Today’s edition of quick hits:
* A big move that appears to have been coordinated with European allies: “The United States and the European Union on Monday announced the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal on British soil allegedly orchestrated by the Kremlin.”
* Legal developments of note: “Stormy Daniels filed an amended lawsuit Monday that alleges Donald Trump’s personal lawyer defamed her and violated campaign finance law by brokering a ‘hush agreement’ just before the 2016 election.”
* In related news: “President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, demanded Stormy Daniels ‘cease and desist’ after the adult-film star said in a ’60 Minutes’ TV interview that she was threatened with violence to stay silent about an alleged affair with Trump.”
* A hard-to-justify deportation: “Federal authorities deported a military veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan but was later convicted of drug crimes, an agency spokeswoman said Sunday. In a statement, the spokeswoman, Nicole Alberico of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, said immigration agents returned Miguel Perez Jr., 39, to Mexican authorities on Friday.”
* I hope this doesn’t have anything to do with undermining pending litigation: “Remington Arms Co filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Delaware court on Sunday to carry out a debt-cutting deal with creditors amid mounting public pressure for greater gun control.”
* It’s only March: “With passage of an enormous budget bill, the GOP-controlled Congress all but wrapped up its legislating for the year.”
* An unexpected report: “Royal Dutch Shell on Monday outlined a scenario in which, by 2070, we would be using far less of the company’s own product — oil — as cars become electric, a massive carbon storage industry develops, and transportation begins a shift toward a reliance on hydrogen as an energy carrier.”
* HHS: “John Bardis, a top HHS official who signed off on ex-Secretary Tom Price’s charter jet flights, is resigning effective April 6, the agency confirmed Thursday.” * Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe reflected on his ouster in an op-ed that’s worth your time. * Do you suppose he was avoiding protesters? “The White House on Saturday morning issued a statement praising youths participating in March for Our Lives demonstrations…. But after leaving his golf club on Saturday afternoon, Trump’s motorcade took a longer, less-direct route back to his Mar-a-Lago estate, where he is staying this weekend.” 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
