CABINET/DEMS/MIKE POMPEO/SENATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo has been one of the few cabinet members to thrive in President Donald Trump’s administration. He recently had a successful meeting, by the White House’s accounting, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. His next task: winning over Senate Democrats to become secretary of state. Mr. Pompeo met with a round of Senate Democrats on Wednesday [4-18-18], and with his confirmation looking uncertain, White House officials pointed to Mr. Pompeo’s meeting with Mr. Kim as evidence of his foreign-policy bona fides…Mr. Pompeo is likely headed for an unfavorable vote as soon as next week in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. One Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, and nine Democrats on the panel have already said they would vote against him. A rebuke by the committee wouldn’t preclude a confirmation from the full Senate, and Mr. Trump said Wednesday he is convinced Mr. Paul will change his mind on the nomination. Mr. Paul said he would meet with Mr. Pompeo at the request of the president.”
– Michael C. Bender, Nancy A. Youssef and Byron Tau, “Pompeo Pursues Senate Democrats in Confirmation Battle,” The Wall Street Journal, April 19, 2018 12:14 am