Tipsheet: Trump remarks deepen distrust with intelligence community

View in your browser     Trump remarks deepen distrust with intelligence community BY JORDAN FABIAN AND MORGAN CHALFANT  President Trump’s declaration that he would accept dirt on his 2020 opponents from foreign governments is threatening his already strained relationships with the intelligence and law-enforcement communities. Former law enforcement and intelligence officials said the president’s words could hamper efforts to combat foreign interference in next year’s elections, and that they dampen morale. Read the full story here     US-Iran tensions rise: Five things to know about oil tanker attack BY REBECCA KHEEL Different stories are emerging about an attack on two oil tankers after the Trump administration blamed Iran for the incident. Here are five things to know about the attack. Read the full story here     Five takeaways from first Democratic debate lineup BY MAX GREENWOOD Former Vice President Joe Biden will share the stage with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) on June 27, while Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) will find herself separated from the other top-tier candidates when she takes the stage on June 26. Here are five takeaways from the Democratic presidential debate lineup. Read the full story here     Mexico releases copy of letter touted by Trump BY JESSE BYRNES Mexico's government on Friday released a copy of a letter that President Trump touted in front of cameras earlier this week in teasing additional details of a deal reached with the country to stem the flow of migrants heading toward the U.S. Read the full story here       Justice releases legal opinion backing Treasury's refusal to release Trump tax returns BY NAOMI JAGODA   The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday released a legal opinion backing up the Treasury Department's decision to reject a request by congressional Democrats for six years of President Trump's tax returns. Read the full story here     Drugmakers sue over Trump administration TV price disclosure rule BY NATHANIEL WEIXEL A coalition of drug companies and advertisers is suing the Trump administration over its new policy of requiring prescription drug manufacturers to disclose list prices in TV ads. Read the full story here     Financial disclosure form shows Ivanka Trump earned $4M from DC Trump hotel BY NAOMI JAGODA Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and adviser, made about $4 million last year from her investment in the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., according to a newly released financial disclosure form. Read the full story here     Trump directs agencies to cut advisory boards by 'at least' one-third BY MIRANDA GREEN AND REBCCA BEITSCH President Trump is directing all agencies to cut their advisory boards by “at least” one-third. The executive order issued Friday evening directs all federal agencies to “evaluate the need” for each of their current advisory committees and gives them until Sept. 30 to terminate the mandated committees. Read the full story here     Trump: 'Of course' you look at foreign dirt to 'know if it's bad' BY JORDAN FABIAN President Trump on Friday said he would “of course” look at dirt from a foreign government on his political opponents, but stated he would give it to the FBI if he knew it was “bad.” Read the full story here     McConnell defends Trump amid backlash: 'He gets picked at every day' BY JORDAIN CARNEY Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is defending President Trump amid bipartisan backlash over the president's suggestion that he would accept information about a political opponent from a foreign government, breaking with some of his own Republican Conference members.  Read the full story here     'Landslide' for Biden? A look at 40 years of inaccurate presidential polls BY JOE CONCHA Opinion | Polls are meant to gauge the pulse of the American people. Relevant, timely polls on current events help provide a snapshot in time — and may make news. Others, particularly those attempting to look months into the future, are less legitimate news and more insignificant conversation pieces.  Read the full story here     Downey: Why I returned stolen campaign material — a lesson for Donald Trump BY THOMAS J. DOWNEY Opinion | I remember Sept. 13, 2000, like it was yesterday. The next day would be our first “mock” debate; I was George W. Bush and Al Gore was, well, Al Gore. “I have something you should see,” said Kathy McLaughlin, who ran my small lobbying shop, as she handed me a thick pack of papers and video tapes. The documents she handed me were very familiar: My staff created a debate book for me for every campaign. I knew what it was the moment I saw it. Read the full story here     The Washington Post: Inside the NRA’s finances: Deepening debt, increased spending on legal fees — and cuts to gun training BY CAROL D. LEONNIG, KATIE ZEZIMA AND TOM HAMBURGER The National Rifle Association spent growing sums on overhead in 2018 even as it cut money for core activities such as gun training and political efforts, ending the year deeper in debt, new financial documents show. Read the full story here     The New York Times: Despite #MeToo Glare, Efforts to Ban Secret Settlements Stop Short BY ELIZABETH A. HARRIS After the #MeToo movement took off in late 2017, there were calls around the country to restrict or ban nondisclosure agreements, and thunderous outrage over their secrecy. But almost two years on, as the legislative sessions in many states draw to a close, the N.D.A. has not gone away. Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: Hong Kong Suspends Extradition Bill That Sparked Protests BY NATASHA KHAN AND CHUN HAN WONG Hong Kong’s leader suspended indefinitely an extradition bill that sparked the biggest protest since China reclaimed sovereignty over the financial center, a backdown aimed at defusing unrest sparked by public fears that their rights are being eroded by Beijing’s growing reach in the city. Read the full story here     Reuters: Democratic 2020 candidates court South Carolina's black voters BY AMANDA BECKER Four of the two dozen Democrats vying for the party’s 2020 U.S. presidential nomination will appear at a Black Economic Alliance forum in Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday, with an eye on the key role black voters will play in the early-voting state. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: Trump blames Iran for tanker attacks but calls for talks BY ROBERT BURNS AND LOLITA C. BALDOR President Donald Trump has blamed Iran for attacks on oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but he also held out hope that implicit U.S. threats to use force will yield talks with the Islamic Republic as the Pentagon considers beefing up defenses in the Persian Gulf area. 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.