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Article snippet: (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) Good morning. Here’s what you need to know: • In Washington, John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, gave an emotional defense of President Trump’s much-criticized call to an Army widow. Here’s the full video and transcript of Mr. Kelly’s remarks. The Senate passed a budget bill that would protect a $1.5 trillion tax cut from a filibuster. Separately, Senator John McCain and others moved to force internet companies like Facebook to disclose who is buying political ads. Two former presidents emerged from political seclusion: George W. Bush denounced nationalism, protectionism and coarsened politics in remarks that seemed aimed at Mr. Trump. Barack Obama joined campaign rallies in Virginia and New Jersey, as Democrats look to statehouses to defend their policies. _____ • Victory over the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq has come at a terrible cost. Drone footage and satellite images reveal rubble-filled streets and destroyed landmarks, like Raqqa’s Naem traffic square. And fleeing jihadists are already regrouping in remote areas, rearming with the help of desert smugglers. Our podcast “The Daily” examines whether the Islamic State is losing its war and how it is trying to reinvent itself. _____ • The Spanish government said it would convene an urgent cabinet meeting on Saturday and take emergency measures to halt Catalonia’s secessionist drive after Carles Puigdemont, above, the Catalan leader, warned tha... Link to the full article to read more