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*Cue 'Shark Tank's intro music* -- 'We have a deal!': |
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The U.S., Mexico and Canada have finally reached a deal on an updated North America Free Trade Agreement. http://bit.ly/2xOVGLW Why the timing was important: There was a self-imposed deadline of midnight Sunday. Negotiators reached a deal late last night, right before the deadline. New deal, new name: An official said the new agreement will be called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. Why last night's deal was so important: It added Canada to a deal that the U.S. and Mexico agreed to in August. There was uncertainty about whether Canada would join, and Trump had vowed to move ahead with Mexico. The chances of a deal weren't looking good, but...: "There was a little optimism late Friday, after Reuters reported that Mexico and the US decided to hold off publishing the text of its United States-Mexico bilateral trade deal on Friday -- a signal that both weren't quite ready to move ahead without Canada." Full explainer from Vox: http://bit.ly/2QkVeLU |
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Happening now -- victory lap time takes a U-turn: |
| In the White House Rose Garden while surrounded by top administration officials President Trump touted the new agreement as "the most important trade deal we've ever made by far." http://bit.ly/2OpmUlG |
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| BUT DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, TRUMP IS ALSO ASKED ABOUT JUDGE KAVANAUGH: |
| Things got pretty tense: "The president is now trying to dictate which questions can be asked, in which order, by reporters." (Via NBC's Jonathan Allen) http://bit.ly/2OsMlTn For example: Trump shut down CNN's Kaitlan Collins when she tried asking a question about Kavanaugh. But then after answering other reporters' questions about Kavanaugh: Trump returned to Collins. Later in the presser -- Trump addressed Kavanaugh: "I think the FBI should do what they have to do to get the answer." http://bit.ly/2OZqAYp And on Kavanaugh personally: "The trauma, for a man who's never had any accusation about him... What he's gone through in the last three weeks is incredible." http://bit.ly/2OZqAYp When asked whether the FBI should interview Kavanaugh: "I think so, I think it's fine if they do," Trump said. http://bit.ly/2zJQeeG And whether Kavanaugh's third accuser should be interviewed: Trump said he has no problem with the FBI speaking with the third woman who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault. "It wouldn't bother me at all," Trump said. Keep in mind: Attorney Michael Avenatti, who also represents Stormy Daniels, also represents Kavanaugh's third accuser. http://bit.ly/2NhwP8a Trump on Kavanaugh's drinking: "Trump says he was surprised by how open Kavanaugh was about 'how much he liked beer.' " http://bit.ly/2NdHv7R Trump on not drinking alcohol: "Trump proudly declares he's never had a beer. 'One of my only good traits.' Then: 'Can you imagine if I had, what a mess I would be?'" http://bit.ly/2NVm9RZ And tying this all together: "[The press is] loco. I use that word because of the fact we made a deal with Mexico."http://bit.ly/2NdHv7R Livestream of the president's 11 a.m. announcement: http://bit.ly/2QkdHIA |
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| It's a beautiful Monday morning in D.C. -- today is the first day of October! 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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| 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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The Kavanaugh saga continues: |
| Via The Hill's Jordain Carney, "Brett Kavanaugh's nomination is in limbo as the Senate awaits the results of an eleventh hour investigation by the FBI into the sexual assault allegations that have roiled the Supreme Court fight." http://bit.ly/2P22Bb8 What to expect from the probe: https://cnn.it/2NgkAsC |
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN CONGRESS THIS WEEK: |
| The FAA: The Senate is expected to take up a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. Opioids: The Senate is working on a House-passed opioids bill. Context and details for each: http://bit.ly/2P22Bb8 Op-ed: http://bit.ly/2NcSU7W |
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New notebooks, new lunch box, fresh robes: |
| Via The Hill's Lydia Wheeler, the Supreme Court starts its new term today with only eight judges. http://bit.ly/2P5H4yp Why the court is shorthanded: Justice Anthony Kennedy retired and allegations of sexual misconduct have held up Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation. Important note -- Kennedy's replacement may still be able to weigh in on cases heard now: "Whoever is confirmed to replace Kennedy will miss the first oral arguments of the term, but could still participate in deciding those cases at a later date by listening to audio recordings of the arguments and reading transcripts." Here's a list of the top cases to watch this term: http://bit.ly/2P5H4yp But keep in mind about the cases this term: "The court does not begin the term with its full caseload. Instead, it accepts cases and petitions throughout the approximately nine-month term." |
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One year since the Las Vegas shooting: |
| One year ago today, 58 people were killed and at least 413 people were injured during a country music festival in Las Vegas when a gunman opened fire from a nearby hotel. Powerful tribute in the New York Times: https://nyti.ms/2IuUYrk Livestream of a memorial ceremony in Las Vegas this morning: http://bit.ly/2NeoeD7 Photo and biography of each of the 58 victims: https://abcn.ws/2RhWJMz |
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Spotted on the Potomac: |
| A full-size replica of Air Force One is traveling across the Potomac River on barge, headed to National Harbor for a limited-time exhibit. When the exhibit opens: Oct. 19. http://bit.ly/2P3ivSw Video livestream of the barge's journey: http://bit.ly/2y28Ap9 Details of the exhibit and tickets: http://bit.ly/2y4aB43 |
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Trending -- haha, this video of Lindsey Graham in the Capitol is pretty funny: |
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Watch: http://bit.ly/2RfiAnI |
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| The Senate will meet this afternoon and the House is out. President Trump is in Washington, D.C., but is traveling to Tennessee this afternoon. Vice President Pence is in Washington. Today: First lady Melania Trump leaves for her first major solo international trip. Where she's visiting: Four countries in Africa. Details: http://bit.ly/2ReGGir 11:30 a.m. EDT: President Trump receives an intelligence briefing. 12:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump has lunch with Vice President Pence. 3 p.m. EDT: The Senate meets. 4 p.m. EDT: President Trump leaves for Johnson City, Tenn. 4 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence meets with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. 5 p.m. EDT: The Senate holds a procedural vote. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2NTvPfV 6 p.m. EDT: Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) speaks at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Details: http://bit.ly/2P2NCxo 6:40 p.m. EDT: President Trump meets with supporters in Johnson City, Tenn. 7 p.m. EDT: The world premiere screening of "The World's Most Dangerous Paper Route" at the Newseum. Details: http://bit.ly/2zJjqCe 7 p.m. EDT: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks at an event at Georgetown University. Details: http://bit.ly/2QiPp1J 7:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump hosts a campaign rally. 10:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump gets back to the White House. Tuesday -- Thursday: The Atlantic Festival in Washington, D.C. Details: http://bit.ly/2NaAepf |
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| 3 p.m. EDT: President Trump presents the Congressional Medal of Honor in the East Room of the White House. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2ItxanF Not happening today: There is no White House press briefing on the schedule today. Yesterday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended the lack of briefings in recent months. Her reasoning: "Look, we talk to the press in a number of different ways. The day that the briefing was initially created, the atmosphere was incredibly different and you didn't have the same access and ways to communicate with the American public." The full back and forth: http://bit.ly/2RgOqk6 |
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| Today is National Pumpkin Spice Day. Because you're going to be hearing a lot about pumpkin spice this month, here's a list of seasonal products "that have no business being pumpkin spiced." Sigh. http://bit.ly/2xPswfD |
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| And because you made it this far, here's a golden doodle dressed up as a teddy bear. He looks pretty unsure about the situation: http://bit.ly/2QmkQrR |
