👋 It's Monday. Welcome back to a new, cool, chill Senate where senators have no dress code on the floor. But I'm sorry to say this does not apply to staff. Here are some highlights: - The U.S. military lost a nearly $80 million F-35 fighter jet near Charleston, S.C., after the pilot ejected. If you see it around, hit the military up!
- Former President Trump slammed Republicans, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) ,for their strict anti-abortion policies.
- The White House announced a prisoner swap with Iran.
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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You have my full attention: |
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➤ NEWSY BITS FROM THE SIT-DOWN: |
Trump showed a more moderate GOP stance on abortion: Trump said he would sit down with both sides and broker a deal on abortion. He also criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for his six-week abortion ban, calling it a "terrible mistake." Trump wouldn't say whether he watched Jan. 6 coverage live: "I'm not going to tell you. I'll tell people later at an appropriate time," Trump said when Welker asked if he was in the dining room watching the attack unfold on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump says he doesn't worry about going to jail: "I don't even think about it. I'm built a little differently I guess, because I have had people come up to me and say, 'How do you do it, sir? How do you do it?' I don't even think about it," Trump said about his four ongoing criminal cases. Watch the clip Would he pardon himself?: "I think it's very unlikely," Trump told Welker. "What, what did I do wrong? I didn't do anything wrong. You mean because I challenge an election, they want to put me in jail?" Trump also said he was given the option to pardon himself when he left office. Watch the clip |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden is in New York City, and Vice President Harris is in Washington, D.C., with no public events scheduled.
(all times Eastern) |
- Noon: The House met. First and last votes will happen around 6:30 p.m. 🗓️ Today's agenda
- 3 p.m.: The Senate meets and will have a cloture vote at 5:30 p.m. 🗓️ Today's agenda
- 4 p.m.: Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. 📺 Livestream
- 6:15 p.m.: Biden participates in two campaign receptions in New York.
- 9 p.m.: CNN's Dana Bash interviews California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).
- Tuesday: Biden addresses the U.N. General Assembly in New York City.
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Five Americans are on their way home: |
The White House announced a prisoner swap with Iran this morning. On the American side: Five Americans who were wrongfully imprisoned were released and are en route to Washington, D.C. Plus: "The U.S is also moving $6 billion of Iranian funds frozen in South Korea to a Qatari bank as part of the deal. The funds will be available for Iran on a limited use and only for humanitarian transactions such as food, medicine and agricultural products." On the Iranian side: Five Iranians who were convicted of nonviolent crimes have been freed. Also happening today: The U.S. is issuing a new set of sanctions against Iran for holding prisoners and for its human rights abuses. (The Hill) |
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- The Washington Post: "U.S. and Iran trade prisoners, signaling partial thaw in relations"
- The New York Times: "Iran Lets 5 Americans Leave as U.S. Unfreezes Billions in Oil Revenue for Tehran"
- The Wall Street Journal: "Five Former U.S. Prisoners Have Left Iran in Deal for Frozen Energy Revenue"
- BBC: "'The nightmare is over': Americans freed by Iran in prisoner swap"
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✈️ My favorite story of the day |
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Um, has anyone seen our F-35 fighter jet?: |
© GIPHY/ The Academy Awards |
The U.S. military is searching for a nearly $80 million F-35 fighter jet that was last seen near Charleston, S.C. I would like to personally deliver this story to the writers of "Saturday Night Live." How does one lose a fighter jet?: Well, a pilot safely ejected from the aircraft on Sunday after a mishap. But apparently, the military doesn't know where the fighter jet is. (The Hill) Joint Base Charleston posted: "If you have any information that may help our recovery teams locate the F-35, please call the Base Defense Operations Center at 843-963-3600." The full post
Hey, I have an idea so this doesn't happen again! Why don't we order a $29 Apple AirTag for every $80 million fighter jet so we don't have this problem again.
Lol!: @ComfortablySmug posted, "Congratulations to Lockheed on making the F-35 so stealth no one can find it." |
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A deal that probably won't go anywhere: |
Two House Republican groups crafted a deal to fund the government another month, cut discretionary spending by 8 percent and implement policy changes at the border. That sounds great, but the bill is likely dead on arrival: Republicans are spending their time on a partisan bill that has almost no chance of passing. It has major hurdles among some Republicans and even if this bill passes the House, Democrats are expected to universally oppose this deal in the Senate.
What does it take to keep the government open?: The House and Senate have to pass 12 appropriations bills to keep the government open. But so far, the House has only passed one and the Senate has passed zero. Adding to the drama: The House and Senate are marking up their bills at different levels. When the debt deal was passed into law, there was a provision that all 12 appropriations bills must be passed by Jan. 1, 2024, or 1 percent cut will be made. Full explainer from The Hill's Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell So, basically: Think of this bill as the opening move in negotiations. |
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be in Washington, D.C. He is expected to meet with President Biden and visit Capitol Hill. (Axios)
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Live footage of senators reacting to the dress code change: |
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) loosened the dress code rules for senators, allowing them to wear whatever they want on the floor. Meaning: "Lawmakers will no longer have to poke only their heads and arm into the chamber to vote if wearing shorts or gym clothes," The Hill's Alexander Bolton pointed out. Who must be thrilled with this dress code change: Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who loves to wear hoodies. But before Senate staffers get too excited: The new rule does not apply to staff or visitors. (The Hill) Schumer told Axios: "Senators are able to choose what they wear on the Senate floor. I will continue to wear a suit." |
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➤ REPUBLICANS ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE CHANGE: |
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted: "The Senate no longer enforcing a dress code for Senators to appease Fetterman is disgraceful. Dress code is one of society's standards that set etiquette and respect for our institutions." From former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke: "If my interns can put on a suit so can a U.S. Senator." From former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin: "Do we have bigger issues than the Senate's dress code? Of course. But I totally disagree w/this. The Capitol Chambers are hallowed ground where some of the most consequential decisions in our nation were made. They [should] be treated with reverence & respect." From former Rep. Justin Amash (Mich.), who left the GOP in 2019: "Awful. The Senate chamber isn't your home, a gym, or an outdoor park. If you can't dress professionally for work on the floor of the Senate of the United States, then do us all a favor and get a different job." |
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🍔 Celebrate: Today is National Cheeseburger Day! Here's a list of deals today. (USA Today) 🐒 Florida is a literal zoo: Florida is filled with more exotic, nonnative species than any other state. (Vox) 🎤 LOL — 'it's gonna me May' lives rent-free in his head: Singer Justin Timberlake responded to the TikTok prompt, "what's a word you pronounced incorrectly one time and it still haunts you to this day?" "Ummm, 'me,'" Timberlake responded, referring to the *NSYNC song, "It's Gonna Be Me." Timberlake's video has more than 1.5 million likes already. The video is very funny. (TikTok) ⛪ Well, this got my attention: A church in Texas used ChatGPT to hold an AI-generated service. (KXAN) |
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