The White House restricted access to the transcript to a small group of aides, an unusual decision that is similar to the handling of the July call with the Ukrainian president at the heart of House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry.

Big picture: The discussion with Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicates that the president used diplomacy to advance his personal political interests.

Context: The F.B.I.’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election began after Australian officials told the agency what a Trump adviser had bragged about: that the Russian government offered up dirt on Hillary Clinton to the Trump campaign.

In other impeachment inquiry news, the president’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was subpoenaed by Congress. And Mr. Trump said he “deserved” to know the whistle-blower’s identity — while also suggesting the chairman leading the investigation in the House should be arrested for treason.