Tipsheet: McConnell works to salvage tax bill

View in your browser     McConnell works to salvage tax bill By Alexander Bolton      Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has his work cut out for him to save the Senate tax bill, which stalled Thursday evening after three GOP rebels threatened to effectively kill it. After weeks of careful negotiations, Senate Republicans are locked in a huge behind-the-scenes fight over what the tax bill should look. Read the full story here     Listen: How ex-Trump allies started facing legal problems By Alexis Simendinger As special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation marches on, consultants and lobbyists are studying how former allies of President Trump ended up in legal jeopardy, in part through their business activities with international clients. The Hill's Megan Wilson explains in today's AM View podcast. Listen to The Hill's podcast here     Trump slams not guilty verdict in Kate Steinle trial: 'Disgraceful' By Brandon Carter President Trump lashed out Thursday night at the not guilty verdict for an undocumented immigrant charged with murder in the 2015 shooting death of Kate Steinle, calling it "disgraceful." Read the full story here     Sessions blasts sanctuary cities after Kate Steinle murder trial ruling By Josh Delk Attorney General Jeff Session blasted so-called sanctuary cities late Thursday after a San Francisco jury acquitted an illegal immigrant charged with the 2015 murder of 32-year-old Kate Steinle. Read the full story here     Trump asked Senate Republicans to end Russia election interference investigation: report By Brandon Carter President Trump reportedly pressed multiple Senate Republicans to end the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, according to a new report. Read the full story here     Mattis: There's 'nothing' to reports of Tillerson leaving By Ellen Mitchell Defense Secretary James Mattis on Thursday brushed aside reports that President Trump is considering replacing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Read the full story here     White House won't say Trump has confidence in Tillerson By Jordan Fabian and Jonathan Easley White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday refused to say whether President Trump has confidence in Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Read the full story here     Trump to hold rally in northern Florida ahead of Alabama special election: report By Brandon Carter President Trump is expected to hold a rally in Pensacola, Fla., next week, just four days before the Alabama special Senate election featuring GOP candidate Roy Moore and Democrat Doug Jones. Read the full story here     Senate Ethics Committee opens 'preliminary inquiry' into Franken allegations By Josh Delk The Senate Ethics Committee announced Thursday that it has opened a "preliminary inquiry" into allegations of sexual harassment involving Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), after the senator and others urged the committee to look into his past behavior. Read the full story here     Pentagon calls off plan to ban use of cluster bombs By Ellen Mitchell The Pentagon has indefinitely postposed a planned 2019 ban on using certain cluster bombs that are widely viewed as a hazard to civilians. The weapons contain bomblets that scatter widely and can detonate months or years later.  Read the full story here     Congress' deficit hawks seem to have gone missing in action By Desmond Lachman OPINION | With so many reasons to be concerned about an increase in the country’s budget deficit, one must be highly disappointed in Congress’ erstwhile budget deficit hawks now seeming to abandon their principles. Hopefully it is not too late for them to change their minds. Read the full story here     Solve US drug shortages with imported medicine that measures up to FDA standards By John J. Cohrssen and Henry I. Miller OPINION | Reciprocity of drug approvals between FDA and certain foreign counterparts would both help combat shortages of critical drugs and put downward pressure on prices. Read the full story here     The Washington Post: Trump tells confidants that a government shutdown might be good for him By Josh Dawsey, Sean Sullivan and Ed O'Keefe   President Trump has told confidants that a government shutdown could be good for him politically and is focusing on his hard-line immigration stance as a way to win back supporters unhappy with his outreach to Democrats this fall, according to people who have spoken with him recently. Read the full story here     The New York Times: Trump’s red line is holding up tax cuts By Jim Tankersley   Republicans suddenly have a fiscal headache in their tax bill. They can thank President Trump for it. Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: Trump White House Faces prospect of more senior departures By Michael C. Bender   The White House is facing the prospect of another round of senior departures in the coming weeks as President Donald Trump approaches his one-year anniversary in office, according to several administration officials. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: Colleges review honors amid sexual misconduct allegations By Collin Binkley The wave of sexual allegations from Hollywood to Washington has left many U.S. colleges weighing whether to revoke honorary degrees and other accolades awarded to prominent men accused of misconduct. Read the full story here     Reuters: Senate Ethics Committee opens probe of Senator Franken By Reuters Staff   The U.S. Senate Ethics Committee said on Thursday it has opened a preliminary inquiry into alleged misconduct by Senator Al Franken, who has been accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriately touching women. Read the full story here         Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up for The Hill Tipsheet       Forward this Tipsheet           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.