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Today’s edition of quick hits.
* Trump in the Middle East: “President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would cease sanctions against war-torn Syria ‘to give them a chance at greatness,’ as he seeks to strengthen ties to Saudi Arabia and others. ‘Oh, what I do for the crown prince,’ Trump said as Mohammed bin Salman, seated in the front row, crossed his arms over his chest in an expression of gratitude.”
* A fascinating report on an underappreciated story: “When he approved a campaign to reopen shipping in the Red Sea by bombing the Houthi militant group into submission, President Trump wanted to see results within 30 days of the initial strikes two months ago. By Day 31, Mr. Trump, ever leery of drawn-out military entanglements in the Middle East, demanded a progress report, according to administration officials. But the results were not there.”
* On Capitol Hill: “Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday he is placing a hold on all Trump Justice Department nominees as he seeks answers on the administration’s plan to accept a luxury jet from Qatar to be used as Air Force One.”
* Will the FDA ever be the same? “The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced it will begin the process of pulling prescription fluoride drops and tablets for children off the market. The supplements are usually given to kids at high risk for cavities.”
* I don’t know if a story like this one will resonate with the general public, but in terms of the free press and Americans’ right to know about an important and controversial presidential trip, it matters: “The group representing White House journalists said Monday it was disturbed that the Trump administration barred any wire service news reporters from traveling with the president on Air Force One to the Middle East. No reporters from The Associated Press, Bloomberg or Reuters were on the plane, where presidents often take questions from traveling members of the press.”
* Farmers need this information, and fortunately, they’ll now get it: “The Agriculture Department will restore information about climate change that was scrubbed from its website when President Trump took office, according to court documents filed on Monday in a lawsuit over the deletion.”
* A story we’ve been keeping an eye on: “More than 100 of the employees who were laid off from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) facility in Morgantown are expected to have their jobs restored, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said in a statement Tuesday.”
* I’m going to assume Musk will turn down the offer, but this debate is actually a good idea: “Former Social Security commissioner Martin O’Malley challenged billionaire Elon Musk to a public debate Monday over Musk’s claims that the retirement program for America’s seniors is rife with fraud.”
* Noted without comment: “Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, posted photos on Sunday of himself and his grandchildren swimming in a contaminated Washington creek where swimming is not allowed because it is used for sewer runoff. Rock Creek, which flows through much of Northwest Washington, is used to drain excess sewage and storm water during rainfall. The creek has widespread ‘fecal’ contamination and high levels of bacteria, including E. coli, and the city has banned swimming in all of its waterways for more than 50 years because of the widespread contamination of Rock Creek and other nearby rivers.”
See you tomorrow.