GOP/RUSSIA/SENATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The White House revealed Thursday [7-19-18] it has invited Vladimir Putin here to another summit in the fall, surprising Republican lawmakers and top administration officials who said they still hadn’t been told what President Donald Trump and the Russian leader agreed to earlier this week in Helsinki. The lack of clarity about what the leaders discussed—information typically shared rapidly with administration officials and key figures on Capitol Hill—left the White House responding to news emanating from the Russian version of events. It also sowed discord at each end of Pennsylvania Ave. The Senate on Thursday passed a rare, bipartisan and unanimous measure voicing its opposition to a request from Mr. Putin to allow Moscow investigators to question Americans, including U.S. diplomats. The White House had said on Wednesday it was considering the matter. Just before the Senate’s vote, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders issued a statement saying Mr. Trump had declined Mr. Putin’s request.”
–Michael C. Bender and Byron Tau, “Donald Trump Invites Vladimir Putin for U.S. Visit This Fall,” The Wall Street Journal, July 19, 2018 7:28 pm