Members phkrause Posted October 27 Author Members Share Posted October 27 Thousands of children adopted by Americans are without citizenship. Congress is unwilling to act HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The 50-year-old newspaper was turning yellow and its edges fraying, so she had it laminated, not as a memento but as proof — America made a promise to her, and did not keep it. https://apnews.com/article/adoption-citizenship-immigration-congress-0c71631786c35f7042ff99726e9dcd23? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted October 28 Author Members Share Posted October 28 🚨 New Senate deciders Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are about to get the Joe Manchin treatment — making them two of the most scrutinized, obsessively-covered and influential lawmakers in D.C. Why it matters: The two Republicans are instantly the most critical votes in Congress if the Senate GOP gets its expected slim majority, with 51 or 52 seats. They'll have extraordinary influence over Cabinet confirmations, spending packages and even Supreme Court picks. If former President Trump wins in November, Mitch McConnell's successor as Senate GOP leader — John Thune, John Cornyn or someone else — will need Collins and Murkowski on board to pass their legislative agenda. If Vice President Harris wins the White House, the two senators will be Democrats' go-to votes to get judges and top officials confirmed. The big picture: Manchin served as a serious check on President Biden's congressional plans — blocking efforts to nuke the filibuster and forcing a spending limit on the Build Back Better plan. If Trump wins, he could face similar roadblocks on legislation or controversial Cabinet picks — or even more Supreme Court appointments. Collins will have particular power, being in line to chair the Appropriations Committee in a GOP majority. 🎤 Murkowski and Collins will be "extremely, extremely, extremely important" in the next Congress, Manchin told us. Manchin, who's retiring, called the two "the best in the world" and told us it's "important for people to be able to speak your own mind and be able to not be coerced by the party system." Retiring Sen. Mitt Romney told us "it's very possible that one or two people will be able to dramatically impact policy" if one party wins total government control. Zoom in: Neither Collins nor Murkowski have endorsed Trump this year. They are two of only three GOP senators left who voted to convict Trump in an impeachment trial. They've voted with Republicans at a far lower rate (36%) than their colleagues this year, according to CQ's VoteWatch. That largely reflects them helping Democrats get judicial nominations through. Collins "believes generally that presidents are due some deference when it comes to nominations," spokesperson Annie Clark told us. Reproductive rights issues are an area where they're willing to break with the GOP. They voted this month with Democrats for legislation to ensure access to IVF. The bottom line: Collins is up for re-election in 2026, and we're already hearing from sources speculating about whether the 71-year-old sticks around for another term. If she does not, she may feel even more free to vote her conscience and leave a legacy in her last Congress. If she does, she'll still need to thread the needle in Maine, which voted for Biden by a healthy nine percentage points in 2020. "She has been in the position of being one of the potential swing votes throughout her entire time in the Senate, and Senator Collins will not be changing her well-established approach," Clark added. — Stef Kight ♦️ Wild card watch Here's another reason Collins and Murkowski are so essential to understanding what's possible in the Senate for the new GOP leader next year. The number of wild card votes is dwindling with Manchin, Romney and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz) on their way out. The big picture: Romney told us there's still a core of senators who've "proven that they're not allergic to legislating." He named four Republicans — Bill Cassidy (La.), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Todd Young (Ind.) and Jerry Moran (Kans.) — and Democrats Mark Warner (Va.) and Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) as people who'll legislate. Two more who could join: Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah), who will take Romney's seat next year, and former Gov. Larry Hogan, who is running a longshot bid for a seat in Maryland. — Stef Kight Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted October 29 Author Members Share Posted October 29 Senate GOP’s Scheme To Let Trump Self-Police Ethics Former President Donald Trump’s top ally in the Senate is working to block the appointment of the government’s top anti-corruption enforcer until after Inauguration Day — a tactic designed to give Trump the power to handpick his own ethics overseer if he wins the election. https://www.levernews.com/senate-gops-scheme-to-let-trump-self-police-ethics/? 😬 Johnson's ex-GOP migraine Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images Some of Mike Johnson's most prominent former colleagues are now effectively working to take away his gavel. Why it matters: They're technically #NeverTrump. In practice, they're #anti-Mike. 🥊 Sure, cross-aisle endorsements happen, but they rarely trickle down to lowly House lawmakers fighting for reelection. This year is different. The blast radius of anti-Trump animus is much wider. The vitriol and velocity of #NeverTrump Republicans endorsing Democrats is also surprising. NEWS: Former Reps. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), Denver Riggleman (R-Va.), Dave Trott (R-Mich.) and Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) endorsed Democrat Janelle Stelson in a letter we scooped today. They slammed Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), for his right-wing voting record and involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. "We know how difficult it is to vote for a member of the other political party, but having known and worked with Scott Perry, we urge our fellow Republicans to join us in supporting his opponent," they wrote. Zoom in: Comstock spearheaded the letter and has been particularly active in supporting down-ballot Democrats. Hakeem Jeffries praised Comstock as "such an American patriot" after she appeared yesterday at an event for House candidate Eugene Vindman and other Democrats in Virginia. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) thanked Comstock for "honoring the oath that she's previously taken to our Constitution ... and for supporting people like Eugene." Another increasingly prolific endorser of congressional Democrats is former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who is backing Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) and John Avlon, the Democrat running against Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.). Between the lines: Cheney has gone as far as to publicly spar with Johnson — her onetime deputy when she was House GOP Conference chair — and cast him as essentially unfit to be House speaker. Cheney and Johnson engaged in a tense text exchange after Cheney publicly called out her former colleague, we scooped last week. The bottom line: Examples of the reverse — Democrats or former Democrats backing Republicans — are fewer and farther between. Ann Ashford, the widow of former Democratic Rep. Brad Ashford (D-Neb.), has endorsed Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) for reelection to her late husband's seat. Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) — who, like Riggleman and Walsh, is now an independent — has endorsed several Republican congressional candidates as well as Trump. — Andrew Solender and Hans Nichols Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted October 29 Author Members Share Posted October 29 🚨 Anti-trans ads spree The Mitch McConnell-linked Senate Leadership Fund has spent $54 million in recent months on ads slamming Democrats over support for transgender athletes and gender-affirming care for kids. Why it matters: Senate races are an epicenter of the fight over trans rights. "It's the social issue that Democrats are furthest away from the center of America on," Mike Berg, NRSC spokesperson, told Axios. Gender-affirming care is backed as medically necessary by leading health groups like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. That care rarely involves surgery for minors, even for older teens. 🚨 Since mid-July, Republicans have spent over $77 million on ads about transgender issues in races in 10 states, according to AdImpact data as of Oct. 24. Their top spend is in Ohio, where SLF has spent a whopping $32 million for ads saying Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) allowed "trans biological men in girls locker rooms" and "sex change surgery for kids." Advocacy groups argue that GOP anti-trans messaging is not effective in influencing voters' decisions, but could endanger trans people. ⚡️ Democrats have spent $9 million to refute the GOP attacks or hit back at Republican opposition to broader LGBTQ rights. An ad from the Brown campaign called the GOP attacks a "complete lie" and asked voters to "reject the lies." In Texas, Democratic nominee Colin Allred released an ad responding to attacks from Sen. Ted Cruz, saying: "Let me be clear: I don't want boys playing girls' sports, or any of this ridiculous stuff Ted Cruz is saying." Groups supporting Cruz have spent $15.8 million on aggressive ads bashing support for transgender athletes competing in women's sports. — Stef Kight and Stephen Neukam 👀 House GOP's save-the-date House Republicans will vote on their leaders for next year on Nov. 13, the day after they get back for the lame-duck session, we scooped earlier this evening. Members have a Nov. 12 deadline to inform GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y) if they plan to run for a leadership position. A rules organizing conference is set for Nov. 14, with a ratification of the GOP's rules on Nov. 15, according to a notice circulated today to members. — Juliegrace Brufke Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted October 30 Author Members Share Posted October 30 😍 Scoop ... Johnson's happy surprise Mike Johnson and his data gurus are cautiously optimistic that they're banking more early votes than the Democrats this cycle. Why it matters: Donald Trump has had a change of heart on early voting, and his supporters appear to be following his lead. Take Nevada's 3rd District. Four years ago, registered Democrats had returned more ballots than Republicans by a 10-percentage-point margin one week out. This year, Republicans are counting a 1% advantage, according to data shared by the NRCC. (Democrats won the seat in 2020 and 2022.) In 2020, in California's 47th District, Republicans went into the final week 15 percentage points down on returned ballots from registered partisans. This year, they are even. (They lost the seat in 2020.) In nearly every battleground district where the states provide a breakdown by partisan ID, Republicans like what they're seeing. What they're saying: "The NRCC is fighting to get Republicans to bank their vote for Donald Trump and a Republican House majority, and that work is paying off," said National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Richard Hudson. "We are full speed ahead to get every Republican voter to the polls," Hudson said. "Celebrating incomplete data is kind of like spiking the football at the one-yard line. You didn't score anything — you actually just fumbled the football," DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton told us. Democrats look at the early numbers and see reliable Republican voters and not a massive wave of new GOP votes. Between the lines: Any story on early voting in the year 2024 is required to carry two massive asterisks. Early voting always "cannibalizes" Election Day voting. No one knows if diehard Republicans (or Democrats) are simply doing what they would do on Election Day: pull the lever for their candidate. Independents are an early voting mystery: Even if they are returning ballots early, the parties have no idea which way they are voting. Zoom out: The pandemic changed voting behavior and rules, making it easier for Americans to vote earlier, either in person or by mail or drop box. There could be a landslide in those early independent ballots. We'll only know when everything is counted. The bottom line: Early leads can vanish. So can late leads. Ask the Chicago Bears. — Hans Nichols 🤝 Scoop: Schumer's promised vote Chuck Schumer recently promised Jewish leaders that he would try later this year to pass a bill aimed at curbing antisemitism on college campuses, we have learned. Why it matters: The bill would be Congress' most forceful response to the pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the country this spring, which sometimes led to the harassment of Jewish students. However, critics argue the definition of antisemitism the legislation offers is overly broad. Between the lines: A nonprofit group has spent about $5 million on an ad campaign blasting Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish lawmaker, for his inaction. Schumer has privately said he plans to attach the Antisemitism Awareness Act — making the federal government adopt a broad definition of antisemitism to enforce anti-discrimination laws — to a must-pass defense bill after the election, multiple sources told us. The bill passed the House overwhelmingly over the summer, but it has been a divisive issue in the Democratic Party, laying bare internal strife. The nonprofit group behind the ads, Florence Avenue Initiative, doesn't have to disclose its donors. The big picture: Frustrations from pro-Israel groups have grown since the bill passed the House in May, repeatedly asking Schumer to get it through the Senate. Sources familiar with the discussions say they remain skeptical that Schumer will get the bill through the Senate this year, with one saying they will believe it when they see it. Between the lines: Pennsylvania GOP Senate nominee Dave McCormick has used the Senate's inaction on the bill to attack Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and court Jewish voters. McCormick slammed Casey and Senate Democrats for leaving Washington this fall without passing the bill in a September op-ed for the New York Post. — Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted October 30 Author Members Share Posted October 30 Save the date: Senate GOP leader vote Mitch McConnell's heir will be chosen on Nov. 13, the day after the Senate comes back for its lame-duck session. The race among Sens. John Thune, John Cornyn and Rick Scott is the first competitive GOP leader race in nearly 18 years. House Republicans are also picking their leaders on the 13th, as we scooped yesterday. The bottom line: This is a defeat for the Senate conservatives who'd put up a fight to delay the vote to later in the year. — Stef Kight Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted October 31 Author Members Share Posted October 31 🎯 Far-right crashes leader race The battle lines for the Senate GOP leader race are finally in sharp focus: The dark horse is sitting it out, the MAGA influencers are swarming in and a deadline's been set. Why it matters: Sen. John Thune, currently the GOP No. 2, has long been considered a front-runner to replace Mitch McConnell. But several GOP sources have noted serious momentum behind Sen. John Cornyn's bid in recent weeks. One senior Senate source told us Cornyn has a strong pitch for senators to name him leader. Zoom in: Both Thune and Cornyn have had rocky relationships with the former president but have worked hard to smooth them over. The potential for Trump to weigh in has loomed over the race, with some senators hoping that he won't, but no one really knows. A neutral Trump would allow them to duke it out the old-fashioned way: Reminding senators who got them elected and what they can do to put them in the majority. The vote is secret. Between the lines: The Johns have dodged a dark-horse challenge from NRSC chair Sen. Steve Daines, who could have been a Trump mystery candidate. Behind the scenes, Daines had hinted to colleagues for several weeks that he wasn't interested in the leader job, sources told us. Now it's official, as he told Semafor he's out. But Daines' decision not to run doesn't solve the riddle of if — or when — the former president will weigh in. Driving the news: Enter Laura Loomer, the far-right activist who was a fixture at Trump's side in recent months. "We the loyal MAGA BASE are going to revolt against a Cornyn or Thune leadership installation," Loomer posted on X today. This came after Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) was interviewed on her show. Zoom out: Thune has been zipping across the country fundraising and campaigning for candidates who could help hand the GOP a Senate majority. He's hit eight states this month, some multiple times. He's raised more than $31 million this cycle and set a new record for the largest one-time donation to the GOP campaign arm at $4 million. Cornyn has spent time with Trump twice this month and continued his long track record of hard-dollar fundraising for GOP candidates, including visiting Michigan, Indiana and Nevada over the recess. He's raised a whopping $400 million in hard dollars since 2002, he announced earlier this month. — Stef Kight and Hans Nichols ⚡️ Jeffries' 11th-hour lifelines Some House Democrats are building a de facto closing message around a pair of self-inflicted October surprises from the GOP. Why it matters: Democrats are six seats away from promoting Hakeem Jeffries to speaker. Lifeline 1: Speaker Mike Johnson, campaigning for Rep. Susan Wild's (D-Pa.) GOP opponent Ryan Mackenzie, appeared to criticize the Affordable Care Act. "No Obamacare. The ACA is so deeply ingrained, we need massive reform to make this work, and we got a lot of ideas on how to do that," the speaker said, according to video reported by NBC News. The Jeffries-linked House Majority PAC blasted out a series of press releases pushing Republicans in key races to denounce or disinvite Johnson over the comments. Johnson's pushback: "Despite the dishonest characterizations from the Harris campaign, the audio and transcript make clear that I offered no such promise to end Obamacare, and in fact acknowledged that the policy is 'deeply ingrained' in our health care system," he said in a statement. Lifeline 2: Democrats running in districts with large Puerto Rican populations were quick to jump on comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's comparison of Puerto Rico to an "island of garbage" at Trump's rally on Sunday. Democratic House candidates Wild, Rep. Jahana Hayes (Conn.), Mondaire Jones (N.Y.) and Laura Gillen (N.Y.) swiftly put out statements condemning the joke. Gillen's opponent, Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-N.Y.), condemned Hinchcliffe's rhetoric — with the Trump campaign also backing away from it. But Gillen tied him to it anyway. "Anthony D'Esposito has given Trump a full-throated endorsement, cheered him on at every turn, and even rode in the motorcade with him this past weekend," she said in a statement to us. — Andrew Solender 🛑 Trump's Senate blockade The Senate's new power structure is already warning Trump that his confirmation wish list has its limits. First up: Don't expect a successful Cabinet confirmation for RFK Jr., who says he's been promised control of U.S. health agencies if Trump wins the White House, Semafor reports. Why it matters: As we told you Sunday, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will serve as effective vetoes on Trump Cabinet nominations unless the GOP overperforms in Senate races next week. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted October 31 Author Members Share Posted October 31 Speaker Mike Johnson is pulling closer to Trump to save the GOP’s House majority As House Speaker Mike Johnson travels the country trying to save his House majority, and his own job as speaker, he has linked ever more tightly to Donald Trump, a once uncertain relationship that has become increasingly beneficial to both. Read more. Why this matters: The speaker is relying on the former president for his own political survival in the chaotic House, but also presenting himself as a partner to Trump, prepared to potentially challenge the election results, and, if Trump retakes the White House, deliver a MAGA agenda in Congress. Trump said over the weekend they have a “little secret” for winning, and Johnson, who backed a legal challenge to the 2020 election Trump lost, did not contradict him. Speaking to The Associated Press between campaign stops in Ohio, Johnson described Trump as “the head coach” while he would “be the quarterback,” and together they are preparing to run the play on an “ambitious” 100-day agenda with Republican senators — cutting taxes, securing the U.S. border and taking a ”blow torch” to federal regulations — if they sweep the White House and Congress. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Donald Trump boards a garbage truck to draw attention to Biden remark Biden goes off script, causing a distraction for Harris in campaign’s home stretch Jim Jordan failed to become speaker last year. But his rise in the GOP may not be over yet Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted November 3 Author Members Share Posted November 3 Hakeem Jeffries chooses calm over chaos as Democrats work to win the House majority PALMDALE, Calif. (AP) — This election, he has warned, is about the economy. Freedom. Stopping Project 2025 and the MAGA extremes. https://apnews.com/article/congress-elections-house-hakeem-jeffries-democrats-speaker-f503bef15e57604206e88c53edb3ad57? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted November 5 Author Members Share Posted November 5 Senate Control of the Senate is up for grabs on Tuesday and, although Republicans are well-positioned to win the majority, Democrats cannot be counted out entirely. That’s because their well-funded candidates have consistently overperformed at the top of the ticket in polling in many of the most important races. And even as the Senate map has become more daunting for Democrats with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin retiring, opportunities to mitigate GOP gains have opened up in Texas and, increasingly, Nebraska. Click here for CNN’s complete rankings of the top 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024. Who will replace Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader? It remains deeply uncertain WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans vying to replace longtime leader Mitch McConnell have been crossing the country to campaign and fundraise for colleagues, making their final arguments before a consequential ballot the week after the presidential election. But their pitches are mostly behind closed doors, and most GOP senators won’t yet say which lawmaker they are backing. https://apnews.com/article/senate-republicans-leadership-mcconnell-thune-cornyn-scott-d17b341874cb6627f1d75d7051feebe4? 🥊 Johnson vs. Jeffries The touchiest subject in the House struck again today over whether both parties will commit to certifying the presidential winner in January, no matter who wins. Jeffries today on "Good Morning America": "My colleagues on the other side of the aisle don't seem to be capable of unequivocally saying that they will certify the election and the verdict that is rendered by the American people." Mike Johnson to us in an exclusive interview late last month: "I would hope every member of Congress, including [House Oversight Committee ranking member] Jamie Raskin, would commit to following the Constitution and certifying the election." Raskin, in a statement to us, said he is "of course committed to following the Constitution and certifying the actual results of the 2024 presidential election, and I'm thrilled to learn that Speaker Johnson says he is too." — Andrew Solender and Juliegrace Brufke Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted November 6 Author Members Share Posted November 6 🏛️ GOP eyes dream Senate majority Data: AP. Map: Axios Visuals Senate Republicans now have a 54- or even 55-seat majority within reach after an unexpectedly strong performance by former President Trump in swing states with competitive down-ballot races, Axios' Stef W. Kight writes. Why it matters: Nothing is final, but coattails from Trump could give the next Senate GOP's leader their biggest majority in years. The extra seats could provide a cushion against frequent detractors within the party like Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). It also means Democrats will have to work even harder to gain back a majority in 2026. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted November 6 Author Members Share Posted November 6 Deflated Dems could flip House Democrats are turning to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as their last hope for stopping a Trump-led Republican trifecta in Washington, Axios' Andrew Solender writes. Why it matters: The party is reeling from a stunning wipeout in the Senate and the former president winning the White House, with the race for the House on a knife's edge. "Nauseous" is how one senior House Democrat summed up the party's mood to Axios. House Democrats are emerging as the potential "thin blue line" against total GOP control, said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) Data: AP. Map: Axios Visuals 🔬 Zoom in: House Democrats and Republicans each appear poised to flip a handful of seats, making the battle for control of the House a pure toss-up this morning. Democrats are on track to flip several seats in New York. Republicans, for their part, appear poised to capture Democratic seats in the Blue Wall states of Pennsylvania and Michigan. What to watch: The outcome is likely to hinge on races in a handful of Western states that could take days or even weeks to call, such as Alaska and California. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted November 6 Author Members Share Posted November 6 Democrats oust two House Republicans in New York, clawing back GOP gains ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Democrats in New York unseated two first-term Republican incumbents in the U.S. House on Tuesday, one in the Hudson Valley and the other in a district that includes Syracuse, rolling back some recent GOP gains in the state. https://apnews.com/article/new-york-congress-long-island-election-2024-d9971985ba0440117d41b1fd0d921e56? Hochman elected Los Angeles County district attorney, ousting progressive Gascón LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nathan Hochman defeated George Gascón in the race for Los Angeles County district attorney, unseating an incumbent known as the godfather of progressive prosecutors. https://apnews.com/article/district-attorney-los-angeles-criminal-justice-reform-progressive-295f38b9e5a86a1f75e9b017e6b38ca2? House & Senate races Republicans will win control of the Senate, CNN projects — a victory for the party that has been locked out of the majority in the chamber since 2021. A GOP majority will put the Senate in a position to boost a Trump presidency and resume the former president's significant reshaping of the judiciary. Democrats had always faced a prohibitive path this year in defending their narrow control of the Senate, given that the incumbents facing reelection are either in states Trump had carried twice before or narrowly lost in 2020. In the House, Republicans are defending a narrow majority and it could take a week or more before control is officially determined. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted November 7 Author Members Share Posted November 7 🚨 Johnson's stunning comeback Data: Associated Press; Chart: Axios Visuals Barely six months ago, Mike Johnson needed Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to rescue his House speakership. Now he's the favorite for speaker next year. Why it matters: Johnson's risky parlay of limping it along on must-pass legislation while tying himself to President-elect Trump's fate has paid out big. Democrats admit to us the GOP has the inside track and could even grow its five-seat majority. 🔮 It's not Johnson's dream majority. He may not have the juice to reverse rules changes that castrated the speakership. That single-member motion to vacate may survive his era. Getting House members into the Trump administration may be tricky too. Majority Leader Steve Scalise told us exclusively last week House Republicans would want a cushion of eight to 12 seats to feel good about losing members to the administration while keeping a working majority. 🔥 But with Trump in the White House, Johnson has a viable route to boxing out his House GOP critics on government funding and much more. "I'm ready to take the field with all of you, and I am humbly asking for your support to continue leading this Conference as your Speaker," he told House Republicans in a letter to members sent today. The bottom line: House Democrats at this point would have to defend most of their vulnerable incumbents and pick up a multitude of GOP seats in California and Arizona to eke out a majority. "Their pathway is wider and ours is narrow," Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) told us. Democratic leadership was "disappointed" about the overall outcome of the election during a call tonight but still holding out hope for a come-from-behind House victory, a source familiar with the matter told us. — Justin Green, Juliegrace Brufke and Andrew Solender ⚡️ Scoop: Cotton staying in Senate Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has told Trump's team he will not be accepting administration roles, despite being a top contender for positions including CIA director and secretary of Defense, two sources familiar tell us. Why it matters: Cotton — a relatively young, conservative defense hawk — is a much-speculated future presidential contender. Cotton will remain a Trump ally in the Senate, where he is running against Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) for conference chair, the No. 3 Senate GOP leadership position. He's thought to have the edge in the leadership race scheduled for next Wednesday, sources tell us. Ernst, who is currently ranked No. 4, was upset when Cotton jumped the gun earlier this year in announcing his bid for Republican Conference chair without giving her a heads-up. — Stef Kight Why 53+ matters most All that's left in the Senate is to find out whether the GOP margin next year is two, three or four. They're at 52 seats, with Republicans Dave McCormick and Sam Brown leading in Pennsylvania and Nevada, respectively. Of the two, Democrats have a better shot at surviving in Nevada. Why it matters: For either John Thune or John Cornyn — Rick Scott's still a long shot at best for GOP leader — the margin matters a ton. In the short-term, 54 GOP senators would mean the new Republican leader can take four defections and still move nominations and legislation through special budget procedures, with Vice President-elect Vance breaking the tie. Convincing five GOP senators to band together for a blocking coalition is exponentially harder than four. But if they stall out at 52, just one Republican would need to join with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to hold the leader hostage. In the long term, a four-seat majority relieves pressure on the GOP for two more cycles. In 2026, Republicans will have to defend only one seat in a blue state (Maine) and one in a battleground (North Carolina). In 2028, Republicans will be on defense in just two battlegrounds (North Carolina and Wisconsin). If they win three of those four (and keep all the Trump states), they are looking at a six-year reign. — Hans Nichols and Stef Kight Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted November 7 Author Members Share Posted November 7 🏛️ Hill leaders close to Trump Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Getty Images Five congressional leaders who have juice in President-elect Trump's Washington: Speaker Mike Johnson: The guy grew into the job, quickly by D.C. standards, and smartly hooked his fate to Trump. Three months ago, Johnson was a dead man walking. Now he's stronger than ever. He'll likely run a very narrow House — again — and hope he stays on Trump's good side. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.): He's the strong favorite to be the new Mitch McConnell. If and when elected Senate Majority Leader, he'll be the most powerful man on Capitol Hill. First up: Get Trump's cabinet confirmed. Then start gaming out an epic tax fight. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.): Arguably Trump's favorite senator — a phone-a-friend in the Senate. Long mentioned for SecDef, Cotton instead will remain a Trump ally in the Senate — where he's running against Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) for conference chair, the No. Senate GOP 3 leadership position, Axios Sneak Peek scooped last night. He'll remain Trump's TV-savvy defender — front and center on Ukraine and the Middle East. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.): He's a complicated dude. Often, Trump's biggest backer. But Trump runs hot and cold on him. His perch will be his power — chairman of the Judiciary Committee, as Republicans look to stack conservatives in the courts. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer + House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries: Trump will deal with few elected Dems — these two are basically it. They'll both likely get another shot at running the Senate and House. Job 1 and 2: Figure out how to make Trump's life hell and win back Congress in '26. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted Friday at 09:10 PM Author Members Share Posted Friday at 09:10 PM 🚨Scoop: Trump waved off Scott Photo illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photos: Andrew Harnik, Anna Moneymaker, Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images President-elect Trump privately dismissed Rick Scott's Senate GOP leader bid in the weeks before the election, telling allies it is "not serious," we have learned. A senior Trump campaign official pushed back, saying Trump "hasn't weighed in on the leadership race and anyone who says differently is wrong." Why it matters: People very close to Trump have privately signaled their support for Scott as leader, which the Florida senator hopes could turn into public backing by Trump, three sources familiar with the dynamic have told us. Scott had signs at his campaign victory party on Tuesday that read "Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader," and he focused his acceptance speech on what he would do as leader. Fellow conservative firebrand Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) called on Trump to endorse Scott for leader, and controversial MAGA personality Laura Loomer has also been stumping for Scott. Zoom out: Most sources we hear from in and around the Capitol view John Thune as the most likely winner, though John Cornyn has had some momentum. But sources were confused by Thune's choice in two recent TV appearances to discourage Trump from endorsing. "I think it's in his best interest — to stay out of that," Thune told CNBC's "Squawk Box" this morning. "These Senate secret ballot elections are best left to senators. And he's got to work with all of us when it's all said and done. But whatever he decides to do, that's going to be his prerogative, as we know." Cornyn has been steering clear of that, but made his pitch to Trump on Fox News on Monday, saying, "As I told President Trump, I'm interested in getting the band back together again." The bottom line: "At the end of the day, the president does like to be with people that have a possibility to win too," Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) told us in a short interview today. Mullin has publicly backed Thune. He regularly talks with Trump and has encouraged the former president not to weigh in. With 53 GOP Senate seats, "it's not worth the political capital for the president to spend, because if he endorses one, that means he's made the other two mad," Mullin said. — Stef Kight 👀 Schumer's survivors Data: Associated Press; Table: Thomas Oide/Axios The only silver lining for Chuck Schumer this week after the GOP's rout is that four Democratic senators are surviving or winning in Trump-won battleground states. Why it matters: These split-ticket survivors are enough to give Democrats a chance at retaking a Senate majority in two years. Sen. Bob Casey narrowly missed this list. The AP called Pennsylvania for Republican Dave McCormick this afternoon. The big picture: The last time we saw major split-ticket action was 2012, when six states — Nevada, Montana, North Dakota, Indiana, West Virginia and Missouri — split their tickets, choosing Obama for president and Republicans as their senators. It didn't happen at all in 2016, and only Maine split its ticket in 2020, voting for President Biden and GOP Sen. Susan Collins. — Stephen Neukam 🗓 Save the date: Jeffries' leader races House Democrats will hold their leadership elections on Nov. 19 and 20, Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) announced today. Why it matters: Hakeem Jeffries is poised to stay on as leader despite Democrats' disappointing performance in Tuesday's elections. Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) are expected to remain the No. 2 and 3 Democrats without any opposition. Driving the news: Aguilar said in a "dear colleague" letter to House Democrats that "while control of the House has not yet been decided ... we must prepare to continue our work to put People Over Politics in the 119th Congress while the process of counting every vote continues." That echoes Jeffries' statement earlier today noting Democrats have a theoretical chance to retake the House if uncalled races in California and Arizona go their way. Many Democrats are pessimistic about their party's chances of winning control of the chamber. Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) have signaled plans to run for Democratic caucus vice chair Ted Lieu's (D-Calif.) spot should Democrats gain control and Lieu jumps up to caucus chair. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) has floated running to replace Jacobs as the leadership representative for members who have served five terms or less in that scenario. — Andrew Solender 🏛️ Hakeem Jeffries' moment Photo illustration: Allie Carl/Axios. Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images Whether he becomes the House's speaker or its minority leader in the new Congress, Hakeem Jeffries is vowing to lead the Democratic resistance, Axios' Hans Nichols writes. Why it matters: Jeffries, the current House minority leader, promised his biggest donors yesterday that House Democrats will "hold the line" on any potential threats to democracy from President-elect Trump, Axios has learned. At the same time, he said he'll rely on his growing relationship with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to ensure that the basics of governing, such as funding the government, are completed, according to Jeffries' allies and advisers. 🔬 Zoom in: In a private video call with donors yesterday afternoon, Jeffries said Democrats will win at least 214 seats. That would be two more than they hold in the current House, and five short of enough to make Jeffries the speaker. He noted that House Democrats have outperformed Vice President Harris in many of the party's "Frontline" districts, with its most vulnerable incumbents. Between the lines: Trump intensely dislikes former Speaker Pelosi, but privately he respected her political skills as House speaker. Jeffries was one of the impeachment managers in Trump's second trial, but it's unclear whether Trump thinks of him as a worthy adversary. 👂 What we're hearing: Jeffries is a more cautious leader than Pelosi, his colleagues say. "He starts with a carrot, but he's not afraid of pulling out the knife," one Democratic lawmaker told Axios. "He's a big-tent, pragmatic guy, and he understands how to get things done." Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted Friday at 10:38 PM Author Members Share Posted Friday at 10:38 PM GOP picks up more key House seats while Democrats insist they still have a path to a majority Republican leaders projected confidence Thursday that they will keep control of the U.S. House as more races were decided in their favor, while Democrats insisted they still see a path toward the majority and sought assurances every vote will be counted. Read more. Key points: The Republicans picked up two more hard-fought seats in Pennsylvania, which became a stark battlefield of Democratic losses up and down the ticket. Democrats notched another win in New York, defeating a third Republican incumbent in that state. The election results were beyond what Republicans had even hoped for, including a majority in the Senate, where two races were still undecided — in Arizona between Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake and in Nevada between Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen and Republican Sam Brown. A final tally in the House will almost certainly have to wait until next week, at the soonest, when Congress is back in session and prepares to elect its new leaders, including nominees for House speaker and the senator who will replace outgoing Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Trump is consolidating power in Washington, returning to the White House a much more dominant force than in his first term, when Republicans split over their support for him and some were openly skeptical. This time, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican leaders have drawn closer to Trump, relying on his power for their own as they drive a common Republican agenda more aligned with his “Make America Great Again” priorities. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Who is Susie Wiles, Donald Trump’s new White House chief of staff? Live House and Senate results: An update from the AP Decision Desk on the races in Nevada and Arizona Republicans make gains in numerous state legislatures. But Democrats also notch a few wins Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted Monday at 06:53 PM Author Members Share Posted Monday at 06:53 PM Cotton locks it down Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has secured a solid majority of Republican senators' votes to elect him GOP Conference Chair — the No. 3 leadership position, Axios' Stef Kight reports. Why it matters: Cotton has long served as a bridge between Senate leadership and the more conservative faction of the conference. He also holds sway in President-elect Trump's orbit. Cotton had been a serious contender for top positions in a Trump administration, but he decided to remain in the Senate, as Axios first reported. Keep reading. What to know about the House push to expand some Social Security benefits WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is expected to try next week to pass a Social Security-related bill to ensure benefits for workers who are also eligible for other pensions despite a surprise move by hard-right Freedom Caucus leaders to derail the effort. https://apnews.com/article/social-security-benefits-pensions-216600f2948518f6bda962045826aa4d? Congress Is About to Gift Trump Sweeping Powers to Crush His Political Enemies Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire for revenge. https://theintercept.com/2024/11/10/trump-nonprofit-tax-exempt-political-enemies/? Crypto Sweep Puts Congress on Notice: Vote With Us or We’ll Come After You With Millions “In all likelihood, crypto deregulation is coming,” said a consumer advocate. “It looks like a tragedy waiting to happen.” https://theintercept.com/2024/11/07/crypto-donors-trump-congress-regulations/? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted Monday at 08:59 PM Author Members Share Posted Monday at 08:59 PM Trump pressures candidates for Senate GOP leader to fill his Cabinet right away Days before Senate Republicans pick their new leader, President-elect Donald Trump is pressuring the candidates to change the rules and empower him to appoint some nominees without a Senate vote. Read more. Why this matters: Republican Sens. John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida are running in a secret ballot election Wednesday to lead the GOP conference and replace longtime leader Mitch McConnell, who is stepping aside from the job after almost two decades. All three have courted Trump’s support in the race, vying to show who is the closest to the president-elect as they campaign to become majority leader. Trump has not endorsed in the race, but on Sunday he made clear that he expects the new leader to go around regular Senate order, if necessary, to allow him to fill his Cabinet quickly. In a statement on X and Truth Social, Trump said that the next leader “must agree” to allow him to make appointments when the chamber is in recess, bypassing a confirmation vote. The Senate has not allowed presidents to make so-called recess appointments since a 2014 Supreme Court ruling limited the president’s power to do so. But with Trump’s approval paramount in the race, all three candidates quickly suggested that they might be willing to reconsider the practice. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Republican David Schweikert wins reelection in affluent Arizona congressional district Democrat April McClain Delaney wins a US House seat in a competitive Maryland race Ranked voting tabulation in pivotal Maine congressional race to begin Tuesday 🏛️ Senate fight shows power of X Via Truth Social President-elect Trump intervened from Mar-a-Lago in this week's suddenly scrambled race for Senate majority leader, demanding that the candidates embrace using "recess appointments" to bypass Senate confirmation votes. All three of the candidates quickly saluted. The secret-ballot vote will be Wednesday. Why it matters: It all played out in just a few hours on Elon Musk's X — a tiny taste of the platform's rising juice as Trump maps his new government. Here's how it unfolded, as reported in real time by Axios' Stef Kight: As we told you yesterday, MAGA media (including Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk) cranked up the pressure on Trump (who hasn't endorsed) and GOP senators to dump the two establishment frontrunners — Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas — and go with the MAGA choice, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a real contender for a top cabinet post, tweeted that he'd support Scott. Trump posted on Truth Social, then X: "Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner." Musk threw support behind Scott after the senator quickly agreed to Trump's demand on nominations. Within 2½ hours, all three candidates backed Trump's demand. Go deeper: Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin Thursday and warned him not to escalate the fighting in Ukraine, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted Monday at 09:44 PM Author Members Share Posted Monday at 09:44 PM House Republicans are hoping to seize unified control in Washington but the balance of the House of Representatives is still undecided. So far, the GOP has clinched the presidency and flipped the Senate, but an estimated 1,000,000 votes are left to be counted in House races, mostly in California. Republicans are now four seats away from holding on to the majority, while Democrats are 13 seats away from taking the chamber. Meanwhile, Democrats are analyzing the election loss after Trump won in all seven of the country's battleground states. While some shifts in Trump's direction were expected, others revealed voter shifts that could reshape America's political landscape. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted Tuesday at 12:44 AM Author Members Share Posted Tuesday at 12:44 AM 🗳️ Dems' House hopes fade Data: AP. Map: Axios Visuals House Democrats' hopes for a majority are dwindling, with some now predicting that their best-case scenario is falling just one seat short, Axios' Andrew Solender reports. Live updates: Republicans are four wins away from claiming House control Control over the U.S. House of Representatives still hangs in the balance, teetering between a Republican or Democratic majority with less than 20 races left to be called. Read More. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GayatfootofCross Posted Tuesday at 03:38 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 03:38 AM 2 hours ago, phkrause said: 🗳️ Dems' House hopes fade Data: AP. Map: Axios Visuals House Democrats' hopes for a majority are dwindling, with some now predicting that their best-case scenario is falling just one seat short, Axios' Andrew Solender reports. Live updates: Republicans are four wins away from claiming House control Control over the U.S. House of Representatives still hangs in the balance, teetering between a Republican or Democratic majority with less than 20 races left to be called. Read More. my Guy was just a mess hearing the trump won the "title" now n discussion with me and friends we cant say a word he has detached for his mental health and remembering me telling trump will win the title and another way back in spring so no sirprise ..God got me ready ready but still my guy was crestfallen he stopped watching the supreme court of lefts of The View wont watch bill Mayer! my head is spinning but not my heart imagine the darkness ascending globally thru Every people hard core faith/religion/body and me seeing denial in church live steamed well anyhoo .. A greying blackness ..a fear so bad ..an anger so worst on both sides all feeling betrayed its a force of nature but when it seems all is lost Fire from ashes will arise a believing Body with Jesus head attached romanced by Jesus ..filling the chambers of the heart with a deeper profound FORGIVENESS (so forever n ever complete) till the inside thats burns nursed for eons bursts fourth with mind bending tricks err pure river flowing ..there is no stopping for water that tosses the sea a very different kind fflood Quote For all Eternity God waited in anticipation for You to show up to give You a Message - YOUR INCLUDED !!! { a merry dance }?️? " If you tarry 'til you're better You will never come at all " .. "I Will Rise" by the late great saved Glen Campbell If your picture of God is starting to feel too good to be true, you're starting to move in the right direction. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite." Romeo and Juliet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie1962 Posted Tuesday at 04:02 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 04:02 AM 3 hours ago, phkrause said: 🗳️ Dems' House hopes fade Data: AP. Map: Axios Visuals House Democrats' hopes for a majority are dwindling, with some now predicting that their best-case scenario is falling just one seat short, Axios' Andrew Solender reports. Live updates: Republicans are four wins away from claiming House control Control over the U.S. House of Representatives still hangs in the balance, teetering between a Republican or Democratic majority with less than 20 races left to be called. Read More. 3 hours ago, phkrause said: 🗳️ Dems' House hopes fade Data: AP. Map: Axios Visuals House Democrats' hopes for a majority are dwindling, with some now predicting that their best-case scenario is falling just one seat short, Axios' Andrew Solender reports. Live updates: Republicans are four wins away from claiming House control Control over the U.S. House of Representatives still hangs in the balance, teetering between a Republican or Democratic majority with less than 20 races left to be called. Read More. As much as I disagree with democrat ideology, having control of senate, congress and White House without the usual checks and balances will be interesting GayatfootofCross 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GayatfootofCross Posted Tuesday at 04:54 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 04:54 AM 4 hours ago, phkrause said: 🗳️ Dems' House hopes fade Data: AP. Map: Axios Visuals House Democrats' hopes for a majority are dwindling, with some now predicting that their best-case scenario is falling just one seat short, Axios' Andrew Solender reports. Live updates: Republicans are four wins away from claiming House control Control over the U.S. House of Representatives still hangs in the balance, teetering between a Republican or Democratic majority with less than 20 races left to be called. Read More. so i a truthteller kinda think my Guy should at least tell him all branches have followed the dress rehearsal ..beast style very eargerly i must even though his face may contort for a moment 🤯 then resigned but still no more talk of it !😘 Quote For all Eternity God waited in anticipation for You to show up to give You a Message - YOUR INCLUDED !!! { a merry dance }?️? " If you tarry 'til you're better You will never come at all " .. "I Will Rise" by the late great saved Glen Campbell If your picture of God is starting to feel too good to be true, you're starting to move in the right direction. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite." Romeo and Juliet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted Tuesday at 07:22 PM Author Members Share Posted Tuesday at 07:22 PM Congress returns to unfinished business and a new Trump era Congress returns to a changed Washington as President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-right agenda is quickly taking shape, buoyed by eager Republican allies eyeing a full sweep of power on Capitol Hill while Democrats are sorting out what went wrong. Read more. Why this matters: Even as final election results are still being tallied, the House and Senate leadership is pushing ahead toward a second-term Trump White House and what he’s called a “mandate” for governing, with mass deportations, industry deregulation and wholesale gutting of the federal government. House and Senate leaders will hold internal party elections this week for their own jobs. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is on the cusp of keeping a slim majority with several House races still too early to call, will assemble his leadership team early Tuesday. In the Senate, where Republicans seized power from Democrats on election night, three Republican senators have rushed to agree with Trump’s plan for quick confirmation of presidential nominees. It’s a fundamental reshaping of not only the power centers in Washington, but the rules of governing, as Trump returns to the White House with a potential GOP-led Congress far less skeptical of his approach than eight years ago. First tests will come during the “lame duck” period of the remaining days of this Congress, the eight-week sprint until Jan. 3, 2025, when the new lawmakers are sworn into office. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Democrat Ruben Gallego wins Arizona US Senate race against Republican Kari Lake Last GOP congressman anchored in Democratic LA county concedes in race against former NASA exec Democrat Cleo Fields wins re-drawn Louisiana congressional district, flipping red seat blue 🚨 Johnson hugs Trump Speaker Mike Johnson is carefully avoiding tying himself to a position on government funding that President-elect Trump could publicly denounce or destroy. Why it matters: Johnson's majority for the GOP in the House will be tiny (as small as a 2-vote margin) — and that's if Trump stops hiring House lawmakers for administration jobs. Government funding expires in December. GOP leaders preferred a funding stopgap to March. But House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is floating funding through September. If Trump does keep raiding the House, many of those seats will be filled by the fall. The reinforcements might not be there by March. Johnson doesn't expect any other House members to get Trump gigs, he said this morning. Between the lines: Johnson will have zero room for error in January's speaker race. Scalise — who broke the ice on September vs. March in comments this morning to Punchbowl News — can take that heat and be fine. He only has to win a majority vote tomorrow to keep his gig. ✈️ That leaves Johnson in the position of figuring out what Trump wants, or at least what he'll accept. Trump's "preference" on timing for government funding will "carry a lot of weight," Johnson told reporters this morning. Johnson will meet Trump tomorrow in the Capitol, then be with Trump in Florida on Thursday and over the weekend. The bottom line: Any Johnson deal will be with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who's getting his last real crack at government funding for at least two years. He's unlikely to accept a clean funding extension when he's still got leverage, a source familiar with Schumer's thinking told us. Look for Democrats to demand a price — such as extra cash for FEMA's disaster relief fund — in exchange for a Johnson-friendly deal. — Juliegrace Brufke and Stephen Neukam Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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