Week in politics: Congress on recess; new charges against Trump; economy looks up

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Congress leaves for recess regardless of an enormous to-do listing. New fees filed towards former President Donald Trump. Promising new financial numbers.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Congress is in recess. Do not they’ve work to do? Questions abound about if and when that third indictment of former President Donald Trump will probably be handed down. NPR senior Washington editor and correspondent Ron Elving joins us. Ron, thanks a lot for being with us.

RON ELVING, BYLINE: Good to be with you, Scott.

SIMON: Let me put it this instantly. Is it irresponsible for Congress to depart city with a lot left to do within the appropriations course of to keep away from a authorities shutdown?

ELVING: You realize, the August recess shouldn’t be within the Structure, Scott, however it may as properly be so far as Congress is worried. It was 98 and humid right here yesterday. It’s a must to surprise how Congress met in the summertime in any respect earlier than air con. However the reality is the spending payments don’t undergo for lack of time, however for an absence of widespread function. Within the Senate, they’ve had bipartisan cooperation. They’ve gotten all 12 spending payments prepared for ground debate. Within the Home, not a lot. The Home’s hardcore conservatives need a few of these must-pass payments to grow to be automobiles for social coverage. That is not an authentic concept. It has occurred earlier than. On this case, they wish to use them for weapons for the tradition wars. These provisions is not going to go the Senate. So some kind of compromise will probably be wanted in September or a authorities shutdown will loom as soon as once more.

SIMON: And on the Senate aspect, I’ve to ask you about what – an alarming second. Senator Mitch McConnell abruptly stopped talking throughout a information convention. What are the implications right here?

ELVING: It was an eerie second, to make certain.

SIMON: He later got here again and stated he was fantastic.

ELVING: Sure. He got here again, stated he was fantastic. However it was an eerie second, to make certain, disturbing, and the extra so the extra occasions you watched it. We all know McConnell has had a few falls this 12 months, one concussion, three weeks of rehab. We all know he says he is fantastic. His workplace says he is fantastic. He is been the Republican chief, majority or minority, again to 2007, longer than anybody in historical past on the Republican aspect. And like him or not, he is been among the many simplest leaders both get together has had in a very long time. He is bought a greater shot at holding Republicans collectively and negotiating with the Democrats than most anybody who may change him.

However uncertainty about management is rarely good, and we see that on the Home aspect as properly. Speaker McCarthy has spent the final week speaking about impeaching President Biden, speaking about expunging former President Trump’s two impeachments. Sure, that may please the previous president, and it could please his most ardent supporters within the Home. And, sure, McCarthy wants those self same Home members to stay as speaker. However I can think about him behaving fairly otherwise if he had a bigger majority to work with in getting the required enterprise of Congress carried out.

SIMON: And, after all, let me ask you in regards to the potential repercussions of a possible third indictment of Donald Trump. Mr. Trump stated on social media his attorneys met with federal prosecutors Thursday on the Justice Division.

ELVING: We do not know precisely what went on in that assembly, however it could have purchased Trump and his protection group slightly extra time within the indictment course of associated to the January 6 revolt. However what we bought as an alternative was a brand new superseding indictment within the Mar-a-Lago paperwork case down in Florida. It is vital there as a result of this features a cost that Trump ordered recordings from a surveillance digicam to be deleted. Now, if confirmed, that may be willful destruction of proof, obstruction of justice. And it additionally speaks to Trump’s consciousness that his possession and concealment of the paperwork was illegal. That might be essential at trial.

SIMON: I’ve to ask you – some hanging new numbers, good numbers in regards to the financial system this week. What do they imply in folks’s on a regular basis lives?

ELVING: What is going on on within the financial system is that it is rising and inflation is moderating. The financial system grew 2.4% second quarter, high of two% of the primary quarter. These aren’t barnburner numbers, however they don’t seem to be the recession so many people have been anticipating. We additionally realized yesterday that shopper costs this previous month have been up a comparatively delicate 3% – slowest inflation in nearly two years. And it carried with it some indications that the present pattern would proceed. And, you already know, Scott, shoppers are starting to really feel it as properly. A number of the shopper confidence numbers we have seen recently are one of the best in fairly some time.

SIMON: NPR’s Ron Elving, thanks a lot.

ELVING: Thanks, Scott.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This textual content will not be in its last type and could also be up to date or revised sooner or later. Accuracy and availability might fluctuate. The authoritative report of NPR’s programming is the audio report.

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