After Senate Republicans tanked the bipartisan border security deal, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) told Fox News he voted against a separate bill for Israel and Ukraine aid because we need to secure our southern border first.
Senate Stalls on Foreign Aid
“The Senate is at a standstill while leaders in both parties haggle over the path forward for a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan,” Punchbowl News reports.
“As of this writing, it’s unclear whether there will be 60 votes to advance the foreign aid bill after Republicans blocked the border security supplemental. Some Republicans have said they’ll support the procedural motion no matter what, while others want guarantees from leadership about amendment votes — including some related to the border.”
“Hardline conservatives are trying to tank the process entirely, and they’re taking shots at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell over his handling of the matter.”
“Democrats, meanwhile, were apoplectic that Republicans were demanding votes on border-related amendments after having killed the bipartisan border deal.”
Informant in Menendez Bribery Probe Made Recordings
New York Times: “For the first time, the prosecutors disclosed that a confidential informant had made recordings of conversations and shared details about the case with investigators.”
This could explain how the indictment had a direct quote from Nadine Menendez with someone trying to curry favor with her husband: “What else can the love of my life do for you?”
Open GOP Rebellion Against McConnell
“Conservative hardliners once celebrated Mitch McConnell for wrestling the federal judiciary to the right and thwarting progressive hopes,” Politico reports.
“Now he is under open attack from the right for even trying to work with Democrats on the border.”
“The Senate GOP leader is facing internal resistance not seen in more than a year as Republicans descend into discord over two issues they once demanded be linked: border security and the war in Ukraine.”
Playbook: “McConnell, of course, has outflanked and outlasted his critics for years, and he retains the confidence of most Senate Republicans, who can’t oust him mid-term even if they want to.”
Quote of the Day
“I feel like the guy standing in the middle of the field in a thunderstorm, holding up the metal stick.”
— Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), quoted by the New York Times, after his own party rebelled against a border security bill he negotiated.
Quote of the Day
“It’s time for the GOP to get their balls out of Trump’s desk.”
— Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), quoted by Politico.
Mike Lee Fundraising Off Blocking Border Bill
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) tweeted a fundraising link in the middle of last night’s Senate GOP conference meeting about the border security bill.
Playbook: “Some Republicans in the room found that shocking enough to raise with us whether it violated ethics rules against solicitation while on Capitol grounds. Lee’s office did not respond to a request for comment.”
Senate Republicans to Filibuster Border Bill
Senate Republicans indicated after a closed-door meeting Monday night that they plan to filibuster the border-security bill on Wednesday, Punchbowl News reports.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recommended a “no” vote on the first procedural vote.
Afterward, Senate Minority Whip John Thune told reporters it was clear that “most” Republicans won’t be ready to proceed on Wednesday.
Politico: Senate’s border deal teeters on brink of collapse.
Liz Cheney Slams J.D. Vance as Not ‘Fit to Serve’
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) said that Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) is not “fit to serve” due to his support of “tyranny.”
Senate Republicans Deeply Divided on Border Bill
Punchbowl News: “The release of the legislation is prompting an all-out war within the Senate GOP Conference — one that even extended to Monday’s Senate Republican communications directors’ meeting, according to multiple aides in the room.”
“Staffers for Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), the bill’s lead GOP negotiator, gave a presentation about the legislation and then opened it up for questions. At that point, a staffer for Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who opposes the proposal, began ‘yelling’ at Lankford’s aides, according to multiple people in the room. The Lee staffer eventually left the room shouting, ‘Betrayal!'”
Stephanopoulos Shuts Down Interview with J.D. Vance
During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” with Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), George Stephanopoulos abruptly ended the interview after Vance implied that Donald Trump can defy Supreme Court rulings.
Politico: New York verdict against Trump not valid, Vance says.
Forget About a Mayorkas Impeachment Trial
Playbook: “As Republicans have taken steps toward impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, political prognosticators — admittedly, yours truly included — have warned about the possibility of a high-profile, border-related Senate impeachment trial falling smack in middle of an already contentious election year.”
“As fun as that sounds, you can forget it.”
“Multiple Democratic sources in the Senate as well as in the administration tell Playbook that the party is planning to scuttle the House GOP’s dreams of a long, drawn-out process that drags Mayorkas — and the Biden administration writ large — through the mud.”
“With the House slated to impeach Mayorkas next week, Democrats have quietly been in talks about the best way to kill this as fast as they can. And it turns out they have a bunch of options on that front.”
Ted Cruz Wants Extra Security for Lawmakers at Airports
“Viral photos of politicians jetting off to a tropical hideaway during a deadly cold wave might become a lot rarer under legislation being pushed by Sen. Ted Cruz,” Politico reports.
“The Texas Republican — infamously photographed by a gawker while en route to Cancún in 2021 — is proposing a bill amendment that would offer lawmakers a dedicated security escort at airports, along with expedited screening outside of public view. That could make it much less likely that the politicians’ comings and goings would become fodder for embarrassing news reports and late-night comedy mockery.”
Senate Recess Could Be Cancelled
“The Senate could be looking at scrapping all or part of its next scheduled recess to finish up the bipartisan border security and foreign aid package,” Punchbowl News reports.
“Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to tee up the first procedural vote on Monday evening. That vote will take place on Wednesday. If it clears the 60-vote threshold, the expectation from senators in both parties is that Schumer will keep the Senate in session until final passage. This would likely stretch into the following weekend. The Senate was initially scheduled to go on recess for two weeks at the end of next week.”
Senate Creeps Toward Border Security Vote
“The Senate will hold an initial procedural vote on the bipartisan border security and foreign aid package no later than Wednesday, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced this afternoon,” Punchbowl News reports.
“Legislative text will be released as early as Friday but no later than Sunday, Schumer added. The Senate will be in session on Monday, previously scheduled to be a recess day. On Monday evening, Schumer will file cloture on the motion to proceed to the legislative vehicle.”
“The long-awaited release of the legislative text comes as Senate GOP leaders and those who negotiated the measure are growing frustrated with conservatives who are attacking the bill without seeing it. Republican leaders became increasingly pessimistic about the prospects this past week, especially as Speaker Mike Johnson and former President Donald Trump continue to attack the emerging agreement.”
NBC News: Immigration negotiators say they have a deal as Senate eyes votes next week.
Senate Republicans Take Hard Line on Tax Bill
“Senate Republicans are threatening to block a bipartisan tax deal passed Wednesday night by the House — unless they get a chance to change the legislation,” Politico reports.
“Despite getting 357 votes in the lower chamber, Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) said the legislation will not be able to clear a filibuster without amendment votes that allow Senate Republicans some say on the deal.”
Capitol Police Close Investigation Into Sex Tape
The Capitol Police has closed its investigation into the sex tape filmed inside a Senate office building calling it a “likely violation of Congressional policy” but adding there is no evidence that a crime was committed, the HuffPost reports.
Quote of the Day
“Your product is killing people.”
— Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), quoted by the New York Times, talking about social media and not AR-15 assault rifles.
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