ABC, NBC and CBS will preempt their normal programming to show the January 6 Committee hearing on Thursday night, while a Fox spokesman “says the hearings will be available to affiliates in the event they wish to televise them in their markets,” Deadline reports.
U.S. Successfully Tests Hypersonic Weapon
“The United States has successfully tested a Raytheon Technologies air-breathing hypersonic weapon capable of speeds faster than five times the speed of sound, making it the third successful test of that class of weapon since 2013,” Reuters reports.
Black Voters Have Nuanced Views on Abortion
New York Times: “While Black voters remain overwhelmingly allied with the Democratic Party, some, especially older churchgoers, have a conservative streak when it comes to social issues like abortion.”
“The best way to communicate to those members of her community, Ms. Smith-Pollard and other faith leaders said not long before the court ruled to eliminate the constitutional right to abortion, would be to frame the response as not just a matter of abortion, but rather as part of a broader movement to restrict individual rights, including voting, marriage and control over one’s own body.”
Pelosi to Visit Taiwan
Speaker Nancy Pelosi will lead a delegation to Taiwan in August, the Financial Times reports.
“Three people familiar with the situation said the White House had expressed concern about the trip.”
Meanwhile, Reuters reports China’s government warned it would take “forceful measures” if Pelosi visited Taiwan.
Trump Weighs Heavily in Biden’s Decision on 2024
Washington Post: “Biden was motivated to run for office in large part because he saw himself as best positioned to defeat Donald Trump. He still considers knocking Trump out of the White House one of his major contributions to America’s welfare. And with Trump looming as the potential Republican nominee — he’s eyeing a September announcement — Biden maintains that he is still best positioned to beat him.”
“Biden may seek reelection in any case, people in his inner circle say, but if Trump runs, Biden is far more likely to do so. And if Trump holds off, it will be far easier for other Democrats to approach Biden about letting someone else take on a younger Republican nominee.”
The Atlantic: 20 reader ideas for who could replace Biden.
Prepare for a 2023 Packed with House GOP Imvestigations
“House Republicans are planning to bombard Joe Biden’s administration with investigations next year, from Hunter Biden to the border to the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Politico reports.
“As the GOP prepares for a likely takeover of the chamber next year, committee chairs-in-waiting have laid out a lengthy list of oversight goals that goes beyond Biden’s White House — including Democrats’ formation of the Jan. 6 select committee. But the party’s highest-profile targets are those with the potential to politically bruise the president ahead of 2024: his son’s business dealings, Afghanistan, the origins of the coronavirus, inflation causes and the U.S.-Mexico border.”
White House Fumes at Joe Manchin
Politico: “And after bending to the senator’s demands, only to now twice watch him blow up negotiations in spectacular fashion, even Biden has expressed puzzlement. The president has told confidants that while he understands Manchin represents a deep-red state, he can’t fathom why he keeps torpedoing the party’s best-laid plans.”
“Yet even as congressional Democrats heaped criticism on Manchin — with some pushing for him to be stripped of his Energy and Natural Resources Committee gavel — the White House is resisting the temptation to make its anger known publicly.”
Pennsylvania Governor’s Race Is Suddenly Competitive
Politico: “In the immediate aftermath of Pennsylvania’s messy gubernatorial primary — which included an ill-fated, last-minute attempt by the GOP establishment to stop Mastriano — many Democrats and Republicans in Pennsylvania thought the race was all but over. Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the Democratic nominee, is a first-class fundraiser with a record of winning tough statewide races. He emerged unscathed from the Democratic primary after clearing the field.”
“Mastriano, on the other hand, has a shoestring campaign, regularly antagonizes members of his own party, and is known for his far-right views on hot-button issues. He chartered buses to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, where he appears to have been part of a crowd that crossed barricades. He believes in no exceptions for an abortion ban. He has said that the state legislature has the power to appoint presidential electors, and as governor, he would have the power to ‘decertify’ election machines. When Mastriano pulled out a win in the primary, many national Republicans kept their distance and, privately, assumed Shapiro would waltz to the governor’s mansion.”
“But as the political environment has worsened for Democrats across the country, the gubernatorial race in Pennsylvania has begun to look more competitive than either party expected.”
Biden May Declare Climate Emergency This Week
“President Biden is considering declaring a national climate emergency as soon as this week as he seeks to salvage his environmental agenda in the wake of stalled talks on Capitol Hill,” the Washington Post reports.
“If an emergency is invoked, it could empower the Biden administration in its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and foster cleaner energy.”
More Than 80 Capitol Rioters Have Ties to Military
“More than 80 of the defendants charged in relation to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol have ties to the U.S. military — most of those with a military background were veterans,” CBS News reports.
“While an overwhelming majority of those with military ties were veterans when they were charged, at least five were currently in the military when they participated in the attack.”
Democrats Embrace Law Enforcement
“Just two years after calls to defund the police erupted in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Democrats in states like Ohio, Georgia and Florida are spotlighting law enforcement to boost their credibility on fighting crime,” Axios reports.
“The new effort to ward off Republican attacks comes after the defund debate damaged Democrats’ reputation on crime — leading to party infighting and internal reflection over how to best message on police reform.”
“Some party strategists fear a voter perception that Democrats don’t recognize the problem with violent crime and don’t respect the role police play in keeping communities safe.”
Ex-Trump Officials to Testify at Next Hearing
“Matthew Pottinger, who served on former President Donald Trump’s National Security Council before resigning in the immediate aftermath of January 6, 2021, is expected to testify publicly at Thursday’s prime-time hearing held by the House select committee investigating the US Capitol attack,“ CNN reports.
“Pottinger is slated to appear alongside former Trump White House aide Sarah Matthews.”
Paul Unloads on McConnell’s ‘Secret Deal’ with Biden
“Sen. Rand Paul unloaded on fellow Republican Mitch McConnell for the Senate GOP leader’s handling of an anti-abortion judicial nomination, criticizing McConnell for refusing to consult with him about abandoned nominee Chad Meredith,” Politico reports.
“The White House pulled Meredith’s nomination last week, with both McConnell and administration officials blaming Paul for refusing to sign off.”
“Now, the two Bluegrass State Republicans are involved in a back and forth, reigniting an intra-party and intra-state fight.”
CIA Director Issues Warning After Noose Is Found
CIA director William Burns “issued a warning to the agency’s work force last week after what appeared to be a noose was found outside a secret facility used by the agency in Virginia,” the New York Times reports.
GOP Readies Grenades Against Democrats’ Spending Bill
“Joe Manchin isn’t the only one with the power to cut down Democrats’ pre-election Hail Mary,” Politico reports.
“Senate Republicans will raise their own objections this week as Democrats scramble to address the West Virginia Democrat’s further narrowing of their party-line bill. The GOP is readying arguments before the Senate’s nonpartisan rules arbiter in a bid to eject more items from the ever-slimmer package Democrats once called Build Back Better.”
“Republican leaders hope trimming the bill even more will leave the majority party with an embarrassingly modest final product to trumpet ahead of the midterm elections, after Manchin nixed climate and tax provisions in the final lap of negotiations.”
American Prospect: May Build Back Better never be spoken of again.
Primary Meddling Can Be Risky
“The Democratic Party is undertaking some wholly understandable and worthwhile soul-searching when it comes to its growing efforts to meddle in Republican primaries,” the Washington Post reports.
“Democrats are in one breath arguing that Trump-supporting election deniers are extremely dangerous to democracy — and in the next breath, trying to get them on the November ballot. The idea is to get weaker opponents in the general election; the practical effect could be helping these supposedly very dangerous Republicans win powerful offices if things don’t go exactly according to plan.”
“There’s no question that this could go sideways. And there’s no question it undercuts Democrats’ argument that these candidates are truly dangerous. But as for how much it has backfired in the past, that’s less clear.“
Top General Reviews Interactions with Chinese Military
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has ordered his staff to gather information about every interaction between the U.S. military and the Chinese military over the past five years to review the growing number of interactions with the Chinese military in the South China Sea and beyond, NBC News reports.
GOP Lawmaker Suddenly Tries to Win Over Gay Voters
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) “has held on to his seat in Congress for 30 years, in part by opposing gay rights,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Now that he’s running for reelection against a gay rival in a district that includes one of the largest concentrations of LGBTQ voters in America, Calvert says his views have changed.”
