Political Wire

Become a member to get many great benefits -- exclusive analysis, trending news, a private podcast, no ads and more!

Trump Seeks a More Compliant Senate

January 13, 2022 at 7:28 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“As Donald Trump charts out his midterm elections strategy, his focus has turned to the contest for the Senate, not just in hopes of getting it back under GOP control but of having more compliant lawmakers there should he become president again,” Politico reports.

“Trump’s interest in the chamber stems in part from a lingering aggrievement he had over how his term in office went. Major agenda items were stymied there. And aides say Trump is determined to ensure that, should he end up back in the White House, that doesn’t happen again.”

White House Slams Trump’s Iran Policy

January 13, 2022 at 7:27 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The White House sought Wednesday to reframe the Washington debate about the Iran nuclear deal, asserting that Trump’s decision to quit the agreement is what has led to an Iran on the verge of an atom bomb,” Politico reports.

Earmarks Make a Comeback

January 13, 2022 at 7:23 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “More than 220 House Democrats requested more than 2,000 projects for their districts, while 108 House Republicans — a majority of their caucus — requested more than 700 projects, according to the committee.”

“More than 60 senators have secured earmarks in their appropriations bills, including 16 Republicans, according to the Senate committee.”

Still Being Followed Online?

Google recently confirmed it’s keeping third-party cookies alive — meaning advertisers and data brokers can still follow your every click across the web.

Surfshark hides your IP address, encrypts your connection, and stops trackers from profiling you based on your browsing habits. And it works on all your devices. It’s the simplest way to keep your private life from becoming ad fuel.

I use it and highly recommend it.

Take back control of your privacy with Surfshark.

U.S. Diplomats Struck With Suspected ‘Havana Syndrome’

January 13, 2022 at 7:21 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Officials serving at U.S. diplomatic missions in Geneva and Paris are suspected to have been afflicted with the mysterious neurological ailment known as Havana Syndrome and at least one was evacuated back to the U.S. for treatment,“ the Wall Street Journal reports.

Lindsey Graham Issues Warning to McConnell

January 13, 2022 at 6:59 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Lindsey Graham told Fox News that he wouldn’t back Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) return as Republican leader in the Senate if McConnell didn’t make nice with Trump.

Said Graham: “If you want to be a Republican leader in the House or the Senate, you have to have a working relationship with President Donald Trump.”

He added: “He’s the most consequential Republican since Ronald Reagan. It’s his nomination if he wants it, and I think he’ll get reelected in 2024.”

Politico: Trump taunts don’t shake McConnell’s hold on Senate GOP.

Democrats Have Just Months to Deal with Inflation

January 13, 2022 at 6:54 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “Studies show that attitudes about the perceived direction of the economy tend to harden in May or June of an election year. And with negative news tending to linger in its impact compared with positive news, Democrats view the next few months as crucial.”

Why the Left Couldn’t Destroy Rahm Emanuel

January 13, 2022 at 6:51 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

John Harris: “After Rahm Emanuel limped to the end of two controversy-pocked terms as Chicago mayor in 2019, many people assumed he would be consigned at last to irrelevance. Some critics, especially on the Democratic left, thought a sullen fadeaway was too good for Emanuel — he deserved some place a bit hotter to spend his political afterlife.

“Less than three years later, Emanuel isn’t going to oblivion. And he isn’t going to hell, or at least not yet. He’s going to Tokyo. Emanuel leaves on Saturday to begin his term as President Joe Biden’s newly confirmed U.S. Ambassador to Japan. What gives?”

Biden to Meet with Senate Democrats

January 13, 2022 at 6:45 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Playbook: “After his very aggressive speech in Georgia, it will be worth watching how hard Biden pushes in the closer confines of the Democratic conference. There is incentive for him not to go too hard at Manchin and Sinema.”

“The president has only so much political capital to go around. He still wants to pass some version of his BBB plan, but so far, Manchin has refused to return to the negotiating table because of digs at him from White House staff. Biden can’t afford to alienate him further.”

McCarthy Refuses to Cooperate with Select Committee

January 12, 2022 at 9:36 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said that he will not cooperate with the select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, asserting the panel “is not conducting a legitimate investigation,” the New York Times reports.

Omicron Looms Over Congress

January 12, 2022 at 8:17 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Times: “Just when it seemed as if the atmosphere on Capitol Hill could not get worse, Omicron came to town. At least 129 House members and senators have announced a coronavirus infection since the outset of the pandemic, nearly a quarter of the lawmakers in Congress. A baker’s dozen announced infections in the last week alone. A mask mandate that has been only fitfully respected by Republicans in the House was turned up a notch to require only N95s and KN95s — and compliance is just as spotty.”

“Social distancing is back; when the body of Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader, lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday, chairs were arranged several feet apart. The grand atrium of the Capitol Visitor Center, once filled with tourists, has been reconfigured with stanchions to demarcate the Covid testing line for lawmakers and staff members.”

“Schadenfreude is in full tilt.”

Durbin Says Biden Went ‘Too Far’ In Voting Rights Speech

January 12, 2022 at 7:27 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said Wednesday that President Biden may have gone “a little too far” with his rhetoric during a speech in Georgia the previous day advocating voting rights legislation, The Hill reports.

The Hill: Psaki pushes back on criticism of Biden’s voting rights speech.

Schumer Will Try Loophole to Bypass Filibuster

January 12, 2022 at 5:39 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Democratic leaders have found a mechanism to enable them to bypass an initial Republican filibuster and debate the party’s sweeping elections reform bills,” Axios reports.

“The strategy is the latest example of how Democrats are seeking new ways to try to bypass Senate procedures that are blocking their agenda. But the ultimate outcome will likely be the same: insufficient support to change the 60-vote threshold needed to pass sweeping voting rights reforms.”

“This wonky process is similar to the strategy Congress used last month to quickly take up and eventually pass a debt limit increase and avoid a default.”

Kayleigh McEnany Met with January 6 Committee

January 12, 2022 at 5:34 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Wednesday appeared before the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, CNN reports.

GOP Lawmaker Compares Vaccine Mandate to Holocaust

January 12, 2022 at 4:33 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) “compared Covid vaccine mandates to the Holocaust, a statement that was met with swift backlash from Jewish groups,” NBC News reports.

Davidson’s tweet: “Let’s recall that the Nazis dehumanized Jewish people before segregating them, segregated them before imprisoning them, imprisoned them before enslaving them, and enslaved them before massacring them.”

Housing Costs Swell

January 12, 2022 at 4:18 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Housing costs jumped last month, as higher prices continued to constrain aspiring home buyers and push up the demand for apartment and home leases,” the New York Times reports.

“The relentless increase in housing costs, which typically move slowly and remain high once they rise, could continue to put pressure on the Federal Reserve because it could prolong price gains.”

Select Committee Wants to Hear from Kevin McCarthy

January 12, 2022 at 4:00 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The House Select Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection invited Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to appear before the panel, Politico reports.

New York Times: “The letter to Mr. McCarthy is the committee’s latest attempt to learn more about Mr. Trump’s actions as mob rioters stormed the building for hours on Jan. 6 and his mind-set in the days that followed. It made Mr. McCarthy, a California Republican, the highest-ranking lawmaker the panel has pursued in its inquiry.”

“In particular, the panel said it was interested in a phone call that Mr. McCarthy had with Mr. Trump during the riot.”

Ohio Justices Strike Down New Maps

January 12, 2022 at 3:57 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Ohio Supreme Court struck down GOP-drawn state House and Senate maps as unconstitutional gerrymandering in a 4-3 decision Wednesday, sending the Ohio Redistricting Commission back to the drawing board,” the Columbus Dispatch reports.

“Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor was the key vote, breaking with her party to rule against the maps.”

GOP Lawmaker Adheres to Term Limit Pledge

January 12, 2022 at 3:55 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN) announced that he will not run for reelection this year to uphold a past pledge to serve no more than four terms in the House, The Hill reports.