| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With help from Andrew Desiderio WHERE GRAHAM STANDS — Last week we looked at three Senate Republicans to watch with the pending Supreme Court nomination, but this week Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is setting himself apart as a vocal proponent of one short-lister: Judge J. Michelle Childs of the U.S. District Court for South Carolina. Graham is backing Childs, touting her public state school education as a departure from the elite institutions that have always dominated the highest court. He's less all-in on other names on the short list, focusing squarely on Childs. He called her "the kind of person I think I could support" and predicted that her profile could "do well with Republicans." Burgess digs in: Why Lindsey Graham is going all-in on Biden SCOTUS pick Graham is a master of the pivot. From vocal Trump critic to big defender, from Biden pal to calling for investigations into his son, sometimes supporter of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election… to possibly being Biden's best GOP ally on a critical Supreme Court fight. He is the third-most supportive GOP senator of Biden's judicial nominees over the past year, after moderate Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). He is condemning some fellow Republicans' idea of obstructing a committee vote on a Biden nominee to prevent the nomination from moving forward: "I just don't think it's good for the process." If he does back Biden's pick in the Judiciary Committee, there are real procedural benefits. His vote would allow the nominee to get reported to the floor directly, skipping procedural votes required if there was a tie at the committee level. A bipartisan committee vote also lends that ever-toutable legitimacy that lawmakers love. TRADE TALK — Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo is set to join House Democrats at their caucus meeting this morning, to discuss the China competition bill that is on the floor this week. At the same caucus meeting, the Democrats' messaging arm will tout that Dems have hosted more than 1,100 infrastructure-focused events. They'll applaud infrastructure-messaging leaders including Reps. Rick Larsen (D-Wash), Mike Levin (D-Calif.), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich) who hosted more than 50 infrastructure events -- each. | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | |
GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, February 2, where the date is 2/2/22.
NOT OUT OF THE WOODS — Democrats have made redistricting gains that even just a few months ago were in serious doubt, but there's still trepidation over if that will be enough to help the party in the midterm elections. "We're doing a hell of a lot better than pundits thought we would," DCCC Chair Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) said in an interview Tuesday, adding that his team's own internal projections put Democrats up "five to eight seats" better than they expected. "Many Democrats privately acknowledge that it's probably not enough to save their majority, and certainly not without a drastic shift in headwinds. Maloney himself admits, with an optimistic spin, that the party will be the 'underdogs' in their fight to hang onto the House," write Sarah and Ally Mutnick: Dems avert total redistricting doomsday — but they're not out of the woods GOP TO TUCKER: BUZZ OFF — Fox News host Tucker Carlson has been on a relentless crusade targeting Republican senators who dare to proclaim their support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. And despite Carlson's influence with the conservative base, those GOP lawmakers are unfazed by the provocateur's attacks — even as it widens an existing foreign-policy rift in their party. That disconnect between the GOP establishment and the pro-Trump base of the party on the value of foreign intervention isn't new; but the Ukraine crisis is widening that gulf, with Carlson spouting what some have said amounts to pro-Kremlin propaganda. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran whom Carlson called "ignorant" after she went on CNN to advocate for sanctioning Russia, rolled her eyes when asked for her reaction: "I get great intel briefings and we have trusted advisers that provide many points of view. And I would say I'm pretty well educated on this subject." And Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the bipartisan group putting together a sanctions bill, put it this way: "He's obviously not in a position of being responsible for those decisions. And we are." Andrew has much more on the ongoing Tucker vs. Senate GOP saga. | | | | A message from Better Medicare Alliance: Nearly half of all Medicare beneficiaries today choose Medicare Advantage. It's not hard to see why. Medicare Advantage beneficiaries save an average of $1,640 a year compared to fee-for-service Medicare, and a new Morning Consult poll shows 9 in 10 beneficiaries are satisfied with their coverage. Medicare Advantage – it's working. | | |
SPEEDY RECOVERY— That's what we're wishing for Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), who is hospitalized after suffering a stroke last Thursday. The New Mexico Democrat "underwent decompressive surgery to ease swelling" but is resting comfortably and expected to make a full recovery, according to a statement from his office. The health crisis came as a shock to many of his fellow Democrats in the Senate – Burgess and Marianne inadvertently broke the news to quite a few. While Luján's health is the top priority, there's no way around the tough realities of an ill member in a 50-50 Senate. Burgess and Marianne lay out what Luján's absence could mean for the Democrats' legislative agenda, previous examples of health challenges changing the Senate's makeup, plus some of those conversations with Senators just learning the news on Tuesday. Don't miss it: Luján stroke sends Senate Democrats reeling
IN THE NAME OF JOHN LEWIS — Last night the House approved a bill to designate the U.S. Postal Service facility in Atlanta, Ga., as the "John R. Lewis Post Office Building." The vote was 421-0, with Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) voting present. First in Huddle: New Cannabis Policy Fellows... The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's John R. Lewis Social Justice Fellows program will welcome two fellows focused on "research related to cannabis policy and social justice reforms." The two slots in the larger National Racial Equity Initiative for Social Justice (NREI) fellowship program will be funded by The Hawthorne Social Justice Fund, part of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, which will announce this morning that they are providing $600,000 over two years. "There is no doubt that cannabis laws have led to systemic racial and social inequities, and we are grateful to be able to join with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in finding ways to address this critical issue," said Chris Hagedorn, division president of Hawthorne Gardening Company and executive vice president of ScottsMiracle-Gro in a statement. | | |
STENY, SCHNEIDER and HOEVEN — House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is one of the highest ranking members of Congress to reveal a positive Covid test. He is experiencing mild symptoms and will remain isolated this week, voting by proxy. Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) will serve as his proxy. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) also tested positive and will be working from home. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) also received a positive test for an asymptomatic case.
Home-testing update : Skip Rayburn for the rest of this week. Allotments of the at-home, self-administered COVID test kits are now available at the House Office Supply Store, located in B-217 Longworth, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m (district offices, keep doing what you were doing). Additional test kits can now be purchased at the store if offices need more. They each contain two tests and run $23. NEW ETHICS PROPOSAL— Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) is re-introducing a new ethics reform package today that would put a forever-ban on members of congress cashing in after retirement in the lobbying business, ban lawmakers from buying or selling stock and requiring presidential and vice-presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns. "This is going to hack off a whole bunch of Republicans and Democrats but, frankly, doing it in one fell swoop is the only way to do it – it's time to get everyone's goat," said Sasse in a statement. | | | | DON'T MISS CONGRESS MINUTES: Need to follow the action on Capitol Hill blow-by-blow? Check out Minutes, POLITICO's new platform that delivers the latest exclusives, twists and much more in real time. Get it on your desktop or download the POLITICO mobile app for iOS or Android. CHECK OUT CONGRESS MINUTES HERE. | | | | |
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Seeking: suggestions…The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress is going old-school, which isn't in their nature. They have a suggestion box set up outside Cannon 164, ready for your ideas on how to fix Congress. (We know you have ideas!)
Don't call me Shirley… The best portrait in the Capitol (in your Huddle host's humble opinion) has a new view. A replica of the iconic portrait of Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-N.Y.) has been added to the tiny House Rules hearing room on the third floor. Chair Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) released a video that includes Chisholm's trailblazing legacy, plus a personal story about driving her back and forth to the Capitol for a speaking gig at American University. Committee's spokesperson Jeff Gohringer tweeted out a photo of the mega gallery wall . Chisholm is the only non-chair member to be honored in the limited wall space. You can still stop by the original, by artist Kadir Nelson, in the first floor corridor of the House. Boyle says bye…Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) offered a fun fact Tuesday: He was a sportscaster for Notre Dame radio and called Tom Brady's first ever game as a starting quarterback for Michigan. (Brady's Wolverines lost to the Fighting Irish, according to Boyle.) Presidential side gig?... We know lots of Hill staff are scraping by, working multiple jobs to pay the bills. If you are between 5' 7" and 6' 6" and can run 200 yards in a 50-pound suit… There's a job opening you should check out . If you make the cut to race as George (Washington), Tom (Jefferson), Abe (Lincoln) or Teddy (Roosevelt) at Nats Park, please let Huddle know. The Big Goodbye?… Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and others stopped by The Big Board on H St. NE last night, for what could be a farewell to the bar that has resisted the city's requirements for mask wearing and proof of vaccination. Staffers joined the lawmakers and tweeted their farewells. | | | | A message from Better Medicare Alliance:   | | |
QUICK LINKS
Top Republican throws cold water on struggling FDA nominee, from Alice Miranda Ollstein and David Lim California senators confront Democrats over tech antitrust effort , from Jennifer Haberkorn at the Los Angeles Times House GOP feels no fundraising backlash for opposing electors from Kate Ackley, Stephanie Akin, and Ryan Kelly at CQ Roll Call TRANSITIONS Sarah Benzing has been tapped to run the DSCC Independent Expenditure. She most recently was chief of staff for Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). Stephanie Doherty joined Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency after serving as Legislative Counsel to Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). She also worked for Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. with votes at 11 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. AROUND THE HILL 10:15 a.m. House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Vice Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) hold a news conference after the Democratic caucus meeting (Studio A). 10:45 a.m. House GOP Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and others hold a press conference after the GOP conference meeting (Studio A). 6:08 p.m. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) holds a press conference about the southern border (Russell 325). | | |
TUESDAY'S WINNER: Michael Ramos correctly answered the five current senators who were not born in the U.S. are Sens. Tammy Duckworth (Thailand), Ted Cruz (Canada), Chris Van Hollen (Pakistan), Mazie Hirono (Japan) and Michael Bennet (India).
TODAY'S QUESTION: On April 7, 2020, as a result of the pandemic, which bill became the first in U.S. history to be introduced in the House electronically? 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 Better Medicare Alliance: Medicare Advantage works for more than 28 million Americans – whether they're living on a fixed income, or in an underserved neighborhood. It's health care the way it should be – high-quality, coordinated, accessible, and affordable.
According to a new poll conducted by Morning Consult, 9 out of 10 seniors are satisfied with their Medicare Advantage, and research shows Medicare Advantage beneficiaries save an average of $1,640 a year. Medicare Advantage – it's working. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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