Tipsheet: Trump's tax law creates new challenges for IRS

View in your browser     Trump's tax law creates new challenges for IRS By Naomi Jagoda   The Republican tax bill is the law of the land — but for federal officials, the work is just beginning. The Treasury Department and the IRS now have a mammoth task on their hands as they seek to turn the sweeping tax provisions passed by Congress into new rules and regulations. Read the full story here     Listen to the HillCast Power Politics: GOP and Democrats have conflicting forecasts for 2018 By Alexis Simendinger   Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress have contrasting views of how the recently passed GOP tax legislation will impact their respective parties in 2018. In this week's Power Politics podcast, we explore how both parties might seek to use the tax overhaul ahead of the midterm elections. Listen to The Hill's podcast here     Republicans, fearing midterm disaster, seek course correction By Alexander Bolton A growing number of Republicans say a course correction is needed to prevent their party from losing the House, Senate or both given strong political headwinds that one veteran lawmaker likened to a “hurricane.” Read the full story here     Sessions orders review of Obama-era actions involving Hezbollah By Max Greenwood Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered a review of a law enforcement effort to crack down on Hezbollah's drug-trafficking and money-laundering operations, as well as actions by the Obama administration on the issue. Read the full story here       9th Circuit rules against Trump's third attempt at travel ban By Max Greenwood A panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ruled against the third iteration of President Trump's travel ban, saying it goes against federal law. Read the full story here     Second appeals court rejects Trump request to delay transgender troop enlistment By Max Greenwood A new ruling on Friday deals another blow to the Trump administration's efforts to bar transgender people from joining the military starting January 1. Read the full story here     Lewandowski accused of inappropriately touching singer at holiday party By Max Greenwood A singer and longtime supporter of President Trump has accused his former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski of inappropriately touching her at a holiday party at Trump International Hotel in Washington. Read the full story here     Trump leaves DC without holding year-end news conference By Jordan Fabian WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump left Washington on Friday for Christmas vacation without holding a year-end news conference, a break from his predecessors. Read the full story here     Trump expected to sign off on plan to sell anti-tank missiles to Ukraine By John Bowden President Trump is expected to authorize the sale of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine's military, possibly including the Javelin missile system, as the country battles pro-Russian separatists in Crimea. The State Department confirmed that the U.S. had decided to provide Ukraine with defensive equipment. Read the full story here     McConnell: Senate GOP will pursue more bipartisan agenda in 2018 By Alexander Bolton Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Friday said he expects 2018 to be a more bipartisan year compared to 2017, a year when Republicans confirmed Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and passed tax reform with party-line votes. Read the full story here     Republicans sold a tax bill that will not cut taxes for many Americans By former Rep. Martin Frost (D-Texas) OPINION | If I were a Republican congressman in a high-tax blue state who voted for this tax bill, I would want to spend some quality time with my favorite CPA before I went to town hall meetings, singing the praises of this legislation. Read the full story here     Mr. President, now is your chance to reclaim Christmas for America By Jim Daly  OPINION | When I hear President Trump promising to make the phrase “Merry Christmas” popular and acceptable again, I find myself wondering if people truly appreciate the profound power and significance of the greeting itself. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: There's no missing Trump's 'Merry Christmas' message By Catherine Lucey There's no mistaking President Donald Trump's "Merry Christmas" message — he wields it as a weapon against political correctness. Read the full story here     Reuters: Christians worldwide prepare for holidays with an eye on security By Gul Yousafzai, Augustinus Beo Da Costa   Christmas church services and other celebrations are being held this weekend under the gaze of armed guards and security cameras in many countries after Islamic State gunmen attacked a Methodist church in Pakistan as a Sunday service began. Read the full story here     CNN: Justice Department rolls back guidance on fining poor defendants By David Shortell and Jessica Schneider, CNN   The Justice Department on Thursday rescinded a tranche of agency-issued "guidance documents" that explained and interpreted policy across a range of issues, including a 2016 memo that cautioned courts against the burdensome enforcement of fines for criminal offenders. Read the full story here     The New York Times: With Trump in the White House, the Family Business Takes It Down a Notch By Steve Eder, Ben Protess and Eric Lipton Storage trailers, an idle dump truck and portable toilets surround the hotel construction site. A sign announces “opening fall 2017,” but residents say they haven’t seen significant activity for months. Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: The Year for Trump and GOP Lawmakers: Rocky Start, Smooth Finish By Louise Radnofsky and  Kristina Peterson President Donald Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress, who opened their first year in full control of Washington on rocky terms, are closing it with a flush of late legislative achievements: a sweeping tax overhaul, a long-sought repeal of a pillar of the Affordable Care Act and a surprise deal to open up Arctic drilling—all signed into law Friday. Read the full story here         Did a friend forward you this email? 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