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Question: The attempts to curtail testimony to congressional investigators became clear this week when  former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon  appeared before the House Intelligence Committee and infuriated both sides of the aisle by refusing to answer questions about  his  work during the presidential transition and in the White House.
At some points during  Bannon 's six hours of closed-door testimony   his  attorney took breaks to confer via telephone with the White House counsel's office to clarify what questions could be answered and came back with the same guidance:  Bannon  could not discuss any activities related to the transition or  his  tenure in the White House.
 Bannon 's team negotiated ground rules with the White House counsel's office the week prior to his appearance before the House Intelligence Committee  according to a source familiar with the situation.
The President's personal legal team was aware of discussions between the White House counsel's office and  Bannon 's lawyer about protecting a possible privilege claim. But it wasn't their decision  according to a person familiar with the discussions. The protection of the privilege is a matter for the White House  not the President's legal team  because it relates to the office.
Before the hearing   Bannon 's lawyer informed a staff member of Rep. Devin Nunes  the California Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee  that  Bannon  planned to claim executive privilege on topics beyond the presidential campaign  a source said.
But that information was apparently tightly held. "It caught me personally by surprise" that  Bannon  asserted executive privilege  said Rep. Mike Conaway  the Texas Republican leading the committee's Russia investigation.
South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy and Florida Rep. Tom Rooney  the other two Republicans leading the Russia probe along with Conaway  also said they weren't aware of any agreement between the White House and committee staff about the scope of  Bannon 's testimony.
"They wouldn't do that because I'd ask what I think is relevant to ask  and if you've got a legal privilege you can assert it " Gowdy said  adding that  Bannon  was in a "legally indefensible position."
As it became clear on Tuesday that  Bannon  was refusing to answer questions  the committee served  him  with a subpoena to compel  him  to divulge additional information.
But the scope of what  Bannon  was claiming was privileged shocked members from both parties.
" His  version of executive privilege is it covers the transition  the time  he  was at the White House and covers time forever " Gowdy told Fox News Wednesday. "That is no one's definition of executive privilege."
Lawmakers were also offended that  Bannon  had already divulged details about some of  his  post-campaign activities in Michael Wolff's explosive book "Fire and Fury " but then refused to discuss those events with the committee.  Bannon 's attorney also informed members that he would  in fact  answer those questions when he meets with special counsel Robert Mueller's team because executive privilege doesn't apply to Mueller's investigation.
Democrats charge that  Bannon 's appearance before the House committee marks the broadest attempt so far at using privilege to shield events that occurred from the moment Trump was elected.
Republicans haven't ruled out the possibility of holding  Bannon  in contempt  but at least one GOP member -- Gowdy -- suggested it was unlikely.
House Speaker Paul Ryan downplayed the issue of whether witnesses like  Bannon  might be abusing the bounds of executive privilege.
Still   Bannon 's stonewalling sparked a sharp warning from Conaway -- the Republican leading the House Russia probe -- to White House aides who might follow the Bannon model: "We're going to insist on getting questions we need to answer our report."

Answer: Steve Bannon 's Hill appearance reveals White House effort to restrict testimony


Question: "If we have a shutdown , it will be because Harry Reid holds that absolutist position and essentially holds the American people hostage ," Cruz told NBC 's Meet the Press days after his filibuster , and just before the shutdown began . 
Over the next couple of weeks , with much of the federal workforce furloughed , Cruz huddled with House conservatives to encourage them to dig in against a deal that included any capitulation on the Obamacare demands . 
WASHINGTON -- To hear Sen. Ted Cruz tell it , he deserves no blame for the 2013 government shutdown that cost the U.S. economy $ 24 billion . 
"You 've left me speechless ," Maine Sen. Susan Collins , a moderate Republican who seethed at Cruz throughout the 2013 episode , told reporters when asked about her Texas colleague 's stance . 
Cruz argued Monday that he voted repeatedly to keep the government running . 
Cruz spent the summer of 2013 promoting the idea that the fight to defund Obamacare was worth the risk of shutdown , and stirring public pressure on GOP leaders . 
The episode remains a key moment in Cruz 's five-year Senate career , elevating his status among tea partiers and propelling his 2016 presidential bid . 
But while Cruz 's stance caused dismay and allegations of revisionism , he has always maintained that Democrats bore responsibility for the 16-day shutdown -- along with GOP congressional leaders who lacked the backbone to back him up in the crusade to defund Obamacare . 
"There 's no end result other than shutting the government down , for which Republicans are going to be blamed ," Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch said after a meeting with Cruz , shortly before the shutdown . 
On Monday , Cruz called it "a media narrative" that he was responsible for the 2013 shutdown . 
House Speaker John Boehner rejected the tactic and later called Cruz a "jackass" for pursuing it .

Answer: Eyes roll as Ted Cruz denies role in 2013 government shutdown ; ` Speechless ' says one senator .


Question: "I think the Supreme Court really needs to understand the impact of its ruling. It's not just a theoretical question -- they just changed Galveston Island's ability to nourish its beaches " Mayor Joe Jaworski said.
 "These are Texas' beaches " he said. "It's ironic that the Supreme Court has essentially said it's every man for himself."
 Although the court rarely grants motions to rehear an already decided case  the stakes are too high to ignore any options  said Jaworski  Galveston's mayor. Galveston's beach-rebuilding effort  replacing 54 million cubic feet of sand  was essential to restoring the island's battered economy and shoring up several damaged neighborhoods  Jaworski said.
 And unless the beach is restored  the city cannot move forward on several pending projects  such as replacing a washed-out road to beachfront houses in the Spanish Grant neighborhood  Jaworski said. "These houses are sitting there without a street " he said.
 Jaworski fears some beach residents will abandon the city in frustration. Other city leaders fear landowners will erect their own anti-erosion concrete barriers  creating an unsightly blot that could worsen erosion on nearby tracts.
 "This has really cast a pall on the west end right now " Jaworski said.

Answer:
GALVESTON OFFICIALS ASK TEXAS COURT TO RECONSIDER BEACH RULING