It’s Tuesday. Congrats to everyone who picked UConn and South Carolina to win March Madness! Here’s what’s in this edition: - The House is back to deal with Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) headaches, i.e., his possible ouster and passing a foreign aid bill.
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My social feeds have been entirely eclipse footage. I included some of the coolest shots below.
- Former President Trump may have ticked off anti-abortion conservatives with his Monday announcement, but his move was calculated.
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. |
My dog, Moose, is a strong advocate for eye safety. |
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MTG has become Ben Stiller’s character in ‘Happy Gilmore’: |
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With a subtle threat. This scene is one of the best parts of that movie. The House is returning from recess today. The last time lawmakers met, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed a motion to oust Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Now, everyone is watching Greene to see if she plans to follow through with her threat. Let’s be clear: If she does force a vote — and she absolutely can — it could send the House back into the chaos just like the fall.
Where do Johnson and Greene stand?: They exchanged text messages over the two-week recess and were planning to chat. But The Hill’s Mike Lillis and Mychael Schnell report that those plans fell through.
And then this morning *awkward laugh*: Greene penned a five-page letter of criticisms directed at Johnson. The gist: She argued that Johnson is not properly representing House Republicans. More from the letter — it’s pretty juicy.
Johnson’s big battle: The Speaker is under pressure (including by Senate Republicans) to pass a Ukraine funding bill. But if he does bring the foreign aid bill to the floor, that could be what triggers Greene to force his ouster vote. Read more: ‘Greene drama builds for embattled Johnson’ |
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➤ SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE SOME ADVICE FOR JOHNSON: |
And that’s to stand up to his “chaos caucus.” |
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➤ ALSO ON MIKE JOHNSON’S PLATE: |
Lawmakers have until April 19 to extend the U.S.’s warrantless surveillance powers |
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Don’t blink or you might miss it: |
House impeachment managers will deliver the impeachment articles of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Wednesday.
Then what?: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to scrap the articles without going to a trial. He has several options for how to do that. |
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I mean, this isn’t a terrible bet |
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Former President Trump declined to call for a national abortion ban Monday. That ticked off anti-abortion activists and some conservatives, but The Hill’s Niall Stanage reports that this was a strategic move for Trump.
How so?: Trump is playing the long game. He is willing to accept the short-term criticism from evangelicals, but this could help him with moderates in the election. Trump is betting that conservatives will have no choice but to back him in November.
Read Stanage’s column: ‘Trump bets anti-abortion evangelicals have no choice but to back him’ |
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Jared Kushner, a name we haven’t heard in a while: |
Since leaving government, Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has built an investment firm that has invested more than $1.2 billion, much of which has been in foreign companies.
The New York Times’s Eric Lipton, Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman looked into the potential conflicts of interest if Trump wins the presidency again in November.
Keep in mind: It’s not just Democrats raising questions. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has, too.
Would Kushner return to government?: He told the Times he doesn’t plan to but didn’t necessarily rule it out. Read The New York Times report |
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I can’t get the Bonnie Tyler song out of my head:
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It was cool to see Americans come together to enjoy Monday’s solar eclipse. So many of the images and videos from the astronomical event have been incredible, so I’ve included some of my favorites below. |
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➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM MONDAY’S ECLIPSE: |
Wow, check out how quickly the sky darkened.
Did you read that you could watch the eclipse through a colander?: Well, CBS News’s Jo Ling Kent tried it out — and it worked! 📷 Photo of the eclipse seen through a colander 📷 A plane flew across the eclipse
I’ve seen so many X, formerly Twitter, posts about this photo: ABC News photographer Ian Sbalcio captured an incredible (albeit eerie) photo of the top of the U.S. Capitol dome during the eclipse. 📷 The photo
Whoaa, a solar flare!: Journalist Ellie Hall posted that she caught a solar flare on camera. 📹 Watch CNN will have a hard time topping Monday’s coverage: Here’s a photo of two CNN anchors in full sun and moon costumes. Incredible.
I’m lolling: Read this exchange on X between NASA and the Philadelphia Flyers’ mascot Gritty.
These senators are having a grand ole’ time: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) posted photos of senators watching the eclipse from the Rules Committee balcony. 📷 Photo of senators rocking their eclipse glasses
Bernie!: See Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) watch the eclipse. 📷 More than 100 couples got married in Tiffin, Ohio: Photographer Maddie McGarvey posted a video of the couples dancing to “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” 📹 Watch |
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➤ THE VIEWS FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS: |
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🍫 Celebrate: Today is National Chinese Almond Cookie Day!
🌑 How do Iceland, Spain, Egypt or Australia sound?!: The New York Times reports that you will have three chances over the next four years to see an eclipse. ✈️ Which airport had the most cancellations in 2023?: Here’s a list from KXAN.
🕶️ What to do with your eclipse glasses: Time’s Solcyré Burga writes that eclipse glasses can be donated to Astronomers Without Borders or recycled (as long as the lenses are discarded.) How to donate your eclipse glasses |
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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 afternoon: Harris meets with families of Americans taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7.
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12:30 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks on the care economy. 💻 Livestream
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1:30 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and national security adviser Jake Sullivan brief reporters. 💻 Livestream
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5 p.m.: First lady Jill Biden hosts a media preview for the Japanese state dinner. 💻 Livestream
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6 p.m.: The Bidens welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida his wife, Yuko Kishida, to the White House.
- 6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. Today’s agenda
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