Tipsheet: Dems surge in generic ballot as economy fades from spotlight — Sponsored by CVS Health

View in your browser     Dems surge in generic ballot as economy fades from spotlight By Jonathan Easley      Democrats have reopened a double-digit lead in the generic congressional ballot, as a cascade of White House controversies has pushed the economy off the front page. Republicans began to close the generic ballot gap on Democrats in January, raising hopes that the GOP could hang on to the House in November. But now Republicans have seen their gains almost completely wiped out, underscoring their concerns that the party could be in for a bruising midterm election battle this year. Read the full story here     Feinstein’s trouble underlines Democratic Party’s shift to left By Amie Parnes Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) failure to win her party’s endorsement at California’s state convention is triggering new questions about whether the Democratic Party has become the Progressive Party amid grass-roots enthusiasm driven by opposition to President Trump. Read the full story here     Dems flip two GOP-held seats in special elections By Reid Wilson Democratic candidates on Tuesday won two special elections for state legislative seats in the Northeast, another indication for the party that a blue wave is forming ahead of November's midterm elections. Read the full story here     GOP leaders jockey on guns By Alexander Bolton The GOP leaders in the House and Senate took starkly different tacks Tuesday in their responses to the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that has reinvigorated a national debate about guns. Read the full story here     Schumer faces big test on gun debate By Jordain Carney Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is walking a fine line as he tries to balance the competing factions of his caucus during this year’s high-profile fight over gun control. Read the full story here     House GOP rejects calls for new gun legislation By Melanie Zanona House Republicans brushed aside calls for stricter gun laws on Tuesday, signaling they want to focus on school security and figuring out why law enforcement failed to act on repeated warnings about the suspect in a mass shooting at a Florida high school this month. Read the full story here     The Memo: Trump startles with 2020 reelection move By Niall Stanage President Trump startled Washington on Tuesday with the announcement that Brad Parscale, the digital media director of his 2016 campaign, would be his 2020 campaign manager. Read the full story here     Hicks tight-lipped in House interview, frustrating Democrats By Katie Bo Williams and Olivia Beavers White House communications director Hope Hicks on Tuesday declined to answer some questions from the House Intelligence Committee about the presidential transition or her time in the White House, mirroring refusals from previous witnesses, according to multiple lawmakers. Read the full story here     White House: Kushner will stay despite losing top-secret clearance By Jordan Fabian The White House said Tuesday that Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, will remain in his role despite having lost his top-secret security clearance. Read the full story here     Exiting Trump officials get tepid response on job market By Megan R. Wilson Current and former high-ranking Trump administration officials are testing the waters of Washington’s job market as the administration begins its second year. Read the full story here         SPONSORED CONTENT   Sponsored by CVS Health We're going well beyond pharmacy to rethinking the very role of health care by making prescriptions more affordable, helping to fight the opioid epidemic and treating chronic illness. Learn more.         American lives are worth budgeting for with biodefense By Former Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R-Pa.) OPINION | There are many federal departments and agencies responsible for defending our nation against biological threats. But they are totally uncoordinated and that endangers our country and our people. Read the full story here     There is still no evidence tying Trump to Russian conspiracy By Jonathan Turley OPINION | In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s story “Silver Blaze,” about Sherlock Holmes’s investigation of the disappearance of a race horse, the local inspector asked if there was “any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?” Read the full story here     The Washington Post: Foreign officials sought leverage over Kushner via his business dealings and debts, US officials say By Shane Harris, Carol D. Leonnig, Greg Jaffe and Josh Dawsey   It is unclear if any countries acted on the discussions, but contacts between foreign government officials and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and adviser, have raised concerns inside the White House and are a reason he has been unable to obtain a permanent security clearance, the officials said. Read the full story here     CNN: Mueller team asks about Trump's Russian business dealings as he weighed a run for president By Kara Scannell, Pamela Brown, Gloria Borger and Jim Sciutto   Investigators for special counsel Robert Mueller have recently been asking witnesses about Donald Trump's business activities in Russia prior to the 2016 presidential campaign as he considered a run for president, according to three people familiar with the matter. Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: NSA chief says Trump hasn’t ordered agency to disrupt Russian hacking By Nancy A. Youssefour   Adm. Mike Rogers tells Senate panel agency isn’t targeting "the origin of these attacks." Read the full story here     The Associated Press: Despite legal victory, Trump needs money for border wall By Elliot Spagat President Donald Trump has won a judge’s permission to build a border wall with Mexico. Now he just needs the money. Read the full story here     Reuters: Supreme Court curbs rights of immigrants awaiting deportation By Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung   The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday curbed the ability of immigrants held in long-term detention during deportation proceedings to argue for their release in a ruling in sync with President Donald Trump’s get-tough approach toward immigration. 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.