April 20, 2018

Top Political News

• Barbara Bush, former first lady and matriarch of Bush family, dies at 92.
• Democratic Party files lawsuit alleging Russia, the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks conspired to disrupt the 2016 campaign.
• Comey memos offer more details about fired FBI director’s dealings with Trump
• Some Republicans See House Speaker Race as an Open Field.
• North Korea Removes Major Obstacle to U.S. Negotiations, South Says
• Michael Flynn tests ‘comeback tour’. Politico
• McCabe Findings Sent to Prosecutors Weighing Criminal Charges
• The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics

Energy & Natural Resources

• 2018 Farm Bill advances from House Ag Committee
• Hubbard named to lead USDA Forest Service.
• Emissions from wildfires have fallen over the last century—that’s not necessarily good news
• Scott Pruitt’s Ethics Inquiries Widen, and G.O.P. Support Shows Cracks

Indian Affairs

• Supreme Court case tests weight of old Native American treaties in 21st century
• NCAI President Jefferson Keel Responds to Senate Vote on Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act.
• Tribal Sovereignty? Yes … But If It Doesn’t Impact Big Donors To The Democratic Party.
• IG: Zinke’s Reassignment Of Native Americans And Climate Scientists Possibly Illegal
• Sources: Interior Officials Have History Of Hostility To Native Concerns.

Labor

• With Pickets and Lawsuits, Unions and Developers Go to War
• ATA Chairman Highlights Positive Impact of Tax Cuts on Trucking
•  $76,000 Monthly Pension: Why States and Cities Are Short on Cash

Taxation, Trade, & Defense

• Nafta Agreement Could Come in Weeks, Pence and Trudeau Say
• Across Midwest, Farmers Warn of G.O.P. Losses Over Trump’s Trade Policy
• Arming the world: Inside Trump’s ‘Buy American’ drive to expand weapons exports.
• Sanctions Flap Erupts Into Open Conflict Between Haley and White House
• Tax Overhaul Remains Unpopular, Poll Shows

Technology

• It’s Time to Regulate ‘Smart City’ Technology, Too
• Pittsburgh Airport Partnership Will Create Testing Ground for New Technology.
• Autonomous cars won’t happen without tons of data, but Tesla and Waymo have a big head start.
• Toyota to launch ‘talking’ vehicles in 2021

Transportation

• FAA Authorization Headed for House Floor Vote Next Week
• APTA: U.S. public transit ridership fell nearly 3 percent in 2017.
• Fan Blade, Engine Cover Are Factors in Southwest Flight 1380 Engine Failure
• What’s Behind Today’s Urban Streetcar Revival?
• States risk billions in rail funding without FTA safety OK
• Railcar builder Greenbrier reshapes leadership roles.