“A group of 89 House Democrats is asking President Joe Biden to make provisions aimed at addressing climate change the ‘building block to restart negotiations’ on their stalled social spending bill,” Politico reports.
Russia Remains Mostly Stalled In Ukraine
A senior Defense official briefed reporters earlier today on the status of the Russian invasion and, according to Roll Call, this is the main takeaway: “Almost all of Russia’s advances remain stalled.”
America’s Hesitation Is Heartbreaking
Eliot Cohen: “The American fear of escalation has been a repeated note throughout this conflict. But to the extent American leaders express that sentiment, or spread such notions to receptive reporters, they make matters worse, giving the Russians a psychological edge. The Russians can (and do) threaten to ratchet things up, knowing that the West will respond with increased anxiety rather than reciprocal menace. We have yet to see, for example, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin telling the world what a wretched hand the Russians are playing militarily, and how superior ours is—a message he is particularly fit to deliver.”
“As for the nuclear question: We should not signal to the Russians that they have a trump card they can always play to stop us from doing pretty much anything. Nuclear weapons are why the United States should refrain from attacking Russia directly, not why it should fear fighting Russians in a country they invaded.”
“Nuclear deterrence cuts both ways, and the Russian leadership knows it. Vladimir Putin and those around him are ill-informed but not mad, and the use of nuclear weapons would threaten their very survival.”
Manchin Won’t Back Sarah Bloom Raskin for Fed Post
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said he can’t support Sarah Bloom Raskin, President Biden’s nominee for the Federal Reserve’s vice chair of supervision, Axios reports.
Without Machin’s support, her confirmation is thrown into doubt.
Wall Street Journal: “Last month, Republican lawmakers united in opposition to Ms. Raskin refused to attend a crucial committee vote. That deprived Democrats of a quorum needed to advance her along with four other Fed nominees to the full Senate, including Chairman Jerome Powell.”
U.N. Chief Says Nuclear Conflict Over Ukraine Possible
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that the prospect of the nuclear conflict is “within the realm of possibility” as Russia continues its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Axios reports.
Said Guterres: “Raising the alert of Russian nuclear forces is a bone-chilling development. The prospect of nuclear conflict, once unthinkable, is now back within the realm of possibility.”
Liz Cheney Looks Beyond Wyoming
CNN: “Cheney’s own activity suggests she is laying the groundwork for something more. Last year, she traveled to the early primary state of New Hampshire. She has been making speeches to national Republican organizations such as the centrist Ripon Society. And Cheney has demonstrated impressive fundraising prowess, including raising a personal record $2 million in the final quarter of 2021.”
Democrats Say Trump Is Breaking Campaign Law
“A Democratic super PAC said it is filing a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Monday accusing Donald Trump of violating campaign finance law by spending political funds on a 2024 presidential bid without formally declaring himself a candidate,” the New York Times reports.
“The complaint uses Mr. Trump’s own words about a 2024 run — ‘I know what I’m going to do, but we’re not supposed to be talking about it yet from the standpoint of campaign finance laws,’ he said in the fall — to accuse him of improperly using his existing political committees to advance a presidential run.”
Biden May Travel to Europe Soon
“White House officials are having early discussions about having President Joe Biden travel to Europe soon amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine,” CNN reports.
Sanctions Will Knock Russian Economy Back 30 Years
“Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war on Ukraine and the resulting global response will set Russia’s economy back by at least 30 years — close to old Soviet Union times — and lower its standard of living for at least the next five years, according to economists, investors and diplomats,” CNBC reports.
“Practically overnight, the country’s 40-year effort to build a prosperous market-based economy that began under former leader Mikhail Gorbachev has failed, one more casualty in President Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.”
Interest Rate Hikes Add New Challenge for Democrats
NPR: “In an attempt to curb inflation, the Federal Reserve is expected this week to begin raising interest rates for the first time in three years.”
“The move presents President Biden and Democrats with yet another political challenge from a different end of the economic spectrum than higher prices.”
“Higher interest rates, after all, will put a strain on Americans looking to borrow. Buying a home or car, or taking out a student or business loan, for example, will all cost more — although even after several expected rate hikes, borrowing costs will remain low by historical standards.”
Earlier for members: Democrats Must Focus Like a Laser on Inflation
Noem’s Struggles at Home May Raise Her National Profile
“South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s (R) election-year fight with fellow Republicans in the Legislature has spurred criticism she is neglecting her job to angle for the White House, but the resistance could actually be helping her national brand rather than tarnishing it,” the AP reports.
Congress Keeps Pushing Biden on Ukraine
Playbook: “Something quite striking has happened in Washington since Russia invaded Ukraine. Congress — which typically takes a back seat on foreign policy matters — has repeatedly driven the White House beyond its comfort zone with bipartisan demands for more assertive policies.”
“It started with calls for tougher sanctions, then escalated to an appeal for a larger military and humanitarian assistance package. Members of both parties then clamored for a U.S. ban on Russian oil, which the White House saw as politically risky given the effect on gas prices at home. And they insisted that the U.S. end permanent normal trade relations with Russia.”
“The tactics have worked. And this week, lawmakers will be at it again — this time nudging the Biden administration to go further than it wants in facilitating the transfer of fighter jets from Poland to Ukraine.”
White House Warns of Blow to Covid-19 Fight
“The Biden administration says that it might have to scrap critical Covid-19 programs unless Congress moves to approve funding left out of the $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Democratic leaders now plan to hold a stand-alone vote in the House this coming week on $15.6 billion in Covid-19 aid, without paying for it by clawing back state funds. Such an approach would likely hit a wall in the 50-50 Senate, where Democrats would need at least 10 Republican votes to advance the proposal.”
Punchbowl News: “The White House hasn’t done anything to sell this legislation to Congress. This is a complaint you’ll hear from House and Senate Democrats… The White House faces enormous challenges on numerous fronts, especially with the growing military and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. But this issue isn’t going to get resolved unless there’s a high-level push from the administration, and that hasn’t happened yet.”
Colorado GOP Stages 23-Hour Filibuster
Colorado Republicans tried to stop Democrats from passing a bill codifying the right to abortion in state law by staging a 23-hour filibuster, the Denver Post reports.
“The outcome of this legislation is not in question. Democrats hold a 41-24 majority in the House and will pass this bill. They took a voice vote Saturday morning to advance it, and the House speaker said a final chamber vote is expected next week. At that point the bill will be kicked over to the Senate, which Democrats also control.”
GOP Lawmaker Set to Go On Trial
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) goes on trial this week for three felonies while he’s running a reelection campaign, the Lincoln Journal Star reports.
Zelensky to Address Congress Virtually
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will deliver a virtual address to members of the U.S. Congress at 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning, the Washington Post reports.
Clarence Thomas’ Wife Attended January 6 Rally
Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, told the Washington Free Beacon that she attended the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021 “but got cold and left early.”
Anti-Trump Republicans Line Up for 2024
“Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is planning trips to Iowa and New Hampshire. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) is considering a rough timeline for a potential presidential announcement. And allies of Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) are openly talking up her White House prospects,” the AP reports.
“More than two years before the next presidential election, a shadow primary is already beginning to take shape among at least three fierce Republican critics of former President Donald Trump to determine who is best positioned to occupy the anti-Trump lane in 2024.”
“Their apparent willingness to run — even if Trump does, as is widely expected — represents a shift from previous years when “Never Trump” operatives failed to recruit any GOP officeholders to challenge the incumbent president. But with the 2024 contest almost in view, the question is no longer whether one of Trump’s prominent Republican critics will run, but how many will mount a campaign and how soon they will announce.”