The Morning Briefing: The Trump Bump and Much, Much More

Good Wednesday morning.

Here is what’s on the president’s agenda today:

The president receives his intelligence briefing
President Trump announces a grant for drug-free communities support program
The president and the first lady attend the White House Historical Association reception

There were some elections yesterday…

and here’s a roundup:

Dem David Garcia Will Battle Incumbent Gov. Doug Ducey In Arizona Gubernatorial Race After Primary Win

Parkland mom wins spot on school board

Donna Shalala, former Clinton Cabinet member, wins Democratic nomination in Florida

Trump-endorsed Ron DeSantis to face Bernie-backed Andrew Gillum in Florida governor’s race

Martha McSally, Kyrsten Sinema win Arizona’s Senate primary races

Trump warns evangelicals of ‘violence’ if GOP loses in the midterms

Bruce Ohr’s testimony yesterday

Bruce Ohr appeared for a behind-closed-doors interrogation by the House Oversight Committee yesterday. We don’t know too much about Ohr’s testimony, as the transcript has not been released and the congressmen are reluctant to talk until it is. But we did learn a few things.

Rep. Darrel Issa told Fox news Ohr “has a poor memory.”

“He seems to not remember a lot of details and, you know, poor memories are often claimed by people who want to stick to what they can say and not be caught in perjury,” Issa told Fox News.

This morning on Fox & Friends, Issa said that Mueller has not interviewed Bruce Ohr or his Fusion GPS employed wife Nellie. What a joke.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told reporters during a break in proceedings that there are conflicts between Ohr’s testimony, and that of former FBI lawyer Lisa Page and Fusion’s Glenn Simpson about the handling of evidence and the timing.

Simpson told the House Intelligence Committee that he had no contact with Ohr until Thanksgiving 2016, while emails reviewed by Fox News show contact in August.

About two hours into the session, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., came out and told reporters that the FBI knew there were “credibility” issues surrounding the dossier before it was used to secure the first FISA warrant on Page in October 2016. Meadows said Ohr had never acted or handled evidence in this way before.

“Thus far, [Ohr] has done nothing but exacerbate my concerns that the FISA process has been abused,” Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), a House Judiciary Committee member, told The Hill.

“I would expect that his testimony and transcript today would be of interest to United States Attorney John Huber, who I understand has been tasked with investigating specifically whether or not the FISA process was abused as it related to obtaining a warrant on an American citizen named Carter Page,” Ratcliffe said.

“Not only did the FBI know that the dossier was unverified, but they also knew there was real credibility issues or it would never end up in a courtroom because of the inherent way it was collected and the bias that was associated with that,” said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.).

Stay tuned for that transcript.

Historical picture of the day: (someone buy me this car)

Actor Clark Gable talks with studio gateman as he drives his British Jaguar XK120 sports car into the lot during filming of “To Please A Lady” in Hollywood, Ca., Aug. 29, 1950. (AP Photo)

Other morsels:

California Becomes First State To End Cash Bail After 40-Year Fight

Lanny Davis says he regrets ‘major mistake’ about Cohen and Trump Tower meeting

Kudlow: White House ‘taking a look’ at Google regulations

NY Times Accuses Conservatives Of ‘Pouncing’ On Vatican Sexual Abuse Scandal

First lawsuit filed over Pennsylvania grand jury report on Catholic clergy abuse

Of course. Sasse: McCain affectionately called me ‘stupid bastard’ on a ‘regular basis’

No, talk about impeachment, please. Jimmy Carter Tells Fellow Democrats Not to Talk About Impeachment

Bees besiege Times Square street, drawing swarm of tourists

Trump privately floated firing Sessions this month: report

SNL’s Michael Che Defends Louis C.K.: He Has the ‘Right to Speak and Make a Living’

Carnival Cruise’s newest ship strikes Manhattan dock