| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | WILL BE WILD — The Jan. 6 select committee is set to dig into the role of far-right extremist groups in planning and executing the violent attack on the Capitol and how messaging from former President Donald Trump and GOP lawmakers fanned the flames of conspiracy theories into an insurrection. This afternoon's hearing, led by Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), aims to tackle an ambitious and expansive amount of information on internet extremism and conspiracy theories that fueled the planning ahead of Jan. 6 and groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. "We'll show you how they began to organize around that date," Murphy told Nicholas in an interview. "And you know that they were [not] organizing … for a peaceful protest, because you don't bring explosives and weapons to peaceful protests." Witness table: We're expecting former Oath Keepers spokesperson Jason Van Tatenhove to testify, according to a source familiar with the situation. Stephen Ayers, an Ohio man criminally charged for his actions during the Capitol insurrection, could also testify, ABC reports. The panel is expected to air the first public clips of the Friday interview with former White House counsel Pat Cipollone. Wide angle lens: The seventh public hearing held by the panel will be more sweeping as lawmakers try to cover an extended timeline from the Electoral College's meeting affirming Biden's win on Dec. 14, 2020 until the Jan. 6 attack. Nicholas and Kyle have a preview: Jan. 6 panel zeroes in on Trump's 'clarion call' to extremists Who's who: Yesterday we told you to bookmark / clip and save a guide to the key players. But it's okay if you forgot, we gotchu. Thursday opened up: The committee scratched plans to hold another hearing on Thursday, which would focus on the 187 minutes that the Capitol was under siege without comment from former President Donald Trump and what was happening in the West Wing as the riot was unfolding. That session is now expected next week. DIALING IT IN FOR DETTELBACH — The last time the Senate confirmed a director for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Barack Obama was president. But the chamber is making moves today to end that dry spell. The Senate will take a procedural vote to advance the nomination of Steven Dettelbach to lead the agency. If the nomination clears the cloture hurdle, the Senate will vote on confirmation of Dettelbach's nomination. Dettelbach has backing from GOP Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Susan Collins of Maine. But with 13 absences at votes last night — eight Democrats and five Republicans — there is still uncertainty that the votes will be there today. At least two Dems are out with Covid and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is recovering from hip surgery. Flashback: The White House in September withdrew Biden's previous nominee for the position, David Chipman, amid opposition from Sen. Angus King (I-Maine.) and ambivalence from Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
| | | | HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ROE BEING OVERTURNED? JOIN WOMEN RULE ON 7/21: Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade , abortion policy is in the hands of the states and, ultimately, voters. Join POLITICO national political correspondent Elena Schneider for a Women Rule "ask me anything" conversation featuring a panel of reporters from our politics and health care teams who will answer your questions about how the court's decision could play out in different states, its impact on the midterms and what it means for reproductive rights in the U.S. going forward. SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS AND REGISTER HERE. | | | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, July 12, where if you're not jazzed about cool new space pictures, we can't be friends. GOP LINES UP BEHIND McCONNELL'S ULTIMATUM — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says that the ongoing talks between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on a party-line spending bill will "crowd out our ability to process the bipartisan USICA bill aimed at competing with China." Over recess he threatened, via tweet, to tank the China competition bill that is currently in conference committee if Dems pursue a tax, climate and drug pricing measure. On Monday his fellow Republicans, even those with big interests in the competition bill, backed his play. But Democrats are insisting that Republicans who have supported the bill throughout the process won't abandon it now. "The right question is how ridiculous is it to kill a bill that you say you like because there's a different negotiation about a different thing," Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said. "There's just no way you can govern that way." Family meeting TBD: Rep. Todd Young (R-Ind.) said right now "it's a really dynamic environment" with the ongoing talks to finalize the bill, adding that Republicans "haven't even had a family conversation yet." Later this week, Senators will get a classified briefing with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines focused on China's global influence. Andrew and Sarah dug into the state-of-play. ARE WE THERE YET? HILL GOP WEIGHS TRUMP TIMING — "Party leaders want Trump to hold off on any campaign announcement at least until after November's midterms so the GOP can make the 2022 elections a clean referendum on President Joe Biden. They see a clear road map toward netting the handful of House and Senate seats they need to flip Congress, with a twice-impeached former president still under investigation possibly blocking their path," write Burgess and Marianne. "GOP leaders need his loyal voters to win general elections this fall, but they do not want their incumbents or candidates talking about Trump — just about how unpopular Biden is and how high inflation is on his watch." More on how Republicans on the Hill are handling their inescapable party leader: Trump 2024? Not just yet, some Republicans say
| | A message from Air Line Pilots Association Intl.: Hearing a lot about a pilot shortage? Don't believe it. Airlines are cutting service to improve profits and are blaming the cuts on a "pilot shortage." They've even suggested more savings by reducing safety training for pilots. In reality, there are 1.5 certified pilots for every pilot job. Don't let airlines put profits over passengers' safety. Get the facts about pilot supply. | | | HIP, HIP, NDAA — With a bill as ginormous as the annual National Defense Authorization Act, there's something (amendments) for everyone. The House Rules Committee meets this afternoon to determine how many of the record 1,213 (!!) amendments filed will actually see floor action. We're expecting that number to be in the hundreds. Connor O'Brien from our Defense and National Security team has been sorting through the amendments and highlighting proposals in key issue areas: Guantanamo Bay, abortion, UFOs (the pros call them unidentified aerial phenomena these days), border security and authorizations for use of military force … just to name a few. The thread is worth checking out. Gear up for a few late nights, whether that means caffeine, snacks or whatever pairs best with a whole lot of C-SPAN. House Democrats were told to expect late night votes Wednesday and Thursday to accommodate the long amendment roster. Flyout day warning: The House is in on Friday and for longer than usual. They hope to wrap up NDAA by (late) Thursday night and use Friday to take up a pair of abortion bills. But that could take them well into the afternoon or evening, not the usual mid-day getaway. FIELD TRIP — The White House says a bipartisan group of 260 members of Congress, their families and Congressional staff (plus cabinet members etc) will head to this afternoon's White House Congressional Picnic on the South Lawn, the first since 2019. (MORE) SPARTZ SPARKS — The first and only Ukraine-born U.S. lawmaker says Ukrainians "Are not preparing for war," and "do not understand" the scale of the conflict. Ukranians… beg to differ. SENATE'S RACIAL PAY DISPARITY — Both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate pay non-white staff thousands of dollars less per year than their white peers, according to a LegiStorm analysis by Keturah Hetrick. Among Republicans, Hispanic staffers are the lowest paid racial group and make 92 percent that of the median white GOP staffer, which would be a difference of $4,700 per year. Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are Senate Democrats' lowest-paid racial group, making 81 percent that of the median white Democratic staffer, or $12,300 less per year. Comms conundrum: The pay gap is highest among communications staffers, according to the analysis. Methodology: Race is not an identifier of individual staff included in LegiStorm data. "However, to create aggregate numbers, we use visual identification and other cues such as name, languages spoken and involvement in racial or cultural organizations, as well as an occasional public declaration by the staffer," LegiStorm explains.
| | | | INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | | Recess is contagious … Covid cases are on the rise again on Capitol Hill after months of sparse positive tests among lawmakers, one or two at a time. This week, Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are isolating, while in the House, Reps. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Chelli Pingree (D-Maine) plan on proxy voting and working remotely due to Covid diagnoses. Heads up: Senate Democrats will be meeting virtually for their weekly caucus lunch, instead of in-person. The adjustment harkens back to earlier periods of the pandemic. Better safe than superspreader…Reminder that the two testing sites on the Hill are still open in Dirksen and Rayburn, offering free PCR tests with same-day results.
| | | Flying groom…Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) ziplined into his own wedding to the classic John Williams composition "The Raiders March" aka the Indiana Jones theme song. Malinowski wed Henrietta Levin, director for Southeast Asia at the National Security Counsel. Our friends at Playbook have a video of the ziplining groom. Union panel… The House unionization protections kick in next week, but before that many questions remain. Demand Progress is hosting a panel on "The Power of Unions in Congress" at 11 a.m. on Wednesday with remarks from Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.) and a panel of experts, including Kevin Mulshine, former counsel at the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights and two top officials at unions that represent federal employees. Your Huddle Host will be moderating the discussion. Register here and let me know what questions you have for the panelists. QUICK LINKS Their Son Is Talking About School Shootings. Should They Call the Police?, Tawnell D. Hobbs and Sara Randazzo at The Wall Street Journal 911 for mental health is here. Officials are downplaying the launch, from Megan Messerly and Sarah Owermohle TRANSITIONS FIRST IN HUDDLE: Julia Hahn has been promoted to be deputy chief of staff for communications for Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.). Hahn previously was senior communications advisor for Hagerty. Before that, she worked as deputy communications director in the Trump White House, wrote for Breitbart and was press secretary for former Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.). Audrey Traynor has been promoted to be press secretary for Hagerty, from deputy press secretary and digital director. (h/t Daniel Lippman) Emilia Rowland is now press secretary for John Fetterman's Pennsylvania Senate campaign. She previously was comms director and tech adviser for Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.). Will Smethers is now legislative director for Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.). He previously was senior legislative assistant for Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.). Victoria Honard is now legislative director for Rep. Suzan K. DelBene (D-Wash.) She was previously a senior policy advisor for DelBene. Alyssa Quinn started Monday as a legislative correspondent for DelBene, after interning in the office. Christine Bergamini has been named a staff assistant for the House Committee on Natural Resources. She previously interned for the committee. Katie Naessens joined the food and ag-focused lobbying firm Michael Torrey Associates as a vice president. Naessens most recently served as a senior Democratic staffer on the Senate Agriculture Committee and before that worked for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during his first turn in the role during the Obama administration.
| | | | A message from Air Line Pilots Association Intl.:   | | | TODAY IN CONGRESS The House meets at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. with votes expected at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. AROUND THE HILL 10 a.m. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the legal consequences of the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision (Dirksen 106). 10:15 a.m. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) hold a press conference on overdraft fees (House Triangle). 1 p.m. House Jan. 6 select committee hearing on the investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol (Cannon 390). 2 p.m. Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans hold their separate post-policy lunch press conferences. 2 p.m. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and others hold a press conference on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (House Triangle). 7:10 p.m. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds a ceremonial swearing-in for Congressman-elect Mike Flood (R-Neb.) (Rayburn Room). | | | MONDAY'S WINNER: John Lin correctly answered that President Calvin Coolidge was the only president to be born on July 4. TODAY'S QUESTION from John: How many former University of Michigan football players have been elected to Congress? 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 Air Line Pilots Association Intl.: Airlines have invented a "pilot shortage" to justify cost cutting service reductions to smaller communities across the country. Airline profits are being prioritized over passenger service. The fact is America has 1.5 certified pilots for every pilot job. That's more than enough. But now airlines are recommending cuts to essential pilot safety training – just to put more pilots in service. This is the same training that has reduced airline fatalities by 99.8% since they were increased in 2010. There is no pilot shortage—don't be fooled. Proper training and diligence will maintain air travel's record as the safest mode of transportation. Get the facts about pilot supply. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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