Wake Up To Politics - January 5, 2015
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Monday, January 5, 2015
674 Days Until Election Day 2016It's Monday, January 5, 2015, I'm Gabe Fleisher for Wake Up To Politics, and reporting from WUTP world HQ in my bedroom - Good morning: THIS IS YOUR WAKE UP CALL!!!
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From the Editor's Desk
Hello and welcome to Wake Up To Politics 2015! I hope you all had a great Winter Break and New Year’s and are ready to dive back into the news!
2015 is going to be an exciting year in politics – the new Congress is being sworn in tomorrow, bringing a bunch of new members, and most importantly: a new majority with a new agenda. A Republican Congress and a Democratic President nearing the end of his term – expect fireworks for the year ahead.
While the GOP majorities will pass through their agenda, (lame duck?) President Barack Obama is expected to continue his recent string of executive actions in hopes of advancing his priorities.
And meanwhile…2015 will be dominated by news of 2016, as presidential candidates prepare for next year’s election. Announcements from major candidates could start this month.
So…let’s get to the news!White House Watch
The President’s Schedule President Barack Obama has returned from vacation in Hawaii, and has a quiet schedule today.
At 10 AM, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing.
At 12:30 PM, he will have lunch with Vice President Joe Biden.
At 2:30 PM, President Obama will meet with his senior advisors.
Biden’s Day Back from vacationing in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vice President Joe Biden will go to New York today, after his lunch with President Obama.
Biden will represent the White House at the wake for former Gov. Mario Cuomo (D-NY). The viewing will be held at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan between 1 and 5 PM, and will be open only to family and friends. The visitation will be closed to the media and public.
Cuomo served as Governor of New York for three terms, from 1983 to 1994, and died Thursday at the age of 82, on the same day as his son Andrew Cuomo was sworn in for his second term as New York Governor. The elder Governor Cuomo was known for his liberal oratory, most famously his keynote address at the 1984 Democratic Convention, where he attacked Ronald Reagan’s “shining city on a hill”.
Election Central
2016 Central: Huckabee Ends Fox Show, Discusses Presidential Run Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee announced on Saturday night that he was ending his weekly Fox News program, “Huckabee”.
Huckabee, a 2008 candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, said he was leaving Fox to mull over the possibility of a second presidential campaign.
“As much as I have loved doing the show, I cannot bring myself to rule out another presidential run,” Hucakbee said. “I won’t make a decision about running until late in the spring of 2015, but the continued chatter has put Fox News into a position that is not fair to them.”
Keeping the drama, the former governor continued: “As we say in television, stay tuned!
Capitol Hill News
Michael Grimm Resigns New York Rep. Michael Grimm’s resignation from Congress is effective today, ahead of the 114th Congress’ convening tomorrow.
Grimm announced the resignation last week, after he pled guilty to a felony tax charge. After his seat is vacated today, Gov. Andrew Cuomo will set a date for a special election, which must be held 70 to 80 days after the date is announced.