The Note: Sally Yates goes under oath on Russia

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May 8, 2017

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Sally Yates goes under oath on Russia

Acting Attorney General fired by Trump set to testify on Russia

Sally Yates, the former acting United States attorney general who drew the ire of President Donald Trump for issuing instructions to the Department of Justice not to defend his first "travel ban" executive order, is scheduled to testify today before the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of its investigation into Russian interference in last year's presidential election, reports ABC's ADAM KELSEY. Yates, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, filled the top position at the Justice Department for less than two weeks prior to the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as attorney general. During that time, her office was probing the relationship between Russian officials and then-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. After Flynn's forced resignation in February, it emerged that Yates privately brought concerns about the retired lieutenant general to the White House, informing the administration that Flynn may have misled officials about conversations with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak prior to Trump's inauguration. http://abcn.ws/2qh6EHS

Analysis: ABC's Rick Klein

Somewhere along the way, "repeal and replace" evolved into a "rescue mission" for Obamacare, to quote House Speaker Paul Ryan. Accordingly, the bill teed up in the Senate either needs drastic changes to have a shot at passing, or cannot change at all to keep the support of conservatives. In the meantime, are backers of the bill that's being called "Trumpcare" making the same mistakes Obamacare's boosters made when that bill was in its infancy? Obamacare was sold in large part on what it wouldn't do – how it wouldn't impact employer-based health care, as well as the infamous and unkeepable pledge that if you like your doctor and your plan, you can keep them. The GOP is playing a roughly similar brand of defense around its bill, emphasizing how people with preexisting conditions would be protected, and even arguing that Medicaid cuts won't impact coverage levels. This sets up a dramatic few weeks – with town-hall meetings, ad wars, a Congressional Budget Office score, and outside events ready to crash the premature Republican Party. And when President Trump hits the road to drum up support for the bill, does anyone have confidence in what his messaging will be?

What to expect from Monday's 4th Circuit travel ban hearing

President Donald Trump's second executive order limiting travel from some Middle Eastern and African countries faces another legal challenge on Monday. The ban was already halted temporarily on two occasions by federal judges in March, but Monday will mark the first time an argument on the revised order reaches a court of appeals. Here's what you need to know ahead of Monday's arguments from ABC's LAUREN PEARLE. http://abcn.ws/2pqJOcG

What we're reading: Trump to announce slate of conservative federal court nominees

"Having filled a Supreme Court vacancy, President Trump is turning his attention to the more than 120 openings on the lower federal courts. On Monday, he will announce a slate of 10 nominees to those courts, a senior White House official said, the first in what could be near monthly waves of nominations," the New York Times reports. The administration continues to draw on lists of 21 potential Supreme Court nominees, put together with the help of the conservative Federalist Society and Heritage Foundation, that Mr. Trump issued during the campaign. But it is looking at other sources, too, the White House official said. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Judicial Crisis Network's Carrie Severino: "When it comes to fulfilling his campaign promise to appoint strong, principled judges, Trump is knocking it out of the park." http://nyti.ms/2ppjW0L

From 'Powerhouse Politics' podcast: Senate won't 'start from scratch' on health care, White House says

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Rick Dearborn said the Trump administration has its work cut out for it to push the GOP health care plan through the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority but several members are already wary of the House plan. "The Senate is a much different animal," Dearborn told ABC'S RICK KLEIN and JONATHAN KARL on the "Powerhouse Politics" podcast. "In the House, you can work with the leadership and with leaders of different factions to move lots of members." http://abcn.ws/2pXGkPY

First on ABC: Gender equality hits Times Square

The advocacy organization NARAL Pro-Choice America will unveil a massive billboard in the bustling city center focused gender equality Monday. The animated sign talks about wage inequality, pricing discrimination and maternity care. "Women pay 60 percent more out of pocket for health care than men; 25 percent of women return to work 10 days after having a baby," the 15 second-ad reads, reports ABC's MARYALICE PARKS. "Let's turn the corner on gender equality." The ad will run through the end of summer, but encourages onlookers to tune into one of the 10,000 movie screenings, events and conversations happening around at museums and on campuses around the world tomorrow. "We hope that everyone who walks by the billboard (and beyond) will be encouraged to use their voices and join the conversation about how a more gender-balanced world truly is a better world for all," Tiffany Shlain, co-founder of the 50/50 Day project organizing the global conversations, told ABC News. "We have some distance to travel in this country before we can proudly say that women have equal opportunity to get ahead. But, there's a real passion right now to get there," said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.