‘The defining accomplishment of his first year’

'The defining accomplishment of his first year' In the closing days of 2017, President Donald J. Trump's critics and supporters alike ticked off the major achievements of his first year in office: tax cuts, Neil Gorsuch's appointment to the Supreme Court, and a booming stock market, among others. Yet the Bureau of Land Management's reversal last month of an Obama-era energy policy flew largely under the radar, and it underscores one of the crucial missions of this presidency. "The Trump administration rounded out the Year of Deregulation in appropriate fashion, rescinding a rule intended to punish oil and gas producers," the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote in an editorial this week. That regulation "would have added millions of dollars to the cost of fracking operations" with duplicative red tape. Here's the key: "Fracking is already subjected to scores of regulations at the federal, state and tribal levels. That won't change," the editorial says. In other words, simplifying government doesn't mean it's going away. Read why the Review-Journal says deregulation may be what matters most. Saying what we mean "To see the people of Iran rising up to demand change in their country should hearten every freedom-loving American," Vice President Mike Pence told Greta Van Susteren in an interview yesterday. The Vice President's point was simple: An America that's clear about what it stands for has a genuine opportunity to shape a world that's freer and more democratic. And we can do so peacefully. "My hope, and really my prayer, is that the people of Iran — a youthful population, a well-educated population — understand that the United States of America and the people of this country are their natural ally." See what Van Susteren asked the Vice President about Iran and North Korea. Getting to 'yes' on a bipartisan budget deal Yesterday, Republicans and Democrats in Congress outlined their priorities for a two-year bipartisan spending agreement. The White House and Republican leadership on Capitol Hill were clear about what they expect from a deal. "The American people deserve a government that funds our great military, protects our borders, and leads to a more prosperous future for all," they said in a joint statement. Read the full statement here. Photo of the Day President Donald J. Trump walks down the West Colonnade of the White House | January 3, 2017 (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen) POTUS TODAY This morning, President Trump will meet with Republican members of the Senate to discuss immigration. In the afternoon, the President will present the National Security Medal to Richard Ledgett, Jr. Later in the afternoon, the President will meet with Republican members of the Senate about 2018 legislative priorities. The President will then meet with the Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee.