| | | | | |  | | By Olivia Beavers and Melanie Zanona | Presented by |  | | | With Nicholas Wu. GREENE RAKES IN THE GREEN: We have a scoop for you this morning: Freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), the controversial MAGA firebrand, raised over $3.2 million in the first three months of this year, according to a source close to her campaign. That eye-popping haul came from over 100,000 individual donors, for an average donation of $32. Greene did not self-fund this quarter, the source added. That is a staggering sum of money for a House member, especially for a freshman who is more than a year out from her next election. For context, in the first quarter of 2019, the highest fundraising haul came from House GOP Whip Steve Scalise, who brought in $2.5 million, followed by House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, who raised $2.2 million. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), then a freshman, raked in $728,000 during that same period. Greene appears to have actually benefited from all the controversies that have consumed her first few months in office. She directly fundraised off of Democrats' decision to kick her off her committees for past incendiary rhetoric and warned her supporters that Democrats are trying to expel her from Congress. Greene is also still a fan favorite in Trumpworld: she met with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago last week and they posed for a video together. "Over 100,000 individual donations says it all. The People are with Marjorie Taylor Greene and her America First agenda. It's clear she's the heir to President Trump," said the source close to her campaign. "While politicians inside the Beltway attack her daily, Americans are rushing to stand beside the Notorious MTG as she fights tooth and nail on the House floor utilizing procedural tactics to shut down Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats' hostage takeover of Congress." Greene is going to need to stockpile cash for her reelection campaign. While she represents a ruby red seat, her primary race could become one of the more expensive and closely-watched contests in the nation and she'll have to run under new lines after redistricting. Anti-Trump forces are threatening to mobilize against her — including Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who built a $2.2 million war chest of his own this past quarter. Meanwhile, sources in the state say polls are already being conducted to test potential GOP primary challengers. One more point here: We're starting to get a clearer picture of the post-Jan. 6 fundraising landscape. While there was speculation that Republicans would take a big hit, since many corporations froze their donations to lawmakers who challenged the election results, it looks like there was also energy on the right — especially among small donors — to rally around some Republicans under fire. Stay tuned: Campaign-finance reports are due on April 15. Speaking of campaigns: Insert that eyes raised emoji. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) has launched a "Wagner Victory Committee" PAC, your Huddle host has learned. While it is unclear what the purpose of the new fundraising vehicle is, the PAC comes as the GOP congresswoman is seriously weighing a Senate bid to replace outgoing GOP Sen. Roy Blunt. | | | | JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION, SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" NEWSLETTER: 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 our 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 important new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | SCHUMER'S SHOT: It is hard to overstate how the Georgia Senate races flipped the trajectory of the Biden administration and the power dynamics in Washington. Chuck Schumer became Senate Majority leader and Democrats secured the opportunity to pass their long-pushed priorities with the White House and the two chambers of Congress under their control. It's an opportunity, the New York Democrat said in an interview this week with Burgess, that comes around "maybe twice a century." As Burgess puts it: "The personal stake he has in this political moment can't be understated: After spending Donald Trump's presidency leading a minority that was trampled by massive GOP tax cuts and three conservative Supreme Court justices, Schumer is seeking reelection next year as one of a trio of Democratic leaders who could rack up achievements rivaling FDR's New Deal." Right now, he is working on selling the idea of infusing the economy with more than $2 trillion in new spending, while also rolling back the Trump-era tax cuts -- which will be a difficult legislative feat. But the New York Democrat argues sustained and significant growth in jobs, wages and productivity "would change America," telling Burg by telephone: "The sunny optimism of America would return and the sourness that's in the land — because people worry about their futures — would dissipate." He also has his hawkish legislation on China as well as electric cars legislation that he is determined to get passed. And he has quite the task ahead of him, corralling Dem senators who have never been easy to lead. That's why Schumer is trying to maintain momentum. "It's gonna be a big challenge. Everyone's gonna have different views," Schumer acknowledged. "But the good thing about the Biden administration is they're very receptive to listening." More here from Burgess: https://politi.co/3sTgjkq INFRASTRUCTURE CLICKS: How a Senate ruling could help push Biden's agenda through Congress, by NYT's Emily Cochrane and Jim Tankersley: https://nyti.ms/2PXVwO5 | Biden's infrastructure plan faces new hurdle in Senate rules, by WSJ's Andrew Duehren: https://on.wsj.com/3rZithb | Biden wants to cement a governing majority. His Build Back Better bill is his plan to do it, by our Christopher Cadelago: https://politi.co/3sTghJk HOW ABOUT THAT FILIBUSTER?: Dianne Feinstein signals she's open to abandoning Senate filibuster for voting rights, by the Los Angeles Times' Jennifer Haberkorn: https://lat.ms/3wzRuMI | Kyrsten Sinema defends filibuster as pressure mounts from progressives, by the WSJ's Eliza Collins: https://on.wsj.com/3dEoY3X | | A message from Energy for Progress: Let's work together on climate solutions. Through innovative partnerships, we've helped reduce CO2 emissions to a generational low. Let's make even more progress together. | | | HAPPY WEDNESDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill on this April 7, where your Huddle host is not yet convinced that this clip wasn't taken from Jurassic Park. TUESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Cleveland.com's story about how Sen. Sherrod Brown wants a repeal of corporate tax provisions that he says export jobs was the big winner. OUT OF THE GAETZ: Rep. Matt Gaetz will make his first public appearance since reports surfaced that he is under FBI investigation into his conduct. The Florida Republican will speak Friday before the "Women for America First" Save America Summit at Trump National in Doral, Florida. News of his appearance comes as the New York Times shared some pretty interesting new details yesterday: While Gaetz was publicly making a big show of his loyalty to Donald Trump, he was seeking something in return: blanket pre-emptive pardons for himself as well as unidentified congressional allies for any crimes they may have committed. He also suggested Trump should issue broad pardons for himself, much like Oprah giving audience members cars. You get a pardon, and you get a pardon, and YOU get a pardon. His argument? The "bloodlust" of their political opponents. (Fun fact: Gaetz in early 2020 described himself as one of Trump's "best friends" to your Huddle host.) The timing of his request certainly was interesting. The Justice Department's investigation was already underway. Investigators had begun to question his asssociates about his conduct including whether he had a sexual relationship with an underage girl that would violate sex trafficking laws. But Gaetz did not pick up the Get Out of Jail Free Card. Per the Times: "It was unclear whether Mr. Gaetz or the White House knew at the time about the inquiry, or who else he sought pardons for. Mr. Gaetz did not tell White House aides that he was under investigation for potential sex trafficking violations when he made the request. But top White House lawyers and officials viewed the request for a pre-emptive pardon as a nonstarter that would set a bad precedent, the people said." Related: The congressman and his wingman -- "How Matt Gaetz's relationship with a scandal-prone local tax collector got him into big trouble," by our Marc Caputo: https://politi.co/3fOfy8x WANT THAT OLD THING BACK: Your Huddle host heard from quite a few members who were excited about Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's (D-Md.) announcement that the House would be scaling back the intervals of voting from 45 minutes to 30 minutes (less time to prey on lawmakers at votes, womp, but your Huddle host will live). The Maryland Democrat in a Dear Colleague letter yesterday said this "will allow for the House to complete its work more expeditiously." They will still vote in groups and masks will be still required, but it is a sign of the House moving back towards normal, which is exciting. (H/T to Sarah and Mel, who previewed this step a few weeks ago.) MESSAGING ALERT: Republicans have honed in on their messaging to corporations who are protesting the GOP's Georgia election laws -- "Go woke, go broke." It was included in a Republican Study Committee messaging doc that was circulated Monday, and it seems to be sticking. SPEAKING OF: Corporate America tears down Biden's infrastructure plan, our Ben White reports: https://politi.co/3cVMwSE PEER PRESSURE: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has some thoughts on Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and his position on Dems' sweeping voting rights legislation: "I think that Joe Manchin is not going to turn on the people of West Virginia," Graham said during a visit to the South Carolina statehouse yesterday. "I'm hopeful that Joe Manchin will look at H.R. 1 as destroying the ability of West Virginia to conduct an election as they see fit following the laws of the land." Post and Courier's Jamie Lovegrove has the story: https://bit.ly/3taqcu0 Related: Likely legal, 'Vaccine Passports' emerge as the next Coronavirus divide, by NYT's Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Adam Liptak: https://nyti.ms/31VqqJz | | | | 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. | | | | | IN MEMORIAM: From the Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "Congressman Alcee Hastings, whose life was marked by perseverance, calamity and a comeback, has died. He was 84. Hastings crusaded against racial injustice as a civil rights lawyer, became a federal judge who was impeached and removed from office, and went on to win 15 congressional elections, becoming Florida's senior member of Congress." Hastings' death comes after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in late 2018. More here: https://bit.ly/3fNwNag And of course, the coveted seat is expected to trigger intense jockeying among some of the region's most prominent political figures. While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has yet to set a date for the special election, which will help solidify the timeframe for candidates qualifying, the seat is expected to be a safe seat for Dems. Potential candidates for the seat: State Sen. Perry Thurston confirmed to my colleagues that he is planning to run. State Sen. Bobby Powell is also eyeing a bid, joining a list of potential candidates that also includes former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness, state Sen. Shevrin Jones, state Rep. Omari Hardy and Broward County Commissioner Barbara Muhammad Sharief, who previously served as the county's first Muslim mayor. Our Matt Dixon and Ally Mutnick have the story on the early jockeying: https://politi.co/39QBb4u SLIMDOWN: Hastings' death means Democrats now have an even narrower majority in the House, with one incoming Republican, Rep.-elect Julia Letlow (La.) also changing the calculus. Letlow is expected to be sworn in next Tuesday, the 13th, your Huddle host is told. There also remain several vacancies, with various special elections coming up. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can only stand to lose roughly two defectors on party-line votes, with a 218-212 split. That, essentially, gives power to basically any member who is willing to hamstring their colleagues in order to have their demands met. Related: Democrats are bracing for primary fights. Does the left have a plan? by WaPo's David Weigel: https://wapo.st/2Q7hyxN | Democrats' control of the House is increasingly fragile, by NY Mag's Ed Kilgore: https://nym.ag/3mCqGad UPDATE: "Slain Capitol Police officer William 'Billy' Evans will lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda next week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Tuesday," our Ben Leonard reports: https://politi.co/3fRJ4u7 FENCE DOWNERS: Following last week's tragic incident at the Capitol, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) tells Nick the car attack underscored how the "existing barricades" at the Capitol were sufficient to protect the building. Norton, the sponsor of bipartisan legislation banning permanent fencing at the Capitol, said her position had not changed: She only lives nine blocks from the Capitol, she said, and wants the remaining fencing to come down. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the Republican cosponsor of the Senate's version of the bill, said at the end of March he'd seek to attach it to other legislation. SHOW OF FORCE: 140 former senior national security, military, and elected officials elected officials are calling on congressional leaders to create a bipartisan Jan. 6 commission. Read the letter here: https://bit.ly/3msKnRm Related: Honoré says Jan. 6 stemmed from 'propaganda' that gave people 'a little BS,' by The Hill's Cristina Marcos and Rebecca Beitsch: https://bit.ly/3fKCXrp | What an analysis of 377 Americans arrested or charged in the Capitol insurrection tells us, per an Op-Ed written by Robert Pape in WaPo: https://wapo.st/2PyWqAW UPCOMING: The House and Senate will hold separate public hearings next week -- Wednesday and Thursday, respectively -- on the greatest threats to the country's national security, with top security officials appearing for testimony after a more than two-year hiatus because of tensions between the intelligence community and Trump. Martin Matishak has more details of what to expect here: https://politi.co/3dIQ5KW Related: Biden's DHS may restart border wall construction to plug 'gaps,' scoops the Washington Times' Stephen Dinan: https://bit.ly/3utTunL | | | |   | | | TRANSITIONS Daniel Silverberg is now a managing director of corporate practice at Capstone LLC. He most recently was national security adviser to Hoyer. Jewish Insider's Gabby Deutch has a story about Silverberg's reflections on Congress and foreign policy: https://bit.ly/2RcMn4V Ryan Dalbec is now a legislative manager at The Assistance Fund. He previously was a legislative aide for Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and is a David Young alum. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House and Senate are both out. AROUND THE HILL Quiet. TRIVIA TUESDAY'S WINNER: Georgia Neal was the first person to correctly guess that the only person to ever hold two Cabinet positions concurrently was James Monroe, who served as Secretary of State and Secretary of War during the War of 1812. TODAY'S QUESTION: From Georgia: Which presidential campaign "kept the ball rolling" as a callback to a past campaign? (Hint: the two candidates were related) 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 Energy for Progress: Innovative Climate Solutions and Powering America
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