See also: The romanticization of Pablo Escobar and El Chapo...
Bernd Thissen / dpa via AP
Apple CEO Tim Cook issued a strongly worded e-mail Thursday taking issue with president Trump's move to drop out of the Paris accord.
Climate change is real and we all share a responsibility to fight it. I want to reassure you that today's developments will have no impact on Apple's efforts to protect the environment.
Below is the full e-mail, obtained by Axios.
Michael Flynn leaves federal court in Washington, D.C. after entering his guilty plea. Photo: Susan Walsh / AP
President Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty during a court appearance this morning to "willfully and knowingly [making] false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations" to the FBI regarding his conversations with Sergey Kislyak, Russia's then-ambassador to the United States. Flynn's plea came under Special Counsel Robert Mueller's expanding investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Why it matters: With his plea, Flynn agreed to cooperate fully with Mueller's investigation. In a development that could have far-reaching implications as Mueller's probe moves forward, Flynn admitted in his plea that senior transition officials directed his contacts with Russian officials in late December of last year.
The lies that Flynn told FBI agents:
Flynn locked in his guilty plea and agreed to cooperate with the government. ABC News reported that Flynn is prepared to offer "full cooperation" to Mueller's team and testify against President Trump and other Trump family members. The biggest bombshell in the report: Flynn will state that then-candidate Trump directed him to get in contact with Russian officials.
Flynn's statement after his plea:
White House attorney Ty Cobb's statement:
Go deeper: A timeline on the events surrounding Flynn that brought us to today.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Sen. Bob Corker's debt concerns won't be addressed in the tax bill. Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP
The Senate tax bill is steamrolling towards passage this afternoon, with members' concerns being addressed — except for the deficit hawks, who aren't getting extra debt-reducing provisions added to the bill. With Sen. Jeff Flake now saying he'll vote yes, the only debt hawk who may still vote no is Sen. Bob Corker.
What we're watching: Any last-minute Senate drama, along with the actual bill's release. But Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters the GOP has the votes.
Aides say the bill will still add about $1.5 trillion to the federal debt over the next decade without accounting for economic growth, which strongly suggests it's been calculated that the bill can pass without Corker's vote. Sen. James Lankford, who was also concerned about the debt addition but will vote for the bill, told Vox the bill won't address their concerns.
Other changes:
Former House Speaker John Boehner poses with Rep. Blake Farenthold, right, accompanied by family, to re-enact the House oath-of-office. Photo: Susan Walsh / AP
Texas Rep. Blake Farenthold made a $84,000 sexual harassment settlement in 2014, according to Politico. His former communications director, Lauren Greene, sued him "over allegations of gender discrimination, sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment."
Why it matters: The Office of Compliance released a breakdown of settlements since FY2013, noting one for sexual harassment. Rep. Gregg Harper also told GOP lawmakers on Friday there there was a $84,000 settlement, but Greene's lawyers did not say that Greene was the person who received it. Farenthold did not confirm or deny that the settlement involved his office, but said in a statement that he "100% [supports] more transparency with respect to claims against members of Congress."
Photo: Susan Walsh / AP
President Trump is giving a speech Wednesday recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, according to two sources with direct knowledge.
A White House spokesman refused to confirm the report: "The President has always said it is a matter of when, not if. The President is still considering options and we have nothing to announce."
Go deeper: More on the thinking
Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn (left) plead guilty in federal court today. Photo: Susan Walsh / AP
President Trump's attorney Ty Cobb said in a statement Friday that nothing about Michael Flynn's guilty plea "implicates anyone other than Mr. Flynn."
Full statement below.
Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty today to lying to the FBI, has reportedly promised "full cooperation" with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team, per ABC. Flynn is also reportedly prepared to testify that as a candidate, Donald Trump "directed [Flynn] to make contact with the Russians."
Why it matters: Trump has denied having, or being aware of, any contact with the Russians during the campaign. A former senior aide to Flynn and ABC contributor, Richard Frankel, said "if there are bodies buried so to speak, General Flynn would know about them."
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 150 points on Friday morning, just after an ABC News report that former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn is prepared to testify that President Trump "directed him to make contact with the Russians." The markets had previously been strong, on expectations that the Senate Republicans would manage to pass their tax plan.
Data: Money.net; Chart: Axios Visuals
Photo: Susan Walsh / AP
Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn entered a guilty plea at a federal courthouse in D.C. on Friday to charges of lying to the FBI. He has agreed to cooperate with the government and is facing penalties of up to a $250,000 fine and 5 years in prison. He will not be jailed for the time being but will have to report weekly by phone.
Flynn admitted in his plea that Trump transition officials directed his contacts with Russian officials, per the AP, a development that could have far-reaching consequences as the Mueller probe moves forward.
The judge noted that, at a later date, the U.S. can determine Flynn has provided enough information to prosecute another person.
Prosecutors say after speaking with then-Russian ambassador Kislyak, Flynn called a senior member of the transition team who was then at Mar-a-Lago and discussed his conversations with Kislyak, as well as Russia's response to U.S. sanctions over election meddling.
What's next: A sentencing report is scheduled for February 1, 2018. The sentencing hearing date has not yet been set, but a failure to appear at the hearing would result in new charges. He will not be able to appeal his sentence or conviction, with "very limited exceptions," as he has waived his right to a trial.
From left: Rick Gates, Mike Flynn, Paul Manafort and George Papadopoulos. Photos: AP
Michael Flynn is expected to plead guilty today to "willfully and knowingly" lying to the FBI about his conversations with former Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, making him the fourth former Trump staffer to be charged in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe.
Why it matters: President Trump has repeatedly claimed that the Russia probe is a "political witch hunt" and that there was no collusion among his staffers and the Russians.
The others charged in Mueller's investigation:
Manafort, Trump's former campaign advisor, and Gates, his business partner/protégé, were indicted in late October by a federal grand jury on 12 separate charges:
The former Trump campaign advisor was named in the same indictments against Manafort and Gates. But Papadopoulos' charges were explicitly linked to attempts at collusion with Russia.
Sen. Jon Cornyn talking to reporters. File photo: Carolyn Kaster / AP
Sen. John Cornyn is telling reporters that Republicans have enough votes to pass tax overhaul legislation, the AP reports. Sen. Bob Corker, an opponent of the bill, also told the Wall Street Journal the bill will "probably" pass.
Our thought bubble: Until bill specifics are released, it's uncertain how holdout Republicans will vote.
Go deeper: What Republicans were doing overnight to secure support for the bill.
Rex Tillerson is still Secretary of State. Photo: Cliff Owen / AP
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday called reports that the White House is trying to force him out "laughable," per the Associated Press.
Go Deeper: Jonathan Swan on the untenable Tillerson situation
See also: The romanticization of Pablo Escobar and El Chapo...