| | | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With Andew Desiderio and Annette Choi. FAR-RIGHT RALLY HEADS TO CAPITOL HILL — The fence is back up, Capitol Police have riot-shields at the ready, have preemptively requested National Guard support and Metropolitan Police are activating their entire force on Saturday. Saturday's event is organized by the group Look Ahead America and is dubbed "Justice for J6," in support of the defendants facing charges related to the Jan. 6 insurrection. Part of the latest effort to rewrite the events of that day, demonstrators are expected to gather near the west side of the Capitol, near the reflecting pool. Capitol Police have warned about "concerning online chatter," prompting ramped up security measures and preparation for potential violent clashes. Security officials on Capitol Hill are determined to not have a repeat of the intelligence, preparedness and operational failures that were laid bare on Jan. 6. And yet... all signs are pointing to turnout being a fraction of the size of the massive crowds that overtook Capitol Police on Jan. 6 to breach the Capitol. The key exacerbating factors that converged to make Jan. 6 the calamity that it was are absent ahead of this weekend. While former President Donald Trump has described the Jan. 6 defendants as being "persecuted" (they're actually being *prosecuted*), he's not driving turnout and urging his supporters to attend. It's a weekend and Congress isn't in session, let alone in the middle of Electoral College certification that demonstrators could attempt to interrupt. That is not to discount the anxieties that many in the Capitol Hill and greater Washington community are feeling ahead of the rally, which could feature extremist and white supremicist groups. Given the deadly and destructive outcome seen earlier this year, caution is warranted. Stay safe, readers! RELATED: Debunking Claims About the Jan. 6 Riot, from the New York Times, Organizer of Saturday rally looks to rewrite Jan. 6 history, from the AP | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | CLIFF WALK — Top Democrats are mulling their options for handling both the Sept. 30 funding deadline and the impending debt cliff, with action kicking off Monday to avoid a government shutdown. House Rules will meet to take up the (yet to be released) stopgap spending bill. The measure is expected to include funding to keep federal coffers stocked until either Dec. 3 or Dec. 10 but either way will set up a festive winter holiday funding fight like we've seen so many times before. (Your Huddle host was there when senators broke into Christmas carols on the floor during a pre-CR-vote quorum call a few years back.) As they prep the bill for floor action, Democratic leaders are weighing whether to pair the must-pass funding package with a measure to tackle the approaching debt cliff. While the tandem effort could likely pass the House, all but four Senate Republicans have promised to vote against raising the debt limit. In a statement Thursday night , the White House emphasized the stakes of the debt limit debacle: "These are bipartisan responsibilities, especially given that a substantial debt was run up during the previous administration in pursuit of COVID relief and other measures, that received bipartisan support. Any suggestion by Republicans that they will shirk their responsibility is indefensible." | | | | A message from AT&T: Accessible, affordable broadband helps communities reach their American Dream. That's why we're making a $2 billion, 3-year commitment toward helping close the digital divide, so more low-income families have the ability to succeed. Learn more. | | | TGIF! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Friday, September 17. Have a great (and safe) weekend! THURSDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The letter from nearly 50 former members on continuity of government planning caught your attention, huh? Bleak, but I like that "be prepared" attitude. GONZALEZ: OUT — Ohio Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio) announced Thursday night that he plans to retire rather than seek a third term in 2022. He was facing a brutal Republican primary against former Trump aide Max Miller and alienation within his own party. Gonzalez is the first of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol to retire instead of facing intense primary challenges. He first told the New York Times of his decision to retire, before posting an announcement on Twitter. "The current state of our politics, especially many of the toxic dynamics inside our own party, is a significant factor in my decision," Gonzalez wrote. He lamented the "chaotic political environment that currently infects our country" but said his supporters gave him hope it would only be "will only be temporary." DEMS TREAD LIGHTLY ON AFGHANISTAN — The Democratic-led Afghanistan investigations kicked off on the Hill this week with Antony Blinken's testimony, and one thing is becoming crystal clear — this could become a headache for Joe Biden. Democrats' promise of rigorous oversight is a risky gamble as the president is already facing significant hurdles on his domestic agenda as well as sagging poll numbers. While these probes will initially focus on Biden's missteps, Democrats leading them have vowed to dig deeper, including examining the failures of the last 20 years spanning multiple administrations. It's how Democrats plan to head off a GOP-led effort to paint Biden as solely responsible and potentially use the issue against Democrats in the midterms. Still, some Dems are worried. Andrew has more on Democrats' thinking as they head into a potentially rocky few weeks of Afghanistan oversight: https://politi.co/3lB7WYb | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | EDUCATION STATION — As House committees divvy up the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, President Joe Biden's plans are meeting the reality of the legislative process. The House Education and Labor Committee, led by Chair Bobby Scott (D-Va.), approved a $761 billion education and workforce measure. Analysis from data and graphics reporter Annette Choi spells out how the House proposals compare to what the Biden administration proposed. A POLITICO analysis of the Democrats' reconciliation bill and Biden's American Families Plan found that the House plan includes increased funding for some of Biden's priorities — namely child care and universal pre-K — as well as cuts to his initial proposals for higher education and child nutrition. | 
Annette Choi/POLITICO | This analysis does not include all components of the Build Back Better Act or the American Families Plan, but instead makes comparisons between similar education topics across proposals. There's more on this analysis for Politico Pro subscribers here: https://bit.ly/2YWWYVk | | | |   | | | QUICK LINKS — Dan Crenshaw is building a young activist army, one summit at a time, from Hailey Fuchs TRANSITIONS James Gee has joined Winning Strategies Washington as of counsel. He was most recently chief of staff to Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.). Molly Morrissey is joining Booz Allen Hamilton as a consultant. She currently is press secretary for Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.). Max Virkus is now senior economic policy adviser to Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). He previously was legislative director for Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), and is a Joyce Beatty alum. Zachary Holman is now deputy press secretary for Sen. Angus King (I-Maine). He most recently was director of comms for the Maryland Democratic Party. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 10 a.m. for a pro forma session. The Senate is not in session. AROUND THE HILL Still just the fence. TRIVIA THURSDAY'S WINNER: Susan Valentine correctly answered that Eugene V. Debs ran for president five times, including from the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. He was convicted under the Sedition Act of 1918 and in 1921. President Warren G. Harding commuted Debbs' sentence, but did not issue a pardon. TODAY'S QUESTION: In 1988 there were five pro athletes in Congress: Name the lawmakers and their sports. The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to ktm@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. Follow Katherine on Twitter @ktullymcmanus. | | | | A message from AT&T: Brooke Dryden's daughter was diagnosed with learning disabilities at an early age. She requires an individualized education plan and weekly therapy with speech specialists. However, rural Colorado does not have the kind of specialists she needs. With the help of accessible and affordable broadband, Brooke is able to ensure that she receives regular virtual therapy and never falls behind. Brooke's dream is to see her daughter not just survive but thrive in the world. That's why AT&T is dedicated to helping close the digital divide with a $2 billion, 3-year commitment, so more low-income families like Brooke's can achieve their American Dream. Learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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