Three Things To Watch Today

By Kate Riga, John Light and Caitlin MacNeal

May 16, 2019 8:27 a.m.

Happy Thursday, May 16. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed the country’s most restrictive ban on abortion into law Wednesday night, though it is undoubtedly headed for a legal snarl in the lower courts. Here’s more on that and the other stories we’re following.

Three Things We’re Watching Today

White House war with Congress rages on

The White House sent a lengthy letter to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler (D-NY) rejecting the committee’s probe into possible obstruction and claiming that the committee overstepped its authority. Nadler blasted the letter and said that he’s considering imposing fines on those who defy his subpoenas. The standoff continues to escalate with no end in sight, and we’ll be watching for standout moments.

Barr insists that he isn’t blocking Mueller from testifying

Attorney General William Barr insisted that he hasn’t been blocking special counsel Robert Mueller from testifying before Congress, saying it’s “Bob’s call.” He added that talks between the special counsel’s office and the House Judiciary Committee are ongoing.

Alabama abortion bill is now law

This week, we’ve been covering the Alabama abortion bill that even televangelist Pat Robertson called “extreme.” The measure, which is the most restrictive abortion law in the country, was signed by Gov. Kay Ivey (R) Wednesday night. Lawsuits are certain to follow, and the anti-abortion contingent is itching for a legal fight that goes all the way up to the Supreme Court.

Today’s Rundown

10:00 a.m. ET House and Senate gavel in.

10:45 a.m. ET Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi holds a press conference.

11:45 a.m. ET President Trump greets and meets with Ueli Maurer, President of the Swiss Confederation, at the White House.

2:30 p.m. ET Trump delivers remarks “on modernizing our immigration system for a stronger America” in the White House Rose Garden.

4:15 p.m. ET Trump departs the White House en route to New York.

6:30 p.m. ET Trump speaks at a fundraiser.

8:10 p.m. ET Trump arrives at Trump Tower

Yesterday’s Top Story

Pat Robertson Calls Alabama Abortion Ban ‘An Extreme Law’ — Kate Riga

Reading List

The Complicity of Ben Carson — Jamil Smith, Rolling Stone

Grasswho? Members raised hundreds of thousands, almost none from small donors — Chris Cioffi, Roll Call

White House launches tool for social media censorship complaints — Sara Fischer, Axios

Behind Twitter’s Plan To Get People To Stop Yelling At One Another — Nicole Nguyen, Buzzfeed

Kate Riga (@Kate_Riga24) Kate Riga is a news writer for Talking Points Memo based in New York City. Before joining TPM, Kate was the political reporter for The Southampton Press. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and a native of Philadelphia.

John Light (@LightTweeting) John is TPM's editor for Prime & Special Projects. His work has also appeared at The Atlantic, Reuters, Mother Jones, Salon, Slate, UN Dispatch, Vox, Worth, City & State and Al Jazeera, and has been broadcast on Public Radio International. Before joining TPM, John was a producer for Bill Moyers and WNYC, and worked as a news writer for Grist. He grew up in New Jersey, studied history and film at Oberlin College, and got his master‘s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Caitlin MacNeal (@caitlinmacneal) Caitlin MacNeal is an assistant editor based in Washington, D.C. Before joining TPM, Caitlin interned and wrote for the Huffington Post, the Sunlight Foundation and Slate. She is a graduate of Georgetown University.

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