Republican Senator Ron Johnson is asking the Government Services Administration why it didn't "protect" Trump transition emails. "GSA's alleged actions could have serious ramifications for presidential transitions in the future," he wrote to the head of the GSA.
Why it matters: Axios' Mike Allen has reported that Mueller obtained "many tens of thousands" of Trump transition emails from the GSA, which hosted the transition email system. Trump's lawyers have called collection of the emails by Mueller "unlawful."
Because of a procedural conflict with Senate rules, the House will have to vote again on tax legislation tomorrow before it goes to President Trump for his signature. This hiccup isn't expected to imperil final passage.
The Trump administration Monday night asked the Supreme Court to grant a two-week stay on one of the rulings that had ordered the government to allow two undocumented immigrant teens in federal custody to have an abortion, multiple reports say. A judge had ordered the government to permit the abortions as soon as Tuesday evening, but this was delayed by the D.C. Circuit last night for 24 hours until roughly 6pm Dec. 20.
The Supreme Court has not yet responded.
Why it matters: This move by the administration has reignited a legal battle over the constitutional rights of pregnant, undocumented teenagers in federal custody who seek an abortion.
The House passed the GOP tax bill Tuesday, clearing the way for the package to be signed into law before Christmas.
What's next: The bill is now headed to the Senate. If it passes there, it will then be sent to President Trump's desk for his signature.
Update: The House will have to vote on the bill again tomorrow because some small provisions were found to violate Senate rules. Final passage isn't imperiled.
Sometime tomorrow, the biggest rewrite of the tax code since 1986 is likely to be on its way to President Trump's desk after final approval by the House and Senate. These are the biggest changes on the way.
President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke over the phone Tuesday for the first time since she criticized Trump for retweeting anti-Muslim hate videos from British far-right leader Jayda Fransen last month, a White House official told AP.
Background: May's condemnation of Trump was an extraordinarily rare move for a British prime minister, and sparked backlash from the president who sent an angry tweet in response. A White House official said the tweets were not discussed during their call.
After Sen. John Kennedy's round of questioning on basic legal questions for Matthew Petersen, one of Trump's judicial appointees, he withdrew his nomination. Sam Stein writes on The Daily Beast: "Political humiliations like these don't often happen in public view, let alone at the hands of a member of the same political party of the nominating administration."
Why it matters: "Kennedy was trying to send a larger message here. And it wasn't meant for Petersen but for the man chiefly responsible for his now-withdrawn nomination: White House Counsel Don McGahn."
Members of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team say the Russia probe will at least continue through 2018, the Washington Post reports.
Why it matters: White House lawyers had said the probe would be complete this year. When they meet with Mueller's team this week, the Post reports they hope to hear that the probe is wrapping up and shifting focus away from President Trump. As the investigation continues into the new year, tensions are building between the administration and Mueller's office.
