March 23, 2018

Top Political News

• In late-night drama, Senate passes $1.3 trillion spending bill, averting government shutdown.
• Winners and losers from the $1.3T omnibus.
• Trump signs spending bill after earlier veto threat. Politico
• Trump’s Lawyer Resigns as President Adopts Aggressive Approach in Russia Inquiry.
• Trump National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster To Resign, Be Replaced By John Bolton
• The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics.

Energy & Natural Resources

• Congressional Negotiators Reach Deal On Wildfire Funding
• Broad Coalition Praises Congress for Fire Funding Fix in Omnibus Spending Bill
• Spending bill rejects Trump’s proposed EPA cut.
• Superfund, Water Infrastructure See Funding Bump in Omnibus
• Borrowing G.O.P. Playbook, Democratic States Sue the Government and Rack Up Wins
• Regulators roll back NEPA for wireless projects

Indian Affairs

• There’s Never Been a Native American Congresswoman. That Could Change in 2018
• Indian country deserves a competent, permanent Indian Health Service director now.
• Zinke Tells Tribal Leaders in Arizona He’ll Fight Opioids.
• Native American, conservation groups sue Trump for failing to protect humpback whale habitat
• Washington state Senate petitions FBI on safety of Native women.

Labor

• Chain restaurants say new apprenticeship program could ease shortage of truck drivers. AJOT
• Could the West Virginia Teacher Strike Spark a Labor Movement?
• McDonald’s agrees settlement in franchisees’ U.S. labor case
• The omnibus bill blocks a Trump rule that would allow bosses to keep workers’ tips

Taxation, Trade, & Defense

• U.S. Exempts Some Allies From Tariffs, but May Opt for Quotas
• After Trump orders tariffs, China threatens its own tariffs in response.
• Nafta Negotiators Signal Progress on Thorny Auto Content Rules
• Federal Reserve hikes interest rate to highest level in a decade amid stronger economy.
• Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Convinced Me He’s a Force to Be Reckoned With
• Former French president Sarkozy held over Gaddafi cash inquiry

Technology

• Self-driving Uber vehicle strikes and kills pedestrian
• Arizona says not time to rein in self-driving cars after Uber fatality.
• Here’s how Uber’s self-driving cars are supposed to to detect pedestrians
• Trump Infrastructure Proposal Could Fund Self-Driving Truck Lanes, DOT Official Says
• Facebook Faces Growing Pressure Over Data and Privacy Inquiries

Transportation

• Transit spending gets boost in congressional spending bill.
• Falling transit ridership poses an ‘emergency’ for cities, experts fear
• Lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to speed up infrastructure permitting
• Public transit officials are ‘struggling to understand’ Trump’s proposed cuts.
• New federal budget would likely keep money flowing to Lynnwood light rail