What's happening in the political world:
President pushes tax reform effort
-- President Trump on Wednesday delivered his opening pitch on tax reform, framing the effort in populist terms by saying Republican plans to overhaul the tax code would be a boon for lower- and middle-class Americans.
"We're here today to launch our plans to bring back Main Street by reducing the crumbling burden on our companies and on our workers," Trump said in Springfield, Missouri. "The foundation of our job creation agenda is to fundamentally reform our tax code for the first time in more than 30 years."
Trump's pitch leaned heavily on the economic benefits tax reform could deliver and aimed to get ahead of Democratic arguments that Trump's tax reform plans would overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Americans, as independent tax experts have estimated.
In a Wednesday morning tweet, Trump said: "Will be leaving for Missouri soon for a speech on tax cuts and tax reform - so badly needed!"
Russian spokesman: Trump lawyer asked Russia for help on real estate deal
-- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Wednesday he got an email from Michael Cohen, President Trump's lawyer, asking for help moving a Moscow real estate deal forward, but said he did not respond and did not pass it to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump's morning tweet(s)
-- President Trump began his day with several tweets on different topics:
The U.S. has been talking to North Korea, and paying them extortion money, for 25 years. Talking is not the answer!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2017
After witnessing first hand the horror & devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey,my heart goes out even more so to the great people of Texas!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2017
After reading the false reporting and even ferocious anger in some dying magazines, it makes me wonder, WHY? All I want to do is #MAGA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2017
Mattis: Transgender service members can continue to serve
-- Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said transgender military members can continue to serve despite President Trump's order of a ban.
"In the interim, current policy with respect to currently serving members will remain in place," Mattis said. "I expect to issue interim guidance to the force concerning the president’s direction, including any necessary interim adjustments to procedures, to ensure the continued combat readiness of the force until our final policy on this subject is issued."
Last week, Trump directed the military not to move forward with an Obama-era plan that would have allowed transgender individuals to be recruited into the armed forces, following through on his intentions announced a month earlier to ban transgender people from serving.
The presidential memorandum also banned the Department of Defense from using its resources to provide medical treatment regimens for transgender individuals currently serving in the military.
Trump Jr. agrees to transcribed interview with Senate panel
-- President Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has agreed to sit down for a transcribed interview with the Senate judiciary committee, as investigators continue to dig into his attendance at a 2016 meeting where he was promised Russian dirt on the Clinton campaign.
The committee and Trump Jr. have agreed on a date to be interviewed by the panel in private, according to Taylor Foy, spokesman for committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, after Trump Jr.'s lawyers have been in discussions with the panel and turned over documents. Trump Jr. will be interviewed by senior committee staff, and senators could also attend, Foy said.
After the Senate judiciary committee invited him to attend a July hearing to testify in public, Trump Jr. instead cut a deal with the committee to avoid that session. It's unclear if he will eventually testify publicly, but committee leaders have said an open session with Trump Jr. is still on the table.
CNN contributed to this report
