Axios

Russia has vetoed an extension on the chemical weapons inquiry in Syria. China abstained, along with Kazakhstan, per the State Department. The report on who was behind the April attack in Syria is due in two days, and Russia's UN Ambassador said it wanted to discuss the report before voting on the extension. The inquiry is set to expire in November.

Why it matters: Russia has rejected a report from UN investigators who place the blame on Russia's ally Syria, and this is the ninth time Russia has blocked action against Syria, per the BBC. "Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the barbaric Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons," U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said while traveling through Africa, per Reuters.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes announced a joint inquiry between the House Intel Committee and the Oversight Committee into the Obama-era Russian uranium deal. What the joint investigation wants to know, per Nunes: "Whether or not there was an FBI investigation: Was there a DOJ investigation? And if so, why was Congress not informed of this matter?"

Why we're watching: The Obama administration reportedly signed off on the Russian deal despite the fact that the FBI had evidence that Russia used bribery to edge its way in to the U.S. energy industry. The Clinton Foundation is implicated in relation to donations with potential links to the uranium deal as well.

Catch up quick: The background on the uranium deal

"All three committees looking into Russian interference — one in the House, two in the Senate — have run into problems, from insufficient staffing to fights over when the committees should wrap up their investigations," the N.Y. Times' Nicholas Fandos writes on A1.

Why it matters: "Nine months into the Trump administration, any notion that Capitol Hill would provide a comprehensive, authoritative and bipartisan accounting of the extraordinary efforts of a hostile power to disrupt American democracy appears to be dwindling."

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe is investigating Democratic strategist Tony Podesta and his lobbying firm the Podesta Group, per NBC News. John Podesta — Tony's brother and former Clinton campaign chairman — is not a part of the Podesta Group and thus not a figure in Mueller's investigation.

What happened: Mueller is reportedly looking at Podesta's work on a pro-Ukraine public relations campaign from 2012 to 2014 organized by Paul Manafort. Podesta and his firm may have violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act by not disclosing their work for a foreign government — though The Podesta Group retroactively filed a FARA registration, which is allowed under federal law.