The White House is coming out against the House GOP's handling of key committee assignments, blasting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R) for doling out influential posts to "ultra MAGA" Republican allies of former President Trump. "On some of these key committees, it appears that House Republicans have handed over the keys to the most extreme MAGA members of the Republican Caucus," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday. "These are members who have promoted violent rhetoric and dangerous conspiracy theories including suggesting violence against political opponents, trafficking in anti-semitic lies and defending and downplaying a violent insurrection against our democracy." Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) and Paul Gosar (Ariz.) were both stripped of their committee assignments for incendiary remarks during the last Democratic-controlled House term. Now they'll serve on the influential Oversight Committee. Gosar also reclaimed his seat on the Natural Resources Committee, and Greene has been named to the Homeland Security Committee. "Joe Biden, be prepared," Greene said in a statement about her appointments. While no formal deals have been revealed, committee positions were a sticking point on McCarthy's path to the Speakership. It took 15 rounds of voting in the House, with negotiations taking place behind the scenes with McCarthy's detractors, before he ultimately secured the gavel. "It is for them to answer why is it that they chose to move in that direction," Jean-Pierre said when asked about the White House's views on any potential deals. Meanwhile, embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) also has raised eyebrows for his position on two committees — Small Business and Science, Space and Technology. McCarthy, who is walking a tightrope with a razor-thin GOP majority in the chamber, has said he won't call on Santos to resign from his traditionally Democratic district because Santos hasn't been found guilty of a crime, though the New York Republican faces mounting investigations and calls for his resignation. "He's part of their conference clearly, but sadly, we have seen what they feel they owe the American people when it comes to standards by the actions that they have taken on this particular individual," Jean-Pierre said. |
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Welcome to Evening Report! I'm Elizabeth Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what's coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. |
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- Vice President Harris will mark the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade
at an event in Florida on Sunday.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is planning its first hearing to investigate the ticketing industry, nearly two months after a Ticketmaster meltdown over a Taylor Swift presale event.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched a new interactive tool to help customers figure out what they're owed when flights are delayed or cancelled.
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💰 US to hit debt limit Thursday, months left to avoid default
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The United States is on track to hit its $31.4 trillion debt limit on Thursday, intensifying the fight between Democrats and Republicans over how to shore up federal finances before a default in as little as six months. A default could derail the economy and would block federal funding for programs that millions of Americans depend on for food, health care and other assistance. Programs like Social Security and Medicare could also be at risk in a default situation. "If we hit the debt ceiling, and the Treasury runs out of extraordinary measures, and they really can't meet their obligations, somebody's not going to get paid," David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at the Brookings Institution, told The Hill in a recent interview. The Hill's Sylvan Lane and Aris Folley have analyzed the five biggest threats a debt limit crisis presents to the economy. And our colleague Stephen Neukam looks at the measures Treasury can take to prevent, or at least delay, a default until an agreement is reached. |
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🏛️ Archives: DOJ must weigh in before Congress gets Biden docs
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The National Archives says it must first consult with the Department of Justice (DOJ) before it can hand over information that the GOP-led House Oversight Committee wants related to the recent discovery of classified documents in President Biden's personal possession.
In a letter responding to Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), acting Archivist Debra Steidel Wall wrote that the Archives wants to cooperate with Congress' request but it has to defer to federal investigators because of any potential criminal probe.
The DOJ has appointed a special counsel to review the document situation. "I respectfully request that you agree to postpone the scheduling of any interviews until DOJ completes its review of the documents, since any restrictions that apply to the documents will necessarily apply to the interviews," Wall wrote of the prospect lawmakers will call witnesses. Biden has faced increased criticism from Republican foes over the documents since their discovery. |
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📉 Retail sales slumped in December amid fears of slower economy
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Retail sales ended 2022 on a discouraging note, even amid slowing inflation, new economic data suggests. Economists warn that consumer spending — which drives roughly two-thirds of the U.S. economy — could be an indicator of a looming slowdown or recession. 🔹 What the pundits say: "The final retail sales report of 2022 was the weakest of the year," Kayla Bruun, an economic analyst at Morning Consult, wrote in a Wednesday analysis, adding that "retail sales declined year-over-year – a development that is especially disappointing given that last December was being impacted by the spread of the omicron variant." 🔹 Where the hits came: Gas station sales fell 4.6 percent, even amid the rush of renewed holiday travel and lower prices at the pump. Department stores also took a serious hit, with sales plunging 6.6 percent. Furniture and home goods stores, auto dealers, clothing stores, electronics and appliance stores, and restaurants also saw decreased sales last month. 🔹 One bright spot: Sporting goods and hobby stores, building material and supply stores, and grocery stores saw increases in December sales. |
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📱 Trump weighs Twitter return, pushes Facebook to unblock account
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Former President Trump is reportedly preparing to return to Twitter two years after he was booted from the platform, which he regularly used to lob attacks on political enemies, brag about his presidential prowess and muse on a litany of other topics.
NBC News, citing unnamed sources on the Twitter discussions and a letter seeking to also reinstate Trump's Facebook account, first reported the latest on Trump's social media plans as he mounts a third run for president.
Trump's final tweet came just two days after his supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to try to stop the certification of President Biden's election. "To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th," Trump tweeted on Jan. 8, 2021. |
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💊 W.Va. gets $83M settlement with Walgreens over opioid epidemic
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Walgreens has agreed to pay $83 million to settle a lawsuit with West Virginia over the pharmacy chain's role in perpetuating the opioid epidemic that's devastated the state. "We will continue to seek out justice for those affected the most by the opioid epidemic that hit our state the hardest," Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) said in a statement. "This and other settlements will not bring back the lives lost from the opioid menace, but our hope is that the money would provide significant help to those affected the most by this crisis in West Virginia." West Virginia claims in its lawsuit that an oversupply of opioids in the state led to thousands of overdose deaths. The settlement money will go toward prevention and abatement programs. |
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"The Turkey dilemma and the limits of US power" — Robert A. Manning, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center (read here) "Vaccine hesitancy is surging again, regardless of the science"
— Marc Siegel of NYU Langone Health (read here) |
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President Biden heads to San Jose, Calif., to see areas impacted by the recent flooding and extreme weather. While on the West Coast, he's expected to visit first responders, get briefed by state and local officials, survey recovery efforts and assess needs for federal support. The president is scheduled to return to D.C. later in the evening. The U.S. Conference of Mayors continues its annual winter meeting in D.C., with sessions with members of the Biden administration, business leaders and other special guests. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is scheduled to address a panel on workforce development around noon. The House and Senate remain officially on break until next week. |
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There a story you think should be getting more attention? Something people should be talking about? Drop me a line: ecrisp@thehill.com |
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