<em>The Atlantic</em> Daily: One Damaging Conversation

What We’re Following

‘A Real Nut Job’: That’s how President Trump referred to James Comey during a meeting with Russia’s ambassador and foreign minister last week. In the meeting (the same one during which he revealed classified information), he told the officials that since he’d fired Comey the day before, the “great pressure” he’d faced “because of Russia” would be “taken off.” Press Secretary Sean Spicer acknowledged the exchange after The New York Times reported it—effectively confirming that the administration’s former explanations of Comey’s firing were false. Now, Congressional Democrats say the president committed obstruction of justice, and they’re calling again for an independent commission to investigate his ties to Russia.

The president is headed to, the Islamophobic statements he made as a candidate make him an unlikely speaker on the religion, but whatever he says is likely to improve on what he’s said before. The visit demonstrates how Trump is reversing Obama’s policies with regard to the Arab Gulf—and , Trump may also find it a welcome break from his own scandals. If you’ve been busy keeping track of them too, you may have missed.