| | | | | |  | | By Olivia Beavers | Presented by |  | | | THUNE'S THORNY DECISION: Senate Minority Whip John Thune is next in line to be the chamber's top Republican should Mitch McConnell leave the top post, but the South Dakota Republican must first decide whether he wants to run for re-election -- and face a potential effort by Donald Trump to unseat him. Some of his colleagues are already kick-starting their 2022 campaigns, while others -- like Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) -- have made surprise retirement announcements. And while Thune hasn't made an official announcement about his plans, his decision comes amid Trump's efforts to reshape the Senate GOP conference to be, well, more Trumpian. "In this day and age, these campaigns are so long. And I think they start way too early," Thune told Burgess in an interview yesterday, noting he usually waits until the fall to announce his reelection bids. "We're moving forward doing all the things that you do. And at some point, we'll make everything official." The No. 2 Senate GOP leader said the state of the Senate has gone downhill since he first arrived in the upper chamber 16 years ago. He also expressed fears the Senate may get worse amid the progressive push by Democrats to gut the legislative filibuster. Burgess has more on Thune's upcoming decision: https://politi.co/3smoful PILOTING PETE: Passing a new infrastructure bill is next on President Joe Biden's to-do list, and lawmakers may be able to get a crack at what the White House is aiming to accomplish when Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg testifies today before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. It also comes as Biden is finalizing his "Build Back Better" proposal ahead of rolling it out in Pittsburgh next Wednesday. Buttigieg is expected to say that as the country begins to recover from the devastation of the pandemic, a national commitment to fixing and transforming the country's infrastructure is key to "a broader recovery." But he will also frame it in terms of keeping up with our global economic competitors like China, per a copy of Buttigieg's opening statement obtained by yours truly. "Across the country, we face a trillion-dollar backlog of needed repairs and improvements, with hundreds of billions of dollars in good projects already in the pipeline. We see other countries pulling ahead of us, with consequences for strategic and economic competition," Buttigieg is expected to say. "By some measures, China spends more on infrastructure every year than the U.S. and Europe combined. The infrastructure status quo is a threat to our collective future. We face an imperative to create resilient infrastructure and confront inequities that have devastated communities." And in addition to planes, trains, and automobiles, Buttigieg is expected to address "major inequities" in terms of how the nation's infrastructure serves Black and Brown communities and the challenge of tackling the climate crisis, citing the goals of "moving the U.S. to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, building a national [electric vehicle] charging network, and investing in transit, transit-oriented development, sustainable aviation, and resilient infrastructure." Cue tires screeching: Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), the top Republican on the panel, will have a clear point in his opening statement: "The more massive any bill becomes, the more bipartisanship suffers." "This bill cannot grow into a multi-trillion dollar catch all. It needs to be manageable and responsible. We need to ensure equity between rural and urban areas. A major concern with the reconciliation bill – besides the process itself – was how little attention rural America received. And finally, a transportation bill needs to be a transportation bill – not the Green New Deal," Graves will warn, per a copy of his opening statement, reviewed by your Huddle host. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION : Power dynamics are shifting in Washington and across the country, and more people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is a new twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy, and power in America. Get fresh insights, scoops, and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country, and hear from new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out on this new newsletter, SUBSCRIBE NOW . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | ALSO NOTABLE: Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) is expected to tout how the two parties plan to use earmarks this year in his opening statement: "This Congress, members are going to have even greater opportunities to shape investments flowing to their local communities as this Committee will collect requests for projects. Through a transparent, equitable process, members of Congress can help direct investments to elevate the greatest needs of their districts and boost local control. I am pleased that my Republican colleagues are joining in this effort." Read Buttigieg's full opening statement here: https://politi.co/3vVODxf | And read DeFazio's here: https://politi.co/2PpVQoH Related: 'Crazy things happen': Biden's next spending spree fuels a fight over risks, our Ben White reports: https://politi.co/3vWwYpa | Democrats weigh increases in corporate, personal Income-tax rates, by WSJ's Andrew Duehren and Richard Rubin: https://on.wsj.com/3rrBIzS UNITING AND IT FEELS SO GOOD?: When criticism turns into cooperation -- ah, the story of... well actually, that doesn't seem to normally happen in D.C. these days. But it looks like it could be the case for a bipartisan group of senators who met this week to discuss immigration reform even as Republicans blast the Biden administration over its recent handling of the border situation. As my colleagues report: "The meeting, convened Wednesday by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, was the first time this Congress that Democrats and Republicans have actually sat in the same room to discuss the issue, which has long befuddled lawmakers." The general tone from attendees seemed cautiously optimistic as both sides acknowledge there are areas where they can come together even though it seems unlikely there will be bipartisan support for Biden's comprehensive immigration proposal. Another meeting is already on the books. "You've got people all over the map, but I think if we really want to get something done then I think we're going to have to try to show we're working on what's happening at the border right now," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), one of the meeting attendees. Sabrina Rodriquez, Burgess and Marianne have the story: https://politi.co/3vXJNj1 ON TAP TODAY: The Senate will resume consideration of a bill to extend the Paycheck Protection Program for two months. AND: Partisan lines blur as Congress tries to curb Biden's war powers, report Andrew and Connor O'Brien: https://politi.co/31l14o4 | Black farmers get their first hearing in House Ag, by The National Journal's Jerry Hagstrom: https://bit.ly/3u5wX0D | | | | A message from McDonald's: Protecting our restaurant crew and customers is our number one priority. McDonald's national COVID safety plan is fact-based, data-driven, and informed by epidemiologists and health authorities. As science evolves, we update our plan. We train and retrain to always stay on top of what's happening. That's Safety + Commitment.
Learn more at mcdonalds.com/safety | | | HAPPY THURSDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill on this March 25, where Page Six owns this "correction" and your Huddle host is here for it. WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The National Journal's story on how power politics is couched in the language of reform was the big winner. PUPS OF CAPITOL HILL: The competition yesterday was lit (yes, I said it), with Cooper Kane vs. Dug and Lucy getting more than 3,400 voters involved in their day-long, neck-and-neck race -- the highest turnout in a vote for this competition so far. Cooper Kane was the winner -- and it was a good day for Cooper pups all around after the budget-reading Cooper beat out Bertie in the other match-up. And thirdly, Otto defeated Henry, Rep. Dean Phillip's Norwich terrier. Otto released the following statement through his spokesman, Rep. Tom Malinowski: "I am deeply humbled to have retrieved the most votes in today's ruff-erendum. I salute Henry for running such a paw-sitive race, and disavow supporters who said he would have un-leashed a reign of terrier had he won. I hope my pup-ularity continues at least fur the time being. May I have a treat now?" On tap for today, with polls closing at 11:59 p.m.: 1) Emmy, the chocolate lab puppy vs. Grayson, the great dane. Vote here: https://woobox.com/z3ctef 2) Griffey , the King Charles Spaniel vs. Louis, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Vote here: https://woobox.com/td43nw 3) Norman Cutler, a pug with a cute mug' vs. Teddy RUFFSevelt, the ball-loving retriever: https://woobox.com/r6hrht 4) And Toby vs. Zoey Wild, Rep. Susan Wild's pup (who -- PLOT TWIST -- is a late submission, but I was trying to figure out what to do with 13 Round One winners so decided to make it even…can you tell I'm making this up as I go?) Vote here: https://woobox.com/ieoxtn A MOMENT LIKE THIS: Advocates pushing for stricter gun control laws feel like this is their moment, with Dems in control of the White House and both chambers in Congress plus public polling for background checks and other gun-related reforms also on their side. As our David Siders reports: "If fallout from the nation's two most recent mass shootings runs to form, calls for stricter gun laws on the left will meet resistance from the right. Washington will gridlock, and the media will move on. But the current debate is taking place under an uncommon alignment of the political stars, creating a unique moment in the arc of gun politics...For the gun reform movement — a centerpiece of the Democratic Party's agenda for at least a quarter century — the question this week has become, if not now, when?" More here on whether this is a policy dream deferred or not: https://politi.co/31hAUmg Related: Biden reaches out to some Republicans on Capitol Hill -- but not party leaders by CNN's Ted Barrett and Manu Raju: https://cnn.it/3tQIv7v | White House weighs executive orders on gun control by NYT's Annie Karni: https://nyti.ms/3lTrMh9 MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, will introduce two bills today that would restore the corporate tax rate to 35 percent as well as add a new progressive tax on the estates of the wealthiest Americans, the progressive chairman told NPR'S Kelsey Snell. Both face a steep climb in the split Senate. More here: https://n.pr/2NV0730 SPEAKING OF FEEL THE BAN… erm, BERN: Donald Trump is finding an ally in his battle against Twitter banning him from the platform. Sanders, appearing on Ezra Klein's New York Times podcast, said Trump is "a bad news guy," … but "if you're asking me, do I feel particularly comfortable that the...then-president of the United States could not express his views on Twitter? I don't feel comfortable about it." | | | | TUNE IN TO 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 and start listening today. | | | | | BUSTIN' THE FILI-HATAS: Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) isn't buying how Democrats are attacking the filibuster as racist, citing how they've used the practice in recent memory to block the Republican Party from passing his racial justice legislation because it would be a win, or as he put it, a "difference maker on a host of issues from body cameras, to no-knock warrants, to the chokehold, to gathering more data, to best practices nationwide." "If you just go to the most recent past, the most effective use of the filibuster was to stop racial progress in the justice system on my Justice Act," Scott told Josh Holmes on the "Ruthless Podcast," per a transcript. "They stopped all of that from becoming law. And now, somehow now, the filibuster is a relic from a racist past...The Democrats' strategy has less to do with solving problems of our racial past and more to do with solving the problem of power in the future." MEANWHILE: 'They are, in effect, supporting racism' — Black leaders ramp up filibuster pressure on Senate Dems, by our Zach Montellaro and Eugene Daniels: https://politi.co/3slCTCb BLINKEN WHO? "Chris Coons was flying back from Ethiopia to Washington this week when a staffer showed him a revealing picture on the plane's radar: His aircraft and Secretary of State Antony Blinken's were about to cross paths over the Atlantic Ocean," Andrew reports. The moment encapsulated Coons' current role for Biden, his longtime friend: He is an unofficial White House envoy in the Senate who is now expanding his reach overseas, with Biden sending him on an urgent diplomatic mission to Ethiopia over the weekend. Now, this is a highly unusual role for a senator who is not a committee chair to assume, but nonetheless Coons is being dubbed a "shadow" secretary of state. Andrew has more: https://politi.co/3fk5XWG NOT ON THE FENCE: Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), along with Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), all have something in common: None of them are on the fence about their feelings towards a permanent fence around the Capitol. All three will be introducing a bill today that would prohibit one being erected around the Capitol complex, Andrew reports. Related: 'Uncharted waters.' Judges are banning some Capitol riot suspects from the internet, by LA Times' Evan Halper: https://lat.ms/3rmEk1A | Republicans on the House Armed Services committee cast doubt extremism in the military as severe as Democrats, outside experts say, our Nick Niedzwiadek reports: https://politi.co/3vRBp4J FIRST IN HUDDLE: A diverse group of faith leaders, known as the Circle of Protection, are pressing the Biden administration to include a series of measures in its forthcoming Build Back Better legislation, like adopting policies that would provide liveable-wage jobs for workers, funding programs that support families and help keep people out of poverty, dedicate resources to international aid and increase taxes on corporations and high-income earners. "The group includes Latino Churches, Historic Black Churches, Protestants and Evangelicals, Roman Catholics, Orthodox Churches, Pentecostals and Peace Churches. Together, the church bodies in the Circle of Protection have close to 100 million members," reads the letter, which was sent to the White House. Read the full letter here: https://politi.co/39c3sSs | | | | A message from McDonald's:   | | | CAMPAIGN CENTRAL: -Missouri state Attorney General Eric Schmitt is running for the Senate, setting up a clash with former Gov. Eric Greitens. James Arkin with the story: https://politi.co/3d3lis5 -Why are Democrats following Trump's post-election playbook? Rich Lowry writes in Politico Mag: https://politi.co/2Qu4S4k -Newsom won't pick Schiff as California AG , our Christopher Cadelago, Carla Marinucci and Sam Stein report: https://politi.co/2PuEWoB CABINET CORNER: -The Senate Armed Services Committee split evenly in a 13-13 vote Wednesday on whether to advance Colin Kahl , the nominee for the Pentagon's top policy job, leaving him a rocky path for confirmation in the wider Senate, reports Connor O'Brien: https://politi.co/2OWT2Q5 - A first: U.S. Senate confirms transgender doctor Rachel Levine for key post, by the AP's David Crary: https://bit.ly/31h7Vix TRANSITIONS Subhan Cheema has joined the White House Covid response team as a strategic communications advisor, which comes after Subhan most recently worked on the Biden campaign in North Carolina. He is also a Jayapal, Blumenthal, and Obama HHS alum. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House is out, though it is still a committee work week. The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. AROUND THE HILL 10 a.m.: The Senate Judiciary Committee considers the nominations of Lisa Monaco for deputy AG and Vanita Gupta for associate AG. 11 a.m.: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will hold a press conference to "discuss the work Senate Democrats have accomplished for the American people since assuming the Senate Majority." 11 a.m.: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has a hearing on the Biden administration's transportation infrastructure priorities. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg testifies. 12 p.m.: The House Agriculture Committee has a virtual hearing on the state of Black farmers in the United States. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack testifies. 12 p.m.: An Energy and Commerce subcommittee will have a hearing on social media's role in spreading misinformation, featuring Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. 1 p.m.: The House Foreign Affairs Committee has a virtual markup of 12 bills, including legislation that would repeal the 2002 authorization for use of military force against Iraq. 1:15 p.m.: Biden holds his first news conference. 2 p.m.: Pelosi holds her weekly press conference, virtually. TRIVIA WEDNESDAY'S WINNER: Joseph Massaua, a senior in High School who is clearly going places, was the first person to correctly guess that Thomas Bayard became the first-ever Ambassador of the United States, appointed on March 30, 1893. Bayard was posted in Great Britain. (N.B. from Emil: Although the U.S. had representatives abroad prior to that, the heads of those diplomatic missions had the diplomatic rank of "Minister" until Bayard was granted the title of "Ambassador.") TODAY'S QUESTION: From Joseph: Which founding father neglected to sign the Declaration of Independence, but helped promote the Constitution and was a "President" (governor) of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania? 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. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @Olivia_Beavers | | | | A message from McDonald's: Safety + Commitment: Protecting our restaurant crew and customers is our number one priority. Over the last year, we have developed a comprehensive, national COVID safety plan to help ensure that McDonald's remains a safe place to eat and to work.
Safety + Science: McDonald's COVID safety plan is fact-based, data-driven, and informed by epidemiologists and health authorities. Every time CDC guidelines are updated, as science evolves, we update our plan.
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