Today’s edition of quick hits:
* If only more Senate Republicans agreed: “In a rebuke to the Trump administration, 136 Republicans joined House Democrats Thursday to oppose a Treasury Department plan to lift sanctions against companies controlled by an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
* Madness: “A Marine veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder was held for three days for possible deportation before federal authorities learned that he was a U.S. citizen born in Michigan, lawyers said Wednesday.”
* VA: “Members of the security detail tasked with protecting senior leaders at the Department of Veterans Affairs followed questionable procedures that put officials’ safety at risk, abused rules governing overtime pay, and acted as chauffeur for former Secretary David Shulkin’s wife, according to a new investigation.”
* Maybe Trump shouldn’t have prematurely declared a triumph: “North Korea has not taken “concrete steps” to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, Vice President Mike Pence told a group of U.S. diplomats on Wednesday.”
* Departures like these are discouraging: “A top Department of Housing and Urban Development official is leaving the agency Thursday following disagreements with other members of the Trump administration over housing policy and the White House’s attempt to block disaster-recovery money for Puerto Rico, according to five people with direct knowledge of the situation.” * Is it legal for Trump’s Treasury Department to force tens of thousands of IRS workers back onto the job without pay? Probably not. * The explanation seems a little tough to believe: “Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) confirmed to TPM Wednesday that he’d had ‘a discussion’ with Holocaust denier and right-wing troll Chuck C. Johnson. In a statement Harris’ press secretary shared with TPM Wednesday evening, the congressman said he was ‘unaware of his previous associations.’” 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
