Tuesday's politics & policy stories

Poll: increased support for law enforcement solutions to immigration
A recent poll conducted by America First Policies, one of the largest outside pro-Trump groups, found that many Americans support his proposed law enforcement solutions and merit-based reforms for illegal immigration.
Why it matters: Jeff Sessions announced today that Trump is ending the Obama-era DACA program,, which previously protected some illegal immigrants, who arrived in the U.S. as children, from deportation. And although this poll reflects Trump supporters' alignment with his approach to cracking down on illegal immigration through increased law enforcement and an overhaul of the current system, a Morning Consult poll from April found 73% of Trump voters supported DACA.

Top tech execs blast DACA decision
Big tech CEOs were quick to pan the Trump administration's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for immigrants brought to the United States as children without authorization.
Why it matters: Immigration has always been an important issue for tech thanks to Silicon Valley's multinational workforce, and it's been a major divide between the industry and the Trump administration.

Trump's short-term plan for DREAMers
President Trump issued a statement Tuesday outlining how the administration plans to "wind down" the Obama-era DACA program:
- "While new applications for work permits will not be accepted, all existing work permits will be honored until their date of expiration up to two full years from today."
- "Applications already in the pipeline will be processed, as will renewal applications for those facing near-term expiration. This is a gradual process, not a sudden phase out. Permits will not begin to expire for another six months, and will remain active for up to 24 months. Thus, in effect, I am not going to just cut DACA off, but rather provide a window of opportunity for Congress to finally act."
- "Our enforcement priorities remain unchanged. We are focused on criminals, security threats, recent border-crossers, visa overstays, and repeat violators. I have advised the Department of Homeland Security that DACA recipients are not enforcement priorities unless they are criminals, are involved in criminal activity, or are members of a gang."

Read Jeff Sessions' full statement on ending DACA
Good morning. I am here today to announce that the program known as DACA that was effectuated under the Obama Administration is being rescinded.

Jeff Sessions reveals plans to end DACA
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Tuesday that the Trump administration is ending the Obama-era DACA program.
His big quote: "We cannot admit everyone who would like to come here. That is an open border policy and the American people have rightly rejected it... it's just that simple."
Reaction from the nationalist right, per a source close to the White House: "In one amazing press conference, Jeff Sessions lit up the entire institutional left, the mainstream media and probably caused a couple tears to hit the floor from some West Wing Democrats."

Top trade leaders to Trump: Don't end South Korea trade agreement
Top trade leaders, including Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Richard Neal (D-MA) released a statement Tuesday urging Trump to reconsider ending the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Key excerpts:
- "North Korea's latest nuclear test underscores yet again the vital importance of the strong alliance between the United States and South Korea."
- "The U.S.-South Korea agreement (KORUS), negotiated under two presidents and approved by Congress, is a central element of that alliance. Just as important, South Korea is a significant economic partner."
- "Our trade relationship can be enhanced and... we must press South Korea to improve its implementation and compliance."
- "To be effective and constructive, however, we must not withdraw from the agreement while we do so."
Why it matters: Top bipartisan leaders recognize the potential danger that could arise by ending the trade deal: damaging relations with a key ally in Asia while the North Korean threat is escalating to unprecedented proportions.
Full statement: "North Korea's latest nuclear test underscores yet again the vital importance of the strong alliance between the United States and South Korea. The U.S.-South Korea agreement (KORUS), negotiated under two presidents and approved by Congress, is a central element of that alliance. Just as important, South Korea is a significant economic partner, our seventh largest export market, and a vital customer for U.S. manufacturers, services providers, farmers, and ranchers."Our trade relationship can be enhanced and, because KORUS's operation has presented frustrations for some important U.S. industries and stakeholders, we must press South Korea to improve its implementation and compliance. To be effective and constructive, however, we must not withdraw from the agreement while we do so. We welcome bilateral discussions to strengthen the economic ties between South Korea and the United States, and we reiterate the importance of transparency and close consultation by the administration with Congress and American businesses and workers."

Sean Spicer's next act
Sean Spicer, who officially left the White House on Aug. 31, has signed with Worldwide Speakers Group, per Politico. His first paid speaking gig will reportedly take place in New York City on Sept. 11, at investment bank Rodman & Renshaw's annual conference.
- Departing WH press secretaries have historically been coveted by major TV networks, with Josh Earnest, Barack Obama's last press secretary, working as a political analyst at NBC News and MSNBC. And Spicer will likely follow suit, as his inside role in the Trump administration puts him in high demand.
- Spicer is also looking to land a book deal, according to Politico, and his agent Robert Barnett has reportedly been visiting various networks to negotiate a potential deal.
- Worldwide Speakers Group clients include former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Fox contributor Tomi Lahren, and former Obama communications director Jen Psaki, among others.
Go deeper: What other former Trump administration officials are doing now.

Putin: Trump is 'not my bride'
When asked during a press conference today if he finds Trump to be "naive" and a disappointment, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Trump is "not my bride, and I'm not his groom," according to AP. He refused to comment on how he would feel if Trump were impeached.
Why it matters: U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia attempted to interfere in the election process to help Trump win, and Trump has repeatedly praised Putin for being a tough leader, saying that he wants to have better relations with Russia. But recently there has been a series of sanctions between the two countries. (Read about that here.) And of course, Putin's comments also come in the middle of an ongoing U.S. intelligence investigation into the Trump campaign's possible dealings with the Russian government.

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffmann is taking on Trump
"Reid Hoffman has billions of dollars and one of the best networks in Silicon Valley. Here's how he's using them to take on Trump" by Recode's Tony Romm:
- Last fall, "the LinkedIn co-founder cooked up ... a card game ... where players could compete to outdo each other in crafting the most offensive phrases possible. The release of 'Trumped Up Cards' ... marked a new turn for the affable, pensive Hoffman."
- "One of Silicon Valley's growth areas in 2017 is politics, and Hoffman is now its most active investor."
- "Hoffman has shelled out about $1.4 million so far to a series of groups... which aim to help get voters — regardless of party — to the polls on election day."
- "Hoffman still hasn't talked to Trump: "[My] answer earlier in the year would have been, 'I would talk with you and I would try to provide advice, but I hold in reserve my willingness to speak publicly about what I think is right.' ... That ship has sailed."
- Go deeper.

Congress' September to-do list
Congress is back in session with a busy schedule ahead, including deciding on whether or not to allocate funding for a border wall, preventing a government shut down and deciding what to do with "DREAMers." Here's their full September to-do list:

Spotlight on a Russian-American lobbyist
If American politics was Broadway, we would call Rinat Akhmetshin a walk-on, delivering a one-time-only-performance more or less by happenstance on the largest stage in the world. In this case, we are talking Trump Tower, and a June 2016 meeting that has assumed an outsized place in political and law enforcement circles, animated by the ominous suggestion of a plot involving the Trump campaign, the Kremlin and Russia's spy agencies.
The drama stems from those present: Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and campaign adviser Paul Manafort — along with a Russian lawyer named Natalia Veselnitskaya, there to represent "Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump." And of course Akhmetshin, a gun-for-hire with a personal touch who spoke often of his time in a Soviet military counter-intelligence unit, but in Washington operated largely in the shadows, working for and against some of the world's most notorious figures—until he surfaced at Trump Tower.
The spotlight on Akhmetshin has risen as special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russia's role in the 2016 election reaches a new stage:









