Tipsheet: Senate passes tax overhaul, securing major GOP victory

View in your browser     Senate passes tax overhaul, securing major GOP victory By Jordain Carney and Naomi Jagoda      The Senate passed legislation to overhaul the tax code early Saturday morning, handing Republicans a badly needed legislative and political victory. Senators voted 51-49 to pass the plan, capping off days of debate and hand wringing as leadership worked frantically behind the scenes to win over holdouts and get the proposal in line with the chamber’s rules. Read the full story here     Listen: McCarthy talks DACA impasse, and today's latest news By Alexis Simendinger and Reid Wilson House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) discusses on the HillCast Power Politics podcast how Congress will handle a legislative fix for young undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Listen to The Hill's podcast here     McCarthy: ‘Zero tolerance’ for sexual harassment By Reid Wilson House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) wants Congress to revisit its internal policies to prevent sexual harassment on a yearly basis, pledging “zero tolerance” for misbehavior among members and staff going forward. Read the full story here     Senate GOP repeals ObamaCare mandate By Peter Sullivan Senate Republicans have approved the repeal of ObamaCare’s individual mandate as part of their tax-cut bill, a major step forward toward ending an unpopular part of the healthcare law. Read the full story here     Flynn plea brings Mueller closer to the White House By Katie Bo Williams The guilty plea from former national security adviser Michael Flynn has brought special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation onto the front lawn of the White House. Read the full story here     Pelosi calls for second House Dem to step down amid harassment claims By Jesse Byrnes House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) called for Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.) to resign late Friday amid sexual harassment allegations. Kihuen is the second House Democrat that Pelosi has called on to step down in as many days in the wake of such claims, after Rep. John Conyers Jr. (Mich.). Read the full story here     Trump calls reports of Tillerson’s ouster ‘fake news’ By Jordan Fabian President Trump on Friday forcefully denied reports he’s preparing to push out Rex Tillerson as secretary of State, saying “he’s not leaving.” Read the full story here     Benghazi panel used $150K in taxpayer money to settle wrongful termination lawsuit By Max Greenwood Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), the former chairman of the House Select Committee on Benghazi, used $150,000 of taxpayer money to settle a wrongful dismissal suit from a former staffer, according to a report Friday. Read the full story here     House conservatives cast doubt on GOP leaders' shutdown strategy By Cristina Marcos and Melanie Zanona  House conservatives said Friday that they opposed GOP leaders' proposal to keep the government funded up to a few days before Christmas, throwing a wrench into plans to avoid a shutdown. Read the full story here     DOJ issues arrest warrant for undocumented immigrant acquitted in Kate Steinle killing By Max Greenwood A federal warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Mexican immigrant acquitted Thursday evening of murder charges in the 2015 killing of Kate Steinle. Read the full story here     Middle-class tax relief could start in the sky By Jim Dean  OPINION | If Republicans are serious about giving the middle-class tax relief, it’s time to end our absurd subsidization of the wealthiest 1 percent and make sure those flying around in their Gulfstream IVs aren’t enjoying our country’s shared aviation infrastructure without paying their fair share of taxes. Read the full story here     Don't give up on democracy just yet By Henry Tam OPINION | Far from standing back from the systemic circulation of falsehoods, public authorities must engage in a much more consistent formulation and enforcement of legal restraints to ensure that deception of the public is not a premium electoral strategy. Read the full story here     The New York Times: Republicans near a big win — but will it lift them politically? By Carl Hulse and Sheryl Gay Stolberg   Senate Republicans got what they so desperately needed early Saturday when an ugly process and a series of last-minute concessions put them within reach of a significant legislative victory in the form of major tax legislation. Read the full story here     Associated Press: Why Republicans who once fought budget debt now embrace it By Josh Boak   When did Republicans stop worrying and learn to love budget deficits? Read the full story here     Reuters: How McConnell kept Republicans in line to win Senate tax bill By Susan Cornwell, David Morgan   When Republicans tried to repeal and replace Obamacare over the summer, they acted like “a bunch of free range chickens”, said Republican Senator John Kennedy. “Everybody was upset, tired, mad, people drawing lines in the dirt.” Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: On a big day, Flynn grabs the spotlight By Peter Nicholas and  Byron Tau It looked to be a triumphant day for President Donald Trump, with the Senate poised Friday to take another big step toward passing a tax bill. Read the full story here     CNN: Russia investigation zeroes in on Trump inner circle By Stephen Collinson   Michael Flynn's downfall Friday exacerbated grave legal and political risks that represent the most serious threat to any administration for at least 40 years, and could eventually imperil the Trump presidency itself. 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