Today in 5 Lines
President Trump signed an executive order that would dramatically change major Obama-era rules aimed at preparing for climate change and curbing greenhouse-gas emissions. The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration attempted to block former acting Attorney General Sally Yates from testifying before the House Intelligence Committee on alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer later denied the report. House Speaker Paul Ryan said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes should continue to lead the investigation, after some lawmakers called for Nunes to recuse himself. Ryan also told reporters that House Republicans would continue working on legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but didn’t offer a timeline.
Today on The Atlantic
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Trump’s Climate Executive Order: Robinson Meyer analyzes the new executive order, which aims to roll back many of the rules and guidelines implemented by President Obama to slow the pace of climate change. “It is exactly as bad as environmental advocates feared—with one exception.”
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It’s All Downhill: Donald Trump appears ready to move on from the GOP health-care bill failure to his tax-reform plan. If he thought health-care reform was “so complicated,” then the next items on the Republican agenda—like raising the debt ceiling—will be even more difficult. (Russell Berman)
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The Business of Government: Jared Kushner is set to run the Office of American Innovation, which will reportedly be staffed by former business executives. While an admirable idea, writes Elaine Kamarck, real government reform will come from people “with in-depth knowledge of the government itself.”