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WASHINGTON — One week before they are set to unveil a sprawling overhaul of the federal tax code, Republicans struggled on Wednesday with key parts of their plan, reigniting a fight over retirement savings and racing to cut a deal with lawmakers from high-tax states ahead of a critical budget vote in the House on Thursday. The challenges — and the dogged effort to resolve them on Capitol Hill — highlight the increased importance of the tax issue for a fractured party desperate for a legislative victory. The prospect of a once-in-a-generation bill to cut taxes on businesses and individuals incr

Despite the fervor of President Trump’s Republican opponents, the president’s brand of hard-edge nationalism — with its gut-level cultural appeals and hard lines on trade and immigration — is taking root within his adopted party, and those uneasy with grievance politics are either giving in or giving up the fight. In some cases, the retirement of an anti-Trump Republican could actually improve the Republican Party’s chance of retaining a seat.

The gloves are off between Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. But it's not a heated political issue that's the source of the conflict -- this time, at least. It's the World Series. After all, the Houston Astros. (Spoiler alert: The Dodgers beat the Astros 3-1 during Game 1 on Monday.) Harris took the opening shot at Cruz Tuesday night, tweeting, "Hey @TedCruz - when the @Dodgers bring that trophy home to the Golden State, lunch is on you, right?

Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and longtime confidant Michael Cohen strode into a secure room in the Capitol on Tuesday to answer questions in the ongoing probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election. The normally outspoken Brooklyn lawyer stayed quiet on his way into a closed hearing with the House Intelligence Committee, two weeks after he angered senators when he released a lengthy and defiant public statement about the congressional probes. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman

The U.S.

President Jeff Flake's announcement that he will not seek another term. Flake, R-Ariz., used his announcement Tuesday to denounce Trump and his behavior.

Republican Sen.

Most popular on BostonGlobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories Scott Brown says he was advised by the US Department of State to be more culturally sensitive after he called Peace Corps volunteers in Samoa “beautiful” and told servers at another function in Samoa that they could make good money in the food services industry. “I was, in fact, told by my people that: ‘Listen, you’re not Scott Brown from Rye, N.H., anymore. You’re an ambassador.

Most popular on BostonGlobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories The US ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa told a server she could make hundreds of dollars as a waitress in the US and told some guests they looked beautiful.  President Trump on Wednesday again refuted widow Myeshia Johnson’s claim that he did not seem to remember her husband’s name during a condolence call.  President Trump has not only continued to defy doomsayers, but he has shown an ability to actually shape his supporters’ views, according to polls. It would be hard to

Most popular on BostonGlobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories DATA: Twitter Daniel McLaughlin / Globe Staff © 2017 Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC