The Hill's Morning Report — Garland to judge: Release Trump search warrant
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday said the government made the unusual decision to ask a court to unseal information about the government’s Monday search of former President Trump’s Florida residence because of intense public interest in the Justice Department’s reported seizure of sensitive materials Trump had removed from the White House. Overnight, Trump called for the “immediate” public release of the government’s warrant and receipt of materials taken after the FBI’s search of his home, both of which he and his lawyers possess.
Read MoreHow the Democrats’ inflation bill could cut consumer energy costs
The Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act is expected to cut prices that consumers pay for energy, according to recent modeling, though by how much remains less clear. The bill contains a mix of tax credits for renewable energy sources and incentives for household solutions, both of which could help bring down energy costs. But those benefits may not be evenly distributed, and factors like home ownership and the power landscape may determine who sees a benefit. “Across most regions I believe that it’s very likely that this will result in certainly lowe
Read MoreAstonished Democrats set to clear finish line with climate, tax, health care package
For more than a year, Democrats have wrestled with the massive climate, health and tax package at the center of their domestic agenda, triggering clashes between the various party factions and sparking doubts about President Biden's capacity to unite his troops behind transformative legislation. This week's vote to get the enormous proposal over the finish line will feature no such drama. House Democrats of all stripes are lining up to approve the Senate’s $740 billion tax-and-spending package on Friday when the lower chamber returns briefly to Washington, sending
Read MoreLawmakers are heading to Ukraine with or without White House’s approval
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa) didn’t give the Biden administration a chance to reject his request to travel to Ukraine when he visited Kyiv and Odesa in May. The former FBI agent, who helped stand up Ukraine’s National Anti Corruption Bureau in 2015, traveled with Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), relying on a network of personal contacts and the Ukrainian government to ensure his safety. “Me and Dan just decided to go, because we were told that [the trips] were not being approved,” Fitzpatrick told The Hill in an interview in his office in late July.
Read MoreBiden's new challenge is FBI's Trump search
The White House has a new messaging challenge on its hands: Donald Trump. President Biden, wary of appearing to influence the ongoing Justice Department investigation into the former president, doesn’t want to talk about the FBI search earlier this week at Mar-a-Lago. Democrats say that’s the right approach, but it means Republicans hurling accusations and condemnations at the Justice Department and FBI will largely go unanswered by the White House. It also suggests that Biden is likely to shy away from openly criticizing his predecessor for the time being, despite
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