Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Trade war: “The European Union on Wednesday announced it will start imposing duties in July on a list of U.S. products in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to slap tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Europe.”
* Speaking of our allies: “France, Britain, Germany and the EU on Wednesday sent the United States a joint official request for their companies to be exempt from punitive measures resulting from fresh US sanctions on Iran.”
* An important development in this controversy: “Stormy Daniels says in a new lawsuit that her former attorney betrayed her and became a ‘puppet’ for President Donald Trump and his personal lawyer while still representing her.”
* He takes requests from celebrities seriously: “President Donald Trump commuted the life sentence of Alice Marie Johnson on Wednesday, just days after reality star Kim Kardashian West lobbied the president in an Oval Office meeting to intervene on behalf of Johnson, who was serving a life sentence on drug charges.”
* Will Ryan get the same treatment as Gowdy? “House Speaker Paul D. Ryan has joined those disputing President Trump’s assertion that federal law enforcement planted a spy inside his campaign, telling reporters Wednesday that he has seen ‘no evidence’ to support such claims.”
* Lawyers hiring lawyers: “A lawyer involved in several real estate deals that U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating in his criminal case against President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort has hired his own ethics adviser.”
* Tell us more: “French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday his phone calls with President Donald Trump and other world leaders were just like sausages: better not explain what’s inside.”
* The VA Mission Act: “President Trump is preparing to sign a sweeping new law Wednesday aimed at expanding veterans’ access to private-sector health care. But behind the scenes his administration is fighting a bipartisan Senate effort to fund the legislation.” * State Rep. Michael Clark’s (R) apology needs some work: “A South Dakota lawmaker apologized after posting a comment on Facebook arguing that businesses should be allowed to ‘turn away people of color’ if they want to, the Argus Leader reported.” * This seems quite believable: “President Donald Trump reportedly justified the tariffs he placed on Canadian steel and aluminum by asking Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a phone call: ‘Didn’t you guys burn down the White House?’” * I’m worried the administration won’t handle this appropriately: “President Trump has tried to undo as many Obama-era policies as possible during his first 500 days in office, but his administration has remained curiously circumspect when it comes to one of his predecessor’s initiatives: putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.” 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
