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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: Obama, Bush, Clinton volunteer to get COVID-19 vaccine to prove it’s safe | 100k+ hospitalized yesterday | ecord-breaking single-day death toll | Trump reportedly ‘livid’ with Barr | List of Republicans breaking with Trump grows longer | Congress faces annual year-end logjam
IN THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE
Let’s just say Bill Barr shouldn’t order any new office supplies unless it’s with 2-day shipping:
Via The Washington Post’s Matt Zapotosky, Josh Dawsey and Devlin Barrett, “President Trump
Donald TrumpMcCarthy says he told Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene he disagreed with her impeachment articles against Biden Biden, Trudeau agree to meet next month Trump planned to oust acting AG to overturn Georgia election results: report MORE remained livid at Attorney General William P. Barr on Wednesday, with one senior administration official indicating there was a chance Barr could be fired — not just for his public comments undercutting Trump’s unfounded claims of election-shifting fraud, but also for steps he did not take on a probe of the FBI’s 2016 investigation into Trump’s campaign.” https://wapo.st/2VyGs9e
Timing: Barr told The Associated Press that, “to date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.” The full AP story: https://bit.ly/3g1VM7K
The naughty and nice lists are shifting. ... I’ll let you pick which is which ;)
Via The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant and Brett Samuels, “The list of Republicans who are breaking with President Trump over his wild assertions about widespread voter fraud and acknowledging the reality of President-elect Joe Biden
Joe BidenMcCarthy says he told Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene he disagreed with her impeachment articles against Biden Biden, Trudeau agree to meet next month Fauci infuriated by threats to family MORE’s election win is growing longer.” https://bit.ly/2JM1tuA
Meaning…: “So is the list of the president’s targets as he refuses to concede and rages against allies who, in his eyes, have shown insufficient loyalty.”
The takeaway going forward: “The developments have divided Trump and some of his allies in the final weeks of his administration and raised concerns about the negative impact his attacks on the electoral process could have on the Senate runoff elections in Georgia that will decide if Republicans hold the majority.”
MEANWHILE — GOP SENATORS ARE TELLING TRUMP TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY WITH PARDONS:
The full story from The Hill’s Alexander Bolton: https://bit.ly/36yZLW8
Op-ed: https://bit.ly/3mCn9aJ
It’s Thursday — Christmas Eve is three weeks from today! 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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Fighting Homelessness with Affordable Housing
As Americans struggle to find affordable housing, homelessness is on the rise across the country.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, 400,000 new shelter beds are needed to accommodate everyone who is unsheltered and ensure appropriate social distancing.
Capital One strives to combat that surge and help those facing housing insecurity find a permanent home by helping to create over 10,000 affordable housing units a year. Learn more about that commitment here.
NEWS THIS MORNING
Sean Patrick Maloney, please stand up:
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) defeated Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) this morning to lead the House Democrats’ campaign arm in the next Congress. https://bit.ly/3g8LGlE
The vote, by secret ballot: 119-107
By the way: “Maloney also brings some diversity to Democratic leadership: He’ll be the only openly gay member of the leadership team, after Rep. David Cicilline
David CicillineK Street navigates virtual inauguration week Washington state rep joins list of Republicans voting to impeach Trump Growing number of GOP lawmakers say they support impeachment MORE (D-R.I.), who currently heads the party’s messaging arm, was defeated by Rep. Katherine Clark
Katherine Marlea ClarkPelosi says House will move immediately on COVID-19 relief Biden's inauguration marked by conflict of hope and fear Sanders defends push to impeach Trump: Insurrection won't be tolerated MORE (D-Mass.) last month in the race for the No. 3 spot in the next Congress.”
LATEST WITH THE CORONAVIRUS
What a picture of a couple of good buddies:
Former Presidents Obama, Clinton and George W. Bush have volunteered to publicly get their COVID-19 vaccines to show that it is safe. https://cnn.it/2JJ19wk
^^ The picture I’m referring to: https://bit.ly/36AZKB5
How the plan sprouted: Bush’s chief of staff told CNN, "A few weeks ago President Bush asked me to let Dr. [Anthony] Fauci and Dr. [Deborah] Birx know that, when the time is right, he wants to do what he can to help encourage his fellow citizens to get vaccinated. First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations. Then, President Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera."
Clinton and Obama said they would do the same.
We lost more Americans yesterday than on 9/11:
The first record we broke yesterday: The U.S. lost 3,157 Americans to the coronavirus yesterday, which is 20 percent higher than the previous single-day death toll record. https://bit.ly/2I9VO0Q
The second record we broke yesterday: Hospitalizations exceeded 100,000 yesterday for the first since.
Keep in mind: These numbers likely do not yet account for an expected Thanksgiving surge.
HERE’S A HELPFUL Q&A ABOUT THE VACCINE:
Via USA Today: https://bit.ly/2I7rCDz
THE NUMBERS:
Coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 13,941,101
U.S. death toll: 273,746
Breakdown of the numbers: https://cnn.it/2UAgW3y
IN CONGRESS
There are a few predictable, reliable things you can count on in life. A Congressional logjam before the holidays is high on that list:
Via The Hill’s Jordain Carney, “Congress is facing a legislative pileup as lawmakers struggle to finalize their work for the year.” https://bit.ly/3g4s9CI
It wouldn’t be December without it: “The House and Senate are juggling government funding negotiations and a must-pass defense bill, along with a renewed push for coronavirus relief as cases climb across the country and states and cities are reinstating lockdown measures.”
Adding to the timing pressure: “And then there’s the coronavirus itself. Two more members in the House have tested positive this week, underscoring the need to finish business promptly so that lawmakers and aides can hopefully get home for the holidays safely.”
THIS IS WORTH READING — BREAKDOWN OF WHAT’S IN THE BIPARTISAN CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILL:
Via Forbes’s Sarah Hansen: https://bit.ly/2I5Bi1d
Our commitment to growth in underserved communities
Through the Capital One Impact Initiative, we’re supporting socioeconomic mobility through our $200 million, five-year commitment to closing gaps in equity and opportunity.
Read about our focus on creating a world where everyone has an equal opportunity to prosper.
NOTABLE TWEETS:
Wow, there is A LOT going on here:
This video has more than 1 million views already.
Watch: https://bit.ly/3lBYgKY
^ Once you watch that video, here’s a mash-up of the same clip:
This clip is also pretty popular. It has nearly 320,000 views so far.
Watch: https://bit.ly/3qodJ5c
ON TAP:
The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington, D.C., and Vice President Pence is in Memphis, Tenn., today.
Today: President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris receive the president’s daily brief and meet with advisers.
11:30 a.m. EST: President Trump presented the Medal of Freedom to former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz.
11:30 a.m. EST: Two roll call votes in the Senate. The Senate’s full agenda today: https://bit.ly/3qoiiMS
11:50 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence left for Tennessee.
1:45 p.m. EST: A judicial confirmation vote in the Senate.
2 p.m. EST: President Trump signs an information technology bill. He also signs an executive order on artificial intelligence.
5 – 7 p.m. EST: First and last votes in the House. The House’s full agenda today: https://bit.ly/39DOQfW
5:50 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence returns to Washington, D.C.
WHAT TO WATCH:
11:30 a.m. EST: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthyMcCarthy says he told Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene he disagreed with her impeachment articles against Biden Cheney tests Trump grip on GOP post-presidency McCarthy supports Cheney remaining in leadership amid calls for her to step down MORE (R-Calif.) holds his weekly news conference. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3mB26W8
12:15 p.m. EST: The House Problem Solvers Caucus holds a press conference. Livestream: https://bit.ly/37uYQ8t
2 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence holds a roundtable discussion in Memphis, Tenn., on vaccine distribution. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3okjKhr
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...:
Today is National Peppermint Latte Day!
Bahahaha:
Hyperlink https://bit.ly/39EBaRC
And to make you smile, here’s a dog reacting to its first kiss: https://bit.ly/3qr35L5
Watch: https://bit.ly/3qr35L5
