Tipsheet: Russia finds weapon in US divisions — Sponsored by CVS Health

View in your browser     The Memo: Russia finds weapon in US divisions By Niall Stanage      Growing political polarization in the United States is a vulnerability that foreign adversaries are exploiting — and experts worry the trend will accelerate. The threat was brought into sharp relief by the indictment of 13 Russians as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into allegations of collusion between Moscow and the 2016 Trump campaign. Read the full story here     House Democrats release intelligence memo defending DOJ, FBI investigation By Avery Anapol and John Bowden Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee on Saturday released their memo defending the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI against allegations of surveillance abuses made in a GOP memo last month. Read the full story here     READ: The Democrats' intelligence memo By The Hill staff House Intelligence Committee Democrats have released their memo aimed at countering the GOP document that alleged surveillance abuses in the Justice Department and FBI.  Read the full text of the memo here     Seven gun control measures Congress could consider after Florida shooting By Melanie Zanona Congress will return to Washington this week under new pressure to take action on gun control in the wake of the mass shooting at a Florida high school.  Read the full story here     Loesch takes starring role for NRA By Lydia Wheeler Dana Loesch has been at the center of the storm in the national gun debate, striking a forceful defense for gun rights at a CNN town hall and in a fiery appearance before the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Read the full story here     Companies scramble to distance themselves from NRA By Luis Sanchez Companies that have business relationships with the National Rifle Association (NRA) are under increased pressure to cut ties with the group after the Florida high school shooting last week that left 17 dead. Read the full story here     NRA rips corporate sponsors that cut ties: Shameful display of cowardice By Josh Delk The National Rifle Association (NRA) on Saturday bashed corporate sponsors that have cut ties with the gun lobbying group following the mass shooting at a Florida high school earlier this month. Read the full story here     Conservative commentator calls out Trump on sexual harassment allegations at CPAC By Josh Delk Conservative political analyst and commentator Mona Charen was booed at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday after she called out President Trump and conservatives over sexual harassment allegations. Read the full story here     HHS chief pitches new measures to expand opioid addiction treatment By Rachel Roubein Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is touting medication-assisted treatment (MAT) as a crucial component of stemming the opioid crisis plaguing the nation. Read the full story here     Steyer releases new impeachment ad targeting Trump over Russian indictments By Lisa Hagen SAN DIEGO — Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer, who is leading a campaign to impeach President Trump, unveiled a new TV ad Saturday that highlights charges against Russian nationals related to interference in the 2016 election. 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.         If politicians ignore gun safety, voters will turn on them in 2018 By Douglas Schoen OPINION | In the wake of last week’s horrific mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., the national conversation has once again turned to the issue of gun violence prevention. Read the full story here     Getting Russia’s nuclear strategy mostly right By Stephen Blank OPINION | Many critics have challenged the assumptions of the recent Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) concerning Russia. Allegedly the NPR got Russian doctrine wrong and is therefore needlessly provocative in its call for modifications to U.S. nuclear forces. Read the full story here     CNN: Nunes vs. Schiff: Five key areas where they disagree By Marshall Cohen and Jeremy Herb   Was the application to obtain a FISA surveillance warrant on former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page a major FBI and Justice Department abuse that amounted to politically motivated surveillance? Or was it the proper extension of an FBI counterintelligence investigation into Trump and Russia? Read the full story here     The New York Times: Mueller is gaining steam. Should Trump be worried? By Peter Baker   President Trump and his aides point out that he has not been implicated by any of the charges in the Russia inquiry led by the special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Yet the investigation seems to be leading to a larger, as yet undefined, goal. Read the full story here     The Washington Post: After call with Trump turns testy over border wall, Mexico’s president shelves plan to visit White House By Philip Rucker, Joshua Partlow and Nick Miroff   Tentative plans for Enrique Peña Nieto to make his first visit to the White House to meet with President Trump were scuttled this week after a call between them ended in an impasse over Trump’s promised border wall and who would pay for it, U.S. and Mexican officials said. Their posturing over the wall has infected their personal relationship and jeopardized the alliance between the countries. Read the full story here     Reuters: New NAFTA talks aim to clear pathway to toughest issues By Anthony Esposito and Dave Graham   Mexico and Canada aim to finish reworking less contentious chapters of the NAFTA trade deal with the United States in new talks beginning on Sunday, hoping to clear the path for a breakthrough on the toughest issues before upcoming elections. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: Governors skeptical of Congress, but welcome new gun debate By Ken Thomas and Zeke Miller Governors assessing the fallout from the latest school shooting said Saturday that the gun control debate has changed after the sorrow in Florida, a shift helped driven by public outrage and student activists. Read the full story here         Did a friend forward you this email? 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