Politics P.M.: Donald Trump is his administration’s own worst enemy

Democracy Dies in Darkness

Politics happens fast. Catch up.

Analysis

Donald Trump is his administration’s own worst enemy

Detailing the White House’s self-inflicted wounds, four months in.

By Philip Bump • Read more »

Lawmakers to Trump: Turn over transcript of meeting with Russians

The GOP has shown few signs of discord, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he wished the White House would produce “less drama.”

By Elise Viebeck • PowerPost • Read more »

Analysis

Translating McMaster’s rhetoric on the Russia-leak story

The national security adviser confirmed key facts in the Post article while pretending to deny it. Here’s a guide to the rhetoric.

By Glenn Kessler • Fact Checker • Read more »

Cornyn, Senate majority whip, withdraws from FBI director consideration

The decision followed several days of resistance from his Republican colleagues.

By Sean Sullivan and Robert Barnes • PowerPost • Read more »

Analysis

The electoral college gave Trump top-secret security clearance. Here’s how it works for everyone else.

A look at the vetting that normally applies.

By Philip Bump • Read more »

McMaster: Trump’s sharing of sensitive intelligence with Russia was ‘wholly appropriate’

Trump’s tweets contradicted earlier denials from White House officials.

By Ashley Parker • Post Politics • Read more »

Analysis

What the White House has said about the classified information story — and what it hasn’t

Parsing some careful wording.

By Philip Bump • Read more »

Can a president share classified information?

Greg Jaffe, one of The Post reporters who broke news of Trump revealing classified information to Russian diplomats, is on the show to explain presidential power when it comes to classified information and what happens next in this developing story.

By Allison Michaels • Post Politics • Read more »

Merrick Garland not interested in FBI job, friends say

Obama’s Supreme Court pick had been suggested for the job by some of the same Senate Republicans who blocked his nomination.

By Robert Barnes • Courts & Law • Read more »

Analysis

Why would Majority Whip John Cornyn leave the Senate? Because it’s a dead-end job.

The Texas Republican interviewed Saturday for FBI director even as some fellow Republicans said the post should go to someone outside politics.

By Paul Kane • PowerPost • Read more »

The Daily 202: Trump’s chaotic White House once again makes a bad story worse

‘Reckless’ disclosure to the Russians is part a pattern of poor judgment

By James Hohmann • PowerPost • Read more »

If Democrats don’t win one of three upcoming special elections, how can they take back the majority in 2018?

For GOP, too, there is a sense of urgency that sagging approval ratings threaten the outcome of congressional races in Georgia, Montana and South Carolina.

By David Weigel • PowerPost • Read more »