The Note: GOP congressman calls for special prosecutor for Trump-Russia

The big story: Of all the bubbling questions and potential scandals of the early Trump administration, the one that now appears likely to hold is about Trump campaign contacts with Russians. There are sufficient questions surrounding these communications to merit a serious investigation, many in Washington believe.

Spicer Personally Arranged Calls with Intelligence Officials

"White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer personally picked up the phone and connected outside officials with reporters to try to discredit a New York Times article about Trump campaign aides' contact with Russia, then remained on the line for the brief conversations," Mike Allen reports. "The officials reached by Spicer were CIA Director Mike Pompeo and Senate Select Intelligence Committee Chair Richard Burr , according to a senior administration official.

Did President Trump save 77,000 coal mining jobs?

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events "If we had not overturned this rule, we were looking at nearly 70,000 jobs across the country." - Unidentified participant in President Trump's signing of H.J. Resolution 38, eliminating the Stream Protection Rule, Feb. 16, 2017 "I'm really pleased that we repealed a regulation that was going to be very, very damaging to my state.

AP sources: White House to propose boosting defense spending

The White House will propose boosting defense spending and slashing funding for longtime Republican targets like the Environmental Protection Agency in a set of marching orders to agencies as it prepares its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. President Donald Trump's proposal for the 2018 budget year, which will be sent to agencies Monday, won't make significant changes to Social Security or Medicare, according to an administration official.

‘We love peace’: Hundreds march in support of Indian killed in Kansas shooting

Hundreds of people in Kansas City joined a peace march and prayer vigil, celebrating the life of Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla cut short in a senseless triple shooting incident at a pub in an apparent hate crime. IMAGE: People march before a vigil for Srinivas Kuchibhotla at a conference center in Olathe, Kansas.

California’s Republican Party is buoyed by Trump, but struggles for relevance at home

San Diego Republican Party Chairman Tony Krvaric attends the California Republican Party convention Saturday in Sacramento. They toasted their airy new downtown headquarters with views of the Capitol and decorated with pictures of Ronald Reagan and other memorabilia from the party's storied history in the state.

Trump’s Cabinet has to work as a cleanup crew

After President Donald Trump said that deporting undocumented immigrants was "a military operation," Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, speaking in Mexico, clarified that there would be "no use of military force in immigration operations." After Trump, standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, upended decades of U.S. policy by saying he was open to a one-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East, U.N. envoy Nikki Haley asserted that the United States "absolutely" supports a two-state solution.

Historically black colleges push for financial support

Presidents from a majority of the country's historically black colleges and universities are in Washington this week, calling for $25 billion in the upcoming budget to help address priorities including infrastructure, college readiness and financial aid as President Trump prepares to sign an executive order aimed at signaling his commitment to the schools. Trump met briefly with the college leaders on Monday, posing for a photograph in the Oval Office before the group met with Vice President Mike Pence and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

The Latest: White House to seek big boost in defense dollars

Host President Donald Trump, makes a toast during a dinner reception for the annual National Governors Association winter meeting Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the State Dining Room of the White House, in Washington. The White House is preparing to propose boosting defense spending and slashing funding for longtime Republican targets like the Environmental Protection Agency.

Nominee to be Navy secretary withdraws

The USS John C. Stennis sails in the Philippine Sea. The Trump administration's choice to become the next Navy secretary has pulled his name from consideration, the Pentagon said Sunday, the second nominee to head a military service who has bowed out in recent weeks.

Hugh Hewitt: What ‘President Promise-Keeper’ should say on Tuesday night

"Ghostwriting" isn't really what happens in a presidential speechwriting shop. There's too much back and forth between the president and his writers to say a speech was actually ghosted for a president when it's a big one like President Trump's first address to Congress Tuesday night.

AP sources: White House to propose slashing agency budgets

The White House is moving to propose slashing cuts to longtime Republican targets like the Environmental Protection Agency in a set of marching orders to agencies as it prepares its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Capitol Hill aides say the White House budget office on Monday will send agencies proposed levels for the 2018 budget year.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich: House Republicans could foil Obamacare replacement

Ohio Gov. John Kasich: House Republicans could foil Obamacare replacement The longtime Trump critic vows to fight to keep Americans insured. Check out this story on ElPasoTimes.com: http://usat.ly/2lJlBPi WASHINGTON - Longtime Trump critic and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, two days after trying to mend fences at the White House, turned on Sunday to Republicans on Capitol Hill, saying that hard-line members of his own party in the House could be the biggest obstacle to passing an Obamacare replacement law.

Father of Navy SEAL killed in Yemen raid to Trump…

The father of William "Ryan" Owens, the Navy SEAL Team 6 member who was the first US combat death during US President Donald Trump's presidency in January, urged the Trump administration to not "hide behind my son's death" and provide answers. In an interview with the Miami Herald , Bill Owens, also a Navy veteran, called for an investigation into the raid that left his son, an eight-year-old girl, and as many as 29 civilians dead.

Dana Milbank: Trumpa s takeover of conservatism is complete

President Trump, addressing the annual Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, reminisced about the “very exciting” moment several years ago when he had his coming out as a conservative. I was there when Trump spoke at that 2011 CPAC gathering, at its former site in the Marriott ballroom in Washington's Woodley Park neighborhood.

Democratic and Republican Partisans Prepare for Next Election

At least five potential Republican candidates for Governor in 2018 were among the crowd of 400 people at the Saturday, Feb. 25, Lincoln Day Gala of the Shelby County Republican Party. Meanwhile, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry told a group of 150 Democrats at an "Obama Day" event Saturday that they and other Democrats across the state can elect one of their own as governor in 2018.