Trump Advisor Conway Dismisses Need for Independent Hack Probe and More You Missed in Politics Today

It’s difficult to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in this country and to break through the clutter, so we’re here to make it easier. Here’s what we at Countable are reading today:

1. "Conway dismisses need for independent hack probe, says Trump may reconsider sanctions on Russia"

"Kellyanne Conway, one of Donald Trump's top advisers, on Monday questioned whether additional investigations are needed into reports of Russian hacking during the campaign and indicated the incoming president may reconsider some of the punitive actions President Obama had ordered in response."

"“I predict that President Trump will want to make sure that our actions are proportionate to what occurred, based on what we know," she told Capital Download. She said the steps Obama took, including ejecting 35 alleged Russian spies, were harsher than those he ordered after reported hacking by China and North Korea and suggested the reason for the difference was political.”

Read more at USA Today.

2. "D.C. will go ‘beyond sanctuary,’ create legal defense fund for illegal immigrants"

"The nation’s capital is joining several other heavily Democratic cities in pledging to spend tax dollars to defend illegal immigrants against efforts by the incoming Trump administration to deport them."

"D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) announced Monday she plans to award grants to defense lawyers and nonprofit organizations to represent any of the District’s estimated 25,000 illegal immigrants who are faced with deportation. The $500,000 fund will also help illegal immigrants in the District apply for asylum, and will provide representation for those residing in the city legally with green cards to obtain permanent U.S. citizenship."

Read more at the Washington Post.

3. "Trump son-in-law to be named a senior White House adviser"

"Jared Kushner will be named a senior White House adviser to his father-in-law, Donald J. Trump, cementing the New York real estate executive’s role as a powerful and at times decisive influence on the president-elect, according to two people close to Mr. Trump."

"Mr. Kushner is expected to play the same role in the White House, with the counselors Stephen K. Bannon and Kellyanne Conway providing the president-elect with strategic, messaging and communications advice, and Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee and the incoming chief of staff, running day-to-day operations in the West Wing."

Read more at the New York Times.

4. "Schumer to hold Senate floor ‘late into the night’ to protest ACA repeal"

"Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) plans to occupy the Senate floor “late into the night" Monday to protest Republicans' plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, streaming the event on Facebook and talking calls from activist groups.”

"Though Schumer said in the statement that he would be joined on the floor by fellow Senate Democrats, who are also expected to hop on calls with groups including Families USA, Planned Parenthood and the Service Employees International Union. It's unclear which senators specifically will join the minority leader."

Read more at Talking Points Memo.

5. "White House blasts Senate Republicans on Trump picks"

"The White House on Monday accused Senate Republicans of “rubber stamping" President-elect Donald Trump’s administration picks before their government ethics reviews are complete. Republicans in the Senate are forming their own ‘cheap-suit caucus,’” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.”

"Earnest said Senate Republicans “are failing in their effort to advise and consent."

The White House is ramping up criticism from congressional Democrats who are ripping Republicans for moving too quickly on Trump’s selections for his Cabinet and other top administration posts."

Read more at The Hill.

— Erin Wright

(Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore / Creative Commons via Flickr)