| | | | |  | | By Mia McCarthy, Nicholas Wu and Lisa Kashinsky | | Presented by |  | | | With assists from POLITICO’s Congress team IN TODAY'S EDITION:
- Dems confront a lack of leverage
- Hegseth poised for confirmation
- Johnson gears up for Doral
BIG READ: Chip Roy vs. Donald Trump — In her latest Corridors column, Rachael Bade talks with Roy about his "multitudes of potential conflicts" with the president — tensions that the conservative Texan insists are overblown. Rachael reports that Roy’s name keeps coming up as Trump and his inner circle eye threats on the Hill. DEMOCRATS' DILEMMA: Democrats are widely opposed to pairing the debt limit and wildfire aid — two key parts of a spending proposal GOP leaders are circling behind closed doors. But unless Democrats are willing to flirt with a government shutdown or a potential debt default, they’re likely stuck with the deal, or one similar to it. One House Democrat says his party isn’t willing to make those threats. “The one thing that has united Democrats, in my entire career here, is a commitment to do what's necessary to govern, to keep the government open and to work to improve the lives of the people we all represent, whether that's lowering costs or helping them in a time of crisis,” said Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois, chair of the centrist New Democrat Coalition. “So that's what we're always going to do.” And in more than a dozen interviews with House Democrats, none were willing to suggest that their party would allow a government shutdown or debt default if Republicans don’t play ball on spending negotiations before a mid-March deadline. House Democratic leaders have called themselves the “adults in the room” as the GOP majority has struggled with must-pass legislation. As POLITICO scooped this week, House and Senate Republicans are weighing a government funding pitch to Democrats that would boost border security, lift the debt limit and provide California wildfire aid. Democratic leaders haven’t been presented with a deal yet, but they’re sounding defiant — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reiterated Thursday that trading disaster aid for raising the debt ceiling was a “nonstarter.” If Republicans can stick together, Democrats will have less leverage in the GOP trifecta. Of course, that’s still a critical “if.” Mike Johnson, who faces a threat to his speakership if he’s perceived as giving too much to Democrats, told Meredith that Republican leaders are "looking at all options.” In the meantime, appropriators are getting to work. As our Jennifer Scholtes and Katherine Tully-McManus report, top GOP appropriators on Thursday made an opening offer to Democrats, and lawmakers hope to reach agreement on “topline” numbers by the end of the month. TGIF, Hill pals. We got word that someone is leaving … mini-Jesus figurines in Democratic office bathrooms and sticky notes with Bible verses in Democrats’ offices. If you're the one leaving these Jesus statues, we have questions: Email us at mmccarthy@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com THE LEADERSHIP SUITE
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Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voted against advancing Pete Hegseth's nomination for Defense secretary — a potential prelude to opposing other nominees. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | John Thune’s win for Trump The Senate majority leader is poised to get a significant victory today: confirming Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary. Just two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, joined Democrats in voting against advancing Hegseth’s nomination on Thursday. Hegseth’s confirmation vote, expected around 9 p.m., comes after the Senate confirmed CIA Director John Ratcliffe Thursday, bringing Trump’s Cabinet members up to two. Keep an eye on Murkowski and Collins going forward. The duo, who were at the center of many intra-GOP battles in the first Trump administration, could become a problem for Thune on other nominees — namely Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS secretary, our Jordain Carney reports. Johnson → Doral The speaker is gearing up for next week’s GOP retreat, where he told Meredith he’s aiming to finalize a “blueprint” on House Republicans’ budget reconciliation plans. That’s a lofty goal — Republicans have been arguing over this for weeks, and several centrists spent a Thursday meeting with GOP leaders shooting down proposals for ways to pay for the bill, including cuts to Obamacare and social safety net programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Chuck Schumer's Trump strategy The Senate minority leader is using the rare Friday session to convene a caucus meeting as Democrats try to figure out their Trump-era strategy ahead of more nominee votes and an ICC sanctions bill that is coming to the Senate floor as soon as next week.
| | | | A message from PCMA: Big Pharma is back with the same self-serving agenda designed to undermine the only real check on their otherwise limitless pricing power. By targeting pay-for-performance incentives for pharmacy benefit managers that maximize prescription drug savings for employers, unions and patients in the private health care market, Big Pharma's plan would help them keep drug prices high, boost their profits, and hike health care costs for the American people. Stop Big Pharma's money grab. Learn more. | | | THE SKED The House is not in session. The Senate is in session. — The Senate will vote to confirm Hegseth as secretary of Defense and end debate on Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security around 9 p.m. Over the weekend: The Senate is set to work through the weekend on confirming nominees, including Noem. Thune has also moved to end debate on Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary and Sean Duffy for Transportation secretary. House Republicans will head to Florida for their GOP retreat on Monday. POLICY RUNDOWN HOUSE CHAIR BACKS TRUMP’S TIKTOK MOVE — House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie said in an interview with our Ben Leonard that he supports Trump’s decision to extend the deadline for TikTok to divest from Chinese ownership. It’s a notable position for Guthrie after his committee led the charge last year to ban the video-sharing app; Guthrie added he stands by the bill. Other lawmakers are bewildered by Trump’s proposal that may involve the U.S. owning half of TikTok. IMPOUNDMENT TALKING POINTS — Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) is trying to get Senate Democrats on the same page to fight Trump’s funding freeze, Jennifer reports. The chamber’s top Democratic appropriator is circulating talking points highlighting Congress’ power under the Constitution, limits of impoundment law and the programs being frozen out by Trump’s executive orders. GABBARD, PATEL GET HEARINGS — Two of Trump’s most controversial nominees are slated for confirmation hearings on Jan. 30. FBI director pick Kash Patel will head before the Senate Judiciary Committee and Gabbard will go before Senate Intelligence. At least two Republican members of the Intel committee remain on the fence over Gabbard, Jordain reports, raising the possibility the panel may not advance her nomination. DEMS PICK THEIR NOMINEE BATTLES — VA nominee Doug Collins advanced out of Senate Veterans Affairs in a near-unanimous vote Thursday. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) was the only no vote, citing her concerns about his abortion stance, Ben reports. Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick for Interior secretary, and Chris Wright, tapped to lead DOE, each cleared the Energy and Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support, our Josh Siegel and Ben Lefebvre report. But Democrats on Senate Banking drew a line at backing Scott Turner to lead HUD, citing concerns about his unfinished FBI background check, our Katy O’Donnell reports. He advanced on a party-line vote. The best of POLITICO Pro and E&E:
THE BEST OF THE REST Johnson aide advised against Hutchinson subpoena over concerns about lawmakers’ ‘sexual texts,’ from Jacqueline Alemany at WaPo. The Trendy French Bistro in D.C. That’s the Go-To Haunt for Trump World, from Maggie Severns at WSJ. Exclusive: Elizabeth Warren’s Plan for How Musk Can Cut $2 Trillion in U.S. Spending, by Eric Cortellessa at Time.
| | | | A message from PCMA:  
| | | CAPITOL HILL INFLUENCE Former California Sen. Laphonza Butler is joining Actum, a global public affairs firm, as a partner. Butler will be based in the firm’s Washington and Los Angeles offices. Former Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), who’s been making the rounds in the Senate this week, has tapped his former chief of staff Megan Whittemore, now with Penta Group, and former counsel John Eunice to help steer his confirmation process to be ambassador to China. JOB BOARD Rep. Derek Tran (D-Calif.) announced several new hires in his D.C. and District offices: Dao Nguyen is chief of staff; Eliana Locke will serve as communications director; Justin Maturo will serve as legislative director; Tony Tran will serve as senior legislative assistant; Lauren Brown will serve as scheduler; Cody Mendoza will serve as district director; Katrina Mañalac will serve as constituent services manager; Roxanne Chow will serve as senior adviser based in Orange County. Dirk Vande-Beek is now communications director for Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). Connor Mills is now legislative assistant for Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.). Hirono is looking for a law clerk for the summer. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is looking for a scheduling assistant/assistant chief of staff. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) is looking for full-time or part-time law clerks for the summer. His office is also hiring a lawyer or recent law school graduate for a one-year legal fellowship. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) is hiring a deputy communications director. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Reps. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.) and Jake Ellzey (R-Texas) … Eric Schultz … Alex Wong … Elliott Abrams … The American Leader’s David Hawkings … AP’s Byron Tau … Protect Democracy’s Ian Bassin … Monica Popp of Marshall & Popp ... Nathanson + Hauck’s Meg Hauck Marshall … former Reps. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) and Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.) … Bernie Merritt … Edelman’s Melanie Trottman ... Shane Hand … Albert Fujii of Rep. Morgan McGarvey’s (D-Ky.) office … James Davis of the House Dem Caucus … Bloomberg Government’s Ken Tran TRIVIA THURSDAY’S ANSWER: This one stumped you guys. Hawaii is the state that has never had a senator lose reelection. TODAY’S QUESTION, from our colleague Ally Mutnick: What are the five universities that have both a president and a Super Bowl-winning quarterback as alumni?
| | | | A message from PCMA: Big Pharma is attempting to pull off a money grab, asking Congress to intervene in the private health care marketplace to increase drug companies' pricing power and help them keep their drug prices high.
By undermining pay-for-performance in health care and flexibility and choice for employers to design their pharmacy benefits, their plan would boost Big Pharma's profits, and hike health care costs for everyone else. Learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
