.@SpeakerPelosi says on “This Week” that Trump is rushing a Supreme Court pick so the new justice can be in place for Nov. 10 hearing on Obamacare. “He doesn’t want to crush the [coronavirus], he wants to crush the Affordable Care Act.”
/2 Pelosi rejects using gov’t funding bill to shut down federal agencies & pressure Trump & Rs on SCOTUS pick. “We’re not going to be shutting down government.”
/3 Pelosi: “The fact is that this administration has been a total failure on protecting the health & welfare of the American people. And it has had an impact on our economy.”
/4 Pelosi ducks questions on “packing” Supreme Court or retaliating against Trump & Barr over SCOTUS fight
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White House will roll out a new sanctions package for Russia on Friday, per NSC’s John Kirby. This is in response to opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death Friday
2/ Kirby said US vetoed UN resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza because negotiations are at a “very delicate” moment in bid to release hostages plus ceasefire
3/ Kirby said the US “does not support” any Israeli operation in Rafah that doesn’t protect civilians
What will happen this afternoon: Once House finishes rule vote, Gaetz will offer his motion to vacate. Someone will move to table that motion. If McCarthy loses that vote, as expected, then there's up to an hour of debate, then a vote on motion to vacate.
/2 If the speaker's office if vacated - which will happen if the motion isn't tabled - then the speaker pro tem will put the House in recess. Then expect Republicans to go back into conference. McCarthy could be renominated. Will Rs try to go to the floor knowing he can't win?
/3 Gaetz will say he doesn't have to offer a speaker nom. He & his group just won't vote for McCarthy.
So how long does McCarthy stick it out? Went to 15 votes in January. Would he try this again? Unclear.
The House Judiciary Cmte is organizing for the 118th Congress. Matt Gaetz has offered an amendment to cmte rules requiring the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of every hearing. @RepHankJohnson has brought up J6 insurrection & the fact some Rs refused to comply with subpoenas
/2 Now @davidcicilline wants to amend the rule to prevent anyone who supported J6 insurrection from leading the Pledge. Gaetz & Cicilline are now yelling at each other
/3 Cicilline has now offered an amendment to Gaetz’s amendment that no one will lead the pledge who supported an insurrection “in any way.”
Clyde, Donalds & Emmer all just went into Emmer’s office
/2 McHenry & Garret Graves just walked into Emmer’s office. McHenry said GOP leadership is trying to figure out whether there’s another roll call vote or do they try to adjourn. There may not be enough R votes to do that
/3 Luna is in there now. She’s been voting against McCarthy on floor