ELECTION/GOP/MITCH MCCONNELL/SENATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump saw an opportunity to influence his party’s Senate primary in West Virginia earlier this month, but first he called to check in with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. The president, known for one of the quickest Twitter fingers in all of politics, wanted to make sure he and Mr. McConnell were on the same page. While such a call would be commonplace in any other administration, it was nearly unthinkable just last summer as Mr. Trump grew frustrated over the failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act, taking shots at Mr. McConnell on Twitter and berating him once in a phone call from the golf course. Now, the two men are talking nearly daily about saving the Republican majority this fall, with the White House engaging more directly in fundraising and strategic efforts led by Mr. McConnell, people close to both men said. Democrats need a net gain of just two seats to retake control of the chamber in November’s midterms.”
-Julie Bykowicz and Michael C. Bender, “Once at Odds, Trump and McConnell Plot Path to Hold Congress,” The Wall Street Journal, May 22, 2018 5:30 am