Tipsheet: GOP optimism grows over possible red wave in 2022

View in your browser     GOP optimism grows over possible red wave in 2022 BY TAL AXELROD   With less than a year to go until the 2022 midterms, Republicans are increasingly bullish on the prospect of a red wave that could flip both chambers of Congress and end Democrats’ unified control in Washington. Heading into 2022, Democrats find themselves on their back foot, defending their narrow House and Senate majorities – and President Biden – against a fusillade of attacks over stubbornly high coronavirus cases, inflation, the bloody Afghanistan withdrawal and more. Biden’s approval ratings have nosedived to the low 40s, portending a possible drumming at the ballot box next year – and they haven’t stopped falling. Read the full story here     The 10 races that will decide the Senate majority BY MAX GREENWOOD   Democrats are defending the narrowest of Senate majorities in 2022 as Republicans look to fight their way back into power after a series of crushing defeats. Read the full story here     Gun control advocates express disappointment with Biden BY ALEX GANGITANO   Gun violence prevention advocates were hopeful a year ago that the Biden presidency would make progress on gun control. Instead, as his first year in office draws to an end, they are feeling disappointed. Read the full story here     Fauci on lack of tests during holiday season: 'We've got to do better' BY SARAKSHI RAI   The White House's chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci said Sunday that the U.S. has to do better when it comes to testing options being more widely available in the country.  Read the full story here       Jan. 6 panel signals interest in whether Trump committed crime BY HARPER NEIDIG AND REBECCA BEITSCH   The Jan. 6 Select Committee has signaled it intends to explore potential criminal wrongdoing by former President Trump, marking a significant escalation for the investigation that could put pressure on the Biden administration. Read the full story here     Allies are split on Biden's diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics BY LAURA KELLY AND ALEX GANGITANO   The Biden administration’s diplomatic boycott of Beijing’s Winter Olympics is already showing signs of being a limited success.  Read the full story here     2021 was another good year for women running for election BY JULIA MANCHESTER   Women made gains up and down the ballot in 2021, previewing what could be another record-breaking year for female candidates running for office in the 2022 midterm elections.  Read the full story here     Four environmental fights to watch in 2022 BY RACHEL FRAZIN   With Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) dashing Democratic hopes for major climate change and environmental legislation, pressure is increasing on the Biden administration to take significant regulatory action.  Read the full story here     Holiday sales rise 8.5 percent despite omicron, supply chain woes BY SARAH POLUS Holiday sales skyrocketed this year despite a series of setbacks that affected the world of retail, according to The Associated Press. Read the full story here     South Africa's Desmond Tutu, Nobel Prize winner, dies at 90 BY JOSEPH CHOI   South African anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu died Sunday due to complication from cancer at the age of 90. Read the full story here     ICE's failure to give detainees booster shots could fuel our winter surge BY EUNICE CHO   OPINION l ICE’s heavy reliance on the less-effective Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which provides little to no protection against omicron, makes even more urgent the need to provide booster shots, particularly with mRNA vaccines, to the thousands of people in ICE detention. Read the full story here     VP dilemma: The establishment or the base? BY BILL SCHNEIDER   OPINION l The job description for a vice president is one word — loyalty. The job of the vice president is to be loyal to the president. The party establishment usually rewards this loyalty by supporting the vice president if he — until now it’s always been a he — later runs for president: Read the full story here     Bloomberg: Airlines’ US holiday flight cuts top 2,800 on crew shortages BY MARIA ELENA VIZCAINO Airlines’ U.S. flight cancellations exceeded 2,800 for the Christmas weekend, disrupting travel on one of the busiest periods of the year as the omicron-fueled wave of Covid cases triggered air-crew shortages.  Read the full story here     NBC News: Snow expected to continue as winter storm warnings extend from Seattle to San Diego BY DENNIS ROMERO Snow came too late in Los Angeles County to count as a white Christmas, but it fell in time in Seattle — and it continued to fall until it covered the ground around the landmark Pike Place Market on Sunday. Read the full story here     Reuters: Midsize US law firms roll out raises, perks to recruit attorneys in talent war BY CHINEKWU OSAKWE Midsize U.S. law firms are facing recruiting pressure in a tight labor market, compelling some to raise early career attorneys' salaries and offer other perks. Read the full story here     CNN: January 6 committee ramps up efforts to uncover funding behind Capitol riot BY KATELYN POLANTZ and MARY KAY MALLONEE A new court challenge is revealing how the January 6 House select committee is demanding bank records, providing a new window into its effort to understand what propelled the violence that day. Read the full story here     The Washington Post: House MAGA squad seeks to expand by boosting challengers to fellow Republicans BY COLBY ITKOWITZ The defiant far-right acolytes of former president Donald Trump in the House Republican caucus have embarked on a targeted campaign ahead of the midterm elections to expand their ranks — and extend their power — on Capitol Hill. Read the full story here         Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up for The Hill Tipsheet       Forward this Tipsheet   You Might Like       Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  |  Email to a friend  |  Sign Up for Other Newsletters   The Hill 1625 K Street, NW 9th Floor, Washington DC 20006 ©1998 - 2021 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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