White House targets EPA climate-change programs - Axios
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White House targets EPA climate-change programs

Alex Brandon / AP

We hear the White House tomorrow will send Cabinet officials their first draft budget numbers.

One budget we'll be watching especially closely is the EPA ,which is the leading edge of the first wave of Trump's planned "deconstruction of the administrative state." Expect massive, transformational cuts, particularly to climate-change programs, top officials tell us.

Trump has made clear he wants the EPA to get back to its core missions of clean air and clean water. He views many of the global-warming programs as superfluous additions made by an out-of-control Obama EPA.

But, but, but ... Don't expect the topline budget numbers to change dramatically. Money saved from cuts to EPA and other agencies will be used to bolster the military — which is exactly what Trump promised on the campaign trail.

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Trump suggests going "all the way" on travel ban after judge order

At a rally tonight in Tennessee, the president reacted to a Hawaii judge halting his new "watered down" travel ban and went a touch further, saying "I think we ought to go back to the first one and go all the way":

Why it matters: As NYTimes reporter Maggie Haberman noted on Twitter: "What Trump just said is among the worst things he could have said if his goal was to make his travel E.O. legal."

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Paul Ryan admits his bill needs changes to pass the House

Andrew Harnik / AP

After a private meeting of House Republicans, Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters his repeal and replacement legislation needs to be changed in order to pass through the House, according to The Washington Post.

"Now that we have our score ... we can make some necessary improvements and refinements to the bill."

He did not dive into what those changes might be, but VP Mike Pence backed him up and said changes are in the pipeline.

Why it matters: There are now enough defectors to seriously threaten the bill's fate on the House floor. If it was voted on as-is, it would almost certainly fail. Wednesday's comments mark a change in tune from Ryan, who previously seemed resistant to changes.

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Federal judge halts Trump's travel ban 2.0 nationwide

Marco Garcia / AP

A U.S. judge in Hawaii granted a motion today for a temporary restraining order on Trump's revised travel ban. The ban was supposed to go into effect tomorrow. The judge called the evidence supporting Trump's order "questionable" and rejected "the balance of equities and public interests" as he suspended implementation of the order nationwide.

"...the court cannot find the actions taken during the interval between revoked Executive Order No. 13,769 and the new Executive Order to be 'genuine changes in constitutionally significant conditions' ... Plaintiffs have shown a strong likelihood of succeeding on their claim that the Executive Order violates First Amendment rights under the Constitution."
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Walmart said to acquire online women's retailer ModCloth

Jae C. Hong / AP

Jet, a online division of Walmart, has acquired ModCloth, an online retailer of women's fashion known for its quirky vintage aesthetic, as Jezebel first reported.

Despite having been around for 15 years, ModCloth has reportedly struggled to make a profit and raise additional funding on top of the nearly $80 million it's raised in total. It's unclear how much Walmart paid for the company.

Why it matters: This latest acquisition is helping to paint a picture of Jet's—and by extension, Walmart's—strategy for online retail. Instead of building out every possible category in-house, Jet and Walmart are looking to cobble together specialized retailers with their own brands. Prior to its sale to Walmart in September, Jet acquired online furniture seller Hayneedle, and has since added shoe seller ShoeBuy and outdoor apparel retailer Moosejaw.

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Paul Ryan won't say if AHCA can pass House

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Paul Ryan on the AHCA last Thursday: "It really comes down to a binary choice. This is the closest we will ever get to repealing and replacing Obamacare. The time is here. The time is now."

Paul Ryan when asked on CNN if the bill could pass the House today: "That's — no offense, that's kind of a goofy question…"

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Tesla to offer $250 million in common stock

Pixabay

The electric car maker announced on Wednesday offerings of $250 million in common stock and $750 million in convertible senior notes due in 2022. Tesla CEO Elon Musk will purchase $25 million in common stock, the company added.

Tesla plans to use the money to "strengthen its balance sheet," help finance the upcoming launch of its Model 3 car, and for general corporate purposes.

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GoPro plans to cut 270 jobs in restructuring

GoPro

Action camera maker GoPro announced Wednesday that it is cutting 270 jobs as it seeks to reduce operating expenses by $200 million and achieve its goal of reaching profitability this year.

The move comes as the company has struggled to boost demand for its core products while also encountering big headaches with the Karma, its first entry in the drone space. It had to recall the first batch while the re-released Karma still isn't getting high marks from reviewers.

On a brighter note: GoPro said it expects first quarter revenue will be at the upper end of its prior target of $190 million to $210 million.

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$1.9B "pink slime" suit against ABC News cleared for trial

A $1.9 billion defamation lawsuit against ABC News for referring to a South Dakota company's meat product as "pink slime" is going to trial after a South Dakota judge ruled that ABC journalists "were reckless" in their reporting and that "they engaged in purposeful avoidance of the truth."

The judge dismissed a five-year-old defamation suit against Diane Sawyer but left open cases against several other journalists, include Emmy-winning reporter Jim Avila. The "pink slime" controversy gained national attention for crippling the beef company, and affecting employment. The network has repeatedly defended its reporting, calling the suit meritless.

Why it matters: The case is another First Amendment test for the media, and will further define the scope of food libel laws across the country. The South Dakota food libel law that this suit is based on triples the amount of reported damages if a news organization knowingly lied about food safety claims, meaning ABC could be looking at up to $5.7 billion in charges.

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Trump: "The assault on the American auto industry is over"

Evan Vucci / AP

Trump announced he and the EPA are re-examining midnight hour Obama-era federal requirements on fuel economy standards requiring a fleet-wide average of 36 mpg in real-world driving by 2025 for cars and trucks. A rollback is expected no later than April 2018.

"The assault on the American auto industry is over," as Trump put it in his speech at a former GM plant that's part of the American Center for Mobility, which is a staging ground for self-driving vehicles.

Trump told auto CEOs that they "have to build plants here." He added, "I know I gave you a hard time but you have to build them here," according to The Washington Post. He also gave a classic campaign-style speech, harping on NAFTA and the TPP.

Trump is en route to Nashville to lay a wreath on Andrew Jackson's tomb to mark what would be his 250th birthday.

What to watch: Trump announced he will have a "big" auto industry announcements next week about jobs.

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Dutch exit poll shows a disappointment for Wilders

Yves Herman / AP

The first exit poll from the Dutch general election has been released. It shows current PM Mark Rutte's center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy on top, and Geert Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom in a three-way tie for second place. That means Wilders won't be in government as Rutte has already stated there is no chance of a coalition with Wilders.

It's an exit poll, so approach with caution but The Netherlands won't be the next Western domino to embrace a right-wing populist movement. Of course, what does happen next is anyone's guess...