Happy Wednesday! A few snowflakes made their debut in Washington today as someone else announced their looming departure. Here’s what’s coming up:
Hello! Emily Martin and Steff Danielle Thomas here, filling in for Cate, with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary and feedback to emartin@digital-staging.thehill.com or sthomas@digital-staging.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.
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Hi, how many tonight?’ ‘I’ll have a debate for one, please’💁♂️:
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Instead of participating in tonight’s GOP presidential primary debate, former President Trump sat down with Fox News’s Sean Hannity on Tuesday night for a one-on-one town hall. Here are some highlights:
Hannity asked Trump about media reports describing Trump’s second term as a dictatorship: “[U]nder no circumstances. You are promising America tonight. You would never abuse power as retribution against anybody?” “Except for day one,” Trump responded. The whole back and forth was fascinating; Watch the clip
Oh, oh, oh, oh: Trump compared himself to the infamous gangster Al Capone when talking about all of his criminal charges. Trump’s quote: “I’ve often said, Al Capone, he was one of the greatest of all time, if you like criminals. He was a mob boss, the likes of which — Scarface, they call him. And he got indicted once. I got indicted four times.”
Hannity’s first question: “When you look at the polls, you see the enthusiasm, you’ve done rallies and crowds. How are you feeling about the race?” Watch the clip When asked about Biden’s ‘cognitive state’: Trump responded: “Nuclear weapons are the biggest problem we have. And we have a man that can’t put two sentences together. We have a man that doesn’t know he’s alive. And he’s backed up by the media.” Trump divulged his January plans: Trump said he plans to spend the weeks before the Iowa Caucuses “blitzing” the state.
More takeaways from the town hall, via The Hill’s Alex Gangitano and Julia Mueller |
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Trying to flip the script:
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A super PAC backing Trump is trying to turn the tables amid scrutiny over the GOP frontrunner’s comment that he won’t be a dictator if reelected “except for Day One.” Trump made the comment during the town hall Tuesday night: HANNITY: “Under no circumstances — you are promising America tonight — you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody?”
TRUMP: “Except for day one … I want to close the border and I want to drill, drill, drill.”
The Make America Great Again Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, sent an email Wednesday asserting “the real dictator is already in the White House.” |
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Now, onto the main event:
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The GOP presidential debate staged has been whittled down to just four candidates who will be facing off in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Wednesday night. Who will debate?: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Who will moderate?: Elizabeth Vargas, Megyn Kelly and Eliana Johnson Five things to watch:
- “Does Haley cement herself as the strongest Trump alternative?”
- “Can DeSantis turn things around?”
- “Do the candidates attack Trump?”
- “How rowdy is the debate?”
- “Will it make a difference?”
Primer from The Hill’s Jared Gans
How to watch: It will air at 8 p.m. EST on NewsNation, a cable channel owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. |
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McCarthy plans his swift-ish exit |
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Well … that was … unexpected?
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted as Speaker in October after a tumultuous 10 months in the role, announced Wednesday that he will step down from Congress at the end of the year.
McCarthy, who has represented most of the San Joaquin Valley since 2007, wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that he wanted to “serve America in new ways.”
His announcement comes just days before the deadline to file for reelection in The Golden State.
It also comes just a day after Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), who served briefly as Speaker pro tempore following McCarthy’s ouster, said he would forgo running for reelection.
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It’s getting hot in here:
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A classified Senate briefing on Ukraine blew up with partisan fighting on Tuesday afternoon, highlighting deep tensions among lawmakers seeking to unlock a deal for more aid.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) accused GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) of trying to hijack the meeting about the Ukraine war to instead focus on border security.
The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports: “The discussion got so heated that, at one point, Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) were shouting questions at the senior Biden administration officials in the room, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Charles Q. Brown Jr.”
Cramer told reporters later that he “took them on with the microphone in my hand.” He said Schumer went “nuts” after the GOP senator insisted that the military leaders convince Democrats that the Ukraine war was important enough to justify them providing concessions to the GOP on asylum reform and immigration. “One of them started — was disrespectful — and started screaming at one of the generals and challenging him why he didn’t go to the border,” Schumer said.
Read the full story here. |
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The most obvious pick for TIME’s ‘Person of the Year’: |
The Hill’s Top Lobbyists of 2023:
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Capitol Hill opened its doors once again at the beginning of the year after pandemic restrictions lifted, and what does that mean? LOBBYISTS.
As legislating ground to a halt amid debt ceiling battles and the historic Speaker ouster, K Street set its sights on pushing their policy priorities.
These impactful advocates stand out for the results they’ve delivered for their clients, companies, trade associations and advocacy groups in the nation’s capital. (The Hill) |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern) |
Earlier: Biden delivers remarks on his national security supplemental request. 💻 Livestream
1:45 p.m.: Biden speaks at the White House Tribal Nations Summit at the Department of the Interior. 💻 Livestream
2:45 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby brief reporters. 💻 Livestream
3 p.m.: First lady Jill Biden hosts a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots event at the White House. 💻 Livestream
3:30 p.m.: Harris speaks at the White House Tribal Nations Summit. 💻 Livestream
5 p.m.: Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff host a holiday reception at the Naval Observatory. 5:30 p.m.: Biden participates in a campaign reception at the St. Regis Hotel.
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🥘 Celebrate: Today is National Gazpacho Day!
🎄 Christmas cheer: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” a 1958 holiday song by Brenda Lee, has hit the Billboard Top 100 songs for the first time, beating Mariah Carey’s famous “All I Want for Christmas is You.” (CBS News)
💡It’s electric: A recent survey found that on average, Americans will spend about $384 on outdoor holiday light decorations. But, that doesn’t include the cost of the electricity. (Nexstar)
🥤Thirsty?: The World Health Organization (WHO) is pushing for higher taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks. Why? They said it could encourage healthier habits. (The Hill)
🎥 Remember ‘Barbenheimer’?: When a producer from the “Oppenheimer” movie discovered “Barbie” would be premiering on the same day, he reached out to Margot Robbie (aka Barbie) to ask her to move the premiere date. Her response: “We’re not moving our date. If you’re scared to be up against us, then you move your date.” (BuzzFeed)
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