| | Lacking the votes, Senate GOP delays on health care | | President Donald Trump faced another major setback -- and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had to delay a vote he wanted to hold this week -- when it became clear today that Senate Republicans did not have enough votes to pass their bill to roll back Obamacare. The new timeline: The vote won't happen until after the July 4 recess -- which means senators will get earfuls from constituents at home over the break. By delaying a vote initially planned for this week, McConnell has bought himself more time to bridge the massive divides between Republicans who fret that the bill would undercut coverage for millions of Americans reliant on Medicaid and increase premiums, like Maine's Susan Collins and Nevada's Dean Heller, and hard-line conservatives who want even deeper cuts, such as Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky. CNN's Manu Raju, Phil Mattingly and Ashley Killough have the story. McConnell told GOP senators that he wants to make changes to the bill, get a new Congressional Budget Office score and have a vote after the holiday, two sources told CNN. "We're going to continue discussion in our conference," McConnell told reporters on Capitol Hill after his meeting with his caucus. Tough words for Trump from Susan Collins, the Maine Republican senator: "It has been a challenge to him to learn how to interact with Congress and how to push his agenda forward." | | "If we don't get it done, it's just going to be something that we're not going to like. And that's OK." -- President Donald Trump, sounding like he is coming to grips with the possibility that the GOP bid to repeal and replace Obamacare could fail, in a White House meeting with Senate Republicans today. | | | The Washington Post's David Farenthold has this: A fake, framed copy of Time Magazine was hung up in at least four of President Donald Trump's golf clubs. | | Trump draws his red line on Syria | | From CNN's Dan Merica, Barbara Starr and Ryan Browne: President Donald Trump, in a late Monday night statement signed by his press secretary, signaled his intentions in Syria's ongoing conflict, telegraphing that the United States is aware of "potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack" carried out by President Bashar al-Assad's regime and stands prepared to respond if the attack is carried out. The statement, which came with little explanation, was a warning shot to both Assad and the Russian leaders who are backing his regime. United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley put a finer point on Monday's warning, tweeting that "Any further attacks done to the people of Syria will be blamed on Assad, but also on Russia & Iran who support him killing his own people." Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the statement was spurred by satellite imagery that found a plane -- the same one that is believed to have carried out chemical attacks in the past -- parked less than 30 meters from the bunker where the chemical weapons are thought to be stored. | | 5 things you might have missed today | | Trump could start a trade war this week: The Trump administration could slap big tariffs on shipments of steel from other countries, claiming they pose a risk to national security. The tariffs can go as high as President Donald Trump wants -- and could easily trigger retaliatory measures by other countries, hurting other American industries. More from CNNMoney's Patrick Gillespie. Administration looks to repeal environmental rule: Under then-President Barack Obama, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers issued a rule on clean water regulation. The expansive rule faced significant legal challenges and criticism from conservative corners. On Tuesday, the EPA and Army Corps outlined a plan to undo the rule. Read more from Reuters' Valerie Volcovici. Global view of US worsens under Trump: The world has little confidence in Trump compared to his predecessor Obama, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center. Surveys of residents in 37 nations across the world found that since Trump took office in January, the US' image overseas has sharply declined and views of the new US leader in general are largely negative. More from CNN's Ben Westcott. Yates speaks: Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates, whom Trump fired after she told the Justice Department not to defend his travel ban, did an interview at the Aspen Ideas Festival, saying people should have "tremendous confidence" in special counsel Robert Mueller. Read more from The Atlantic's Emma Green. Chaffetz proposes $2,500 housing stipend for members of Congress: Utah GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who plans to resign from his seat at the end of June, thinks members of Congress should receive a housing stipend, saying in an interview that Washington "is one of the most expensive places in the world" as he pointed to "dozens" of members who live out of their offices. More from CNN's David Wright. | | The House budget committee is putting its budget markup on hold as conservatives and moderates in the Republican conference are divided over how the budget should reduce mandatory spending. ... Hillary Clinton told librarians they are on the front lines of "the fight to defend truth and reason, evidence and fact." ... A new US State Department report lists China as among the worst offenders for human trafficking, joining countries including Russia, Syria and Iran on the lowest rung of the annual Trafficking in Persons report. | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | |
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