Subject: POLITICO Huddle, presented by Freight Rail Works: PELOSI NOT BITING ON IMPEACHMENT AFTER COHEN -- Dems mull rules revamp after GOP floor victory -- SCHUMER’S PLOT TO BE MAJORITY LEADER -- Beto ready to run for 2020
From: "POLITICO Huddle" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2019 07:06:04 -0600
List-Id: <1376319.xt.local>

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02/28/2019 08:04 AM EDT
        
By MELANIE ZANONA ([email-masked]; @MZanona)

        
with an assist from Heather Caygle

COHEN CONCLUDES -- There were plenty of fireworks, but no major bombshells, during Michael Cohen's historic testimony on Capitol Hill. Cohen, who spent years as a fixer and personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, accused his former boss of committing campaign finance crimes, lying about his work on a Trump Tower project in Moscow and inflating his personal wealth to suit his own interests. 

But the blockbuster hearing did little to move the ball forward on impeachment, report Heather, Sarah and your Huddle host. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her leadership team said they're still waiting to see what the special counsel turns up. Other senior lawmakers grew defensive or largely sidestepped questions about whether Cohen's testimony changed the party's calculus on impeachment. Even liberal firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was restrained when pressed by reporters on the issue. "The documents were just provided this morning," she said. "So we need to really go through that." Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3c2ef44646ced4338514a7d042ecc4569ca6a9af8a420e86d5ae0a85becaddab9749fcb5a7fc191dce 

Related: "Rashida Tlaib berates Mark Meadows for using black woman as 'a prop' at hearing," from Matthew Choi: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3c16dcb2ba6b72d474d1bef7982cdc02de74a206b42e8c03d34639e0a4a20a4a7610f89486582e0561 

WITNESS WISHLIST -- Democrats will now pursue any new lines of inquiry that cropped up during the hearing, where Cohen implicated many of Trump's family members and longtime business associates. So who will be the next witness in the congressional hot seat? Top on their wishlist is Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, who intimately knows the company's financial dealings and was allegedly involved in a hush-money scheme to silence Stormy Daniels. Others pointed to Trump's secretary, who may have patched through an alleged call between Trump and Roger Stone. And several Democrats' questions to Cohen seemed designed to lay the groundwork to obtain Trump's tax returns.

Some Democrats also want to grill Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr., who Cohen said he briefed 10 times on the Moscow project. But other lawmakers expressed strong reservations about the idea, offering a preview of the tensions that could arise in a caucus with vastly competing interests - from moderates in GOP districts to outspoken progressives calling to "impeach the motherf---er." "Getting to family members I think is dangerous," said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.). "Only because it gets real personal, real fast. And it risks backfiring."

Related: "Trump's inner circle sustains collateral damage in Cohen hearing," by Darren Samuelsohn, Josh Gerstein and Anita Kumar: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3c0eb8af3e5d0cea5e545de132643c376dfc89010749d0d5430eddfaec4e65c6f62c46251d91d48d09 

HEARTBURN IN THE HOUSE - Democrats are considering a change to House rules after Republicans were able to score another surprise procedural victory on the floor Wednesday afternoon, successfully amending the background checks bill to add controversial immigration language. This is the second such victory for Republicans - an embarrassing setback for Democratic leaders - in recent weeks. Democrats will huddle for their weekly whip meeting at 9 a.m. where the question of whether to change the rules governing the procedural tactic - known officially as a "motion to recommit" - will be debated.

One potential change - floated by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer - would require Republicans give Democrats much more notice about the subject matter of the amendment they plan to offer. Currently, the minority party can reveal the content of its proposal just minutes before the vote, setting off a scramble on the House floor. Heather, Bres and Sarah with the deets: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3cdcf58550673a055a70b0d4e01b68a1d73ad2cb0049d2f075d45bea6a3cb0f3c7d9424a9bc734cc6a 

Hey, this sounds familiar... Speaker Nancy Pelosi also raised the issue during a meeting with leaders of the various Democratic interests group on Wednesday evening after the surprise GOP win. But Pelosi, Hoyer and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn have been divided over how to deal with the problem for weeks, as my colleagues Heather and Sarah first reported earlier this month. 

Related: "House passes most sweeping gun control legislation in decades," via Bres: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3caa7eb803040b310bb1104087322b10afa5182810f4cc3e131cf367488f1731e476028f15e8db5991 

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, Feb. 28, where your host is thrilled to have a new favorite hero: this pizza-eating photo bomber from outside the Cohen hearing. 

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Andrew Restuccia and Darren Samuelsohn's report on Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) threatening Cohen with the release of damaging personal information was the big winner.

** A message from Freight Rail Works: The Department of Transportation expects total freight demand to grow 37% by 2040 - and only one industry is spending billions of dollars annually to build the freight transportation network of the future. Learn how freight rail's private investments are creating a safer, cleaner and cost-effective solution for today and tomorrow. www.aar.org/freight-rails-investments **

SCHUMER'S DREAM JOB -- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has his eyes on the prize. The New York Democrat, who has longed to be Majority Leader, has been aggressively recruiting high-profile Democrats to run in swing states as part of an early effort to take back the Senate, report Burgess and James Arkin. But while Schumer landed star recruit Mark Kelly to run in Arizona, Democrats have yet to score a marquee challenger in places like Maine, North Carolina or Iowa. Still, Schumer is confident he will be able to follow in the footsteps of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "There's going to be a fervor I think for taking back the Senate this election the way there was taking back the House in the
 last one," he said in an interview. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3cde90f8d1023e7d53c0c9cd90ff38a505b3e29b4d0c238a69adbc062e2d70358c14809651459974df 

NEOMI'S NOMINATION IN QUESTION -- Judicial nominee Neomi Rao is headed for an uncertain committee vote today. Numerous Republicans have raised last-minute concerns about Rao, whom Trump tapped to replace Brett Kavanaugh on the D.C. Circuit Court. Some GOP members are questioning her judicial philosophy and views on abortion. The nomination could still be brought to the Senate floor even if it does not receive a favorable recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee. But it would represent an embarrassing setback for the White House, which has prided itself on its track record on confirming conservative judges. More from Marianne: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3c97f0de67d7715e5f8dbb6aa9d47d71278e7f46b1c9d00d2fd0f797f8be4bf9db6cf7b949ccf69846 

BETO 2020 WATCH -- Beto O'Rourke has decided not to run for Senate - but he will likely run for president, reports The Dallas Morning News. People close to the former Texas congressman are expecting him to announce his 2020 bid "within weeks." O'Rourke would lag behind the crowded field in "fundraising, developing an organization and getting in front of voters," the publication notes. But his unsuccessful Senate race last year significantly boosted his national profile and proved he can be a prolific fundraiser. More from Gromer Jeffers Jr.: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3c68708ee88a751274a47407c3af5fc7161a4d0e111cd08fc9f41f891c7b229c2e50d93fc6c3a83a62 

Related: "Biden in 'final stages' of deciding whether to mount 2020 run," from Katie Galioto: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3c25f8b3a59214192dc3c37625097798cc3bf48ced2aac043aeeab7e95799c3ebfa4eccf9f06316ddf 

UNATTENDED GUN -- A Capitol Police lieutenant left his gun in a bathroom in the Capitol Visitor Center complex on Monday night, and the unattended weapon was later discovered during "a routine security sweep," reports Roll Call. The department immediately began an investigation into the incident. But the newspaper points out that "this is not the first time that a case like this has come to light and under investigation in recent years," pointing to multiple instances when service weapons were accidently left in inappropriate places. Katherine Tully-McManus with the dispatch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3c1cba3cba6bf2c50ee0f5e11df479e0a43a22e6de78c1067959ca2abe0fbd779b94a0f04485279bf3 

**Join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues at the State Department on March 6-7, 2019, for the 9th annual International Women's Day Forum. As part of the day's programming, Anna Palmer co-author of POLITICO's Playbook, will lead a fireside chat with actress, singer, dancer and activist Keke Palmer, who has dedicated her life to philanthropy and activism for young girls. The full agenda and registration are available HERE.**
          TRANSITIONS         
Janae Frazier will serve as press secretary for Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.). She is a television producer, reporter and anchor for news stations in the Carolinas. 

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is staffing up. Jon Foltz will serve as legislative director; Jack Heekin will serve as general counsel; Katie Weissert will serve as senior policy advisor; Priscilla Ivasco will serve as deputy communications Director; Sarah Schwirian will serve as press secretary; Alexandra Ojeda will serve as Hispanic press secretary; and Megan Bailey will serve as director of scheduling.
          TODAY IN CONGRESS         
The House gavels in at 9 a.m., with votes expected between 11 a.m. and noon. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d0f62deb47c4ae3cf73b85fd047cc63afc1830a4a29e5927576f0c3c2b52e4c88aa9d595f74d887efdd59e87acfe707c The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of Andrew Wheeler's nomination to be EPA administrator. At 12:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation.
          AROUND THE HILL         
Reps. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) introduce the WATER Act of 2019 at 9:15 a.m. on the House Triangle.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.) hold a press conference on the "Charleston Loophole" at 10 a.m. in H-122.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A. 

Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Peter King (R-N.Y.) introduce a "Doomsday Plan" bill for tunnel failure at 12 p.m. in B-208 Longworth House Office Building. 

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) holds a weekly press conference at 12:30 p.m. in HVC Studio A.
          TRIVIA         
WEDNESDAY'S WINNER -- Brandon Pickett was the first to guess that Al Gore was the first person to speak on the House Floor when C-SPAN went on the air in March 1979, and was also the SAME person who spoke on the Senate floor for the first time in 1985.

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From yours truly: At what point in history was the Capitol building briefly used as a bakery, hospital and military barracks? 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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** A message from Freight Rail Works: America's freight railroads spend an average of $25 billion a year on infrastructure, equipment and innovation - all at no cost to taxpayers. What does America get out of it? A cleaner environment, a cost-effective solution to get American goods to market nationally and beyond, and a boost in economic activity that amounted to $220 billion in 2017 alone. Learn how the future of freight transportation is working for America today. www.aar.org/freight-rails-investments **
    
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