| | | | | |  | | By Melanie Zanona | Presented by |  | | | with help from Sarah Ferris and James Arkin MISSION IMPOSSIBLE -- Donald Trump and his lawyers are intensifying their desperate, last-ditch campaign to overturn the results of the presidential election. And Trump's fiercest allies on Capitol Hill are lending an assist to the radical mission, even as other Republicans increasingly start to publicly acknowledge the reality of a President Joe Biden. Trump has been pressuring states to override the will of the voters. He even invited Michigan state Republicans to the White House after two GOP officials briefly blocked the state from certifying the results from a majority-Black county that Biden won decisively. And Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani peddled baseless conspiracy theories during a wild press conference yesterday, while dark-colored sweat visibly dripped down his face. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) claims he contacted election officials this week in a trio of battleground states that Trump lost to Biden. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) said he has been encouraging Arizona officials to block the certification of its election results until an audit is conducted. And some Freedom Caucus members are weighing a plan to object to the vote-counting process on the floor when Congress certifies the Electoral College votes during a joint session in January. The Hail Mary moves come as the walls are closing in on Trump: states are nearing their certification deadlines, Biden still leads in Georgia after a hand recount, and Trump's legal challenges are sputtering. But the president and his allies aren't trying to win in the court of law. They're trying to win in the court of public opinion — and cast enough doubt on the election to undermine Biden and potentially help Trump launch a comeback bid in 2024. The dispatch from David Siders and your Huddle host: https://politi.co/3pLZ4jJ . Meanwhile … Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said "wild press conferences erode public trust" and "we are a nation of laws, not tweets." Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) told CNN's Manu Raju that it's time for Trump to concede. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said "it is difficult to imagine a worse, more undemocratic action by a sitting American President." And Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) called charges of a rigged election "absolutely outrageous." ACROSS THE AISLE: House Dems are ramping up pressure on GSA Administrator Emily Murphy to make an official ascertainment that Biden is the president-elect, which would allow the formal transition to finally begin. Reminder: Biden still does not have access to intelligence briefings, agency officials, pots of money and other critical resources, even as the pandemic is raging. Top Democrats on the Oversight and Appropriations committees are calling for a personal briefing on the matter, and also debating whether to haul Murphy up to the Hill for a hearing. "We have been extremely patient, but we can wait no longer," top Dems said in a letter, giving Murphy a deadline of Nov. 23. Kyle with the deets: https://politi.co/32ZzsGE. Related read: "Trump told ally he's trying to get back at Democrats for questioning legitimacy of his own election," by CNN's Dana Bash and Gloria Borger: https://cnn.it/2HjMQO9. | 
Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for President Donald Trump, speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters, Thursday Nov. 19, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) | Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo | | | A message from American Land Title Association: While the work of land title professionals is behind-the-scenes, and they may sometimes go unseen, the joy from what they do can be seen on the smiling faces of millions of Americans when they finally get the title of "homeowner." Land title professionals have safeguarded the American dream for more than 125 years. Meet the people who help protect homebuyers and sellers when they make the most important financial decision of their lives. Learn more | | | MT-ARGH -- House Democratic leaders are mulling changes to a decades-old procedural tool that they say Republicans have corrupted into a "weapon of partisan warfare." No decisions have been made yet , but Democrats are talking about how to make the motion to recommit (or MTR) less painful as they prepare for a shrunken majority come January. Think: raising the vote threshold, sending the bill in question back to committee, or even getting rid of it entirely. "I personally think the motion to recommit is a game," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said. The GOP has beat Dems using the tactic on the floor eight times in two years. That the math becomes much trickier in January, with nearly a dozen Democrats are gone. There are Dems on both sides, progressives and moderates, who say it's time to lessen the blow. Rep. Cindy Axne: "Right now, let's just be honest, the Republicans are doing this to try to weaponize messaging against frontliners." Still, many Democratic leaders are institutionalists, and any decision to change the rules won't be taken lightly. More from Sarah, Heather and Bres: https://politi.co/333tl42. COVID IN THE CAPITOL -- "Front-line workers in Capitol keep getting COVID-19," via Roll Call's Chris Marquette: https://bit.ly/2UJeJ5f. BIDEN'S BUDDIES -- Senate Republicans are suggesting that they'll confirm President-elect Joe Biden's Cabinet picks in January. It could be a rare bright spot — and friendly starting point — for a White House that may clash with the GOP for years to come, reports Burgess. But that doesn't mean Biden will get free rein . "He's our president-elect. All presidents have a right to their Cabinet," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). "Our job, our role is to make sure that he selects folks that are … within the mainstream. And are good, qualified credible candidates. And if he does that, sure, I am going to work with him." The story: https://politi.co/391wFQM. Meanwhile … Biden will meet with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for the first time since the election, reports Bloomberg. The get-together will take place in Delaware today. The latest from Tyler Page and Jennifer Epstein: https://bloom.bg/35OZyhf. Related read: "Dozens of House Democrats urge Biden to pick Deb Haaland as Interior secretary," from Sarah and Theodoric Myer: https://politi.co/2IKrgDi. T.G.I.F.! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Nov. 20, where it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas: The Capitol Christmas tree arrives today! THURSDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Andrew's story on senators trying to stop Trump's proposed arms sale to UAE was the big winner. | | | | KEEP UP WITH THE GLOBAL HEALTH AGENDA IN 2021: If nothing else, the past year has revealed how critical it is to keep up with the politics, policy, and people driving global health. A new Biden administration comes with the expectation that America will reclaim its leadership on global health. But will it be that easy? What impact could Joe Biden's presidency have on global vaccine access and the international response to the pandemic? Our Global Pulse newsletter connects leaders, policymakers, and advocates to the people, and politics impacting our global health. Join the conversation and subscribe today. | | | | | WE'RE GONNA HAVE A HOUSE PARTY -- Even House Republicans are getting in on the Georgia runoff action. Yesterday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy held a Zoom fundraiser with more than 60 House members for the Georgia Battleground Fund, the NRSC's joint fundraising committee for the two runoff races that will decide control of the Senate, GOP sources tell James Arkin and your Huddle host. The deets: The call raised $2.7 million in just 30 minutes, $1 million of which came from McCarthy ($500,000 from his campaign account, and $500,000 from several of his top donors). And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke to the group for 15 minutes to thank them for the contributions. IN OTHER SENATE CAMPAIGN NEWS … "Will Lara Trump Be the Next Trump on a Ballot?" by NYT's Annie Karni: https://nyti.ms/3kOyq6i. LEADERSHIP LATEST -- House Democrats voted Thursday to fill out the lower rungs of leadership in the second and final day of their virtual leadership elections. Democrats chose Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif. ) as caucus vice chair — who will become the highest ranking Latino in leadership — and Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) as a caucus leadership representative. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) was confirmed as the newest addition to the Democrats' Policy and Communications Committee, joining existing DPCC co-chairs Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.). And incoming Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), one of the first openly gay Black members of Congress, was elected to be the freshman representative to leadership. Up next: "DeLauro battles Wasserman Schultz over Appropriations chair," from Caitlin Emma: https://politi.co/334oZtv . | | | |   | | | TAKE IT TO THE BANKS -- The Republican Study Committee — the largest conservative caucus in Congress — has elected Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) as its next chairman. The position is widely seen as a stepping stone to leadership and other high-profile positions, as past leaders have included Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan. With Trump leaving the White House, the GOP will soon be wrestling with its identity in a post-Trump world. And Banks told your Huddle host he sees the RSC as the prime venue for conservative voices who want to "rise up and fill the vacuum Trump is leaving." Banks also thinks the group will be more influential next year now that House Dems are poised to have a slimmer majority. That being said, Banks doesn't see "Trumpism" going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, he thinks the key to expanding their base is by leaning into Trump's populist platform. "Learning from Trump, we can broaden our appeal to populist voters by engaging voters on big tech, trade deals, and policies that put American workers first," Banks said. So what is Banks' vision for the job? Right out of the gate, Banks plans to roll out a balanced budget — a hallmark of the RSC. But Banks acknowledged the party can no longer claim the mantle of fiscal responsibility. "Republicans have lost their way," he said. Banks also recognized it's going to be challenging, however, to tackle the debt in the middle of a raging pandemic. But "we have no choice," he said. Other top RSC priorities include strengthening the military, protecting the so-called Hyde amendment and pushing for section 230 reform, Banks said. Related: "House Republicans hopeful for fundraising boost," by The Hill's Alex Gangitano and Max Greenwood: https://bit.ly/2ITuMv0. SWEETEN THE POT -- Trump may drop his veto threat of an annual defense policy bill — but only if lawmakers agree to include one of his top priorities. The latest from NYT's Maggie Haberman and Catie Edmonson: "Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, has privately hinted that President Trump would drop his objection to stripping Confederate leaders' names from military bases, which is threatening to derail the annual military policy bill, if Democrats agreed to repeal an important legal shield for social media companies. "Mr. Trump has threatened to veto the legislation, which authorizes pay raises for American troops, if it contains the base-renaming requirement, which drew bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Over the course of several conversations, Representative Adam Smith of Washington, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, asked Mr. Meadows what might persuade Mr. Trump to sign the measure with the renaming requirement intact, according to people familiar with the discussions." More: https://nyti.ms/3m1lWJK. Related: "McConnell, Pelosi hunt for funding deal as shutdown deadline looms," from The Hill's Jordain Carney: https://bit.ly/35LqLkY. | | | | DON'T MISS NEW EPISODES OF GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS PODCAST: The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded in 2020 amid a global pandemic. Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, unpacks the roadblocks to smart policy decisions and examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. Subscribe for Season Two, available now. | | | | |
|  | TRANSITIONS | | Dan Black has started as a communications director for Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.). Previously, he worked for the office of Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.). Craig Carbone will serve as chief of staff for Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) starting next year. Carbone will replace Jackie Schutz Zeckman, who will be serving as executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. | | TODAY IN CONGRESS | | The House gavels in at 9 a.m., with votes at 9:30 a.m. Today's agenda: https://bit.ly/2IMTqgW. The Senate is out. | | AROUND THE HILL | | Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A. | | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY'S WINNER: Wilson Golden was the first person to guess that Dolley Madison was the only first lady who was given an honorary seat on the floor of Congress. TODAY'S QUESTION: When did the tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree, also known as "The People's Tree," first begin? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess to mzanona@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. | | A message from American Land Title Association: While the work of land title professionals is behind-the-scenes, and they may sometimes go unseen, the joy from what they do can be seen on the smiling faces of millions of Americans when they finally get the title of "homeowner." Land title professionals have safeguarded the American dream for more than 125 years. Meet the people who help protect homebuyers and sellers when they make the most important financial decision of their lives. Learn more | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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