The Note: Trump faces major test in Kushner's showdown with Congress

— -- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

THE TAKE with ABC News' MaryAlice Parks

Jared Kushner's trip to Capitol Hill today is a reminder that the Senate Intelligence Committee investigation into Russian election meddling has formally reached inside the White House, West Wing staff and the president's own family. Congress wants answers from not one - but two - of his sons. And it seems, according to his prepared remarks released this morning, Jared Kushner does not have much interest in defending his brother-in-law Donald Trump Jr. Kushner works hard to distance himself as much as possible from that meeting with the Russian lawyer last summer and implies that had he known more about that meeting ahead of time, he may have reacted differently. He says there was no collusion between the campaign and foreign officials, but leaves two big omissions. He does not say that "anyone" would have taken that meeting and he does not say it was appropriate for Donald Trump Jr. to arrange it. Instead, when recounting his interactions with Russians officials, he paints himself as a political novice, someone new to the game, trying his best to respond to a bombardment of requests. Will that fly with lawmakers? To the White House's chagrin, Kushner's statement and questioning will dominate the headlines, but that's also because the other big story on the Hill is at a standstill. With no movement from either side of the deadlocked Senate Republican conference on health care the past few days, it is unlikely something passes this week.

DEMOCRATS HOPE FOR A REBOOT

Sen. Chuck Schumer and other congressional leaders are hoping to make today the launch of congressional Democrats' 2.0, starting with a new package of economic priorities they're calling "A Better Deal." Schumer, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, progressive hero Elizabeth Warren and several other leading Democrats will rally in a swing Virginia district today at 1 p.m. to roll out the new platform, the first formal crack at a new messaging campaign before the 2018 midterms. In an interview Sunday on "This Week," Schumer was introspective and frank about the mistakes Democrats made during the last presidential election. "We didn't tell people what we stood for," he said. "We all take blame, not any one person." So today's event represents their first stab at spelling out what they do stand for, beginning with a four-pronged legislative agenda: increasing minimum wage, providing tax credits for worker training, going after prescription drug costs and reviewing corporate mergers/monopolies, ABC News' Ali Rogin notes.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"And [President Trump] basically said to me, ‘Hey, you know, this is -- maybe they did it. Maybe they didn't do it.'" -- new White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci to CNN on Trump's telling him Russia may not be behind U.S. election hacking

WHAT TO WATCH TODAY

President Trump talks health care at 3 p.m. today from the White House.

"THE BRIEFING ROOM." After every White House press briefing - on camera or not - ABC News' political team will have full coverage and analysis from Political Director Rick Klein, correspondents Jonathan Karl, Cecilia Vega, Mary Bruce and others. Catch us on "The Briefing Room" at the ABC News Politics Facebook page, the ABC News YouTube page, ABCNews.com/LIVE and the ABC News app.

NEED TO READ with ABC News' Daksha Sthipam

Trump lawyer says it's an open question whether president could pardon himself. Jay Sekulow, a member of President Trump’s legal team, said it’s an open question whether the president has the authority to pardon himself. Sekulow was responding to a question on "This Week" Sunday. “We have not, and continue to not have conversations with the president of the United States regarding pardons," he said. "Pardons have not been discussed. And pardons are not on the table." http://abcn.ws/2vNBKFQ

Democrats open to single-payer health insurance, a party leader says. The Democratic Party will consider proposing a single-payer health insurance system, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York said. "Many things are on the table. Medicare for people above 55 is on the table. A buy-in to Medicare is on the table. Buy-in to Medicaid is on the table" Schumer said on "This Week" Sunday. http://abcn.ws/2tAT6cg

Donald Trump Jr., Manafort agree to cooperate with Senate panel and won't attend Wednesday hearing, Chuck Grassley says. Donald Trump Jr. and Paul Manafort have both agreed to negotiate with the Senate Judiciary Committee to provide documents "and be interviewed ... prior to a public hearing" in regards to its Russia probe, the Iowa senator said. Representatives for both the younger Trump and Manafort did not respond to requests for comment from ABC but have previously said they are cooperating with the congressional investigations. http://abcn.ws/2trIIPO

Donald Trump Jr. adds D.C.-based attorney to legal team. Donald Trump Jr.'s legal team is expanding its operation, bringing on D.C.-based attorney and longtime regulatory lawyer Karina Lynch, his team told ABC News. http://abcn.ws/2vOuoll

WHO'S TWEETING?

@amyfiscus: No, the @nytimes didn't "foil" a chance to capture al-Baghdadi, as Trump said. @gordonnyt checked the tapes: http://nyti.ms/2uYRqts

@markberman: It's July and Trump still hasn't accepted the intel community's conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 election http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/23/politics/anthony-scaramucci-donald-trump/index.html …

@jdawsey1: Lots of folks in White House are saying they don't know why Reince Priebus sticks around. Who are his allies? What's his end game? Unclear.

@betsy_klein: Official: Kushner leading WH outreach on Jerusalem crisis http://cnn.it/2uPiefb

@rebeccaballhaus: Among 77 assets Kushner omitted on 1st financial disclosure: an art collection worth $5M-$25M https://www.wsj.com/articles/jared-kushner-discloses-dozens-more-assets-in-revised-financial-filing-1500678017 …

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.