| | | | | |  | | By Melanie Zanona | Presented by |  | | | with help from Sarah Ferris SUGAR, WE'RE GOING DOWN SWINGING -- In the waning weeks of his presidency, Donald Trump has decided to pick a fight with Congress — and members of his own party — over a national defense policy bill that includes money for the troops. On two separate occasions, Trump has threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act, which Congress has passed annually for the past 59 years. He wants to include a provision to repeal legal protections for social media companies and previously sought to exclude language to rename military bases honoring Confederate leaders. But lawmakers are prepared to call his bluff: congressional leaders are moving ahead with a final NDAA bill that doesn't meet either of his demands, teeing up a showdown with the White House. And the House and Senate each already passed an earlier version of the defense bill that had a veto-proof majority. Several frustrated Republicans have already vowed to override a presidential veto, including Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), whose criticism of Trump has grown increasingly louder in recent weeks. (He even told the president to "delete your account" last night). Another GOP member said: everybody is "sick of this s---." But other Republicans may find themselves in a bind, caught between a president who doesn't appreciate being challenged and a popular piece of legislation that includes a litany of priorities that are important for both parties. More on all the drama from Andrew, Connor O'Brien and Marianne: https://politi.co/2Vw4SQB. Related: "Inhofe loudly sets Trump straight on defense bill," by Alayna Treene of Axios: https://bit.ly/3lBdU9q . PUTTING THE 'CR' IN CHRISTMAS -- Lawmakers are struggling to finish an omnibus spending bill before the Dec. 11 funding deadline, thanks to several last-minute snags. And there's now talk of passing a short-term funding patch, though it's unclear how long a continuing resolution (CR) would last. Dems have previously said they want to clear the decks as much as possible for President-elect Joe Biden. Something else that is still undecided is whether to add coronavirus relief provisions to any spending bill. But in a major concession yesterday, Democratic leaders — who had been calling for over $2 trillion in aid — said a $908 billion proposal from a bipartisan group of senators should be the starting point for new negotiations, upping pressure on GOP leaders. Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, called the idea "reasonable" and suggested merging the $908 billion proposal with a new bill being floated in the Senate GOP. "Well I mean, at some point, hopefully we'll be able to find the common ground and maybe we can merge those," he said. The latest from Caitlin Emma and Heather: https://politi.co/33GaNad. Related: Congress faces late-year logjam," via The Hill's Jordain Carney: https://bit.ly/2VtrWiW. | | | | A message from McDonald's: Ron started as a crew member at McDonald's in Oakland, CA where he found an exciting path. Thanks to college tuition assistance from McDonald's, Ron became the first college graduate in his family, and today works in Operations at McDonald's headquarters. Learn how Ron and others succeed at McDonald's. | | | CHEER SQUAD -- If Trump runs in 2024, he's already got support from the GOP — including some of the very Republicans who could seek higher office in the future. "If he were to run in 2024, I think he would be the nominee. And I would support him doing that," said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). "He'd have a lot of support out in the country." The enthusiasm for Trump shows that even in defeat, his hold on the party remains strong. That's in part because Trump remains an exceedingly popular figure in his party, far more than most congressional Republicans. "It'd be great if he ran. He's done a good job. I think he ought to run if he wants to run. Who knows what's going to happen in '24?" said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.). But if Trump does launch another bid, it could force other Republicans who have been waiting in the wings to put their presidential ambitions on hold for yet another four years, potentially stymieing the ambitions of an entire generation of Republicans. "I'm from Indiana, and I want to see my guy, Mike Pence, in the White House one day," said Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.). "And hopefully, [in] 2024, we'll have Mike Pence on the ballot one way or another." The story from Burgess and your Huddle host: https://politi.co/3qnxDNw. Related: "Inside Ivanka Trump's failed attempt to have Congress secure her legacy," by WaPo's Josh Rogin: https://wapo.st/2JHt5Rv. QUIT PLAYIN' GAMES WITH MY HART -- Democratic candidate Rita Hart declared Wednesday she would challenge the results of her razor-thin election directly to the House Administration Committee, entirely bypassing the state's courts. The move puts the House in the highly unusual position of potentially determining the outcome of the race, where Hart is down by just six votes after the state's recent recount. (The GOP candidate, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, was certified the winner by Iowa election officials on Monday, following the recount.) The move has been considered aggressive by some Democrats, though, who worry about the optics of challenging certified election results as President Donald Trump refuses to concede his own race. More from Sarah and Ally: https://politi.co/3g2a5Jo. BOOKMARK IT -- "House releases 2021 legislative calendar," via Roll Call's Niels Lesniewski: https://bit.ly/2VCRzOd. GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, Dec. 3, where your host is dying over these submissions for Capitol Hill Christmas RomComs. Netflix, please take notice. WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: "Disputing Trump, Barr says no widespread election fraud," by the AP's Michael Balsamo: https://bit.ly/37tqu5H. | 
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 02: The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is illuminated during a ceremony on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building on December 02, 2020 in Washington, DC. The 55-foot tall, 25-foot wide Engelmann spruce was harvested in western Colorado November 5 before being decorated by crews for today's lighting. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) | Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images | | | | | TUNE IN TO OUR 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. | | | | |
WHO RUN THE WORLD? -- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) will make history next year when she becomes the first woman from either party to assume a top spot on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee — and she'll be taking the reins alongside a record-breaking number of Republican women in the House. "As women across the country see more women in these positions of leadership and influence, they're saying, 'Well I could do that,'" she said.
McMorris Rodgers beat out two other candidates in the competitive race. In her pitch for the job, McMorris Rodgers touted her past experience in leadership, fundraising skills and desire to empower members. And while gender wasn't a discussion inside the Steering room, she told POLITICO being elected as the first woman was "just the cherry on top." And McMorris Rodgers won't be the only GOP woman with a powerful perch in the new Congress. Rep. Kay Granger is poised to once again become the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, while GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney will serve another two-year term in leadership. And Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) will get another stint as the Republican leader of the House Education and Labor Committee. The latest from your Huddle host: https://politi.co/39J8EyB. HAPPENING TODAY ... House Democrats will pick a new campaign chief following their disappointing cycle. It's a two-way race between Rep. Tony Cárdenas of California and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York. Related: "Thompson named top Republican on Agriculture," from The Hill's Juliegrace Brufke: https://bit.ly/33EJ1uQ. PROBLEMS IN THE PEACH STATE -- Georgia Republicans are thrilled that Donald Trump is finally coming to their state this weekend to campaign for GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. But they are also terrified. And it's not hard to see why: Attorneys Lin Wood and Sidney Powell, two Trump allies, have been going out and urging Republicans not to vote in another "rigged" election — exactly the opposite of what the GOP needs its base to do in the Jan. 5 runoffs that will determine control of the Senate. Marc Caputo has more on the fears over Trump's Georgia rally: https://politi.co/3lyos9C. Related: "2,596 Trades in One Term: Inside Senator Perdue's Stock Portfolio," from NYT's Stephanie Saul, Kate Kelly and Michael LaForgia: https://nyti.ms/39Jai3f. | | | |   | | | YOU SAY GOODBYE, I SAY HELLO -- One senator is on the way out — and another is on the way in. Yesterday, retiring Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) delivered a farewell speech on the floor, pleading with his colleagues to fix the broken Senate. "Lately, the Senate has been like joining the Grand Ole Opry and not being able to sing," said Alexander, long known as an institutionalist. "It's a real waste of talent." Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also bid Alexander adieu in an emotional speech of his own, where he choked up several times. "I'm sorry that, in a few more weeks, it'll just be the rest of us left," the usually stoic McConnell said. The clip. MEANWHILE … Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly, an astronaut who defeated Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) in a special election on Nov. 3, was sworn in as a senator Wednesday. That means the balance of the Senate is now 52-48 in the remaining weeks of this Congress. Kelly's wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt, was in the Capitol for the big day. And Kelly was sworn in alongside Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), who was clad in a zebra print jacket and purple wig. CABINET CONUNDRUM -- Joe Biden is in a bind when it comes to selecting his Cabinet members. CNN's Manu Raju explains: "Joe Biden is facing dueling headwinds as he looks to fill out his Cabinet: Senate Republicans want the President-elect to consult with them and choose nominees who could win their support, while liberal Democrats are pushing him to name progressives who could shape the policies of his government. "And Republicans, if they keep control of the chamber, are not committing to scheduling votes on nominees they consider out of the mainstream, nor are they vowing to quickly let Biden's picks get confirmed in the first days of his administration despite the private and public lobbying by top Democrats. "What could delay deliberations further: President Donald Trump's refusal to concede, coupled with Republicans' reluctance to say Biden is the winner, meaning few them are ready to engage over the President-elect's choices or hold courtesy meetings as Democrats are beginning to do." More: https://cnn.it/2I6sw3d CENSUS BATTLE HEATS UP -- "House Democrats threaten to subpoena Commerce secretary over 2020 census," by Sarah D. Wire of the Los Angeles Times: https://lat.ms/37z4tSW. | | | | NEXT WEEK - DON'T MISS THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT 2020: POLITICO will feature a special edition Future Pulse newsletter at the Milken Institute Future of Health Summit. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of global health industry leaders and innovators determined to confront and conquer the most significant health challenges. Covid-19 has exposed weaknesses across our health systems, particularly in the treatment of our most vulnerable communities, driving the focus of the 2020 conference on the converging crises of public health, economic insecurity, and social justice. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage from December 7–9. | | | | |
|  | TRANSITIONS | | Natalie Johnson is heading back to the House side to serve as communications director for Rep.-elect Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). | | TODAY IN CONGRESS | | The House gavels in at 10 a.m., with first votes expected around 5 p.m. Today's agenda: https://bit.ly/39D68JR. The Senate meets at 10 a.m. Lawmakers will resume consideration of the nomination of Christopher Waller to be a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, with a vote on the nomination to occur at 11:30 a.m., followed by a cloture vote on the nomination of Liam Hardy to be a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. The Senate will vote on confirmation of the Hardy nomination at 1:45 p.m. | | AROUND THE HILL | | House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) holds his weekly press conference at 11:30 a.m. in HVC Studio A. The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus holds a press conference on the need for Covid relief at 12:15 p.m. on the House Triangle. | | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY'S WINNER: Kirtan Mehta was the first person to guess that 2005 was the last time that the House and Senate withdrew from the joint session to count the electoral vote to deliberate separately on an objection to the certificate of electoral votes submitted by a state. TODAY'S QUESTION: From Kirtan: Who resigned on this day (Dec. 3) in 2004 and issued a warning about how terrorists might attack our food supply during a flu epidemic? 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 McDonald's: Ron always knew he could go places, he just didn't know where to start. So he applied for a job at McDonald's, where he found an exciting path and free college tuition assistance. Ron's drive to succeed and support from his Manager helped make him the first in his family to graduate college. Today, he puts his college degree work as an Operations Associate at McDonald's headquarters.
There are tens of thousands of stories like Ron's at McDonald's, where restaurant employees take multiple paths to learn and grow. We offer programs and benefits like Archways to Opportunity®, which has expanded access to education for more than 60,000 crew members and managers while providing more than $125M in tuition assistance.
Learn how Ron and others build careers at McDonald's. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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