Thursday's Headlines: Trump taps his doctor to replace Shulkin at VA

Trump administration 'cautiously optimistic' summit with N. Korea will take place; Three big questions about a Trump-Kim summit; Trump's lawyer raised possibility of pardons for...

Democracy Dies in Darkness     The morning's most important stories, selected by Post editors   Trump taps his doctor to replace Shulkin at VA Choosing personal chemistry over traditional qualifications, President Trump announced on Twitter that he would nominate Rear Adm. Ronny L. Jackson, his personal physician, to replace David Shulkin as Veterans Affairs secretary. Jackson, who appears to have no background in management, gained prominence in January with his effusive praise of Trump's physical and mental health. By Lisa Rein, Philip Rucker, Emily Wax-Thibodeaux and Josh Dawsey  •  Read more » Trump administration 'cautiously optimistic' summit with N. Korea will take place Key details such as where Kim Jong Un will meet with President Trump, and the parameters of their talks, remain undetermined. China said Tuesday that it had held its own summit with Kim this week. Beijing's failure to officially inform the United States until after its talks were over was another indication of the uncertainties that still surround Trump's North Korea gambit. By Karen DeYoung and Anne Gearan  •   Read more »   Today's WorldView | Analysis Three big questions about a Trump-Kim summit It still remains profoundly unclear what concessions, if any, President Trump may win in putative talks with North Korea. By Ishaan Tharoor  •   Read more »   Trump's lawyer raised possibility of pardons for Manafort, Flynn last summer John Dowd insisted Wednesday that he did not float the idea of pardons with lawyers representing the two men. Legal experts said prosecutors could view the dangle of a presidential pardon to people under investigation as a criminal effort to obstruct justice. By Carol D. Leonnig, Josh Dawsey and Rosalind S. Helderman  •   Read more »   While Eastern Europe turns toward illiberalism and autocracy, Slovakia goes the other way During his decade as Slovakia's prime minister, Robert Fico flashed all the moves of the strongman autocrats now in vogue the world over. But after a reporter investigating Fico's finances was murdered, tens of thousands in the once-apathetic nation took to the streets in protest. Rather than be intimidated by the killing, journalists dug deeper. Under pressure from all sides, Fico resigned. By Griff Witte  •   Read more »   Stormy Daniels's lawyer pushes to depose Trump, saying Americans have been told 'a bucket of lies' The effort comes as the legal fight between Daniels and President Trump has gained steam. A potential deposition poses risks for Trump, who has a history of making erroneous claims, while Daniels herself is facing questions about her credibility in the wake of a widely seen interview on "60 Minutes." By Frances Stead Sellers and Mark Berman  •   Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT Opinions   Two big cheating scandals plague our politics By E.J. Dionne Jr.  •   Read more »   Even Trump deserves a good lawyer By Philip Allen Lacovara  •   Read more »   Repealing the Second Amendment is a dangerous idea By Laurence H. Tribe  •   Read more »   George Will's 2018 Opening Day Quiz By George F. Will  •   Read more »   China's new surveillance state puts Facebook's privacy problems in the shade By John Pomfret  •   Read more »   Trump's transgender troop ban is as insidious as ever By Editorial Board  •   Read more » ADVERTISEMENT More News   Wonkblog Republicans consider 'balanced-budget amendment' after adding more than $1 trillion to the deficit Congressional Democrats were quick to rip into the GOP over the proposal, which stands little chance of passing. "House Republicans bringing up a balanced-budget amendment now is shameless," Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) said. By Jeff Stein  •  Read more »     EPA staffers get talking points playing down human role in climate change The points mimic public statements by Administrator Scott Pruitt, who has repeatedly questioned the extent to which humans are contributing to the planet's warming. By Brady Dennis and Juliet Eilperin  •   Read more »   Russian ex-spy, daughter may have come into contact with nerve agent at their front door, investigators say British counterterrorism authorities did not say how the nerve agent was delivered, whether in person or by some other means. By William Booth  •   Read more »   Virtual reality could be the biggest change to movies since sound. If anyone will pay for it. While investors have poured in millions of dollars, drawing top talent and yielding a creative explosion, cinematic VR has not yet found commercial success. "I think a lot of people want to be immersed," one film executive said. "But the tech has to get out of the way." By Steven Zeitchik  •   Read more »   Family of boy in viral police hug photo dies after SUV plunges off cliff Devonte Hart, who became famous in 2014 when he was photographed sobbing into the arms of a white police officer in Portland, Ore., is believed to have been in the SUV but his body has not been recovered. By Marwa Eltagouri  •   Read more »   Vegans protested his restaurant. So this chef carved a deer leg in the window. When animal rights activists targeted Antler Kitchen & Bar, the chef and co-owner appeared in its window and carved up meat in full view of the protesters, some of whom later said they were disturbed for days, according to news reports. By Eli Rosenberg  •   Read more »   Johan van Hulst | 1911–2018 Dutch schoolteacher who saved hundreds of Jewish children during the Holocaust dies at 107 He was credited with saving more than 600 Jewish babies and children during World War II and, in 1972, was named Righteous Among the Nations by the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial center in Jerusalem. By Ellie Silverman  •   Read more »         Share Today's Headlines:    Twitter     Facebook Trouble reading? Click here to view in your browser. You received this email because you signed up for Today's Headlines or because it is included in your subscription. Manage my email newsletters and alerts | Unsubscribe from Today's Headlines Privacy Policy | Help ©2018 The Washington Post  |  1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071