Members-Only ArticleHappy Wednesday, May 22. President Donald Trump’s lawyers will see the inside of another courtroom today as they yet again try to stop a congressional committee that has subpoenaed information about the President. This time, it’s the House Oversight Committee’s effort to get Trump’s financial records from his banks. Here’s more on that and the other stories we’re following.
Three Things We’re Watching
Dems huddle on impeachment
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is gathering her members Wednesday morning to tamp down calls for impeachment and discuss ongoing oversight efforts. The meeting comes as ex-White House counsel Don McGahn’s decision not to testify in the House pushed more Democrats to support an impeachment inquiry. Leadership has been solidly against what it sees as a futile and possibly damaging effort — and at least so far, the members have respected that opinion.
The IRS contradicts the administration
A leaked internal memo from the IRS reveals a schism within the agency, as it says that Trump must release his tax returns or invoke executive privilege. So far, the administration has done neither. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has insisted that there is no legislative rationale for Congress to seek them, a stance the memo flatly denies. We’ll see if this bolsters the congressional argument as this skirmish likely also heads to the courts.
Trump back in court
Fresh off a ruling from a federal judge denying President Trump’s attempt to halt a subpoena issued to his accountant, Trump’s personal attorneys will be back in court this afternoon trying to quash a House Oversight Committee subpoena to Deutsche Bank and Capitol One for records related to Trump’s finances. TPM’s Josh Kovensky will be in the courtroom for the hearing.
Today’s Rundown
9:30 a.m. ET Senate gavels in.
10:00 a.m. ET House gavels in.
11:15 a.m. ET President Trump meets with congressional Democrats on infrastructure in the Cabinet Room of the White House.
3:10 p.m. ET Trump hosts a Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor presentation ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
7:00 p.m. ET Trump speaks at a roundtable and fundraiser at Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Yesterday’s Top Story
Watch Rep. Katie Porter Teach Ben Carson His Own Job — Kate Riga
Reading List
Texans could get a year in prison for protesting pipelines on their own land — Naveena Sadasivam, Grist
How often does the Supreme Court overturn precedents like Roe v. Wade? — Dan Keating, Brittany Renee Mayes and Kevin Schaul, The Washington Post
Finland is winning the war on fake news. What it’s learned may be crucial to Western democracy — Eliza Mackintosh, CNN
The Underrated Pleasures of Eating Dinner Early — Lauren Collins, The New Yorker
