U.S. authorities have prepared charges to seek the arrest of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, per CNN.
On what grounds: Because WikiLeaks allegedly helped Edward Snowden publish classified documents he took from the NSA. The Obama administration had previously found it difficult to seek charges against Assange because of First Amendment protections.
But…Assange currently resides in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and Ecuador hasn't changed its position on extraditing Assange.
Highlights from President Trump's press conference with the Italian Prime Minister, in which he warned Iran and said he plans to meet the Pope when he travels to Italy.
Health care or government funding next week? "I want both." Trump said there'd be a health care vote "next week or shortly thereafter."
On the shooting in Paris: "Again, it's happening, it seems…It looks like another terrorist attack. What can you say? It just never ends."
On Iran: "Iran has not lived up to the spirit of the agreement and they have to do that. They have to do that."
On the US role in "stabilizing" Libya: "I do not see a role in Libya. I think right now the United States has enough roles. We have roles everywhere."
Senior Republican congressional sources are pouring cold water over anonymous comments by White House officials to WaPo reporter Robert Costa that a new Trumpcare vote could happen as soon as next Wednesday.
That's been made abundantly clear to White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, and a senior administration source tells me the vote next week is unlikely and he's unclear who told the press it could happen on Wednesday.
One senior House source texted Axios: "You know there will not be a vote next Wednesday, right?"
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he'll meet with President Trump in Washington next month prior to next month's NATO summit in Brussels, per Reuters.
Keep an eye on it: The circumstances and tone of the meeting will be closely watched, especially following the hubbub surrounding Trump's congratulatory call to Erdogan after his victory in last weekend's challenged constitutional referendum.
After a series of embarrassing jumper incidents, the Secret Service announced that the sidewalk along the White House south fence closed permanently at 11 last night, WTOP and other outlets reported:
What changed: "Since 2015, the sidewalk and park land between the south fence and E Street Northwest, between West Executive Avenue and East Executive Avenue, has been closed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily." Now it's permanent.
The new look: Secret Service Communications Director Cathy Milhoan told WTOP that the plan was to create "space between the fence and people." When people stood right up to the fence, "it limited our ability to identify and respond to potential hazards."
The "America First" president who vowed to extricate the U.S. from onerous overseas commitments is warming to global agreements, AP's Matt Lee and Josh Lederman write:
Get smart fast: "From NAFTA to the Iran nuclear agreement to the Paris climate accord, ... Trump's campaign rhetoric is colliding with the reality of governing. Despite repeated pledges to rip up, renegotiate or otherwise alter them, the U.S. has yet to withdraw from any of these economic, environmental or national security deals..."
The takeaway: "[W]ith one exception — an Asia-Pacific trade deal ... — Trump's administration quietly has laid the groundwork to honor the international architecture of deals it has inherited."
P.S. from WashPost: "[T]he normally meticulous care that goes into formulating and coordinating U.S. government policy positions or even simple statements is often absent."
Last week, Donald Trump told the New York Post about advisor Steve Bannon: "I like Steve, but..." Bannon's friends and colleagues scrambled to figure out if the story was as bad as it looked — frantically texting him with questions. They're still trying to get answers, gleaning much of their information via anonymous quotes in the press.
Trump likes it that way, and the episode illuminates Trump's improvisational management style. He's always been more of a creative deal-maker and salesman than a manager. In his business career, he oversaw a very lean executive team, and he preferred to his deals to be mano-a-mano.
President Trump welcomed the New England Patriots to the White House Wednesday afternoon and congratulated the team on its 5th Super Bowl win:
This Super Bowl effort was a complete team effort, with your backs against the wall... and the pundits saying you couldn't do it, the game was over. You pulled off the greatest Super Bowl win of all time... That game will last forever.
Coach Bill Belichick and owner Bob Kraft both praised Trump in return, but quarterback Tom Brady was a no show.
This morning, President Trump signed into law an extension of the Veterans Choice Program, an Obama-era stopgap program designed to give veterans — whom Trump branded "the most incredible people in our country" — easier access to private health care following the 2014 VA negligence scandal.
The big news: Trump announced that he'll be holding a press conference next Thursday to discuss veterans' issues.
Spicer attempted to clear up the confusion regarding the direction of the USS Carl Vinson, stating that the administration was correct in saying an armada was heading to the Korean peninsula because "it's headed there now." He later added, "I'm not the one who commented on timing."
One fun thing: New England Patriots player Rob Gronkowski poked his head into the briefing ahead of the team's meeting with Trump, and asked Spicer (a big fan) if he needed any help. "I got this," Spicer laughed, later adding, "That was cool."
The FEC released new names on Wednesday of Trump's inauguration donors, including Sheldon Adelson, who gave a record $5 million. The Presidential Inaugural Committee has until 90 days after the inauguration to disclose their donors.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee raised a record total of $106.7 million, according to the Center for Public Integrity, to spend on the ceremony, three official balls and other inaugural celebration events.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz will retire after this term, as first reported by BuzzFeed News' Alexis Levinson and confirmed by Chaffetz in a Facebook post:
"After long consultation with my family and prayerful consideration, I have decided I will not be a candidate for any office in 2018. Since late 2003 I have been fully engaged with politics as a campaign manager, a chief of staff, a candidate and as a Member of Congress. I have long advocated public service should be for a limited time and not a lifetime or full career. Many of you have heard me advocate, "Get in, serve, and get out." After more than 1,500 nights away from my home, it is time. I may run again for public office, but not in 2018."
Why it matters: Chaffetz chairs the powerful House Oversight Committee, and spent much of 2016 investigating Hillary Clinton's emails. He's been less visible during the Trump administration.
Upcoming Utah political races after 2018: Governor in 2020.
Dubai-based Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, will reduce the number of flights to 5 of its 12 United States destinations due to decreased demand following President Trump's immigration executive order and increased security measures for flights departing from the Middle East, per the AP.
The New England Patriots are headed to the White House today, where Trump will congratulate the team for their Super Bowl win. However, the team's star quarterback, Tom Brady — who has refrained from openly endorsing Trump but is said to be one of the president's friends — won't be joining them.
In a statement released via Apple "Notes," Brady said that he is "unable to attend" the White House ceremony due to "personal family matters," per ESPN's NFL reporter Mike Reiss.
Throwback: In 2015, quarterback Tom Brady skipped the team's White House visit with former President Barack Obama. Brady said he had a family commitment and the decision was not political.
Gary Cohn has privately said he's warming to the idea of eliminating the local and state tax deduction to pay for tax cuts and simplify the code, according to sources familiar with the thinking of president's top economic advisor. Cohn's private comments must be considered with a caveat: no final decisions have been made, and the administration's tax reform plans are still a long way from prime time.
What it means: The White House needs a ton of money to pay for corporate, individual and small business tax cuts (not to mention the "Ivanka credit" for childcare.) Getting rid of these state and local deductions is a dream Republicans have long held and would raise an estimated $1 trillion over 10 years.
