Subject: POLITICO Huddle, presented by EMD Serono: CONGRESS READIES FOR TRUMP’S SECOND SOTU -- GOP balks over wall emergency -- NIELSEN AGREES TO TESTIFY -- Trump nominates Interior secretary
From: "POLITICO Huddle" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 05 Feb 2019 07:04:00 -0600
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02/05/2019 08:02 AM EDT
        
By MELANIE ZANONA ([email-masked]; @MZanona)

        
SOTU SPEECH PREVIEW -- On the heels of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, President Donald Trump will deliver his second State of the Union address tonight - but it will be his first speech with a Democratic-controlled House. Here's what to expect.

The speech: In addition to immigration and national security, Trump will talk about abortion, prescription drug prices, infrastructure and trade. The president could also make some news: he has hinted he may unveil the details for his second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and could declare a national emergency for the wall. As far as tone, Trump is expected to call for unity in front of a deeply divided Congress. But will the president stick to the script, or lean into his free-wheeling instincts?

The guest list: Democrats are taking direct shots at Trump with their guests, which include undocumented Trump hotel workers, furloughed federal employees and the sexual assault survivor who confronted former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) in an elevator. The president and first lady, meanwhile, invited family members of victims killed by illegal immigrants, a prisoner freed by criminal justice reform and a child who has been bullied for having the last name Trump.

The boycotts: At least four Democrats are planning to skip the speech: Reps. John Lewis (Ga.), Hank Johnson (Ga.), Steve Cohen (Tenn.) and Earl Blumenauer (Ore.). Another thing to look out for: Will the new class of freshman firebrands get rowdy and protest, or will they follow proper decorum?

The optics: This is Trump's first SOTU with Democrats in charge of the House, meaning Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will be seated directly behind him. And in front of Trump, there will be a sea of young, diverse, female Democrats - many of them dressed in white in honor of the suffragette movement - providing a stark contrast with their Republican counterparts.

The rebuttal: Stacey Abrams, who nearly became the nation's first black female governor last year and is seen as a rising star in the party, will deliver the Democratic response. But can she overcome the rebuttal "curse"? In the past, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was mocked for taking a long swig of water mid-speech, while Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.) was teased for chapstick on his lips that looked like drool.

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, Feb. 5, where there is no shortage of SOTU watch parties on Capitol Hill (including one with "Auntie Maxine" featuring "reclaiming Mai-Tais.")

MONDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The Huffington Post's report on a former Schumer aide being forced out after sexual misconduct allegations was the winner.

** A message from EMD Serono: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is up to three times more common in women. At EMD Serono, we're committed to helping these women. See how we're working to help women with MS. **

TRUMP'S SENATE GOP PROBLEM -- If Trump declares a national emergency for the wall, he may be forced to use his veto pen. That's because there is a strong and growing resistance to the idea among Senate Republicans, who have been slowly defying Trump on certain foreign policy issues and hate the idea of an emergency declaration. If the House passed a resolution disapproving of the wall emergency, which is likely, then the Senate would be forced to vote on the divisive measure - and it would take just four GOP defections for the resolution pass. Much more from Burgess and Marianne: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecad187028cefa78a9462ef4ede6a38df9fc23cb5ce497330d38efee0bb3f369562dfe44d7ad4181213e66d465439508 

Related: "'The most independent': Murkowski carves own path in Trump era," from Burgess: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecad187028cefa782a30e11b94e46296d17cb2ed6a2967ee01854e87269c5fd675403cbba70c7ffedc38f2979528fedf 

FAMILY SEPARATIONS IN THE SPOTLIGHT -- After rejecting several hearing invitations, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has agreed to testify in front of the House Homeland Security Committee next month. Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) had threatened to subpoena Nielsen if she continued to refuse to appear in front of the panel, which wants to hear from her on border security and migrant family separations.

Meanwhile, the House Judiciary Committee announced it will hold a hearing next week to "conduct oversight of the Trump Administration's family separation policy." And an Energy and Commerce subcommittee is convening a hearing on the same topic this Thursday, underscoring how the issue has emerged as a chief oversight priority for Democrats.

RELATED OVERSIGHT READS: "The plan to keep Trump's taxes hidden," by Nancy Cook: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecad187028cefa783cac1f2bcf120051daaf8d1862e8510108810ca6495a01f69c661f1dd1965a1f61b944f451d48ee2 and "New York prosecutors seek records from Trump inauguration committee: Sources," via John Santucci, Josh Margolin and Matthew Mosk at ABC News: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecad187028cefa78a8e5b59920c26391e0c4223ef91e07e8a9994c240a1cf9bd88178f535bdb41e5dd2d6ac138056465 

MEET THE "PARIAH" CAUCUS -- They've been stripped of their committee assignments and forced to watch the legislating from the sidelines. Now, GOP Reps. Duncan Hunter, Chris Collins and Steve King are searching for ways to stay relevant and occupy their time in Congress. But the options are pretty limited for the trio of exiles, especially since their party is now in the minority. "They basically have nothing to do," said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). "I suppose they can form a 'pariah caucus.'" More from yours truly: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecad187028cefa78d36523f7ff2973cf994969b34af697f31c05fb7a5a7c5073b866f8f4959339a2e473cba49881174b 

VIRGINIA IN DISARRAY -- Embattled Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) is still refusing to step down after a racist photo from his medical school yearbook surfaced, prompting nearly every major national and local Democrat to call on him to resign. Northam reportedly told his cabinet that he wants time to clear his name. And now Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D), who would replace Northam if he steps aside, is facing an uncorroborated sexual assault accusation from more than a decade ago, which he vehemently denies. Fairfax also accused Northam's supporters of a smear campaign. Jonathan Martin and Alan Blinder of The New York Times with the dispatch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecad187028cefa78ef030865e523cd66320351c0df07c7a72e22556df63a1d0cf9832960633aee8223abd2fd5887d3d4 

TRUMP TAPS ZINKE REPLACEMENT -- David Bernhardt, a former oil and coal lobbyist, has been nominated by Trump to permanently lead the Interior Department. Bernhardt has been acting Interior secretary since the departure of Ryan Zinke, and has been the point person on numerous department initiatives, including changes to the Endangered Species Act and efforts to start drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Industry groups cheered the announcement, but Democratic senators are sure to hammer Bernhardt over his potential conflicts of interest. More from Ben Lefebvre: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecad187028cefa784b712605cc53dd87cf3e0f6611d042146530038a8e3a971354ffc658d3ce255ba18c9ccdda4f1f83 

BILLS, BILLS, BILLS -- Pelosi announced in a "Dear Colleague" letter Monday night that Democrats will advance a package of campaign finance, voting rights and anti-corruption bills this month, putting a timeline on the Democrats' top legislative priority. And the sponsors of a "Green New Deal" to address climate change, which is another major goal of the new majority, are expected to outline their proposal "within days", though it is not expected to put an end date on oil, gas and coal development in the U.S. More from Zack Colman: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecad187028cefa78a166ca6402643f8426c73d226975c86c3507f9112158d43a1507e87e1250fc404f9b7055ad08d1ba 

Related: "Top Nancy Pelosi aide privately tells insurance executives not to worry about Democrats pushing 'Medicare for All,'" by Ryan Grim of The Intercept: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecad187028cefa78a5d13dbcee197b7350dba36c4676cd33bf6d89e9026d659ca15ba41825cb50fc17f7c74d259fa763 
          TRANSITIONS         
Matthew Dickerson has joined Americans for Prosperity as policy manager. He was previously policy director for the Republican Study Committee and an alum of the late-Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.).

Emily Spain has been promoted to chief of staff for Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), while Jan Beukelman will take over as his legislative director.

Riki Parikh, formerly a counsel and senior adviser to Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), has joined LinkedIn as a group manager for corporate communications.

Sam Berger and Will Roberts have been named vice president and managing director of the democracy and government program at the Center for American Progress. Berger is an Obama White House alum and was most recently a senior advisor at CAP, while Roberts has been the legislative director and chief counsel for Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) for the past two years.
          TODAY IN CONGRESS         
The House gavels in at noon, with no votes expected. The Senate will meet at 10 a.m. At 3:30 p.m., the chamber will vote on passage of S. 1 and take a procedural vote on the motion to proceed to S.47.

Both chambers will meet again at approximately 8:35 p.m. for a joint session to receive an address from the President of the United States.
          AROUND THE HILL         
The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons. Both parties will hold a media availability at the Ohio Clock Corridor following the lunches.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) and members of the Democratic Women's Working Group will hold a press conference to discuss "the state of women in our nation" at 3 p.m. in HVC Studio B.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) will hold a media availability with State of the Union guests who were unpaid during the shutdown at 5 p.m. in 110 Hart Senate Office Building.
          TRIVIA         
MONDAY'S WINNER -- Bob Bissen was the first to correctly guess that the Pittsburgh Steelers were the first Super Bowl champions to be honored at the White House in 1980, when President Jimmy Carter waved a "terrible towel" at the ceremony.

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From Bob: Where did Teddy Roosevelt deliver his "Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick" speech? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: [email-masked].

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