When asked whether next week’s hearing that the January 6 Committee has scheduled would be its final public presentation, Rep. Bennie Thompson told NBC News: “I’m hoping it is, but something could come up, just like the Hutchinson situation that warranted what we felt was an immediate hearing.”
Watch the Kemp-Warnock Voters
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that there’s a group of voters backing both Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) and Gov. Brian Kemp (R).
“That dynamic is backed by public polling averages that indicate the governor is outperforming Walker by about 4 percentage points — and that Warnock is garnering more support than Abrams by roughly the same margin.”
Senators Close to Deal on Electoral Count Act
Politico: “Senators involved in the months-long effort say they’re getting close to a deal. Their goal is passing legislation on the Electoral Count Act by the end of the year, well in advance of the 2024 campaign — and before House Republicans are poised to take power with little interest in addressing the topic. But any standalone bill they can get through the Senate could compete for attention and floor time with the Jan. 6 committee’s still-unreleased legislative recommendations.”
Biden Basks in Unvarnished Praise in Israel
“If President Biden’s arrival in Israel on Wednesday for his first trip here since taking office could be summarized in just two words, they might be: Donald who?,” the New York Times reports.
“A year and a half after Donald Trump left the White House, Israeli leaders welcomed his successor with a rapturous embrace, as if to prove that their love affair with the former president would not stand in the way of a close relationship with the new president. As for Mr. Biden, he seemed just as determined to prove that he took a back seat to no one in supporting Israel.”
Trump Tried to Call Support Staffer Talking to Committee
“Former President Donald Trump tried to call a member of the White House support staff who was talking to the House select committee investigating January 6, 2021,” CNN reports.
“The support staffer was not someone who routinely communicated with the former President and was concerned about the contact and informed their attorney.”
“The call was made after former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified publicly to the committee. The White House staffer was in a position to corroborate part of what Hutchinson had said under oath.”
Doug Mastriano Paid $5,000 to Racist Website
Doug Mastriano’s (R) campaign for governor in Pennsylvania paid $5,000 for “consulting services” to Gab, a social media platform that provides a home for conspiracy theories and antisemitic content, WESA reports.
Congress Eyes Showdowns on Birth Control, Gay Marriage
“Still reeling from the Supreme Court’s decision to end Roe v. Wade, congressional Democrats are readying legislation to codify nationwide contraceptive access, LGBTQ marriage and parenting rights — and even potentially long-settled precedent on interracial marriage,” Axios reports.
“The question: Will Republicans go along, or block them?”
Trump Discussing 2024 Plans at Secret Donor Dinners
“Donald Trump has quietly convened some of his wealthiest and highest-profile supporters for intimate dinners in recent weeks, where the groups have talked about the former president’s 2024 election plans — and debated when he should make his expected comeback bid official,” Politico reports.
“The gatherings have taken place in Houston, Nashville and, last Friday evening, in Las Vegas, where billionaire casino mogul and longtime Trump friend Phil Ruffin implored the ex-president to launch another run for the White House soon. The consensus has been that Trump should run again — the only question being when he should announce, with most echoing Ruffin’s view but others saying Trump would be better served by waiting until after the midterm elections.”
Ex-CIA Engineer Convicted in Massive Theft of Secret Info
“A former CIA software engineer was convicted on Wednesday federal charges accusing him of causing the biggest theft of classified information in CIA history,” the AP reports.
Fed’s Top Banking Regulator Michael Barr Confirmed
“The Biden administration saw a key figure of its financial-regulatory team move into place as the Senate confirmed Michael Barr to become the government’s most influential banking regulator,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Mr. Barr’s confirmation Wednesday as the Federal Reserve’s vice chairman for supervision provides the central bank with a full seven-member board for the first time in nearly a decade and adds to a group of Biden-appointed bank overseers who may revisit financial regulations that were eased during the Trump administration.”
Biden Says Trump Made ‘Gigantic Mistake’ with Iran
President Joe Biden said in an interview that former President Donald Trump made a “gigantic mistake” withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal and said Iran was closer now to acquiring a nuclear weapon, CNN reports.
Said Biden: “The only thing worse than the Iran that exists now is Iran with nuclear weapons.”
Biden’s Approval Hits New Low
Pew Research: “With public views of the nation’s economy at their most negative in years, Joe Biden’s political standing is at the lowest point of his presidency. Yet Biden is hardly the only focal point of the country’s political discontent: Americans express unfavorable views of both major parties and a range of leading political figures, including Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump.”
“Biden’s current job approval numbers are the lowest since he became president, with 37% of U.S. adults saying they approve of how he is handling his job as president while 62% disapprove.”
Key finding: “A majority of Americans say Biden’s policies have hurt the economy: 56% now say his policies have made economic conditions worse, compared with just 11% who say his policies have improved the economy.”
Steve Bannon Again Seeks Delay of Trial
“Former Trump White House aide Steve Bannon has again asked a federal judge to delay his upcoming trial on criminal contempt charges, this time citing repeated references to some of his past comments during a hearing Tuesday of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot,” CNBC reports.
Katie Hill Files for Personal Bankruptcy
Former Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA), “who owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to media parties she unsuccessfully sued over the publication of salacious pictures while she was in office, has filed for bankruptcy,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
“If successful, the move could allow Hill to avoid paying attorneys’ fees to the defendants… The financial judgments were rendered in 2021 after a judge dismissed her lawsuit accusing multiple parties of distributing and publishing intimate pictures of Hill without her consent.”
GOP Candidate Charged with Impersonating Official
Frederick Frazier (R), a Texas House candidate backed by Donald Trump “has been indicted on a charge of impersonating a public servant,” the Texas Tribune reports.
GOP Lawmaker Says Womb Irrelevant to Woman’s Health
Montana state Rep. Brad Tschida (R) said in an email to fellow legislators that a woman’s womb serves no specific purpose to her life or well-being, the Missoula Current reports.
Said Tschida: “The womb is the only organ in a woman’s body that serves no specific purpose to her life or well-being. It is truly a sanctuary.”
A Recession Is Coming This Year
Bank of America economists forecast a “mild recession this year” in the United States, saying services spending is slowing and hot inflation is spurring consumers to pull back, Bloomberg reports.
Newsmax Host Blames ‘Butt Dial’ for Witness Tampering
Newsmax host Greg Kelly dismissed allegations made by the January 6 Committee that former President Donald Trump was trying to influence a witness and that it may have even just been a “butt dial.”
Said Kelly: “You actually can’t tell it’s him calling… How do you know the president actually called? They didn’t answer. Hey, maybe it was a butt dial! Tell the Justice Department that!”
For members: Who Was Trump Trying to Influence?
