Cohen’s testimony postponed

WASHINGTON — Michael Cohen will not testify as expected Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee, his lawyer said — marking yet another delay in lawmakers’ bid to question President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer about a range of potentially unflattering topics to the commander in chief.

At various points, Mr. Cohen was to testify before three congressional committees about his work for Mr. Trump — the Senate Intelligence Committee, the House Intelligence Committee and the House Oversight Committee. But in each instance, his scheduled appearance was canceled or postponed.

Lanny Davis, one of Mr. Cohen’s lawyers, cited recent shoulder surgery as the reason Mr. Cohen would have to cancel the Senate Intelligence Committee appearance. The committee will announce a future date, he said.

A virtual caucus?

Democratic leaders in Iowa on Monday proposed a major change in the state’s presidential caucuses by allowing a form of absentee voting next year that aims to expand participation in the first 2020 nominating contest.

It would let Iowa Democrats take part via telephone or online in one of six “virtual caucuses” during the week before the traditional Iowa caucuses. That would allow people to get involved even if they can’t attend the traditional gatherings in person because of a disability, work, parenting or another reason.

If adopted, it “will be the most significant changes to the Iowa Democratic Party caucuses since their inception in 1972,” Troy Price, the state party’s chairman, told reporters on a conference call.

The proposal, which still needs to be approved by a central party committee in Iowa and the Democratic National Committee, calls for the virtual meetings to generate roughly 10 percent of the delegates that will be awarded from each of the state’s four congressional districts. That could mean that virtual participation will carry less voting weight than in-person participation.

The results of the virtual caucuses won’t be made public until caucus night, but the presidential campaigns will be able to learn who has already participated and take those people off their get-out-the-vote lists.

Fox host tells ‘joke’

Fox News host Pete Hegseth said Sunday that he hasn’t washed his hands in a decade — sparking laughter and confusion from those on social media who found his comments gross.

Speaking with his “Fox and Friends” cohosts, Mr. Hegseth said one of his goals for 2019 was to be as honest on the air as he is backstage.

He then blurted out, “I don’t think I’ve washed my hands for 10 years,” prompting laughter from his colleagues. He provided some sort of explanation.

“Really. I don’t really wash my hands ever. I inoculate myself. Germs are not a real thing. I can’t see them, therefore they’re not real.”

A Fox News spokeswoman told The Washington Post that Mr. Hegseth was joking, of course, which he later said was “obvious.”