Chris Coons is Joe Biden's ambassador to the GOP for the next four years. Turns out Biden required him there more than at the State Department; most Republicans currently in chamber didn't serve with Biden
Coons’ wife, Annie, often has this reaction when he recounts a discussion with, say, Lindsey Graham: “Oh, my God.”
“She says, ‘How can you possibly? After this, after that, after this?’ And I say, ‘Honey, it’s my job, it’s my job. And she said: ‘You seem to actually like them,"
Coons worked on these relationships for a decade. Now's the time for pay off. Some Senate Rs called Coons right after the election, including Graham, who still won't recognize Biden as POTUS elect
“He’s going to be one of the most influential people in the Senate," Graham says
SIREN: Sen. Risch even talked to me for story on Coons. He likes him enough to do an interview with Politico
“Chris is a natural when it comes to relationships, and primarily it’s because he’s so straightforward. When I talk to Chris, I know I’m not getting a line of baloney,”
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“While the amount is yet to be determined, direct payments to American workers continue to be a high priority of the president’s,” says a White House spokesman
To clarify: Hawley said $1200 for individuals, $2400 for couples. My typo.
NEWS: Sen. Josh Hawley urges President Trump to veto Covid bill that lacks new round of direct payment checks (bipartisan + McConnell proposals don't have it)
"It's fair to say that [Trump] was surprised at the direction that some of these were headed"
“I said, ‘I think it's vital that any relief include direct payments, and I'm not gonna vote for it if it doesn't.’ And I also urged him to veto any bill that did not have direct payments in it,” Hawley said. He called it "wild" that nobody's proposal has this
Hawley also spoke to Bernie Sanders (!) about direct payments
"Getting the $1,200 direct payments to workers during this unprecedented crisis should be a slam dunk. Sen. Hawley seems to understand that, and Sen. Sanders will talk to anyone to get this done," says @fshakir
The easiest way for Neera Tanden to win confirmation as Joe Biden’s budget director is for Democrats to take the Senate in January. Otherwise, she faces a perilous path to winning a majority vote in the chamber. @caitlinzemma@theodoricmeyer
“I really am a little surprised, particularly on the OMB nominee that there hadn't been at least some consultation. I mean some of these problems can be avoided. And people, you know, saved from the embarrassment.”
Tanden deleted attacks on some GOP senators, some of whom she will need to support her
“She's been pretty partisan in some of her previous positions. And in many cases, with respect to Republican senators who would have to vote on her potential nomination,” said Sen. Thune
Durbin didn't become Dem leader. But he's poised to become key player in Biden presidency as whip while leading the Dems on Judiciary. Some think it's too much for one member to do, and liberals pushing for Whitehouse instead
@marianne_levine .@fshakir, former Bernie campaign manager says: “Nothing personal against Durbin, but with Feinstein stepping down, I think there’s a need for some new blood and new style and approaches. Sen. Whitehouse could breathe some new energy into the committee,”
@marianne_levine@fshakir .@AdamGreen of PCCC said "Sheldon Whitehouse is one of the most strategic and savvy fighters in the Democratic Caucus. Dick Durbin has a big job as Senate Whip, and we assume he would be thrilled for someone as good as Senator Whitehouse to play a leading role in Judiciary"
@marianne_levine Durbin is next in line: No comment from his world right now.
After that is Whitehouse.
Will be hugely important job regardless of who is in majority. Either moving Biden's nominees as chairman, or trying to persuade Chuck Grassley to move them as ranking member