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Trump Businesses See Sharp Revenue Decline

January 21, 2021 at 1:18 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Former President Donald Trump saw sharp revenue declines across his family businesses last year as the Covid-19 pandemic took a steep toll on the Trump Organization’s hotels and golf resorts, a marker of the many financial challenges Mr. Trump faces after leaving the White House,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Newly released data from the Office of Government Ethics shows that the minimum revenue generated by Mr. Trump’s businesses fell by nearly 40% from a year earlier, and declined even more at some of the company’s most lucrative properties.”

“The issues facing the Trump Organization are likely to get worse in the coming months.”

Biden Seeks 5-Year Extension on Nuclear Arms Treaty

January 21, 2021 at 1:11 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “As the Biden administration informs Moscow of its terms for an extension, the president will order Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to provide him a full intelligence assessment of Russia’s alleged interference in the 2020 election, use of chemical weapons against opposition leader Alexei Navalny and bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.”

Biden Will Keep FBI Director

January 21, 2021 at 10:07 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Joe Biden intends to keep FBI Director Christopher Wray in his post, a sign of confidence for the bureau’s leader who has more than six years remaining in his term, CNN reports.

Lincoln Project Turns Focus to Ted Cruz

January 21, 2021 at 10:04 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson said that now that former President Trump is out of office, he intends to turn the super-PAC’s attention to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), The Hill reports.

Said Wilson: “We all know Ted Cruz is sort of a political force of nature. He is what he is. You either hate him or you hate him. And he is a guy who went so far over the edge, not just to appease Donald Trump and Trump’s base, but because he felt like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) had gotten out ahead of him on it.”

Republicans Split Over Trump’s Second Impeachment

January 21, 2021 at 9:44 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Molly Ball: “Trump may be done with Washington, but Washington—and particularly his adopted party—is not done with him. How the Senate will dispense with the first-ever postpresidential impeachment is an open question… But the impeachment vote is just one of many questions confronting the GOP as Trump leaves office—questions that will determine the future of American politics and the shape of the Biden presidency, from congressional policymaking to voters’ choices in future elections…”

“Some top Republicans are hoping Trump’s hold on the party will loosen now that he’s out of office. Others believe a clean and deliberate break must be made to regain lost credibility.”

Professionalism Returns to the White House

January 21, 2021 at 9:42 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Jonathan Bernstein: “If there’s one thing that’s going to be obvious about the brand-new administration of President Joe Biden, it’s going to be professionalism. Jobs are going to be filled, from the top down and with few exceptions, with people who know how to do them. Many officials will be returning to government after a brief four years on the outside — perhaps a step above their old levels, but well within their competence. Others will move from state government.”

“There will be plenty who are new to government, but most of them are (judging from what we’ve seen so far) well-credentialed, with the expertise that their jobs demand.”

Member Briefing: To Start a War

January 21, 2021 at 9:22 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

An invite for members: A conversation with Robert Draper, author of To Start A War: How the Bush Administration Took America Into Iraq.

The virtual event is on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, 7 p.m. ET and is sponsored by Cornell’s Institute of Politics and Global Affairs.

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Quote of the Day

January 21, 2021 at 9:12 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I want to thank your families for the sacrifices, but I’m not joking when I say this. If you are ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot. On the spot. No if, ands, or buts.”

— President Joe Biden, quoted by ABC News, swearing in his senior staff.

Democrats to Rebuff McConnell’s Filibuster Demands

January 21, 2021 at 8:36 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Senate Democrats are signaling they will reject an effort by Mitch McConnell to protect the legislative filibuster as part of a deal to run a 50-50 Senate, saying they have little interest in bowing to his demands just hours into their new Senate majority,” Politico reports.

“McConnell has publicly and privately pressed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to work to keep the 60-vote threshold on most legislation as part of their power-sharing agreement. Democrats have no plans to gut the filibuster further, but argue it would be a mistake to take one of their tools off the table just as they’re about to govern.”

“Many Democrats argue that having the threat of targeting the filibuster will be key to forcing compromise with reluctant Republicans. They also believe it would show weakness to accede to McConnell’s demand as he’s relegated to minority leader.”

House to Vote on Waiver for Biden’s Defense Pick

January 21, 2021 at 8:29 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The House is expected to vote Thursday on a waiver to permit retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to serve as secretary of defense in the Biden administration, CNN reports.

“Austin, who would be the first African American to run the department, needs to be granted a waiver from a law requiring a defense secretary to wait seven years after active-duty service before taking the job.”

Harris Won’t Immediately Move Into VP Residence

January 21, 2021 at 8:24 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Vice President Kamala Harris will not immediately move into the Naval Observatory, the vice president’s residence, because of home maintenance and repairs, her office said on Wednesday evening,” Politico reports.

“The residence will receive repairs to its chimney liners and other household maintenance, all of which will be easier to carry out when the home is unoccupied, her office said.”

A Deep Dive Into the New Vice President

January 21, 2021 at 7:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The San Francisco Chronicle has a seven-part podcast that looks at Vice President Kamala Harris’ life and career.

Trump Leaves Behind Diminished GOP

January 21, 2021 at 6:58 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “Three of the big power centers that drove the GOP’s last successful midterm campaign are no longer the same forces in party politics now, with Republicans out of the White House and in the minority in both chambers of Congress. The Koch network of megadonors and big-spending outside groups has stepped back its partisan political campaigning, while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce not only shrunk its spending but made a bipartisan shift.”

“Others, like the National Rifle Association, [have] been consumed by internal strife. The advocacy group announced last week it would be filing for bankruptcy. In their place, power and cash consolidated around Trump and the GOP’s Senate and House leadership in recent years.”

A Three-Day Impeachment Trial?

January 21, 2021 at 6:53 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Playbook: “We knew Democrats and Republicans were ready to turn the page on Trump ASAP — we just didn’t realize how quickly. We’ve heard from multiple Hill sources that lawmakers have privately discussed the possibility of a three-day impeachment trial for Trump, which would be the fastest of any such procedure for a president. (Past presidential impeachments have ranged from as short as 21 days to as long as 83.) Of course, Trump is an EX-president, so…”

“To be clear: Talks about parameters for the trial between Schumer and McConnell are ongoing and closely held; nothing’s been decided. But even the suggestion of that time frame underscores how much senators want to dispense with the matter. They also point out that there isn’t exactly a complex set of facts to sort through; anyone watching TV lately would know the gist.”

“One complication is Trump. Will he want witnesses? They’ll have to give him due process if he does.”

Trump Had No Vaccine Plan

January 21, 2021 at 6:46 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Newly sworn in President Joe Biden and his advisers are inheriting no coronavirus vaccine distribution plan to speak of from the Trump administration, sources tell CNN, posing a significant challenge for the new White House.

Axios: Biden set to immediately ramp up federal pandemic response.

GOP Senators Warn McConnell of Backlash

January 20, 2021 at 10:45 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A faction of Senate Republicans has a warning for Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: Stick with former President Donald Trump during his impeachment trial,” CNN reports.

“McConnell, who is the longest-serving Senate Republican leader in history, has long had strong support within the Senate GOP Conference. But some say if the GOP leader votes to convict Trump, his backing will quickly wane.”

Avril Haines Confirmed as Biden’s Spy Chief

January 20, 2021 at 7:31 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Senate confirmed Avril Haines, President Biden’s pick to lead the sprawling U.S. intelligence community Wednesday, delivering the newly inaugurated president his first Senate-confirmed cabinet secretary, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Biden Is Planning to Run Again In 2024

January 20, 2021 at 7:24 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) told Politico that President Biden will run for re-election.

Said Coons: “He is planning to run again. He knows that we are at the middle of an absolute turning point, a pivot point in American history. And he’s up for the challenge.”

“Speculating about 2024 hours after Biden’s swearing-in is stepping on his Inauguration Day a bit, but the new president’s reelection plans will have immediate consequences.”

“Congress will treat him differently. Democrats eyeing their own White House runs will either be frozen in place or will be able to do the politicking that likely 2024 Republican candidates like Nikki Haley and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem are already doing. And it will affect both what Vice President Kamala Harris does and how she is covered when she does it.”