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Pompeo faces crucial vote | Trump lashes out at NYT reporter over Cohen story | What to know for French president's state visit | Kate Middleton gives birth to third royal baby | Chick-fil-A opens at DC's Union Station |
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Paul McCartney puts it so eloquently:
--> http://bit.ly/2HkNMwp |
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President Trump is stewing over a story from The New York Times's Maggie Haberman reporting that his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, may cooperate with prosecutors. Full New York Times report that started the firestorm on Friday: https://nyti.ms/2qPNXtA Then Saturday, President Trump went after the reporter on Twitter, calling her a "third rate reporter named Maggie Haberman, known as a Crooked H flunkie who I don't speak to and have nothing to do with." Trump criticized her reporting as having "non-existent 'sources' and a drunk/drugged up loser who hates Michael." Trump's tweet's going after Haberman: https://nym.ag/2F9xXXH Keep in mind: Trump's Saturday tweets happened right before the funeral for former first lady Barbara Bush. Trump did not attend, but first lady Melania Trump did, as well as the Obamas and the Clintons. Photo of the former presidents -- it's a pretty cool photo: https://cnn.it/2JiHkGI And then this morning, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman responded to the president's attacks, saying her report is "hitting a nerve" with Trump. In her words: "I think he and his lawyers are very anxious about the Southern District investigation into Michael Cohen, that is more of an imminent threat than the Robert Mueller special counsel probe is," she said on CNN's "New Day." Watch Haberman's explanation of why the Trump/Cohen relationship is crumbling: http://bit.ly/2K9omDZ |
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It's Monday. 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, @CateMartel and on Facebook. |
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Today at 5 p.m. -- why Mike Pompeo may not have much of an appetite today: |
Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo has a crucial Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote later today on his confirmation. Why the vote could fail: Democrats are considering blocking Pompeo's nomination in committee as an unusual and bold strategy to fight President Trump. But not all Dems have agreed to this plan. I.e.: stay tuned! Who's leading the anti-Pompeo effort: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a potential White House contender, who grilled Pompeo earlier this month about his views on Muslim Americans and gay marriage. http://bit.ly/2Hq1nCJ The committee vote breakdown: The 21-senator committee has 11 Republicans, 10 Democrats. Republican Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) is expected to vote "no," so Pompeo, currently the director of the CIA, needs at least one Democrat to vote for him. Eh, but: Every Democrat on the committee has announced opposition to Pompeo. If there are no last-minute switches, Pompeo will not be reported favorably out of the committee. That would set up a 60-vote threshold to move his nomination to the Senate floor. Why a 'no' vote would be historic: Pompeo would be the first nominee for secretary of State since the 1920s to have that happen. Why this is infuriating for Pompeo: If Pompeo's nomination successfully makes it out of committee, he would likely have the votes on the Senate floor in an up-or-down vote. For example — not all Dems are against Pompeo: This morning, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) became the second Democrat to back Pompeo’s nomination — Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) was the first. What happens if Pompeo fails in committee: “Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, could either send [Pompeo] to the floor with an unfavorable recommendation or no recommendation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) could also try to discharge the nomination from committee, but that gives Democrats the leverage to potentially filibuster Pompeo because the move would require 60 votes.”http://bit.ly/2F9tqEB |
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What else is happening in Congress this week: |
Congress has a busy week before leaving for a weeklong recess. In addition to dealing with Mike Pompeo's nomination for secretary of State, here's a rundown of the other items on the agenda, via The Hill's Jordain Carney and Juliegrace Brufke: http://bit.ly/2HkW9ft French President's address: French President Emmanuel Macron will speak at a joint session of Congress Wednesday as part of his state visit. Live updates of Macron's state visit: https://cnn.it/2JiuTuI Protecting Robert Mueller: The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to approve a bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired. Yeah, but: Even it passes in committee, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he wouldn't put it to a floor vote. FAA reauthorization: The House is scheduled to vote to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration through 2023. Special election in Arizona: Republican Debbie Lesko and Democrat Hiral Tipirneni will compete Tuesday in a special election to replace former Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.). Changes to nomination rules: Senate Republicans are hoping to advance a proposal to reduce the debate time required to confirm President Trump's nominees. Context for each: http://bit.ly/2HkW9ft This week in one image, from Jordain Carney: http://bit.ly/2F99TEh |
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It's a boy!: |
The duke and duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy this morning, weighing 8 lbs, 7 oz. According to the report, Kate and the new royal baby "are both doing well." http://bit.ly/2F9DtcA Tidbit about Prince William: "Royal tradition dictates that men avoid the birthing room, however Prince William was in the delivery room when both Prince George and Princess Charlotte were born. William was again in the delivery room for the birth of royal baby number 3." http://bit.ly/2F9DtcA It takes an army: An obstetrician and the queen's surgeon-gynecologist are caring for Kate. Plus: "Highly-trained midwives will also be on hand, while experts will be waiting in the wings in case of an emergency. For her previous births, Kate had a 23-strong team of top medics working or on standby." http://bit.ly/2F9DtcA Names?!: Via BBC, "With Arthur, Albert and Philip among the current bookies' favourites for a boy, it appears the public expect the royal couple to opt for a traditional name, rather than something more left-field. But experts say there is a chance the ultimate name choice might also reflect the Middleton side of the family." Other possibilities: https://bbc.in/2vCvuoZ When we will likely know the baby's name: William and Kate waited two days to announce the names of both Prince George and Princess Charlotte. http://bit.ly/2qPxDIi |
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Cutest video you’ll see all day — nice wave, Char!: |
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Haha!: |
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*Starts the slow clap* Chic-fil-A, Chick-fil-A, Chick-fil-A!: |
Chick-fil-A has opened at Union Station in Washington, D.C. |
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Come on, Rosie!: |
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Watch the livestream: http://bit.ly/2Jj9Jwi |
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The Senate will meet later this afternoon. The House returns tomorrow. 12:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump has lunch with Vice President Pence. 3 p.m. EDT: The Senate meets. The Senate's schedule today: http://bit.ly/2HHMyim 3:15 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence meets with NASA senior leadership. 5:15 p.m. EDT: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, to the White House. They plant a tree on the South Lawn and then head to Mount Vernon, Va. 5:30 p.m. EDT: The Senate votes. 6 p.m. EDT: President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, French President Macron and his wife tour Mount Vernon and have dinner. |
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1 p.m. EDT: White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders gives a press briefing. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2qXBsw7 2:30 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence participates in a swearing-in ceremony for Jim Bridenstine as NASA administrator. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2HQUHyl 5 p.m. EDT: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes on CIA Director Mike Pompeo's nomination to be secretary of State. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2F9LluO Today: The Bill Cosby trial may wrap up. What to know about the trial: https://cnn.it/2HEB0ML Op-ed: http://bit.ly/2vE6PjL Tuesday: The Trumps host French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron for a state dinner. Keep in mind: First lady Melania Trump has elected not to hire an event planner for this. What's expected: https://cnn.it/2JicldT 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday: Former FBI Director James Comey participates in a CNN town hall hosted by Anderson Cooper. Details: https://cnn.it/2qU8uw7 Saturday: The annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Where Trump will be during the dinner -- not at the dinner: The president will host a campaign rally in Washington, Mich. https://cnn.it/2HSRY7H |
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NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...: | |
Today is National Cherry Cheesecake Day. |
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*Cancels plans*: |
Netflix announced a list of new shows and movies that the company will release in 2018: https://ti.me/2qSN8jv |
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And to break up your Monday afternoon, here's a baby orangutan getting a bath. Its facial expression is adorable: http://bit.ly/2HnsOgx |
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