| | | | | |  | | By Olivia Beavers | Presented by |  | | Donald Trump's defense team is set to formally respond to the impeachment charge today, which would typically be the biggest news in Washington. But not any more. Here's what else is going on: House Democrats are zeroing in on how to punish Marjorie Taylor Greene over her past controversial remarks, the Senate is tied up in confirming President Joe Biden's Cabinet and Congress is trying to approve a coronavirus stimulus proposal. So here's how to prepare for a long day… DEMS SAY ACT OR WE'LL SACK: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer gave GOP leader Kevin McCarthy an ultimatum yesterday: Remove Majorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) from her committee assignments within the next three days, or Democrats will do it for you. The unusual take-matters-into-our-own-hands approach comes as Democrats are increasingly skeptical that McCarthy will act, while their fury is increasing over Greene's record of incendiary rhetoric and embrace of dangerous conspiracy theories. So they set a Rules Committee hearing for Wednesday afternoon on a resolution to strip Greene of her committee posts. (Still TBD when exactly McCarthy and Greene will meet over her past remarks.) Some Republicans are privately alarmed that this will set a dangerous precedent, one that could spark a never ending battle between the two parties going forward as the pendulum of power swings back and forth. Think about it: The majority party removes a member of the minority party because they object to what was said before a member was sworn-in -- not overt actions like breaking the law or even House rules. Heather, Sarah and Melanie with the Dem approach: http://politi.co/3atoKLv MITCH MAKES A MOVE: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is wading into two roaring House debates as Republicans in the lower chamber decide their future, putting McCarthy in a challenging position. In statements first reported by CNN and The Hill, McConnell voiced support for Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), before soon condemning Greene's embrace of "loony lies and conspiracy theories" as a "cancer for the Republican Party." McConnell went further in defending Cheney than McCarthy, describing her as an "important leader" in the GOP and the U.S. who has "deep convictions and the courage to act on them." He also gave a nod to her future, which comes as conservatives are pressing to oust her from leadership after she voted to impeach Trump. And on Greene, he didn't mince words: "Somebody who's suggested that perhaps no airplane hit the Pentagon on 9/11, that horrifying school shootings were pre-staged, and that the Clintons crashed JFK Jr.'s airplane is not living in reality," McConnell said in a statement. Throwback Tuesday to when McConnell positioned himself opposite of McCarthy during the votes over the election certification.... | | A message from Independent Community Bankers of America: Community bankers welcome the 117th Congress: The new Congress is closely divided at a time of historic challenge and opportunity, but it need not be gridlocked. Accounting for more than 3.5 million Paycheck Protection Program loans, community banks have been financial first responders amid the coronavirus pandemic. ICBA offers a bipartisan legislative agenda with common-sense reforms to continue moving our nation forward. Learn more | | | IT'S (COVID) COMPLICATED: Biden and Senate Republicans both tried to sell their competing Covid aid proposals yesterday in an effort to strike a bipartisan deal, even as Democrats have vowed to press forward without GOP support. This may sound a bit like a D.C. version of Shark Tank . Biden pushed his $1.9 trillion, while a group of GOP senators pitched their $618 billion counterproposal during a two hour meeting. No one landed a deal. While both sides agreed to keep the convo going, it's looking more likely that Biden plows ahead with reconciliation. More here from Burgess: http://politi.co/3rr6hGj From the admin's perspective: Biden was eager to meet with GOP senators, according to our WH team, but his advisers are wary about getting bogged down in talks with Republicans with so much ground to make up between their different price tags. Their strategy to a possible bipartisanship deal? Fine-if-it-comes approach. Tyler Pager, Anita Kumar, and Laura Barron-Lopez with the story: http://politi.co/3cwsRc9 IN THE HOUSE, Democrats are under pressure as they take big steps this week to tee up reconciliation, starting with the House budget vote on Thursday. Democrats have about six weeks to draft and pass a package before unemployment insurance goes off a cliff on March 14 -- while facing even tighter timelines to speed up vaccine distribution. It'll be an enormous time crunch. The alternative: A small number of moderates are skeptical it can pass, so they're beginning to pressure leadership to take up a sort of "prequel" bill -- just vaccines and checks. A handful say they could actually vote against the rule for the budget on the floor, but they're likely to fall in line by week's end. And the majority of the caucus, including centrists like the New Dems say they're already on board and ready to move. Still, Team Biden already dispatched the surrogates: VP Harris has stepped up outreach to moderates this week, and the WH leg affairs team spoke with the Blue Dogs last night. After the budget passes, more fun begins: Dems in both chambers have to decide how far to go with reconciliation -- including minimum wage, which a few centrists are privately uneasy about. And they still need to contend with the Senate. Meanwhile, Pelosi does not plan to mix Covid relief with efforts to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented essential workers, Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status recipients, POLITICO's Sabrina Rodriguez scooped yesterday. Sarah, Heather and Caitlin Emma with the full picture of Democrats' relief push: http://politi.co/3oH4lHL IMPEACHMENT: So much is happening against the backdrop of the Senate impeachment trial. Today: Trump's answer to the impeachment article is due as well as the House brief. And then the arguments get underway next week. ON TRUMP'S LAWYERS: Trump's impeachment lawyer from Atlanta no stranger to big cases by AJC's Bill Rankin: http://bit.ly/36wNdhO | He used to win elections in a Never-Trump stronghold. Now he's leading Trump's legal team by our Holly Otterbein: http://politi.co/3re6IDI Related Read: Trump and the conservative groups that support him aren't fretting the impeachment trial by our Gabby Orr and Meridith McGraw: http://politi.co/3riCI9N | | | | THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO OFFICIAL WASHINGTON: Washington hasn't slowed down in 2021. A new administration and Congress are off and running, and our new Playbook team is two steps ahead of the pack to keep you up to speed. The new Playbook foursome of Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza and Tara Palmeri is canvassing every corner of Washington, bringing you the big stories and scoops you need to know—and the insider nuggets that you want to know—about the new power centers and players. "This town" has changed. And no one covers this town like Playbook. Subscribe today. | | | | | HAPPY TUESDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill on this Feb. 2, where a little bit of back-up certainly helped Elsa. MONDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The Daily Herald's story on GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger launching 'Country First' effort to take on Trump loyalists in the GOP was the big winner. SHARING IS HEALING: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Monday not only shared her frightening experience of trying to hide on Jan. 6 as rioters stormed the Capitol, but also revealed that she is a sexual assault survivor and that the two traumas are compounding one another. "I'm a survivor of sexual assault," Ocasio-Cortez said during an Instagram Live video that reached more than 150,000 viewers. "I haven't told many people that in my life. But when we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other." Our Matthew Choi with the story of AOC's personal disclosures: http://politi.co/3ozgkqQ ON THE FENCE: How the post-Jan. 6 Capitol will look is still taking shape amid the ongoing implementation of extra security measures, with lawmakers debating what should remain temporary and what should become permanent. When asked if the Capitol will ever be the same again, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said he sure hopes so. "What happened that day was a unique confluence of events," he said in an interview with Burgess. There were "systemic failures up and down, [like] not diverting marchers before they got close to the Capitol." But, he said, this type of event could not happen on your average days in Washington, D.C. And he said the Capitol as a military base is not sustainable, both for Congress and the city: "I can't imagine that the Capitol's going to have 10-foot fences surrounding it forever, or National Guard troops stationed here," he said, arguing that the Capitol must be accessible to visitors, including school trips and visitors from across the world. Related Read: Officer who shot Capitol rioter Ashli Babbitt shouldn't be charged, investigators advise, scoops WSJ's Aruna Viswanatha, Sadie Gurman and Tawnell Hobbs: http://on.wsj.com/3pTcfiR FIRST IN HUDDLE: Reps. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) and Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) are launching a task force that aims to give mothers serving in Congress a platform to lead the efforts in reunifying migrant children who are still separated from their parents, with the help of the Biden administration that is introducing its own task force on reunifying families. The two members leading the task force, Congressional Moms Task Force on Family Separation, say women should take leading roles in this effort and push for protections that prevent such practices from happening again. More than a dozen are participating. MOVING ON THE MODS: Three progressives who helped launch Ocasio-Cortez's upset campaign in 2018 are now setting their sights on ousting centrist Senate Democrats like Sens. Joe Manchin (W.V.) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.). While they aren't up for reelection until 2024, this progressive trio believes it is time for them to go, blaming them for blocking ambitious action to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and help the economy. Laura Barrón-López and Holly Otterbein with the scoop: http://politi.co/3oFCibC Related Read: Why Arizona's senators may collide with Democrats who elected them by NYT's Jennifer Medina: http://nyti.ms/3pGnMS9 | | | |   | | | SPEAKING OF CAMPAIGNS: Arkin has details on how the North Carolina Senate primary for retiring Sen. Richard Burr's seat highlights Democratic divides, particularly after narrowly losing in the North Carolina Senate race last November. "Plans for a resurgence are already underway even amid tensions over primary strategy and the party's history of backing white candidates over Black statewide hopefuls," Arkin reports. More here: http://politi.co/39ByPGS NO GAMES HERE: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), the head of the House Financial Services Committee, has announced a virtual hearing for Feb. 18 that will examine the recent GameStop stock controversy. The hearing will feature Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev, who heads one of the platforms facing criticism for limiting trading amid the volatile share spikes. More here from Zachary Warmbrodt: http://politi.co/3cruUOK RUNNING RYAN: Dem Rep. Tim Ryan is expected to run for Ohio's open Senate seat next year, becoming the first high-profile candidate to move toward entering the race following the surprise announcement last week from Republican Sen. Rob Portman that he won't seek reelection, James Arkin reports: http://politi.co/3tifulT CABINET CORNER: 9:30 a.m.: The Senate Armed Services Committee will have a hearing on the nomination of Kathleen Hicks to be deputy Defense secretary. 10:30 a.m.: The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee is having a hearing on the nomination of Tom Vilsack to be Agriculture secretary. 10:30 a.m.: The Senate resumes consideration of the nomination of Pete Buttigieg to be Transportation secretary, with a vote expected at noon. Afterwards, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to be DHS secretary, with a confirmation vote on his nomination expected to take place around 2:30 p.m. 12 p.m.: The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee will vote on the nomination of Denis McDonough to be Biden's Veterans Affairs secretary. Also on tap: Durbin and Graham feud over Garland confirmation hearing by Marianne: http://politi.co/3refVvy
| | | | 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 | | Will Courtney is now Rep. David Kustoff's LA, after previously serving as his LC. FIRST IN HUDDLE: NRSC Chairman Rick Scott announced new additions to the Senate GOP campaign arm's Digital and Communications Departments, which includes: Daria Grastara as Digital Director, Mike Hahn as Deputy Digital Director, T.W. Arrighi as National Press Secretary, Priscilla Ivasco as Director of Media Affairs, and Katharine Cooksey as Press Secretary. Nadgey Louis-Charles is now comms director for Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga), chief deputy whip for the House GOP conference. Louis-Charles is a veteran Georgia delegation communicator, previously serving as CD for both Sen. Loeffler and Rep. Jody Hice. Denise Mousouris is leaving Rep. Cheri Bustos ' office, where she was finance director for the former DCCC chair, to become a principal at Kountoupes, Denham, Carr & Reid. Emma Eatman will be press secretary for the Labor Department, after previously serving as deputy press secretary for the House Education and Labor Committee. | | TODAY IN CONGRESS | | The House meets at 2 p.m. for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. The Senate convenes at 10:30 a.m. | | AROUND THE HILL | | 10 a.m.: Politico Live is hosting a virtual program on the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy and President Biden's clean energy proposals. Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.) will be the keynote interview. 11 a.m.: The House Energy and Commerce Committee's subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee has a hearing on "No Time to Lose: Solutions to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations in the States." 1 p.m.: McCarthy holds a media availability in Texas with House GOP members "to discuss President Biden's job-killing energy policies." 1:30 p.m.: The House Rules Committee will meet to formulate a rule on H.R.447, the "National Apprenticeship Act of 2021," to consider the rules of the committee for the 117th Congress, and establish the congressional budget for the government for this fiscal year 2021 "and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2022 through 2030." 2 p.m. Senate Republicans will hold a media availability after closed a policy luncheon. 9:30 p.m.: The U.S. Capitol hosts events to honor the late Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died from injuries during the Jan. 6 riot. First, there will be the ceremonial arrival of Office Sicknick's casket at the Capitol's East Front, followed by a viewing in the Capitol Rotunda for members of the Capitol Police that will continue overnight. | | TRIVIA | | MONDAY'S WINNER: Matthew Golden was the first person to correctly guess that the one commercial airline pilot in Congress is Rep. Kai Kahele, who flies for Hawaiian Airlines. TODAY'S QUESTION: From Matthew: John Adams was the first president to have dogs in the White House. He had two - one named Juno and the other named ______. What was the name of John Adams' other dog? 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 the Independent Community Bankers of America: Community bankers and ICBA offer a bipartisan agenda: Community bankers welcome the 117th Congress at a time of historic challenge and opportunity. While the new Congress is closely divided, it need not be gridlocked. Employing more than 700,000 Americans across nearly 50,000 locations with a presence in every congressional district, community banks have a track record of working with both parties to craft pragmatic solutions grounded in consensus. ICBA's bipartisan legislative agenda for the 117th Congress offers common-sense policy reforms that will continue our economic recovery in urban, suburban, and rural communities nationwide. Learn more | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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