It’s Thursday. I found my favorite spin-off of the Spotify Wrapped this morning. WUSA9’s Spencer Allan Brooks posted that “dc wrapped just dropped.” “You spent 216 hours in traffic on Massachusetts Avenue,” the mock Spotify post reads. Here’s what we’re covering today: - George Santos (R-N.Y.) held a fiery press conference this morning, where he said he plans to force a vote to expel *another* member of Congress before his own ouster vote. He also stressed that he won’t resign.
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A Wall Street Journal op-ed about ObamaCare has lit a fire in the 2024 presidential race.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) are debating each other on Fox News tonight. It could be entertaining to watch.
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Nearly two dozen states may see the northern lights (!) tonight; Alaska, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota have the best chances of visibility.
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@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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If I’m going down, I’m bringing you with me!: |
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Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who is facing multiple efforts to expel him from Congress, held a fiery, farewell tour-esque press conference this morning — and is trying to take down another colleague with him.
Who and how?: He will force a vote to expel a fellow New Yorker, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D), from Congress after Bowman recently pleaded guilty for falsely pulling a fire alarm during a government funding vote. (The Hill)
The other big news from the press conference: Santos stressed that he won’t resign and called the effort to oust him “bullying.” From Santos: “It’s all theater. It’s theater for the cameras. It’s theater for the microphones. It’s theater for the American people.” Watch the clip When is the vote to oust Santos?: Friday.
^ What’s different about this vote: A growing number of Democrats have said they will flip their votes and won’t bail out Santos this time around. This could potentially cost him his seat. (The Hill) |
It got heated: Santos held an early morning press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol to address the situation. Here’s a clip to give you a sense of the tone Photo of the media who showed up on a cold morning
Tell us about those Ferragamo shoes: NBC’s Kate Santaliz posted: “Asked Santos if he was wearing anything bought with campaign funds – including the Ferragamo shoes he was wearing. ‘No, nothing.’ Santos said looking down at his clothes. ‘These shoes are six years old.’” Zoom in to see the shoes
Helpful summary of Santos’s presser from The Boston Globe’s Jim Puzzanghera: “It’s been ‘a year from hell,’ Reps voting to expel him are hypocrites, the precedent will ‘haunt them,’ he’ll move to expel Jamaal Bowman for pulling a fire alarm, his purple loafers are 6 years old, and it’s not ‘goodbye forever.’” Photo
A lighter tidbit: Hill staffer John Hicks posted a photo of his work outfit yesterday. “Three (!) people have asked me if [I] meant to come dressed as George Santos today. No,” he captioned the photo. See for yourself — does this outfit remind you of Santos? What a time to be alive: A 15-foot balloon of Santos was seen tumbling around Capitol Hill this week. Watch |
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Tommy may be softening a bit: |
“Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has held up hundreds of military promotions for months but could be on the verge of being rolled by his own GOP colleagues in December, unless he can find a new compromise.”
What changed?: “At a Senate lunch Tuesday, Tuberville gave the first indication that he could end his holds on nominations … before a resolution hits the floor that would greenlight the promotions.”
^ Yes, but the details are still unclear. As a refresher: Tuberville has been singlehandedly holding up military promotions as a protest over the Pentagon’s abortion policy that pays for service members to travel for abortions.
Patience is running thin among Tuberville’s GOP colleagues, via The Hill’s Al Weaver |
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➤ TIDBITS FROM CAPITOL HILL: |
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‘The 543 word editorial that may have just upended the presidential campaign’: |
Politico’s Meridith McGraw and Adam Cancryn write how a Wall Street Journal op-ed about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) piqued former President Trump’s interest. He then posted about wanting to repeal and replace the ACA, catching Republicans totally off guard — there haven’t been any serious discussions about ObamaCare as a policy priority in years. Plus, there’s no consensus on any ACA replacement.
Read The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board op-ed: “Elizabeth Warren Has an ObamaCare Epiphany: The Senator complains about the industry consolidation and price increases caused by the healthcare law.”
? Why this matters: “The post lit a fire under President Joe Biden’s slow burn campaign. Significant campaign resources were quickly mobilized in response. Groups began preparing new ads calling for ObamaCare’s protection. GOP lawmakers on [Capitol] Hill had to take cover from inquisitive reporters asking if they backed Trump’s call. Advocacy organizations dusted off old playbooks.” (Politico)
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➤ ‘TRUMP RIPS WALL STREET JOURNAL OVER EDITORIAL ON OBAMACARE STANCE’:
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“The Wall Street Journal Editorial Page is really a MESS!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The Globalist ‘paper’ sucks…” (The Hill)
Read Trump’s full post |
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Liz Cheney’s book is getting some attention: |
CNN obtained former Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-Wyo.) book, “Oath and Honor,” which is publishing Dec. 5. A few highlights that have been getting attention: McCarthy said Trump acknowledged losing the election: Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told Cheney that former President Trump acknowledged that he lost his reelection campaign just two days after the election. “He knows it’s over. He needs to go through all the stages of grief,” McCarthy told Cheney about Trump. McCarthy visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort: Cheney said it was because Trump was “really depressed” and wasn’t eating. Cheney pledged to leave the Republican Party if Trump is the 2024 presidential nominee: “As a nation, we can endure damaging policies for a four-year term. But we cannot survive a president willing to terminate our Constitution.” More from Cheney’s book: CNN
More newsy tidbits from the book: The Hill |
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Former diplomat and presidential adviser Henry Kissinger died Wednesday at the age of 100.
Read his New York Times obituary: “The most powerful secretary of state of the postwar era, he was both celebrated and reviled. His complicated legacy still resonates in relations with China, Russia and the Middle East.” Read the full NYT obit
Wow: Kissinger advised 12 U.S. presidents from John F. Kennedy to Joe Biden, according to the Times. And while he officially left the State Department nearly 50 years ago, he has been informally helping with diplomacy since.
Tidbit: “In July, Mr. Kissinger secretly flew to China — by private jet, since it’s an arduous flight even if you are not 100 years old — at the specific invitation of [Chinese President] Xi Jinping, who called him an ‘old friend.’” More on Kissinger’s informal role
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? Celebrate: Today is National Mousse Day! If you’re looking for a way to celebrate, here is former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) chocolate mousse recipe.
? Ahhh, look up tonight!: 22 states may see the northern lights tonight. Alaska, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota have the best chance of visibility. Details and the list of 22 states
? Mortadella is having a moment: “Helped by its millennial-pink hue and the rise of the charcuterie board, the Italian specialty is winning a new fan base of American chefs and consumers.” (The New York Times) ? We can never get enough gift ideas: Buzzfeed has a helpful list of 57 holiday gift ideas. No. 2 on the list is the Olive Garden rotary cheese grater, so I will take all of these recommendations very seriously. (Buzzfeed)
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern) |
- This morning: The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Supreme Court ethics. ? Watch
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1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters. ? Livestream
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1:45 p.m.: A Senate cloture vote on a nomination. ?️ Today’s agenda
- 2:30 p.m.: Biden meets with President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of the Republic of Angola.
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3:45 p.m.: First and last House votes. ?️ Today’s agenda
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6 p.m.: Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff attend the National Christmas Tree Lighting. ? Livestream
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9 p.m.: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) are debating tonight, moderated by Fox News’s Sean Hannity. How to watch; Explainer on why this may be an interesting debate
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