Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Iran nuclear deal: “President Donald Trump on Friday will extend waivers on Iran nuclear sanctions, keeping alive the landmark 2015 deal for at least another several months despite his past vows to scuttle the deal.”
* No “Profile in Courage” Award for you, senator: “Sen. Lindsey Graham did not deny Friday that President Donald Trump called certain nations ‘s—hole’ countries, adding that he ‘said [his] piece’ in response to the president’s ‘comments’ at a meeting with lawmakers.”
* A notable resignation: “U.S. Ambassador to Panama John Feeley, a career diplomat and former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, has resigned, telling the State Department he no longer feels able to serve President Donald Trump.”
* Scandal in Missouri, Day Two: “St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner will launch a criminal investigation into accusations engulfing Gov. Eric Greitens, she announced Thursday afternoon.”
* A story worth watching: “The Russian hackers who stole emails from the Democratic National Committee as part of a campaign to interfere in the 2016 election have been trying to steal information from the U.S. Senate, according to a report published Friday by a computer security firm.” * Important research on higher minimum wages: “Fortunately, a wave of minimum wage hikes at state and local levels in recent years means economists can stop arguing and start digging into some actual data on what happens when the wage floor rises.” * The policy implications of this would be significant: “Republican leaders are considering skipping passage of a GOP budget this year — a blow to the party’s weakened fiscal hawks that would squash all 2018 efforts to revamp entitlements or repeal Obamacare.” 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
