12:30 Report — New Senate retirement rocks Democrats

12:30 REPORT

It’s Wednesday. Can you believe it was five years ago this week that COVID-19 began to shut down the world? Walt Disney World closed on March 12 and the first batch of colleges canceled in-person classes.

Today's forecast in DC: ⛅ 61° (Find your weather here)

In today's issue:

Senate retirement opens competitive 2026 seat
Government funding saga’s latest
Ireland’s prime minister visits D.C.
John Mulaney’s weekly talk show premiere

⏱️On Capitol Hill

As if Senate Democrats weren’t already stressed enough:

X.com/SenatorShaheen

New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) announced her retirement this morning, setting up quite the midterm battle in 2026 for an open Senate seat.

📹 Watch Shaheen’s announcement

What to know about Shaheen: Shaheen recently became the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is the first woman to serve in that role. She’s 78 years old and has been in the Senate since 2009.

Why this is a big deal: This means Democrats will be defending open seats in Minnesota, Michigan and now New Hampshire. Shaheen’s home state is very purple: Former Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024 and both of the state’s senators are Democrats, but the state also elected a Republican as its governor in 2024. This will likely be a top race to watch in 2026.

👀 Spotted on Capitol Hill: Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R), who is rumored to be considering running for this Senate seat in 2026, was spotted walking into Tuesday’s Senate Republican luncheon. 📸 Brown posted a selfie (Peep Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in the back.) Brown’s post about Shaheen this morning.

^FYI: Brown was defeated by Shaheen in the 2014 New Hampshire Senate race.

And Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) is “definitely considering” running, per Axios.

Tidbit: While discussing her potential reelection in February, Shaheen asked NOTUS’s Ursula Perano to name three people who are interested in running for her seat. When the reporter didn’t, Shaheen responded: “Well, there you are.” (h/t Business Insider’s Bryan Metzger)

Your move:

The House narrowly passed a six-month government funding bill, which would avert Friday’s deadline, and then quickly left town Tuesday. That has left the Senate with only two options: Approve exactly what the House passed or shut down the government.

This decision mostly falls on Senate Democrats: At least eight Democrats need to back the Republican bill for it to pass the Senate. Republican Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), a staunch fiscal conservative, has said he will vote against it — so 52 Republican votes plus eight Democrats would reach the magic 60-vote threshold.

Do Senate Democrats want this fight?: They have been very clear about their opposition to what they describe as a “horrible” bill. Democrats are picking their battles to push back at the Trump administration — and so far, it appears this is not one they want (though they are still weighing options.)

How we know that: Senate Democrats met privately Tuesday to discuss the dynamics. Their routine weekly luncheon lasted for hours. They’re meeting again today to figure out their plan. They acknowledge a shutdown could drag on for weeks and could do a lot of damage.

Democratic votes to watch:

John Fetterman (Pa.) said he will vote “yes” on the funding bill
Angus King (I-Maine) hasn’t said how he will vote but is worried about a shutdown.
Mark Kelly (Ariz.) is worried about adding to the chaos.

Keep in mind about the House’s vote: One lone House Democratic lawmaker voted “yes” on the bill — Rep. Jared Golden (Maine). He’s a moderate from a district Trump won in 2024.

Step 1 in gutting a department:

The Department of Education has fired nearly half of its employees, the latest move in President Trump’s effort to shutter the agency.

The numbers: “The Education Department started President Trump’s second term with more than 4,000 employees, but even before Tuesday, hundreds had already been put on leave or had taken a buyout offer. After this reduction, there will be 2,183 employees left with the department, which Trump has repeatedly called to shutter completely.”

Linda McMahon confirmed her goal: Education Secretary Linda McMahon told Fox News’s Laura Ingraham on Tuesday the mass layoffs are, in fact, a step in shutting down the department. 🔎 Key quotes from McMahon’s interview

Just a reminder: Formally shutting down the department would require approval from Congress.

The newest Tesla showroom:

Trump bought a Tesla on Tuesday afternoon “to make a statement” while his top ally, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, faces backlash over his heavy involvement in the federal government.

📸 Check out this photo of Trump’s Tesla notes

Timing: Tesla’s stock has dropped by more than 50 percent since late last year and had another huge drop Monday. Protesters have also been gathering outside Tesla warehouses. Check out Tuesday’s edition of The Hill’s Technology newsletter for more context.

📸 Cybertruck at the White House

Omg, oops! Wrong photo. 😉 I meant this!! ⬇️

📺 Because this was easy fodder for late-night: Watch Jimmy Kimmel’s segment on the Tesla display on the White House lawn.

The tariff waltz:

Canada is expected to impose $20.6 billion in retaliatory tariffs in response to President Trump doubling the fee on Canadian metal imports.

Backstory: “The new, federal-level tariff comes on the heels of a tariff spat between the U.S. and Ontario this week. The province placed a surcharge on electricity supplied to New York, Michigan and Minnesota. In response, Trump vowed to double the 25 percent metals tariff. Ontario Premier Doug Ford then said he would hold off on the electricity surcharge ahead of a Thursday sit-down with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.” Read more on how we got here

➤ IS TRUMP SERIOUS ABOUT WANTING TO MAKE CANADA A STATE…?:

“President Trump’s tariff policies sparked another day of political and financial-market turmoil Tuesday — along with new recognition that he really may be serious about trying to make Canada part of the United States,” reports The Hill’s Niall Stanage.

Trump has made several references to this, but here’s a Tuesday post: “The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. … The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World.” 🔎 Read Trump’s full post

Read Stanage’s column today: ‘Trump, amid tariff tangle, sounds serious about bringing Canada into US’

🐝 Internet Buzz

🥘 Celebrate: Today is National Baked Scallops Day.

📺 John Mulaney’s launching a live Netflix show: Comedian John Mulaney is hosting a weekly live celebrity sit-down talk show on Netflix. The first episode will air live at 10 p.m. EDT tonight. CBS ‘Sunday Morning’ segment about the show

🦠 These charts are pretty wild: The New York Times compiled a list of charts showing various things COVID-19 has changed since March 2020. Think: Alcohol sales, time spent at home, women in the labor force and “adopt a dog” web searches. ‘30 Charts That Show How Covid Changed Everything in March 2020’

💒 The talk of my social media feeds: A contestant on Netflix’s “Love it Blind” left her fiance at the altar because of their differing political views. 📹 Watch the clip

⚖️ This is SO necessary!: The Hill’s legal reporting team, Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee, launched a newsletter today, “The Gavel,” to break down emerging legal battles and key updates you need to know from the courts. Click here to sign up to get it in your inbox and check out the first edition.

📆 On The Agenda

The House is out. The Senate is in. President Trump is in Washington. (all times Eastern)

Noon: The Senate holds a vote. More votes are expected around 2:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. 📆 Today’s agenda
12:05 p.m.: Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) host Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin — also known as taoiseach of Ireland — at the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon on Capitol Hill. ☘️ Livestream
1:45 p.m.: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) and others speak at the annual House Democratic retreat. 💻 Livestream
5:30 p.m.: Trump participates in a St. Patrick’s Day reception with the taoiseach of Ireland. ☘️ Livestream
April 28: The Philadelphia Eagles will visit the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl victory.

👋 And Finally…

Because I want to leave you smiling, watch these perfect pups take their roles as guide-dogs-in-training very seriously.

Miss yesterday's 12:30 Report? Catch up with a 1-minute video recap here.

Stay Engaged

Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com. A friend forward this to you? Subscribe here.

View past issues of 12:30 Report here and check out other newsletters from The Hill here. See you next time!

Topics

Shaheen to retire, setting up battle for New Hampshire Senate seat

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the senior Democratic senator from New Hampshire, has announced she will not run for reelection in 2026, creating an open-seat race in a battleground state former Vice ...
The Hill - 7h
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Democrat, Won’t Run Again in 2026

Ms. Shaheen’s retirement will set off a high-stakes fight for an open seat in a state where she has been a leading political figure for decades.
The New York Times - 1h
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Jeanne Shaheen Is Right to Retire

Jeanne Shaheen, 78, is the latest Senate Democrat to say she won’t run for re-election. It’s the right call, and there’s still time for others to follow.
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