| | | | |  | | By Daniella Diaz | | | With assists from POLITICO’s Congress team
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Republicans are still slamming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for packing the schedule. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | WHAT TO EXPECT THE NEXT TWO WEEKS There are two weeks left before Congress says sayonara until the new year — and a whole lot of work to get done in that time. Most items look like they could come together in time, with a dose of typical Capitol holiday spirit (read: lawmakers wanting to get out of D.C.). One notable exception is a supplemental spending package that’s supposed to combine cash for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as stricter border policies. That priority isn’t looking great at the moment. Of course, it’s a lighter December schedule than usual, with no shutdown deadline until mid-January. But Republicans are still slamming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for packing the schedule. “Why did he screw it up so bad?” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Monday. “He wanted to ruin your holidays.” Here’s a chunk of lawmakers’ before-Christmas to-do list: Supplemental funding package: The Senate is set to vote on either Wednesday or Thursday for an extensive supplemental package that Republicans are certain to block because it doesn’t include border security measures. And that hasn’t happened, because… Border talks hit a wall: Bipartisan negotiations to get that action on border security are on life support. A person familiar with the negotiations said that Senate Republican demands moved in the “wrong direction” since Speaker Mike Johnson met with the Senate GOP on Wednesday last week. The person also said Republicans want detention policies that Democrats won’t support. National Defense Authorization Act: Both chambers are on track to take up the must-pass NDAA bill before the end of the year, which has now been conferenced and will be a much less conservative bill than the one the House took up earlier this year. The legislation is traditionally passed with bipartisan support and passed into law each year for over six decades. (One of the few major bills that actually passes each year). Lawmakers are expected to finalize text this week and the Senate will vote on it in the coming days, so it seems on track to pass before the holidays. “I think we're gonna have to prioritize hopefully NDAA first and when we get that done, that would be a good accomplishment,” Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters last week. Surveillance powers: The Section 702 foreign surveillance authority is set to expire at the end of the year, and an extension will likely be tucked into the NDAA text. Of course, it wouldn’t be Congress without some last-second drama, and there’s an active effort underway to try to get it out of that bill. Impeachment inquiry: The House will likely vote to launch a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden next week, setting up fresh clashes between Republicans and the White House. And GOP lawmakers are hoping to have Hunter Biden in for a private deposition next week. (More from impeachment expert Jordain is below). — Daniella Diaz, with assist from Ursula Perano, Jordain Carney and Connor O’Brien
| | A message from Optum Rx: 46 million Americans live in rural areas, and community and independent pharmacies play a vital role in their health care. That’s why Optum Rx is proud to partner with more than 26,000 community and independent pharmacies to deliver care, improve the pharmacy experience and help make prescription drugs more affordable. That’s pharmacy care “Optumized.” Learn more. | | | GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Monday, Dec. 4, where we appreciate this holiday spirit from Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s office. WHAT’S NEXT ON IMPEACHMENT Republicans are trying to line up the final dominos in their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, before they decide whether to pursue articles as soon as January. Monday came with a couple hiccups on that front.
- Republicans had set a Monday deadline for Hunter Biden’s legal team to tell them if he will appear before the panel for a closed-door deposition on Dec. 13. As of late Monday afternoon, a committee aide told us they haven’t yet heard from his legal team, though there is still time before midnight.
- Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) publicly released payments between a Hunter Biden business account to Joe Biden, saying it is the latest example that showed Joe Biden “knew about, participated in, and benefited from” his family’s business arrangements. The problem: Hunter Biden’s team was quick to note the $1,380 transfers were repaying Joe Biden for a truck he had financed — and that the payments had previously been publicly disclosed.
But they have more people on deck: The Oversight Committee is in talks with James Biden, Joe Biden’s brother, and Rob Walker, a former Hunter Biden business associate, who were both subpoenaed. Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said on Monday that he also believes they’ll speak to Lesley Wolf, a prosecutor in the Delaware U.S. Attorney's Office, this month. And the Ways and Means Committee is set to meet with two IRS whistleblowers Tuesday who have alleged interference in the Hunter Biden probe. (DOJ has denied those allegations.) Republicans are hoping to finish their depositions within the next six to seven weeks, which would put them on track to make a decision on whether or not to pursue articles in January. Jordan pointed to bribery, abuse of power and obstruction as potential avenues for articles of impeachment, predicting that Republicans will “look at all of those.” — Jordain Carney
| | | | GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE. | | | | | FETTERMAN TROLLS VIA CAMEO — AGAIN John Fetterman is trolling again. This time, George Santos unwittingly helped. Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) office requested a Cameo (for those not familiar, a celebrity video message) from Santos targeting Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) on Monday, hours after Santos announced he was on the video app taking requests. Fetterman has repeatedly called on Menendez to be expelled from Congress after being indicted for the second time, and Santos was expelled last Friday. As of this afternoon, Santos was charging $200 per video. A Fetterman spokesperson said they paid for the request with campaign funds and that Santos provided the video within 16 minutes. “Hey Bobby, look I don’t think I need to tell you but these people that want to make you get in trouble and want to kick you out and make you run away, you make them put up or shut up,” Santos said in the video. “You stand your ground, sir, and don’t get bogged down by all the haters out there. Stay strong. Merry Christmas.” Fetterman told reporters Monday he made the video to remind people that Menendez remains in the Senate and again called for a vote to expel him. “He has no business remaining in the Senate in my opinion,” Fetterman said. “If you think Santos should be expelled, then I don’t know how we can keep (Menendez) here.” Menendez was quick to hit back, saying Monday: “I don’t think Mr. Clickbait’s donors would appreciate him enriching George Santos. I’m surprised he didn’t ask his parents for the money.” Santos posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he didn’t know the request was from Fetterman and for Menendez. “I love this! I wish I knew the Bobby in question! LOL,” he said. Fetterman has done this before: In 2022 he shared a Cameo video with "Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, who highlighted Dr. Mehmet Oz’s ties to New Jersey as he ran against Fetterman for the Pennsylvania Senate seat. — Ursula Perano and Daniella Diaz
| | | | A message from Optum Rx:   | | | CONSERVATIVES: WHITE HOUSE "MISSED THE MARK” ON UKRAINE The White House has tried a new tactic to get Ukraine aid passed, arguing the money is spent in the U.S. and has created jobs. It’s not swaying Republicans opposed to giving more cash. Two conservative senators wrote in an op-ed Monday that the argument “missed the mark.” “War is not a business venture, and the United States is more than just an economy. We are a nation with discrete geopolitical objectives and security priorities,” Sens. J.D. Vance of Ohio and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama wrote. “Political spin cannot obscure that Americans no longer support aid for Ukraine. Neither should the Senate,” they added. As we noted earlier, the Senate is set to take up a vote on its supplemental funding package as soon as Wednesday or Thursday of this week, which Republicans are set to block. — Daniella Diaz
| | | | GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | | | George Santos has joined Cameo and he’s upped his price a couple of times. He’s fully embraced the new job. Paging Sherrod Brown – new Senate heartthrob? QUICK LINKS Trump’s revenge? GOP braces for daily blasts from ‘orange Jesus’, from Burgess Everett, Olivia Beavers and Meridith McGraw House Judiciary set to unveil new spy powers bill with broad warrant requirement, from Jordain Carney TRANSITIONS Abigail White is now press and digital assistant for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Erin O’Malley is now a communications manager at GoFundMe. She most recently served as Communications Director for Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.). Sam Runyon is departing Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-W.Va.) office after nearly nine years, including the past three as communications director. Charlotte Laracy, Manchin’s press secretary, is taking over as communications director. Tom Erb is now senior policy adviser to Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.). He previously was climate policy director for Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.). TOMORROW IN CONGRESS The House is in session. The Senate is in session. TUESDAY AROUND THE HILL 10:30 a.m. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost and others will unveil a new bill to fight book bans. (House Triangle) 10:30 a.m. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, Ranking Member Gregory Meeks and other committee Members will host a bipartisan press conference with families of Hamas hostages. (2200 RHOB) 3 p.m. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Minority Whip Katherine Clark will host a press conference with BriTanya Brown and Maria Angelica Vargas on child care supplemental funding. (House Triangle) 4 p.m. Reps. Lisa McClain, Nancy Mace, Pete Sessions, Russell Fry, Nick Langworthy, Anna Paulina Luna as well as Riley Gaines and Kim Russell will host a press conference on female athletics and Title IX. (House Triangle)
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That’s pharmacy care “Optumized.” Learn more. | | | | | FRIDAY’S ANSWER: Diana Deem correctly answered that Rosa Parks spent 20 years as a House employee for John Conyers. TODAY’S QUESTION from Diana: How many presidents have served more than one term? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to huddletrivia@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each evening. Follow Daniella on X at @DaniellaMicaela. | | | | Follow us | | | | |
