It’s Tuesday. The New York Times published its 60,000th edition of the paper today! 🥳 It is so satisfying to see a round number in that spot. The Times published a behind-the-scenes piece on how a news assistant once noticed a mistake in the number of editions published. It’s worth reading.
Here’s what we’re covering today:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senators this morning. He is heading to the White House this afternoon for a meeting with President Biden. It looks unlikely that he will receive more aid before 2024.
Harvard University’s president has survived an effort to oust her following a controversial antisemitism testimony.
Kate Cox, the pregnant woman who filed a lawsuit requesting an emergency abortion because her fetus has a fatal diagnosis, fled Texas. The state’s Supreme Court ruled that she could not receive the treatment.
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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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington, D.C., today in a last-ditch effort to plead for more funding for his country’s war against Russia.
The schedule: Zelensky met with senators this morning and is also scheduled to meet with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). This afternoon, the Ukrainian leader will meet with President Biden at the White House, and the two will hold a joint press conference at 4:15 p.m.
Live blog of updates today 💡The problem: Zelensky has already spoken with Washington leaders many times. But, the politics of funding the conflict have shifted. Ukraine aid has been linked to border security talks, and it’s looking even more unlikely that a deal will be reached before the holidays. This is Zelensky’s third trip to D.C. and is a very important visit.
A bad sign: Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s (Ky.) leadership team, told reporters on Monday that any potential funding would likely be delayed until 2024. Senators said Monday that negotiations to fund Ukraine, Israel and the border have stalled.
What to expect from Zelensky’s visit, via The Hill’s Al Weaver |
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Photo of Zelensky’s arrival: He is being escorted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on his left and McConnell on his right.
If you want to read into body language: Here’s a video of Zelensky walking out of the meeting on Capitol Hill. He did not stop, but Schumer said it was a “very good and productive meeting,” according to PBS’s Lisa Desjardins. Watch the exit
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) accused Dems of using Zelensky: “I said ‘you’ve been sort of used here.’ … I like him and I admire him. I said ‘you’ve done everything anybody could ask of you. This is not your problem here. You didn’t make this problem. It will affect you and affect the whole world, but policy choices matter,” he said. Watch Zelensky walk through the U.S. Capitol
Ukraine was just hit by a massive cyberattack: While Zelensky is in D.C.
Zelensky met with Western defense company executives on Monday: Including the presidents of Boeing and BAE Systems. (Yahoo News) ^ Photo of Zelensky’s meeting with defense company exec Throwback: The Hill’s Laura Kelly pointed out that “Three months ago [Zelensky] walked past this same crowd, but was going to meet [former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)].” |
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Punchbowl News’s Andrew Desiderio reports that “Schumer says he called Speaker Johnson last night to urge him to keep the House in session to allow for border/Ukraine negotiations to continue.” |
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➤ ALSO HAPPENING ON CAPITOL HILL THIS WEEK: |
“The impeachment probe into President Biden is notching up in intensity this week, with House Republicans set to take an official vote authorizing the inquiry, plus new charges against Hunter Biden and a battle to get him to appear in a closed-door deposition Wednesday.” What to expect, from The Hill’s Emily Brooks
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Claudine Gay survived this round: |
Harvard President Claudine Gay will not step down from her role following wide criticism of her antisemitism testimony last week.
From the Fellows of Harvard College, the more powerful of the school’s two governing boards: “Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing.” (The Hill) Back story: Three university presidents were asked last week if calls for Jewish genocide would be considered harassment. They danced around the question, arguing it depended on the context.
💡 Why this matters: University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill stepped down Saturday following intense criticism. Over 600 Harvard faculty signed a petition urging to board to keep Gay as president, but it was unclear if she would withstand the public condemnation.
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➤ HELPFUL READS ON THE DEBATE:
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‘To fight antisemitism on campuses, we must restrict speech’: Op-ed in The Washington Post
‘How Harvard, Penn and MIT’s presidents made such a fatal error in their free speech defense’: Analysis from CNN’s Allison Morrow
The experience for Harvard Crimson student journalists: Student reporters Claire Yuan and Miles Herszenhorn spoke with GBH’s “Morning Edition” to discuss the backlash to Gay’s testimony. Listen to the segment ‘Rare bipartisan unity forms in Congress over antisemitism testimony’: Axios ‘A Timeline of How the Israel-Hamas War Has Roiled College Campuses’: The New York Times |
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WMUR’s Adam Sexton reports that New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) will formally endorse Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley. (WMUR) When and where?: Tonight at a town hall event in Manchester, N.H.
Is this surprising?: Not really. Haley has been surging and is a natural Trump alternative. Sununu has also campaigned with rivals Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, though.
💡 Why this matters: Sununu is a popular governor, so his endorsement matters in the first-in-the-nation primary state. Former President Trump has been fairly untouchable in primary polling, so the only real way to challenge his nomination would require Republicans to coalesce around one, non-Trump candidate. |
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Kate Cox, a pregnant women whose fetus was diagnosed with a fatal condition, sought to have an abortion to protect her health and future fertility.
Last week, a lower court ruled that Cox could have an abortion, granting her an exemption to Texas’s abortion law. This lower court decision was then put on hold by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who asked the Texas Supreme Court to weigh in.
The state Supreme Court weighed in: The court ruled on Monday that Cox could *not* get the abortion.
From the court: “A woman who meets the medical-necessity exception need not seek a court order to obtain an abortion. Under the law, it is a doctor who must decide that a woman is suffering from a life-threatening condition during a pregnancy, raising the necessity for an abortion to save her life or to prevent impairment of a major bodily function.” Read the seven-page ruling
In the meantime: Cox fled the state to get the procedure done in another state. (NBC News)
💡 Why this matters: This was one of the first lawsuits of its kind since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022 — where a pregnant woman sought a court order to be granted an exception for an abortion. But the legal whiplash and eventual blow illustrates just how difficult it can be to receive an exemption in Texas
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☕️ Celebrate: Today is National Gingerbread House Day! 🎁 Help with a sometimes awkward subject: Nexstar’s Addy Brink talked with tipping experts to for advice on “how to tip your mail carrier and 8 other people this holiday season.” (Nexstar)
💫 It’s a meteor shower week!: One of the best meteor showers in years is forecasted for Wednesday night in the U.S. (ABC News) |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern)
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This morning: The House Rules Committee held a hearing on the Biden impeachment inquiry. 💻 Watch
12:30 p.m.: Senators meet for weekly caucus luncheons. They will then vote on the confirmation of Harry Coker, Jr., to be National Cyber Director. 🗓️ Today’s agenda
1:30 p.m.: First House votes of the day. Last votes are expected around 4:30 p.m. 🗓️ Today’s agenda - 2:15 p.m.: Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
4:15 p.m.: Biden and Zelensky hold a press conference. 💻 Livestream
5:30 p.m.: Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff host a holiday reception at the Naval Observatory.
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👉 Coming tomorrow: The Hill’s Changemakers, our inaugural list recognizing the major players and under-the-radar staffers of Washington who have made a difference shaping the conversation on Capitol Hill and beyond. View the full list and read more Wednesday morning at TheHill.com.
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