Today’s edition of quick hits:
* I don’t remember him previously saying this so explicitly: “President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he wanted a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the clearest expression yet of his administration’s support for such an outcome.”
* Trade war: “Steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have cost Ford Motor Co about $1 billion in profits, its chief executive officer said on Wednesday, while Honda Motor Co said higher steel prices have brought ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’ in new costs.”
* Jerome Powell continues to ignore Trump: “The Federal Reserve approved its third rate increase this year, hiking the short-term interest rate on Wednesday to a range of 2 to 2.25 percent. The move indicates that the nation’s central bank may soon be able to take a back seat for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis and allow the economy to steer itself.”
* House Republicans “have initiated the process to issue a subpoena to the Justice Department for memos drafted by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, according to a Judiciary Committee source.”
* Trump’s deal-making skills are faltering: “The Trump administration appears virtually certain to miss its self-imposed weekend deadline for reaching an agreement with Canada on a new North American trade deal, according to U.S. officials and people close to the talks.”
* Trump’s HHS announced it is “terminating a contract that Advanced Bioscience Resources Inc. had with the Food and Drug Administration for supplying fetal tissue for research purposes.”
* A missed opportunity: “Sen. Bob Corker appears resigned to the fact that the Senate won’t be acting to rebut President Donald Trump on trade policy before voters go to the polls in November.” * Revolving door: “One of the White House’s most visible staffers has his eye on the exit door. Raj Shah, a deputy press secretary who has stepped behind the podium for numerous daily briefings, has told multiple people he plans to leave the West Wing following the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.” * Something to keep an eye on: “Gamble v. United States isn’t related to the Russia investigation. But the outcome — which one senior Republican senator has tried to influence– could still have consequences for the probe. “ 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
