Republicans are dramatically ramping up their attacks on Russia probes

Here's why that's worrying. No Images? Click here         Republicans Have Dramatically Ramped Up Their Attacks On Russia Probes In 2018 President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday that it is time for Republicans to “finally take control” of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and bring an end to a scandal that’s been looming over his presidency since he took office nearly a year ago. Republicans were already doing their best to comply. The president’s allies spent the first 10 days of 2018 redoubling their efforts to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe and its congressional cousins, and protect Trump from any political or legal fallout. “They’ve gone with the best defense is a good offense,” said Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor who is now a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. “Bob Mueller must be made of Kevlar, because they’ve definitely been shooting at him.” The sheer number of Republican attacks on the Russia investigations in just the first few days of 2018 makes it easy to forget how many there have been. Republican moves to protect Trump have so far done little to derail Mueller’s investigation. But they could have serious consequences for law enforcement and freedom of the press. READ MORE     WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? Hours after President Donald Trump sent mixed signals on Twitter about a controversial spying program, House lawmakers resoundingly voted to reauthorize that program, once again endorsing the collection of information on Americans’ electronic communications without a warrant. READ MORE Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota announced he will not run for Senate in the state, but instead will seek re-election to the House. The news is a big blow for national Republicans, who hope to oust Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in November. READ MORE The governor of Missouri became embroiled in a sex scandal this week involving an extramarital affair and claims of blackmail. An explosive local news report alleged the governor had threatened to blackmail the woman involved in the affair. READ MORE    .     ICYMI For the fourth time in four months, Trump administration officials have refused to let an undocumented immigrant teenager seek an abortion, forcing her to sue to get one, according to a court filing Thursday.   There's a good reason feds don't call white guys terrorists, the DOJ's domestic terror chief argues. Federal law doesn’t make domestic terrorism a stand-alone crime. As a result, law enforcement is “somewhat reluctant” to call domestic extremists “terrorists.”   A tiny tax hike on people who bike to work helps explain the whole GOP tax law. Nobody seems to know why Republicans singled out cyclists’ benefits.    . Want more?  Trump’s New Ambassador Grilled By Dutch Journalists Over Anti-Muslim Comments Kellyanne Conway’s Interview With Chris Cuomo Quickly Flies Off The Rails Joe Arpaio Revives Racist Obama Birther Conspiracy     How will Trump’s administration impact you? Sign up for our email and find out. Did a friend send you this? Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Want more? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: The Morning Email and Must Reads. ©2018 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe    . - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe