Today’s edition of quick hits:
* This seems difficult to understand: “Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, has been granted his permanent security clearance, a person briefed on the matter said on Wednesday, ending a period of uncertainty that had fueled questions about whether Mr. Kushner was in peril in the special counsel investigation.”
* In related news: “President Trump signed a bill Tuesday aimed at reducing the backlog of security clearance investigations — but later reserved the right not to comply with it on constitutional grounds.”
* Probably the right call: “President Donald Trump cannot block Twitter users for the political views they have expressed, a federal judge in Manhattan ruled on Wednesday.”
* The war on science: “White House officials last year weighed whether to simply ‘ignore’ climate studies produced by government scientists or to instead develop ‘a coherent, fact-based message about climate science,’ according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post.”
* How and why does this keep happening? “The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday barred several journalists from attending a summit on certain widely used chemicals, known as PFASs, for the second day in a row. “
* Hmm: “A company owned by Joel Zamel, an Israeli entrepreneur whose work has drawn the scrutiny of special counsel Robert Mueller, formed a strategic partnership with a data firm for President Donald Trump’s campaign in a joint bid to win business from the U.S. government and other clients after the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the matter.”
* There are some real dangers associated with this: “A bill helping people with deadly diseases try experimental treatments sailed through Congress on Tuesday, a victory for President Donald Trump and foes of regulation and a defeat for patients’ groups and Democrats who argued that the measure was dangerous and dangled false hope.”
* Not a great sign: “President Donald Trump on Tuesday declined to say whether he has confidence in Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as the Justice Department kicks off a review into the FBI’s interactions with the Trump campaign.” * A bad policy, implemented badly: “On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported on the waiver process for those affected by President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban. As the paper noted, the ban appears to be affecting countless people who would seem to qualify for a waiver, but are experiencing no such relief.” * I just can’t get over this story: “In a grim layering of American tragedies, a 67-year-old man with a lung disease was able to crowdfund his medical treatment only after his wife died in the Santa Fe, Tex., school shooting.” Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
