OnPolitics Today: The GOP lost big, and Trump distanced himself

Trump isn't associating himself with Ed Gillespie and the administration will ignore a White House-approved climate report

with Josh Hafner OnPolitics Today: The GOP lost big, and Trump distanced himself One year after Donald Trump crushed Democrats in the 2016 election, the president woke up to a nation where the tides seemed to be turning. Democrats delivered a surprising string of wins in off-year elections across the nation on Tuesday, a possible backlash to the president's policies of Trump that will set the tone for next year's 2018 midterms. Among them: Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam won Virginia's governorship, while fellow Virginian and Democrat Danica Roem became the first openly transgender person to win  a statehouse election, unseating a social conservative who called himself the state's "chief homophobe." And Democrat Phil Murphy will succeed Republican Chris Christie's role as New Jersey governor, too. The Republican take on this? House Speaker Paul Ryan said the losses put more pressure on Republicans to pass tax cuts. And President Trump, who only recently said Virginia Republican Ed Gillespie would "be a great governor," revoked his endorsement soon after the loss.  "Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for," Trump said.  It's OnPolitics Today, the daily politics roundup from USA TODAY. Subscribe here. Trump's DHS nominee doesn't want the Wall Kirstjen Nielsen, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, told senators during her confirmation hearing that a mix of manpower, technology and fencing is preferable to a wall along the entire U.S.-Mexico border - one of Trump's most touted campaign promises. Nielsen, an attorney, is mirroring her current boss, White House Chief of Staff John Kelley.  Trump's EPA will ignore a White House-approved climate report Our Ledyard King reported in an exclusive story that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt plans to continue rolling back the Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era rule that is aimed at combating climate change. Why is that a big deal? Because the White House approved a report released last week that places most of the blame for the rise of global temperatures to human activity. Pruitt, speaking for the first time since the report dropped last Friday, said the report "doesn't impact the withdrawal and it doesn't impact the replacement." Elsewhere in politics • Trump in Asia: U.S. and China companies ink $9 billion in deals • Judge issues gag order for Paul Manafort • Even Obama has to go to jury duty • Trump congratulates 'deplorables' on election anniversary MOST SHARED USA TODAY STORIES Virginia, New Jersey voters pick new Democratic governors and set the tone for 2018 elections Virginia's gubernatorial race has been much closer than New Jersey's... Read more Continued after advertisement Texas shooting prompts congressional GOP to talk about fixing background checks Devin Kelley, who killed 26 people and wounded 20 more, had an... Read more Energy Secretary Rick Perry says fossil fuels could help prevent sexual assault in Africa At an energy event, Rick Perry stated fossil fuel energy could help... Read more President Trump enjoys a round of golf with Japan's Shinzo Abe The two leaders played Sunday with Japanese professional Hideki... Read more Pence in Orlando: Cut taxes now and reform the tax code Vice President Mike Pence said the GOP tax plan released Thursday is... Read more FOLLOW US Thank you for subscribing to On Politics. © 2017 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22102 Unsubscribe from On Politics Why did I get this? Update my subscription preferences