Members phkrause Posted January 15 Author Members Posted January 15 Hegseth could lead troops who’d face getting fired for actions he’s done in the past WASHINGTON (AP) — If Pete Hegseth were still in uniform, his extramarital affairs and a decision to flatly ignore a combat commander’s directive would not just be drawing the attention of senators — they could have run afoul of military law. https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-trump-defense-secretary-military-code-8b944ef52a4a33ca40915ec343e5b2b9? ❌ Scoop ... Hegseth red line Photo: Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing is becoming a test of will for Republicans on ensuring FBI files aren't distributed throughout the entire Senate. Why it matters: The Trump transition team is demanding the president-elect's nominees be treated the same way they insist Joe Biden's were. That means no FBI file access for rank-and-file senators, according to two people familiar with the matter. Senate Armed Services chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) have been briefed on the report. Others have not. Zoom in: Wicker privately raised the idea of letting his full committee see Hegseth's file, but Trump officials are opposed to sharing it, according to a person familiar with the matter. The Trump team wants to hold the line on having a consistent standard for all nominees. Look for them to fight any effort to release Hegseth's file, even if Wicker says there's not much of interest. "Chairman Wicker and President-elect Trump are on the same page when it comes to having his nominees undergo the confirmation process in an orderly fashion that honors Senate precedent," a Wicker spokesperson said. Zoom out: Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Dems huddled tonight on how to respond, as we scooped earlier. Democrats admit the precedent is on the GOP's side. But they say the nature of Hegseth's nomination — including allegations of sexual misconduct that he's denied — at least deserves a conversation. "We should all be able to see the report and draw our own conclusions about how incomplete it is and even in the modest amount it covers, how much damage it does to Mr. Hegseth," Armed Services committee member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told us. — Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam Scoop: Hegseth makes his case Pete Hegseth admits he's an unorthodox pick to lead the Pentagon — but says it's "time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm," according to his opening statement, obtained by Axios AM, for today's confirmation hearing. Hegseth, one of President-elect Trump's most controversial Cabinet choices, plans to tell the Senate Armed Services Committee that he'll "[r]estore the warrior ethos to the Pentagon," give "new defense companies" a better chance to win contracts, and rapidly deploy emerging technologies. Why it matters: Hegseth, 44 — a former Fox News host (where he made $2.3 million a year) who's a decorated Army combat veteran — has faced a barrage of allegations since Trump announced the surprise selection. They include an accusation of sexual assault and allegations of excessive drinking. A seven-year-old email from his mom, which she quickly recanted, said he routinely mistreated women. So Hegseth, who calls his selection for Defense secretary "the most important deployment of my life," can expect a grueling hearing: Republicans tell us they expect Democratic senators will try to embarrass him and Trump. But GOP senators, some initially skeptical, indicate Hegseth is on track for confirmation. The hearing room will be jammed with supporters from all phases of Hegseth's life. 🖼️ The big picture: The opening statement doesn't directly address the allegations. Hegseth says in his testimony: "It is true that I don't have a similar biography to Defense secretaries of the last 30 years." "But, as President Trump also told me, we've repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly 'the right credentials' — whether they are retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives — and where has it gotten us?" "He believes, and I humbly agree, that it's time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent. Someone with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives." Hegseth says his "only special interest is — the warfighter." The backstory: Hegseth is "not pretending to be a standard issue SECDEF and wears that as a badge of honor," a source familiar with his thinking tells Axios. "The standard-issue SECDEFs have degraded our readiness, our lethality and our ability to win wars. There's never been a singular focus on the warfighter, and that's why we're losing wars and deterrence capabilities." 🔬 Zoom in: Hegseth, a fierce DEI opponent, bluntly opposed women serving in combat roles in the military. But he softened that view during meetings with senators, saying he supports "all women serving in our military today." "[W]e are American warriors," Hegseth says in his opening statement. "Our standards will be high, and they will be equal (not equitable, that is a very different word)," he continues. "We need to make sure every warrior is fully qualified on their assigned weapon system, every pilot is fully qualified and current on the aircraft they are flying, and every general or flag officer is selected for leadership based purely on performance, readiness and merit." 🔭 Zoom out: Hegseth strikes an uncharacteristically humble, bipartisan tone in his opener, saying he looks "forward to working with this committee — senators from both parties — to secure our nation." Hegseth — who became famous among conservatives as a "Fox & Friends Weekend" host, and is a bestselling author — is an Army veteran of Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, and earned two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman's Badge. ✝️ Between the lines: Hegseth, who's been married three times, portrays himself as a family man and devout Christian. He acknowledged in an interview with Megyn Kelly that he was a "serial cheater" before he found Christ. "Thank you to my incredible wife Jennifer, who has changed my life and been with me throughout this entire process," his testimony says. "I love you, sweetheart, and I thank God for you. And as Jenny and I pray together each morning, all glory — regardless of the outcome — belongs to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. His grace and mercy abound each day. May His will be done." Naming his "seven wonderful kids, Hegseth adds: "Their future safety and security is in all our hands." "Leaders — at all levels — will be held accountable. And warfighting and lethality — and the readiness of the troops and their families — will be our only focus," Hegseth adds. "That has been my focus ever since I first put on the uniform as a young Army ROTC cadet at Princeton University in 2001. ... I served with incredible Americans in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, Afghanistan and in the streets of Washington, D.C." "This includes enlisted soldiers I helped become American citizens, and Muslim allies I helped immigrate from Iraq and Afghanistan. And when I took off the uniform, my mission never stopped." Full text of statement ... Axios' Zachary Basu contributed reporting. 🔎 Scoop: Trump team sets red line on Hegseth FBI background check — no distribution to rank-and-file senators, in keeping with Biden precedent, Axios' Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam report. Read the story. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 15 Author Members Posted January 15 🔥 Johnson leverages California House Democrats are warning Speaker Mike Johnson that tying federal wildfire relief for California to the debt limit could set a precedent that would come back to bite Republicans. Johnson told reporters this afternoon (video) that there's "some" discussion of tying disaster aid to raising the debt limit. Why it matters: Disaster prone red states such as Florida and Louisiana — Johnson's home state — could face a similar squeeze from Democrats if they retake the House, lawmakers told us. "This place is like high school, it's tit for tat when one side breaks a norm. The other side is happy to return the favor," said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), pointing to the removal of members from committees as an example. If Johnson conditions the aid, Moskowitz said, "California's our largest delegation. You think they're going to forget about that?" House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said conditioning aid would be "crazy and ridiculous" and would "completely upend Congress." Zoom in: "There should probably be conditions on that aid, that's my personal view," Johnson told reporters. "State and local leaders were derelict in their duty," he said. Johnson also cited "water resource mismanagement" and "forest management mistakes." The bottom line: Disaster aid and raising the debt limit will both need Democratic votes to pass. — Andrew Solender Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 15 Author Members Posted January 15 💨 Thune's inner circle Senate Majority Leader John Thune has picked four senators to form his kitchen cabinet — an inner circle of advisers outside of elected leadership. Why it matters: A new leader means new alliances — and new voices with influence. Thune's kitchen cabinet: Steve Daines of Montana — who helped give Thune his majority as NRSC chair. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, a vocal supporter of Thune's leadership bid from the start. John Cornyn of Texas, who ran against Thune for leader. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who was praised for leading the effort of re-writing the RNC platform last year — in a Trump-like style. P.S. 💨 Ahead of Thune's regular leadership meeting tonight, a fireplace in his office created a real-life smoke-filled room. Zoom out: The unofficial advisory board are invited to join the elected Senate GOP leadership team in regular Monday meetings. Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming GOP conference chair Tom Cotton of Arkansas Policy chair Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia Vice chair of policy James Lankford of Oklahoma NRSC chair Tim Scott of South Carolina — Stef Kight Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 15 Author Members Posted January 15 📝 Confirmation cheat sheet Twelve of Trump's picks face Senate scrutiny this week, with tomorrow particularly jam-packed: Data: Axios research. Chart: Axios Visuals State of play: Sen. Marco Rubio seems on track to be easily confirmed for SecState on Inauguration Day. But many nominees can expect longer waits. 🗓️ What to watch: Beyond Hegseth, Trump's most controversial picks — RFK Jr. (HHS), Kash Patel (FBI) and Tulsi Gabbard (DNI) — don't have hearings set. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 15 Author Members Posted January 15 Key takeaways from Pete Hegseth’s fiery confirmation hearing WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, publicly faced senators for the first time after weeks of questions from Democrats — and praise from Republicans — about his “unconventional” resume. https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-hearing-senate-defense-pentagon-trump-37d0961eb63d824cae8d4478cb12e412? 💪 Trump's skip-the-Senate playbook The Trump transition proved today that it can impose its will on the Hill, even with a nomination that looked cooked before the holidays. Why it matters: Not a single Republican showed signs today of opposing Defense nominee Pete Hegseth. Now he's got a clear path to the Pentagon. "Pete Hegseth hit a home run," Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said on Fox News after the hearing. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters today that Hegseth did well and expects he'll be quickly confirmed. Here's the formula: Survive the first two weeks: Trump's team got past the news cycles about Senate Republicans being quietly concerned about Hegseth's nomination. They've told us for a month that if he can get to his nomination hearing, he'll be fine. Sic MAGA foot soldiers on anyone suspected of falling out of line. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) was noticeably friendly at today's hearing. Ernst told local radio today that she'll vote to confirm Hegseth. Stonewall the Dems: Only the committee's top Democrat — Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) — was allowed to see Hegseth's background check. Democrats were denied second rounds of questioning today. Hegseth didn't meet with any of the rank-and-file Dems ahead of today's hearing. Take advantage of the media's shattered glass: Today's most TV-ready moments from Senate Dems — Tim Kaine's hypotheticals on Hegseth's red lines and his behavior … Kirsten Gillibrand's condemnation of his comments on women in the military … Mazie Hirono's questions on his drinking — are unlikely to reach MAGA viewers. Zoom in: If you look past the spicy back-and-forth on Hegseth's character, there was a strong line of questions about whether he can do the job. The most prominent: Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) tried to pin down Hegseth on whether he's ever led a major negotiation. She asked if he's familiar with high-level pacts like ASEAN. The Republicans on the panel were very clear that this isn't a dealbreaker. They even suggested that his lack of traditional experience running bureaucracies would benefit someone trying to clean house at the Pentagon. They backed him as he suggested he'd purge top brass and cut hundreds or thousands of civilian support staff in the Pentagon. "The Dems struggled to land a blow or a gotcha moment," Banks told us after the hearing. "With today's performance, I believe Pete Hegseth's path to confirmation has been assured," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told us. Go deeper: Five questions Hegseth dodged Hegseth claims "smear campaign" Hegseth says he was blocked from working Biden inauguration over tattoo — Justin Green and Stef Kight Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 15 Author Members Posted January 15 👿 Johnson's purge Chart: Axios Visuals Speaker Mike Johnson followed through today on reshaping the House Rules Committee. Out: Reps. Thomas Massie, deputy GOP whip Guy Reschenthaler and term-limited Rules Chair Michael Burgess. In: Reps. Morgan Griffith, Brian Jack and new Rules Chair Virginia Foxx. Why it matters: Johnson's removal of Massie reduces the chance he'll need to work with Democrats on must-pass legislation. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave away control of the Rules Committee in 2023 by putting three hardliners on the roster. In multiple instances, the trio of Massie plus Reps. Chip Roy and Ralph Norman sided with Democrats to block legislation from coming to the House floor in protests of the speaker. Roy and Norman will keep their slots, but replacing Massie on Rules with any Republican automatically makes it more speaker-friendly. His de facto replacement, Griffith, is a Freedom Caucus member who rarely joins anti-speaker revolts. Griffith came at Massie's recommendation. — Andrew Solender Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 16 Author Members Posted January 16 🏛️ Today's confirmation-palooza From top left: Pam Bondi for attorney general, Sean Duffy for Transportation secretary, Kristi Noem for Homeland Security. From bottom left: John Ratcliffe for CIA, Marco Rubio for SecState, Russ Vought for OMB. Photo: AP ⚡ Chris Wright, President-elect Trump's pick for Energy secretary, will celebrate his 60th birthday today by introducing himself to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as a "science geek, turned tech nerd, turned lifelong energy entrepreneur," Axios' Hans Nichols reports. Why it matters: Increased energy production is central to Trump's overall economic strategy, and he'll need an Energy secretary who can translate his vision of an oil and gas boom into a practical reality. "Previous admins have viewed energy as a liability instead of the immense national asset that it is," he will say. "Federal policies today make it too easy to stop projects and very hard to start and complete projects ... This makes energy more expensive and less reliable." His top 3 goals. 🌐 Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the Secretary of State designee, will say during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing today: "The postwar global order is not just obsolete; it is now a weapon being used against us. And all this has led us to a moment in which we must now confront the single greatest risk of geopolitical instability and generational global crisis in the lifetime of anyone alive here today." "Ultimately, under President Trump, the top priority of the United States Department of State must be and will be the United States," Rubio adds. Rubio opens by saluting his parents, "who arrived here on May 27th, 1956, from Cuba with nothing but the dream of a better life. Because of them, I had the privilege to be born a citizen of the greatest nation in the history of the world. And to be raised in a safe and stable home, by parents who made their children's future the very purpose of their lives." 🔎 John Ratcliffe — who is Trump's pick for CIA, and was director of national intelligence for the final months of Trump's first term — will rail against the politicization of the intelligence community during his Senate Intelligence Committee hearing today, a transition source tells Axios. He'll vow to eliminate political biases and "wokeness" in the agency's workforce policies, and instead focus on "the mission." Ratcliffe will portray tech as both a target (Where's China on hypersonics, quantum and AI?) and as a tool (How are analysts utilizing large language models and AI? How are spies beating ubiquitous technical surveillance?) Ratcliffe thinks the agency — with a complex matrix of tech-focused directorates, mission centers and positions — has struggled to keep pace with the rapid technological advancements in the private sector. He plans to accelerate efforts to coordinate with U.S. private-sector firms at the bleeding edge of technological advancement. Ratcliffe will focus on China, as reported in a Wall Street Journal banger, "Trump's CIA Pick Expected to Push for Bare-Knuckle Spycraft Against China." 🪖 Pete Hegseth looks set for confirmation as SecDef after Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran who had been skeptical, announced she'll back him. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said on Fox News: "Pete Hegseth hit a home run." ⚖️ Go deeper: Pam Bondi hearing for attorney general today. 🗓️ The confirmation hearing for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Department of Homeland Security has been postponed to Friday. Latest schedule. Trump's Cabinet President-elect Donald Trump's picks for key Cabinet posts are set to appear in front of Senate committees today for high-stakes confirmation hearings. One of Trump's most controversial picks, Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, appears to be on track for confirmation after he was grilled by lawmakers on Tuesday about excessive drinking allegations, sexual assault accusations and his shifting public view on women in combat. Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump's choice to lead the State Department, and Pam Bondi, his pick to lead the Justice Department, are set to appear on Capitol Hill today. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 16 Author Members Posted January 16 Bondi says she won’t play politics as attorney general but doesn’t rule out probes of Trump foes WASHINGTON (AP) — Pam Bondi, Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, sought to reassure Democratic senators Wednesday that her Justice Department would not prosecute anyone for political purposes but also refused to rule out the potential for investigations into adversaries of the Republican president-elect. https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-bondi-garland-01edf039f8102271943da4fb85d56fa7? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 16 Author Members Posted January 16 Thune's erase-Biden list Senate Majority Leader John Thune has a "fairly lengthy list" of last-minute Biden regulations that Republicans may try to undo in the coming weeks, he told us. Scoop: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will kick things off next week with resolutions to erase Energy Department rules on gas water heaters, IRS language on crypto, and an FCC regulation on free Wi-Fi hotspots for students. Why it matters: The Congressional Review Act (CRA) gives Congress until mid-May to reverse what Republicans are calling the "midnight rules" of the Biden administration. "We are scrubbing right now to determine what is eligible," Thune said at an event at the American Petroleum Institute yesterday. How it works: CRA resolutions have to pass with majority votes in both chambers of Congress. Those votes can only happen 15 legislative days into a new Congress — the power won't be available until late January or early February. The window for action closes 60 sessions into the new Congress. Flashback: In early 2017, Trump and congressional Republicans used CRA resolutions to erase 16 Obama administration rules. In 2021, Biden and congressional Democrats returned the favor and repealed three Trump rules. The bottom line: Thune wants to be aggressive. The law doesn't give a new Congress blanket authority to undo all of the previous administration's final rules and regulations. But his team is trying to convince the Senate parliamentarian how they can use the CRA to undo California's tailpipe standard, which would require 100% of new cars sold by 2035 to be zero emission. — Stef Kight and Hans Nichols 😬 GOP blowing deadline Top Senate negotiators are privately warning that talks about a spending deal are way behind schedule. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) — the top two Senate appropriators — told colleagues they're worried spending talks have taken a back seat to reconciliation planning, sources tell us. Talks between the House and Senate over a spending deal only recently began. Why it matters: Without significant progress, the GOP trifecta will need another spending stopgap or a much-despised omnibus spending package. The current spending deal expires on March 14. Worst-case scenario: A shutdown when Republicans control the whole government. The bottom line: The House and Senate need to bridge a $30-plus billion gap in their spending wishes. They aren't close. — Stephen Neukam Johnson boots Intel chair Speaker Mike Johnson has purged two House committees in two days. Today: Johnson removed House Intel Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio), who told CBS News' Margaret Brennan that Johnson cited "concerns from Mar-a-Lago" as influencing the ouster. Johnson denied Trump had a say in Turner's removal (video by CNN's Kit Maher). Yesterday: Johnson booted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) from House Rules, restoring some of the speaker's power to dictate what can reach the floor. What's next: GOP insiders expect Johnson to name Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) to replace Turner as chair. — Hans Nichols and Andrew Solender Rick Scott's power play Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) now has his own corner of power after losing two GOP leader elections in a row. Scott is the new chair of the Senate Steering Committee, we scooped this afternoon. Zoom in: Steering serves as a sort of Freedom Caucus for the Senate. It includes many of the most conservative Republicans in the conference, with no formal roster, and hosts a weekly lunch. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kans.) initially had been considered a top contender to replace Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) in leading the group, as we reported. — Stef Kight Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 17 Author Members Posted January 17 🏛️ Treasury pick: "New economic golden age" Hearings today (from left): Scott Bessent for Treasury, Scott Turner for HUD, Rep. Lee Zeldin for EPA. Photo: AP Scott Bessent, President-elect Trump's pick for Treasury, will tell the Senate Finance Committee at his confirmation hearing this morning that he sees "a generational opportunity to unleash a new economic golden age that will create more jobs, wealth and prosperity for all Americans." Why it matters: Bessent (pronounced BESS-ent), a South Carolina billionaire, is respected on Wall Street and has been called the "quiet killer" for his finesse with massive trades. "I was born and raised in the South Carolina Low Country," Bessent says in his opening statement. "My father fell into extreme financial difficulty when I was young. When I was 9 years old, I started working two summer jobs and I haven't stopped working since." "My life has been the 'only in America' story that I am determined to preserve for future generations." Bessent will say the U.S. "must secure supply chains that are vulnerable to strategic competitors, and we must carefully deploy sanctions as part of a whole-of-government approach to address our national security requirements. And critically, we must ensure that the U.S. dollar remains the world's reserve currency." "[W]e can usher in a new, more balanced era of prosperity that will lift up all Americans and rebuild communities and families across the country." ⏰ Other hearings today: Scott Turner for HUD ... Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) for EPA ... North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for Interior. More on Bessent. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 17 Author Members Posted January 17 Trump’s outsider Cabinet picks are rapidly gaining support for confirmation One by one, all of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees are falling into place in his Cabinet. His other nominees pushed Wednesday through a gauntlet of confirmation hearings with the help of allied Senate Republicans carrying them toward the finish line, despite Democratic objections. Read more. Why this matters: Republicans narrowly hold a Senate majority, 53-47, but they are down to 52 after Vice President-elect JD Vance resigned his seat last week ahead of taking office. That means Trump’s nominees need support from almost every GOP senator for majority confirmation over objections from Democrats. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer all but acknowledged Democrats are essentially powerless to prevent Trump from getting his desired team. Trump’s more controversial choices of Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. have yet to come before senators for public questioning. Once they do, they face a long haul ahead in winning over skeptics from both sides of the political aisle. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the GOP whip, predicted the Senate will start voting on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, to confirm Trump’s picks. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Live updates: More of Trump's cabinet picks appear for Senate confirmation hearings Biden warns in farewell address that an ‘oligarchy’ of ultrarich in US threatens future of democracy Speaker Johnson removes chair of powerful House Intelligence Committee Marco Rubio warns China is America’s ‘biggest threat,’ affirms value of NATO alliance Trump’s pick for budget director won’t say whether he would release Ukraine aid Trump’s pick to oversee US public lands faces Senate hearing Treasury nominee plans to say at confirmation hearing that Trump will unleash ‘economic golden age’ Trump adviser says president-elect is exploring options to ‘preserve’ TikTok Many Americans doubt Trump will be able to lower prices in his first year, an AP-NORC poll shows Biden administration cancels loans for 260,000 former Ashford University students Biden issues directive allowing Cyprus to buy American arms from the US government Biden executive order aims to shore up US cyber defenses White House holds homeland security tabletop exercise with senior Trump officials FDA floats plan to make cigarettes nonaddictive, but its fate rests with Trump Kid Rock, Jason Aldean to perform during Trump’s Inauguration weekend Some immigrants are already leaving the US in ‘self-deportations’ as Trump’s threats loom Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 18 Author Members Posted January 18 White House Budget Office Nominee Tries to Whitewash Trump’s First Term Donald Trump’s pick to lead the White House budget office, Russell Vought, attempted to whitewash his previous record leading the powerful agency during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday. https://theintercept.com/2025/01/15/confirmation-hearing-russell-vought-mass-firings/? Treasury nominee calls for stronger Russia sanctions and Fed independence at confirmation panel WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Treasury nominee Scott Bessent on Thursday faced sharp questions from both Democrats and Republicans on tax policy, tariffs, China, Russia sanctions and the future of an IRS tax filing system that Republicans have called to be cut. https://apnews.com/article/bessent-trump-inauguration-treasury-finance-0da57f77f3a2010744cb157dd3d976a4? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 18 Author Members Posted January 18 Congress Considers Putting Ken Paxton in Charge of Choosing Who to Deport For years, Ken Paxton, Texas’s right-wing attorney general, has been trying to convince courts that he deserves a bigger say in federal immigration policy. Now some Democrats are lining up to give Paxton — and every other state attorney general — a veto over who gets detained and released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the authority to block people from certain countries from getting visas. https://theintercept.com/2025/01/14/laken-riley-act-immigration-deportation-visas/? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 18 Author Members Posted January 18 🤐 Mitch makes 'em sweat Former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell's conspicuous silence is starting to spook Tulsi Gabbard's team. Why it matters: The Trump transition thinks Gabbard, the director of national intelligence nominee, can get confirmed even with a "no" vote from McConnell. But his public opposition — if it materializes — could open the door to other GOP defectors. Gabbard's team isn't banking on McConnell's vote, sources tell us. McConnell is studiously avoiding public or private indications that he'll support President-elect Trump's nominees, three people familiar with the matter tell us. Voting against Gabbard would resume hostilities between McConnell and Trump. It could have implications for big policy questions down the line, from funding Ukraine to raising tariffs. 📣 McConnell said on the Senate floor today that he'll support nominees to "senior national security roles whose record and experience will make them immediate assets, not liabilities, in the pursuit of peace through strength." When asked specifically about Gabbard, McConnell told CNN's Manu Raju he was not ready to announce whether he can back her. Zoom in: Gabbard is focused on winning over members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where the GOP has a 9-8 voting advantage. Two key GOP swing votes sit on the Intel committee: Sens. Susan Collins (R-Me.), a former SSCI chair, and Todd Young (R-Ind.). Gabbard has met with every Republican and five of the eight Democrats, including Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the ranking Democrat. She has reached out to all of them. Majority Leader John Thune can still bring Gabbard's nomination to a full floor vote even if she doesn't have the support to be recommended by the committee — but it would not be a great sign for her chances. Most of Trump's nominees are pocketing hard "yeses" from senators, as they meet privately or appear before their committees. Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, whose nomination as secretary of Defense appeared doomed in early December, appears to be a glide path to confirmation, barring any new revelations about his personal life. The bottom line: If Democrats have any chance — and it's slim — at helping drag down a Trump nominee, they see Gabbard as the most likely prospect. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer views the party's grilling of Hegseth as a success. He'll demand the same for their treatment of Gabbard, HHS nominee RFK Jr. and FBI director nominee Kash Patel. — Hans Nichols, Stef Kight and Stephen Neukam 🥊 Jeffries vs. Johnson House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries put Speaker Mike Johnson on blast this afternoon, calling his removal of House Intel Chair Mike Turner "shameful" and "unjustified." Jeffries said the move is "likely being applauded by our adversaries in Russia and China." Between the lines: This is a sharp departure from the cordial relationship between Johnson and Jeffries over the past year. P.S. Johnson named Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) as the new Intel chair today. 🇺🇸 Johnson's imperialist caucus Data: Axios research and congress.gov; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals A surprising number of Johnson's House Republicans are on board with Trump's new flavor of U.S. expansion. Even more surprising: The backers cut across the sometimes-warring factions of the House GOP. Why it matters: "People who were snickering or laughing about it when it was first brought up are starting to actually realize it's a legitimate issue," centrist Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) told us. "This is real," said Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), a member of the right-wing Freedom Caucus. "There are going to be some serious conversations." State of play: A trio of House GOP bills would codify each one of Trump's proposed moves to either expand U.S. territory or its international influence. Panama Canal: Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) has introduced legislation that would allow Trump to enter into negotiations with Panama to try to reassert U.S. control. Greenland: Ogles introduced a similar bill to authorize negotiations with Denmark about purchasing Greenland. Gulf of Mexico: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has introduced a bill that would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" on official maps and documents. Zoom out: A desire to counter China's international influence is at the heart of the effort, several co-sponsors told us. "We've been talking on the China Committee about ... China's growing influence on infrastructure across the globe, and I think the Panama Canal is hugely important to America," said Dusty Johnson. Lawler cited rare earth minerals and Arctic waterways as key factors in the push to acquire Greenland. Zoom in: "This is literally in our backyard, front yard, however you want to look at it," Ogles said. "'America First' is, simply stated: When you have a foreign adversary who arguably is our greatest existential threat — meaning China — when they're making moves towards Greenland, we can't just sit idly by." Babin noted that the U.S. controlled the Panama Canal until the 1970s: "This is not intervention. This is not adventurism. This is a U.S.-built canal. There wasn't even a Panama. That was part of Colombia." — Andrew Solender Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 19 Author Members Posted January 19 🥊 Thune's first big win Senate Majority Leader John Thune notched his first big win today by clearing the filibuster on the Laken Riley Act. It'll almost certainly pass Monday with ease. Why it matters: It's a specific, popular, bipartisan bill. But it also hands Thune a chance to prove he's serious about promises made during the GOP leadership election. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told us: "What we can feel good about is we're having a lot more conversations about what we're doing." Scott ran against Thune for leader. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) told us that Thune "says what he means and means what he says when he talks about having a more open amendment process." Lee wants a more open process and backed Scott in November. Zoom in: Thune spent days haggling with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over the bill, which requires ICE to detain immigrants charged with or convicted of theft. Thune and Schumer agreed Wednesday to allow two votes on amendments. One passed, which would require ICE to detain immigrants who attack law enforcement. Senators will vote Monday on another amendment from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) that would add to the detention list immigrants who commit crimes resulting in death or bodily injury. It's likely to pass. Because of the change, the House will have to pass the bill again before it reaches President-elect Trump's desk. Zoom out: Nearly a quarter of Senate Dems proved they're willing to help break a filibuster for GOP priorities. Schumer privately told Democrats they were free to engage with the GOP on the bill, before he publicly opposed it once it was clear that substantive changes weren't happening. His defectors included new Sens. Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. Schumer also lost Georgia's Jon Ossoff, Arizona's Mark Kelly, Michigan's Gary Peters, Nevada's Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, and New Hampshire's Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen. — Stef Kight and Stephen Neukam Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 19 Author Members Posted January 19 GOP magical thinking GOP tax writers are gathering support for creative ways to make the price tag $0 for extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts. Why it matters: The procedural and budgetary gambit will free Republicans from the burden of finding the $4 trillion in spending cuts. But deficit hawks, including member of the House Freedom Caucus, haven't completely signed off on the novel approach. Zoom in: Scott Bessent, Trump's nominee for Treasury secretary, has privately indicated to senators that he's sympathetic to their view that the cost of extending the 2017 tax cuts should be zero, according to people familiar with the matter. By the numbers: Under a "current law baseline," extending Trump's personal and estate tax cuts will cost $4 trillion over 10 years. The tax cuts expire at the end of 2025, and the Congressional Budget Office has to score how much revenue the Treasury will miss if Congress passes it for another 10 years. But what if Congress runs the numbers from a different starting point, and considers "current policy"? Current policy has the tax cuts in place (at least until the end of the year). Among friends, say Republicans, what if we use current policy as the baseline? Then extending the tax cuts will cost … zero. Between the lines: This fall, while still in the minority, Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) started talking about using a current policy approach. That strategy appears to be gaining momentum, especially in the Senate. House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) is also on board. The two Budget Committee chairs, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), haven't tipped their hands on their preferred approach. The bottom line: Republicans are seizing on the "current policy" paradigm in 2025, but plenty of Obama officials (including Jeff Zients, President Biden's current chief of staff) were for it in 2013. — Hans Nichols 📸 Senate fresh faces Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine named Lt. Gov. Jon Husted today to succeed VP-elect JD Vance in the Senate. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis named state AG Ashley Moody yesterday to succeed Sen. Marco Rubio when he becomes secretary of State. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 19 Author Members Posted January 19 Key moments from Kristi Noem’s hearing for Homeland Security chief WASHINGTON (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the agency central to his vision of cracking down on illegal immigration, faced senators Friday at a confirmation hearing and promised to be a tough hand in carrying out the president’s vision for the sprawling Department of Homeland Security. https://apnews.com/article/noem-homeland-security-cabinet-trump-border-immigration-36ea11f8432078e08e71dce23c56d68c? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 21 Author Members Posted January 21 🚀 Thune moving fast Senate GOP leader John Thune is primed to hand President Trump a quick string of wins on his first days in office. Why it matters: Thune and Trump have a complicated history, but the new majority leader is doing his best to start Congress off on the right foot. Look for floor votes tonight on Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for secretary of state, and the final Senate passage of the Laken Riley Act. Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson will meet with Trump tomorrow at the White House. Zoom in: Even Trump admits he's put Johnson in a tough jam. Trump ignored GOP leaders who asked him to hold off on executive orders they could have used for cost-cutting in reconciliation. He's expected to sign an order tonight repealing the electric vehicle mandate. 👀 At Trump's second speech today — to allies and influencers in the overflow room — he described the thin House majority as an exciting challenge. Trump said Johnson got "a majority of almost nothing and then I said to make it tougher on him, let me take two or three of the people," referencing people he plucked from the House to staff his administration. Trump was standing next to Johnson, who'll have to wait until April to get his majority back to 220-215. "When we get to that five number, it's going to feel like a massive majority," Trump said. "You can be really nasty to a couple of them." Between the lines: By comparison, Thune's job on nominees seems almost easy. He's got a three-vote margin, and most nominees look better today than a month ago. Other national security slots will follow fast after Rubio, including Rep. John Ratcliffe for CIA and Gov. Kristi Noem for Homeland. Pete Hegseth for Pentagon could also get a vote this week. Democratic sources told us Rubio's nomination is the most likely to get a floor vote tonight, with votes for Ratcliffe and Noem less likely. If Democrats slow things down, Thune has threatened to have the Senate work nights and weekends until the confirmation slate is cleared. "I didn't get the sense the Democrats are going to cooperate at all," Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told us. He added Rubio's confirmation is an exception to that grind. Zoom in: Trump arrived on Capitol Hill today as a conquering hero, assuming power and accepting tributes from his party's leaders. At his swearing-in, he sat billionaires Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk in front of his Cabinet nominees. The Capitol rotunda was a tight squeeze — roughly 600 people — denying lawmakers the chance to sit with their families. Trump didn't move on tariffs or mention tax cuts in his inaugural address, which helped spur a market rally. — Stef Kight, Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam Go deeper: Our confirmation coverage Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 22 Author Members Posted January 22 🚨 Thune's surprise opening Senate Democrats from Trump states are starting to vote in tandem, which could make minority leader Chuck Schumer's life more complicated for the next two years. Why it matters: Call it the buddy system for vulnerable Dems. If Thune can flip a Democrat who's up for election in 2026, he increases his chance of picking up the other state's Dem senator. That 2-for-1 math gives Thune a big incentive to push the limit on messaging bills ahead of 2026. It's a major headache for Schumer if last night becomes a trend. You saw this on the Laken Riley Act vote, which passed with help from 12 Democrats. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) quietly changed his position by voting in favor of final passage. He was backing up Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), who faces reelection in 2026. Warnock later blamed a process objection for his flip. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) voted with Sen. Maggie Hassan, who's up in '26. So did new Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), whose fellow Michigander Sen. Gary Peters is up next year. Zoom in: Thune's next try — an abortion-related bill — is unlikely to get much Democratic support, sources tell us. But other GOP legislation, particularly related to the border and the economy, is ripe for Democratic buy-in. — Stephen Neukam 🥊 Fault lines: Jan. 6 pardons Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios The Big 4 are deeply split over Trump's pardons for Jan. 6 rioters: Schumer: "There is no other way to describe President Trump's pardon of Jan. 6 offenders than un-American." Thune: "I haven't seen all the stuff, the [orders], that he signed. ... We said all along that Biden opened the door on this." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries: "What happened to backing the Blue? Far-right extremists have become the party of lawlessness and disorder. Don't ever lecture America again. About anything." Johnson: "I haven't had an opportunity to review that because I've been so busy, so I'll get back to you." Go deeper: GOP Senate resistance hits Trump over Jan. 6 pardons 📣 Talk like Romney, vote like Lee Utah Republican John Curtis is new to the Senate, but he's already seen as a decisive swing vote for Thune to keep an eye on. Why it matters: "In one case, I'm going to vote a lot like Mike Lee. In another, I'm going to talk a lot more like Mitt Romney," Curtis told us, referencing his seven-year record as a House lawmaker. Curtis has been slow to signal his support for Trump nominees. He backed Pete Hegseth for defense last week. Now, all eyes are on what he decides on director of national intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard, who is emerging as the most endangered of Trump's picks. Zoom in: Confirmations aside, Curtis cares most about using his time in the Senate to tackle priorities he sees as in line with Trump, including ... Permitting reform. Countering Chinese influence. Curtis lived in Taiwan for three years and speaks Mandarin. Tackling the national debt. — Stef Kight Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 23 Author Members Posted January 23 🥊 Johnson chaos committee Chart via Axios Visuals Speaker Mike Johnson's subcommittee overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is poised to be the Hill equivalent of bare-knuckle brawls for the next two years. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), whose mere presence on a committee is enough to cause upheaval, is the chair. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) is known for her biting rejoinders in committee hearings and for sparring with Republicans like ... Taylor Greene. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), the committee's top Dem, told us last night she'll fight tooth and nail against any attempts to cut Social Security and Medicare. The bottom line: Few, if any, of the Republicans and Democrats on this committee are considered bipartisan dealmakers. — Andrew Solender and Erin Doherty 👀 Scoop: Moreno's first bill Freshman Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) will introduce his first piece of legislation tomorrow — a bill that would significantly restrict access to asylum. The bill will be titled Refugees Using Legal Entry Safely — or "RULES" — Act. Why it matters: Moreno, a Colombian immigrant, won the most expensive Senate campaign in history with a big focus on cracking down on the border. "If you want to live in this country, you have to respect our laws, and that starts at our borders," Moreno said in a statement. "But our broken asylum system has overwhelmed our borders with millions of migrants who enter the country illegally, claim asylum and are just released into the county." — Stef Kight Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 24 Author Members Posted January 24 House passes immigrant detention bill that would be Trump’s first law to sign The House on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that requires the detainment of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes, marking the first legislation that President Donald Trump can sign as Congress swiftly moved in line with his plans to crack down on illegal immigration. Read more. Why this matters: The Department of Homeland Security has estimated the Laken Riley Act would cost $26.9 billion in the first year to implement, including an increase of 110,000 ICE detention beds. Most Democrats criticized the lack of funding in the bill as proof that it is a piecemeal approach that would do little to fix problems in the immigration system. Others raised concerns the bill would strip due process rights for migrants, including minors or recipients of the Deferred Action for Unaccompanied Arrivals program. The new president has also launched a slew of executive orders intended to seal off the border with Mexico to immigration and ultimately deport millions of immigrants without permanent legal status in the U.S. On Wednesday, Trump also canceled refugee resettlement and his administration has signaled intentions to prosecute local law enforcement officials who do not enforce his new immigration policies. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes visits Capitol Hill after Trump clemency WATCH: Enraged officers condemn Trump's January 6 pardons Trump’s new Justice Department leadership orders a freeze on civil rights cases Justice Department orders investigation of local compliance with Trump immigration crackdown Pentagon is sending 1,500 active duty troops to help secure the US-Mexico border Trump administration freezes many health agency reports 160 national security staffers are sent home as the White House aligns its team to Trump’s agenda Trump made DOGE part of the government. Here’s what that might mean Saudi crown prince says kingdom intends to invest $600 billion in US during call with Trump Trump has canceled Biden’s ethics rules. Critics call it the opposite of ‘drain the swamp’ Steve Bannon’s border wall trial delayed until March 4 as new lawyers plot aggressive defense Episcopal bishop says she’ll continue to pray for Trump, who lashed out at her over viral sermon Musk clashes with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over Trump-supported Stargate AI data center project RFK Jr. says he’s resigned from anti-vaccine nonprofit as he seeks nation’s top health official job North Carolina Supreme Court passing for now on ruling if ballots in close race are valid Costco defends its diversity policies as other US companies scale back Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 24 Author Members Posted January 24 Senate advances Pete Hegseth as Trump’s defense secretary, despite allegations WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump’s defense secretary Thursday on a largely party-line vote, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military. https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-defense-secretary-pentagon-trump-confirmation-79d38a3d821eda7e03789e857b417a7f? 😬 Reality bites Chuck Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is summoning the entire Democratic caucus tomorrow after a surprise meeting left key issues unresolved. Why it matters: Republicans are already teeing up their next tough vote, and Schumer's members want a clear strategy from the top on protecting Trump-state Democrats. Schumer met for over an hour with about a dozen senators this afternoon to discuss general strategy. We scooped the meeting. Now Schumer wants to take the pulse of his full membership. Zoom in: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has lined up a vote on sanctioning the ICC as the Senate's next legislative piece of business. It could come as early as next week, depending on the pace of Cabinet confirmations. The ICC sanctions bill, which imposes penalties on ICC officials involved in prosecuting Americans or citizens of U.S.-allied countries that are not a party to the ICC, has nearly universal support among Republicans. But it puts vulnerable Democrats in a difficult political position between pro-Israel groups and progressive activists who think Israeli officials are guilty of war crimes. What they're saying: "I am reviewing the bill," said Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) after the meeting, declining to say how he planned to vote. "I think folks are still trying to work through some amendments and I am going to have to wait and see," Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) told us after meeting with Schumer. "I think all of us would like to see the ICC perform differently but do it in a way that ensures that our allies and partners are still supporting and working with us," said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). Between the lines: The House and Senate GOP control their chambers' calendars, giving them a tactical advantage over Schumer and the Democrats who represent districts and states that President Trump won in 2024. They used the Laken Riley Act, which allows for greater detention of undocumented immigrants, to divide the Democratic caucus and score a quick political win. What's next: A House GOP bill banning transgender women from playing in women's sports is in the pipeline. — Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 24 Author Members Posted January 24 Thune's weekend threat Thune is making good on his threat to keep the Senate working after hours, vowing to go straight through the weekend if Schumer doesn't cut a deal to speed things up. Pete Hegseth for Defense is expected to get a final confirmation vote around 9pm ET tomorrow, if Democrats take up the full 30 hours of debate time. Kristi Noem for Homeland Security is up next, with a cloture vote tomorrow and a final vote landing between 3 and 4am on Sunday. Scott Bessent for Treasury follows, then Sean Duffy for Transportation. Their final votes could be pushed into early next week. Zoom in: Hegseth lost two GOP votes — Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine — in today's procedural vote. But some Republicans hope Democrats will be more willing to cut deals on the other nominations. Noem, Bessent and Duffy were approved by their relevant committees with bipartisan support. Noem had just two "no" votes against her and Duffy's vote was unanimous. The other side: CIA Director John Ratcliffe also won bipartisan support in committee, but Schumer still allowed Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) to ensure the confirmation process took as long as possible. — Stef Kight 🥊 Jeffries vs. Trump House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries isn't on board with President Trump's version of bipartisan dealmaking. "I have not had any communication with the president or the incoming administration on the issue of the GOP tax scam," Jeffries said today. He also called it a "nonstarter" to link a debt ceiling increase to aid for California after the wildfires. Between the lines: Trump, in a virtual address today to World Economic Forum attendees in Davos, Switzerland, said the GOP is "working with the Democrats on getting an extension of the original Trump tax cuts." Go deeper — Erin Doherty Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 24 Author Members Posted January 24 ⛔️ Mods warn Johnson The moderate Republicans who saved Speaker Mike Johnson's majority last fall want health care spending cuts yanked off the table. Why it matters: Medicaid and Obamacare are some of the only buckets of spending big enough to offset the cost of extending the tax cuts in the GOP's reconciliation package. Roughly a dozen moderate House Rs told House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) to stay away from cutting health care, Politico reported this afternoon. Between the lines: One workaround is to decide that extending tax cuts don't require pay-fors after all, as we told you last week. — Justin Green Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 26 Author Members Posted January 26 🥊 Schumer's weak spot Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer used a rare emergency meeting this morning to make a plea for unity, but Democrats have a tactical problem he can't avoid. Why it matters: Schumer can't guarantee the votes to give Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) the time and leverage to negotiate with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on the upcoming ICC sanctions bill. Democratic senators know they're stronger when they stick together, especially on procedural votes. But many senators have a greater interest in voting for GOP legislation that can help them win reelection in Trumpy states. Zoom in: Democrats didn't resolve any of their short- or long-term strategic differences in today's 90-minute meeting, which we scooped was coming in last night's Hill Leaders. After today's meeting, senators were extremely reluctant to discuss the open rift in their party. They emerged stone-faced and weren't in the mood to talk. Staff weren't allowed to attend the strategy session. Between the lines: Schumer approached the meeting with a message of kumbaya, according to a source briefed on the session. To give her room to negotiate, Shaheen needs Democrats to send a clear signal that they oppose the current version of the bill — and are prepared to vote it down. Shaheen is the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Cotton introduced the ICC sanctions bill in the Senate. But lawmakers emerged from the meeting without a clear strategy on how to approach the ICC measure, which has splintered progressives and moderates. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told us after the meeting "all I can tell you is that Jeanne Shaheen is in the middle of negotiations." The bottom line: Schumer has a handful of moderates up for reelection next year, and they will face pressure to back some GOP legislation. Schumer allowed Democrats to vote their conscience on the Laken Riley Act, the GOP's first border crackdown bill of the new session. With a dozen Democratic votes for the procedural vote, Republicans passed the bill without any changes to the legislation. — Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam Johnson's agonizing pause House Republicans are desperately hoping President Trump will settle their big fights for them next week at their retreat in Miami, even as he's shown no interest in filling that role. "Our members are eager to hear from President Trump and excited to deliver on his America First agenda. We will not fail," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) told us today. Why it matters: With a zero-vote margin, Speaker Mike Johnson will have to make hard decisions to translate Trump's vision into a legislative reality. Ahead of the retreat, Johnson is letting his members hash out serious differences on where to cut taxes and slash spending — and how to make the math work. But Republicans are running out of time to decide on topline tax and spending levels. Johnson hopes to have a "blueprint" for the reconciliation bill next week, Politico reported. Enter Trump, who has made it a priority to keep House and Senate lawmakers close. Trump likes talking to members but has shown no willingness to make difficult decisions for them. Trump is expected to speak at the retreat on Monday afternoon, Punchbowl reports. He'll join Johnson and Republicans for dinner that evening, Politico reports. Zoom out: Republicans spent the week floating and privately discussing ways to find revenue sources and lower taxes, according to the New York Times and Punchbowl. Some proposals will have difficulty finding support in the GOP conference, such as eliminating the tax deduction for mortgage interest. Others are more feasible, such as doubling the current $10,000 deduction limit for state and local taxes (SALT) for married couples. — Hans Nichols Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
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