On Wednesday, President Trump abruptly ordered his nominee for Director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton, to skip his scheduled Senate confirmation hearing.
The move is a calculated attempt to pressure Senate Republicans into passing the SAVE America Act, a bill that would require proof of citizenship for federal voting. By stalling Clayton's installation, Trump ensures that his controversial ally, Bill Pulte, remains in power as the acting spy chief for a longer period. Senate Republicans, who were eager to confirm Clayton quickly to secure the renewal of key surveillance powers known as FISA, expressed intense frustration at being blindsided.
Legislative progress on both the intelligence leadership and the voting overhaul is now frozen as the standoff between the White House and the GOP continues.
.Here are the top political news stories for today.
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