It’s Wednesday. We made it to the last day of January! Today is National Hot Chocolate Day — which feels aptly timed — so please send me your best hot chocolate recipes. 😏 A reader sent me an incredible, over-the-top recipe a few years ago, so let’s see if we can top it. Here’s what’s happening today:
The Senate Judiciary Committee grilled the CEOs of social media platforms Meta, TikTok and X, formerly Twitter, this morning during a hearing on child exploitation. Parents showed up with photos of child victims. President Biden’s team is hoping for a major pop icon’s endorsement. Lock in your guess yet? Keep reading for details. Senate Democrats’ plan if Homeland Security Secretary
Alejandro Mayorkas is impeached is to bury it. Voting on it could put vulnerable Dems in a tough spot. The Federal Reserve meets today. It’s not expected to change interest rates.
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-release.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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📱 Happening on Capitol Hill |
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This is a pretty tense hearing: |
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Tech CEOs are on Capitol Hill today for a hearing about online child sexual exploitation on social media platforms. Who is testifying?: Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, X’s Linda Yaccarino, Snap Inc.’s Evan Spiegel, Discord’s Jason Citron and TikTok’s Shou Zi Chew 📺
Watch the hearing live 💻 Live blog of hearing highlights
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➤ RELEASED BEFORE THE HEARING: |
“Hours before Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Meta, was set to testify on Wednesday about child safety online, lawmakers released internal documents showing how his company had rejected calls to bulk up on resources to combat the problem.”
What we know from the 90 pages of internal emails, via The New York Times |
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Taylor has a blank space, and Joe Biden is hoping she’ll write his name: |
“A presidential race likely to be fought between two old men could be shaken up by the nation’s most famous 34-year-old woman. Taylor Swift’s astronomical popularity and her willingness to speak up on political issues could make her a significant player in the 2024 race,” writes The Hill’s Niall Stanage. (
The Hill)
Biden wants to cling onto some of that fame: The New York Times reports that the Biden campaign is hoping to get the “dream” Taylor Swift endorsement. (The New York Times) Meanwhile, conservative social media is obsessing over Swift conspiracy theories: There’s a conspiracy theory that the NFL is rigging games in favor of her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s team, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs will play the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Feb. 11. Read Niall Stanage’s column — ‘The politicization of Taylor Swift’ |
Tell me more about these Taylor Swift conspiracy theories: |
Taylor Swift is arguably the most famous popstar in the world, breaking records with her Eras Tour. In the height of her fame, she is now dating Chiefs player Travis Kelce and has been attending his games this season. Now that the Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl, it has inflamed right-wing conspiracy theories that the NFL is rigging games in favor of the Chiefs. The theory argues that the team will win the Super Bowl, just in time for an endorsement of
President Biden. A few examples of right-wing media figures pushing the theory: -
Former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy posted: “I wonder who’s going to win the Super Bowl next month. And I wonder if there’s a major presidential endorsement coming from an artificially culturally propped-up couple this fall.” Read Ramaswamy’s full post
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Fox News host Sean Hannity: “Does Taylor realize the guy that they want her to endorse is a kind of stumbling, bumbling mess, doesn’t have the energy to even give a 30-minute speech, let alone perform a three-hour concert like she does? He also is kind of very creepy. She may want to check out those creepy videos, they’re online.” (
The Hill)
- Fox News host Jesse Watters in January: “It’s real. The Pentagon psy-op unit pitched NATO on turning Taylor Swift into an asset for combating misinformation online.” The Pentagon pushed back on this Fox News conspiracy theory. (
Politico)
Keep in mind: Swift endorsed Biden in 2020 and has been publicly critical of former
President Trump. She has not issued an endorsement for 2024, and it’s unclear whether she wants to get involved in this race. The Hill’s Dominick Mastrangelo and
Sarakshi Rai have a helpful explainer on the theories engulfing conservative social media. |
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➤ MORE READS ON THE SAGA:
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‘Taylor Swift, Donald Trump and the Right’s Abnormality Problem’: Op-ed in The New York Times
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‘Right-wing media figures target Taylor Swift with absurd conspiracy theory ahead of the Super Bowl’: CNN
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‘Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce and a MAGA Meltdown’: The New York Times
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‘Trump Allies Pledge ‘Holy War’ Against Taylor Swift’: Rolling Stone
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“New York Republican moderates and House GOP leaders reached an agreement to consider a bill addressing the state and local tax deduction (SALT) within the next week after a group of Empire State lawmakers threatened to block legislative action over the issue, two sources told The Hill.” The Hill’s Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell explain what we know and why this matters:
Read — ‘New York GOP moderates, leaders get SALT agreement after floor protest’ |
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What happens if Mayorkas is impeached?:
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“Senate Democrats are likely to bury articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a Senate committee if they are approved by the House, allowing vulnerable members to avoid a tough vote in an election year, say sources in both parties,” reports The Hill’s Alexander Bolton.
Couldn’t Senate Dems just immediately vote to dismiss the impeachment articles?: Yes, but it would put vulnerable Democrats from purple states in a tough spot.
^ Specifically: Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.), Bob Casey (Pa.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and Jacky Rosen (Nev.), who are all up for reelection in 2024. Voting “no” could hurt them in their states. What could happen instead: “Instead, insiders predict Democrats will likely try to refer the matter to a special Senate committee to review the impeachment articles. It could then come up for a vote after Election Day.” Keep in mind: Democrats haven’t publicly revealed their plans. (The Hill) |
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🍫 Celebrate: Today is National Hot Chocolate Day! 😯
Noo, we’re making Elmo sad: “Sesame Street’s” Elmo posted a straightforward question on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The post has more than 177 million views, with X users telling Elmo their bad news. (The Hill) - FromRep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.): “Not well. I serve in Congress.”
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From @David_Leavitt: “Elmo I’m suffering from existential dread over here.”
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From @UsingCigarettes: “Elmo I just got laid off”
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From @Seamus_Malek: “Elmo I’m gonna be real I am at my f—ing limit”
🐶
What a fluffy lil’ guy!: Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) posted a photo of an adorable puppy. “Some days at the Capitol are better than others,” Kim captioned the photo. 📸 Photo |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern) |
1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream 1:15 p.m.: Biden and Harris have lunch together.
2:15 p.m.: Two Senate votes. Another vote is expected around 5:30 p.m. 🗓️ Today’s agenda 2:30 p.m.: Federal Reserve Chair
Jerome Powell holds a press conference on interest rates. Interest rates are not expected to change. 💻 Livestream
4 p.m.: First House votes. Last votes are expected around 8 p.m. 🗓️ Today’s agenda 6 p.m.: Harris and second gentleman
Doug Emhoff host a reception to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Just announced for February: Biden will visit East Palestine, Ohio, roughly one year after the train derailment that spilled toxic chemicals. No specific date has been announced, though. (The Hill)
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