Donald Trump’s Pledge to Defend Article XII of Constitution Raises Eyebrows

Here are the latest reports from The Washington Posts ‘Washington Wire’.

Donald Trump’s Pledge to Defend Article XII of Constitution Raises Eyebrows
To the list of eyebrow-raising moments at meetings between presumed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and congressional Republicans on Thursday add this: an exchange about the U.S. Constitution.

Bernie Sanders on Track to Endorse Hillary Clinton Next Week
More than a month after Democrat Hillary Clinton secured her party’s presidential nomination, rival Bernie Sanders is expected to endorse her at an event Tuesday in New Hampshire, people familiar with the matter say.

Why Donald Trump’s Tensions With Congressional Republicans Are Good for Him–and Them
John Feehery: What all the reports amount to is: Donald Trump is not playing nice with political insiders. That should serve him well in his populist campaign.

The Legal Authority Behind the House GOP Clinton Email Probe
It’s rare but not unprecedented, however, for Congress to scrutinize Justice Department prosecutorial decision-making.

Gary Johnson Says Extinction Awaits ‘Two-Party Dinosaur’
Gary Johnson said the Libertarian ticket is a “comet” that will take out the “two-party dinosaur” this fall, thanks to voters losing faith in the Democratic and Republican candidates, as he continued to criticize what he calls unfair opinion polls.

Beyond the ‘Uber of Trash’: The Platform Economy and New Life for Old Businesses
Robert Litan: With interest growing in socially responsible enterprises, one expects growth in opportunities to marry Internet-based platforms with older businesses to generate economic wins all around.

Capital Journal Daybreak: Today on the Campaign Trail, More
Today on the campaign trail and more of the biggest news stories and exclusive features from Washington on politics, policy, financial regulation and defense.

Hillary Clinton Shifts to Accommodate Sanders Supporters
Hillary Clinton took a giant step toward primary rival Bernie Sanders this week, promising free college tuition for more than 80% of American families. Next, she’s likely to move his way on health care.

House Democrats’ Ads Tie Trump to Vulnerable GOP Candidates
Ahead of the Republican National Convention later this month, the House Democrats’ campaign arm has reserved ad time for spots that seek to tie vulnerable GOP candidates to Donald Trump.

FBI to Turn Over Recovered Clinton Work Emails to State Department
The Federal Bureau of Investigation will turn over to the State Department all the work-related emails from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that it found during the investigation, an official with the FBI said Wednesday.

What More U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Can–and Can’t–Fix
Michael Kugelman: Troop levels are not a magical elixir for bringing stability to Afghanistan; that’s why the Obama administration has pushed hard for a peace process between the Afghan government and Taliban.

Washington’s (Over)Reaction to the FBI’s Position on Hillary Clinton’s Private Email
Jim Manley: If House Speaker Paul Ryan is able to and does take steps to stop Hillary Clinton from being briefed with classified information, Democrats will no doubt demand that Donald Trump also be cut off.

How Little Do U.S. Allies in NATO Spend on Defense?
Stephen Sestanovich: In a year when President Obama has mocked U.S. allies as “free riders” and Donald Trump has said that NATO may be “obsolete,” this shortfall on defense spending is not politically sustainable.

Bob Corker Rules Out Running as Donald Trump’s VP
Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) has withdrawn from the running to serve as a vice presidential running mate for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, saying he had concluded he was “far more suited for other kinds of service.”

Donald Trump Campaign to Target 17 States in November Election
Donald Trump’s political director, Jim Murphy, told a small group of House members Wednesday that the campaign is targeting a broad collection of 17 states in the general election, according to people at the meeting.

GOP Senate Super PAC to Launch Florida Ad Campaign Backing Marco Rubio
An independent political fundraising group allied with the leader of Senate Republicans plans to launch a $1.56 million series of ads attacking Democrats in the Florida Senate race, the group said Wednesday.

What Attacks in Baghdad, Istanbul and Saudi Arabia Show About Terrorism and the New Normal
Aaron David Miller: ISIS, its affiliates and the extremist ideology they represent are a generational problem that, at least right now, lacks a comprehensive solution.

Capital Journal Daybreak: Post-Email Outlook for Hillary Clinton, More
Today on the campaign trail and more of the biggest news stories and exclusive features from Washington on politics, policy, financial regulation and defense.

Comey and Lynch Invited to Testify Before Congress on Clinton Probe
The chairman of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday invited FBI Director James Comey to testify before Congress Thursday to explain his recommendation not to press criminal charges against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Why Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Needs Barack Obama
President Barack Obama’s testimony in support of Hillary Clinton’s character might resonate with two groups of voters in particular.

Donald Trump, at North Carolina Rally, Praises Saddam Hussein’s Anti-Terror Approach
pledged at a rally here Tuesday night that he would win the battleground state of North Carolina, citing growing support from the GOP establishment and wariness that a Clinton administration would continue President Barack Obama’s policies, particularly on foreign affairs.

As Brexit Fallout Topples U.K. Politicians, Some Lessons for the U.S.
Richard V. Reeves: The exit of the leading Brexiteers is a relief. The skills required to run a populist, fact-averse campaign are not the same skills needed to lead a nation.

Republicans Probe Democrats’ ‘Sit-In’ Protest Over Gun Laws
House GOP leaders are conducting an investigation of Democrats’ “sit-in” protest over gun laws last month to determine whether Democrats should face any repercussions for breaking the chamber’s rules.

He Said/She Said: Hillary Clinton vs. James Comey on Her Email Practices
Here’s a comparison of statements Hillary Clinton or her campaign have made about her email practices while secretary of state and remarks made by FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday.

Lagging in Fundraising, Donald Trump Has Aired Zero TV Ads in Last Month — Report
Hillary Clinton has aired 20,000 TV ad spots since June 8, the day after she became the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee. Donald Trump’s ad tally in that period: zero.

‘No Charges Are Appropriate’: Statement by FBI Director Comey on Clinton Email Probe
The Federal Bureau of Investigation won’t recommend that Hillary Clinton or her colleagues be prosecuted over her use of a private email system while secretary of state. Here is the statement by FBI Director James Comey, as provided by the FBI.

Takeaways From the FBI Director’s Statement on Hillary Clinton’s Use of Private Email
Jim Manley: I am reasonably confident that as I type Republican super PACs are cutting ads based on Mr. Comey’s remarks about the FBI investigation into the former secretary of state’s use of private email.

Timeline: Hillary Clinton’s Email Troubles
Hillary Clinton left the State Department more than three years ago, yet the dispute over her private email account has continued to hang over her presidential campaign. Here is a timeline of the key points and dates in Mrs. Clinton’s email use and the resulting probes.

Hillary Clinton to Teachers Union: You’ll Have a ‘Partner’ in the White House
Hillary Clinton on Tuesday vowed to be a staunch ally of the nation’s largest teachers union, declaring teachers would have a “partner in the White House” if she is elected.

Paul Ryan Criticizes Trump Campaign’s Social-Media Use
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) on Tuesday criticized the campaign of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump for using anti-Semitic imagery in a tweet attacking his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Capital Journal Daybreak: Campaign 2016, More
Today on the campaign trail and more of the biggest news stories and exclusive features from Washington on politics, policy, financial regulation and defense.

The 114th Congress’s Final Quarter: A Spectator’s Guide
The compressed congressional calendar and election-year pressures will make the political dynamics on Capitol Hill even more unpredictable than usual. Here’s what to watch for.

Who Do the Clintons Listen To?
If Hillary Clinton becomes president her cabinet choices will get much attention. What might prove equally important is who she surrounds herself with in the White House. Will they question her judgment, and will she listen?

Donald Trump Defends Tweeted Image
Donald Trump defended a tweet that he sent, and then deleted, featuring a six-pointed star in criticizing his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Mrs. Clinton’s campaign said the tweet employed clear anti-Semitic imagery.

Hillary Clinton’s Allies Don’t See Legal Fallout from FBI’s Email Probe
Hillary Clinton’s allies on Sunday dismissed the possibility of further legal fallout for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee from a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into her use of a private email server to conduct official business.

Bernie Sanders Says Clinton Allies Frustrating Plan to Block TPP Vote
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders says Hillary Clinton’s allies are frustrating his plan to have the Democratic Party platform rule out a congressional vote this year on a Pacific rim trade deal negotiated by the Obama administration.

Top Quotes From the Sunday Talk Shows
Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server to conduct official business as secretary of state and her husband’s impromptu meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch topped Sunday talk shows. As you would expect, opinions fell along party lines.

BlackBerry Era Draws to a Close in Senate
One thing that has been a staple over the past decade, the BlackBerry, might soon be a forgotten in the halls of the Capitol.

Capital Journal Friday PM: Top Stories of the Week, More
The biggest news stories and exclusive features from Washington on politics, policy, financial regulation and defense.

Hillary Clinton Raises Nearly $70 Million in June for Campaign, DNC, State Parties
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton raised nearly $70 million in June for her campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state parties around the country in her best fundraising month so far, her campaign said Friday.

Donald Trump Decries ‘Rigged System’ in Visit to Swing State Colorado
In his first visit to this battleground state since an October debate, Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump on Friday continued to lash out at the “rigged system” he says deprived him of Colorado’s convention delegates.

Hillary Clinton Faces Challenge Among Independents
Here’s a look at how Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are faring among the approximately one in 10 voters who don’t lean toward either party.

Gary Johnson’s Fight for 15 (Percent)
Bad news for Clinton and Trump is good news for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, the former two-term governor of New Mexico.

Challenging Road for Budget Office’s ‘Dynamic Scoring’ Drive
Salim Furth: How much can federal spending on transportation and research expand productivity in the private sector?

Trump Campaign, RNC to Discuss Minority-Outreach Efforts
Members of the Trump campaign are scheduled to huddle Friday in Washington with staffers from the Republican National Committee to discuss efforts to reach minority voters.

Hillary Clinton Nabs Big Guest Stars: First Warren, Then Obama, Now Biden
[wsj-responsive-image P=”//si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-OS661_BidenC_P_20160630154426.jpg” J=”//si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-OS661_BidenC_J_20160630154426.jpg” M=”//si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-OS661_BidenC_M_20160630154426.jpg” caption=”In October 2008, Hillary Clinton speaks during an Obama campaign rally in Scranton, joined by Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden.” credit=”Associated Press” placement=”Header” suppressEnlarge=”false” ] Vice President Joe Biden will campaign with Hillary Clinton next week, her campaign announced, as the White House kicks off a determined effort to buttress the presumptive […]

Abortion-Rights Supporters to Take Clinic Fight to 8 States After Supreme Court Ruling
Before heading to the courts, abortion-rights supporters plan to target eight state legislatures following this week’s Supreme Court ruling with campaigns aimed at convincing lawmakers to repeal laws restricting clinic operations.