World News: OnPolitics Today: From Russia with Love

with Jessica Estepa

OnPolitics Today: From Russia with Love

Happy Monday, OnPolitics peeps! We woke up to the news that Jared Kushner had released a statement about his Russia contacts, which definitely set the tone for this fine Monday. Perhaps he's taking some advice from Donald Trump Jr., he of the infamous email release?

Jared Kushner, White House senior advisor and son-in-law

But hey, maybe Kushner's disclosures will go better for him than they have for his brother-in-law?

Also today: that Obamacare repeal vote is totally happening and Jeff Sessions maybe needs to think about what comes next. What a time to be alive.

Let's go.

For Your Eyes Only

Trump son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner had one goal on Monday: to make it clear that he "did not collude with Russia, nor do I know of anyone else in the campaign who did so."

He told this to staffers on the Senate Intelligence Committee (though not the committee itself). He told this to reporters standing right outside the White House. Heck, he even told this to the world by releasing an 11-page statement that detailed, among other things, the four contacts he had with Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign and the transition.

OK, Jared. We hear you. And we expect the members of the House Intelligence Committee will hear you when you meet with them tomorrow, too.

Live and Let Die

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he will move forward tomorrow with a vote to repeal Obamacare.

But there are a lot of questions about this plan.

One, we still don't know what's actually in this bill. Two, we still don't know if he has the votes to pass the bill (remember just last week, when he had to pull the repeal and replace legislation). Three, we don't know if John McCain will be back (still wishing you well, senator).

We also don't know what President Trump really expects out of this. He tweeted this morning that Republicans "have a last chance to do the right thing on Repeal & Replace," never mind that this isn't even the bill the Senate is talking about right now.

So. Guess we'll see what happens?

The World Is Not Enough

Jeff Sessions has had a WEEK and it's only Monday. His boss, five days after saying that he would have done it differently if he had the chance ("it" being hiring Sessions in the first place), today called him "beleaguered" and questioned why Sessions was doing what he was doing.

Sessions also had to deal with rumors that someone else may be up for his job. The one that he's, you know, still in.

One Justice Department expert says: "He's in no-man's land, right now. I don't see how he can continue. He is certainly weakened, and it would be hard to work on policy matters with the White House if the president doesn't have confidence in you.''

Elsewhere in politics

•	Defense Secretary Mattis rips Pentagon for wasting money on Afghan army uniforms
•	Poll: Americans split 42%-42% on impeaching Trump
•	Rep. Mo Brooks' campaign ad uses audio from baseball practice shooting
•	Congress' next big battles: Passing spending bills, raising the debt limit