| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With help from from Mariane LeVine and Andrew Desiderio TAPES ROLL, HEADS…WON'T — Alarm bells are not ringing among House Republicans as a drip, drip, drip of recorded phone calls get released featuring Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's consternation following Jan. 6. Standing by their man: House Republicans returning to Washington after the long recess are standing by McCarthy (and Trump) despite the taped conversations during which the GOP leader considered asking President Donald Trump to resign after the Capitol attack and his assertion that some of his own GOP colleagues posed a security risk. GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who's also close to McCarthy (R-Calif.), said simply that "I'm for Donald Trump being the next president and Kevin McCarthy being the next speaker." "Nobody's talking about it," Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) told Olivia and Sarah. "And frankly, I can't wait till Speaker McCarthy is sworn in." McCarthy briefly addressed the audio in a meeting Tuesday evening with Republican members of leadership and ranking members, a McCarthy-friendly group, four sources in the room told POLITICO. But as the House GOP Conference meets behind closed doors this morning, it is expected to come up again. Gaetz named, not ashamed: One dissenter Tuesday night was Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who McCarthy said was "putting people in jeopardy" in the wake of the insurrection. "Rep. McCarthy and Rep. Scalise held views about President Trump and me that they shared on sniveling calls with Liz Cheney, not us," Gaetz said in a statement. "This is the behavior of weak men, not leaders." He's not alone. The tapes are sure to be taken up by Republicans ready to challenge leadership, a stance that has catapulted previous rabble rousers into prominent positions within the party. Olivia and Sarah talked to tons of House Republicans Tuesday, even as more tapes dropped, to deliver this vibe check: McCarthy's Trump tape was a 'nothingburger.' Can the House GOP shrug off more audio? RELATED: Listen to the latest recordings in this story from Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns at The New York Times McCarthy Feared G.O.P. Lawmakers Put 'People in Jeopardy' After Jan. 6
| | | | DON'T MISS ANYTHING FROM THE 2022 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from the 25th annual Global Conference. This year's event, May 1-4, brings together more than 3,000 of the world's most influential leaders, including 700+ speakers representing more than 80 countries. "Celebrating the Power of Connection" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect influencers with the resources to change the world with leading experts and thinkers whose insight and creativity can implement that change. Whether you're attending in person or following along from somewhere else in the world, keep up with this year's conference with POLITICO's special edition "Global Insider" so you don't miss a beat. Subscribe today. | | | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, April 27. WARREN IS WORRIED — Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) says Democrats need an aggressive agenda packed with anti-price gouging legislation, and a drug pricing and tax reform bill to show voters what Democrats can get done. "We've got nearly 200 days. If we don't deliver, if we don't get up off our rear ends and make it happen, we're in real trouble," the Massachusetts Democrat told Burgess in an interview in her office on Tuesday. "But if we do deliver, if we can get some tangible results that touch people's lives, then we can go to the polls in November with our heads held high." Read more from Burgess' sit down with Warren: Warren tries to 'light the fire of urgency' for Democrats CHILDS' DAY IN COURT— The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a confirmation hearing this morning on several judicial nominees, including Judge J. Michelle Childs. President Joe Biden announced Childs' nomination to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in December and she was originally scheduled to appear before the committee in February. But her hearing was delayed, after she was on the shortlist to replace Justice Stephen Breyer. While Biden eventually picked Ketanji Brown Jackson, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, publicly pushed for Childs to get the high court nod. Childs is currently a South Carolina district court judge. THE HOUSE'S NEW YOUNG GUN — Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) got on Instagram last night to push back against what he calls a "coordinated drip campaign" against him by the "establishment." Without naming names, he took a swipe at Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) who has backed one of Cawthorn's primary challengers and also criticized the freshman firebrand. "In North Carolina we have the North Carolina political establishment and one RINO Senator we have really targeted me, are coming hard…they're starting to say just these ridiculous salacious lies." Cawthorn's defense comes in a week where photos of him in women's lingerie were published by POLITICO, watchdog groups told the Washington Examiner that he may have been insider trading on Let's Go Brandon cryptocurrency, and on a day that started with him being stopped at Charlotte Douglas International Airport with a loaded 9 mm handgun in his bag (more on that in a minute.) "They're going to drop an attack article every one or two days just to try and kill us with a death by 1000 cuts and that is really their main strategy," Cawthorn told his Instagram followers. But the North Carolina establishment didn't pack Cawthorn's carry-on yesterday. After his loaded gun was found during TSA screening Tuesday, he was released and cited with "possession of a dangerous weapon on city property," a City of Charlotte ordinance. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, "It is standard procedure for the CMPD Airport Division to cite in lieu of arrest for the misdemeanor charge of Possession of a Dangerous Weapon on City Property unless there are other associated felony charges or extenuating circumstances." Second time's the firearm: This isn't the first time Cawthorn's been caught. In February 2021, security at the Asheville, North Carolina, airport found a Glock 9 mm handgun in Cawthorn's bag, confiscated it and allowed him to board the plane. | | | | A message from ACT|The App Association: Open and fair competition in the digital marketplace drives our members' success, but the proposals in the Open App Markets Act will hinder our small business members' opportunity for continued prosperity. https://actonline.org/2022/04/04/give-small-developers-a-chance-not-higher-barriers-to-entry/ | | |
CRIST CAMPAIGNS IN PERSON, VOTES BY PROXY — Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.), a candidate for governor of Florida, hasn't missed a single vote this year…. But he's only voted in-person on four days. Haley Byrd Wilt dug into Crist's prolific proxy voting habit in her newsletter for The Dispatch.
"The Congressman has two important missions: representing Florida's 13th District in Congress and giving Floridians exhausted by Ron DeSantis' never ending culture wars a clear choice in November," Crist spokeswoman Chloe Kessock told The Dispatch when asked about his extensive proxy voting. "The proxy offers a great way to ensure his constituents' voices continue to be heard on legislation under consideration in Congress." Fly by proxy: Rep. Kai Kahele (D-Hawaii) was back at the Capitol Tuesday and voted in-person for the first time since January. In case you missed the Honolulu Civil Beat's great reporting on Kahele's prolific use of proxy voting, don't miss it. When asked Tuesday by Fox News if he intends to still work for Hawaiian Airlines while in Congress, he said: "Yeah, absolutely."
| | | There was a pre-recess surge and then a reprieve during the two-weeks lawmakers spent away from Capitol Hill, but Tuesday brought two positive tests to the Senate, three if you count frequently needed tiebreaker Vice President Kamala Harris. Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Ron Wyden of Oregon announced positive cases, both saying they have "mild symptoms." It's good news that they don't feel too bad. It is bad news for the Senate's schedule. In this 50-50 Senate, Democrats need every last vote. Anthony has more on the Senate's math problem. | | | | JOIN US ON 4/29 FOR A WOMEN RULE DISCUSSION ON WOMEN IN TECH : Women, particularly women of color and women from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, have historically been locked out of the tech world. But this new tech revolution could be an opportunity for women to get in on the ground floor of a new chapter. Join POLITICO for an in-depth panel discussion on the future of women in tech and how to make sure women are both participating in this fast-moving era and have access to all it offers. REGISTER FOR THE CHANCE TO JOIN US IN-PERSON. | | | | |
BRINK'S EASY BATTLE — It's safe to say everyone on Capitol Hill wants to re-establish the U.S. diplomatic presence in Kyiv as quickly as possible. And that starts with swiftly confirming Biden's nominee for ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink. The White House officially sent the nomination over yesterday, and senators from both parties are eager to install her to the high-profile post. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) in particular is taking an active role in support of Brink, and warned his fellow Republicans against holding back her nomination as "leverage." Christopher Miller and Andrew have more on what to expect from Brink as she stares down a likely drama-free Senate confirmation.
NEW PHOTO EXHIBIT— House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova will unveil a new photo exhibit of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the Speaker's Dining Room in the Capitol. "In partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine, images capturing the horror of the Russian invasion and the heroism of the Ukrainian people will be showcased in this exhibit for six weeks," her office said in a release. The photo exhibit will be unveiled at 4 p.m. and will be open for viewing on days when the House is in session between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. | | |
CODEL CARPOOL KARAOKE — Which senator is most likely to prod colleagues into a sing-a-long while in a van on a codel? Yeah, it's Cory Booker (R-N.J.), no question. Come for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's (D-N.Y.) rendition of American Pie, stay to see Rep. Mondare Jones' (D-N.Y.) side-eyeing Booker . Booker can count on a sing-a-long at some point today, it is his birthday.
CONGRESSIONAL SOCCER MATCH— Don't miss tonight's 8th Congressional Soccer Match at Audi Field, thirteen House lawmakers, one senator, former pro soccer players and more than 20 embassy representatives. The event is put on by the U.S. Soccer Foundation and tickets are free and available here. Here's the roster: Reps. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio), Blake Moore (R-Utah), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.). NOODLE NEWS — Senate-side noodle lovers, is there a replacement for your beloved salmon soba salad? There's a new noodle offering: the noodle peanut crunch salad. It features cabbage, celery, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, crispy wontons, ginger dressing and cellophane noodles. But no salmon in sight, per a tip from Nathaniel Reed at Newsy. QUICK LINKS Manchin stirs the pot while other Dems try to resuscitate their party-line vision, from Marianne, Anthony and Josh Siegel Congress expands Brown v. Board of Education historic site beyond Kansas, from Jacob Fischler at The States Newsroom TRANSITIONS Tell us who's new and who's leaving on the Hill. | | | | A message from ACT|The App Association:   | | |
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House convenes at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. Votes expected between 4 and 6 p.m. The Senate convenes at 2 p.m. with votes expected at 3:30 p.m. AROUND THE HILL 10 a.m. House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal 2023 budget for the Homeland Security Department. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies. (Rayburn 2359). 10:15 a.m. House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Vice Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) hold their weekly news conference (Studio A). 10:15 a.m. House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal 2023 budget for the Health and Human Services Department. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra testifies. (Rayburn 2123). Noon: Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and other GOP senators hold a press conference on the Biden administration plan to end Title 42 (S-325). 2 p.m. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) hold a press conference with Covid survivor groups to mark one million deaths due to the pandemic (Senate Swamp). 2 p.m. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds his weekly pen-and-pad. 2 p.m. House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee virtual hearing on the fiscal 2023 budget for the Architect of the Capitol. 5:45 p.m. Republican Study Committee Chair Jim Banks (R-Ind.), GOP Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) hold a press conference on securing the southern border (Studio A). | | | TUESDAY'S WINNER: Mike Hershey correctly answered that Jim Bunning threw a perfect game on Father's Day 1964 for the Philadelphia Phillies in a game against the New York Mets. Mike also happens to have a baseball with Bunning's signature, from when the Kentucky Republican was Ways and Means chairman. TODAY'S QUESTION from Mike: What small southwest Louisiana town was home to an iconic Governor, a longtime U.S. Senator, two U.S. House members – one of which was House Judiciary Chair, and the wife of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy? 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 ACT|The App Association: When the largest sellers on the app stores, with multi-billion-dollar valuations, come to Congress with proposals to reshape the mobile marketplace to suit their needs, policymakers should be rather skeptical. We urge Congress not to sacrifice consumers' most important privacy and security protections–and with them, the competitive prospects of small app companies–in order to further advantage the app stores' biggest winners. https://actonline.org/2022/04/04/give-small-developers-a-chance-not-higher-barriers-to-entry/ | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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