The Note: Swamp could save Pruitt

The waters of the swamp are rising around Scott Pruitt.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The TAKE with Rick Klein

He’s enmeshed in a widening, worsening, and weird ethics cloud, with few Republicans rushing to defend him, and a president who’s in a firing mood. Yet he’s also marching forward with the Trump agenda, rolling back car-emission regulations promulgated under President Barack Obama just this week.

The president said Tuesday of Pruitt, “I hope he’s going to be great.”

It might be read as a warning to Pruitt. But ultimately it’s Trump who needs to decide whether his “drain the swamp” pledges outweigh his regulatory agenda – and any personal rapport between the two men.

The RUNDOWN with MaryAlice Parks

After 15 months in office, President Trump has not been able to physically change the U.S.-Mexico border as much as he would like and that seems to be upsetting him.

First, he thought about using Pentagon funds to build his wall, but that’s not how federal funding works. So now he says he plans to use soldiers to secure the border.

At first blush that seem monumental, but it is unclear what exactly the president means. The bold image he may be picturing is just not allowed under federal law.

While members of the U.S. military – especially the National Guard – can be used to support U.S. border patrol agents (both Presidents Obama and Bush sent thousands to do that), they cannot be used to arrest and detain.

From his off-the-cuff lines about pulling out of Syria, setting up meetings with foreign leaders, arming teachers in schools, or now this, the country and the world is once again left unsure about whether to take this president and his loose language seriously at all.

The TIP with Stephanie Ebbs

But after the vast majority of public comments opposed the proposal, the department confirms it’s looking at a more moderate increase.

The higher fees would have generated more income for the Park Service to address a major backlog of maintenance at national parks but Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is now working with Congress to garner support for legislative proposals to provide more funding for maintenance.

“During the public comment period the National Park Service received more than 109,000 comments on the original peak-season fee proposal,” Interior spokesperson Heather Swift said in a statement. “We've taken the public's suggestions seriously and have amended the plan to reflect those. The Secretary remains laser-focused on rebuilding our park infrastructure and this plan coupled with the bipartisan bill in congress will provide a historic investment."

The Washington Post first reported this decision this week.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

  • President Trump will be behind closed doors for the day, but is expected to spend his evening at a private dinner with supporters in Washington, D.C.
  • In the latest race seen as a bellwether of the 2018 midterms, Democrat Rebecca Dallet defeated Republican opponent Michael Screnock Tuesday evening to become the newest justice on Wisconsin's Supreme Court.
  • Educators for Excellence are scheduled to meet with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on disciplinary guidance at 10:30 a.m.
  • Ronald Kessler, the author of Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game, joins the “Powerhouse Politics” podcast with hosts Rick Klein and Jonathan Karl.
  • The National Council of Churches holds an Act to End Racism Rally on the National Mall at 9 a.m. to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.
  • The National Cathedral holds a service at 5:30 p.m. to honor Martin Luther King Jr. At 6:30 p.m., the Memorial Foundation Inc. will honor Dr. King with its annual candlelight vigil and wreath-laying at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
  • Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates will speak at Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public service at 6:45 p.m.
  • QUOTE OF THE DAY

    “I’m dumbfounded that that’s controversial.” – EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said in an interview with the Washington Examiner regarding the controversy over his living arrangements at a D.C. townhouse owned by lobbyists.

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    The Note is a daily ABC News feature that highlights the key political moments of the day ahead. Please check back tomorrow for the latest.