Politics: ‘Yesterday morning, he was key. Today, I’m not sure’: Bannon’s allies start to abandon him

If 2017 posed problems for feds, 2018 could be worse with attacks on pay, benefits Trump dissolved his commission searching for voter fraud. That won't change Republican support...

Democracy Dies in Darkness     The most important politics stories today   Carlos Barria / Reuters 'Yesterday morning, he was key. Today, I'm not sure': Bannon's allies start to abandon him His spat with Trump has cost financial and political support in his fight to reshape the GOP. By Michael Scherer, Robert Costa and Rosalind S. Helderman  •  Read more » Perspective If 2017 posed problems for feds, 2018 could be worse with attacks on pay, benefits If 2017, with President Trump's hiring freeze and political machinations, posed difficulties for federal employees, 2018 could be worse. They did get a 1.9 percent pay raise this year, but now administration officials are considering a wage freeze and are attacking government data indicating that federal pay lags far behind that of the private sector. […] By Joe Davidson | Columnist  •   Read more »   Analysis Trump dissolved his commission searching for voter fraud. That won't change Republican support for voter-ID laws. Republicans and Democrats see voter fraud very differently — and not in the ways you'd expect. By John V. Kane  •   Read more »   Analysis President Trump's claim that 'mostly Democratic states' refused to provide voter data Trump says that Democratic-leaning states refused to provide data. But a relatively large percentage of GOP states also balked at the request. By Glenn Kessler  •   Read more »   Trump's effort to stop publication of scathing book is a break in precedent Legal experts and historians said the decision by a sitting president to threaten "imminent" legal action could have a chilling effect on free-speech rights.  By Ashley Parker and Josh Dawsey  •   Read more »   Trump faces uphill battle in trying to block critical book, legal experts say Examining a president's performance gets "the super-highest levels of First Amendment protection." By Robert Barnes  •   Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT Analysis How money laundering works in real estate An explanation of a new allegation from Bannon. By Philip Bump  •   Read more »   Analysis White House: The new Trump book is 'trash,' except for this one part we like Team Trump seems to evaluate claims based on whether they are advantageous, rather than true. By Callum Borchers  •   Read more »   Trump calls for bipartisan deal for 'dreamers' but reiterates demand for border wall A GOP senator who met with Trump says the party is aiming for "a net increase of 600 miles" of new border barriers. By Ed O'Keefe and David Nakamura  •   Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT Mercer issues rare public rebuke of former ally Bannon Stephen K. Bannon's main financial backer is formally cutting ties with the former Trump adviser. In a new statement Thursday, billionaire conservative donor Rebekah Mercer said that she has not spoken to Bannon, the former White House chief strategist, in many months and that she continues to support President Trump. "I support President Trump and […] By Rosalind S. Helderman  •   Read more »   Analysis Trump disbanded his voting commission. But some Republicans keep saying voter fraud still exists. Trump was never able to prove that voter fraud influenced the 2016 election, but it hasn't stopped some Republicans from claiming it in more recent races. By Eugene Scott  •   Read more »   Republican super PACs surge into Pennsylvania special election The district is a once-safe seat for the GOP where Democrats have grown bullish on their chances. By David Weigel  •   Read more »   Analysis Sarah Huckabee Sanders kills irony dead, once and for all "The president," Sanders told reporters, "believes in making sure that information is accurate before pushing it out as fact..." By Aaron Blake  •   Read more »   Analysis Why drawing lots is a sensible way to settle a tied election Elections are not precise. We should accept that. By Philip Bump  •   Read more »   Analysis What's in the nondisclosure agreement Bannon signed? And could Trump actually win a lawsuit? The contract likely prohibits "disparaging statements," but it's hard to enforce. By Callum Borchers  •   Read more »   Recommended for you     Get the 5-Minute Fix newsletter Keeping up with politics is easy now, three days a week. Sign Up  »         Share Politics:    Twitter     Facebook Trouble reading? Click here to view in your browser. You received this email because you signed up for Politics or because it is included in your subscription. For additional free newsletters or to manage your newsletters, click here. We respect your privacy. If you believe that this email has been sent to you in error or you no longer wish to receive email from The Washington Post, click here. Contact us for help. ©2018 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071