It’s Wednesday. The TikTok ban delay will expire exactly one month from today. How is everyone feeling about that? |
- Hot mics and drama at Trump’s address
- Did Trump signal a softening on Ukraine?
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The Supreme Court denied Trump’s USAID request
- House Democrat dies at 70
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Where do we go from here?:
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© Mandel Ngan, AFP via pool |
A hyper-partisan Washington was on full display Tuesday evening.
Republicans were euphoric and in the mood to gloat. President Trump spent roughly 100 minutes boasting his early wins, bashing his predecessor, mocking his political foes and veering off script for a campaign rally-like feel. He defended the whirlwind of quick policy changes over the past 44 days, added fuel to the culture war and defended his controversial tariffs against Canada and Mexico. 📝 Five takeaways from Trump’s address 🔎 The New York Times fact-checked Trump’s claims, posting a list of several false or misleading statements
Meanwhile, Democrats were scattered in their protests. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was ejected from the chamber for interrupting Trump. (Don’t be surprised if Green is censured for it.) Meanwhile, several Democrats stood up and left midspeech and others silently protested with signs from their seats.
Democrats’ brag-worthy moment came after the address when first-term Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) delivered a sharp, 10-minute rebuke of the president. Democrats were strategic in selecting someone with her credentials: She comes from a state where both she and Trump won last November. Democrats have praised Slotkin, including Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) calling it the best response she’s ever seen. 📹 Short clip of Slotkin (that Pete Buttigieg said “amen” to.)
^ Yes, but: Offering the minority party’s rebuttal is a thankless job. Rising stars are often chosen to deliver the response, and while it can elevate their name recognition, it mostly serves as a tradition. |
➤ DID LAST NIGHT MOVE THE NEEDLE?: |
Washington is still so bitterly divided, and for the most part, last night didn’t change that. But there were a few notable policy moments:
Trump may be softening on Ukraine: Trump told Americans that he received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier Tuesday about wanting to negotiate. That’s notable considering Friday’s dispute in the Oval Office.
Trump’s Commerce head is optimistic about the tariff situation: “The president is listening to the offers from Mexico and Canada. He’s thinking about trying to do something in the middle,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Bloomberg TV. |
➤ HOW’S EVERYONE FEELING TODAY?: |
From Fox News’s chief political analyst Brit Hume: “This was the most boisterous, the longest, the most partisan speech I’ve ever heard a president give in this kind of setting, and I go back about maybe 50 years on this,” Hume said. “I also think it may have been the most effective.”
Most people who tuned in approved of Trump’s speech: According to snap polls from CBS News and YouGov and CNN’s instant polling. 📊 The numbers |
➤ THE MOST INTERESTING TIDBITS FROM THE CHAMBER: |
Hot mic moment: Vice President Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) could be heard on the mic chatting about their roles behind the dais before Johnson turned the mic down.
Vance: “By the way, I think the speech is going to be great ... but I don't know how you do this for 90 minutes.”
Johnson: “The hardest thing was doing it during Biden, when the speech was a stupid campaign speech.” 📹 Watch the clip A cop told Elon Musk to put his phone away: Musk took a video in the House gallery. A cop told him to put his phone away, per NOTUS’s Matt Fuller.
Ooh, I’m here for the drama: A House Democrat brought a handwritten sign that read, “This is Not Normal.” She held it up as Trump entered the chamber. A House Republican then . The moment was caught on camera and off the incident. 📹 📸
Trump and Lauren Boebert spoke the other night: While Trump exited the chamber, firebrand conservative Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) congratulated him on his speech and then said, “thanks for the phone call last night, too.” |
➤ OTHER SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: |
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The Supreme Court handed Trump a loss this morning:
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The Supreme Court issued an emergency ruling this morning denying the Trump administration’s request to cancel $2 billion in foreign aid payments owed under existing contracts.
The ruling: 5-4. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett sided with the court’s three liberals. Reminder: Roberts briefly paused the order last week to give the court time to decide. |
How horrible — rest in peace, congressman: |
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Musk is getting very familiar with DC: |
Tech billionaire Elon Musk is scheduled to meet with House Republicans this evening, report The Hill’s Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told The Hill: “He’s just going to give an update, answer questions. The closer we coordinate together, the more that we’ll be in position to codify the savings that he’s finding. So that’s what that’s about.” |
➤ HOW ARE DOGE STAFFERS GETTING PAID?:
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Wired’s Kate Knibbs reports that some staffers at the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who are tasked with purging federal agencies, are earning six-figure, taxpayer-funded salaries “sometimes from the very agencies they are cutting.” 🔎 Read the full report
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➤ SPOTTED ON CAPITOL HILL:
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The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington with no public events. (all times Eastern) |
- 1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
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3:45 p.m.: Two Senate votes, including a confirmation vote for Todd Blanche to be deputy attorney general. 📆 Today’s agenda
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4 p.m.: First and last votes. 📆 Today’s agenda
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