Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Germany: “Violent clashes broke out near the site of the G-20 Summit Thursday as German riot police confronted thousands of protesters demonstrating amid the arrival of President Donald Trump.”
* Following up on last night’s coverage: “Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Thursday he won’t stop the execution of William Morva despite claims that Morva suffers from a delusional disorder and requests for clemency from mental-health advocates, the European Union and a victim’s relative.”
* A setback for Scalise: “Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the third-ranking Republican in the House, has been readmitted to intensive care as he recovers from last month’s congressional baseball shooting, a Washington, D.C., hospital said Wednesday night.”
* A case to watch: “A group of Democratic attorneys general from 19 states announced Thursday they are suing Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for delaying regulations aimed at protecting student-loan borrowers defrauded by colleges.”
* A personnel problem: “The process of staffing the Trump administration and filling judicial vacancies has moved slowly on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, with only about one in five of President Trump’s civilian nominations receiving confirmation from the Senate, and committees waiting on paperwork for more than two dozen nominees.” * With Tera Dahl out as the deputy chief of staff at the NSC, H.R. McMaster’s faction appears to be winning: “As rival factions inside the White House continue to battle over urgent foreign policy decisions, a key ally of Donald Trump’s chief strategist Stephen Bannon is leaving the National Security Council, BuzzFeed News has learned.” * And for those doing Senate head-counts on the GOP health care overhaul, Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) reportedly said he, too, opposes the Republican bill “as it stands.” Note, Hoeven represents North Dakota, which embraced Medicaid expansion through the ACA. 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
