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

Speaker Mike Johnson says he has “no problems with President Biden personally” but can’t think of any policy they agree on.

Johnson agrees with Hannity that Biden has suffered “cognitive decline” 2/ Johnson says he wants to split Ukraine aid from Israel aid in supplemental package.

“What is the end in Ukraine? The White House has not provided that?” Johnson said.

“We’re going to bring forward a standalone Israel funding measure” worth $14B. Johnson wants to offset

House Republicans have begun a roll-call vote in conference for Mike Johnson.

Only one present so far - Mark Amodei /2 Emmer is not there.

French Hill present

But Rs are hopeful he can get to 217

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?

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

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

Very serious discussion btwn @Jim_Jordan & @chiproytx right now on the floor. Roy is one of the leaders of the anti-McCarthy opposition /2 The anti-McCarthy faction is sitting together on the House side. Some, but not all, applaud when @MikeforWI nominates McCarthy for speaker

.@RepMattGaetz nominates Jim Jordan for speaker /2 Four Jordan votes already. McCarthy can’t win on this ballot either

434 members are present. The speaker vote is gonna start now. First come nominating speeches, then roll-call vote /2 @GOPLeader taking pics with members on the floor

NEW - @BennieGThompson says the Jan. 6 select cmte will NOT make any criminal referral to the Justice Department on Trump or anyone else /2 Thompson: “That’s not our job. Our job is to look at Jan. 6. What caused it and make recommendations after that… We don’t have the authority.”

2nd Jan. 6 cmte public hearing about to start. The opening witness will be Chris Stirewalt, former Fox News political editor /2 @BennieGThompson says Trump “decided to wage an attack on our democracy” by refusing to accept the results of the 2020 election

.@RepLizCheney talked about a “sophisticated 7-part plan” by Trump to steal the election. Here’s what it looked like…. /2 Step 1: “President Trump engaged in a massive effort to spread false and fraudulent information to the American public claiming the 2020 election was stolen from him.”

From @BennieGThompson opening statement tonight: “We can’t sweep what happened under the rug. The American people deserve answers. So I come before you this evening not as a Democrat, but as an American who swore an oath to defend the Constitution…” /2 More Thompson: “The Constitution doesn’t protect just Democrats or just Republicans. It protects all of us: ‘We the People.’ And this scheme was an attempt to undermine the will of the people.”

The $1.5 trillion omnibus is 2741 pages long. The House will vote on it later today (meaning there's zero chance members will have a chance to read it.) Here's a link to the full bill rules.house.gov/sites/democrat… /2 "In total, the regular 12 appropriations bills include $730 billion in non-defense funding, a $46 billion increase over fiscal year 2021. This 6.7 percent increase in non-defense funding is the largest in four years..."

In new letter sent to Hill offices, Attending Physician Brian Monahan says more than 13% of those tested at Capitol every day have Covid. /2 However, Monahan added: “‘Breakthrough’ infections among Members and staff have not led to hospitalizations, serious complications, or deaths, attesting to the value of coronavirus vaccinations.”

.@SpeakerPelosi speaking in caucus now /2 Pelosi now walking reconciliation process. Talked about CR-debt limit & problems that may cause

News - A group of Jewish House Democrats are about issue a statement slamming @IlhanMN for her comments comparing the “unthinkable atrocities committed by the US, Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan and the Taliban.” /2 A group of two dozen or so House Democrats have been debating for hours about how harsh a statement to issue on Omar

.@SenSanders says Democrats “should ignore” the parliamentarian’s ruling on minimum wage & Democrats must make it happen /2 Sanders: “There will be a roll call vote, and we’ll see who votes for it and doesn’t.”

The "Schumer Bridge" thread.

Senate Republicans have been bashing @chuckschumer for a $1.5 million provision inside the "American Rescue Plan" to "build Chuck Schumer a bridge."

But there's more to it than that - of course - and it goes back to the Elaine Chao-run DOT. /2 A document obtained by @punchbowlnews shows the funding request actually was made in the spring of 2020. The Seaway International Bridge across the St. Lawrence River is one of the busiest crossing points between the two countries.

In his opening,Trump defense lawyer Bruce Castor denounces the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol & so those who committed crimes should be punished /2 Castor is arguing that senators "are extraordinary people," it's clear that he's going to argue these "extraordinary people" are going to have to reject the passion of the moment in seeking to punish Trump.

.@RepRaskin was really good during his presentation. Raskin has been practicing his delivery during Zoom calls with his colleagues & leadership /2 @RepJoeNeguse spoke for 27 minutes. Also very strong. @davidcicilline up next