Axios

John Kelly acknowledged in an off-the-record session with reporters today that his boss, Donald Trump, is likely speculating about staff moves to people outside the White House and that reporters are then talking to those people. And that’s how a good deal of news is likely being made about all the possible replacements.

How we know this: Axios was not invited to the off-the-record session and is therefore not bound by the rules. We got our information from three sources familiar with the meeting, who paraphrased the discussion. 

Danny Tarkanian announced today he's running for Congress in Nevada's 3rd district instead of for the U.S. Senate, per the Nevada Independent.

Why it matters: Dean Heller is defending one of the most vulnerable Republican-held seats, as he's the only GOP senator up for re-election in 2018 who represents a state Hillary Clinton won in 2016.

For more than 60 years, the U.S. has been the world’s foremost provider of food aid to victims of humanitarian disasters. But outdated restrictions have made American programs wasteful and inefficient, leaving them in critical need of reform.

Why it matters: This week, Congress begins considering the Food for Peace Modernization Act to address these issues without increasing spending. If adopted, the changes could save the lives of 40,000 children in food emergencies each year.

Louise Slaughter, a Democrat who had represented New York's 25th congressional district since 1987, has died at age 88 after suffering a head injury in her Washington home, her office confirmed in a statement on Friday.

She represented the area surrounding Rochester and served as the ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee.

Former South African president Jacob Zuma, who resigned in February ahead of a no confidence vote that would have removed him from power, has officially been charged on 16 counts of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

The backdrop: Zuma has been dogged by corruption scandals since before he became president in 2009, and was most recently accused of steering government contracts to two wealthy Indian-born brothers and enriching himself in the process. His successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, has presented himself as a reformer and anti-corruption fighter.

Appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe today, Stormy Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, said that his client was threatened with physical harm.

But, but, but: He did not go into further detail and said that people will have to tune into Daniels' 60 Minutes interview on March 25 to learn more.

With the expected ouster of National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, President Trump's decision on a replacement could result in one of the biggest policy shifts of all of this White House's frequent comings-and-goings.

What we're hearing: Inside the West Wing, the most oft-mentioned potential successor is John Bolton, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. under President George W. Bush.

Look for fired FBI Director James Comey to come out hot on the book tour that begins 30 days from now for "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership," out April 17 from Flatiron Books.

We're told: Comey has been quiet for nearly a year — fired by President Trump on May 9, precipitating the appointment of special counsel Bob Mueller eight days later. He has heard a lot of lies and misstatements about the FBI that he intends to correct. He didn’t want to be in this position, but is embracing it.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said at the Shamrock Bowl Presentation at the White House on Thursday that the Irish government will "continue to work" with the administration on immigration, because undocumented Irish immigrants "love this country dearly."

"I know that the Irish people who have made their lives here, including those who are undocumented and living in the shadows, love this country dearly....[T]hey want to continue to contribute to the life of this great country, and continue to play their part. So I want to assure you all, Mr. President, that the Irish government will continue to work with you and your administration to find a solution to this important issue, and we're ready to do a deal."

The advisory board President Trump created to help revise federal regulations for importing the heads and hides of African elephants, lions and rhinos is loaded with active trophy hunters, the Associated Press reports.

One key detail: The AP reviewed the backgrounds and social media posts made by the 16 board members appointed by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. The members indicated "they will agree with his position that the best way to protect critically threatened or endangered species is by encouraging wealthy Americans to shoot some of them."

Senators Chuck Grassley, Lindsey Graham, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have requested a second special counsel appointed to investigate the DOJ and FBI's review of matters related to the Trump-Russia investigation prior to the appointment of Robert Mueller, in a letter sent to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Here's why: Last month Grassley and Graham asked the Inspector General to review issues surrounding the application and renewals of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant to investigate Christopher Steele, the author of the Trump-Russia dossier, but they write that the DOJ “cannot credibly investigate itself."

Sen. Jeff Flake further distanced himself from the administration on Thursday at an event at the National Press Club, saying the Republican party "might not deserve to lead."

"Never has a party abandoned, fled its principles and deeply held beliefs so quickly as my party did in the face of the nativist juggernaut... If we are going to cloister ourselves in the alternative truth of an erratic leader, if we are going to refuse to live in a world that everyone else lives in... then my party might not deserve to lead."

18 Republican lawmakers have sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the acting director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Labor calling on them to help one of the largest private prison companies, GEO Group, fight a lawsuit alleging that these private prisons force labor on undocumented immigrant prisoners for $1 a day or less, the Daily Beast's Betsy Woodruff reports.

Notable: GEO Group has already given roughly a quarter of a million dollars to Republican members of Congress in the 2018 cycle.

Senator John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator Ben Sasse sent a joint letter to the Trump administration Thursday urging them to coordinate with NATO allies to respond to Russia’s use of a nerve agent in Salisbury, England.

The bottom line: If NATO countries join the U.K. in expelling Russian diplomats from their countries or choose to freeze Russian assets, they would be sending an undeniably clear message to Russia that its shadow operations will not go unpunished among NATO allies.

North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp said Hillary Clinton can't go away "soon enough" while speaking with local radio station KFGO. The host, Heitkamp's brother, asked when Clinton will "ride off into the sunset." Heitkamp responded simply: "Not soon enough."

Why it matters: Similar to the trend of Republican candidates distancing themselves from President Trump, Heitkamp joins a growing list of vulnerable Democrats up for re-election this year who don't want to be viewed as Clinton Democrats.

In the wake of reports that Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin has fallen from President Trump's good graces, a new poll, conducted by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, reveals that only 24% of post-9/11 veterans surveyed approve of Shulkin's performance.

Why it matters: The poll shows that it's not just right-wing veterans groups like Concerned Veterans for America that are turning against Shulkin after an Inspector General report found he misused government funds — this is a moderate organization whose members are losing faith in him. 

Top Democrats tell me that if they take back the House in November, a restoration of Speaker Nancy Pelosi is no longer guaranteed. In fact, some well-wired House Democrats predict she will be forced aside after the election and replaced by a younger, less divisive Dem.

The big picture: Conor Lamb, 33, won his U.S. House race in Pennsylvania this week after saying he wouldn't vote for her for leader — a new template for moderates. Pelosi has hung in through the minority, and remains the party's most consistent fundraiser. As for whether she'll return as Speaker, she has just said that it's up to the members. (Her allies note that she has never lost a leadership vote.)

The days of President Trump boasting about how his cabinet had “by far the highest IQ of any cabinet ever assembled” are over. As Axios' Jonathan Swan has reported, Trump and his chief of staff John Kelly are becoming increasingly frustrated with stories of cabinet secretaries' frivolous spending on taxpayers' dime.

The big picture: At least six current or former cabinet officials have been swept up in investigations over splurging on expensive renovations or luxurious travel.

"In fundraising speech, Trump says he made up trade claim in meeting with [Canadian Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau," per WashPost's Josh Dawsey, Damian Paletta and Erica Werner. The quote, according to audio obtained by The Post:

“Trudeau came to see me. He’s a good guy, Justin. He said, ‘No, no, we have no trade deficit with you, we have none. Donald, please' ... Nice guy, good-looking guy, comes in — ‘Donald, we have no trade deficit.’ He’s very proud because everybody else, you know, we’re getting killed. ... I said, ‘Wrong, Justin, you do.’ I didn’t even know. ... I had no idea. I just said, ‘You’re wrong.’ You know why? Because we’re so stupid."

Philippe Reines, who played Donald Trump in mock debates with his longtime boss Hillary Clinton, has this advice for 2020 Dems, in a WashPost opinion piece.

His first commandment: "Go high when you can. But when he goes low, take advantage of the kneeling to knock his block off."

Yesterday was crazy. The rumor mill was in overdrive with reports that President Trump could replace as many as four senior administration officials, including a Scott-Pruitt-for-Jeff-Sessions switcheroo at Justice.

What we're hearing: All this was news to the small band of aides traveling with the president in Missouri.

The bipartisan criminal justice front has been going through a breakup — in the House, the Senate and among activist groups. Some are excited about the White House prison reform proposals, which focus on helping prisoners re-enter society. But others doubt the administration's motives and insist there can be no reform without tackling pre-incarceration issues like mandatory minimum sentences.

Why it matters: This division, particularly in the Senate, could threaten the momentum behind prison reform. The Brennan Center for Justice's Inimai Chettiar told Axios the White House's efforts are "a setback" as they have "split the bipartisan reform movement."

CNN reports that Jill Martin, a Trump Organization lawyer, has been involved with the legal battle surrounding the alleged relationship between porn star Stormy Daniels and President Donald Trump.

Why it matters: This illustrates deeper ties between the Trump Organization and the payment to Daniels. But, Martin provided CNN with a statement from the Trump Organization that states they are "not representing anyone and...the company has had no involvement in the matter."

The Senate on Tuesday passed a proposal with bipartisan support to significantly roll back Obama-era regulations intended to prevent another financial crisis by imposing restrictions on banks.

Why it matters: The bill, which has the support of President Trump and top Federal Reserve officials, now heads to the House. It may be modified there, but is very likely to pass in some form. This is the most significant step to revamp financial rules since Republicans took control of Washington last year, the Wall Street Journal notes.