Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Look for much more on this on tonight’s show: “In his first public testimony since the release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, Attorney General William Barr sought to defend himself Wednesday against accusations from Democrats that he misled Congress about the Mueller team’s concerns over his description of their findings.”
* The latest migrant to die in our care: “A 16-year-old unaccompanied migrant died in Texas while in the custody of the U.S. government, officials said Wednesday. The boy died Tuesday after ‘several days of intensive care’ at a children’s hospital, Health and Human Services Spokeswoman Evelyn Stauffer said in a statement to NBC News.”
* Yesterday’s mass shooting: “Two people were killed and four others injured after a campus shooting Tuesday at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, officials said. Trystan Andrew Terrell, 22, was charged with two counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said early Wednesday.”
* The latest from Venezuela: “Dueling demonstrations ramped up Wednesday as thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets of Caracas after opposition leader Juan Guaidó called for the ‘largest march’ in the country’s history.”
* Afghanistan: “American and Taliban negotiators began a new round of peace talks Wednesday in Doha, Qatar, aimed at securing a lasting peace agreement that would include Taliban guarantees regarding terrorism and a phased withdrawal of American troops.”
* An interesting report on Deutsche Bank: “Lawyers for the bank have spent months cooperating with investigators from two Democratic-controlled congressional committees, which issued what one lawmaker called a ‘friendly subpoena’ to the bank in mid-April. The bank could end up sharing decades of [Donald Trump’s] personal and corporate financial records.”
* The odds of Moore’s confirmation aren’t great: “The conservative commentator Stephen Moore’s chance at confirmation to the Federal Reserve Board teetered on Tuesday after one Republican senator said it was unlikely she would support him and multiple Republican senators began to publicly question whether the problematic favorite of President Trump would have enough votes if nominated.”
* A congressional hearing of historic significance: “It was a big political discussion in a very small room. ‘Medicare for all’ got its first congressional hearing on Tuesday, albeit in one of the House’s tightest meeting rooms, in an area of the Capitol off limits to the scores of people who assembled in Washington to show support.” * Another congressional hearing of historic significance: “A House Judiciary subcommittee on Tuesday held the first congressional hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 36 years as supporters push for ratification.” * The fact that Trump personally profits from stuff like this adds insult to injury: “How Taxpayers Covered a $1,000 Liquor Bill for Trump Staffers (and More) at Trump’s Club.” 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
