NEW: DEM ANGST grows as Biden's debt talks w/ GOP drag on

Some Ds fear his limited public statements amt 2 ceding the messaging war to McCarthy.

Others say Biden is wrong to discredit the 14th Amendment option.

W/@sahilkapur @katiadoyl @Petereporter nbcnews.com/politics/joe-b… One House Dem said the WH needs to do a better job harnessing "the levers of communication of the presidency, which they haven’t effectively utilized up to this point."

nbcnews.com/politics/joe-b…

NEW: Asian American Dems jostle for top slot on new GOP select China committee

#AAPI lawmakers want to ensure CCP panel doesn't stoke more anti-Asian rhetoric and xenophobia as it confronts threats from Beijing. They're divided over who should lead them nbcnews.com/politics/congr… .@CAPAC Chair @RepJudyChu is personally pushing @RepJeffries to appoint @RepAndyKimNJ as top Dem on China committee.

Kim also making case to Jeffries. But @CongressmanRaja & @RepRoKhanna want to be ranking member too. nbcnews.com/politics/congr…

BREAKING: AG Garland says he has appointed former U.S. Attorney Robert Hur as special counsel to investigate Biden documents matter STORY: Garland names special counsel Robert Hur to investigate Biden classified documents

White House says classified documents were found in Biden’s garage in Delaware nbcnews.com/politics/white…

.@SpeakerMcCarthy says embattled Rep. Santos should not get seated on top committees

Both Republicans and Democrats are warning that Santos could be a national security risk if he's places on key committees that deal with sensitive information.

nbcnews.com/politics/congr… George Santos "probably shouldn't be on Intelligence or" the House Armed Services Committee, said one House Republican.

The Small Business Committee "would be fine," the member added. nbcnews.com/politics/congr…

NEW: @RoKhanna, also looking at potential CA Senate bid, reacts to @katieporteroc jumping in:

“Right now California is facing severe storms and floods, and my district is facing historic weather conditions. My focus is on that. In the next few months, I will make a decision” Source close to SCHIFF calls it an "incredible mistake" for Porter to announce now

"We are not going to announce in the middle of a natural disaster & are surprised that others would do so. We’re not playing politics in the middle of a natural disaster that has left people dead"

DAY 3 of McCARTHY SPEAKER DRAMA:

After SIX failed votes, a desperate McCarthy makes key concessions heading into third day of House voting for speaker w/@ryanobles

Assists by @frankthorp @lizbrownkaiser @OSonnier & @kate_santaliz

nbcnews.com/politics/congr… McCarthy concessions to Freedom Caucus, per Gaetz.

— Just 1 member can bring motion to oust a sitting Speaker rather than needing 5 members

— Putting HFC members on Rules and other committees

Also, @CLFSuperPAC reaches detente w @club4growth on involvement in open primaries

STATE OF PLAY: McCarthy enters Day Two of uncertainty as House resumes speaker votes

w/big assists from @haleytalbotnbc @frankthorp @GarrettHaake @GaryGrumbach @KyleAlexStewart nbcnews.com/politics/congr… And minutes after Trump tells Republicans to get behind McCarthy, his chief detractor @RepAndyBiggsAZ tweets that McCarthy is "squatting" in the speaker's office

https://twitter.com/RepAndyBiggsAZ/status/1610626174379786240?s=20&t=MTmSiawyZL5cbZzj1GnO4A

Happy New Year and happy first day of the new 118th Congress! Whether it's a happy day for Kevin McCarthy is another question.

Here's the latest from me and @haleytalbotnbc as @GOPLeader McCarthy's moment of truth arrives nbcnews.com/politics/congr… .@NBCNews’s stellar Hill team has got you covered for what’s shaping up to be a historic speaker vote starting at noon. Follow:

@GarrettHaake
@alivitali
@haleytalbotnbc
@KyleAlexStewart
@ryanobles
@sahilkapur
@lizbrownkaiser

SCOOP: @RepMTG's worst fears could soon be coming true.

DON BACON (R-Neb.) tells @NBCNews he's willing to work with DEMS to elect a moderate Speaker if 218 Republicans can't agree on a candidate. @RepDonBacon

w/@KyleAlexStewart @jonallendc
nbcnews.com/politics/congr… .@RepDonBacon (R-Neb.) on why he's willing to work with Dems to elect a Speaker if GOP can't agree on a speaker:

"I do want the country to work and we need to govern. We can't sit neutral; we can't have total gridlock for two year" nbcnews.com/politics/congr…

Former Freedom Caucus chair @RepAndyBiggsAZ to reporters just now … “Nobody has 218 (votes for speaker). And somebody is going to run tomorrow” vs McCarthy

Won’t confirm it will be him though. Asked @mattgaetz (R-FL) if he backs @RepAndyBiggsAZ for Speaker:

“I’ll support Andy Biggs for anything” he says

DAY 9 of the Jan. 6 hearings about to get underway.

Follow along on our @NBCNews live blog here for all the updates: nbcnews.com/politics/live-… Chair @BennieGThompson makes point that those who testified and gave evidence to J6 were not Dems or Trump foes.

They were Trump aides, GOP state officials, the RNC chair, Trump family members and WH officials.

"This investigation is not about politics."

“Hell of a week. Can we try a little harder here? Like really, Mick?” Rep. Ann Wagner sneered at Trump’s chief after his disastrous press briefing on Ukraine/G7 Doral summit.

NEW DETAILS here from ⁦@rachaelmbade⁩ & @karoun⁩’s book “Unchecked.” nbcnews.com/politics/polit… At Camp David that weekend, moderate Republicans "charged the president’s chief of staff like a pack of wolves."

“Your performance was kind of abysmal, one said. “A stupid idea” said another.

“This is an unacceptable, unforced error. We won’t defend it,” Wagner

The SIXTH JAN. 6 hearing about to get underway here in Cannon House Building, featuring live testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson.

Follow along @NBCNews, our live blog at NBCNews.com or watch live here on News NOW nbcnews.com/now For all of today's developments on the Hutchinson hearing, follow NBC News's Live Blog here nbcnews.com/politics/live-…

BREAKING: JAN. 6 panel says it will hold last-minute hearing at 1 p.m. TUESDAY after saying next round of hearings would not take place until after July Fourth. STORY: Jan. 6 panel adds last-minute hearing Tuesday afternoon

Committee members had said previously that the next public hearings would be after the July Fourth break.

No witnesses listed yet. nbcnews.com/politics/congr…

'WE SHOULD NOT DEFUND': In new letter to ⁦@SpeakerPelosi⁩ obtained by @NBCNews, nearly 20 House Democrats — many vulnerable — call for a vote on legislation to boost police funding nbcnews.com/politics/congr… “Cutting to the bone only weakens any profession … and fuels a race to the bottom. That’s especially true in law enforcement,” they wrote.

“To make our communities safer, build a future with less crime, and save lives, we should not defund — instead, we must invest to protect”

LEAK PROBE: Chief Justice John Roberts ordered the marshal of the court to investigate who leaked the draft SCOTUS decision, but GOP lawmakers are demanding a Justice Department probe too.

A team effort w/@frankthorp, @JulieNBCNews & @kate_santaliz

nbcnews.com/politics/supre… “This is an attack on the court," says Sen. @MarshaBlackburn, R-Tenn.

She's certain Chief Justice Roberts/FBI "have worked all night long trying to find out who did this, and I have no doubt that the justices were assembled early this morning to come together and address this.”

NEW w/⁦@haleytalbotnbc⁩: House Judiciary Dems plan to hold a private meeting soon to discuss how they might further respond to conflict-of-interest accusations against Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, conservative activist Ginni Thomas nbcnews.com/politics/congr… Dem lawmakers said a Judiciary meeting had been planned for Thursday, but the committee postponed it Tuesday evening due to numerous scheduling conflicts, likely delaying it until after the two-week recess

MANCHIN called JAYAPAL this morning, she says

Manchin "went back on his word and that lack of integrity is stunning" "According to the White House's statement yesterday and in my own conversations with the White House yesterday, it is abundantly clear that we cannot trust what Senator Manchin says" -- @RepJayapal

PELOSI PUNTS infrastructure vote for A THIRD TIME after progressive revolt.

House voting soon on extension of surface transportation funding until 12/3. And no more votes for the week Decision to pull plug on infrastructure comes hours after Biden came to Capitol Hill and pleaded with House Dems to come together to pass his agenda

BIDEN tells Dems in closed door meet:

“I am back here to tell you that we have a framework that will get 50 votes in the United States Senate” …

“We badly need a vote on both of these measures.” “I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the House and Senate majorities and my presidency will be determined by what happens in the next week,” Biden tells Dems, per source in room

Confirming WaPo: BIDEN this morning will announce a new framework on his massive social spending and climate package that is expected to win approval of all Democrats, Dem source says.

He’ll soon meet with House Dems in the Capitol to go over the details. Busy morning for Biden before he departs for his Europe trip to meet with Pope and address global climate summit. From WH: