As expected, yesterday brought violent clashes on the Venezuelan border. The Venezuelan opposition head Juan Guaidó, whom the U.S. and some 50 other countries recognize as Venezuela's legitimate leader, led a massive effort to force humanitarian aid across the Colombian border into Venezuela.
The bottom line: Embattled dictator Nicolás Maduro is rapidly isolating himself. He's shut down commercial airspace; he's broken diplomatic ties with neighboring Colombia; and the military still loyal to him are shooting Venezuelan civilians.
President Trump announced that he plans to speak at an Independence Day event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in a Sunday morning tweet.
"HOLD THE DATE! We will be having one of the biggest gatherings in the history of Washington, D.C., on July 4th. It will be called 'A Salute To America' and will be held at the Lincoln Memorial. Major fireworks display, entertainment and an address by your favorite President, me!"
The backdrop: Trump first floated this idea during a Cabinet meeting earlier this month. He has long expressed interest in a similar, large-scale event in the nation's capital, proposing a military parade last year for Veterans Day before axing it after pushback from local politicians over costs.
For 21 months,Robert Mueller has been an omnipresent but unseen lead in D.C. drama.
Driving the news: As soon as he delivershis farewell letter or report, the protagonists become Attorney General William Barr, who'll decide what the public should see, and House Democrats, who are cranking up their own months-long Russia probe.
