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--> A midday take on what's happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*
*Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha--breaks down crying hysterically.
The Hill's 12:30 Report: Shutdown Day 33 | Trump tells Pelosi he intends to deliver State of the Union from House chamber | House GOP cancels lawmaker retreat | Trump unveils new rallying cry: 'Build a wall and crime will fall' | Dem South Bend mayor launches exploratory committee | Diverse Dem field take shape for 2020 | National Pie Day
TALK OF THE MORNING
Who had Peter Buttigieg on their 2020 bingo boards? If so, bravo!:
Peter Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Ind., announced this morning that he is forming an exploratory committee to run for president. http://bit.ly/2AXG5v2
His announcement video: http://bit.ly/2FW8t3R
Buttigieg is openly gay: Buttigieg announced in December 2017 that he is marrying his partner, Chasten Glezman. He posted on Facebook: "He said yes! Can't wait to spend the rest of my life with Chasten Glezman." The Facebook post and engagement photo: http://bit.ly/2Hs3dYb
What to know about Peter Buttigieg -- here's a profile: https://politi.co/2RHVFoR
He may not have the best name recognition, but why you should take him seriously: "Gonna be a lot of 'Pete Who?' reactions today, but don't write off Buttigieg. He's one of few new faces not weighed down by prior D fights, has an appealing biography, and has been prepping for some time. He could get a serious look if early frontrunners don't catch fire." (From NBC's Benjy Sarlin) http://bit.ly/2Wd3ZM1
Why yes, it does feel this way: "Rule for 2019: If you're a man ... and you have a name that starts with B, you're probably thinking about running for president. Booker, Bernie, Beto, Buttigieg, Bloomberg, Bullock, Biden, Brown." (From The Washington Post's Annie Linskey) http://bit.ly/2TaL6qX
Photo of a Washington Post editor's candidate white board: http://bit.ly/2AYuXhf
A MAJOR THEME TO EXPECT IN THE 2020 RACE -- RACE, GENDER AND IDENTITY: Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, an especially diverse 2020 Democratic field is forming, making the explosive issues of race, gender and identity taking center stage. How so and how this could play out: http://bit.ly/2HtxVA2
It's Wednesday. I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com -- and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook.
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NEWS THIS MORNING
Just now -- I'm on the edge of my seat in this saga:
President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump calls Sri Lankan prime minister following church bombings Ex-Trump lawyer: Mueller knew Trump had to call investigation a 'witch hunt' for 'political reasons' The biggest challenge from the Mueller Report depends on the vigilance of everyone MORE just sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro PelosiTrump pushes back on impeachment talk: 'Tables are finally turning on the Witch Hunt!' Moulton enters 2020 White House race Trump takes aim at Dem talk of impeachment MORE (D-Calif.) in which he says he will forge ahead with his plans to deliver the State of the Union address in the House, despite her objections. http://bit.ly/2MsVp7w
Read the letter: http://bit.ly/2FTFb5T
Meanwhile from Pelosi: "Speaker Pelosi advised members not to bring family to Washington next week, an implication that the State of the Union is not going to happen, per source in a morning caucus meeting. Members often invite spouses and other family to attend the SOTU." (Via CNN's Manu Raju) http://bit.ly/2Tb4bJC
From the head of the Dem Caucus: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries
Hakeem Sekou JeffriesDems attack Barr's credibility after report of White House briefings on Mueller findings The Hill's 12:30 Report: Assange faces US charges after dramatic arrest Dem leader: Trump's Fed picks like something out of 'SNL' MORE (D-N.Y.), the head of the Democratic Caucus, said "it's highly unlikely that the State of the Union is going to take place on the floor of the United States House of Representatives." Well: Unless the government reopens. http://bit.ly/2ROzfTa
Could it happen somewhere else?: "House Republicans are floating a lot of locations for SOTU -- including on the border. But Minority Leader McCarthy wouldn't say if any of those are real options, demanding it be held in House chamber." http://bit.ly/2FUyoc8
Democrats' new gun bill:
Via Politico's Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris, "Democrats are introducing a bill that would raise the minimum age to buy assault-style weapons, the latest in a multipronged effort to address a string of recent mass shootings and stifle the gun lobby's sway since taking back the House majority." https://politi.co/2HtA92m
Covington student appears on NBC's 'Today':
NBC's Savannah Guthrie exclusively interviewed Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann, who was at the center of the controversy over an incident at the Lincoln Memorial. https://nbcnews.to/2FJDbxQ
Sandmann on the incident: "My position is that I was not disrespectful to Mr. Phillips. I respect him, I would like to talk to him. I mean, in hindsight, I wish we could've walked away and avoided the whole thing." Watch Sandmann's response: http://bit.ly/2WcKOSE
REACTION -- BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT CRITICIZE SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Liberals criticized Guthrie and 'Today' for giving Sandmann a national platform, while conservatives criticized her for asking if he should apologize to Native American activist Nathan Phillips." Tweets from the left and the right: http://bit.ly/2DutnW0
DAY 33 OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Any day now, guys. Anyyy day:
House Republicans decided to cancel their retreat scheduled for next week because of the ongoing partial government shutdown. When the retreat was scheduled: Next Wednesday through Friday. Where: The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. http://bit.ly/2R8ramX
Tidbit from Politico's Sarah Ferris: "Some Republicans had told me privately they were gonna skip anyways, wouldn't be caught dead near fancy WV golf course during shutdown." http://bit.ly/2RLByWY
I'm all for a catchy chant:
This morning, President Trump unveiled a new rallying cry for building the border wall. http://bit.ly/2AYNMAS
The phrase: "BUILD A WALL & CRIME WILL FALL!" http://bit.ly/2U9IOsg
Trump added: "This is the new theme, for two years until the Wall is finished (under construction now), of the Republican Party. Use it and pray!" http://bit.ly/2R5T5nr
FACT CHECK -- THE WALL ISN'T ACTUALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION BUT...: Congress has not authorized spending for building new parts to the wall, but existing parts of the wall have been renovated. https://n.pr/2R9t7zl
Op-ed for the wall: http://bit.ly/2FTpWKd
Op-ed against the wall: http://bit.ly/2FKNVMy
IN OTHER NEWS
Whoops:
The communication director for Sen. Kamala Harris
Kamala Devi HarrisWarren unveils plan to cancel student loan debt, create universal free college Moulton enters 2020 White House race The Hill's Morning Report - Is impeachment back on the table? MORE (D-Calif.) posted a video of the senator dancing to rapper Cardi B. in her office. The caption: "When we get tired of speech prep there's only one thing to do..." The problem…: CBS's Ed O'Keefe pointed out that the office's wi-fi password is visible in the video. Watch: http://bit.ly/2S21VqU
NOTABLE TWEETS:
Ugh, I wish I didn't know this
Sinkhole just opened up on 17th street NW, one block away from the White House! pic.twitter.com/JjSMA1gm1I
— Sergio Gor (@SergioGor) January 22, 2019
A dating app campaign spotted on the metro -- this is cringy:
I've never wanted to flee DC more than right now in this moment pic.twitter.com/8ywRsUPRGz
— Ari Schwartz (@arischwartz) January 22, 2019
That's not all, folks!: Here's another ad in the same marketing campaign. It's equally cringy -- photo: http://bit.ly/2FVKZvY
ON TAP
The House and Senate are in. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C.
10:30 a.m. EST: President Trump held a briefing call with community leaders to discuss immigration.
1:15 p.m. EST: First votes in the House.
2 p.m. EDT: President Trump holds a health care roundtable on fair pricing.
3 p.m. EST: President Trump meets with conservative leaders on his immigration proposal. Vice President Pence also attends.
3:15 p.m. EST: Last votes in the House.
WHAT TO WATCH
12:45 p.m. EST: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2AXChKg
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...
Today is National Pie Day!
If you've seen Instagram points accusing the platform of limiting certain posts' reach:
Instagram debunked the claim that its algorithms are limiting posts to reaching just 7 percent of followers. Instagram's explanation: http://bit.ly/2MsKzhQ
This is making me hungry:
The Washington Post's food critic Tom Sietsema lists his 9 favorite places to eat in the D.C. area. The list: https://wapo.st/2CGSeEH
And to both entertain you and make you feel personally unaccomplished, here's a 19-month-old toddler who can rock climb: http://bit.ly/2S4QMph
