rollcall--2020-01-29--Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 29

Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 29

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , walks to the Senate floor before the start of the Senate impeachment trial proceedings Wednesday .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) Sen. Chris Van Hollen announced plans to introduce a motion requiring the chief justice to subpoena documents and witnesses if he determines they are relevant to the impeachment articles , and to exercise his authority to rule on evidence issues like executive privilege .
“ My motion ensures the chief justice will serve the same role as a judge in any trial across our country — to allow the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to the truth , ” the Maryland Democrat said in a statement .
The motion is consistent with Senate rules preserves the right of a majority of senators to override any decisions the justice makes , Van Hollen said .
The Senate began its question and answer phase of the trial before a crucial vote on whether it will hear from witnesses and examine more documents .
What was once thought to be an easy 53-47 party line that would avoid prolonging the trial didn ’ t appear to be as safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bolton ’ s upcoming White House memoir appeared to verify a pressure campaign against the Ukranian government to investigate Trump ’ s political rivals .
Reports emerged from within the Republican caucus Tuesday night that several GOP senators haven ’ t committed to voting against considering more evidence .
5:23 p.m. : Whistleblower questions .
Republican Sens .
Ted Cruz , Josh Hawley and Jerry Moran asked House managers if the White House whistleblower ever worked with former Vice President Joe Biden .
Lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff fielded the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself and his staff ’ s handling of the whistleblower ’ s complaint .
Schiff said he had never met the whistleblower and does not know the whistleblower ’ s identity .
He did not directly to the question regarding Biden and the whistleblower .
5:15 p.m. : Key dates on Ukraine .
West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito asked the president ’ s counsel to explain their assertion that the Ukrainian government did not learn of the White House ’ s pause of military aid to the country until August 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lawyers is incongruent with testimony from Laura Cooper , a deputy assistant secretary of Defense , who told the House in 2019 that staff at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington emailed her office in July .
Trump ’ s counsel argued that Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelinskiy and his advisors only became aware of the pause in security aid through news reports in late August .
“ This was something that on August 28th caused a flurry of activity among the highest ranking Ukrainian officials , ” Trump attorney Mike Purpura said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any questions at any of the meetings they had with the high ranking U.S. officials between July and August.
” A follow-up question from Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin to the House managers prompted a different response.
“ I would propose that the Senate subpoena those emails , ” Colorado Democrat Jason Crow , a House manager , said .
5:00 p.m. : Witnesses ?
Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C. , acknowledged to reporters that Republicans do not have enough votes to block calling witnesses .
But he said that could change after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president 's lawyers .
Scott said he opposes calling witnesses in the Senate trial .
Sen. Mike Braun , R-Ind.
, told reporters outside the Senate trial that there was no need for witnesses .
`` I am not going to need more information , or witnesses , at this point , '' Braun said .
4:50 p.m. : Iowa politics .
Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst 's campaign is now fundraising off her comments earlier this week about the impact of the Senate impeachment trial on former Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Biden 's response .
`` Joe Biden thinks my comments prove his point about Trump .
Wrong .
This week , the president 's counsel showcased that the Bidens were knee-deep in corruption , '' an Ernst fundraising blast Wednesday said .
4:33 p.m. : “ Bizarre.
” Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii described as “ bizarre '' the arguments Wednesday by Trump defense attorney Alan Dershowitz , that a president is within his rights to do anything for political gain if he believes his own political gain is in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense , ” Hirono said .
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer similarly said the arguments of Derschowitz , a constitional and legal scholar , “ made no sense.
” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called them `` a laughable argument that undermines the president 's case . ''
Attention was focused Wednesday afternoon on whether Republicans would have enough votes to block efforts by House managers to call witnesses in the Senate trial .
“ That 's where all the momentum is in our party right now , ” Senate Republican Conference Chairman John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been asked if his party had locked down the votes to block consideration of witnesses .
So far only the only Republican senators who 've signaled they 're likely to vote for considering witnesses are Sens .
Mitt Romney , Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski .
If all three backed a motion supported by all 47 Democrats to allow for votes on witnesses , and all other Republicans voted against it , that would result in a 50-50 vote tie — short of a majority .
“ Tie votes fail , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trial , Sen. Rand Paul could be seen on the Senate floor seeking assurances that he will not be blocked from asking a question .
The Kentucky Republican appeared less than pleased with Secretary of the Majority Laura Dove .
`` I do n't want to have to stand up to try and fight for recognition , '' Paul said loud enough to be audible from the galleries above the chamber .
`` If I have to fight for recognition , I will . ''
Republican Sens .
Mike Lee of Utah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruz of Texas asked the president ’ s counsel if the White House whistleblower worked at the National Security Council and if the whistleblower coordinated with Rep. Adam B. Schiff ’ s staff .
Trump ’ s attorney Patrick Philbin couldn ’ t answer but said learning more about the whistleblower would be “ relevant.
” Just after that question , New Mexico Democrat Martin Heinrich asked when Trump ’ s counsel first learned that Bolton ’ s manuscript had been submitted to the White House for review and if there had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s publication .
Philbin said he didn ’ t know “ the exact date ” that he learned of the manuscript ’ s submission .
Philbin said there was “ misinformation ” regarding the second portion of Heinrich ’ s question .
He said the White House had identified large portions of classified information in Bolton ’ s manuscript that may delay the book ’ s publication .
1:53 p.m. | “ What you ’ d expect ” : “ No matter what we do in the next few days , Democrats are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t everything it should have been because we ’ re in the majority and they ’ re not , ” Republican Sen. Roy Blunt said .
Democrats ’ arguments that having no witnesses in the trial is bad for democracy , truth and the precedent of the Senate are “ exactly what you ’ d expect them to be saying , ” Blunt said .
“ That doesn ’ t make it true.
” 1:48 p.m. : Stop the presses : The White House sent a letter to Bolton ’ s attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser ’ s manuscript contained classified information and that it couldn ’ t be published in its current form , several news outlets reported .
The letter , dated January 23 — three days before the New York Times published excerpts from the manuscript — from Ellen Knight , a member of the White House ’ s National Security Council , says the book contains “ significant amounts of classified information , ” some at the top secret level .
Bolton ’ s book , “ The Room Where it Happened : A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be in bookstores in March .
1:23 p.m. | Short answer : Patrick Philbin , a member of Trump ’ s legal team , argued that many elected officials make policy decisions with their next election in mind , adding that “ there ’ s nothing wrong with that.
” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York had the first question from Senate Democrats , asking the House managers if there is any way for the Senate to render a “ fully informed verdict ” without hearing from additional witnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks have been clamoring to hear from additional witnesses , including Bolton .
1:21 p.m. | Team effort : Maine Republican Susan Collins sent the first question of Wednesday ’ s session to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. on behalf of herself , Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski and Utah Republican Mitt Romney , three Republicans who have said they would consider voting for more evidence .
Collins asked Trump ’ s counsel , “ If President Trump had more than one motive for his alleged conduct , ” such as personal political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how should the Senate consider more than one motive in its assessment of Article I ?
” Trump faces two articles of impeachment : abuse of power and obstructing Congress .
1:15 p.m. | Troubling : Alabama Democratic Sen. Doug Jones said he is still looking at the obstruction of Congress charge , noting , “ There are some things that trouble me about it.
” “ But I will tell you this about the obstruction charge : The more I see the president of the United States attacking witnesses , the stronger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
1:13 p.m. | Off-tackle : Democrats will use the impeachment trial to their political advantage as much as they can , no matter if witnesses are called , or whether an acquittal is partisan or bipartisan , Rep. Mark Meadows , a member of Trump ’ s impeachment team , said .
“ Chuck Schumer is going to come down and say that there ’ s a coverup even if John Bolton were to be called , ” he said .
“ We ’ ve seen this over and over again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ They run off of right tackle every single time and they get tackled.
” 1 p.m. | Question time : The Senate resumed the trial with 16 hours allotted over the next two days for senators to submit questions that Roberts will — alternating between parties — ask of the House impeachment managers and Trump ’ s defense team .
Here ’ s how that will go .
Once the Q & A is completed , the Senate will have four hours to debate the witness issue before voting .
1 p.m. | @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial of President Donald Trump resumed in the Senate Wednesday , Democratic Rep. Elliot L. Engel revealed that former national security adviser John Bolton called him after his firing in September and told him to look into the ouster of Marie Yovanovitch , then the ambassador to Ukraine .
“ He and I spoke by telephone on September 23 .
On that call , Ambassador Bolton suggested to me — unprompted — that the committee look into the recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch .
He strongly implied that something improper had occurred around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyiv , '' Engel , D-N.Y. , said in a statement .
Engel , chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee , said he did not speak publicly at the time about the conversation because it was “ relevant to the Foreign Affairs , Intelligence , and Oversight committees ’ investigation into this matter.
” He did , however , inform his colleagues of the conversation , he said .
“ It was one of the reasons we wished to hear from Ambassador Bolton , under oath , in a formal setting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses in the House ’ s impeachment inquiry , including Yovanovitch herself , testified that she was forced from her post because she had raised questions about a shadow foreign policy operation directed by Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani .
12:18 p.m. | Where does Romney stand ?
: Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney has firmed up his plans to vote to call Bolton as a witness .
“ I would like to hear from from Mr. Bolton , ” he said .
“ I believe he may have answers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Romney declined to say whether he wants to hear from any other witnesses : “ I ’ m going to let the defense and the prosecution decide who they would want to call , ” he said .
Some of Romney ’ s GOP colleagues think differently .
Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey said he is “ very skeptical ” of voting for additional witnesses “ I remain very very skeptical that there ’ s any witness that ’ s going to change ” his opinion , Toomey said .
And Wyoming Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his vote without any new testimony from witnesses .
“ I ’ ve heard enough to make an informed judgment and ready to vote to go to final judgment , ” he said .
“ And I ’ m ready for that vote on Friday.
” 11:58 a.m. | Questions and concerns : Some Democratic senators have signaled that the questions they submitted stem from local or personal concerns .
Sen. Tammy Duckworth , for instance , told CNN that her questions will focus on the strategic national security implications of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Illinois Democrat explained that U.S. troops in her state have trained with Polish units and would be some of the first Americans deployed to Eastern Europe to fight on the frontlines if Russia launches a wider military incursion in Ukraine .
Duckworth was previously an administrator at the Department of Veterans Affairs and lost both her legs on a mission as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot during in Iraq .
Sen. Thomas R. Carper of Delaware told reporters that he plans to ask questions to set the record straight on the bipartisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s efforts to remove a corrupt Ukrainian prosecutor general from his post in 2016 .
Carper served with Biden for nearly a decade in Delaware ’ s Senate delegation .
11:33 a.m. | Consequences : Schumer declined to say whether vulnerable Senate Republicans in 2020 races who vote against calling witnesses will give Democrats a political boost .
“ We ’ re looking at the truth and we ’ re going to let the chips fall where they may , ” he said .
Asked about Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Hunter Biden , Schumer said , “ It ’ s not up to Joe Manchin to call Hunter Biden.
” He added that it is up to Manchin to vote to allow consideration of witnesses and documents and noted Democrats are united on that .
As for Senate Democrats on the fence about whether to convict or acquit Trump , Schumer said the only advice he has provided is to them is “ listen to the arguments carefully and make your own decision of conscience.
” “ Each person ’ s going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ That ’ s how it ought to be in something as important as this.
” Schumer said Republicans pushing to call Hunter Biden are making “ a terrible argument for the president.
” “ Here the house managers have argued that the president was willing to risk our national security and risk the sanctity of our elections to go after Joe Biden and his son , ” he said .
“ Now they ’ re saying we even want to risk the solemnity of a trial in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter Biden , his son .
It ’ s irrelevant .
It ’ s a distraction .
It ’ s running away from the truth.
” 11:20 a.m. | Pretzel logic : Schumer accused Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow of “ temerity ” as he argued on the Senate floor the past few days that the House case against the president lacked eyewitnesses , while simultaneously urging senators not to call eyewitnesses .
He also accused Senate Republicans of “ double talk ” as they delayed the consideration of witnesses and argued that calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re tying themselves in all kinds of pretzel knots to avoid the truth , ” Schumer said .
The minority leader said “ there ’ s no reason for a protracted trial ” because the four sets of documents Democrats have requested have already been collected and are “ sitting in boxes … ours for the asking.
” On witnesses , Schumer said if Senate issues a bipartisan subpoena for their testimony any good lawyer would advise their client to comply .
If someone like acting White House Chief of Staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guise of executive privilege , Democrats would make a motion to the chief justice to reject that claim , he said .
“ We could settle any and all potential claims of executive privilege right on the Senate floor , ” Schumer said .
Schumer also attacked White House legal expert Alan Dershowitz ’ s argument , which many Senate Republicans have been parroting , that Trump can ’ t be impeached because the charges aren ’ t criminal , calling the Harvard law professor an “ outlier , ” repeating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president can ’ t be indicted for criminal conduct , can ’ t be impeached for noncriminal conduct , that would surely put the president above the law , ” Schumer said .
11:20 a.m .
Among friends : Speaking on the South Lawn of the White House ahead of signing the trade agreement between the U.S. , Canada and Mexico , Trump sought to thank and congratulate each of the many GOP senators in attendance .
“ Maybe I ’ m being just nice to them because I want their vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House Republicans in the audience had already voted against impeaching him .
According to the White House , 27 Republican senators were expected to attend the signing ceremony .
11:10 a.m. | Swarm : Activists are descending on Washington and protest in front of several senators ’ home state offices , demanding that the Senate conducts a “ fair trial.
” A coalition of progressive groups has events scheduled outside the offices of vulnerable GOP Sens .
Martha McSally , Cory Gardner , Susan Collins and Thom Tillis , and those of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Mitch McConnell .
McSally , Gardner , Collins and Tillis all are among the top five on CQ Roll Call ’ s most vulnerable senators list and Murkowski and Romney have indicated that they are considering voting to hear from more witnesses .
Gardner told Colorado Politics today that he would vote against more witnesses .
On Capitol Hill , a coalition of grassroots groups plans to “ Swarm the Capitol ” and march from the Hart Senate Office Building to protest at the Capitol .
10:48 a.m. | On the march @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani associate who has implicated the former New York mayor and Trump in the Ukraine scheme , and his counsel Joseph A. Bondy announced they would walk to the Capitol around 11:15 a.m. to follow the impeachment proceedings .
Bondy secured tickets as a constituent Schumer to watch the first day of the Q & A phase from the gallery .
Parnas , however , is unlikely to be allowed entrance into the Senate chamber since he wears an court-ordered ankle monitor and electronics are not allowed into the chamber .
Schumer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked for tickets like many New York constituents have and they complied .
“ I ’ m not sure Parnas would be allowed in because of the electronics around his ankle , ” he said .
Parnas was one of two Soviet-born Americans working closely with Giuliani on his shadow foreign policy operation in Ukraine .
He was indicted on campaign finance charges last year and has been providing documents to House investigators .
10:47 a.m. | Plenty of people ’ s business : Speaker Nancy Pelosi , like Majority Leader Steny H. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Senate Republicans claiming they want to get through the impeachment trial so they can get back to the people ’ s business , telling reporters during an infrastructure news conference that she laughed when she heard that .
“ Yes , you should have been doing it for the past year , because you ’ ve had plenty of legislation to pass , ” she said , referring to House-passed bills that have languished in the Senate .
10:17 a.m. | Informed decision : Republican Sen. Roy Blunt said he doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ No , ” Blunt said when asked if he feels it would be advantageous for him to hear from the former national security adviser to make an informed decision in the trial .
10:05 a.m. | No need : Republican Sen. Richard Burr said he is opposed to calling further witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial , and that he 's not certain the House has made a case for impeachable conduct .
“ If the House has not made their case , there is no need for witnesses , ” Burr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be in favor of seeing the Bolton manuscript as part of impeachment proceedings .
“ If the articles do not rise to the level of a removal , it ’ s irrelevant , ” he said .
9:20 a.m. | Vote counting : Reports emerged Tuesday night that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told GOP senators in a private meeting that he didn ’ t have the votes to block witnesses .
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer declared that ‘ “ 10 or 12 ” Republican senators were considering voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledging the vote count wasn ’ t in their favor , said the number was nowhere near what Schumer declared .
Some Republican senators like Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , who is retiring , said he would decide on his vote after the Q & A sessions .
The two days that is expected to take also gives Senate GOP time to whip votes before the debate , likely Friday .
8:40 a.m. | The Hunter Biden issue : Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III said he thinks that Hunter Biden , former Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump wanted investigated by the Ukrainians , is a relevant witness .
“ I don ’ t have a problem there because this is why we are where we are , ” Manchin said on MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe.
” Now , I think that he can clear himself of what I know and what I ’ ve heard .
But being afraid to put anybody that might have pertinent information is wrong no matter if you ’ re a Democrat or a Republican.
” Some Republicans have countered Democrats ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to hear from the Bidens , Schiff , who led the impeachment inquiry , and the intelligence committee whistleblower who came forward with concerns about Trump ’ s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy which is at the heart of the case against Trump .
8:20 a.m. | Presidential push : Trump appeared to be trying to convince on the fence GOP senators after returning from a rally in New Jersey , complaining that no matter how many witnesses Democrats get , “ it will NEVER be enough for them .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little more direct this morning , telling GOP senators “ Don ’ t let the Dems play you !
” 8:10 a.m. | World War Six : Trump came out swinging against Bolton Wednesday morning , with a reminder that Bolton ended up in his White House job in part because it 's not subject to Senate confirmation .
`` For a guy who could n't get approved for the Ambassador to the U.N. years ago , could n't get approved for anything since , 'begged ' me for a non Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite many saying 'Do n't do it , sir , ' takes the job , mistakenly says 'Libyan Model ' on T.V.
, '' Trump tweeted .
`` many more mistakes of judgement , gets fired because frankly , if I listened to him , we would be in World War Six by now , and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book . ''
Bolton served as ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush , but that came through a recess appointment .
Trump fired him @ @ @

Updated 7:30 p.m.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen announced plans to introduce a motion requiring the chief justice to subpoena documents and witnesses if he determines they are relevant to the impeachment articles, and to exercise his authority to rule on evidence issues like executive privilege.
“My motion ensures the chief justice will serve the same role as a judge in any trial across our country — to allow the Senate access to the facts they need to get to the truth,” the Maryland Democrat said in a statement.
The motion is consistent with Senate rules preserves the right of a majority of senators to override any decisions the justice makes, Van Hollen said.
The Senate began its question and answer phase of the trial before a crucial vote on whether it will hear from witnesses and examine more documents.


rollcall--2020-01-30--Publishing is an art at the Government Publishing Office

Sarah Hurtt , a bookbinder with the Government Publishing Office , demonstrates the marbling process used to trim the edges @ @ @ @ @ GPO on Wednesday .
( Nathan Ouellette/CQ Roll Call ) On the corner of H @ @ @ @ @ sits a brick building housing the Government Publishing Office .
The GPO might be known @ @ @ @ @ documents like the president ’ s budget , but the hand binders who work at @ @ @ @ @ the scenes adding artful marble trim to some of those publications .
CQ Roll Call @ @ @ @ @ ’ s head forwarder , Joshua Crotty , to get an inside look at how @ @ @ @ @ .

On the corner of H Street and North Capitol Street sits a brick building housing the Government Publishing Office.
The GPO might be known for publishing and printing important documents like the president’s budget, but the hand binders who work at the GPO are busy behind the scenes adding artful marble trim to some of those publications.


rollcall--2020-01-30--What kind of country do Americans want? Voters definitely have a choice

Democratic presidential hopeful Tom Steyer campaigns in Iowa last August .
As Democrats wrestle , sometimes clumsily , with complex issues of inclusion , Republicans have a much clearer message , Curtis writes .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call file photo ) OPINION — “ This is the diverse party .
We are a diverse country .
I am from a majority-minority state , California .
So as far as I ’ m concerned , if we aren ’ t talking about race , dealing with race and actually addressing the problems of America today forthrightly and strongly , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of people , and we don ’ t deserve the support of people.
” That was presidential hopeful Tom Steyer , when I spoke with him recently , during his second stop through North Carolina in two weeks .
Yes , there are primary and caucus states after Iowa and New Hampshire .
And Democratic candidates are realizing success in those two states is not necessarily destiny .
That means appealing to the diverse voters who will have to make peace with the candidates and one another by November , and realizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West and beyond , inequality is an essential part of the debate .
But paying attention is not just electoral expediency , it is a matter of political philosophy as well — the “ vision ” thing .
While other nations are still fighting ancient rivalries and coming up with solutions guaranteed to leave someone unhappy — see this week ’ s proposed Middle East peace plan — America has reason to fret over its own longtime divisions , laid starkly bare in this contentious election season .
An impeachment trial is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the country looking at the same evidence and landing on different conclusions .
There is disagreement on what the American experiment really means , and where do we go from here .
While Democrats are wrestling , sometimes clumsily , with complex issues of inclusion , the Republican Party ’ s message , through policy and vocabulary , is much clearer when it comes to appealing across lines of race , faith , national origin , socio-economic status and orientation .
In recent weeks , a Supreme Court dominated by conservative justices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration to implement “ wealth test ” rules for legal immigration , while challenges work their way through the courts , making it easier to deny immigrants residency or admission because they have used or might use public-assistance programs .
How many current citizens ’ immigrant relatives would pass the test , and are Americans comfortable making wealth the defining judge of hard work and character ?
The president is also considering expanding the travel ban that was criticized for targeting Muslim-majority countries .
According to a Politico report , Nigeria might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many Nigerian Americans doing very well when it comes to education and income .
Trump , of course , dismissed the country with a profanity .
States fear cuts in food assistance that don ’ t consider that pockets of limited employment opportunities leave many hurting , even in a good economy .
Though poverty cuts across all lines , Americans disadvantaged by society ’ s obstacles — the poor , the disabled , minorities — acutely feel cuts in the safety net .
The California Steyer speaks of with pride is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inequality — problems not limited to the West Coast — are not viewed as American challenges to be met but as useful cudgels for political-opponent bashing .
Trump does the same for other locales , eschewing the usual presidential gesture of assuring those who chose someone else or none of the above that the commander in chief has their backs .
In contrast , billionaire Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg recently announced his Greenwood Initiative , a plan to address the systemic bias that has kept many African Americans from building wealth , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , known for its role in the historical destruction of black wealth in America .
Its “ black Wall Street ” was destroyed in a 1921 race massacre ; mass graves are still being discovered .
Yes , Bloomberg is bedeviled by his New York City “ stop and frisk ” history , and some cynicism is warranted for his repeated efforts to persuade voters reluctant because of it .
Nonetheless , that gesture acknowledged that America ’ s celebrated greatness has always been complicated and conditional .
When chided by a protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rev .
Dr. William J. Barber II before the Iowa debate , Democratic candidates talked about poverty and the Poor People ’ s Campaign , a current reimagining of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ’ s crusade .
King ’ s day and contributions received the most cursory of acknowledgments from the current White House , if you don ’ t count counselor Kellyanne Conway ’ s suggestion that he would oppose impeachment — and why would you count it ?
What kind of welcome will the campaign ’ s Poor People ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , planned for June 20 , receive , I wonder ?
Voters have a choice , and are paying attention , from the enthusiastic and supportive crowds at Trump rallies , like in New Jersey this week , to folks who came prepared with questions at that Steyer town hall at a Charlotte , North Carolina , boys and girls center .
Carol Archibald , 67 , a retired ICU nurse , said she had seen a lot in her 46-year career , from health professionals dropping dead from burnout to young people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement in her New York City home .
She said she appreciated Steyer ’ s “ heart for the poor , ” evidenced by the nonprofits and community bank he and his wife established before his presidential run .
Issues on the list for her and her daughter , Faye Brown , who accompanied her , included clean air and water , health care and affordable housing .
Even my usual go-to theater escape is often about more serious things these days .
This week , I watched “ The New Colossus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Robbins and his Actors ’ Gang , in Charlotte at the start of a national tour .
The dozen members of the ensemble are guides in an immersive , harrowing journey of refugees — some related to the actors , we learn — who found hope , relief , escape in America .
Led by Robbins in an after-show talkback , audience members shared , sometimes with emotion , their own American stories , with roots that ranged from indigenous to new arrivals to Mayflower descendants .
I shared the story of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 years old and clinging to her mother ’ s skirts when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed , a part of that history passed down so as not to forget .
“ There is so much divisiveness , so much hateful rhetoric , that is dividing us , ” Robbins told me after the show .
“ I think it ’ s important to tell stories that remind us of our shared humanity , our shared history , and what we have in common.
” The idea , he said , “ is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , open their hearts a little bit.
” After seeing a show that takes its name from an Emma Lazarus sonnet , whose lines appear on the Statue of Liberty , it ’ s clear what her words mean to him .
The jury is still out on the rest of us .

OPINION — “This is the diverse party. We are a diverse country. I am from a majority-minority state, California. So as far as I’m concerned, if we aren’t talking about race, dealing with race and actually addressing the problems of America today forthrightly and strongly, we’re not going to get the support of people, and we don’t deserve the support of people.”
That was presidential hopeful Tom Steyer, when I spoke with him recently, during his second stop through North Carolina in two weeks.
Yes, there are primary and caucus states after Iowa and New Hampshire. And Democratic candidates are realizing success in those two states is not necessarily destiny. That means appealing to the diverse voters who will have to make peace with the candidates and one another by November, and realizing that as the primaries move South, West and beyond, inequality is an essential part of the debate.
But paying attention is not just electoral expediency, it is a matter of political philosophy as well — the “vision” thing. While other nations are still fighting ancient rivalries and coming up with solutions guaranteed to leave someone unhappy — see this week’s proposed Middle East peace plan — America has reason to fret over its own longtime divisions, laid starkly bare in this contentious election season.
A complex experiment
An impeachment trial is not the only thing that has the parties and the country looking at the same evidence and landing on different conclusions. There is disagreement on what the American experiment really means, and where do we go from here.


rollcall--2020-01-30--In Florida, Democrats aim to wrap Trump in his offshore drilling plan

After the Trump administration proposed opening Florida ’ s coastal waters to oil and gas drilling , even elected Republicans in the state sent a loud message to Washington : Stay away from our coasts .
The proposal was set aside by the White House , but not disposed of .
And Democrats plan to keep voters in the battleground state reminded that the plan remains on a shelf at the Interior Department , ready to be put into effect in President Donald Trump ’ s second term if he is reelected .
With 29 electoral votes at stake , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could swing independent or undecided voters .
“ Florida Democrats will be reminding voters of Trump ’ s broken promises on offshore drilling , ” said Juan Peñalosa , executive director of the Florida Democratic Party .
“ The state is unique in the sense that the environment and our economy go hand-in-hand.
” Following a directive from Trump , the Interior Department announced a plan in 2018 to expand oil and gas drilling across nearly all U.S. waters , including in the Atlantic and eastern Gulf of Mexico , sparking widespread backlash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump in 2016 .
After pushback from Florida politicians , Ryan Zinke , the Interior secretary at the time , said Florida would be excluded from the plan .
Zinke credited Rick Scott , then the state ’ s Republican governor , for changing his mind .
Scott went on to win election to the Senate in 2018 , unseating Democratic incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson , a longtime opponent of drilling .
But Florida was still part of the plan when it was paused by Zinke ’ s successor David Bernhardt because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arctic .
Environmental advocates fear it could be revived if Trump wins a second and final term .
“ President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt won ’ t fool voters in Florida by saying they ’ ve paused their radical offshore drilling plan , ” said Alex Taurel , conservation program director at the League of Conservation Voters .
“ We and others are going to be reminding folks that President Trump proposed the most radical expansion of offshore drilling in history that could decimate Florida ’ s beaches.
” Florida voters across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Trump is on the “ wrong side ” of the issue , Taurel said , adding that it will be “ a major albatross around ” Trump ’ s neck in Florida in November .
In 2018 , about 69 percent of Florida voters supported a constitutional amendment making permanent a moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the state ’ s waters — 10 miles off the Gulf Coast and three miles off the Atlantic .
But the ban does not apply to federally controlled waters , which start where state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relies heavily on beach tourism and residents are weary of the specter of an oil spill and the damage it could do to businesses , nature and beachfront properties .
“ They have not said emphatically that they will not drill off Florida ’ s coast , ” Peñalosa said of the Trump administration .
A White House spokesman declined to comment .
A spokesman for the Interior Department referred CQ Roll Call to Bernhardt ’ s statements to the Wall Street Journal in 2019 , that a court ruling striking down a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been “ discombobulating to our plan ” to open up other waters to exploration .
He said the administration was expecting a lengthy appeals process on the Alaska case , the decision from which would determine which waters Interior could open for drilling .
The president ’ s GOP supporters in Florida also worry about the status of the plan .
Sen. Marco Rubio in December held up the confirmation of Katharine MacGregor , Trump ’ s pick to become Interior deputy secretary , over the issue .
Rubio said he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility ” that the administration could revive the offshore drilling plan after the 2020 elections .
“ And so we ’ re continuing to be concerned about it , ” the Florida Republican told CQ Roll Call in December .
“ I feel good about it — I know where the president is — but you can never be too careful.
” The Republican National Committee , the Florida Republican Party and Trump ’ s reelection campaign didn ’ t immediately respond to requests for comment .
A GOP consultant , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lure swing votes away from Trump and Republican candidates .
“ We will see what the Democrats do .
… They ’ ve proven themselves to be inept , ” said Alex Patton , a Republican political consultant and pollster in Gainesville , Florida .
Patton said he ’ d advise GOP candidates to play defense on offshore drilling and instead remind voters of the strong economy under Trump , an issue they care about more .
Still , he acknowledged that fear of offshore drilling could spell trouble for Trump and GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a massive oil spill , occurs in the coming months and reminds voters of the risks of having rigs off their coasts .
“ Right now , I don ’ t see it being a driver , but that doesn ’ t mean it can ’ t change in the next months , ” Patton said .
“ Florida is one of those states that is so close .
Nothing matters , but everything matters.
” In a state prone to hurricanes and heavy storms , Florida voters are also keenly aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burning fossil fuels like oil and gas .
A poll released by the Yale University ’ s Program on Climate Change Communication in June found 71 percent of Florida voters supported government action to combat climate change .
About 74 percent , the survey found , would be more likely to support a candidate for political office who favors a transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050 .
“ It ’ s a potential issue that could become explosive for the president , ” said Richard Conley , an assistant professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re such a swing state .
… We have hurricanes … and changing demographics.
” Many in the state are still recovering from recent ferocious storms such as Hurricane Irma in 2017 , which , according to AccuWeather , caused about $ 50 billion in damage nationwide , and Hurricane Michael in 2018 , which devastated the Florida Panhandle .
The risks associated with dangerous hurricanes and offshore drilling operations can be frightening for coastal Floridians .
When Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana in 2005 , followed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage to offshore drilling operations left the coast littered with “ tens of thousands of drums , storage tanks , and other containers holding oil , chemicals , and other hazardous materials , ” according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ’ s Office of Response and Restoration .
And for many Floridians , memories are still fresh of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that gushed 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico , severely damaging wildlife and hurting the seafood and tourism industry in Louisiana , Mississippi , Alabama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We saw what that did in Louisiana , ” Conley said .
Although they ’ ve pushed back on any plans to expand offshore drilling into Florida ’ s waters , both Rubio and Scott have shied away from pinning on Trump any damage such plans could do to Republicans and the president in the state in November .
“ It ’ s not about politics , it ’ s about making sure we don ’ t have offshore drilling , ” Scott said in December when asked about how the plan could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitch to voters will be that GOP lawmakers will not stop Trump from reviving his offshore drilling plan and that the only way to block him would be to vote for Democratic candidates for president and Congress who will protect the coastal waters .
“ Rubio , Scott and [ Republican Gov .
Ron ] DeSantis won ’ t stand up to Trump , ” Peñalosa said .
State Democrats , he added , are operating under the premise that “ no seat is safe .
”

After the Trump administration proposed opening Florida’s coastal waters to oil and gas drilling, even elected Republicans there sent a loud message to Washington: Stay away from our coasts.
The proposal was set aside by the White House, but not disposed of. And Democrats plan to keep voters in that battleground state reminded that the plan remains on a shelf at the Interior Department, ready to be put into effect in President Donald Trump’s second term if he is reelected.
With 29 electoral votes at stake, Florida Democrats are betting that offshore drilling could swing independent or undecided voters.
“Florida Democrats will be reminding voters of Trump’s broken promises on offshore drilling,” says Juan Peñalosa , executive director of the Florida Democratic Party. “The state is unique in the sense that the environment and our economy go hand-in-hand.
Following a directive from Trump, the Interior Department announced a plan in 2018 to expand oil and gas drilling across nearly all U.S. waters, including in the Atlantic and eastern Gulf of Mexico, sparking widespread backlash, including from coastal states that voted for Trump in 2016. After pushback from Florida politicians, Ryan Zinke, who was Interior secretary at the time, said Florida would be excluded from the plan.


rollcall--2020-01-30--Anonymous staffer meme accounts are taking over Capitol Hill

@ americas_staff_assistant and a group of meme accounts are finding a hilarious way to cope with Capitol Hill life .
( Screenshot ) What happens when a creative young staffer with a monotonous job and hours to kill takes to Instagram ?
A hilarious meditation on Hill life told through the language of our time : memes .
Hungover mornings , angry constituents , awkward interactions and career anxiety are all being meticulously documented by a group of meme accounts taking over Capitol Hill .
There ’ s one for almost every position in a congressional office — staff assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communications director and scheduler .
Even campaign fundraisers and committee staffers get a nod .
The main account , America ’ s Staff Assistant , began posting Dec. 2 in an effort to capture “ the daily life and struggles of a Staff Assistant.
” It was prolific in the beginning , posting five to six times a day , but has since slowed and now relies partially on audience submissions .
In almost two months , it has accumulated more than 2,300 followers .
“ What started as a small side project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just continues to grow , ” read a celebratory post when the account hit the 1,000-follower mark .
The memes explore the highs and lows of Hill life , the thrill of starting a career in the most powerful city in the world , and all the opportunities and pitfalls that entails .
There are posts about getting too drunk at receptions ( like the one that uses a half-naked Ken Jeong from the “ Hangover ” movies ) , or scrambling to book a White House tour at the last minute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to kindergarteners being dropped off at school ) .
For D.C. veterans who ’ ve long since left the Hill , the accounts can stir nostalgia .
“ Seems pretty accurate , ” said Ginna Moseley , a former Capitol Hill intern who now works in the energy sector .
“ Reading these is giving me flashbacks to being 22.
” They ’ ve also produced a forehead-slapping , “ Why didn ’ t I think of that ?
” “ Niche audience but so spot on .
I love it , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a legislative director before becoming a lobbyist .
“ My friend on the Hill sends these to me .
I feel like we should ’ ve started these accounts.
” These pockets of comedy can only be understood by someone intimately acquainted with the insular world of congressional staff life .
They ’ re jokes that no one but Hill staffers would get .
The legislative correspondent account , for instance , sparks recognition for anyone familiar with the esoteric process of constituent letter-writing — like when the chief of staff makes an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director already changed .
If you know , you know .
And then there ’ s the post that pokes fun at the difference between personal and committee staff by juxtaposing a burning city with nobles playing harps .
It ’ s not all sarcasm .
There ’ s a heartfelt post that uses crying football players from “ Friday Night Lights ” to convey the disappointment of losing out on a job opportunity .
A photo of the Joker smiling through pain sums up the pressure felt by junior staff to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t clear if one person is running all the accounts , but subtle differences in tone indicate they may have multiple operators .
( Plus , staff assistants have a lot of down time — but not that much . )
I reached out to America ’ s Staff Assistant , but they ( politely ) declined to comment .
Life as a Capitol Hill junior staffer can be stressful .
The pay is low — the median staff assistant salary is about $ 36,000 , according to data compiled by LegiStorm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the constituents can be demanding .
For those getting their start in a personal office , being a staff assistant is more akin to be a customer service representative .
You ’ re responsible for handling constituent calls , greeting in-office visitors and sometimes guiding them on tours .
Consider this meme about phone calls from outside the district , which staff assistants aren ’ t required to take .
Given the volume of complaints from within your own jurisdiction , it can be downright cathartic to hang up on someone when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen staff assistants hang up in the middle of a call as soon as they find out it ’ s not one of their constituents . )
There ’ s the House and Senate rivalry .
Much like their bosses , Senate staffers do feel a sense of superiority to their kin in the “ lower chamber.
” Meanwhile , everyone feels superior to district staff , as evidenced by the arms wrestling meme .
Congress is a seemingly large workplace , but each lawmaker ’ s office is essentially its own silo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next .
Changes could be on the way , as the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress considers a slate of recommendations aimed at making the legislative branch function better .
The bipartisan committee , which formed in 2019 , voted unanimously to urge Congress to create an internal human resources hub .
In the meantime , career development — and protections — are still informal and haphazard , and young staffers are left to navigate the murky waters largely unguided , armed with memes .
Get breaking news alerts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iPhone .

Updated, 11:05 a.m. | What happens when a creative young staffer with a monotonous job and hours to kill takes to Instagram? A hilarious meditation on Hill life told through the language of our time: memes.
Hungover mornings, angry constituents, awkward interactions and career anxiety are all being meticulously documented by a group of meme accounts taking over Capitol Hill. There’s one for almost every position in a congressional office — staff assistant, legislative correspondent, press secretary, communications director and scheduler. Even campaign fundraisers and committee staffers get a nod.
“Waking up to 8 missed calls from your boss and 17 texts from your staff that could all be answered if they would just look at the calendar … (groans existentially),” the Congressional Scheduler posted last fall, with a screenshot from “BoJack Horseman.” That account has 151 posts and has racked up close to 3,000 followers.
Another prolific account, America’s Staff Assistant, began posting Dec. 2 in an effort to capture “the daily life and struggles of a Staff Assistant.” It started off strong, posting five to six times a day, but has since slowed and now relies partially on audience submissions. In almost two months, it has accumulated more than 2,300 followers.
“What started as a small side project in sharing inside jokes on the Hill, just continues to grow,” read a celebratory post when the account hit the 1,000-follower mark.


rollcall--2020-01-30--He was ‘Mr. Foreign Aid’

He was ‘Mr. Foreign Aid’

Virginia Rep. Gerald E. Connolly worked through three leadership changes in the Senate as a staffer for the Foreign Relations panel .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo ) “ Tectonic ” is the word that comes to mind when Gerald E. Connolly thinks back on his early days in Washington .
The year was 1979 , and the future congressman was fresh out of graduate school .
He landed a job as a staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee .
“ The Soviets had invaded Afghanistan , the Iranian Revolution happened , ” Connolly says .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was just beginning my tenure , ” he recalls — a feeling reinforced by a schism in his own party .
The Democrats ’ foreign policy establishment split , and some went on to join the Reagan administration .
Connolly wasn ’ t one of them .
He spent a decade as a committee staffer , and in his mind , the job description was pretty clear : keep the Cold War from getting hot .
Now he serves in Congress himself , representing Northern Virginia ’ s 11th District — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he worked with back then .
Q : What did you learn from your time as a staffer ?
A : I had oversight of the entire foreign assistance program and responsibility for writing the annual foreign aid authorization bill .
So that gave me a worldwide responsibility , a pretty broad portfolio .
I was Mr. Foreign Aid .
One of the saddest parts of my time : We went to Lebanon and went to visit the Marines in Beirut .
They were guarding the airport , surrounded by a Shia neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one who spoke Arabic .
They actually relied on the Shia to warn them that there ’ s a truck bomb at the end of the runway .
I can remember saying to the colonel that we had 240 young men totally exposed .
... [ Then President Ronald ] Reagan ordered the shelling of Souk el-Gharb , and that totally changed the Shia view of the United States .
We went from being liberators and protectors to taking sides in the ongoing conflict within Lebanon , and that whole Shia neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember coming back and pleading with senators to look at this deployment .
Tragically , a terrorist blew up our Marine compound and we lost a couple hundred young American lives .
… I saw the consequences that flow from your vote on a policy that may look distant but affects lives .
Q : You worked under a couple of different Democratic chairmen of Senate Foreign Relations , including Frank Church and Claiborne Pell .
A : I started with Church .
… I was on the majority , and then the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority .
I went through three statuses .
Q : How was the committee dynamic when Republican Richard G. Lugar took over the chairmanship in 1985 ?
A : [ The Democrats ] had an effective majority in the committee even though we were in the minority .
On Middle East issues , we had [ Rudy ] Boschwitz .
On humanitarian and foreign aid issues , we had [ Charles ] “ Mac ” Mathias .
On Greece , Turkey , Cyprus issues , we had Larry Pressler .
We actually controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became chairman .
Lugar was smart enough to count , because otherwise he would ’ ve lost votes on virtually most issues .
He quickly accommodated himself to that , and that made him a successful chairman .
Q : When you started on the Hill , there was tension in the Democratic Party , with a lot of people taking inspiration from Sen. Henry “ Scoop ” Jackson , who was known for his hawkish views .
A : That ’ s right , the neocons .
Many of them went into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with [ President Jimmy ] Carter .
Q : Did any of that thinking make its way into your foreign policy work ?
A : There ’ s a lot of revisionist history with Ronald Reagan .
We certainly did not experience the Reagan years as enlightened policy years .
We saw them as a real throwback .
He was an unreconstituted Cold Warrior who seemed to see the world through his old television days .
It was a rich environment to be a Democratic staffer — trying to prevent the worst from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reagan ] administration to account .
That peaked with the Iran-Contra scandal .
We had been arguing that there were things going on with Central America that didn ’ t square with law .
… We felt justified when it was revealed what was going on , that indeed people had violated the law , and this was a really shady parallel set of policies we couldn ’ t tolerate in a democracy .
Sound familiar ?
Q : Were there any moments of positive bipartisanship ?
A : We got solidarity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Philippines .
Lugar came around to that .
We were moving toward more solidarity on apartheid .
There was one point we had a bill at the desk on South Africa sanctions .
[ Lugar ] was carrying water for the Reagan administration and didn ’ t want the Senate to vote on it .
And so he did something unprecedented : He went up to the desk and took the bill , physically , so that it couldn ’ t be called up because there was no bill at the desk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the job and came to have a more experienced view of the world over time .
But it took awhile on South Africa sanctions .
Q : Any lessons that you pull from that era now that you ’ re a lawmaker yourself ?
A : When I worked in the Senate , I was the chief liaison to the House Foreign Affairs Committee — so it ’ s kind of fun to come back as a member in the other body and pick up where I left off .
… I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and think tanks .
With a 20-year hiatus , I was amazed at how many people I still knew .
I would also say , in those days , your word was your bond .
… These were not trivial issues ; these were tectonic issues in many ways .
Apartheid in South Africa , the Soviet invasion , the Iranian Revolution , the Camp David accord .
The disagreements were not mild or small , but we did have an ethos that we were here to try to resolve differences … and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even people like Jesse Helms at the end of the day were willing to compromise .
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity .

“Tectonic” is the word that comes to mind when Gerald E. Connolly thinks back on his early days in Washington.
The year was 1979, and the future congressman was fresh out of graduate school. He landed a job as a staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“The Soviets had invaded Afghanistan, the Iranian Revolution happened,” Connolly says.
“The world suddenly just blew apart as I was just beginning my tenure,” he recalls — a feeling reinforced by a schism in his own party. The Democrats’ foreign policy establishment split, and some went on to join the Reagan administration.
Connolly wasn’t one of them. He spent a decade as a committee staffer, and in his mind, the job description was pretty clear: keep the Cold War from getting hot. Now he serves in Congress himself, representing Northern Virginia’s 11th District — and he’s still running into people he worked with back then.


rollcall--2020-01-30--Capitol Ink | Rushing Ploy

Capitol Ink | Rushing Ploy

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rollcall--2020-01-30--Rhonda Foxx on her ‘superwoman cape’

Rhonda Foxx on her ‘superwoman cape’

Rhonda Foxx , former chief of staff for Rep. Alma Adams , is running for Congress in North Carolina ’ s 6th District .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo ) If you know where to look , you can spot Rhonda Foxx ’ s “ superwoman cape.
” Hint : It ’ s not draped behind her .
It ’ s worn on her wrist — a large metallic bracelet that she twists whenever she ’ s feeling self-doubt .
“ If you ever see me speak , you ’ re going to see me touch a cuff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent Sunday night .
Foxx started out on Capitol Hill as an intern .
Within five years , she became a chief of staff — one of the youngest women of color to ever hold the job .
Now she ’ s running for Congress in North Carolina ’ s newly redrawn 6th District , hoping to repeat that achievement .
She ’ s under 40 , vying for a seat in a body that is overwhelmingly white and male , and thinking of “ all these little girls ” looking up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say “ I ” more .
“ You don ’ t say ‘ I , ’ as a staffer , ” she said of making the transition to candidate .
Donors have told her she should quit saying “ we.
” It ’ s not the only old habit that ’ s followed her .
She may no longer be working for her former boss , North Carolina Democratic Rep. Alma Adams , but she ’ s still working for her approval .
“ You ’ re gon na stand on your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her boss telling her .
“ You ’ re gon na get out there and earn people ’ s endorsements on your own.
” When Foxx left the Hill in October , she went back home to North Carolina with “ no plan ” to run for office , but when she saw the new boundaries of the 6th District ( and the retirement of incumbent Republican Rep. Mark Walker ) , she was convinced that someone like her could win .
“ I wouldn ’ t have gotten in the race if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
The primary is March 3 , and Foxx admits that the weekend work she used to put in as a chief of staff was “ nothing like this.
” She used to meal prep and post photos of her workouts on her Instagram , @ RFoxxFit .
Between all the door-knocking and the pressure of being a candidate ( “ Everything is under inspection : The way you dress , the way you talk ” ) , she doesn ’ t have much time left for that , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jog , complete with a very home-state playlist .
“ There ’ s no way you can be back in North Carolina and running for political office and not throw Petey Pablo in , ” Foxx said .

If you know where to look, you can spot Rhonda Foxx’s “superwoman cape.” Hint: It’s not draped behind her.
It’s worn on her wrist — a large metallic bracelet that she twists whenever she’s feeling self-doubt. “If you ever see me speak, you’re going to see me touch a cuff,” she told me on a recent Sunday night.
Foxx started out on Capitol Hill as an intern. Within five years, she became a chief of staff — one of the youngest women of color to ever hold the job. Now she’s running for Congress in North Carolina’s newly redrawn 6th District, hoping to repeat that achievement.
She’s under 40, vying for a seat in a body that is overwhelmingly white and male, and thinking of “all these little girls” looking up to her.
She’s also trying to say “I” more. “You don’t say ‘I,’ as a staffer,” she said of making the transition to candidate. Donors have told her she should quit saying “we.”


rollcall--2020-01-30--Print or online? New GPO director Hugh Halpern is a publishing ‘agnostic’

Government Publishing Office Director Hugh Halpern looks over copies of the Congressional Record as he gives a tour of the GPO on Jan. 22 .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) After three decades of trying to blend into the woodwork , Hugh Halpern comes to the office and sees his own face on the wall .
His picture is hanging in the lobby .
The new director of the Government Publishing Office spent 30 years as a congressional aide , and pushing down his “ staffer instincts ” has so far been one of the hardest parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said in an interview last week in the spacious director ’ s suite at the GPO ’ s facility on North Capitol Street .
“ Getting used to having all of this real estate all to myself it ’ s just — it ’ s weird.
” Halpern rose to director of floor operations under Speaker Paul D. Ryan , working his way up through a variety of staff positions , including at the Energy and Commerce and Financial Services panels .
But he ’ s perhaps best known for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Rules Committee .
In that role , he saw his share of late-night deadlines , made worse whenever appropriations legislation or other documents wouldn ’ t print , for one reason or another , through the system used by the GPO to convert them for publication .
“ One of the things GPO needs to do is meet our customers where they are , ” he told CQ Roll Call .
It wasn ’ t so long ago that GPO stood for “ Government Printing Office , ” but Congress changed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p ” -word with another .
“ Printing ” was out , and “ publishing ” was in .
The swap was supposed to reflect the agency ’ s commitment to digital offerings , but that transition hasn ’ t been an easy one .
Simply put , the agency handles publishing for the federal government , from the Congressional Record to the Federal Register and beyond — and the beyond has gotten bigger in the digital age .
“ You ’ re looking at the articles of impeachment on your phone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re looking at it in print , ” Halpern said .
“ We need to be agnostic as to the media that we ’ re producing and really focus on delivering that content.
” That ’ s not to say print is dead at the GPO — if anything , geeking out is encouraged .
Halpern and members of the professional staff were eager to show off a new four-color , high-speed inkjet printer that could easily switch between different documents , along with other shiny new hardware .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , ” Halpern said.
“ Can a committee report look different in 2020 or 2021 than it did in 1861 ?
If you look at them today , they don ’ t. ” The influx of new technology was part of the appeal of the director ’ s job .
“ I had not been quiet about my desire to see GPO modernize , and for the House and Senate to modernize their processes .
The concern I had as an institutionalist is that the harder it is for Congress to produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re just going to stop doing it , ” Halpern said .
“ I , frankly , started to see it on committee reports , and I ’ m a big believer in the importance of committee reports.
” “ There ’ s a copy that goes into a mountain someplace , ” Halpern said .
After leaving Capitol Hill at the end of the Ryan speakership , Halpern weighed his options .
Then people from both chambers approached him about the GPO opening , which was in flux amid concerns about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency ’ s upper ranks .
President Donald Trump had already nominated , and withdrawn , another candidate .
The last Senate-confirmed public printer was Davita Vance-Cooks , who left in October 2017 .
Since then , a series of acting heads of the agency have served .
Halpern was nominated in October and confirmed in December .
“ The natural path would be to go join a law firm or go join a lobbying firm and run around town asking my friends for favors , and that never actually appealed to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ building a team , leading that team toward an objective , ” was what ultimately sold him on the job .
“ At the Rules Committee , it was highly transactional and we had a new mission every single day , ” he said .
“ Sometimes it was really ugly how we got there , but we always hit our marks.
” Now Halpern leads an organization that employs everyone from technology professionals to manufacturing shop workers to artisans and craftsmen who produce hand-marbled books , using methods from centuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of other towns where you ’ re going to go from ... a reasonably accomplished career doing one thing , and then they ’ re going to say , ‘ Oh , now you ’ re CEO of a $ 900 million-a-year operation with 1,700 employees , ’ ” Halpern said .
“ But the challenge of it fascinated me .
”

After three decades of trying to blend into the woodwork, Hugh Halpern comes to the office and sees his own face on the wall. His picture is hanging in the lobby.
The new director of the Government Publishing Office spent 30 years as a congressional aide, and pushing down his “staffer instincts” has so far been one of the hardest parts of the job.
“This office is huge,” he said in an interview last week in the spacious director’s suite at the GPO’s facility on North Capitol Street. “Getting used to having all of this real estate all to myself it’s just — it’s weird.”
Halpern rose to director of floor operations under Speaker Paul D. Ryan, working his way up through a variety of staff positions, including at the Energy and Commerce and Financial Services panels. But he’s perhaps best known for his tenure as staff director of the House Rules Committee.


rollcall--2020-01-29--First day of Trump trial Q&A yields some questions lawyers simply can’t answer

House managers Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , center , Jason Crow , D-Colo. , left , and counsel Daniel Goldman , are seen in the Capitol Rotunda before the continuation of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Wednesday .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) The first day of questions and answers in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump raised some questions that each side either couldn ’ t , or wouldn ’ t , answer .
While many of the questions centered on well-trodden topics , some highlighted the boundaries that the House impeachment managers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cross .
The chamber hushed when a question was sent to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. from key Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , who have both said they ’ d possibly vote with Democrats to hear from witnesses .
The pair ’ s question , read by Roberts , noted that witnesses in the House inquiry testified that Trump consistently expressed his view that Ukraine was corrupt , even before former Vice President Joe Biden entered the 2020 presidential race in April 2019 .
The House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditioning military aid to Ukraine on a politically motivated investigation into Biden and his son , Hunter .
“ Did President Trump ever mention Joe or Hunter Biden in connection with corruption in Ukraine to former Ukrainian President [ Petro ] Poroshenko or other Ukrainian officials , President Trump ’ s Cabinet members , or top aides or others ?
” they asked .
Patrick Philbin , deputy White House counsel , dodged the question , saying he couldn ’ t answer it because the House record did not contain the information .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s in the record , and what ’ s in the record is determined by what the House of Representatives saw , ” he said .
He later added , “ So I can ’ t point to something in the record that shows President Trump at an earlier time mentioning specifically something related to Joe or Hunter Biden.
” Rhose Island Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse accused Trump ’ s counsel of not fully answering the question from Collins and Murkowski , prompting Philbin to clarify his approach to the question-and-answer session .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I refused to answer the question at all , ” Philbin said .
“ We had been advised by the House managers that they were going to object if we attempted to introduce anything that was not either in the public domain , so things that are newspaper articles , things like that that are out there we can refer to , or things that were in the record.
” Lead House impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff countered that assertion , arguing that Trump ’ s defense team was skirting the question for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not confined to the record in the House , nor is the president , ” the California Democrat said .
“ The president could call witnesses if they existed .
There ’ s nothing to prevent them from saying , ‘ As a matter of fact , tomorrow we ’ re going to call such-and-such , and they ’ re going to testify that indeed , Donald Trump brought up Hunter Biden to President Poroshenko.
’ ” An anonymous whistleblower jump-started the impeachment inquiry after filing a complaint Aug. 12 with the inspector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 call in which Trump urged Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Biden .
Questions raised about that whistleblower posed a challenge for both sides .
Republicans Mike Lee of Utah , Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ted Cruz of Texas asked the president ’ s team if the whistleblower worked at the National Security Council and coordinated with Schiff ’ s staff .
Philbin couldn ’ t answer whether the whistleblower coordinated with Schiff ’ s staff but said learning more about the whistleblower would be “ relevant.
” [ View from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jockey for questions at Trump trial ] About an hour later , Cruz , Hawley and Republican Jerry Moran of Kansas asked the House managers if the White House whistleblower ever worked with Biden .
Schiff , the Intelligence Committee chairman , fielded the question , using his five minutes to defend himself and his staff ’ s actions with respect to their handling of the whistleblower ’ s complaint without responding to the specifics of the Republican senators ’ question .
Schiff recited quotes from Republicans Charles E. Grassley of Iowa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of North Carolina to bolster his case for protecting the whistleblower ’ s anonymity .
Each kept straight faces , though Grassley , co-chair of the Senate ’ s whistleblower protection caucus , covered his mouth with his hand .
“ I haven ’ t met them or communicated with them in any way , ” Schiff said before asserting that his panel did not coordinate with the whistleblower .
The Washington Post in October gave Schiff four “ Pinocchios ” for his claim that his staff had not spoken to the whistleblower @

The first day of questions and answers in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump raised some questions that each side either couldn’t, or wouldn’t, answer.
While many of the questions centered on well-trodden topics, some highlighted the boundaries that the House impeachment managers and the Trump defense team would not cross.
The chamber hushed when a question was sent to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. from key Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who have both said they’d possibly vote with Democrats to hear from witnesses.
The pair’s question, read by Roberts, noted that witnesses in the House inquiry testified that Trump consistently expressed his view that Ukraine was corrupt, even before former Vice President Joe Biden entered the 2020 presidential race in April 2019. The House’s case is centered on Trump conditioning military aid to Ukraine on a politically motivated investigation into Biden and his son, Hunter.
“Did President Trump ever mention Joe or Hunter Biden in connection with corruption in Ukraine to former Ukrainian President [Petro] Poroshenko or other Ukrainian officials, President Trump’s Cabinet members, or top aides or others?” they asked.


rollcall--2020-01-29--View from the gallery: Senators swap notes and jockey for questions at Trump trial

Alan Dershowitz , left , an attorney for President Donald Trump , greets Sen. Bill Cassidy , R-La.
, in the Capitol before the continuation of the impeachment trial Wednesday .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) Mississippi Republican Roger Wicker approached a member of President Donald Trump ’ s legal team on the floor Wednesday and loudly asked : “ You ’ re not packing up to leave , are you ?
” Former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz had gathered a small crowd of Republican senators around the desk of Mike Lee of Utah during the dinner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in when the impeachment trial restarted .
“ I ’ m going to try to get recognized and ask you… , ” Wicker told Dershowitz before lowered his voice to discuss the topic .
He then concluded : “ I hope I get to ask it.
” On the eighth day in the chamber for the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history , the 100 senators strategized and huddled about how to ask questions of the Trump legal team and House managers , in their first chance to actively participate .
Senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brief moments of silence between questions .
But some also whispered to colleagues during answers .
Illinois Democrat Tammy Duckworth turned to address fellow Democrats seated to her right , Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico , as Trump ’ s lawyers answered a question about quid pro quo .
Democratic staffers in the back of the chamber were effectively holding office hours during the session , dealing with a rotating case of Democratic senators seeking guidance on their questions .
Just after 4:45 p.m. , West Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffers ’ home base on a bench in the back corner , showing them papers and asking questions .
One aide grabbed the attention of another for a consultation , both pointing at papers and gesturing .
Eventually , a third aide got involved in the Manchin inquiry , forming a huddle .
Manchin eventually seemed satisfied with the guidance he received , laughing with the original staffer .
He patted the aide on the knee with his question card and headed back to his desk , victorious .
Notes were flying during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to Laura Dove , a staffer for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky .
Some notes were from lawmakers , others were from staffers in the chamber or the cloakroom .
Some were improvised on torn half-sheets of paper with a written note on one side and printed information on the other .
As more pages arrived to deliver notes , Dove took a moment to close her eyes , seeming to brace herself for whatever new information or inquiry was headed her way and then smiled .
Around 5:25 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen through the glass windows of the door of the cloakroom having an animated , if not heated , conversation with Dove .
Earlier , Paul could be heard on the floor seeking assurances that he would get to ask a question .
“ I don ’ t want to have to stand up to try and fight for recognition , ” Paul said loud enough for those in the galleries above the chamber to hear .
“ If I have to fight for recognition , I will.
” To begin the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chamber and headed straight for the candy desk run by Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey , grabbing what appeared to be a small Hershey ’ s bar .
It ’ s possible Romney needed the sugar rush to quell the anticipation or nerves that came with knowing that a question he co-signed with Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska would be the first one asked .
During their question , the three took notes , glancing up at Trump ’ s defense lawyer Patrick Philbin .
Romney also checked what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas Republican John Cornyn scrolled through some items on his Apple Watch while Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York asked the first Democratic question .
Back-row Republican chatterboxes Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Tim Scott of South Carolina laughed out loud when Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. read Schumer ’ s question .
The White House defense team was using a cue card system to signal to their speakers when their time was running short , flashing small white cards with 2 minutes , 1 minute , 30 seconds and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team used a similar system last week , but did not seem to be using it Wednesday .
Just before time expired on the response from lead House impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff , Manchin twirled his pointer finger , seeming to signal “ wrap it up.
” Roberts enforced the time limit on Schiff , and again later when House manager Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia of Texas went over her time .
At around 1:56 p.m. , it appeared that Manchin was asleep .
When he seemed to wake up , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his glasses off of his face .
After dinner , Manchin ’ s cell phone rang on the floor .
He hurried to the cloakroom .
Romney looked like a statue as Schiff described a hypothetical scenario in which , during Romney ’ s 2012 presidential run , President Barack Obama had pressured Russia to investigate Romney and his family .
Upon hearing Schiff say Romney ’ s name , visitors in the Senate ’ s galleries shifted their focus to his desk , where he held a toothless smile .
Just before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidates , Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Ted Cruz of Texas , decamped to the GOP cloakroom .
Minutes later they emerged and offered a question that again invoked a hypothetical scenario in which Obama in 2012 sought a foreign country to investigate Romney .
This time Romney was standing by his desk , again motionless .
Schiff called Graham and Cruz ’ s hypothetical a bit “ off , ” and Romney smiled .
Shortly before the Senate broke for dinner , Scott and Sasse nodded approval to Dershowitz ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an abuse of power charge .
As Dershowitz spoke , Scott took out a small bottle of hand sanitizer from his mahogany desk and glazed his hands , a move his neighbor , Sasse , replicated .
Scott went on to silently clap as Dershowitz made his points .
Thomas R. Carper addressed the justice to submit a question , and sat back down holding the card with his query on it .
A page stood by waiting and it took the Delaware Democrat a few seconds before he realized he was still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Poor pages : At least four aisles , two on each side of the senate chamber , are blocked by the long tables for the House managers and Trump ’ s counsel .
That forced Senate pages to speed walk the card from the senator , out to the back of the chamber and around , and down the center aisle to the chief justice .
With all eyes on them and silence falling over the chamber during their walk , the pages were subjected to something akin to a high-pressure Oscars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end .
At one point , Charles E. Grassley of Iowa , who sits in the front row of the Senate , posed a question .
The page had to take the U-shaped route from Grassley ’ s desk past a column of Republican desks , down the center aisle eventually splitting the respective counsels and delivering the paper to Roberts .
As both sides answered questions , Schiff sat right leg draped over his left , hands resting over his right knee , rubbing his thumbs together .
Pages frequently delivered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Schiff .
One delivery was a hefty stack of manila folders .
Some senators appeared to grow restless with the lengthy proceedings .
Carper rocked back in his chair .
New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand walked to the back of the chamber with her notebook to lean against the rail for a while as she continued to take notes .
Cornyn rubbed lip balm from a nondescript white tube onto his lips , while fellow Republican Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming blew his nose into a white handkerchief .
For about half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand over his mouth , palm facing away from him so it looked like he was talking into his watch .
But more likely the Louisiana Republican was concealing a yawn , as he followed it up with some eye rubs and a large yawn that he did not conceal as well .
Niels Lesniewski and Chris Marquette contributed to this report .

Mississippi Republican Roger Wicker approached a member of President Donald Trump’s legal team on the floor Wednesday and loudly asked: “You’re not packing up to leave, are you?”
Former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz had gathered a small crowd of Republican senators around the desk of Mike Lee of Utah during the dinner break, and Wicker wanted to elbow in when the impeachment trial restarted.
“I’m going to try to get recognized and ask you…,” Wicker told Dershowitz before lowered his voice to discuss the topic. He then concluded: “I hope I get to ask it.”
On the eighth day in the chamber for the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history, the 100 senators strategized and huddled about how to ask questions of the Trump legal team and House managers, in their first chance to actively participate.
Senators were chattier than usual, especially during brief moments of silence between questions. But some also whispered to colleagues during answers.


rollcall--2020-02-04--Iowa lawmakers band together with early caucus spot on the line

Iowa voters wait for the start of a Democratic satellite caucus at the IBEW headquarters in Washington , D.C. , on Monday .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) With Iowa ’ s “ first in the nation ” status on the line after chaotic Democratic caucuses rocked the presidential primary , Iowa lawmakers in both parties banded together Tuesday to defend their state ’ s role in the process .
It took until early Tuesday evening for the Iowa Democratic Party to announce results from Monday ’ s caucuses .
And even then it was less than two-thirds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around a new app used for reporting voter preferences as well as the calculations for allocating delegates .
The partial results showed former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg leading the Democratic field with 27 percent of the state delegate count and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in second place with 25 percent .
But the results were overshadowed by the preceding night ’ s chaos , which provided fresh ammunition to those looking to dethrone Iowa as the first place where Democratic voters signal their favored presidential candidates .
The renewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional delegation in each party to issue statements touting the state ’ s role in the nominating process .
“ The Iowa Caucuses are the foundation of how our parties and our nation select their next President , and generations of Iowa voters know how seriously we all take that responsibility , ” Democratic Reps. Cindy Axne , Abby Finkenauer and Dave Loebsack said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon .
The trio called the controversy about Monday ’ s tallies “ disappointing.
” “ As Iowan ’ s voices in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important it is that our constituents came together last night to participate in what should be a trustworthy and efficient process , and this deserves to be done right , ” they said .
The state ’ s top Republicans had weighed in hours earlier .
“ Iowa ’ s large population of independent voters and its practice of careful deliberation contributes greatly to the national presidential primary and makes it the ideal state to kick off the nominating process , ” GOP Sens .
Charles E. Grassley and Joni Ernst said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The statements highlighted not only that the caucuses are a point of state pride but that they are also an economic boost for Iowa as campaigns and the media that cover them converge on the state every four years .
President Donald Trump tweeted that he supported Iowa ’ s front-runner status , but his campaign manager , Brad Parscale , threw shade on the Democrats , calling Monday ’ s chaos “ the sloppiest train wreck in history .
“ It would be natural for people to doubt the fairness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
The news release from Grassley , Ernst and Reynolds offered a rebuttal .
“ Iowans and all Americans should know we have complete confidence that every last vote will be counted and every last voice will be heard , ” they wrote .
Yet with no results from Monday ’ s contests to analyze , cable television coverage was saturated with commentators questioning whether an overwhelmingly white and agricultural state that has people express their preferences by gathering in the corners of gyms and firehouses instead of voting on ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential gatekeeper .
The statements from Iowa lawmakers appeared to be responding to the new round criticisms , and signaled these lawmakers may be concerned that Iowa ’ s early-state status is in jeopardy .
“ They ’ re right to be concerned , ” said strategist Doug Heye , who was a senior adviser to the Iowa GOP when Republicans faced their own caucus debacle in 2012 .
“ I would say that concern was already there before last night ’ s events.
” Both parties have long worked in unison to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first national contest , said David Redlawsk , a political psychology professor at the University of Delaware and co-author of “ Why Iowa ?
” “ Whether that ’ s enough going forward is another question , ” he said .
Not the first time This is not the first time Iowa ’ s early-state status has been questioned amid confusion about the caucuses .
After 2008 , Republicans reexamined it but ultimately decided not to change the process .
In 2012 , the GOP caucuses were also mired by confusion .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially declared the winner , the state Republican Party reversed course more than two weeks later to declare former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum the winner .
And in 2016 , an extremely tight race between Sanders and Hillary Clinton raised concerns about the caucus process .
That prompted the state party to develop a plan for 2020 to release results from the multiple rounds of voting , a change that contributed to Monday ’ s delayed reporting of results .
Iowa ’ s early-state status has prevailed in part because attention on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then other states on the calendar .
And also because the national party committees gather to reexamine the primary process long after the caucuses are over .
“ People get outraged and then very quickly move on , ” Heye said .
“ The order of the states still get talked about , still gets debated , but never gets changed . ''
But the Democratic debate around Iowa ’ s status isn ’ t just about Monday ’ s chaos .
Even before voters started heading to the caucuses , some Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the diverse party , so its voters shouldn ’ t get to go first .
Redlawsk also acknowledged that Monday ’ s events could carry more weight in the debate over Iowa ’ s status because of those broader concerns .
“ I do think this , combined with the other arguments in the Democratic Party about representation and acceptability , increase the chances significantly that Iowa won ’ t be first in the future , at least of the Democrats , ” he said .
Members of Congress are expected to defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominating process , but there isn ’ t much they can do to protect its coveted position .
“ This is ultimately in the hands of the Democratic National Committee and the rules committee , ” Redlawsk said .
Whether the DNC has a full-fledged debate over Iowa ’ s place in the process could depend on what happens later this year .
Redlawsk said that if a Democrat defeats Trump , the 2024 caucuses would likely be uncontested , and therefore a debate over Iowa ’ s status could be postponed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wins reelection and both parties have wide-open nominating contests in 2024 , national Democrats could pressure Iowa to at least change its process from a caucus to a more traditional primary , Redlawsk said .
In that scenario , New Hampshire would likely put up a fight to make sure it keeps its “ first in the nation ” status when it comes to primaries .
“ The old battle between New Hampshire and Iowa would be reopened , and I doubt Iowa would win that , ” Redlawsk said .
But Iowans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s early status could take some solace in the fact that devising a new process , and choosing which states can choose the presidential candidates first , is a complicated undertaking .
That exercise helps explain how Iowa has prevailed as the first caucus state for so long .
“ Part of it , honestly , is no one ’ s come up with a better approach , ” Redlawsk said .
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With Iowa’s “first in the nation” status on the line after chaotic Democratic caucuses rocked the presidential primary, Iowa lawmakers in both parties banded together Tuesday to defend their state’s role in the process.
It took until early Tuesday evening for the Iowa Democratic Party to announce results from Monday’s caucuses. And even then it was less than two-thirds of the tallies because of uncertainty and confusion around a new app used for reporting voter preferences as well as the calculations for allocating delegates.
The partial results showed former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg leading the Democratic field with 27 percent of the state delegate count and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in second place with 25 percent.
But the results were overshadowed by the preceding night’s chaos, which provided fresh ammunition to those looking to dethrone Iowa as the first place where Democratic voters signal their favored presidential candidates.
The renewed criticism prompted members of Iowa’s congressional delegation in each party to issue statements touting the state’s role in the nominating process.


rollcall--2020-02-04--Trump State of the Union guests highlight reelection messaging

Crews set up lighting in Statuary Hall ahead of the State of the Union on Tuesday .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) The guest lists for the 2020 State of the Union underscored both the messages for President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign and the way in which congressional Democrats will be on offense against him and his GOP supporters on Capitol Hill .
From an appeal to his base through a typical hard line on immigration and Iran to a broader audience through talk of the benefits of 2017 Republican-led tax cuts and the state of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up a series of bullet points for the speech-writing team behind the teleprompter text .
Guests joining first lady Melania Trump in the House chamber Tuesday night were set to include Cincinnati resident Tony Rankins , whose story senior administration officials have been highlighting since last week .
A U.S. Army veteran of the Afghanistan war , Rankins has battled post traumatic stress disorder and for a time lived in his car .
According to the White House , Rankins eventually got a job for a construction business that benefited from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
Another beneficiary of the Opportunity Zone program on the guest list is Paul Morrow , an Army veteran and businessman who is currently building a new concrete plant in Alabama .
The Opportunity Zone program has not been without its critics .
Senate Finance ranking member Ron Wyden of Oregon has sought to impose new standards to make sure funds are actually flowing to support low-income communities .
Hogan Gidley , the principal deputy White House press secretary , told reporters Tuesday that the president intended to use the guests to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There ’ s a record of accomplishments now that he can tout , he can point to , that you know these are real policies that impact real people , ” Gidley said .
The president ’ s guests also serve as the frame for new or expanding policy proposals .
That includes the Davis family .
Stephanie Davis and her fourth-grade daughter , Janiyah , from Philadelphia were picked as examples of who would benefit from expanding school choice programs .
The president and first lady also invited Ellie and Robin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ellie , 2 , was born at just 21 weeks and six days , which the administration is using to highlight its anti-abortion stance , and particularly its opposition to late-term abortion .
Democrats , of course , sought to use their invited guests to illustrate what they say are the president ’ s wrong-headed policies .
Washington Sen. Patty Murray , the ranking Democrat on the Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee , invited Emma Bosley , who has received medical care provided under Title X , which funds family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seattle , families across Washington state and the country have been calling on Republicans to fight back against the Trump-Pence Administration ’ s efforts to undermine the historically bipartisan Title X family planning program and take needed health care away from millions of people .
Republicans may be trying to shut these voices out , but I ’ m absolutely not going to let them , ” Murray said in a statement .
All told , more than 80 Democratic lawmakers invited health care advocates , seeking to focus on the ongoing legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2010 health care overhaul law , particularly the effect it would have on jeopardizing protections for those with preexisting health conditions .
In keeping with the campaign season , the administration has been criticizing health care proposals being pushed by Democrats running for president in 2020 .
A senior administration official on Friday described the Democratic policy blueprints like “ Medicare For All ” as “ radical proposals being floated on the left.
” Meanwhile , immigration , as it has been since Trump first announced his presidential run in 2015 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jody Jones , whose brother Rocky was killed in 2018 by a previously incarcerated and deported immigrant , made the guest list .
“ He was behind bars for quite a few times but because of California ’ s sanctuary laws , very loose sanctuary laws , he was let out , ” White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said Tuesday on Fox News , referring to Gustavo Garcia , who had been deported in 2014 .
“ And he went on a 24-hour crime spree.
” Raul Ortiz , the deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the guest list .
The administration ’ s highlighted guests also include Kelli Hake , whose husband Army Staff Sgt .
Christopher Hake was killed in action in Iraq when his Bradley fighting vehicle struck a bomb that the administration has connected to Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani .
Soleimani was killed last month in drone strike , a particular point of pride for the president .

The guest lists for the 2020 State of the Union underscored both the messages for President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign and the way in which congressional Democrats will be on offense against him and his GOP supporters on Capitol Hill.
From an appeal to his base through a typical hard line on immigration and Iran to a broader audience through talk of the benefits of 2017 Republican-led tax cuts and the state of the economy, the president’s guests set up a series of bullet points for the speech-writing team behind the teleprompter text.
“Many politicians came and went, pledging to change or replace NAFTA — only to do absolutely nothing. But unlike so many who came before me, I keep my promises. Six days ago, I replaced NAFTA and signed the brand new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement into law,” goes Trump’s line in prepared remarks of the speech.
Adding to that, he touts another trade move, the first stage of a pact with China: “Days ago, we signed the groundbreaking new agreement with China that will defend our workers, protect our intellectual property, bring billions of dollars into our Treasury, and open vast new markets for products made and grown right here in the USA.”


rollcall--2020-02-04--‘Patrick Dempsey and Ways and Means’ is the Google search we never knew we needed

Is this the future face of the storied Ways and Means Committee ?
( Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images file photo ) The words “ Ways and Means ” and “ glamorous ” have likely never been uttered together in the history of either , but CBS is hoping to change that with a new political drama .
The oldest standing committee in Congress , which oversees things like taxes and Social Security , is getting a facelift — at least on TV .
Former “ Grey ’ s Anatomy ” star Patrick Dempsey — aka McDreamy — is going to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called “ Ways and Means , ” centers on “ a powerful congressional leader ( Dempsey ) who has lost faith in politics , ” according to Deadline .
( Sounds about right . )
He “ finds himself working secretly with an idealistic young congresswoman from the opposing party to subvert the hopelessly gridlocked system he helped create ; together , they ’ ll attempt to save American politics — if they don ’ t get caught.
” Dempsey will also executive produce the series , which was almost called “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultant Mike Murphy .

The words “Ways and Means” and “glamorous” have likely never been uttered together in the history of either, but CBS is hoping to change that with a new political drama.
The oldest standing committee in Congress, which oversees things like taxes and Social Security, is getting a facelift — at least on TV. Former “Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey — aka McDreamy — is going to help.
The pilot for the show, called “Ways and Means,” centers on “a powerful congressional leader (Dempsey) who has lost faith in politics,” according to Deadline. (Sounds about right.)
He “finds himself working secretly with an idealistic young congresswoman from the opposing party to subvert the hopelessly gridlocked system he helped create; together, they’ll attempt to save American politics — if they don’t get caught.”
Dempsey will also executive produce the series, which was almost called “The Whip,” along with Republican political consultant Mike Murphy.