Trump After Dark: Extra Sessions edition A burst of stories about Mueller’s Russia inquiry — and an aggressive counterpush by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans targeting the FBI — dominated the days news.

The government shutdown is over. And special counsel Robert Mueller never really stopped.

A burst of stories about Mueller’s Russia inquiry — and an aggressive counter-push by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans targeting the FBI — dominated the days news even as Democrats and Republicans alike continued to pick over the weekend’s shutdown.


Among the day's revelations: Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke with Mueller’s team last week. The interview which was several hours long, “took place more than seven months after Mueller was appointed, and it came as Trump continues to complain publicly about the ongoing investigation,” POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein reports . The New York Times also reported that Mueller’s team talked with fired FBI Director James Comey last year.

Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans took more forceful steps to push back on what they said was overreach by federal investigators, escalating tensions, POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney reports.

“Even as Mueller showed apparent momentum, Republicans made new charges of political bias and even potential criminal misconduct in the nation’s top law enforcement agencies. On Fox News, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chairman of the House committee that oversees the Justice Department and FBI, alleged an anti-Trump “conspiracy” by FBI agents whose text message exchanges have been made public in selective bursts by GOP lawmakers.

POLITICO Playbook newsletter Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletter in politics Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Elsewhere in President Trump’s orbit:

NO WRAY!: President Trump denied a report that FBI Director Christopher Wray threatened to resign amid pressure from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the White House.

WALL BALL: Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is taking his big spending boost for President Donald Trump’s wall off the table — a move that could complicate negotiations to avoid another government shutdown.

ZIP, BOOM, POWELL: The Senate confirmed Jerome Powell to be the new chairman of the Federal Reserve, ushering in a new era at the world’s most important central bank.

PRESIDENT ACCOUNTED FOR: Attorney General Jeff Sessions attributed a modest drop in crime in 2017 to policies enacted by President Trump — even though experts said that was highly unlikely.

MIKE’S FEAR: CIA Director Mike Pompeo says he’s worried that North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons could set off a global arms race.

MELANIA MIA: First lady Melania Trump will not attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland with President Trump after it was announced she was set to attend the confab. (CNN)

There you have it. You’re caught up on the Trump administration. Tuesday is in the books.

