Russia investigation, climate change and business ideas: What's happened this week under Trump

By Melissa Leu, Colleen Shalby

March 31, 2017 5:20 PM PT

Healthcare is so last week. At least, that’s what it seems like when we take a look at this week. The main headlines so far have centered on the investigation into Russia’s involvement in the 2016 presidential election. Let’s get to it:

Last weekend

A U.S.-led coalition conducted an airstrike believed to have killed more than 200 civilians in Mosul, according to an initial investigation. If the airstrike is found to be responsible for the fatalities, it would be the deadliest civilian casualty incident since the U.S. military began its involvement.
The Twitter president strikes again. He already blamed Democrats for the failure of the GOP healthcare plan. Then on Sunday, he tweeted that it was the fault of other Republicans and two influential conservative advocacy groups.

Monday, March 27

The plot thickens. Remember the House Intelligence Committee chairman who revealed that the U.S. may have inadvertently spied on Trump’s transition team? Well, new questions are coming out about how Rep. Devin Nunes found out. Like, why did he meet his source at the White House to read the documents? Who is his source? And could it be someone who works for Trump? We’ve got more details on that.
Speaking of Nunes, another top dog on the House Intelligence Committee is asking Nunes to step down from the investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election. Just FYI, Nunes is a Republican and Adam Schiff, who urged him to step down, is a Democrat.
Back to business. Trump is putting his son-in-law Jared Kushner in charge of a new White House office that would oversee the overhauling of the federal bureaucracy with ideas from the business world.
Kushner also volunteered to answer questions from the Senate Intelligence Committee about arranging meetings with the Russian ambassador and other officials, according to the White House.
Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions held a high-profile news conference on “sanctuary cities.” But he really didn’t say anything new. He’s still threatening to take away their federal funds.

Tuesday, March 28

Climate change gets put on the back burner. Trump signed an executive order that aims to dismantle Obama’s climate change policies. The move would shelve the Clean Power Plan, which requires that electricity companies reduce their emissions.
A hit to Internet privacy. The House sent a bill to Trump that repeals regulations that would require broadband companies to get explicit customer permission before using or sharing most of their personal information. Trump administration supports the measure.
A lawyer for former deputy Atty. Gen. Sally Yates is accusing the White House of trying to stop her testimony at congressional hearings about the Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The White House denied it.

Wednesday, March 29

Trump’s poll numbers are low. Historically low, actually. But his supporters think it’s too soon to judge.
Remember last week when Ivanka Trump got an office in the West Wing, but wasn’t technically an employee of the White House? Well, now she is, just without the paycheck.
The news came the day of a women’s empowerment panel at the White House. Trump said a few words and made some news and raised a few eyebrows when he asked if anyone had heard of Susan B. Anthony. Roll back the tape though; it sounds like a joke.
Seattle is suing Trump over his threat to withhold federal funds from so-called sanctuary cities.

Thursday, March 30

Drama! According to the New York Times, Nunes got his access to documents from two White House officials. The White House invited lawmakers to read through intelligence material, though it’s unclear if it’s the same batch.
Former national security advisor Michael Flynn, whom Trump fired three weeks into his administration, has been asking for immunity in exchange for testifying to the House and Senate intelligence committees investigating Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election.
Big news for Neil Gorsuch. Two Democratic senators announced their support for Trump’s Supreme Court nominee.
Women’s healthcare is on the table. Vice President Pence cast the tie-breaking vote to advance the bill that would let states withhold federal funds from Planned Parenthood.
A Senate committee (barely) approves R. Alexander Acosta’s nomination to be Labor secretary. Next step: the confirmation vote.
Another day, another appeal. The Department of Justice appealed the halting of the travel ban to a Hawaii court, arguing that the president has the authority to restrict travel and pause refugee resettlement. There are now two appeals in two different states.

Friday, March 31

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, is taking center stage in the investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election. He went to the White House to view documents the Trump administration says backs up the president’s surveillance claim.
It’s official. Trump University is settling for $25 million. The ruling by a San Diego federal judge ends six years of litigation alleging the school misled students into spending thousands of dollars on a program that didn’t live up to its promises.
Oops. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he shouldn’t have plugged “The Lego Batman Movie,” in which he has a financial stake.

Can’t get enough? We’ve got you covered for all of Trump’s first 100 days. » »

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