5.04pm EDT17:04
Hey all, Vivian Ho taking over for Tom McCarthy.
Our colleague Erin Durkin is in Alabama at the moment, where lawmakers are considering abortion legislation. We’ll keep you updated on what goes down here.
Erin Durkin
(@erinmdurkin)
The Alabama Senate is about to meet to consider a near-total ban on abortion, which would make it a crime to perform one at any stage of pregnancy.
May 14, 2019
4.56pm EDT16:56
Here’s a summary of the day thus far:
Donald Trump praised attorney general William Barr for opening what appears to be a broad investigation of the Russia counterespionage investigation that swept up the Trump campaign. Barr appointed a US attorney to lead the inquiry and reportedly has got the CIA and DNI involved.
Trump described retaliatory tariffs as “a little squabble with China”. The Dow Jones climbed .82% on Tuesday after big drops on Monday.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Vladimir Putin in Russia. The sides discussed areas for further cooperation. Pompeo said he warned Russia not to interfere in the 2020 election.
The House set a date of 21 May for former White House counsel Don McGahn to testify before the judiciary committee. It’s unclear whether he’ll appear.
Senator Elizabeth Warren took a “hard pass” on an offer to do a Fox News town hall event, calling the network “hate-for-profit”.
Trump said he didn’t know anything about a reported Pentagon plan, just in case, for how to send 120,000 troops to the Middle East in a conflict with Iran.
Steve Bullock, Montana’s Democrat governor, became the 23rd candidate (and counting) to enter the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
4.23pm EDT16:23
Trump wraps his Louisiana speech. With piped-in Rolling Stones to see him off, just like 2016. Here we go again.
4.03pm EDT16:03
Trump is speaking in Louisiana. So far he’s made fun of Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg’s name, referred to Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas” and promised a “brand-new I-10 bridge” for the region “if we win this election”.
Applause lines all. Follow along here:
3.46pm EDT15:46
Senator Ron Wyden has written a letter to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau asking for assurances of safe passage for Portland Trail Blazers star Enes Kanter if the Oregon-based team meets the Toronto Raptors in the NBA finals, as could happen.
There are concerns that Kanter, who is Turkish and a critic of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, could be targeted by the Erdogan government. Wyden’s letter, first reported by ESPN, read in part:
I ask your government to facilitate Mr. Kanter’s safe passage to and from Canada should the Portland Trail Blazers play the Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Canada, in the upcoming NBA Finals. I also urge your government to state publicly that it will not comply with any Interpol red notice meant to interfere with Mr. Kanter’s livelihood and to intimidate him and his family back in Turkey.
3.23pm EDT15:23
It turns out that Trump is thrilled with the way Barr is going after his perceived political opponents, who through another lens were career justice department employees pursuing an investigation of foreign sabotage of a US election.
This Week
(@ThisWeekABC)
“I think it’s a great thing that he did it.”Pres. Trump “so proud” of Attorney General Barr for efforts to probe Russia investigation origins. https://t.co/ilomGDdNEj pic.twitter.com/WWAbF5AeOI
May 14, 2019
3.01pm EDT15:01
It was announced yesterday that former president Carter, 94, broke his hip while preparing to go turkey hunting and had to undergo surgery.
Bill Clinton
(@BillClinton)
I’m wishing President Carter a full recovery from his broken hip and a speedy return to his good work around the world.
May 14, 2019
2.47pm EDT14:47
Here’s footage from Pompeo’s meeting with Putin. In these preliminary remarks, Putin touts bilateral ties. Pompeo says Trump sent him to find ways for the countries to work together.
NBC News
(@NBCNews)
LIVE: Sec. Pompeo meets with President Putin. https://t.co/8u8r1Sh518
May 14, 2019
Is this the Trump administration that has supposedly been so tough on Russia, to believe Mitch McConnell?
Source
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Barr working with CIA to review Trump-Russia investigation, reports say – live
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