Free Republic

WASHINGTON — States left cash-strapped by the coronavirus crisis shouldn’t count on federal bailouts — especially those run by Democrats, President Trump told The Post on Monday. During a sit-down in the Oval Office, Trump echoed recent remarks by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who last month refused to open federal coffers for “blue state” governments — including New York’s — that have been hit hard by the pandemic. “I think Congress is inclined to do a lot of things but I don’t think they’re inclined to do bailouts. A bailout is different than, you know, reimbursing for the plague,”...

Mick Mulvaney didn’t jump from his position as acting White House chief of staff — he was pushed, after falling out of favor with President Trump, insiders tell The Post. “Mick was basically a pariah in the building,” a source close to the president said.

Washington Examiner reporter Steven Nelson reported on President Trump’s late departure from the White House following his meeting with AG Bill Barr. @stevennelson10 · 4h Trump was supposed to depart White House at 410 But after ending his meeting with Barr and Cipollone, he just sat back down behind the Resolute Desk for a new meeting This meeting is with Stephanie Grisham, Gidley, Mulvaney and others President Trump left for his Louisiana campaign rally 45 minutes late.

Some lawmakers would like to see the Justice Department prosecute former spy chief James Clapper for inaccurate testimony to Congress about domestic surveillance before it's too late. Privacy-conscious critics say looming five-year statutes of limitation for perjury and making false statements — establishing a March 12 deadline for charges — make an urgent case for action, and that nonprosecution would set a dangerous precedent that impedes oversight and executive-branch accountability. Clapper, director of national intelligence from 2010 to 2017, testified during a March 2013 Senate Intelligence Committee hearing that the NSA was "not wittingly” collecting “any type of data at...