OFF THE HILL: Patrick McCann left Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R., Ark.) office to start as the Vice President of Media Relations of JPMorganChase, which many have been calling “the most patriotic bank in America.”
CLOSING IN: Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling is closing in on the full-time job, Trump administration sources told the Washington Reporter. President Donald Trump recently designated Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as his pick to run the Department of Justice full-time.
NEWSOM RAISING HEALTHCARE COSTS: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D., Calif.) is considering a $2.3 billion tax increase in an attempt to balance the Golden State’s budget. Critics caution that his tax hike would raise healthcare premiums for Californians by at least $100. David McIntosh, the President of Club for Growth, noted of Newsom’s proposal that, “for all their talk of healthcare prices, California is looking to raise healthcare premiums with a huge tax.”
HHS VS. CAIR: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), noted that his department “has requested a review of allegations involving CAIR and its [California and Washington affiliates] regarding the use of federal grant funds.” Kennedy added that he shared his concerns regarding “fraud, abuse, or ties to destinated terrorist organizations” to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
FINDER’S KEEPERS: Following Graham Platner’s win in Maine, Republicans at Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) rolled out GrahamPlatner.org, a microsite that targets Platner for everything from “inappropriate behavior” to “disparaging U.S. military heroes” to “the Nazi tattoo.”
ONWARD AND UPWARD: Alex Meyer, who worked on the White House’s Intergovernmental Affairs team, is leaving his current role, alongside acclamation from White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and many others.
NEW START DATE: President Donald Trump moved up Bill Pulte’s start date to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence to June 19. Trump said that Pulte “is working closelt with Tulsi Gabbard” in the meantime, and reiterated that Pulte will “remain as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.” The Washington Reporter endorsed Pulte for his latest role.
FAKE NEWS: The White House’s Olivia Wales pushed back on a report from the Washington Post which claimed that “the White House is closing its doors to reporters on Sunday, the day of the big UFC fight on the South Lawn.” Wales noted that in reality, “the White House Press Office has credentialed a press pool of 35 members…expanded from the normal press pool of 21 members.”
