Trump news: Rape accuser asks for president's DNA, as impeachment judge foils attempt to reveal whistleblower on Senate floor

White House seeking to halt publication of Bolton memoir

The administration is seeking to put the brakes on The Room Where It Happened, according to The Hill, which has obtained a letter from a National Security Council (NSC) official arguing it contains "significant amounts of classified information."

The manuscript was submitted to the council on 30 December for review but daming details relating to Trump's intentions towards Ukraine were subsequently leaked to The New York Times, which ran its explosive story on them on Sunday night.

"Under federal law and the nondisclosure agreements your client signed as a condition for gaining access to classified information, the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information," Ellen J Knight, senior director for records, access and information security management, wrote to Bolton's attorney Charles Cooper in a letter dated 23 January.

Knight said some of the information included reaches the threshold of being "top secret" based on a preliminary assessment. The NSC's records division is still reviewing the document, she said, and would provide additional guidance once the process was completed.

"We will do our best to work with you to ensure your client's ability to tell his story in a manner that protects US national security," she wrote.

Cooper wrote back a day later arguing against key passages being blocked out. “We do not believe that any of that information could reasonably considered classified, but given that Ambassador Bolton could be called to testify as early as next week, it is imperative that we have the results of your review of that chapter as soon as possible,” the lawyer said.

The Room Where It Happened is due to be published on 27 March and is already available for pre-order on Amazon.

Deal of the century or ‘path to apartheid’? Inside Trump’s divisive peace plan

Here's Bel Trew to examine the president's "Vision for Peace" in the Middle East, which he unveiled to a rapturous reception at the White House on Tuesday but which gave rise to angry protests among Palestinians in Gaza City.

One of the architects of the plan, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, told Sky News Arabia yesterday that he'd put the hours in before redrawing the map.

“I’ve been studying this now for three years,” he said. “I’ve read 25 books on it, I’ve spoken to every leader in the region, I’ve spoken to everyone who’s been involved in this.”

Why is that somehow not altogether reassuring?

'Trump’s "deal of the century" is so absurd and banal, it’s impossible to take seriously'

For Indy Voices, Robert Fisk offers an even more damning assessment.

Don Jr to speak at world’s largest trophy hunt convention

Trump Jr, who has recently been accused of shooting endangered animals under controversial circumstances, will speak at the world’s largest trophy hunting convention in Reno, Nevada, next week, staged by Safari Club International.

He's also planning to auction off the chance to go animal killing with him in Alaska.

Chris Riotta has the full story.

Why Trump is likely to be acquitted - and very soon

John T Bennettt says the president is riding a "metaphorical bullett train" to acquital - and, if the Republican rebellion on admitting new witnesses fails to materialise, it could all be over by Friday.

"That's the plan!" says Mitch McConnell.

Trump's commerce secretary suggests coronavirus 'will help to accelerate jobs to North America'

Interviewed by Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business, US commerce secretary Nosferatu the Vampyr Wilbur Ross just served up a sizzling hot take on why China suffering a coronavirus outbreka is a boon for the American economy. 

Here's Chris Riotta on the old ghoul.

Mike Pompeo dodges questions on US refusal to extradite diplomat's wife over Harry Dunn death

Trump's secretary of state is in London and ducking questions on the administration allowing Ann Sacoolas to "evade justice" after fleeing the country following the killing of the Northamptonshire teen in a collision last August.

Pompeo and British foreign minister Dominic Raab engaged in a show of unity after recent spats over the assassination of Qassem Soleimani and Boris Johnson's decision to allow Hawei to build the UK's new 5G network, contrary to advice from the White House.

Rob Merrick has this report.

White House adviser credits Trump for increasing US life expectancy

Kellyanne Conway has announced that American life expectancy has increased for the first time in four years and that drug overdoses are down for the first time in 29 years - although 70,000 died from overdoes, 48,000 of which were the result of the opiod crisis.

She credits a "whole of government approach to treat the whole person led by President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and really the entire administration".

This administration?

President lays into impeachment trial star as senators prepare for final Q&A

Trump has just issued his latest attack on Adam Schiff, saying he "only dreams of the Impeachment Hoax" and is "mentally deranged" - in his opinion.

In today's second and final Q&A session of the impeachment, this is how long the senators have left to ask questions of the 16 alloted hours...

...and this is how many each senator has asked and who has yet to ask any at all.

Meanwhile, on CNN this morning, Wyoming Republican John Barrasso issued this incredibly craven defence of Alan Dershowitz's most controversial argument. 

Here are a couple of contrary interpretations.

The Iowa caucus explained

On Monday, Americans will be be able to cast a vote for who they’d like to see become president of the United States for the first time this election year.

But why is it taking place in Iowa, a predominantly rural state with a relatively small and largely white population, only 16 per cent of whom turned out in 2016?

Graig Graziosi explains it all.