1/ Trump discussed withdrawing the U.S. from NATO with senior administration officials several times in 2018, saying he didn’t see the point of the military alliance, which has been in place since 1949. National security officials believe that Russia is focused on undermining the alliance so Putin could have the freedom to behave as he wishes. (New York Times)

2/ Trump’s legal team refused requests by Robert Mueller’s team for an in-person follow-up session with Trump. The request was made after Trump submitted written answers to a limited number of questions from Mueller’s office focusing on the period before Trump was in office. The two sides are reportedly at an impasse, with no meaningful discussion in roughly five weeks. (CNN)

3/ Michael Cohen’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee next month is expected to be heavily restricted to avoid interfering with Mueller’s Russia investigation. Cohen is scheduled to speak in a public hearing on Feb. 7 and won’t be able to talk about topics that he has discussed with Mueller and may also be limited in what he can say about the on-going Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office investigation. A person close to Cohen said “he’s going to tell the story of what it’s like to work for a madman, and why he did it for so long,� adding that Cohen is “going to say things that will give you chills.� (Wall Street Journal)

Rick Gates is still cooperating with federal prosecutors on “several ongoing investigations.� In a status report filed by Mueller, the special counsel and the Gates defense team are asking a federal judge to – again – delay Gates’ sentencing. (The Hill / Bloomberg)

Mueller has subpoenaed at least three new witnesses associated with Jerome Corsi, a Roger Stone associate. (ABC News)

4/ Mueller and federal prosecutors in Manhattan are looking at a meeting involving Devin Nunes, Michael Flynn, and dozens of foreign officials at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. two days before Trump’s inauguration. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are looking into whether the Trump inaugural committee misspent funds and if donors tried to buy influence in the White House. Mueller is also looking at the meeting as part of his investigation into whether foreigners contributed money to the Trump inaugural fund and PAC through American intermediaries. (Daily Beast)

Trump’s inaugural committee spent more than $1.5 million at the Trump International Hotel for the 2017 swearing-in ceremony. The expenses included $10,000 on makeup, $30,000 in per diem payments for contract staffers, $130,000 on customized seat cushions, and $2.7 million on a Broadway-style rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.� In the 72 days leading up to the inauguration, the committee spent a total of about $100 million. Inaugural committees are required to document every donation with the Federal Election Commission and those donations are now facing legal scrutiny over who funded them. (