Harris New policy comes as the hold on U.S. refugee program lifts after 120 days. Read the full story here     Reuters: Border wall prototypes a first small step on Trump campaign promise By Heather Somerville Nine months after President Donald Trump took office, the first tangible signs of progress on one of the central promises of his campaign have appeared along the U.S. border with Mexico. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: Ghosts of Vietnam stirring as Trump preps for Asia trip By Jonathan Lemire For more than 50 years, every American president has been forced to grapple, in one way or another, with the quagmire of the Vietnam War. Now it’s Donald Trump’s turn. 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.