President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocratic 2020 hopefuls tout LGBTQ plans at town hall Trump defends Syria move at rally: ‘Bring our troops back home’ Pompeo adviser resigning: report MORE used a portion of his campaign rally Thursday night to defend his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, underscoring the level of backlash he has received from members of both parties over the move.

Trump argued during free-wheeling remarks in Minneapolis that the U.S. could “take a victory” by removing soldiers, despite pushback for withdrawing troops ahead of a Turkish military offensive that has targeted U.S.-backed Kurdish forces.

“Turkey is right now waging a very tough campaign against the Kurds. We got along with the Kurds, we helped the Kurds and don’t forget, they’re also fighting for their land … but they’re fighting,” Trump said.

The president added that one option the U.S. had was to “bring our troops back home.”

“We don’t have any soldiers there because we left, we won, we left, take a victory United States,” he said. “Bring our troops back home.”

He later lamented how long U.S. troops had been involved in military conflicts overseas.

“We were supposed to be in Syria for 30 days, we’ve now been there for 10 years. We were supposed to be in Afghanistan for a short period of time, we’re now going to be there for close to 19 years,” he said.

“It’s time to bring them home, we’ve done our job,” he added. 

The White House announced late Sunday that Turkey would be “moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria” and that U.S. troops “will no longer be in the immediate area.”

Trump tweeted this week that the U.S. removed 50 troops from the region, relocating them to other outposts.

The Turkish military has since begun carrying out attacks against Kurdish forces, with dozens of casualties reported this week and thousands in Syria fleeing after the military campaign began.

Trump’s move was met with bipartisan criticism, with lawmakers saying it essentially paved the way for Turkey’s incursion into northern Syria that is targeting Syrian Kurdish forces who had been instrumental for years in the U.S. fight against terror.

Lawmakers argued that the move put U.S. national security and allies at risk. 

Meanwhile, a Syrian Kurdish official slammed what they called a U.S. “betrayal” in a Washington Post op-ed. 

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South Carolina on Wednesday approved allowing Google to pump nearly 550 million gallons of drinking water per year to cool its servers.

The decision from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is the latest salvo in an ongoing battle over whether the tech giant should get state approval to pump from a major water source that critics say is being depleted.

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In a letter to the company obtained by Columbia’s The State, DHEC said that Google must comply with conditions in the permit, including a cap on the amount of water it can withdraw, or risk losing its DHEC license. The permit expires in 2023.

“We strive to build sustainability into everything that we do, and our data centers are no different,” Google said in a statement to The State. “We’ve been proud to call South Carolina home for more than ten years, and we’re proud of the investments that we’ve made here, including more than $2 billion in capital investment, supporting employment opportunities, municipal improvements, educational programs and local nonprofits.”

Groundwater withdrawals are a source of growing concern in South Carolina as demands on aquifers, large subterranean water supplies that line the state’s coastal plain, rise. Besides Google, megafarms in the center of the state have also come under scrutiny for their water use.

Critics of DHEC’s decision said Google could get cooling water from rivers in the area rather that siphon off drinking water.

“I don’t’ have a beef against Google itself, but I don’t think it is appropriate to use pristine groundwater for cooling computers, versus providing that water for people,’’ Clay Duffie, manager of the Mount Pleasant Waterworks that draws water from the ground and a local river, told The State. “We are obviously concerned about the [long-term], safe sustainable yield of that aquifer.”

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A Syrian Kurdish official wrote a Washington Post op-ed Wednesday saying that the U.S. had “betrayed” the American-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after the White House this week withdrew troops from northeastern Syria.

“Now we have been betrayed. President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrats request testimony from Trump’s former Russia adviser Trump adviser: ‘He should stop saying things that are untrue’ US moves British ISIS suspects from Syria amid Turkish invasion MORE has ordered U.S. troops in our territory to withdraw, exposing us to an invasion by Turkish troops who aim to destroy us,” wrote Ilham Ahmed, who is co-chairman of the Syrian Democratic Council, the SDF’s political arm. 

Ahmed warned that SDF troops guarding ISIS prisoners will have to be redirected to hold off the Turkish military, which signaled it would launch an attack in northeastern Syria as the Trump administration withdrew troops from the area.

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“The American decision not only puts the lives of countless thousands at risk. It also increases the likelihood of a resurgence of the global terror threat we worked so hard together with the US and its allies to defeat,” Ahmed wrote. 

“Thousands of Islamic State fighters are in our custody. Guarding them takes huge amounts of resources. Now that we are forced to fend off a Turkish invasion, we will have no choice but to redirect our forces who are guarding the Islamic State prisoners,” she added. “Their escape would pose a grave danger to Europe and beyond. This is not a threat, merely a reality — we cannot both defend against Turkey and maintain security over the Islamic State prisoners. Our people and our homes must come first. It is our obligation.”

Ahmed called on the U.S. and the international community to help facilitate peace. 

“Despite the betrayal we have endured, we still believe in American values and our true friends in U.S. uniform — those who stood shoulder to shoulder with our fighters and who changed widespread impressions here about the United States,” she wrote. 

“We hope that our confidence in core American values is not misplaced. We are ready to play our part to achieve progress toward peace with Turkey, peace in Syria and a sustainable solution to the Islamic State prisoners. But it is now up to the United States and the international community to engage with us. The choice is clear: peace and stability — or conflict and chaos that will reverberate around the world,” she added. 

The SDF is a rebel group in northeastern Syria made up of Kurdish fighters and others. Ahmed’s op-ed was published the same day Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the Turkish military had begun an operation against Kurdish forces. 

President Trump said in a tweet early Wednesday that 50 troops had been removed from the region. Late Sunday, the White House announced that Turkey will be “moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria” and that U.S. troops “will no longer be in the immediate area.”

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President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrats request testimony from Trump’s former Russia adviser Trump adviser: ‘He should stop saying things that are untrue’ US moves British ISIS suspects from Syria amid Turkish invasion MORE is barreling toward a showdown with Congress over his decision to pull back U.S. troops in northern Syria despite widespread opposition. 

The announcement, which caught leadership and traditional GOP allies flatfooted, sparked a wave of condemnation, with Republicans calling it a “disaster in the making,” a “catastrophic mistake” and a “terrible decision.”    

Lawmakers are already weighing how to respond to Trump’s decision, setting the stage for a high-profile clash with Trump as soon as Congress returns from a two-week break on Monday. 

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“Congress must and will act to limit the catastrophic impact of this decision,” said Rep. Liz CheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyOvernight Defense: Turkey launches offensive against Syrian Kurds | Trump set for clash with Congress over Kurds | Senators unveil Turkey sanctions bill | Trump says Kurds ‘didn’t help us’ in Normandy | Defense official arrested for leaking to journalists Congress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Turkey says ground forces have crossed over into northern Syria MORE (R-Wyo.), a member of House GOP leadership, adding that Trump’s decision was having “sickening and predictable consequences.” 

Rep. Ro KhannaRohit (Ro) KhannaCongress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Is Congress too afraid to fight Big Pharma? Democrats probing whether groups booked Trump hotel rooms to earn president’s favor: report MORE (D-Calif.) warned that unless Turkey changes its behavior “everything is on the table,” including “suspending arms sales, to suspending economic aid to even considering their status in NATO.” 

Lawmakers, scattered across the country for a two-week break, are having behind-the-scenes talks about potential legislative action and publicly throwing out a myriad of ideas ranging from a resolution opposing Trump’s actions to sanctions against Turkey to inserting language into a mammoth defense policy bill. 

“Multiple committees are looking at possible legislative efforts to put the House on record against the President’s outrageous decision,” a House Democratic leadership aide told The Hill.

Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerSchumer: Giuliani must testify under oath Trump to hold Louisiana rally for GOP candidates in governor’s race McCarthy shares ‘Stranger Things’ parody video criticizing impeachment MORE (D-N.Y) separately predicted that “Congress will take some form of action” given the “broad condemnation” sparked by Trump’s decision. 

Lawmakers are under growing pressure to mount a formal response after Turkey began airstrikes and shelling against Kurdish forces in northern Syria and, hours later, moved ground troops into the country after Trump pulled back U.S. troops. Lawmakers have warned for days that Trump’s decision could endanger the Kurds, who were integral to the U.S.-led fight against ISIS.

Trump on Wednesday tried to distance himself from Turkey’s actions, saying the United States “does not endorse this attack and has made it clear to Turkey that this operation is a bad idea.” But he also said the United States should not be part of “endless, senseless wars.”

Trump reiterated that the U.S. stance is that it is now Turkey’s responsibility to ensure ISIS prisoners being held by the Syrian Democratic Forces do not escape and further claimed Ankara has committed to “protecting civilians” and “ ensuring no humanitarian crisis takes place.” 

That’s done little to stem the flow of criticism from Capitol Hill. 

“I said that President Trump’s decision to abandon the Kurds … was terribly unwise. Today, we are seeing the consequences of that terrible decision. If the reports of Turkish strikes in Syria are accurate, I fear our allies the Kurds could be slaughtered,” said Sen. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsCongress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Trump seeks to distance himself from Turkish invasion of Syria Trump impeachment battle hits TV ads MORE (R-Maine). 

Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyOvernight Defense: Turkey launches offensive against Syrian Kurds | Trump set for clash with Congress over Kurds | Senators unveil Turkey sanctions bill | Trump says Kurds ‘didn’t help us’ in Normandy | Defense official arrested for leaking to journalists Congress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Romney bemoans ‘tragic loss of life’ in Syria after Trump move MORE (R-Utah) lamented the “tragic loss of life among friends shamefully betrayed.” 

One option under discussion would be to slap new sanctions on Turkey for invading Syria. 

Sens. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamOvernight Defense: Turkey launches offensive against Syrian Kurds | Trump set for clash with Congress over Kurds | Senators unveil Turkey sanctions bill | Trump says Kurds ‘didn’t help us’ in Normandy | Defense official arrested for leaking to journalists Congress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Giuliani says he will make decision over Ukraine testimony ‘in next week or so’ MORE (R-S.C.) and Chris Van HollenChristopher (Chris) Van HollenOvernight Defense: Turkey launches offensive against Syrian Kurds | Trump set for clash with Congress over Kurds | Senators unveil Turkey sanctions bill | Trump says Kurds ‘didn’t help us’ in Normandy | Defense official arrested for leaking to journalists Congress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Graham, Van Hollen announce new Turkey sanctions MORE (D-Md.) said after Turkey’s actions that they have reached an agreement on sanctions legislation. The bill would target Turkey’s energy sector and military. It also includes visa restrictions for Turkish leadership, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and would sanction any assets they have within U.S. jurisdiction. 

“I am pleased to have reached a bipartisan agreement with Senator Van Hollen on severe sanctions against Turkey for their invasion of Syria. While the Administration refuses to act against Turkey, I expect strong bipartisan support,” Graham said. 

“Most Members of Congress believe it would be wrong to abandon the Kurds who have been strong allies against ISIS,” he added. 

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Van Hollen said the sanctions bill will be introduced next week and that they want a quick vote. 

“Will ask for an immediate vote to send a clear message to Turkey that it must cease and desist its military action, withdraw its fighters from the areas under attack, and stop the tragic loss of life,” he said. 

Sen. Marsha BlackburnMarsha BlackburnCongress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds GOP requests update on criminal referrals prompted by 2018 Kavanaugh probe Hillicon Valley: Iranian hacking operation targeted campaign, government accounts | House panel pushes Zuckerberg to testify on Libra | Trump officials step up attacks on Facebook encryption MORE (R-Tenn.), who has aligned herself closely with Trump, said on Wednesday that she will support new financial penalties. 

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms any U.S. policy that will result in endangerment of the Kurds who have sacrificed so much blood and treasure alongside American forces. … Turkey must pay the price for its aggression toward our Kurdish partners,” Blackburn said. 

Trump downplayed the potential pushback, saying he thinks “it’s OK” if Congress imposes sanctions on Turkey even as he disagreed with Graham’s desire to stay in Syria and dismissed the Kurds because they “didn’t help us in the Second World War.”

“I think Lindsey would like to stay there for the next 200 years and maybe add a couple a hundred of thousand people every place, but I disagree with Lindsey on that,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “But I will tell you that I do agree on sanctions, but I actually think much tougher than sanctions if [Erdogan] doesn’t do it in as humane a way as possible.”

Graham is also crafting a resolution formally opposing Trump’s decision, adding that he expects “it will receive strong bipartisan support.” A spokesman for Graham told The Hill this week that they were in the process of drafting the resolution. 

It would mark the second time the Senate has rebuked Trump on Syria after providing veto-proof support for an amendment from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocrats plow ahead as Trump seeks to hobble impeachment effort Congress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Senate Intelligence report triggers new calls for action on election security MORE (R-Ky.) warning the president against withdrawing troops from Syria or Afghanistan earlier this year. 

McConnell sent a warning shot on Monday saying that “the conditions that produced that bipartisan vote still exist today.” 

Lawmakers could also slip language into a mammoth defense bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). House and Senate lawmakers are negotiating on a final version of the legislation. 

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim InhofeJames (Jim) Mountain InhofeThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump declares ‘case closed’ as text messages raise new questions Top House Democrat: Trump did ‘on camera’ what Romney warned about GOP senators attack whistleblower’s credibility MORE (R-Okla.) called Turkey’s actions “unacceptable” and warned that Ankara will face “serious economic, diplomatic and security consequences.”

“Erdoğan’s actions risk undermining our bilateral relationship, destabilizing northeastern Syria, squandering hard-won progress against ISIS, creating a new humanitarian crisis and harming our Kurdish partners,” Inhofe said.

A spokeswoman for Inhofe said because “the NDAA is currently in the conference process” she “couldn’t speculate” on whether it will include a response to the Syria situation.

A House Armed Services Committee spokeswoman told The Hill that lawmakers, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot EngelEliot Lance EngelDemocrats request testimony from Trump’s former Russia adviser Congress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds House Democrat breaks from party, says House should vote to start impeachment inquiry MORE (D-N.Y.), are working on legislation related to the issue separately from the NDAA, but could not immediately provide more detail. A House Foreign Affairs spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

More than 50 House Democrats, led by Rep. Jason CrowJason CrowCongress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Bipartisan lawmakers who visited Syrian border slam Trump’s ‘rash decision’ Trump impeachment calls snowball, putting pressure on Pelosi MORE (D-Colo.), sent a letter to Trump on Wednesday afternoon demanding he answer 10 questions about his Syria policy, including how the United States will ensure the Kurds’ protection and what Trump considers to be “off limits” for Turkey to do.

“This decision jeopardizes decades of trust in American solidarity and will only serve to undermine current and future alliances,” they wrote.

In the meantime, calls are mounting for the Trump administration to testify about the decision, providing a high-stakes setting where they would likely face a bipartisan grilling. 

Romney and Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyCongress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Administration to give ‘top secret’ briefing on Syria amid pushback Senators call for Trump administration to testify on Syria MORE (D-Conn.) are urging Senate Foreign Relations Committee leadership to have administration officials testify before the panel and “explain to the American people how betraying an ally and ceding influence to terrorists and adversaries is not disastrous for our national security interests.” 

Sen. Jack ReedJohn (Jack) Francis ReedCongress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Top Democrats warn against withdrawing from treaty that allows observation flights over Russia Yes, President Trump, we do have a homelessness crisis and you’re making it harder for us to address MORE (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, also called for Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperCongress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds Newsom mocks photo of Defense officials with Trump: ‘The diversity is truly overwhelming’ The Hill’s Morning Report – White House escalates impeachment battle royal MORE to testify before Congress “as soon as possible.” 

“I would hope Secretary of State [Mike] Pompeo and Acting Director of National Intelligence [Joseph] Maguire will be called before the respective oversight committees as well,” Reed said.

“We need a full accounting and there is no time to waste. Congress must send a clear, bipartisan signal to this president that we do not condone his decision,” he added. “And it has to go beyond tweets and statements. We need action.”

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The Trump administration is considering rolling back an Obama-era tax rule aimed at cracking down on offshore tax deals, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the discussions.

The news outlet reported that Treasury Department officials are weighing narrowing the regulations or repealing them and replacing them with new rules that would be more business-friendly. Bloomberg also reported that IRS Chief Counsel Michael Desmond has said that Treasury and the IRS are looking at addressing the rules in some way this fall.

In 2016, then-President Obama’s Treasury Department issued rules that were aimed at preventing U.S. companies from moving their headquarters overseas for tax purposes after merging with foreign companies — transactions known as corporate inversions.

The rule Treasury is reportedly considering changing was designed to go after a tax-avoidance strategy companies often used after inverting known as “earnings stripping.” Under this strategy, companies would move U.S. earnings to lower-tax countries through the use of debt.

Business groups have long had issues with the rule, expressing concerns that it impacts transactions that have nothing to do with inversions. And Bloomberg reported that some critics of the rule have argued that it’s no longer necessary in light of President TrumpDonald John TrumpPelosi hits back at Trump over letter: ‘Only the latest attempt to cover up his betrayal of our democracy’ Trump directed Perry, State Dept. officials to talk to Giuliani on Ukraine: report Murkowski warns against rushing to conclusions on Trump impeachment MORE‘s 2017 tax law.

But supporters of the rule argue that it has been successful in helping to reduce the use of certain corporate tax-avoidance strategies.

“One of the Trump administration’s top priorities has been making it as easy as possible for the wealthiest Americans and corporations to cheat and avoid taxes,” said Sen. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenHillicon Valley: Senate Intel report urges action to prevent 2020 Russian meddling | Republicans warn Microsoft of ‘urgent’ Huawei threat | Court rules FBI surveillance violated Americans’ rights Treasury considering rolling back Obama-era offshore tax rule: report Court rules FBI surveillance violated Americans’ rights MORE (D-Ore.), the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, in a statement Tuesday. “Rules preventing the offshoring of corporate profits should be strengthened—not weakened.”

Updated at 5:42 p.m.

Happy Tuesday and welcome back to On The Money. I’m Sylvan Lane, and here’s your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line.

See something I missed? Let me know at slane@thehill.com or tweet me @SylvanLane. And if you like your newsletter, you can subscribe to it here: http://bit.ly/1NxxW2N.

Write us with tips, suggestions and news: slane@thehill.com, njagoda@thehill.com and nelis@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @SylvanLane, @NJagoda and @NivElis.

 

THE BIG DEAL– House leaders ask Supreme Court to reject Trump challenge to consumer bureau: The Democratic-led House of Representatives filed a brief late Monday night asking the Supreme Court to reject a challenge to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) constitutionality.

• The House filed a brief Monday opposing a request for the Supreme Court to take up a case from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals arguing that the structure of the CFPB, a powerful financial regulator, infringes on the president’s executive authority.
• In the case, a law firm, Seila Law, refused to comply with a CFPB request for documents related to an enforcement action. The firm claimed the agency was unconstitutional. But a district court rejected that argument and the appeals court also ruled in favor of the agency against Seila Law.
• Seila Law has since asked the Supreme Court to take up the case, but the high court did not add it to the docket for its upcoming October term. 

Even so, the House is looking to kill the request after the Trump administration announced last month it would not defend the CFPB’s structure before the Supreme Court. I explain why here.

 

The background: CFPB critics argued that by making the bureau’s director fireable by the president only “for cause,” which is generally considered to be severe incompetence or misconduct, Dodd-Frank illegally restricted the president’s control over the executive branch.

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in 2016 that the CFPB’s structure was unconstitutional. But that decision, authored by eventual Supreme Court Justice Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughGOP requests update on criminal referrals prompted by 2018 Kavanaugh probe On The Money: House Dems asks Supreme Court to reject challenge to CFPB | New IMF chief warns of ‘global slowdown’ | CBO estimates federal deficit at 8 billion | NBA looks to shift message on China Harris says Trump should be in ‘timeout’ from appointing a Supreme Court justice MORE, was overturned by the full court in 2018.

 

The House’s rebuttal: The House brief asked the Supreme Court to abide by the D.C. Circuit ruling to protect the CFPB, arguing that the president has ample authority to fire the bureau’s director if she or he is not enforcing the law.

The brief also noted that because the CFPB is controlled by a single director, the president wields significant power over the agency by choosing who leads it.

 

LEADING THE DAY

New IMF head: Trade disputes contributing to ‘synchronized global slowdown’ New International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva cautioned on Tuesday that reports to be released next week will show the lowest global economic growth numbers this decade.

According to The Associated Press, the Bulgarian economist said in her first speech as head of the IMF that 90 percent of world economies will experience a decrease in growth amid what Georgieva described as a “synchronized global slowdown.”

Georgieva, who succeeded former IMF leader Christine Lagarde last month, attributed the “slowdown” to increased trade conflicts, namely the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. These conflicts, she said, could lead to a loss of $700 billion in world trade output, or 0.8 percent of the world’s gross domestic product.

“Everyone loses in a trade war,” Georgieva said in her speech.

 

Federal deficit estimated at $984B, highest in seven years: The federal budget deficit for 2019 is estimated at $984 billion, a hefty 4.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and the highest since 2012, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said on Monday.

The difference between federal spending and revenue has only ever exceeded $1 trillion four times, in the period immediately following the global financial crisis.

The deficit, which has grown every year since 2015, is $205 billion higher than it was in 2018, a jump of 26 percent.

The CBO has warned that the nation’s debt is on an unsustainable path. Higher levels of debt increase borrowing costs, make it harder for the government to battle economic downturns and increase the share of future spending devoted to paying off interest costs. The Hill’s Niv Elis breaks down the data here.

 

McConnell warns NBA to respect free speech: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMurkowski warns against rushing to conclusions on Trump impeachment Overnight Defense: Trump defends Turkey amid fierce criticism | Senators demand briefing on Syria decision | Turkey confirms strikes on Syrian border | White House says it won’t cooperate on impeachment inquiry McConnell blasts House Democrats over handling of impeachment inquiry MORE (R-Ky.) on Tuesday warned the NBA not to put its profits over free speech when it comes to the democracy movement in Hong Kong.

“The people of Hong Kong have risked much more than money to defend their freedom of expression, human rights, and autonomy. I hope the @NBA can learn from that courage and not abandon those values for the sake of their bottom line,” McConnell tweeted.

McConnell is only the latest lawmaker to criticize the league for attempting to quash Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey’s tweet urging support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. The Hill’s Alex Bolton has more on McConnell weighing in on the controversy.

NBA commish shifts message: Earlier Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a new statement as the league battled accusations from lawmakers in both parties that it had bowed to pressure from China in expressing regret over an executive’s tweet of support for demonstrators in Hong Kong.

Silver said he recognized that the league’s initial statement had left people “angered, confused or unclear on who we are or what the NBA stands for,” and then insisted it would continue to offer support for free expression by players and executives. At the same time, Silver made it clear the NBA would not be taking sides in the political dispute over civil rights in Hong Kong.

“It is inevitable that people around the world — including from America and China — will have different viewpoints over different issues. It is not the role of the NBA to adjudicate those differences,” Silver said in the statement. “However, the NBA will not put itself in a position of regulating what players, employees and team owners say or will not say on these issues. We simply could not operate that way.”

More from The Hill’s Marty Johnson here.

  

GOOD TO KNOW

• The Trump administration is considering rolling back an Obama-era tax rule aimed at cracking down on offshore tax deals, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the discussions.
• Facebook has agreed to pay a $40 million dollar settlement over allegations that the social networking site inflated the amount of time that users watched videos.
• The House Energy and Commerce Committee is asking U.S. Trade Representative Robert LighthizerRobert (Bob) Emmet LighthizerOn The Money: Economy adds 164K jobs in July | Trump signs two-year budget deal, but border showdown looms | US, EU strike deal on beef exports Chinese, US negotiators fine-tuning details of trade agreement: report The Trump economy keeps roaring ahead MORE to testify about the administration’s effort to include controversial language protecting internet platforms from legal liability in international trade agreements.
• China’s foreign ministry called on the U.S. to remove eight Chinese firms from a Commerce Department blacklist Tuesday but said planned trade talks between Beijing and Washington would proceed as scheduled, according to The Associated Press.
• Bloomberg News: “The Federal Reserve signed off on an overhauled Volcker Rule, making it the last of five agencies to approve changes that will dial back the regulation’s restrictions on Wall Street banks’ speculative investments.”

 

ODDS AND ENDS

• Disabled advocates scored a victory this week when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a ruling allowing a blind plaintiff to sue a retailer under the Americans with Disabilities Act for an inaccessible website.

Planned Parenthood on Thursday announced its first round of endorsements for dozens of House and Senate candidates who are “committed to protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights across the country.” 

The group unveiled its 89 endorsees in its largest-ever single wave of endorsements, saying it is underscoring “red-to-pink” races where they think Democratic candidates can flip the seat and “frontline” candidates who support abortion access and are vulnerable in the 2020 races.

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“In 2018, the American people sent more women, and women of color, to Congress than ever before. We also took back the House with a mandate to fight for sexual and reproductive health care. In 2020, we have the opportunity to flip the Senate and strengthen our House majority, ensuring we have a Congress that will protect people’s health and rights,” Alexis McGill Johnson, Acting President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement.

“Providing health care is meaningless if people cannot access it. The Trump administration and Republican leadership’s attacks against our health and rights have been relentless. People won’t take these attacks anymore — and they’re looking to make their voices heard at the ballot box.”

The endorsees include Senate hopeful Mark Kelly, a Democrat running to unseat Sen. Martha McSallyMartha Elizabeth McSallyMcSally says Senate taking ‘serious look’ at Trump call unlike ‘partisan’ House Trump impeachment battle hits TV ads Mark Kelly outraises McSally in Arizona Senate race for third straight quarter MORE (R) in Arizona, and incumbent Sens. Gary PetersGary Charles PetersHillicon Valley: Intel chief calls ‘cyber war’ greatest threat | Report details persistent voting system vulnerabilities | Cities struggle with scooter revolution | DoorDash data breach affected 4.9 million | NY sues Dunkin’ Donuts over hack Cyber rules for self-driving cars stall in Congress Republicans to hand out ‘baseball cards’ mocking Gary Peters in Michigan MORE (D-Mich.), Tina SmithTina Flint SmithContractors fight for pay from last shutdown — and the next one Here are the Senate Democrats backing a Trump impeachment inquiry over Ukraine call Senate Democrats hesitant to go all-in on impeachment probe MORE (D-Minn.) and Jeanne ShaheenCynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne ShaheenLewandowski told by Fox Business host he was being ‘a little slurry’ during interview Lewandowski: ‘Fair’ to say Senate run might not happen Bill with billion in wall funding advanced over Democrats’ objections MORE (D-N.H.). Planned Parenthood is also backing a mix of Democratic House incumbents and challengers in 25 different states.

The announcement comes a day after Planned Parenthood’s super PAC announced Wednesday it would spend $45 million in an effort to beat President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrats request testimony from Trump’s former Russia adviser Trump adviser: ‘He should stop saying things that are untrue’ US moves British ISIS suspects from Syria amid Turkish invasion MORE and flip the Senate in its “largest ever” electoral program, a significant boost from the $30 million the group committed to spending in the 2016 presidential election. 

“I think this is a really unique moment for us as an organization,” said Kelley Robinson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes. “The stakes are higher than ever, and we’re coming out more powerful than ever with our largest investment ever made.”

The moves come as advocates worry that internal strife could hobble Planned Parenthood’s political power heading into the 2020 cycle. The group’s board of directors this year fired its president and was mired in a public dispute over the circumstances of her departure; its health centers lost millions of dollars in federal family planning funding under a new Trump administration rule; and it is waging a court battle to keep open the last remaining abortion clinic in Missouri — a Planned Parenthood affiliate.

Meanwhile, the group is fighting back against a wave of state legislatures seeking to curtail access to abortion. Twelve states in the first half of the year enacted some kind of ban on the procedure, with advocates of the campaign saying they hope to spark a Supreme Court battle that could lead to the nation’s top court reviewing Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that was the first to legalize abortion on a federal level.

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The Polish striker is confident his side are back on track as they look to catch up with Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund

Bayern Munich have endured a stuttering start to the 2018-19 season, but Robert Lewandowski says the Bundesliga champions are relishing the chance to hunt down Borussia Dortmund.

The start of Niko Kovac’s tenure at the Allianz Arena has delivered mixed results, Bayern failing to win in four successive matches after starting the campaign unbeaten in seven.

Uncharacteristic league defeats to Hertha Berlin and Borussia Monchengladbach, plus stalemates against Augsburg, Freiburg and Fortuna Dusseldorf have seen the Bavarian giants slip to fourth.

A 3-2 defeat against Dortmund last month has enabled Lucien Favre’s side to open up a seven-point lead at the Bundesliga summit, with Bayern a further two adrift after 13 games.

Lewandowski – who has seven goals from 12 league appearances this term – believes Bayern have turned the corner, though, and says they are looking forward to the challenge of reeling Dortmund in.

“The last few weeks were difficult,” he told Bild. “We uncharacteristically dropped points, especially in the final minutes of games that we have normally won. 

“The situation was surprising; after the first few weeks of the season, we thought that things were going as well as in the past few years.

“We weren’t vigilant enough. But we’re on the right track [again].”

He added: “Sometimes it’s not bad at all to attack from the second row! We’re now happy to be the hunters. 

“In the past few years, we’ve always looked behind us. When you see that someone’s in front of you — it means that you’re more under pressure.

“You want to do it even more then — catch this team. It’s easier to attack from behind as a hunter than to look out for attacks from behind when you’re first. Especially when you don’t have experience.”

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The Blues boss has maintained it will be “impossible” to win the Premier League this season, despite Chelsea’s 2-0 win on Saturday

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Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City has not changed Maurizio Sarri’s view that it will be “impossible” for his team to win the Premier League title this year.

The Blues handed Pep Guardiola’s side their first loss in the division this season, with N’Golo Kante and David Luiz scoring either side of half-time at Stamford Bridge.

Sarri’s side are still seven points behind City after 16 games and eight behind new Premier League leaders Liverpool.

And the Chelsea coach remains insistent that his team cannot maintain a sustained title challenge this season due to his view that City are the continent’s finest side.

“As I said, always as you know, I think the gap is impossible to cover this kind of gap only in one season,” Sarri told a news conference.

“One match – you can play one match, of course. Then in the competition of 10 months it’s very difficult to cover the gap. I think they are, at the moment, the best team in Europe. 

“We won today. But we have to say we were a bit lucky in the first 25 minutes, because they could score. A little bit lucky in the first half and very good second half.”

In his previous three meetings against Guardiola teams, Sarri had never been on the winning side.

As pleased as he was with the victory, Sarri wants his Chelsea side, who lost at Wolves in midweek, to carry their form into the rest of December, when they will face Brighton and Hove Albion, Leicester City, Watford and Crystal Palace in the league.

“I’m happy for the win because it’s difficult to win against Guardiola’s team,” he added.

“I know very well they are a step ahead now. We have to work to cover the gap.

“We are not sure to be able to cover the gap. We have to try, of course.”

The Spaniard is fit and raring to go after returning from an ankle injury and says he is enjoying life with the German champions

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara insists that he is happy at the Allianz Arena and fully focused on helping the club win the European Cup for the sixth time in their history.

The 27-year-old sustained a torn ligament in his right ankle during Bayern’s German Cup win against Rodinghausen at the end of October and was sidelined for the following month.

Thiago returned to training on November 28 following a successful recovery and came on as a late substitute during Bayern’s 2-1 win at Werder Bremen last Saturday.

The Spanish playmaker is now looking forward to regular playing time over the winter period and he told Goal and Spox that he is in optimum condition.

“I am well and I am working on playing as much as possible,” said Thiago.

He went on to discuss his future plans, confessing that he has no desire to leave the club anytime soon having ‘matured’ as a player during his five-year spell in Bavaria.

“I’ve matured here, gained important experience and the opportunity to enjoy football more,” he added.

“Life is made up of stages and, of course, some more years can be added to this stage.”

Next up for the Bundesliga champions is a home league clash against Nurnberg on Saturday, before their final Champions League group stage encounter against Ajax four days later.

Niko Kovac’s men are already safely through to the knockout phase and sit top of Group E ahead of the Dutch giants, but they will need to secure at least a point in Amsterdam to qualify in first place.

Thiago has stated his desire to win the competition this season after falling agonisingly short in recent years.

“We did not have luck on our side against Real and Atletico in recent years,” he continued.

“But we keep going, we really want that title, even though we know how difficult it will be.”

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