The Hill Articles: January 31, 2024

January 31
Trump committees spent nearly $30 million on legal costs in second half of 2023 Family sues applesauce maker, Dollar Tree over claims of lead in fruit pouches Explorers believe they found Amelia Earhart’s plane: What happens next? US military shoots down Iranian drones, Houthi missiles, over Gulf of Aden Liz Cheney hails Taylor Swift as ‘national treasure’ amid conservative attacks California set to become first state to introduce series of reparations bills Democratic lawmakers urge Biden administration to address ‘authoritarian’ actions by Salvadoran president House passes $78 billion tax bill in bipartisan vote Judge dismisses Florida pro-Palestinian student groups’ free speech lawsuits against DeSantis Senate GOP battles over border bill tactics; Cruz calls moving forward ‘foolhardy’ Defense & National Security — Are US, Iran already at war? Cotton defends pressing TikTok CEO on ties to Chinese Communist Party Don’t let geopolitics get in the way of scientific cooperation with China Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charge in fatal film set shooting Podesta to replace Kerry as Biden climate czar HHS set to kick off drug negotiation GOP senator says he’ll block Biden nominees over ‘absurd’ natural gas project delays Charlamagne tha God presses Haley on America’s racism GOP state lawmaker showed gun to student group visiting Indiana Statehouse Are US, Iran already at war? Fed unlikely to cut rates in March Senate confirms Biden nominee to lead EPA’s climate and clean air office Big Tech CEOs face Senate fire Democrat says Johnson is Trump’s ‘no boy’ on border talks GOP lawmaker brushes off report of ‘unsafe’ pullups: ‘I did five more reps … than Teddy Roosevelt’ Trump denies trying to block Biden from border win  First Space Force Guardian will launch into space this summer Texas AG Paxton sues cities over marijuana decriminalization Border negotiators fire back at conservative critics 4 takeaways from a heated hearing with tech CEOs  Evening Report — Senators scrutinize tech CEOs News startup The Messenger shuts down Trump on possible Teamsters endorsement: ‘Stranger things have happened’ California braces for ‘Pineapple Express’ storms  Blackburn praises Taylor Swift, says of singer’s past criticism: ‘I just shake it off’ George Conway knocks NYT for ‘projecting normality’ on Trump TikTok’s popularity among Americans growing faster than any other platform: Pew Haley tops Biden in national survey, trails when third-party candidates added Podesta to replace Kerry as top climate diplomat Democrats must push for both a Palestinian state and an Iran nuclear deal Family of soldier killed in Jordan breaks down during call with Biden Judge tosses Disney lawsuit alleging political retaliation by DeSantis   Bowman joins activists in call for ‘equity for all’ Biden opens up lead on Trump amid growing gender gap: Quinnipiac poll Biden super PAC launches historic $250M ad blitz Biogen walks away from controversial Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm White House blames Islamic Resistance in Iraq for drone attack that killed 3 US troops Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce need to calm down — you too, Vivek Speaker Johnson uses first floor speech to hammer Biden on border Taylor Swift blowback due to ‘weird, lonely, insecure men’: Fox Sports’s Cowherd Illinois voters turn to court after board rejects effort to remove Trump from ballot Senators say tech CEOs have ‘blood’ on their hands, Zuckerberg apologizes: Live updates Vance, Hern call for ‘clean, un-offset’ Israel aid bill Fed chair Jerome Powell gives remarks on economy: Watch live   Johnson says Ukraine aid and border policy reform ‘likely’ to be split CNN’s Tapper mocks ‘deranged claims’ about Taylor Swift from far right Comer: Hunter Biden associates ‘had a hard time remembering the bad things’ Fed hold rates steady, casts doubt on March cuts Conflicts over seabed rights are only going to get worse — here’s why  House Oversight panel sets interview with James Biden California sea otters may be reducing erosion as they recolonize historic habitats GOP Sen. Murkowski: ‘Partisan’ Mayorkas impeachment a ‘detour’ from work Trump meets with Teamsters officials in DC Walmart to open 150 new stores in US 13 chic home upgrades that only look pricey 9 portable space heaters that keep you warm without breaking the bank Design your dream workspace — according to your Meyers-Briggs personality type Emmer calls for Ethics investigation into Omar; Democrat says she’s embarrassed for him FBI: China seeks to ‘wreak havoc’ by targeting US water, electricity Utah becomes latest state to regulate bathroom access for transgender people Early testing suggests highway guardrails not built for heavy EVs Biden’s approval rating dips as border concerns grow: Reuters/Ipsos poll From Abuja to Tehran, from Qatar to Beijing, our voices must be heard, now White House holds press briefing: Watch live Denver mayor says city ‘very close to its breaking point’ amid influx of migrants Bush blasts GOP lawmaker who said she should ‘tone it down a little bit’ Russia and Ukraine swap hundreds of POWs, Moscow says Zuckerberg breaks from hearing, apologizes to families victimized by social media  Rising: January 31, 2024 12:30 Report — Senate grills Zuckerberg; Biden’s ‘dream’ endorsement Right-wing radicals who want to resettle Gaza are a threat to Israel Bannon on Mike Johnson: ‘Time for next man up’ Democrats caution Supreme Court against allowing ‘meddling’ in abortion pill case EBay paying $59M to settle allegations over online pill press sales Will the Supreme Court bend to political will in the Trump ballot case?  Groundhog Day’s biggest star is Punxsutawney Phil, but the holiday’s roots extend well beyond him Man arrested after allegedly decapitating father, displaying head on YouTube in conspiracy rant Former Trump administration official shot in DC carjacking spree Cheers erupt as Graham tells Zuckerberg ‘you have blood on your hands’ House GOP faces pointed conservative criticism on Mayorkas impeachment Despite the election, Congress can still make bipartisan progress on energy Few Americans say they know how much health care will cost: Gallup Schumer: House impeaching Mayorkas to ‘appease’ Trump Private employment misses expectations in January Haley unveils ‘Grumpy Old Men’ attack on Trump, Biden House select panel holds hearing on China, threats to homeland security: Watch live World leaders think Trump is ‘laughing fool,’ John Bolton says You can stay in a PEEPS-themed hotel room. Here’s how Bones in German cave show humans were in Europe long before previously thought The VA can protect women’s spaces and transgender vets — here’s how Billionaire Harvard donor Ken Griffin says elite colleges produce ‘whiny snowflakes,’ stops donations Trump knocks Biden for going to East Palestine one year after train derailment F-16 pilot safely ejects before crash off South Korea We have the tools to prevent nearly all HPV-related cancers. We need the will Trump says he’s interviewing new lawyers for Carroll case appeal, attacks judge New York GOP moderates get SALT commitment after floor protest Majority of swing-state voters in new poll wouldn’t vote for Trump if convicted Elmo checks in and gets buried with angst RFK Jr. raises more than $7M in fourth quarter Big Tech CEOs testify before Senate on childhood safety: Watch live Habba drops allegation after brushback from Carroll lawyer Democrats nominate chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen for the Nobel Peace Prize How RFK Jr. traded his principles for ballot access CIA director: Cutting aid to Ukraine would be mistake of ‘historic proportions’ Iran-linked militia blamed for deadly attack on US base suspending operations in Iraq Who wants Taylor Swift’s endorsement? Who wouldn’t, says former recipient Boeing declines to predict 2024 results amid 737 Max 9 uncertainty 6 in 10 swing-state voters say Biden bears responsibility for migrant surge: Survey Pinterest CEO: Big Tech must reject Big Tobacco’s model and address social media harms DOJ charges Iranian, Canadians in plot to kill Maryland residents Hannity: Taylor Swift should ‘think twice’ about Biden endorsement Senators ask Biden administration to increase tariffs on Chinese solar panel products Alexander Lukashenko’s reign of terror continues in Belarus Sanders calls on U.S. to restore funding to UN agency linked to Hamas attacks Navarro says he could be in prison ‘within less than 60 days’ Mellman: Updating the GOP primary and holiday shopping The dangers of spotlighting the ‘perfect’ abortion patient Oregon governor declares fentanyl state of emergency in downtown Portland Willis’s office says Trump case unaffected by Fulton County hack Republicans have a serious Taylor Swift problem Biden to visit East Palestine in February, one year after train derailment Iran says it will respond ‘decisively’ to any US strikes Mulvaney: Haley chooses refreshing honesty in South Carolina expectations Republicans should back a ‘work-and-return-home’ immigration policy Big Tech is incapable of self-governing — Congress must step in Social media giants make billions advertising to our youth but fail to protect them online  Morning Report — House-Senate border battle intensifies  White House after Mayorkas markup: GOP wants to ‘impeach somebody…anybody’ Senate Democrats likely to bury Mayorkas impeachment   Split-screen of Mayorkas impeachment, border bill frustrates Senate GOP House Republicans push to add controversial riders to annual spending bills Democratic group focused on young candidates rakes in $3M in fourth quarter The Memo: The politicization of Taylor Swift RFK Jr.’s possible Libertarian bid rankles Democrats You’ll have to pay taxes on some Venmo, CashApp funds soon Education experts say they’re ready for AI this time Tax deal likely much more expensive than official estimate, experts warn Live Nation doubled lobbying spending to $2.4M in 2023 amid antitrust threat House panel advances Mayorkas impeachment  Progressive group launches six-figure ad campaign for Supreme Court term limits