Washington
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Essential U.S. political news & intel to start your day.
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April 20, 2023
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Kyrsten Sinema’s Approval Rating in Arizona
Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s departure from the Democratic Party late last year has yielded some rewards for her at home, where she’s seen an uptick in popularity among Republican and independent voters as she considers a re-election campaign, according to fresh data from our latest quarterly approval ratings. Read more from me here: Republicans, Independents Grow More Fond of Sinema in Arizona.
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Today’s Top News
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Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito issued an order that maintains access to the abortion pill mifepristone at its current level until at least Friday, as the court weighs whether to block a decision by a federal judge in Texas that would limit access to the drug. (NBC News)
- House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced a plan to raise the federal debt limit by $1.5 trillion or suspend it through March 31, 2024, in exchange for a range of Republican-backed spending cuts, an expansion of work requirements for some entitlement programs and energy and regulatory policies. The legislation is dead on arrival in the Senate and opposed by President Joe Biden, but its introduction marks another step in negotiations between the House and the White House to raise the debt ceiling by sometime this summer. (Roll Call)
- A handful of moderate Democrats have yet to say whether they will support Julie Su, Biden’s nominee to be secretary of Labor, as she’s set to face the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for a confirmation hearing today, suggesting uncertainty for her chances of advancing through the narrowly divided chamber. (The Associated Press)
- A federal judge denied Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s attempt to block a House Judiciary Committee subpoena for testimony from Mark Pomerantz, a former top prosecutor in his office, about his criminal case against former President Donald Trump. Bragg asked a federal appeals court to overturn the ruling. (Bloomberg)
Happening today (all in ET):
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| A MESSAGE FROM THE COALITION FOR AFFORDABLE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS |
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What Else You Need To Know
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White House & Administration
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Biden picks cancer surgeon to run NIH
Adam Cancryn, Politico
Monica Bertagnolli would lead a federal agency without a director since December 2021.
US Treasury’s Cash Pile Jumps $108 Billion on Tax Day
Alex Harris, Bloomberg
Uncertainty continues to linger about whether or not the US will make it through to late summer without risking a debt-ceiling-related default after figures indicating the size of the Treasury’s tax day cash influx were somewhat lackluster.
Hunter Biden Probe Is Being Mishandled, IRS Supervisor Says
Aruna Viswanatha et al., The Wall Street Journal
An IRS supervisor has told lawmakers he has information that suggests the Biden administration is improperly handling the criminal investigation into President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and is seeking whistleblower protections, according to people familiar with the matter.
US Afghanistan watchdog tells Congress he can’t guarantee American aid is ‘not currently funding the Taliban’
Haley Britzky et al., CNN
The US government’s Afghanistan watchdog told lawmakers Wednesday that he cannot say with certainty that US aid to the country is “not currently funding the Taliban.”
Blinken doesn’t comply with subpoena for dissent cable, offers hearing instead
Max Cohen, Punchbowl News
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has not complied with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul’s (R-Texas) subpoena for a Kabul Embassy dissent cable, setting the stage for a potential legal battle with Republicans over access to the document.
Janet Yellen to Say Security Comes Before Economy in U.S.-China Relationship
Andrew Duehren, The Wall Street Journal
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen plans to say Thursday that the U.S.’s policies toward China will give priority to addressing national-security concerns over preserving economic growth.
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Senate upholds VA rule on abortion access
Ted Barrett, CNN
The Senate on Wednesday rejected a GOP-led effort to overturn a recently adopted Veterans Affairs rule that allows the department to provide abortions if the health or life of the veteran is in danger, or when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.
House passes resolution to overturn DC policing changes
Ryan Tarinelli, Roll Call
House Republicans passed a resolution Wednesday that would overturn a District of Columbia policing bill, once again flexing congressional authority to disapprove of a local measure from the District. D.C. officials and House Democrats contend the law increases public safety, as it strengthens training requirements, prohibits hiring police who have a history of misconduct, and aims to bolster police accountability and transparency.
House Republicans poised to pass transgender sports ban for schools
Scott Wong, NBC News
The bill would prohibit schools that receive federal funding from allowing people “whose sex is male” to participate in sports designated for women or girls.
House GOP plows ahead on risky immigration plan
Jordain Carney, Politico
House Republicans dug in Wednesday on a two-track strategy to project commitment to border security. Both tracks seem headed toward failure.
Sen. John Fetterman Is Ready to Talk About His Mental Health: ‘I Want People to Hear This’
Kyler Alvord, People
The freshman Pennsylvania senator stunned the nation when he publicly admitted himself to the hospital for depression in February. Now back to work, he tells PEOPLE of the hidden pain that led him to rock bottom.
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Top Fed Official Signals Support for May Interest-Rate Increase
Nick Timiraos, The Wall Street Journal
A top Federal Reserve official said the central bank had more work ahead to bring down inflation, suggesting another interest-rate increase would be warranted at the Fed’s meeting in two weeks.
Fox was resigned to a tough trial. Then, a secret mediator stepped in.
Sarah Ellison et al., The Washington Post
Dominion held firm to its big-money claim, and the jury was seated, just before a dramatic ending to the defamation case.
Trump Says He May Skip Rape Case to Spare New Yorkers Traffic Hassles
Benjamin Weiser, The New York Times
Former President Donald J. Trump wants to come to a Manhattan trial over allegations he raped a woman nearly 30 years ago, but he may stay away to spare New Yorkers the traffic jams, blocked streets and high security that would inevitably accompany him, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
Boris Epshteyn, Trump Legal Adviser, Is to Be Interviewed by Special Counsel
Alan Feuer and Maggie Haberman, The New York Times
The interview is the latest example of the focus by the special counsel, Jack Smith, on the role of lawyers working for former President Donald Trump.
Ex-Trump Organization CFO Weisselberg released from jail
Karen Freifeld, Reuters
Former Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg was released from jail on Wednesday, according to New York City Department of Correction records.
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Why Biden’s orbit isn’t worried about Robert F. Kennedy’s 2024 campaign
Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN
President Joe Biden’s campaign didn’t respond to the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaign kick-off because, though there is now a major donor summit on the books for next week, there still technically is no Biden campaign.
Abortion divides 2024 candidates and confounds many within the GOP
Josh Dawsey et al., The Washington Post
Presidential hopefuls have struggled to settle on a position amid warning signs that the party is on the wrong side of public opinion on the issue.
‘I’m not a paid assassin’: Inside Chris Christie’s 2024 decision
Rachael Bade, Politico
The former New Jersey governor is eager to take on Donald Trump. But he’s only running, he says, if he thinks he can win.
DeSantis’s Electability Pitch Wobbles, Despite G.O.P. Losses Under Trump
Shane Goldmacher, The New York Times
The former president’s rivals are seeking to tap into Republican frustration with recent election disappointments to urge a new face for the party in 2024, but it is proving to be a tough sell.
Pro-DeSantis PAC Makes Hires in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina
Shane Goldmacher and Maggie Haberman, The New York Times
The Florida governor has not entered the 2024 race yet, but a super PAC supporting him is laying the groundwork for his likely run.
Two More Congressmen From Florida Plan to Endorse Trump in Blow to DeSantis
Eric Cortellessa, Time
In yet another blow to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s not-yet-official presidential bid, two more Republican members of Congress from his own state are gearing to endorse Donald Trump for another term. Reps. Gus Bilirakis and Carlos Gimenez are each planning to announce their support for the former president this week, multiple sources familiar with the matter tell TIME.
A Super PAC Targets Greene, Gaetz, Boebert and Others on the Far Right
Nick Corasaniti, The New York Times
The bipartisan group will challenge hard-right House Republicans in their home districts, running ads that accuse the lawmakers of holding antidemocratic positions.
Republicans are alarmed about a Mastriano for Senate bid. Even Trump.
Holly Otterbein and Meridith McGraw, Politico
The former president has privately conveyed concerns about having the Pennsylvania Republican on the top of the ticket alongside him this cycle.
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Fulton prosecutors offered immunity deals to some GOP electors
Tamar Hallerman and Bill Rankin, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Fulton County District Attorney’s office has offered immunity deals to some of the alternate GOP electors who met at the Georgia Capitol and cast phony Electoral College votes for Donald Trump following the 2020 election.
When GOP Attorneys General Embraced Jan. 6, Corporate Funders Fled. Now They’re Back.
Ilya Marritz, ProPublica
Even as the Republican Attorneys General Association has leaned further into promoting Trumpism and sowing doubt about U.S. elections, major sponsors including Amazon, Walmart and Home Depot have resumed their contributions to the group.
So-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ rules expanded through 12th grade in Florida
Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News
The Florida Board of Education has voted to expand restrictions on classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
‘Deeply frustrated’: Florida legislators worn out by DeSantis
Gary Fineout, Politico
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ iron-clad grip on the Republican-controlled Legislature may be slipping amid growing frustration among GOP legislators.
Florida poised to make DeSantis’ travel records secret
Gary Fineout, Politico
Open government advocates called it one of the worst ever proposed exemptions to the state’s much-lauded Sunshine Law.
Montana shelves GOP proposal to alter US Senate primary
Matthew Brown, The Associated Press
A proposed change to next year’s Montana U.S. Senate primary that could have hurt Democratic Sen. Jon Tester’s reelection chances is likely dead after a state legislative committee shelved the GOP-backed measure Wednesday.
Oklahoma Official Who Discussed Killing Reporters Resigns
Sean Murphy, HuffPost
McCurtain County Commissioner Mark Jennings was caught on tape discussing killing reporters and lynching Black people.
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A Message from the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs:
Big drug companies keep raising their prices and continue to charge Americans more for their prescriptions than they charge in foreign countries. Pharmacy benefits protect small businesses from Big Pharma’s out-of-control prices and save each consumer $1,040 every year. It’s no surprise that Big Pharma is pressuring Congress to prevent pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from negotiating savings. Congress should focus on the real cause of high drug prices – Big Pharma’s anti-competitive pricing practices. Learn more.
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What K Street is telling clients about the debt limit fight
Caitlin Oprysko, Politico
Congress returned to town this week after an extended absence and after getting off to a slow start this year, K Street is puzzling out how lawmakers will manage to get through everything on their lengthy to-do list over the next few months — starting with brinkmanship over raising the debt ceiling.
Former Biden speechwriter joins Bully Pulpit Interactive
Hans Nichols, Axios
Jeff Nussbaum, a former Biden speechwriter whose words have set the beat for the last four party conventions, is joining Bully Pulpit Interactive as a partner, Axios has learned.
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Opinions, Editorials and Perspectives
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Research Reports and Polling
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House Rating Change: Wealthy Democratic Entrant Moves Garcia’s CA-27 to Toss Up
David Wasserman, The Cook Political Report
This Northern Los Angeles County seat has caused Democrats immense frustration ever since Rep. Katie Hill resigned amid a sex scandal in 2019. Garcia has defied the seat’s D+4 Cook PVI by playing up his background as a Navy fighter pilot and the son of Mexican immigrants, beating Democratic Assemblywoman Christy Smith three times: in May 2020 (55%-45%), November 2020 (50.1%-49.9%) and 2022 (53%-47%).
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