Tipsheet: Ukraine raises stakes for Trump's 'America First' agenda

View in your browser     Ukraine raises stakes for Trump's 'America First' agenda BY MAX GREENWOOD AND AMIE PARNES   Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is emerging as a serious test for Donald Trump and his “America First” approach to the world, as rising public support in the U.S. for the effort to counter Moscow threatens to undermine a key pillar of the former president’s political brand. Trump’s long-held grievances about NATO and other multinational partnerships – grievances that came to define the modern GOP’s approach to foreign policy – have suddenly put him out of step with many in his party, who have begun calling for the U.S. to take a more active leadership role in the crisis in Ukraine. At the same time, his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin has drawn rare bipartisan criticism, with even former Vice President Mike Pence speaking out against “apologists for Putin” within the GOP. Others have also struck a more hawkish tone. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said last week, for instance, that deploying U.S. ground forces to Ukraine shouldn’t be taken “off the table.” Read the full story here     Ukraine siege leaves lawmakers horrified, unified — and feeling helpless BY MIKE LILLIS   PHILADELPHIA — Russia's escalating violence on Ukrainian cities has united America and Congress behind Washington's frantic effort to bolster Ukraine's defenses and minimize the civilian casualties. Read the full story here     Barr: Trump's 'not my idea of a president' BY CAROLINE VAKIL   Former Attorney General William Barr on Friday said that he did not think the Republican Party could win the White House in 2024 with former President Trump, adding that his ex-boss is "not my idea of a president." Read the full story here     Texas judge halts state investigation into parents of transgender youth BY BRAD DRESS   A Texas judge on Friday issued an injunction halting the state's investigation into parents who provide transgender youth with puberty blockers or gender-affirming care. Read the full story here       Democrats plot strategy to defy expectations, limit midterm losses BY MIKE LILLIS   PHILADELPHIA — Facing stiff headwinds in the midterm elections, House Democrats gathered in the city this week to plot their legislative future, recalibrate their campaign message and salvage a delicate majority that's at risk of dissolving in November. Read the full story here     Biden signs stopgap funding bill to avert shutdown BY MORGAN CHALFANT   President Biden on Friday signed legislation to fund federal government operations in the short term, averting a government shutdown before a midnight deadline. Read the full story here     Treasury slaps new sanctions on Russian elites BY TOBIAS BURNS   A Russian oligarch, the family of the spokesman for the Kremlin, members of the Russian legislature and the entire board of Russia’s second largest bank are among those hit by the Treasury Department’s latest round of sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Read the full story here     Biden: Direct conflict between NATO and Russia would be 'World War III' BY BRETT SAMUELS   President Biden on Friday stressed that the U.S. and NATO allies would not fight Russia in Ukraine, describing such a scenario as "World War III." Read the full story here     Here's who stands to win from high gas prices BY RACHEL FRAZIN AND ZACK BUDRYK   Not everyone is suffering from high gas prices that have spiked further with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the international sanctions imposed on Moscow. Read the full story here     Deutsche Bank reverses after criticism, will withdraw from Russia BY LEXI LONAS   Deutsche Bank released a statement Friday saying they are “winding down” operations in Russia following criticism of their previous stance to stay in the country.  Read the full story here     Forget Biden's bump in the polls: His Putin problem has only gotten worse BY KEITH NAUGHTON   OPINION l Combine Russian desperation with a Biden administration apparently completely cowed by Putin’s threats and unwilling to provide military aid that could be decisive — Biden won’t even let Ukraine get a handful of used planes — and you have the recipe for a probable Russian victory, grinding and costly as that might be. Read the full story here     A no-fly zone in Ukraine could work BY FRANK T. GOERTNER   OPINION l There is consensus on all sides that a no-fly zone would be dangerous, disruptive and frightening. That is precisely why it should be considered. Read the full story here     NYT: Shaming Apple and Texting Musk, a Ukraine Minister Uses Novel War Tactics BY ADAM SATARIANO After war began last month, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine turned to Mykhailo Fedorov, a vice prime minister, for a key role. Read the full story here     NBC: White House debates U.S. role in international war crimes probe BY CAROL E. LEE and DAN DE LUCE America’s ambassador to the U.N. has accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine, the strongest language yet from Washington even as senior administration officials debate how the U.S. will hold Moscow accountable for its invasion. Read the full story here     AP: Oil, sanctions, jets: How Congress pushes Biden on Ukraine BY LISA MASCARO WASHINGTON (AP) — At first, the White House resisted calls from Congress to ban Russian oil imports to the U.S. And then, it did just that. Read the full story here     WaPo:Two years into the pandemic, the earliest mourners reach for hope BY ANTONIO OLIVIO They were among the first to be affected when their husbands, wives, parents or siblings died of covid-19, and two years later — on the second anniversary of the World Health Organization’s pandemic declaration — the D.C. area’s earliest mourners are still reeling. Read the full story here     CNN: Harris avoids public discord in one of the most intense moments of her vice presidency BY KEVIN LIPTAK Bucharest, Romania (CNN) — As Vice President Kamala Harris was jetting to Poland this week, she got a mid-flight call from the White House. Read the full story here         Did a friend forward you this email? 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