Wake Up To Politics - January 10, 2020
I'm Gabe Fleisher, reporting live from WUTP World HQ in my bedroom. It’s Friday, January 10, 2020. 24 days until the Iowa caucuses. 298 days until Election Day. Have any comments, questions, suggestions, or tips? Email me at gabe@wakeuptopolitics.com!
Friday Roundup
House votes to limit Trump's war powers against Iran: "The House of Representatives on Thursday voted to approve a resolution aimed at restraining the President's ability to use military action against Iran without congressional approval, amid simmering tensions between the US and the country."
"The vote was 224-194. Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Francis Rooney of Florida crossed party lines to vote in favor while Democratic Reps. Max Rose of New York, Ben McAdams of Utah, Anthony Brindisi of New York, Joe Cunningham of South Carolina, Elaine Luria of Virginia, Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Kendra Horn of Oklahoma and Stephanie Murphy of Florida voted against the resolution." (CNN)
Pelosi to "soon" send impeachment article to Senate: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she will 'soon' transmit the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, signaling a potential thaw in the standoff with Senate Republicans as she warned against rushing to an acquittal without a fair trial." (Associated Press)
--- What Pelosi said: "I'm not holding them indefinitely. I'll send them over when I'm ready. That will probably be soon."
--- "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday told Republican senators that he expects Speaker Nancy Pelosi to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate as soon as Friday, setting up an impeachment trial that begins early next week." (Politico)
Steyer qualifies for January debate: "With two startling polling results released late Thursday afternoon, the billionaire former hedge fund executive Tom Steyer became the sixth candidate to qualify for next week’s Democratic presidential debate."
"Mr. Steyer will join former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., and Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on the debate stage on Tuesday in Des Moines." (New York Times)
--- The polls that put Steyer over the top were a pair of Fox News polls, one showing him at 15% in South Carolina (behind Joe Biden's 36% and ahead of Bernie Sanders' 14% and Elizabeth Warren's 10%) and at 12% in Nevada (behind Biden and Sanders at 23% and 17%, respectively, and tied with Warren). Also released on Thursday: a Monmouth poll showing a virtual three-way tie in New Hampshire, with Buttigieg at 20%, followed by Biden at 19% and Sanders at 18%. Warren took 15% in the poll.
--- Tonight is the deadline for candidates to qualify for the debate next week. At least one poll will be released before then: The Des Moines Register's Iowa Poll, known as the "gold standard" of polling in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, which is coming out at 5 p.m. Central Time.
Justice Department winds down Clinton-related probe: "A Justice Department inquiry launched more than two years ago to mollify conservatives clamoring for more investigations of Hillary Clinton has effectively ended with no tangible results, and current and former law enforcement officials said they never expected the effort to produce much of anything."
"John Huber, the U.S. attorney in Utah, was tapped in November 2017 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to look into concerns raised by President Trump and his allies in Congress that the FBI had not fully pursued cases of possible corruption at the Clinton Foundation and during Clinton’s time as secretary of state, when the U.S. government decided not to block the sale of a company called Uranium One." (Washington Post)
--- President Trump at his Toledo rally last night: "Crooked Hillary, you should lock her up. I'll tell you."
Recommended read: "The surreal lives of 2020 campaign spouses: What happens when your loved one wants to be president" (Washington Post)
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Today at the White House
--- President Donald Trump will meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
--- Vice President Mike Pence has no public events scheduled.
Today in Congress
--- The Senate is not in session.
--- The House will vote on H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act of 2019, a measure that would "require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to designate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980."
Today at the Supreme Court
--- The Supreme Court justices will meet for their weekly Friday conference.
Today on the trail
--- Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) will campaign in South Carolina, speaking at the College of Charleston and holding a meet and greet in Charleston, and visiting an afterschool program in North Charleston.
--- Former Vice President Joe Biden will make a local stop with Mayor Eric Garcetti (his newest endorser) and attend a fundraiser in Los Angeles, California, and attend a community event in Sparks, Nevada.
--- Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) will tour a crisis housing project and attend two fundraisers in Los Angeles.
--- Former Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) will continue his "Send A Message Tour" of Iowa with stops in Boone and Des Moines.
--- Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will campaign in Iowa, holding an event on her plan for people with disabilities in Cedar Rapids and a town hall in Ottumwa.
--- Former Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) will campaign in New Hampshire, speaking at the Nashua Community College in Nashua, the Open Democracy forum in Dover, and a meeting of local Democrats in Newmarket.
--- Former Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will hold town halls in the towns of Nevada and Perry, Iowa.
--- Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) will meet with voters and activists in Iowa.
--- Sen. Elizabeth Warren will hold town halls in Dover and Milford, New Hampshire, focusing on climate change in the latter event.
--- Entrepreneur Andrew Yang will campaign in New Hampshire, holding a meet and greet in North Conway and town halls in Wolfeboro, Concord, and Peterborough.