Today’s edition of quick hits:
* I’ll have more on this tomorrow: “British Prime Minister Theresa May says her government has concluded it is ‘highly likely’ Russia is responsible for the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter with a military-grade nerve agent.”
* This is a major Kushner story: “Qatari officials gathered evidence of what they claim is illicit influence by the United Arab Emirates on Jared Kushner and other Trump associates, including details of secret meetings, but decided not to give the information to special counsel Robert Mueller for fear of harming relations with the Trump administration, say three sources familiar with the Qatari discussions.”
* Texas: “One person has been killed and two injured in two separate blasts just miles apart in Austin, Tex., on Monday. In both attacks, the residents of the homes found a package outside their door that contained a powerful explosive device.”
* As Rachel explained on Friday’s show, Robert Mueller has this letter; “Donald Trump was so eager to have Vladimir Putin attend the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow that he wrote a personal letter to the Russian president inviting him to the event, according to multiple people familiar with the document.”
* Never mind that stuff he said: “Sam Nunberg, a former Trump campaign aide, spent several hours testifying before a federal grand jury in Washington Friday, after reversing earlier statements that he wouldn’t cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.”
* It’s not just presidential palaver: “The Trump administration is studying new policy that could allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty for drug dealers, according to people with knowledge of the discussions, a sign that the White House wants to make a strong statement in addressing the opioid crisis.”
* Trump’s ATF: “In the wake of the mass shooting last month at a high school in Parkland, Florida, President Donald Trump vowed to use his executive authority to enact gun control through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. But over the past year, the ATF has been moving in the opposite direction, delaying new gun-safety rules developed under the Obama administration.” * Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix, a married “family values” conservative, resigned today after a video surfaced showing him kissing a lobbyist in a Des Moines tavern. * Parade details start to emerge: “It looks as if President Trump will get the military parade he has coveted for months. But it will not be on the Fourth of July — and it will not include tanks.” 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
