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Oh snap!: |
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Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker is testifying before the House Judiciary Committee this morning. http://bit.ly/2tl8kzH Why this is news: Whitaker had been sparring with committee Democrats on whether he would testify. The committee then voted to authorize a subpoena if he didn't show up. https://wapo.st/2SCNIB0 Keep in mind: Whitaker was a controversial pick for acting attorney general. He heavily criticized special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation before President Trump named him for the job. |
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| THE MOST DRAMATIC PART OF THE HEARING SO FAR: |
| House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) asked Whitaker: "In your capacity as acting attorney general, have you ever been asked to approve any request or action to be taken by the special counsel?" Whitaker: "Mr. Chairman, I see that your five minutes is up. I am here voluntarily. We have agreed to five-minute rounds." How Nadler reacted: He laughed. How the room reacted: People audibly gasped. Some context: "Pretty eyebrow-raising breach of protocol. Committee rules, processes and procedures are how Congress organizes itself. Not for a witness to tell a chairman he's in violation of his own rules." (Via The Wall Street Journal's Byron Tau) http://bit.ly/2TIwoIk Watch the back and forth: http://bit.ly/2SBiCJX |
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| NEWS FROM THE HEARING: |
| On the special counsel investigation: "I have not interfered in any way with the special counsel's investigation," Whitaker said. Why this is newsy: Critics are concerned about Whitaker's past statements criticizing the probe before he was named acting attorney general. Whether Whitaker discussed the Russia investigation with Trump: "I have not talked about the special counsel investigation with senior White House officials," Whitaker told the committee. Live blog with updates: http://bit.ly/2tl8kzH Livestream of the hearing: https://cs.pn/2SkxEV5 |
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| SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: |
| So. Many. Cameras.: Here's a photo of Whitaker getting sworn in: http://bit.ly/2RP8gld
A tribute to John Dingell: During opening remarks, Whitaker mentioned former Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), who passed away yesterday. "He was a statesman and a leader. And it is a sad day in this committee, I am sure."
And so did House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.): "He loved the House of Representatives. We remember him for his humor, his charm, his unshakeable integrity, and of course his fantastic Twitter account." Watch: http://bit.ly/2E1kC6q |
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| Happy Friday! I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com -- and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook. Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn |
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Rest in peace to the longest-serving member of Congress -- and my absolute favorite Twitter personality: |
| Former Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) died yesterday at the age of 92. http://bit.ly/2tcIJJ9 How long he served in Congress: From 1955 until 2014. When he retired, his wife, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), succeeded him in office. Read his New York Times obituary: https://nyti.ms/2DjtDpL This morning -- flags at half-staff: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) ordered flags throughout the U.S. Capitol to be lowered to half-staff. Photo: http://bit.ly/2TF4hJI A moment of silence on the House floor: Photos: http://bit.ly/2DjBZOf |
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| MY FAVORITE SIDE TO JOHN DINGELL -- A FEW OF HIS BEST TWEETS: |
| He tweeted two days ago: "The Lovely Deborah is insisting I rest and stay off here, but after long negotiations we've worked out a deal where she'll keep up with Twitter for me as I dictate the messages. I want to thank you all for your incredibly kind words and prayers. You're not done with me just yet." http://bit.ly/2GdAIfi Dingell had a funny tweet about Howard Schultz just a week ago: "Someone told me that the man behind everyone's favorite cup of coffee might run for President and I just want to wish @TimHortons the very best. You have my support." http://bit.ly/2sTScox About his Twitter followers: "Only 2,805,215 followers away from 3 million!" http://bit.ly/2GhXrXz On the president's Mars goal: "I fully support @realDonaldTrump's interest in space travel to Mars, and I wish him the absolute best in his travels" http://bit.ly/2SBgjXh I think most of the country would agree with this: "Staff has now informed me of what a Kardashian is. I'm only left with more questions." http://bit.ly/2HX8HKz Haha!: 
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| IF YOU CLICK ONE THING TODAY -- I PROMISE THIS WILL MAKE YOU SMILE: |
| Dingell's former communications director Christopher Schuler tweeted last night, "I'll have plenty of stories to tell and memories to share on the life and love that was my friend @JohnDingell, but in the meantime here's a voicemail he left me in 2017 after he read a Buzzfeed article about a guy who got stuck in an ATM. my gift to you." Listen to Dingell's voicemail -- it's incredible: http://bit.ly/2GgTrXq |
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It's like running into someone from your high school at a Target years later: |
| Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), a 2020 presidential candidate, ran into former Vice President Joe Biden, who is considering a White House bid, on Amtrak. http://bit.ly/2ROK9Dh Lol, a 360-degree view: Here's a photo of the two chatting from the front: http://bit.ly/2WPRvu8 And a photo from the back: http://bit.ly/2UOMSP3 |
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Jeff Bezos is not having it: |
| Amazon CEO and The Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos accused the company that publishes the National Enquirer of blackmailing him with revealing photos. http://bit.ly/2MTORyN How we know: Bezos published a Medium post including an email thread about the revealing text messages and photos. From the Medium post: "Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what [American Media Inc.] sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten." Read Bezos's Medium post: http://bit.ly/2GgRiLm What American Media Inc. wants: According to the emails from Bezos, AMI representatives said they would not publish the photos if Bezos agreed to publicly state that the National Enquirer's previous reporting on him wasn't politically motivated. http://bit.ly/2MTORyN |
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| UPDATES: |
| Reaction from AMI: Via The Wrap's Jon Levine, AMI said in a statement that it "believes fervently" that the company "acted lawfully in the reporting of the story of Mr. Bezos." Read the full statement: http://bit.ly/2GsDpsV Another alleged blackmail attempt: Journalist Ronan Farrow said AMI tried to blackmail him, as well. Farrow tweeted: "I and at least one other prominent journalist involved in breaking stories about the National Enquirer's arrangement with Trump fielded similar 'stop digging or we'll ruin you' blackmail efforts from AMI. (I did not engage as I don't cut deals with subjects of ongoing reporting.)" http://bit.ly/2TEXzDI What Team Bezos thinks happened: During an appearance on MSNBC, Washington Post reporter Manuel Roig-Franzia said that an investigator hired by Bezos believes the leaked texts came from someone in government. http://bit.ly/2MU6Q8h |
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I CANNOT.: |
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*Starts humming* 'It's just another day!': |
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Schwab then tweeted: "A quick Google search IDs these guys as Albert and Alberta Gator, the mascots for the Florida Gators" http://bit.ly/2WQuGGw |
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| The House is in. The Senate is out. President Trump is getting his physical exam today and Vice President Pence is visiting the Port of Baltimore. 10:45 a.m. EST: First and last votes in the House. 12:45 p.m. EST: President Trump receives his annual physical exam at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. 1:15 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence receives a briefing and tour on Non-Intrusive Inspection Systems Program Technology. 11 a.m. EST Saturday: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) makes a 2020 announcement in Lawrence, Mass. Details: http://bit.ly/2Dg1z6v |
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| 2 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence speaks to U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2BrICxL |
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| Today is National Molasses Bar Day. And because this is important, tomorrow is National Pizza Day!! Here's a list of pizza deals to celebrate the occasion: http://bit.ly/2SFQSny |
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Starbucks drinks can be v. controversial these days: |
| For Valentine's Day, Starbucks is bringing back the cherry mocha. Photos and details: https://on.today.com/2TFATmG |
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| And because you made it this far, here's why you should think twice about getting a pet rabbit: http://bit.ly/2SgMVqc |
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