Politics

The Tampa Bay Times reports: Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, told his staff this morning he is retiring. “Eight years takes its time on you. … There’s got to be an exit strategy at some point,” Ross said in an interview, noting he planned on serving 10 years, or five terms. “My wife and I decided this is a good time.” …

CNBC reports: House Republicans are scheduled to take reporters’ questions on Wednesday, shortly following the announcement from Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., that he won’t seek re-election in 2018. The speaker himself is expected to discuss his decision at the press conference, said Ryan’s counselor Brendan Buck, who confirmed a wave of reports in a statement on Wednesday morning. “This morning …

Bloomberg reports: The U.S. marijuana industry has a new spokesman: John Boehner. The Republican former Speaker of the House has joined the advisory board of Acreage Holdings, a company that cultivates, processes and dispenses cannabis in 11 U.S. states. Boehner’s endorsement, after saying nine years ago he was “unalterably opposed” to legalization, could be considered a watershed event: Marijuana has …

CNBC reports: House Speaker Paul Ryan has privately told confidants he does not plan to run for re-election this year, multiple reports said Wednesday. The Wisconsin Republican could announce his decision “soon,” according to the news outlet. The GOP faces a tough fight to hold on to a House majority in November amid Democratic enthusiasm and opposition to some policies …

Politico reports: A combined version of two bipartisan Senate bills designed to protect special counsel Robert Mueller’s job is set to be released Wednesday, marking lawmakers’ latest political warning shot to President Donald Trump as he entertains firing the man investigating him. The new Senate legislation is the product of months-long talks among Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), …

Axios reports: A source present at the taping says James Comey’s interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, airing Sunday at 10 p.m. as a “20/20” special, is “going to shock the president and his team.” In an ABC promo, Stephanopoulos says Comey compared Trump to a mob boss. According to the source, the Comey interview left people in the room stunned …

Reuters reports: Russia has warned that any U.S. missiles fired at Syria over a suspected chemical weapons attack on a rebel enclave would be shot down and the launch sites targeted, raising the possibility of a U.S.-Russian confrontation. Issuing the warning on Tuesday evening, the Russian ambassador to Lebanon also said such a clash should be avoided and Moscow was …

NBC News reports: Adult film actress Stormy Daniels is cooperating with federal investigators looking into a $130,000 payment she received from President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, multiple sources familiar with the proceedings told NBC News. The cooperation is in connection with a broader federal probe of the attorney, Michael Cohen, which triggered a raid on his office and hotel room …

CNBC reports: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified to a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees Tuesday that Facebook is cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. “I know we are working with them,” Zuckerberg said during the hearing. When asked by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont about Facebook’s involvement with Mueller’s investigation, Zuckerberg confirmed the cooperation but …

CNN reports: US President Donald Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama will not attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, White House and royal sources told CNN on Tuesday. A Kensington Palace spokesman said world leaders and political figures would not be invited in their official capacities. Trump and first lady Melania were not invited, nor were any …

Homeland Security advisor Tom Bossert abruptly resigned this morning, according to multiple outlets. At this writing there’s no explanation. According to MSNBC, the White House has issued a brief statement thanking Bossert for his “commitment to the safety and security of our great country.” Over the weekend Bossert appeared on multiple cable news shows to defend Trump’s policies. He last …

The Hill reports: The husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway responded to President Trump on Twitter after Trump tweeted that “attorney client privilege is dead” following a raid on the offices of his lawyer, Michael Cohen. George Conway retweeted the message Tuesday morning from the president and included a link to the Justice Department’s website explaining why Cohen’s offices …

“President Trump, I’m speaking to you directly. Do not take the same mistake that President Obama had made. The action that you had taken to take out the air base, that was important, that was strong — that was a very strong message. What we need to do right now is to take out Assad’s air force. If we ground …

Politico reports: Vice President Mike Pence is traveling to Boston tomorrow for two fundraisers — including one for the Republican National Committee, which is expected to haul in $500,000. But Massachusetts’ Republican governor won’t be at either of them. Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters today that he will be in New Bedford during Pence’s visit and won’t attend the RNC …

The BBC reports: The US and Russia have traded barbs at a UN Security Council meeting on the alleged chemical attack in Syria. Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia said the incident in Douma was staged and that US military action in response could have “grave repercussions”. US Ambassador Nikki Haley said Russia had the “blood of Syrian children” on its hands. …

The Associated Press reports: The GOP’s signature tax law is projected to increase the national debt by $1.9 trillion between 2018 and 2028, according to a new report by the Congressional Budget Office. According to the report, the tax law would cost the government $2.3 trillion in revenues, but economic growth would offset that figure by about $461 billion. The …

Slate reports: The House Energy and Commerce Committee released Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s prepared introductory remarks on Monday. Zuckerberg is expected to testify before the committee on Wednesday. He will also appear before the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees on Tuesday. Zuckerberg expresses regret for both the Russian interference and the Cambridge Analytica scandal at the beginning of his testimony: …

Via email from billionaire Tom Steyer: We just mailed more than 5,100 impeachment guides to federal and state Democratic, Independent, and third-party candidates running for office in 2018. “Impeachment: A Guide for Candidates” contains a letter to candidates, information about public support for impeachment, an explainer about the meaning and history of impeachment, a list of Donald Trump’s eight impeachable …

Talking Points Memo reports: Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who ran with Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) in 2008, said Sunday she would run for office “again in a heartbeat.” Palin was asked about her 2008 bid by Fox News host Mark Levin during his show “Life, Liberty and Levin” Sunday and whether she was “glad” she ran for vice …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Gov. Rick Scott confirmed Monday morning he’s running for U.S. Senate, making the announcement in Orlando before heading out on a campaign kick-off tour of the state. He’ll challenge incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson in what will be one of the most expensive and hotly contested races in 2018. “You’re the first to know I’m going to …