Sen. Mitt Romney said Monday he thinks it's "inappropriate" for the president to communicate with the leader of another global power without keeping "careful records" of it, noting what President Trump did "should not be repeated," CNN reports.
Between the lines: After President Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin behind closed doors and with only translators present last year, he took the translator’s notes from her and repeatedly tried to conceal the contents of the meeting from administration officials, per The Washington Post.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) on Monday rebuked Rep. Steve King for his recent comments to the N.Y. Times, where the Iowa Republican wondered how terms like "white nationalist" and "white supremacist" became offensive.
"I have no tolerance for such positions and those who espouse these views are not supporters of American ideals and freedoms. Rep. King’s statements are unwelcome and unworthy of his elected position. If he doesn’t understand why ‘white supremacy’ is offensive, he should find another line of work."
President Trump redefined his Syria policy in a volley of tweets Sunday, threatening to "devastate Turkey economically" if it attacks Kurds in Syria. At issue is Ankara’s longstanding objection to the U.S. alliance with the Syrian Kurdish forces (YPG), who have proven to be Washington's most reliable and efficient allies in Syria’s northeast in the fight against ISIS.
Why it matters: Trump's proclamation marks another troubling development in the souring U.S.–Turkey relationship, one that may further fuel anti-American sentiments in Turkey.
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), a senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus, announced Monday that he plans to introduce a resolution to censure Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) over his history of "rabid, racist remarks."
"Steve King’s despicable comments harken back to the dark days of American history where his rabid, racist remarks would have been acceptable to a significant portion of our nation. This must come to a screeching halt right now. ... Anything short of censure would be shallow."
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will meet on Wednesday with women who alleged they experienced sexual harassment and sexism while working for his 2016 presidential campaign, reports BuzzFeed News.
Details: Sanders took heat for his initial apology earlier this month regarding instances of harassment during his campaign — in which he stated he didn't know about the alleged incidents because he was "a little bit busy running around the country." The Vermont senator issued another apology last week for the "unacceptable behavior" on his campaign after a Politico report singled out one of his top 2016 aides.
William Barr, President Trump's nominee to become attorney general, plans to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee during the opening statement of his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that it is "vitally important" that special counsel Robert Mueller be allowed to complete his investigation, AP reports.
“I believe it is in the best interest of everyone — the President, Congress, and, most importantly, the American people — that this matter be resolved by allowing the Special Counsel to complete his work."
The big picture: Barr, who drafted a memo last year criticizing Mueller's investigation, also plans to say that it is "very important" that Mueller's work ultimately be made public. His prepared testimony reads, per AP, "My goal will be to provide as much transparency as I can consistent with the law."
President Trump denied working for Russia while speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, responding to a New York Times story that the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation into whether he was secretly "working on behalf of Russia against American interests" after the firing of FBI Director James Comey.
"I never worked for Russia. And you know that answer better than anybody. I never worked for Russia. Not only did I never work for Russia, I think it's a disgrace that you even asked that question because it's a whole big fat hoax. It's just a hoax."
Background: The White House and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied the Times report over the weekend, calling it "absurd" and "ludicrous," respectively. However, Trump failed to directly deny the report in an interview with Fox News' Jeanine Pirro on Saturday — the same day the Washington Post reported that he sought to hide details of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin from his own administration officials.
The same progressive activists behind Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 candidacy are launching a 15-city campaign to push the Green New Deal in battleground states including Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida.
What's new: Justice Democrats, which recruited AOC, and the Sunrise Movement plan to begin the campaign in March, a Sunrise spokesperson tells Axios.
Fed chairman Jay Powell is set to hold a press conference after every Federal Open Market Committee meeting in 2019, which some believe could exhaust market-watchers examining his relationship with President Trump.
Between the lines: Jefferies' Chief Market Strategist David Zervos says, "Don't underestimate how likely it is that the Fed just backs away from everything because they don't want the politics. [The Fed doesn't] want to be susceptible to criticism that they are doing something to hurt Trump or aid Trump."
Here's a fascinating example of how President Trump has not only transformed basic beliefs of Republicans, but has also moved opinion among Democrats.
Driving the news: Remarkable new polling data on Syria shows "that the vast bulk of support for keeping troops there comes from Democratic Party voters, while Republicans and independents overwhelming favor their removal," Glenn Greenwald writes on The Intercept.
A huge challenge for 2020 candidates will be navigating these tandem trends: Day-to-day life on the globe is better than at any time in history, yet the heartland worries that elected President Trump haven't been solved.
The big picture: It's a fact that humans are living longer, healthier, safer, more comfortable lives.
President Trump praised the National Enquirer without naming it on Sunday night, while calling Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos "Jeff Bozo."
"So sorry to hear the news about Jeff Bozo being taken down by a competitor whose reporting, I understand, is far more accurate than the reporting in his lobbyist newspaper, the Amazon Washington Post. Hopefully the paper will soon be placed in better & more responsible hands!"
Why it matters: The National Enquirer is the publication that published many of the details on the end of Bezos' marriage. Its parent company admitted making a payment "in concert with" the Trump campaign to buy and suppress a story about Trump's alleged affair with Playboy model Karen McDougal.
President Trump threatened to "devastate Turkey economically" if the country attacks Syrian Kurdish forces in a series of Sunday evening tweets, adding that he has also asked the Kurds not to provoke the NATO ally.
"Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone. Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey."
