12:30 Report

12:30 Report — Protests overshadow Israel funding debate

by Cate Martel 10/31/23 12:30 PM ET

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12:30 REPORT

It’s Tuesday. Happy Halloween from my little Winnie the Pooh and Tigger! 👻 🎃 Sen. Mark Warner’s (D-Va.) office wins the office Halloween game so far today. Watch the senator’s reaction when he walks in. Anyway, here’s what we’re covering today:

Protesters interrupted Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s testimony at a Senate hearing this morning.
The debate over Israel and Ukraine aid is getting heated on Capitol Hill, and it could be a major test for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
The Bidens hosted trick-or-treating at the White House. First lady Jill Biden dressed as their family’s cat, Willow.
If you’ve noticed a glaring hole in lawmakers’ responses to their favorite Halloween candy, it was on purpose. Reese’s was by far the most popular answer, so I’ve saved the best for last. 🍫

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@digital-staging.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. 

💰 In Congress

SO many protesters this morning:

Anti-war protesters repeatedly interrupted Secretary of State Antony Blinken as he testified at a Senate hearing on the $100 billion request for emergency funding for Israel and Ukraine. The hearing was paused after a protestor yelled, prompting police to escort them out. Then other protesters did the same, one at a time. (The Hill)

Watch protesters get escorted out

Plus: A group of protesters held up their hands, which were covered in red paint. Photos from NBC’s Frank Thorp V

The Washington Post’s John Hudson added some context: “Anti-war protests are a regular occurrence at congressional hearings overseeing US foreign policy, but Blinken’s never had his testimony interrupted this many times and for this long.” More footage of the interruptions

Watch the hearing: Video from C-SPAN

Welcome to the job, Speaker. You’re going to hate it:

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wants to keep emergency funding for Israel separate from support from Ukraine — and he wants to offset the $14.3 billion Israel aid with budget cuts to the IRS.

Sure, but: Even if that proposal could pass in the House — and that’s a big “if” — senators say it won’t go anywhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Reading between the lines: Funding for Israel is much more politically popular among Republicans than aid to Ukraine. Ukraine funding was a major sticking point that held up government funding last month and almost led to a shutdown.

Where Senate Republicans stand: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has urged his colleagues to keep funding for Ukraine and Israel together. “He warned that a Russian victory in Ukraine would imperil the security and economy of all of Europe, the United States’s largest trading partner and strategic ally.”

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton has an interesting piece on the Israel-Ukraine funding dynamics in Congress.

➤ MEANWHILE — SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL HAS SPLINTERED DEMOCRATS:

“Democratic divisions on Israel and the Palestinians are growing deeper and more bitter as the death toll rises in Gaza and the Biden administration rejects calls for a cease-fire.”

Fueling the fire: “The combustible mix is powered by fundamental differences in views of the conflict, growing personal tensions, and the threat of censure motions and primary challenges.”

Dems vs. GOP: “The GOP holds a more straightforwardly pro-Israel position, while Democrats split across ideological, generational and, to some degree, racial lines.”

Read Niall Stanage’s column today

➤ HOW LIKELY IS THE CHANCE OF A SHUTDOWN?:

Another short-term government funding bill will likely be necessary to keep the government open past Nov. 17. But there are a few major sticking points at play, such as how much grace fiscal conservatives will Johnson. Five things that will determine whether the government shuts down, via The Hill’s Aris Folley

🏔️ Trump’s legal troubles

A trial on whether to disqualify Trump from the 2024 ballot:

“Whether former President Trump instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack is at the core of a Colorado lawsuit seeking to disqualify him from the state’s 2024 ballot under the 14th Amendment’s ‘insurrection clause,’” writes The Hill’s Ella Lee.

Five things to know about the case:

The definition of “insurrection” will determine the outcome of the trial.
A sitting lawmaker, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), took the witness stand. This is very rare.
There is no jury. The judge will decide the outcome.
D.C. law enforcement testified on their experiences defending the U.S. Capitol from the pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump is facing similar lawsuits in Michigan and Minnesota.

Full explanations for each from Lee

🍫🍭 Lawmakers are people, too:

It’s the final day of ‘Cate Judges Lawmakers’ Candy Preferences’:

I’ve been asking lawmakers in Washington, D.C., about their favorite Halloween candy — plus, least favorites and unpopular opinions. Some of their answers have really caught me off guard — like how many lawmakers love candy corn.

By far the most popular answer was Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I’m glad so many lawmakers got this answer right.

Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) love Reese’s. Correct. So does Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), who threw in a lil’ Alabama peanut shoutout.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) loves mini Reese’s — Specific, I like it.

Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.): Dark chocolate and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups — This combo receives the 12:30 stamp of approval — a rare 10/10

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.): Her favorites are Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. When asked about candy corn, she replied with “gross,” according to her team. She also doesn’t like anything that gets stuck in your teeth — citing taffy specifically. — I appreciate how thorough and descriptive your response is, senator … but you’re wrong about candy corn and taffy, so 5/10. I don’t make the rules (yes, I do.) 😬

Oooh, Sen. Duckworth causing drama!: Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) loves Sour Patch Kids, but she noted that her least favorite candy is Reese’s.

Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.): “Easy question: Vermont Maple Sugar Candy, chased down with a warm cup of spiced apple cider – nobody does fall like Vermont!” — Sen. Welch has been crowned our autumn hype man! 👑

Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.): Twizzlers. “Really Red Vines, but they don’t come in little packages.” — At the risk of losing subscribers, I’ve actually never had a Red Vine!

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.): The dark chocolate in Elmer Chocolate’s candy boxes.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) likes pumpkin pie — which I will count as candy-adjacent

Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.): Chocolate-covered almonds

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.): Almond Joy

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) likes M&Ms and Welch’s fruit snacks, both made in his state. “His least favorite is anything made outside of NJ.” — Lol

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio): Spangler’s Dum Dums and Bit-O-Honey, both “made by union workers in Bryan, Ohio.”

Note to readers — As always, feel free to let me know if you agree.

🍬At the White House

A casual spot to trick or treat:

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden handed out M&Ms, Hershey Kisses and books to kids who were invited to trick or treat at the White House on Monday.

I love, love the decorations: Watch the Bidens walk out to greet the kids

Guess that song: A military band played some great music, including the “Game of Thrones” theme song. Here’s a clip — I hear Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive”

Watch the Bidens hand out candy

I’m a mouse, duh!: Jill Biden dressed as Willow the cat, with face paint and a tail. Photos from The Daily Mail’s Emily Goodin — and here are photos of Willow for reference

Spotted in the procession: Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former House speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) and Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young. (h/t The New York Post’s Steven Nelson)

I know you’re here to see photos of the costumes: Here you go

Omg, check out the Mutt Cutts van from ‘Dumb and Dumber’

🐝 Internet Buzz

🍏 Celebrate: Today is National Caramel Apple Day!

🍩 Giving the people what they want: Lots of restaurants have Halloween specials and freebies today. Think: A free doughnut at Krispy Kreme if you wear a costume and $6 Chipotle entrees after 3 p.m. with the code BOORITO. List of deals today, via USA Today

🐼 The Giant Panda Express: The three pandas at the National Zoo are returning to China in November on a FedEx plane with a giant panda decal.

“The pandas will fly first-class with their own vet and keepers in jump seats … They’re well-fed in their individual shipping containers on heaps of fresh bamboo — around 80 lbs. per bear — and favorite snacks, including pears, sugar cane, butternut squash, and nutrient-rich leaf eater biscuits.” (Axios)

🎃 CC @WMATA: Check out this Halloween pumpkin that looks like the DuPont Circle metro stop. (Popville)

🗓 On The Agenda

The Senate is in. The House is out. President Biden is in Washington, D.C., and Vice President Harris is en route to London. (all times Eastern)

1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby brief reporters. 📺 Livestream
1:30 p.m.: Biden receives his daily briefing.
2:30 p.m.: A Senate confirmation vote. 🗓️ Today’s agenda
3:30 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks on protecting Americans’ retirement security. 📺 Livestream
This afternoon: Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff arrive in London.

👋 And Finally…

Because it’s Halloween, I will leave you with two incredible videos:

First, here is a dog debuting its modeling career.

And second, here are some of the best costumes at this year’s NYC dog parade.

Stay Engaged

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