Axios Sneak Peek: Sneak Peek: Exclusive - 700 kids held at border ... Pompeo plots 2024 power play

Plus: Cheney's take on Trump highlights GOP split about future | Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Facebook   Axios Sneak Peek By Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba ·Feb 24, 2021 Welcome back to Sneak. Were you in a place to enjoy today's springlike weather in Washington? ⚡ Situational Awareness: A call between President Biden and Saudi Arabia's King Salman — and release of a report about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi — were postponed by 24 hours after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underwent laparoscopic surgery, a person familiar with the matter told Axios' Hans Nichols. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan is joining Solamere Capital, the private equity firm run by Tagg Romney, son of Ryan's 2012 presidential running mate, Mitt Romney. Today's newsletter — edited by Glen Johnson — is 671 words, a 2.5-minute read.     1 big thing: Exclusive - Hundreds of kids held in Border Patrol stations Migrants cross the Rio Bravo to get to El Paso, Texas. Photo: Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images   More than 700 children who crossed from Mexico into the United States without their parents were in Border Patrol custody as of Sunday, according to an internal Customs and Border Protection document obtained by Axios' Jonathan Swan and Stef Kight. Why it matters: The current backup is yet another sign of a brewing crisis for President Biden — and a worsening dilemma for these vulnerable children. Biden is finding it's easier to talk about preventing warehousing kids at the southern border than solving the problem. Making matters worse, border crossings usually peak in the spring, and it's only February. Behind the scenes: Of the more than 700 kids waiting to be transferred to shelters overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 200 had been held in these Border Patrol stations for more than 48 hours. Nine had been detained for longer than the agreed-upon limit of 72 hours, according to the internal document, which timestamped the data current as of 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 21. Go deeper.     2. Pompeo plots 2024 power play Mike Pompeo in Washington on Feb. 12. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images   Mike Pompeo has quickly reentered the political fray, raising money for Republicans, addressing key political gatherings and joining an advocacy group run by Trump's former lawyer, Axios' Lachlan Markay reports. Why it matters: The former secretary of state is widely considered a potential 2024 presidential contender. His professional moves this week indicate he's working to keep his name in the headlines and bolster a political brand built largely on foreign policies easily contrasted with the Biden White House. What's new: Pompeo is lending his name to fundraising efforts on behalf of House Republicans looking to retake the lower chamber next year. He wrote a column Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal criticizing Beijing's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, he joined the American Center for Law and Justice, led by former Trump attorney Jay Sekulow, as senior counsel for global affairs. Pompeo also is addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend. In addition, he has quietly formed a new company in Virginia. Go deeper.     3. Cheney's take on Trump highlights GOP split about future Kevin McCarthy and Liz Cheney on Wednesday. Photo: Al Drago/Getty Images   Rep. Liz Cheney is staking her claim as a new thought leader for the GOP, seizing on her role as the Republicans' Trump critic-in-chief as the party navigates its post-MAGA future, Axios' Alayna Treene writes. Why it matters: Cheney is offering the party a more traditional brand of conservatism and serving as the guinea pig for other Republicans eager to break with the former president but wary of the fallout. The emerging question is whether both party factions can win not just primaries but general elections. Between the lines: There are three clear camps emerging now that Donald Trump has left office. The anti-Trump Republicans, including Cheney, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and, newly, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The middle: Lawmakers like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who have a foot in both camps. The pro-Trump camp: The Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruzes of the world. The Republican Party also has a huge stake in the outcome: it lost control of the House, Senate and White House under Trump. The question now is whether to double down on hardline politics that appeal to the party base or outline a more moderate approach that can appeal to swing voters. Go deeper.     A message from Facebook It's time to update internet regulations     The internet has changed a lot in 25 years. But the last time comprehensive internet regulations were passed was in 1996. We support updated internet regulations to set clear guidelines for addressing today's toughest challenges. Learn More     4. It's harder to fill the Cabinet Data: Chamberlain, 2020, "United States of America Cabinet Appointments Dataset" Chart: Will Chase/Axios It's harder now for presidents to win Senate confirmation for their Cabinet picks, according to a data analysis by Stef and Axios' Will Chase of votes for and against nominees. Why it matters: It's not just Neera Tanden. The trend is a product of growing polarization, rougher political discourse and slimming Senate majorities, experts say. It means some of the nation's most vital federal agencies go without a leader and the legislative authority that comes with one. By the numbers: Not only are there more votes cast against presidential Cabinet nominees than in the past, but Trump received no unanimous consent votes or voice votes for his nominees, which tend to indicate broad bipartisan support. President Obama had 19 such votes and President Bush had 23. This year, the process is also taking longer. Biden's nominees have been confirmed at a slower pace than past presidents: There are now seven confirmed Cabinet members in addition to the director of national intelligence and U.N. ambassador. By Feb. 24, 2017, Trump had nine Cabinet nominees confirmed. At the same time in 2009, Obama had 12.     5. Pic du jour Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images   Linda Thomas-Greenfield is sworn in as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations by Vice President Kamala Harris as her husband, Lafayette Greenfield, holds a Bible and son Lafayette "Deuce" Greenfield II looks on.     A message from Facebook Internet regulations need an update     It's been 25 years since comprehensive internet regulations were passed. But a lot has changed since 1996. We support updated regulations to set clear guidelines for protecting people's privacy, enabling safe and easy data portability between platforms and more. 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