| | | | | |  | | By Olivia Beavers | Presented by Facebook | Even before the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins, Democrats' hopes of convincing at least 17 GOP senators to convict him are deflated after almost every Senate Republican declared that putting a former president on trial for impeachment was unconstitutional. Their vote pits Republicans against procedure, rather than Trump's action, showing just how much of a hold he still has on the party. Here's what the motion tells us about the GOP: DOA: Republican Sen. Rand Paul forced a procedural vote on Tuesday, arguing the case about Trump should be dismissed outright because it is unconstitutional -- a claim that is fiercely disputed by legal scholars across the political spectrum (think: the Federalist Society). The motion ultimately failed without the support of Democrats. But still, 45 out of 50 Republicans in the upper chamber joined the push for a dismissal. The bottom line: Does this mean they're guaranteed to acquit Trump? No. But it's the best indicator yet of how they'll vote in Trump's second trial. As Paul put it: "If you voted that it was unconstitutional, how in the world would you ever vote to convict somebody for this?...This vote indicates it's over. The trial is all over." Meanwhile, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is warning that Paul's argument would allow a government official to "avoid a vote on disqualification by simply resigning." THE (NOT SURPRISING) HOLDOUTS: Only five GOP senators — Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah), Ben Sasse (Neb.), and Pat Toomey (Pa.) — joined Democrats in voting to affirm the trial as constitutional. All these senators have been publicly critical of Trump's actions on Jan. 6. Well that was fast: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled to allies earlier this month that he was going into the trial with an open mind. He has also told associates that he believes Trump committed impeachable offenses. But on Tuesday he voted with Paul. McConnell and other senators could still be swayed by the evidence presented in the trial, so file this under "Wait-and-See." I SAW THE SIGN: "Do the math," Collins said after the vote. "I think that it's extraordinarily unlikely the president will be convicted." Andrew, Burgess and Marianne with the big story: http://politi.co/2KP1LBw SWORN IN: Here's Andrew's snap of the senators being sworn into the Senate impeachment trial: https://bit.ly/3ohrdgV WORTH THE READ: The Washington Post snagged an interview with the S.C. lawyer who is representing Trump in the impeachment trial. He says he didn't hesitate to take on this role. "It's what I do." Lots more here from Michael Kranish: http://wapo.st/2YfKHrH | | | | A message from Facebook: We support updated internet regulations
We support updated internet regulations to set clear rules for addressing today's toughest challenges including:
— Protecting people's privacy
— Enabling safe and easy data portability between platforms
— Preventing election interference
— Reforming Section 230
Learn More | | | GOT A GRIP: For a few weeks, it looked like Trump's stock was quickly plummeting over his handling of the Capitol riot, which prompted 10 House Republicans to join Democrats in voting to impeach Trump and some allies of the former president to openly discuss censuring him. Now, he appears to be back on top, as state and local Republican parties look to censure those in the party who are unloyal to Trump and primary opponents come out of the woodwork. David Siders has more: http://politi.co/2YgsVEH Related Read: Online ad bans freeze political campaigns by our Elena Schneider: http://politi.co/2YjUZXK UNRECONCILED?: Schumer is plotting Democrats' path forward in passing a Covid relief bill, signaling that they will use the aggressive reconciliation process if Republicans remain opposed to the Biden administration's $1.9 trillion aid proposal. "We're keeping all options open on the table, including using budget reconciliation," Schumer said at his weekly news conference, edging them closer to using a procedural maneuver that bypasses GOP opposition. "I informed senators to be prepared that a vote on a budget resolution could come as early as next week." "I am making adjustments to the 2021 House Calendar that will give us the option of using budget reconciliation to advance a COVID-19 relief package," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced. He also warned more additional schedule changes could come ahead of the March 14 deadline, when emergency expanded unemployment benefits expire. This also means the two-week House recess slated to begin in March is canceled. Related Reads: Democrats see path to Biden's Covid-19 relief bill without GOP help by WSJ's Andrew Duehren and Richard Rubin: http://on.wsj.com/3orogdr | Democrats planning swift moves on budget resolution next week by Roll Call's Paul Krawzak and David Lerman: http://bit.ly/3qUy6Xc | | | | THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO OFFICIAL WASHINGTON: The new Playbook team got off to fast start last week with a series of big scoops. The reporting foursome of Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza and Tara Palmeri will roam every corner of Washington, bringing you the big stories you need to know–and the insider nuggets that you want to know–about the new power centers and power players in Washington. "This town" has changed. And no one covers this town like Playbook. Subscribe today. | | | | | HAPPY WEDNESDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill on this Jan. 27, where Amanda Gorman has already fielded her next big talking gig. TUESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Vox's story on the 9 questions about budget reconciliation you were too afraid to ask was the big winner. RETIREMENT RUSH?: Republicans just need one seat to flip next year in order for them to regain control of the Senate majority, but the surprise announcement that Sen. Rob Portman is not seeking reelection among other pending GOP retirements is complicating this goal. As James Arkin and Burgess report: "Two of the three toughest GOP defensive states on the 2022 Senate map, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, are already open seats, with GOP Sens. Pat Toomey and Richard Burr not planning to run again." And that doesn't even encompass other Republican senators who are on retirement watch, like Wisconsin's Ron Johnson, the most vulnerable Republican up for reelection, who hasn't declared whether he will seek a third term. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who is 87, said to check in with him "several months from now." And others don't appear to be in a rush to make a decision on the matter either: http://politi.co/39jTQpp HEALTH SCARE: Sen. Patrick Leahy, 80, the most senior Democrat, was taken to "a local hospital for observation" after feeling unwell last night, according to his spokesperson. But before 9 p.m., he was back home after being evaluated at the hospital. As president pro tempore of the Senate, Leahy is slated to preside over Trump's upcoming impeachment trial starting the week of Feb. 8. The Vermont senator's health scare also underscores how precarious Schumer's slim majority control is, particularly amid the pandemic. Related Read: Leahy ready to get 'back to work' after hospital visit by VTDigger's Paul Heintz: http://bit.ly/3t2795K UNPREPARED: The acting Capitol Police chief apologized to Congress Tuesday over the security failures of the Jan. 6 insurrection, acknowledging that the department wasn't prepared for the mob attack despite knowing that it could turn violent. "We did not do enough," Yogananda Pittman, the acting head of the U.S. Capitol Police, said during a closed-door briefing with the House Appropriations Committee. But she also noted that a Capitol police board denied a request on Jan. 4 for additional support from the National Guard -- a decision that wasn't reversed until pro-Trump mob over ran the building. Melanie with more on the mea culpa: http://politi.co/36b31qf SPEAKING OF… The entire D.C. National Guard's deployment throughout the nation's capital has been extended until March 31 in anticipation of "civil disturbance," according to a memo obtained by my colleagues (and which a National Guard spokesperson confirmed). It's a sign that law enforcement is bracing for more unrest amid the impeachment trial. Natasha Bertrand, Lara Seligman and Andrew have the scoop: http://politi.co/2KVgo6y | | | |   | | | SEND IN REINFORCEMENTS: A bipartisan cohort led by Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) is pressing for additional support and resources to help the broader Capitol community cope following the deadly Capitol attack, including non-Congressional employees who may be affected from the attack (think: food service contractors, military liaisons, press, and other contractors). Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), French Hill (R-Ark.), and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) also signed onto Crow's letter to the Office of Employee Assistance (OEA), in which they highlighted the emotional and physical trauma experienced by those working in the Capitol complex that day. BUSTED: Four hundred suspects have been identified, 150 are facing federal criminal charges and law enforcement are seeking to track down more people involved in the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection, with a particular investigative focus on those in the mob who used violence against police officers who were seeking to hold the rioters back. "You will see a geometric increase in cases related to assault on police officers," Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin told reporters on a conference call. While most of those charged so far have faced solely misdemeanors, some are expected to soon face the particularly serious charge of sedition, according to Sherwin, who said they are "talking 20-year felonies." Read more here by our Josh Gerstein: http://politi.co/2NzzArf NOT GREENE TO CONTROVERSY: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has embraced the dangerous and baseless QAnon conspiracy, is coming under fire for social media posts that she endorsed prior to her congressional bid. Per a review of her past posts, CNN's Em Steck and Andrew Kaczynski report that in 2018 and 2019 Greene liked a series of social media posts that advocated for the execution of prominent Dems, including a January 2019 post that said "a bullet to the head would be quicker" to remove Pelosi. Oh, there's more. Media Matters also on Tuesday uncovered various posts, including one wholly outrageous QAnon-adjacent conspiracy centered on Hillary Clinton and her top aide Huma Abedin. The consequence? A talking to… "These comments are deeply disturbing and Leader McCarthy plans to have a conversation with the Congresswoman about them," the minority leader's spox said in an emailed statement to Axios. As my colleague Melanie points out: She and our colleague Ally Mutnick previously found a trove of racist videos from Greene, which McCarthy condemned and said he had no tolerance for it. "Then, to the anger of some in the GOP, he did nothing to stop her from winning her primary. This week she was officially given committee seats." TALK IT OUT? Perhaps, this will be a topic that comes up during the House GOP's political conference call today. There will be Q&A, where questions about Greene's post could arise. They certainly are a liability to the House GOP. There could also be questions about Rep. Liz Cheney's role in leadership, but we're not expecting a full-blown debate. That will likely come next week, during the next in-person conference meeting. Related Read: After Senate defeat, Joe Kennedy III plots new path in politics by the Boston Globe's Victoria McGrane: http://bit.ly/3iRsD0r THE STATE OF THE CONFIRMATIONS: MOVING: The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Antony Blinken to be secretary of State in a 78-22 vote, while the Senate Homeland Security Committee also voted to move forward with Biden's DHS pick, Alejandro Mayorkas, inching him closer to a a confirmation vote. Other confirmations are also moving (see below). Sabrina Rodriquez has more on Mayorkas: http://politi.co/3olsqUg and Nahal Toosi has you covered on Blinken: http://politi.co/3sZRsMf HUDDLE HAIKU: There were many great submissions on Bernie Sanders' mittens. Here are a few favs (drum roll please): Sanders cold on stage. Hands wrapped in Vermont mittens. Fingers feel the burn.
Wearing a mitten,
eschewing grand attire, the Bern schools us all.
Cats are great comfort
In laps on cold winter days Aha! Just Mittens (Included with the haiku: A picture of Bernie with cats on his hands) | | | | TUNE IN TO NEW EPISODE OF GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe for Season Two, available now. | | | | | |  | TRANSITIONS | | Yuri Beckleman will serve as the new Staff Director of the Committee on the Modernization of Congress, Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) announced Tuesday. Beckleman most recently served as the Deputy COS to Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and as senior adviser to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. Sam Paisley is now press secretary for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). She previously was press secretary for MJ Hegar's Senate campaign in Texas. Michael Brewer is joining the office Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) as comms director, while Meredith Brasher will serve as his press secretary. Liz Jurinka, a veteran of Capitol Hill, is joining the White House's legislative affairs team. She spent the last six years as chief health policy adviser for the Senate Finance Committee Democrats and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). | | TODAY IN CONGRESS | | The House meets at 9 a.m. in a pro forma session. The Senate will convene at 10:30 a.m. for morning business. | | AROUND THE HILL | | 9:30 a.m.: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has a full committee hearing on the nomination of Jennifer Granholm to be the Energy secretary. 10 a.m.: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has a full committee hearing on the nomination Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be the representative to the United Nations. 10 a.m.: The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee has a full committee meeting to organize for the 117th Congress and then has a markup to vote on the nomination of Pete Buttigieg to be Transportation secretary. 2 p.m.: The Senate Intelligence Committee has a full committee closed briefing on "Intelligence Matters." 8 p.m.: The NAACP is holding a virtual town hall, beginning at 8 p.m., on "what to expect from the new administration, the most important issues facing our community today" featuring Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), HUD Secretary-designate Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), and Susan Rice, director of the WH Domestic Policy Council. | | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY'S WINNER: Chris Armstrong was the first person to guess correctly that President James Madison was the first president to have served in the House of Representatives and that House members have served as president. TODAY'S QUESTION: From Chris: The first two professional baseball players to serve in Congress were sworn in on the same day, but only one went on to organize the first Congressional Baseball Game, serve as a Governor, and be president of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs. Who was he? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answer to obeavers@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. | | | | A message from Facebook: We support updated internet regulations
We're taking action to keep our communities safe. We've tripled our safety and security teams, built new privacy tools, and invested billions to keep our platforms safe.
What's next? We support updated internet regulations that set clear rules for addressing today's challenges.
Learn More | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment