Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Expect a whole lot of litigation: “California and a dozen other states are filing a lawsuit challenging Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Monday.”
* Heather Nauert was not a good choice anyway: “President Trump’s pick to serve as ambassador to the United Nations withdrew from consideration on Saturday, citing family concerns…. Ms. Nauert dropped from the running because she had a nanny who was in the United States legally but did not have the proper work visa, according to people familiar with the process.”
* Donald Trump boasted on Friday, “We have a lot of great announcements having to do with Syria and our success with the eradication of the caliphate. And that will be announced over the next 24 hours.” That was nearly 80 hours ago; there’s been no announcement.
* In case you missed this on Friday: “Prosecutors said for the first time that they have evidence of Roger Stone communicating with WikiLeaks, according to a new court filing from special counsel prosecutors.”
* Does this seem right to you? “Amazon, the e-commerce giant helmed by the world’s richest man, paid no federal taxes on profit of $11.2 billion last year, according to an analysis of the company’s corporate filings by the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), a progressive think tank.”
* Whitaker isn’t leaving: “Former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker will remain at the Justice Department despite William Barr’s being sworn in to lead the department. Whitaker, who served as chief of staff to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions until President Donald Trump tapped him for the acting role in November, is now a senior counselor in the associate attorney general’s office, a department spokesperson said Friday.” * The culmination of a lengthy investigation: “Former congressman Mel Watt misused his position as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency by attempting to “coerce or induce” a relationship with a female employee seeking a promotion, according to a previously unreleased inspector general’s report.” * You’ve no doubt heard about “Medicare for All,” but what about “Medicare for Anyone”? Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) — both of whom have earned reputations as prominent progressives — have an interesting plan in mind. 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
