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WASHINGTON — Top congressional Republicans, who have for decades resisted any legislative limits on guns, signaled on Wednesday that they would be open to banning the firearm accessory that the Las Vegas gunman used to transform his rifles to mimic automatic weapon fire. For a generation, Republicans in Congress — often joined by conservative Democrats — have bottled up gun legislation, even as the carnage of mass shootings grew ever more gruesome and the weaponry ever more deadly. A decade ago, they blocked efforts to limit the size of magazines after the massacre at Virginia Tech.

Tuesday at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, former first lady Michelle Obama said when she attended the State of the Union address she would notice the Republican side was “all men, all white,” and that was why she argued many people of color “don’t trust politics.” Speaking about diversity, Obama said, “We should be working actively to mix it up, so we’re getting a real broad range of perspectives on every issue. Shoot, I would see that in Congress.” She explained, “At the State of the Union address … when you are in the room what you can see is this real dichotomy.

Tuesday at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, former first lady Michelle Obama said when she attended the State of the Union address she would notice the Republican side was “all men, all white,” and that was why she argued many people of color “don’t trust politics.” Speaking about diversity, Obama said, “We should be working actively to mix it up, so we’re getting a real broad range of perspectives on every issue. Shoot, I would see that in Congress.” She explained, “At the State of the Union address … when you are in the room what you can see is this real dichotomy.

Amid recent revelations that some White House advisers have used private email accounts to conduct official government business, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is demanding to know if any White House officials communicated via private email or text with a representative of a foreign government, political party or international organization. Sen.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise spoke at length about gun control in a new interview tonight, telling Fox News he is “absolutely” as strong as ever on the Second Amendment. The Republican representative from Louisiana recently returned to Congress after he was shot by a gunman in June at a Congressional baseball practice. After a long medical recovery, he'll face revived conversations with fellow congressmen and women on gun control. His return came just days before the worst mass shooting in modern U.S.

Mike Pence is a roll-his-sleeves-up kind of guy. The Vice President visited a United Blood Services blood donation center in Phoenix Tuesday "to raise awareness for those in need in Las Vegas," he tweeted, referring to Sunday night's shooting massacre by suspected gunman Stephen Paddock which left 58 people dead, plus Paddock. "Inspiring to see others donating blood in Arizona to help those hurt in the Las Vegas shooting," Pence wrote in another tweet. "We are one nation and one people united." Pence is no stranger to donating blood.

The top two members of the Senate Intelligence Committee gave a detailed update on the panel's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election today, saying that the "issue of collusion" with Russia remains open. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the chairman of the committee, went through a number of issues that the investigators have looked into and the breadth of their search. Burr said the "general consensus" of those involved with the Russian investigation, they "trust the conclusions" of the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA).

A State Department spokesperson denied that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ever called President Donald Trump a "moron" as reported earlier today. "The secretary does not use that type of language. The secretary did not use that type of language to speak about the president of the United States. He does not use that language to speak about anyone ... he did not say that," spokesperson Heather Nauert said this afternoon. Tillerson today reaffirmed his support for Trump, and said he never thought about stepping down from his post.

Most popular on BostonGlobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories LAS VEGAS — Solemn in the face of tragedy, President Donald Trump visited hospital bedsides and a vital police base in stricken Las Vegas on Wednesday, offering prayers and condolences to the victims of Sunday night’s shooting massacre, along with the nation’s thanks to first responders and doctors who rushed to save lives. ‘‘America is truly a nation in mourning,’’ the president declared, days after a gunman on the 32nd floor of a hotel and casino opened fire on the crowd

Most popular on BostonGlobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories President Donald Trump spoke to first responders on Wednesday after meeting privately with victims of the Las Vegas shooting at a hospital.  The NRA has shown how strong its political pull is.