Happy Friday! Can we all take a minute to pay our respects to Stumpy, the oddly shaped cherry tree at the Washington, D.C., Tidal Basin, being removed for sea wall construction? Keep reading for all of the Stumpy content, but just know that we love your quirky stature. Here's what's happening today: - The House just passed the remaining government funding bills. The package now heads to the Senate where they have to pass it before midnight.
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is trying to force a vote on Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) Speakership because he endorsed the bipartisan spending deal. Here we go again…
- There's an increasingly heated battle in the GOP over whether to raise the retirement age.
- Former President Trump's social media company is merging with another firm, giving him a potential new source of cash.
I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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Breaking: One chamber down!
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© GIPHY/Basketball Madness |
The House just passed the $1.2 trillion government funding package, sending the bills to the Senate. Congress has until midnight to pass six government funding bills to avoid a government shutdown. |
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Someone is obviously unhappy about the process: Yup — conservatives in both chambers are criticizing the bill's price tag and the exclusion of their controversial requests. But with the tight timeline, leaders are chugging along, ignoring the criticism. If the government does shut down: The effects would be minimal as long as it's funded by Monday, The Washington Post reports. |
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) just filed a motion to remove Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over his endorsement of a bipartisan funding bill. If this sounds familiar: This is exactly what happened to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in October. Keep in mind: It's unclear whether Greene's motion will be called to the floor today because of House procedure. Did we see this coming?: Greene teased this move on Steve Bannon's podcast earlier today. What we know, via The Hill's Mike Lillis |
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➤ IT'S KEN BUCK'S LAST DAY IN CONGRESS: |
Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) recently decided to expediate his retirement from Congress, and today is his last day. As his last hurrah, he became the first GOP member to sign Democrats' discharge petition, which would force a vote on Ukraine and Israel aid. Keep in mind: Buck has *bucked* his Republican colleagues in the past year and has been a vocal critic of his party's election denialism. Earlier this week, the House Freedom Caucus voted to remove him from its membership. |
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Ah, that could add some cash to the piggy bank: |
Former President Trump's social media company Truth Social just finalized a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp., potentially adding $3.5 billion to Trump's net worth. Timing: The news comes as Trump struggles to pull together his $464 million bond in the New York civil fraud case. (The Hill) 'Why Trump may reap billions in Truth Social stock market merger': BBC |
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Go into a GOP Hill staffer happy hour and casually ask about raising the retirement age: |
Then either brace yourself or run away. |
The debate over reforming Social Security has become quite heated within the Republican Party. On one hand: Some Republicans in Congress want to reform Social Security, including raising the retirement age to make the program more solvent. They argue it would be slowly phased in and would not cut benefits. 👍 From Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.): "Ultimately if you want to save Social Security for the next generation, you have to reform it. Several ideas for reform are raising the age, means testing it, looking at the taxation. All of it has to be looked at; all of it has to be discussed. Not because of anybody wants to cut Social Security, but because we want to try to save it for the next generation." On the other hand: Other Republicans argue that discussing Social Security reform during an election year is "political malpractice," as The Hill's Alexander Bolton describes it. That could hand Democrats a strong political gift on a silver platter. 👎 From Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.): "What a terrible idea. If Republicans want to be in the minority party forever, then go ahead and endorse that," he said. "Republicans are so stupid. If they want to go to working people and say, 'Congratulations, you have paid into this your whole life — your payroll taxes — and now we're going to take part of it away from you. We're going to make you work even longer than we said beforehand,' I just think that's the stupidest thing I ever heard." Why this debate is happening now: A large group of Republicans released a budget plan this week, which included "modest adjustments to the retirement age." Read more: 'GOP faces internal battle over raising age for Social Security' |
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The commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) warned against raising the retirement age, arguing it would disproportionately affect blue-collar workers. SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley said at a hearing: "[Americans] want their government to strengthen [Social Security] and expand it — not to cut it, contract it or gut its customer service … For those who would advocate raising the age, I think we have to be mindful of people who do hard work their whole lives, and die sooner." More from The Hill's Clayton Vickers |
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An oddly shaped, hollowed-out cherry tree at the Tidal Basin is being removed as part of sea wall construction. Well, "Stumpy" has become a beloved celebrity in Washington, D.C., with many residents and tourists stopping to see the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree of cherry trees. Read The Washington Post's explainer of 'Stumpy mania' This is some good news: NPR reports that the clippings from the tree will be propagated at the National Arboretum. |
➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THE TIDAL BASIN:
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💧 Celebrate: Today is World Water Day! 📺 *Dramatically yells TOPANGA!*: The cast of "Boy Meets World" is creating a documentary. (People) |
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The House and Senate are both in — on a Friday! President Biden is in Washington, D.C., and Vice President Harris is on her way to Puerto Rico. (all times Eastern) |
- Noon: A Senate judicial confirmation vote. 🗓️ Today's agenda
- 1:30 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
- 2:10 p.m.: Harris travels to Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, to visit a residential home.
- 2:55 p.m.: Harris delivers remarks in Puerto Rico. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman and Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi (D) also participate. 💻 Livestream
- 3:50 p.m.: Harris visits a community center in San Juan and speaks at a campaign reception.
- 6:30 p.m.: Harris leaves Puerto Rico and flies to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- 4:40 p.m.: Biden leaves for Delaware.
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