Today in Trump: March 19, 2017
Today in the Trump Administration
New CBS Nation Tracker poll
Supporters look to Trump to “make good deals” on legislation; opponents see a president distracted
Here’s something Americans agree on: they think President Trump is trying to do a lot – though it’s too much for some. Whether they like it all is a different matter, of course. And a lot of activity has meant there are a lot of things for supporters to cheer...and for opponents to dislike.
His strongest backers like just about all they see – “this is what I voted for,” they say – though they’re notably not yet sold on the health-care bill. They turn to Mr. Trump for accurate information over other sources, believe he was wiretapped, describe him as “focused” and that he makes them feel “confident” in him.
Face the Nation
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tx., House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney are the guests on “Face the Nation,” at 10:30 a.m.
Nancy Pelosi warns Trump voters could lose out under GOP Obamacare replacement
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in an interview broadcast Sunday that President Trump’s supporters might lose out if Obamacare is replaced with the new Republican plan.
“Republicans will find any excuse to pull money up to the high end at the expense of the working class,” Pelosi said in an interview taped Friday with CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “And what’s so strange about it all is many of the people, many of the millions of people who are benefiting from the Affordable Care Act voted for Donald Trump. They live in red areas. That money will be taken from red areas.”
“Any of the people who will be advantaged by the money going to the high end will be in blue areas. How’s that? It’s so wrong,” she continued.
Ted Cruz says he won’t vote for GOP health care bill as it stands
As Republicans continue to debate their plan for health care overhaul, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Sunday that he won’t vote for the bill as it stands because it will not solve the problem of rising insurance premiums.
“I cannot vote for any bill that keeps premiums rising,” Cruz said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
House intel chairman: Still no evidence of Trump Tower wiretapping
On the eve of FBI Director James Comey’s testimony on Capitol Hill, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-California, said Sunday -- after he received information on the subject from the FBI -- that there is still no reason to suspect Trump Tower was wiretapped during the 2016 campaign.
Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court confirmation hearings: How to watch online
Neil Gorsuch, the man President Donald Trump chose to fill the vacancy left on the Supreme Court by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, will begin his Senate confirmation hearings on Monday.
Due to Republican control of the Senate, Gorsuch is expected to eventually be confirmed to the court. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has said he expects the entire process to last roughly six weeks, and hopes to have Gorsuch on the court before the Senate leaves for its Easter recess.
Recent Trump Administration News:
Nancy Pelosi: Donald Trump owes Obama an apology
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said Friday that President Trump should apologize to former President Obama – and the American people – for his unsubstantiated charge that Mr. Obama had Trump Tower wiretapped during the 2016 campaign. The Democratic leader spoke with Face the Nation moderator John Dickerson in an interview that will air Sunday.
Pelosi commended Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who suggested Friday that Mr. Trump should apologize to his predecessor. “Good for him. Good for him for saying that,” she said.
After Merkel meeting, Trump says Germany owes “vast sums” to NATO
A day after hosting German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House, President Trump said Saturday that Germany owes “vast sums of money” to NATO.
Mr. Trump, who’s spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, tweeted that he had a “great” meeting with Merkel despite some reports that he implied suggested otherwise.
North Korea tops agenda for Rex Tillerson’s China visit
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Saturday pushed for closer China-U.S. cooperation on dealing with North Korea’s nuclear program in his first face-to-face talks with top Chinese diplomats.
When Tillerson arrived in the country, he stepped into an arena where the U.S. is facing a barrage of challenges from trade to the South China Sea, but America’s biggest foreign policy problem - North Korea - topped the agenda, CBS News correspondent Adriana Diaz reports. Tillerson has to win over China to have any hope of combating the threat from the North.
Republicans are divided over how to reform Medicaid
The House GOP health care bill has competition from other Republicans, a group of governors who’ve made their own proposal about how to overhaul Medicaid for low-income people. They’re hoping GOP senators will find their ideas more persuasive.
It’s a gradual approach, with additional options for states. It’s likely to involve more federal spending than the House bill, but also keep more people covered. In the end, though, the governors are still talking about fundamental change.