January 5, 2023

Late Morning/Afternoon Update:

The New York Times' live updates of developments in Republican House members' efforts to select a speaker are here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: The vote in Round 7 is essentially the same as it was in the previous two rounds: 212 votes for Jeffries, 201 for McCarthy, 19 for Donalds & 1 "present." Oh, and Gaetz voted for Trump. Gaetz should nominate Trump in the next round, and -- as Trump likes to say, "we'll see what happens." ~~~

     ~~~ Catie Edmondson & Annie Karni: "Representative Kevin McCarthy of California on Thursday lost a seventh vote for the speakership.... After losing a half-dozen consecutive votes in two humiliating days, Mr. McCarthy by Thursday had privately agreed to more demands from the right-wing dissidents, embracing measures that would weaken the speakership considerably and that he had previously refused to countenance. One would allow a single lawmaker to force a snap vote to oust the speaker...." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: The House held its 8th vote for speaker Thursday afternoon, and the results were essentially the same: 212 for Jeffries, 201 for McCarthy, 17 for Donalds, 2 for Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, 1 for Donald Trump, and 1 "present." The House is moving into the 9th round of votes. This has gone from ridiculous to borrrr-ing. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Okey-doke. The House held its 9th vote, and the results were Jeffries 212, McCarthy 200, Donalds 17, Hern 3, and 1 "present." Apparently one member has left for the day, as My Kevin came up one short of his results in the last several tries. We are moving into Vote No. 10, apparently because Kevin does not have the votes to adjourn. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: The House was not supposed to be in session Friday, so members from both parties have, you know, other plans. But it looks as if the votes will go on Friday. So we'll see how these anticipated absentees affect the outcomes. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Oh, here's a surprise: the totals on the 10th roll call were Jeffries 212; McCarthy 200, Donalds 13, Hern 7, & 1 voting "present." Apparently My Kevin & his crew are continuing to negotiate with the terrorists. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: CNN invited Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) on to talk about the House fiasco, and he addressed Erin Burnett as "young lady." (She's about 8 years younger that Troy.) When Burnett jovially replied that she would take the "young lady" remark as a compliment, Troy said, "Of course it was. This is my first time on the Clinton News Network." I've found a new person to despise. ~~~

     ~~~ The vote on the 11th roll call was Jeffries 212, McCarthy 200, Donalds 12, Hern 7, Trump 1, and 1 "present." The House adjourned till noon tomorrow, the second anniversary of Insurrection Day, a day that will live in infamy and one that My Kevin & so many other House members caused. ~~~

~~~ The Washington Post's live updates of developments in the House of Representatives are here. NBC News live updates of House proceedings are here.

The Party of Nothing. Lisa Lerer & Reid Epstein of the New York Times: "After two days of chaos and confusion on the House floor, Republicans have made it abundantly clear who is leading their party: absolutely no one.... With no unified legislative agenda, clear leadership or shared vision for the country, Republicans find themselves mired in intraparty warfare, defined by a fringe element that seems more eager to tear down the House than to rebuild the foundation of a political party that has faced disappointment in the past three national elections. Even as Donald J. Trump rarely leaves his Florida home in what so far appears to be little more than a Potemkin presidential campaign, Republicans have failed to quell the anti-establishment fervor that accompanied his rise to power. Instead, those tumultuous political forces now threaten to devour the entire party."

Noam Scheiber of the New York Times: "In a far-reaching move that could raise wages and increase competition among businesses, the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday unveiled a rule that would block companies from limiting their employees' ability to work for a rival. The proposed rule would ban provisions of labor contracts known as noncompete agreements, which prevent workers from leaving for a competitor or starting a competing business for months or years after their employment, often within a certain geographic area. The agreements have applied to workers as varied as sandwich makers, hair stylists, doctors and software engineers."

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Groundhog Day All Over Again

Disarray, She Wrote. Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: "A right-wing Republican revolt paralyzed the House for a second painful day on Wednesday, leaving Representative Kevin McCarthy of California fighting for political survival after losing a half-dozen consecutive votes for speaker and no clear path forward to allow Congress to function. In a spectacle on the House floor not seen in 100 years, unrelenting hard-right lawmakers refused repeatedly to throw their support behind Mr. McCarthy, the party leader, who suffered another three humiliating defeats in a grim replay of the three he endured on Tuesday. The episode again put Republican divisions on vivid display, grinding the House to a standstill and extending an ignominious start to the new Republican majority, potentially foreshadowing an era of dysfunction and disarray."

Amy Wang, et al., of the Washington Post: "The House adjourned Wednesday evening after a raucous scramble as Democrats tried to block Republicans from approving [a] motion to adjourn.... A group of McCarthy allies and a group of hard-right holdouts, who have now six times voted against McCarthy, huddled for hours in a Capitol office to continue negotiations after an earlier adjournment. During the last-minute negotiations, McCarthy made final concessions to a group of 20 lawmakers in hopes that it could end their blockade ahead of votes Thursday, according to four people familiar with the talks.... McCarthy emerged from the meeting bluntly telling reporters that the impasse continued, but suggested that progress was being made. 'I don't think a vote tonight will make a difference,' he said. 'But a vote in the future will.'"

Lisa Mascaro & Farnoush Amiri of the AP: “What started as a political novelty, the first time in 100 years a nominee has not won the gavel on the first vote, has devolved into a bitter Republican Party feud and deepening potential crisis. [Kevin] McCarthy is under growing pressure from restless Republicans, and Democrats, to find the votes he needs or step aside, so the House can open fully and get on with the business of governing. His right-flank detractors appear intent on waiting him out, as long as it takes.... [Former Speaker Nancy] Pelosi ... said the Republicans' 'cavalier attitude in electing a Speaker is frivolous, disrespectful and unworthy of this institution. We must open the House and proceed with the People's work.'"

The House of Representatives isn't essentially nonfunctional. It's totally nonfunctional. -- Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.)

Luke Broadwater of the New York Times: "Without a speaker, the United States House of Representatives essentially becomes a useless entity. Because none of its members can be sworn in until a speaker is chosen, there are no lawmakers to respond to an emergency or a crisis, only representatives-elect. With no rules adopted, the legislative process cannot move forward; no bills can be passed or resolutions adopted.... Returning lawmakers have lost their security clearances to get private briefings from the military and the intelligence agencies because, having not been sworn in, they are not officially members of Congress.... Representative Mike Gallagher, Republican of Wisconsin and a former Marine, was supposed to become chairman of a select committee scrutinizing Chinese aggression, but on Wednesday he was not allowed in a scheduled meeting with top military brass in a secure facility -- known as a SCIF -- because he has yet to be sworn in as a member of the new Congress.... ~~~

~~~ "Law and precedents state that the House must elect a speaker before lawmakers take any other action.... For more than 200 years, the House has used provisions from the Constitution and from a 1789 law to form the basis for its order. According to the Revised Statutes of the United States, at the first session of Congress, the body must first swear in a speaker who then administers the oath of office to all members present,'previous to entering on any other business.' This statute, along with a precedent from March 4, 1869, provides that the election of a speaker is the first and highest priority of the House." A related AP story is here.

The Irrelevance of the Trumpster. Ashley Parker & Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post: "For the first time in recent memory..., Donald Trump found himself relegated this week to the outskirts of a humiliating Republican implosion.... In the end [of a long run-up to the speaker's race,] Trump supported [Kevin] McCarthy's candidacy -- and his party responded with a collective shrug. The former president and his endorsement, it seemed, were essentially irrelevant. The 20 Republicans who voted against McCarthy were nearly all hardcore Trump loyalists.... Even after Trump put out a statement Wednesday morning on his Truth Social platform reiterating his support for McCarthy, [Trump hanger-on Matt] Gaetz remained unmoved: 'Sad!' Gaetz told Fox News Digital in a statement. 'This changes neither my view of McCarthy, nor Trump, nor my vote.'... 'Even having my favorite president call us and tell us we need to knock this off, I think it actually needs to be reversed,' [Trumpette Lauren] Boebert said. 'The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that, "Sir, you do not have the votes and it's time to withdraw."'" A related NBC News story, by Jonathan Allen, is here.

Dominick Mastrangelo of the Hill: "Fox News host Sean Hannity repeatedly pressed Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Col.) about her efforts to block Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) bid to claim the Speakership this week during a tense interview on his nightly program on Wednesday.... After Boebert suggested she might nominate former President Trump, who has urged all Republicans to support McCarthy, Hannity scoffed, saying, 'Is this a game show? Like we're gonna pick [Rep.] Jim Jordan [R-Ohio] one day, Trump the other day?'" ~~~

~~~ BUT. Steve M.: TuKKKer & Cancun Ted want you to know that chaos in the House is a good thing: democracy in action or something. MB: Yes, because a small group of terrorists holding hostage the federal government is mighty democratic. On the upside, this is a bloodless insurrection: ~~~

~~~ Marie: Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a second-term Democratic Congressman from New York (that is, once he's sworn in), appearing on MSNBC, said he was an optimistic person: "The first time I came to Congress, there was a bloody insurrection. So what's going on now, even though it's bad, is an improvement." (Paraphrase.)

Thanks for the Handout, Kevin. Now Get Lost. Madison Fernandez of Politico: "In the 2022 election cycle alone, political groups affiliated with Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) spent over $1 million supporting Republican representatives who have now voted against him for speaker, according to a review of federal campaign finance records."

Except where indicated, from the New York Times' liveblog of developments Wednesday in the Race to Defeat My Kevin, also linked yesterday afternoon, with entries running into the evening: ~~~

     ~~~ Stephanie Lai: "Victoria Spartz, Republican of Indiana, voted present, leaving McCarthy with one less vote than yesterday. She previously voted for McCarthy three times.... The 20 dissenters who voted for Jim Jordan in the third vote yesterday have all voted for Byron Donalds in the fourth vote." ~~~

     ~~~ Michael Gold: "... George Santos has spent most of the vote in the Republican cloakroom, away from cameras and reporters. He came out briefly to vote for McCarthy."

     ~~~ Oh, Lordie. Maggie Astor: "We're heading for a fifth vote...." ~~~

     ~~~ MB: The outcome of the fifth vote looks just like the fourth: 212 for Jeffries, 201 for My Kevin, 20 for Donalds & 1 voting present.

After three undeciding votes, no member can lay claim to [the speaker's] office. How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter? -- Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), letter to the Architect of the Capitol

     ~~~ Marie: Moving right along on this demonstration of the definition of insanity, the House takes its sixth vote, with no particular reason to expect a change. ~~~

     ~~~ Stephanie Lai: "Representative Kat Cammack, Republican of Florida, nominated McCarthy but was repeatedly disrupted by Democrats who took offense to her speech, which accused them of lacking sportsmanship and bringing alcohol and popcorn to the vote series." ~~~

     ~~~ Michael Gold: "At one point, Kat Cammack rhetorically asked Republicans, 'Are we the party of Reagan?' A chorus of Democrats called back, 'No.'"

I have to give props to the Democrats. They find ways to work together. -- Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Outer Space) ~~~

~~~ Marie: The matinee is over. But don't worry; there will be an evening show. The House is to reconvene at 8 pm Wednesday. ~~~

     ~~~ Catie Edmondson: "In a sign of McCarthy's determination to appease his critics, his political action committee cut a deal with the Club for Growth, a conservative anti-tax group that has opposed McCarthy's bid for speaker, agreeing not to spend money to support candidates in open primaries in safe Republican seats.... It was unclear if the pledge would be enough to win over any of the rebels."

     ~~~ Marie: After convening, a pro-McCarthy Republican immediately called for adjournment, so McCarthy would not be embarrassed by a 7th loser result. The final vote on the motion was close, with 4 Republicans voting with all Democrats against adjournment, and the whole thing ended in a shouting match as Democrats urged the clerk to allow a few stragglers to vote & protested the fact that she allowed Republicans to change their votes to "yea" after the clock ran out, allowing the majority vote to switch from nay to yea about a half-minute after time ran out. Don't worry, they'll be back tomorrow, folks. ~~~

~~~ Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: "Representative Kevin McCarthy of California grasped on Wednesday for the votes he needs to become speaker after failing three times to win the post, as Republicans began their second day in control of the House without a leader and deadlocked about how to move forward amid a hard-right rebellion.... 'Some really good conversations took place last night, and it's now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN,' [Donald] Trump wrote in a social media post on Wednesday. He beseeched Republicans not to 'TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.'" (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ The Washington Post's live updates of the House hoohah on Wednesday are here. NBC News live updates are here. (Also linked yesterday.)

There is so much unnecessary turmoil in the Republican Party, in large part do to people like the Old Broken Crow, Mitch McConnell. -- Donald Trump, in a Liars Social post Tuesday (yes, he really wrote "do to" & he really blamed Mitch for the Woes of Kevin) ~~~

~~~ Marie: Sorry, Donald, looks as if there are 20-some GOP deadenders, most of whom were in your fake election-denial caucus, who are no longer sufficiently askeert of you. And that doesn't count the GOP senators who paid no attention to you & re-elected Mitch as their leader.

Marie: BTW, as long as there's no speaker of the House, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), now the President Pro Tem of the Senate, is second-in-line to the presidency, after Vice President Harris.

MEANWHILE. While House Republicans fight to the death in Washington, D.C., President Joe & the Turtle will be honeymooning in Kentucky, inaugurating repair of a notoriously-dilapidated but key bridge between Kentucky & Ohio. ~~~

~~~ Dan Horn & Scott Wartman of the Cincinnati Enquirer: "President Joe Biden came to Greater Cincinnati Wednesday to tout a long-awaited Brent Spence Bridge project that he said proves Americans can still get things done if they work together. Speaking in Covington, not far from the 60-year-old bridge that had for years been a symbol of partisan gridlock, Biden praised Republicans and Democrats in Ohio, Kentucky and Washington for setting aside their differences to fix one of the nation's most vital pieces of infrastructure.... The president was joined by several Republicans and Democrats who were instrumental in passing the new, $550 billion federal infrastructure law that will help pay for the Brent Spence Bridge project. He singled out Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and frequent political foe, for his help in gathering enough GOP support to pass the law.... For Biden, the visit was something of a victory lap. He vowed during a town hall here in July 2021 to 'fix that damn bridge,' despite several failed attempts by his Democratic and Republican predecessors to muster bipartisan support for the project." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) CNN's report is here. ~~~

Nick Miroff & Tyler Pager of the Washington Post: "President Biden told reporters he will deliver a speech on border security on Thursday and is planning to visit the U.S. southern border as part of an upcoming trip to Mexico City for a regional summit. Biden said he wanted to see 'peace and security' at the border and is 'going to see what's going on' in comments made to reporters Wednesday after traveling to Kentucky for an event ... to tout federal infrastructure funding." CNN's report is here.

Peter Baker of the New York Times: "The Biden administration asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to uphold its decision to forgive hundreds of billions of dollars of student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans, arguing that it was acting within its executive authority and did not need new congressional authorization. In a brief filed with the justices, the Justice Department rejected legal challenges mounted by a half-dozen Republican-led states and maintained that the states did not have a basis for contesting the decision in court in the first place. The administration's response to the challenges came a month after the court agreed to hear the matter and put the case on an expedited timetable. The justices plan to hear arguments in February and left in place an injunction issued by a lower court blocking the administration from proceeding with the program until the legal questions have been resolved." Politico's report is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Other than as an expression of cruelty, I don't see why Republican state officials want to insist that the federal government enforce repayment of these loans. As I've noted before, the forgiveness program is essentially a transfer of the cost of higher education from the states to the federal government, inasmuch as states used to provide -- at state expense, of course -- free or nearly-free college tuition to in-state students.

Kinzinger Gets a Job. CNN Press Release: "Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) is joining CNN as a Senior Political Commentator, the network announced today."

Shayna Jacobs of the Washington Post: "FTX founder and fallen cryptocurrency guru Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty through his attorney at his arraignment Tuesday on charges he misappropriated billions of dollars, defrauding customers and investors in companies he controlled while allegedly concealing his illegal handling of funds. A trial date was also scheduled for later this year.... [U.S. District Court Judge Lewis] Kaplan scheduled Bankman-Fried's trial for Oct. 2 but noted the start date could change minimally before then."

Anemona Hartocollis of the New York Times: "After dozens of convictions of parents and coaches, Operation Varsity Blues reached something of a final chapter on Wednesday when William Singer, the mastermind of the college admissions cheating scheme, was sentenced in federal court in Boston to three and a half years in prison. Federal prosecutors identified Mr. Singer, known as Rick, as the ringleader of a $25 million criminal enterprise that 'massively corrupted the integrity of the college admissions process.' He became a government informant after prosecutors began investigating his scheme in 2018 and pleaded guilty in 2019 to racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of justice."

Catherine Thorbecke of CNN: "Amazon says it plans to lay off more than 18,000 employees as the global economic outlook continues to worsen.... Amazon and other tech firms significantly ramped up hiring over the past couple of years as the pandemic shifted consumers' habits toward e-commerce. Now, many of these seemingly untouchable tech companies are experiencing whiplash and laying off thousands of workers as people return to pre-pandemic habits and macroeconomic conditions deteriorate."

Joseph Menn of the Washington Post: "Records of 235 million Twitter accounts and the email addresses used to register them have been posted to an online hacking forum, setting the stage for anonymous handles to be linked to real-world identities. That poses threats of exposure, arrest or violence against people who used Twitter to criticize governments or powerful individuals, and it could open up others to extortion, security experts said. Hackers could also use the email addresses to attempt to reset passwords and take control of accounts, especially those not protected by two-factor authentication.... The records were probably compiled in late 2021.... In July, hackers were spotted selling a set of 5.4 million Twitter account handles and associated emails and phone numbers, which Twitter said was the first it learned that someone had taken advantage of [a] flaw [in a code update].

Hannah Sampson & Andrea Sachs of the Washington Post: "While Southwest [Airlines] returned to operating its typical schedule on Friday, an untold number of checked bags -- many of which took the trips that passengers could not -- remain missing. The airline could not provide figures on how many bags had been returned to owners or how many were still outstanding, but social media is teeming with complaints.... In interviews with The Washington Post, frustrated travelers recounted spending hours in line, returning to airports multiple times, calling customer service repeatedly, hunting around baggage areas to no avail and filing claims into the void -- and still, no luggage.... Southwest's policy allowing passengers a pair of free checked bags likely contributed to the pileup of missing luggage, travel industry experts say." Some passengers haven't seen their luggage since before Christmas.

Beyond the Beltway

Colorado, et al. Joe Anuta of Politico: "For the second day in a row, New York City Mayor Eric Adams laced into the federal government and the governor of Colorado, a fellow Democrat, over busloads of asylum seekers who continue to arrive at the city's doorstep.... In an interview with Politico..., Colorado governor [Jared Polis] said that around 70 percent of migrants arriving in Denver have final destinations elsewhere in the country, including New York, and that his office was working with Denver officials to help them on their way. The process has been going on for weeks, he added, but last month's winter storm caused a backlog of asylum seekers who have been stuck in the Mile High City and only now able to leave.... [New York] City Hall Spokesperson Fabien Levy said Adams only learned about the extent of the arrivals Monday during a call with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.... On Tuesday, Lightfoot called Colorado's move 'inhumane' -- an assessment Adams said he shared.... A spokesperson for Polis, however, said that Colorado was honoring the wishes of asylum seekers...." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: I know you all don't agree with me, but I still think Polis' policy sucks, & I'm unconvinced that he's simply honoring the wishes of the immigrants. Maybe Polis will come out smelling like a rose (and that would be great), but I think his actions deserve as much investigation as DeSantis' and Abbotts' stunts. In the meantime, the way he has gone about sneaking these hapless people into big-city asylum centers still seems cruel & stupid, IMO.

Ohio & Pennsylvania. Aaron Blake of the Washington Post: In both Ohio & Pennsylvania, Republican & Democratic state House members compromised & collaborated to jointly elect new leaders. (Also linked yesterday.)

Way Beyond

Ukraine, et al.

The New York Times' live updates of developments Thursday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here. ~~~

     ~~~ The Washington Post's live briefing for Thursday is here: "The United States and France are expected to send Ukraine armored fighting vehicles and light tanks, respectively, in a major shift after months of turning down such requests. President Biden on Wednesday confirmed that the United States was considering sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Earlier the same day, France said it would send light tanks to Ukraine for the first time, according to statements from the French and Ukrainian governments.... [President] Zelensky advocated his 'peace formula' in calls to leaders of Denmark and Romania on Wednesday, reiterating the demand for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and compensation and justice for war crimes."

Sex Crime as a Weapon of War. Carlotta Gall of the New York Times: Ukrainian prosecutors have accumulated "evidence that Russian forces [have] used sexual crimes as a weapon of war in the places they once ruled.... After months of bureaucratic and political delays, Ukrainian officials are gathering pace in documenting sexual crimes, which are prevalent and devastating in times of war but often remain hidden under layers of shame, stigma and fear.... Iryna Didenko, who leads the prosecutor's department investigating such crimes, has already opened 154 cases of conflict-related sexual violence. The real number, she said, is 'much, much more.'... After investigating some areas Russia retreated from, an independent international commission reported to the United Nations in October that 'an array of war crimes committed in Ukraine' included cases of sexual violence against women and girls."

Vatican. Nicole Winfield, et al., of the AP: "With bells tolling, tens of thousands of faithful, political leaders and the pope himself mourned Benedict XVI, the German theologian who made history by resigning the papacy, at a rare requiem Mass Thursday for a dead pontiff presided over by a living one. The crowd applauded as pallbearers carried Benedict's cypress coffin out of the fog-shrouded St. Peter's Basilica and rested it before the altar in the vast square outside. Pope Francis, wearing the crimson vestments typical of papal funerals, then opened the service with a prayer and closed it by solemnly blessing the simple casket -- decorated only with the former pope's coat of arms. It was later entombed in the basilica grotto." ~~~

~~~ The New York Times is liveblogging the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI. The Washington Post's live updates are here.

News Ledes

Washington Post: "Walter Cunningham, the last surviving crew member of Apollo 7, a mission that renewed the American space program after the deaths of three astronauts in a launchpad accident and helped lead the way to the moon landing in 1969, died Jan. 3 at a hospital in Houston. He was 90."

New York Times: "The man accused of killing four University of Idaho college students received a new license plate for his car five days after the murders, according to records released Wednesday." ~~~

     ~~~ Update: The New York Times is liveblogging developments in the case: "In court records released Thursday, investigators say they linked the suspect to the crime by analyzing surveillance footage and DNA on an empty knife sheath that was found at the scene. The records include a statement from a roommate who said she saw a black-clad figure in their house on the night of the murders." ~~~

     ~~~ Washington Post: "Here are the top five things we learned from the affidavit, which lays out allegations authorities used to charge Kohberger with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. The claims in the affidavit have not been proven in court."

January 4, 2023

Late Morning/Afternoon Update:

Dan Horn & Scott Wartman of the Cincinnati Enquirer: "President Joe Biden came to Greater Cincinnati Wednesday to tout a long-awaited Brent Spence Bridge project that he said proves Americans can still get things done if they work together. Speaking in Covington, not far from the 60-year-old bridge that had for years been a symbol of partisan gridlock, Biden praised Republicans and Democrats in Ohio, Kentucky and Washington for setting aside their differences to fix one of the nation's most vital pieces of infrastructure.... The president was joined by several Republicans and Democrats who were instrumental in passing the new, $550 billion federal infrastructure law that will help pay for the Brent Spence Bridge project. He singled out Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and frequent political foe, for his help in gathering enough GOP support to pass the law.... For Biden, the visit was something of a victory lap. He vowed during a town hall here in July 2021 to 'fix that damn bridge,' despite several failed attempts by his Democratic and Republican predecessors to muster bipartisan support for the project."

From the New York Times' liveblog of developments in the Race to Defeat My Kevin: ~~~

     ~~~ Stephanie Lai: "Victoria Spartz, Republican of Indiana, voted present, leaving McCarthy with one less vote than yesterday. She previously voted for McCarthy three times.... The 20 dissenters who voted for Jim Jordan in the third vote yesterday have all voted for Byron Donalds in the fourth vote." ~~~

     ~~~ Michael Gold: "... George Santos has spent most of the vote in the Republican cloakroom, away from cameras and reporters. He came out briefly to vote for McCarthy." MB: He's in the cloakroam now. But how much longer till we're singing this? ~~~

     ~~~ Oh, Lordie. Maggie Astor: "We're heading for a fifth vote...." ~~~

     ~~~ MB: The outcome of the fifth vote looks just like the fourth: 212 for Jeffries, 201 for My Kevin, 20 for Donalds & 1 voting present.

After three undeciding votes, no member can lay claim to [the speaker's] office. How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter? -- Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), letter to the Architect of the Capitol

     ~~~ Marie: Moving right along on this demonstration of the definition of insanity, the House takes its sixth vote, with no particular reason to expect a change. ~~~

     ~~~ Stephanie Lai: "Representative Kat Cammack, Republican of Florida, nominated McCarthy but was repeatedly disrupted by Democrats who took offense to her speech, which accused them of lacking sportsmanship and bringing alcohol and popcorn to the vote series." ~~~

     ~~~ Michael Gold: "At one point, Kat Cammack rhetorically asked Republicans, 'Are we the party of Reagan?' A chorus of Democrats called back, 'No.'"

I have to give props to the Democrats. They find ways to work together. -- Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Outer Space) ~~~

~~~ Marie: The matinee is over. But don't worry; there will be an evening show. The House is to reconvene at 8 pm Wednesday. ~~~

     ~~~ Catie Edmondson: "In a sign of McCarthy's determination to appease his critics, his political action committee cut a deal with the Club for Growth, a conservative anti-tax group that has opposed McCarthy's bid for speaker, agreeing not to spend money to support candidates in open primaries in safe Republican seats.... It was unclear if the pledge would be enough to win over any of the rebels."

     ~~~ Marie: After convening, a pro-McCarthy Republican immediately called for adjournment, so McCarthy would not be embarrassed by a 7th loser result. The final vote on the motion was close, with 4 Republicans voting with all Democrats against adjournment, and the while thing ended in a shouting match as Democrats urged the clerk to allow a few stragglers to vote. The majority vote switched from nay to yea about a half-minute after time ran out. Don't worry, they'll be back tomorrow, folks.

~~~ Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: "Representative Kevin McCarthy of California grasped on Wednesday for the votes he needs to become speaker after failing three times to win the post, as Republicans began their second day in control of the House without a leader and deadlocked about how to move forward amid a hard-right rebellion.... 'Some really good conversations took place last night, and it's now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN,' [Donald] Trump wrote in a social media post on Wednesday. He beseeched Republicans not to 'TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.'" ~~~

~~~ The Washington Post's live updates of the House hoohah are here. NBC News live updates are here.

There is so much unnecessary turmoil in the Republican Party, in large part do to people like the Old Broken Crow, Mitch McConnell. -- Donald Trump, in a Liars Social post Tuesday (yes, he really wrote "do to" & he really blamed Mitch for the Woes of Kevin) ~~~

~~~ Marie: Sorry, Donald, looks as if there are 20-some GOP deadenders, most of whom were in your fake election-denial caucus, who are no longer sufficiently askeert of you. And that doesn't count the GOP senators who paid no attention to you & re-elected Mitch as their leader.

While House Republicans fight to the death in Washington, D.C., President Joe & the Turtle will be honeymooning in Kentucky, inaugurating repair of a notoriously-dilapidated but key bridge between Kentucky & Ohio. ~~~

Michael Shear of the New York Times: "President Biden is heading to Kentucky on Wednesday for a celebration of bipartisan achievement, even as House Republicans descend into a chaotic debate over who can best wage partisan warfare against his administration. For Mr. Biden, the contrast is convenient. The president will join Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican minority leader, and an improbable mix of political rivals to highlight new funding for the Brent Spence Bridge, which connects Covington, Ky., to Cincinnati. The appearance is an effort by the White House to begin 2023 by focusing voter attention on instances of bipartisan agreement during Mr. Biden's first two years in office."

BTW, as long as there's no speaker of the House, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) is second-in-line to the presidency, after Vice President Harris.

Aaron Blake of the Washington Post: In both Ohio & Pennsylvania, Republican & Democratic state House members compromised to jointly elect new leaders.

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Tuesday Was an Historic Day on Capitol Hill. Let's Start with Some Good History:

Liz Goodwin of the Washington Post: "Sen. Patty Murray(D-Wash.) was elected Senate president pro tempore Tuesday, becoming the first woman to hold the job since its inception and putting her third in the line of presidential succession. Murray, who was elected to the Senate in 1992 as a self-proclaimed 'mom in tennis shoes,' was selected for the role after Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) declined to seek it. In recent years, the job has gone to the senior-most member of the majority party, which is the 89-year-old Feinstein. Murray, 72, is the second in line."

Nicholas Fandos of the New York Times: "House Democrats formally elevated Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York to be their leader on Tuesday, uniting around a liberal lawyer and disciplined political tactician as the face of their opposition to the new Republican majority.... He is the first Black politician to lead either party in Congress. And, at 52, he represents a generational change for House Democrats after two decades under Representative Nancy Pelosi.... He ended up receiving more support in the first three rounds of voting for speaker than the main Republican candidate, Representative Kevin McCarthy of California -- but not the majority needed to win.... 'He does not traffic in extremism. He does not grovel to or make excuses for a twice-impeached, so-called former president,' Representative Pete Aguilar of California, the No. 3 Democrat, said of Mr. Jeffries in a nominating speech on the House floor. 'He does not bend a knee to anyone who would seek to undermine our democracy because, Madam Clerk, that's not what leaders do.'"

Wherein My Kevin Learned the Perils of Negotiating with Terrorists:

Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: "Republicans were deadlocked on Tuesday over who would lead their new majority after Representative Kevin McCarthy of California lost three votes for the top job, as hard-right lawmakers in open revolt dealt their party leader a humiliating setback and prompted a historic struggle on the House floor. The mutiny, waged by ultraconservative lawmakers who for weeks have held fast to their vow to oppose Mr. McCarthy, paralyzed the House on the first day of Republican rule, delaying the swearing in of hundreds of members of Congress, putting off any legislative work and exposing deep divisions that threaten to make the party's House majority ungovernable." ~~~

~~~ The New York Times is liveblogging developments in the upcoming vote for House speaker. It is not looking good for My Kevin & for Republican House members in general. The liveblog includes a livefeed of the House floor. Also, a photo of Kevin's stuff, boxed up & left out in the hall. CNN's liveblog is here. The Washington Post's liveblog is here. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

     ~~~ Update: The clerk is only on the letter "C" in the rollcall, & McCarthy already has lost six votes, two more than he could have lost to gain the speakership. ~~~

     ~~~ Catie Edmondson: "The failed vote on Tuesday showed publicly for the first time the extent of the opposition Mr. McCarthy is facing in his quest for the speaker's gavel. Nineteen Republicans voted against Mr. McCarthy, instead throwing their support behind other conservative lawmakers."

     ~~~ The clerk reported Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) received 212 votes, Kevin McCarthy received 203 votes.

     ~~~ Elaine Cochrane: Second Ballot: "All 434 lawmakers have now had their votes recorded. The tally remains the same for Kevin McCarthy: 19 members of his party against him, and Democrats united for Hakeem Jeffries. It appears we are in the exact same scenario as the first ballot, just with the anti-McCarthy votes consolidating for Jim Jordan, who himself is supporting McCarthy." Democrats gave Jeffries a standing O. ~~~

     ~~~ Nicholas Fandos: "House Democrats formally elevated Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York to be their leader on Tuesday, uniting around a liberal lawyer and disciplined political tactician as the face of their opposition to the new Republican majority." ~~~

     ~~~ In the third roll call that failed to produce a speaker, Jeffries got 212 votes, My Kevin got 202, & Jungle Gym Jordan 20. The House has adjourned for the day & will reconvene at noon tomorrow when who knows what-all they will do. ~~~

~~~ There's No There There. Erin Doherty of Axios: "The House is in limbo until it elects a speaker. Members of the 118th Congress can't be sworn in, the House can't set rules to govern itself and it can't consider legislation or create committee assignments." ~~~

~~~ Amy Gardner of the Washington Post: "All but two of the 20 Republican House members who voted against Kevin McCarthy for speaker in Tuesday's third ballot round are election deniers who embraced ... Donald Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was rigged.... The tally reflects the degree to which election deniers dominate the House Republican caucus, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 222-person conference. A significant majority of McCarthy's 202 votes -- 157 -- came from election deniers. McCarthy (R-Calif.) himself embraced false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. So did Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who received votes from the 20 defectors on the third ballot."

Maybe Jungle Gym is reluctant to play a starring role in the House right now because he soon will be playing another starring role, this one in a George-Clooney-produced HBO documentary about an Ohio State sports doctor who allegedly abused about 300 wrestlers at the school. Allegedly, "Jordan, an Ohio State assistant wrestling coach for part of [the doctor's] time at the university, knowingly ignored [the] abuse."

Fuzzy GOP Math. Marie: According to an on-air report, one of the possible "solutions" to ending the statement that Kevin & his gang came up with last night was to get those 20 Republicans who opposed him to simply vote "present." That, the plan went, would spare Republicans who objected to McCarthy from having to vote for him, and it would reduce the total number of members present to, say, 414 (from 434), making those voting for Kevin a technical majority. Uh, really? First, 203 -- the highest number of votes McCarthy got yesterday -- is not more than 50 percent of 414. Second, 212 -- the number of votes Democrat Hakeem Jeffries got in all three roll calls yesterday -- is more than 50 percent of 414. So by running this brilliant plan, Jeffries would become speaker. Which is okay with me. Let's not tell My Kevin. (There is a sweet spot. If Kevin could get 11 of the 20 who voted against him to switch their votes to Kevin, that would leave the total of those voting would be 425. It also would give Kevin 413 votes, or one more than 50 percent AND one more than the votes for Jeffries.)

Mr. Santos Goes to Washington. Annie Karni & Michael Gold of the New York Times: "Hounded by reporters whom he labored to avoid and shunned by members of his own party, George Santos, Republican representative-elect of New York, spent his first day in Congress as an outcast.... Dozens of reporters waited for him outside his new office in the Longworth Building, peppering him with questions about whether he owed his constituents answers about the fantasy persona he created in order to win his seat, and whether he had any response to the investigations that those fabrications have produced.... He strode right past his office, before doubling back and closing the door behind him. He answered no questions.... [He lost his way in the hallways at least two more times. Once the House convened at noon,] he sat alone in the back of the chamber, staring at his phone, even as a group of New York Republicans mingled not far from him." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: On Tuesday, Santos issued a press release with the lede "U.S. Representative George Santos was sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House on January 3rd, 2023." That of course is not true. Kevin McCarthy did not become speaker on Tuesday, and neither he nor anyone else swore in Santos -- or any other rep. But Santos' First Big D.C. Lie has been scrubbed from his Website. However, I took a look at Santo's site, and as of late Tuesday, there's still a lovely Freudian slip on Santos' "About" page: "George perused a long path to success...." And that is true. George did peruse a long path to success. After perusing various successful career paths, it's safe to assume George picked out one such path for himself and plugged it into his fake résumé. No one told him he actually had to pursue a successful career path if he wanted to claim it.

And You Thought Republicans Had No Principles. Jacob Knutson of Axios: "The incoming Republican majority in the House of Representatives removed metal detectors outside of the chamber floor on Tuesday, just three days before the second anniversary of the deadly Jan. 6 riot.... The magnetometers were installed outside the House chamber in January 2021 to beef up security after the attack, but some Republicans have vocally opposed the increased security checks.... A rules package for the new Congress removes 'Democrat fines for failure of Members to comply with unscientific mask mandates and security screenings before entering the House floor,' Republicans on the House Rules Committee said."

Scott Bauer of the AP: "The former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party said Republican Sen. Ron Johnson spoke to him weeks before Joe Biden assumed the presidency about having the state's GOP-controlled Legislature, rather than voters, choose Wisconsin's presidential electors, according to newly released documents from closed-door testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee. Johnson, in a statement Tuesday, said he had no recollection of the conversation with Andrew Hitt and accused the committee investigating the 2021 Capitol insurrection of attempting to 'smear' him by selectively releasing text messages." Read on: Hitt & another Wisconsin GOP leader had quite a bit of discussion about something Johnson can't recall.

Josh Gerstein & Alice Ollstein of Politico: "The Justice Department has cleared the U.S. Postal Service to deliver abortion drugs to states that have strict limits on terminating pregnancy, and has offered limited assurances that a federal law addressing the issue won't be used to prosecute people criminally over such mailings. A legal opinion, from Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, concludes that a nearly 150-year-old statute aimed at fighting 'vice' through the mail is not enforceable against mailings of abortion drugs as long as the sender does not know that the drugs will be used illegally." ~~~

~~~ Pam Bellock of the New York Times: "For the first time, retail pharmacies, from corner drugstores to major chains like CVS and Walgreens, will be allowed to offer abortion pills in the United States under a regulatory change made Tuesday by the Food and Drug Administration. The action could significantly expand access to abortion through medication. Until now, mifepristone -- the first pill used in the two-drug medication abortion regimen -- could be dispensed only by a few mail-orde pharmacies or by specially certified doctors or clinics. Under the new F.D.A. rules, patients will still need a prescription from a certified health care provider, but any pharmacy that agrees to accept those prescriptions and abide by certain other criteria can dispense the pills in its stores and by mail order."

Beyond the Beltway

Colorado, etc. Democrats Can Be Cruel & Stupid, Too. Joe Anuta of Politico: "Colorado Gov. Jared Polis [D] plans to send migrants to major cities including New York, Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday, warning that the nation's largest city is already struggling to deal an influx of people sent from Texas and other Republican-led states. The impending move by Polis is unusual because Colorado is not a border state and both leaders are Democrats facing severe challenges over what they say is a national crisis around immigration.... Polis' office did not immediately respond." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Note Linda in Denver's objections in today's Comments. As she writes, the story has been updated. But whatever the intentions, the bottom line remains that Colorado is "helping" scoot these immigrants out of their state. While it may be the people really want to go to New York or Chicago because they have friends or relatives there, it seems just as likely that the people say they want to go to those cities because they've heard of them. At best, I am agnostic about a "plan" that seems to center on shuffling immigrants around the country in a fairly chaotic manner.

Maryland. Dan Morse of the Washington Post: "... the [trial] of Sophia Negroponte, the daughter of former U.S. director of national intelligence John Negroponte..., in the killing of Yousuf Rasmussen, 24, concluded Tuesday when jurors found her guilty of second-degree murder -- punishable by up to 40 years in prison.... John Negroponte was appointed in 2005 as the nation's first director of national intelligence by President George W. Bush.... The Negropontes came up several times during the trial -- in particular how they adopted Sophia from an orphanage in Honduras after serving there. Her mother, Diana Negroponte, testified in the trial."

Ohio. Reid Wilson of Pluribus News: "A coalition of Republicans joined with Democrats to pick a new speaker of the state House on Tuesday, bucking a majority of Republicans who voted last month for a different candidate. The Republican and Democratic coalition voted Tuesday to tap state Rep. Jason Stephens (R) to succeed Speaker Robert Cupp (R), who did not seek re-election last year. Stephens took 54 votes, beating state Rep. Derek Merrin (R) by an 11-vote margin. Republicans voting last month had picked Merrin as their speaker nominee in a closed-door session. Merrin ... had support from conservative organizations in the state.... Ratings in 2021 from the American Conservative Union, a group that evaluates state legislators based on their votes on conservative legislation, showed Stephens and Merrin received identical scores."

Way Beyond

Ukraine, et al. The New York Times' live updates of developments Wednesday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here. The Guardian's live updates for Wednesday are here. The Guardian's summary report is here. ~~~

     ~~~ The Washington Post's live briefing for Wednesday is here: "The fallout from a deadly attack in the occupied city of Makiivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region has led to finger-pointing by Russian officials. The Russian Defense Ministry said the attack was a result of illicit cellphone use among its soldiers, in what some observers see as an attempt to shift culpability from Moscow.... Russia's Defense Ministry increased its number for the Makiivka attack's death toll to 89, a rare acknowledgment of a significant loss, although Ukraine claims as many as 400 Russians were killed.... The United States has had direct conversations with Russian officials about Paul Whelan, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a news briefing Tuesday."

Europe. Stanley Reed of the New York Times: "European natural gas prices, which soared last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have now fallen well below their levels before the start of the war, reflecting the continent's success rounding up alternatives to Russian gas, widespread conservation efforts and a relatively mild winter. But the news comes as Europe's economy is slowing -- half of the European Union is expected to be in recession next year, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, said Sunday -- and the slumping gas price also signals diminished demand for energy." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

News Ledes

Washington Post: "A dangerous storm system is slamming California, with meteorologists at the National Weather Service warning of imminent 'widespread flooding, impassible roads, mudslides/landslides [and] rapid rises in rivers/creeks.' The system, which prompted the Weather Service to take the unusual step of urging residents to have 'go bags' at the ready and prepare insurance documentation in advance, is set to unleash its harshest conditions Wednesday night into early Thursday. Virtually the entirety of Northern and Central California is under flood watches and high-wind warnings, with damaging gusts to 60 mph possible. Strong to severe thunderstorms could be in the offing as well, in addition to 2 to 4 inches of rain in the lowlands and more in the mountains."

New York Times: "A pounding stretch of rain, wind and snow continued its destructive path east through the Midwestern and Southern states on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain and snow to much of the central United States and tornadoes to the South after drenching California over the weekend. As it moved further east, the so-called multi-hazard storm was expected to dump a mixture of snow and freezing rain in northern New England by Thursday, forecasters said...."

January 3, 2023

Afternoon Update:

The New York Times is liveblogging developments in the upcoming vote for House speaker. It is not looking good for My Kevin & for Republican House members in general. The liveblog includes a livefeed of the House floor. Also, a photo of Kevin's stuff, boxed up & left out in the hall. CNN's liveblog is here. The Washington Post's liveblog is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Update: The clerk is only on the letter "C" in the rollcall, & McCarthy already has lost six votes, two more than he could have lost to gain the speakership. ~~~

     ~~~ Catie Edmondson: "The failed vote on Tuesday showed publicly for the first time the extent of the opposition Mr. McCarthy is facing in his quest for the speaker's gavel. Nineteen Republicans voted against Mr. McCarthy, instead throwing their support behind other conservative lawmakers."

     ~~~ The clerk reported Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) received 212 votes, Kevin McCarthy received 203 votes.

     ~~~ Elaine Cochrane: Second Ballot: "All 434 lawmakers have now had their votes recorded. The tally remains the same for Kevin McCarthy: 19 members of his party against him, and Democrats united for Hakeem Jeffries. It appears we are in the exact same scenario as the first ballot, just with the anti-McCarthy votes consolidating for Jim Jordan, who himself is supporting McCarthy." Democrats gave Jeffries a standing O. ~~~

     ~~~ Nicholas Fandos: "House Democrats formally elevated Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York to be their leader on Tuesday, uniting around a liberal lawyer and disciplined political tactician as the face of their opposition to the new Republican majority." ~~~

     ~~~ In the third roll call that failed to produce a speaker, Jeffries got 212 votes, My Kevin got 202, & Jungle Gym Jordan 20. The House has adjourned for the day & will reconvene at noon tomorrow when who knows what-all they will do. Without a speaker, the House cannot legislate. As for me, I'm waiting for Der Trumpenmeister to ride in on a white golf cart & offer to be speaker.

Stanley Reed of the New York Times: "European natural gas prices, which soared last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have now fallen well below their levels before the start of the war, reflecting the continent's success rounding up alternatives to Russian gas, widespread conservation efforts and a relatively mild winter. But the news comes as Europe's economy is slowing -- half of the European Union is expected to be in recession next year, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, said Sunday -- and the slumping gas price also signals diminished demand for energy."

Democrats Can Be Cruel & Stupid, Too. Joe Anuta of Politico: "Colorado Gov. Jared Polis [D] plans to send migrants to major cities including New York, Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday, warning that the nation's largest city is already struggling to deal an influx of people sent from Texas and other Republican-led states. The impending move by Polis is unusual because Colorado is not a border state and both leaders are Democrats facing severe challenges over what they say is a national crisis around immigration.... Polis' office did not immediately respond."

~~~~~~~~~~

The Woes of Kevin, Ctd. Marianna Sotomayor of the Washington Post: "House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and his allies have spent the holiday weekend working the phones and meeting with members, trying to salvage his career goal of becoming speaker on Tuesday as Republicans continue to argue over whether he deserves the top spot. While an overwhelming majority of Republicans want to elect McCarthy (Calif.) as speaker, roughly 15 have put the outcome in serious doubt. McCarthy can afford to lose only four Republicans in Tuesday's floor vote, and the razor-thin margin has emboldened staunch conservatives within the House Freedom Caucus, who have made specific demands in exchange for their votes. If McCarthy fails to win the gavel on the first ballot Tuesday, it would be a historic loss: No leader vying for speaker has lost a first-round vote in a century." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: According to on-air reports, Kevin already has moved some of his stuff into the plush speaker's office. So it may be kind of fun to see him carrying a cardboard box full of plaques, framed photos & a gavel out of the office & down the hall. Of course the alternative to McCarthy, possibly Steve Scalise -- the self-described "David Duke without the baggage" -- will not be an improvement over Kevin. I would say "David Duke without the hood," but I'm not 100 percent sure Scalise doesn't keep a neatly ironed & folded hood in his briefcase for unexpected special occasions. ~~~

     ~~~ The New York Times story on the Woes of Kevin, by Catie Edmondson, is here. (Also linked yesterday.)

Grace Ashford of the New York Times: "Brazilian law enforcement authorities intend to revive fraud charges against [George] Santos, and will seek his formal response, prosecutors said on Monday. The matter, which stemmed from an incident in 2008 regarding a stolen checkbook, had been suspended for the better part of a decade because the police were unable to locate him. A spokeswoman for the Rio de Janeiro prosecutor's office said that with Mr. Santos's whereabouts identified, a formal request will be made to the U.S. Justice Department to notify him of the charges, a necessary step after which the case will proceed with or without him.... Just a month before his 20th birthday, Mr. Santos entered a small clothing store in the Brazilian city of Niterói outside Rio de Janeiro. He spent nearly $700 using a stolen checkbook and a false name, court records show." MB: Yeah, see, I told you he lied about even his name. Multiple times, evidently.

The House January 6 Select Committee released more transcripts Monday. Links to those transcripts are here. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ Kyle Cheney of Politico: "The Jan. 6 select committee has unloaded a vast database of its underlying evidence -- emails between Trump attorneys, text messages among horrified White House aides and outside advisers, internal communications among security and intelligence officials -- all coming to grips with Donald Trump's last-ditch effort to subvert the 2020 election and its disastrous consequences. The panel posted thousands of pages of evidence late Sunday in a public database that provide the clearest glimpse yet at the well-coordinated effort by some Trump allies to help Trump seize a second term he didn't win. Much of the evidence has never been seen before and, in some cases, adds extraordinary new elements to the case the select committee presented in public -- from voluminous phone records to contemporaneous text messages and emails.... Here's a look at some of the most extraordinary and important evidence in the select committee's files." ~~~

     ~~~ Luke Broadwater, et al., of the New York Times: "... the House Jan. 6 committee ... released a whirlwind of documents in its final days and wrapped up its work on Monday. Since Friday night, the panel has released several troves of evidence, including about 120 previously unseen transcripts along with emails and text messages obtained during its 18-month inquiry, totaling tens of thousands of pages.... The panel said it has now turned over an 'enormous volume of material to the Justice Department as Jack Smith, the special counsel, conducts a parallel investigation into the events of Jan. 6.... Here are some takeaways from the recently released evidence:...

"Several Trump advisers made clear that Mr. Trump had intended for days to join a crowd of his supporters marching on the Capitol. 'POTUS expectations are to have something intimate at the ellipse, and call on everyone to march to the capitol,' Katrina Pierson, a Trump spokeswoman, wrote in a Jan. 2, 2021, email. Kayleigh McEnany, Mr. Trump's press secretary, also wrote in a note on Jan. 6 that Mr. Trump had wanted to walk alongside the crowd as it descended on the Congress: 'POTUS wanted to walk to capital. Physically walk. He said fine ride beast.'... Anthony Ornato, a former deputy chief of staff at the White House who had also been the special agent in charge of Mr. Trump's Secret Service detail..., said he did not remember significant moments that multiple witnesses recounted to the panel. 'I don't recall any conversation taking place about the possible movement of the president to the Capitol,' Mr. Ornato testified....

Mr. Trump personally involved himself in the false elector scheme, according to Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. Ms. McDaniel recounted a call after the election in which Mr. Trump introduced her to John Eastman, the lawyer who wrote a now-infamous memo that laid out a path for the former president to remain in power. Mr. Eastman, she said, then spoke about how he believed it was important for the committee to help the Trump campaign 'gather these contingent electors,' she said."

     ~~~ Marie: A-googling I did go, in search of said database. I had no luck yesterday, but I think this must be the place. At any rate, there are links here to pdf files of a boatload of raw documents, including the committee report itself. The page is titled, "Select January 6th Committee Final Report and Supporting Materials Collection."

Paul Krugman of the New York Times: "The culture war is no longer just posturing by politicians mainly interested in cutting taxes on the rich; many elected Republicans are now genuine fanatics.... One can almost feel nostalgic for the good old days of greed and cynicism. Oddly, the culture war turned real at a time when Americans are more socially liberal than ever.... I don't understand ... how the U.S. government is going to function. President Barack Obama faced an extremist, radicalized G.O.P. House, but even the Tea Partiers had concrete policy demands that could, to some extent, be appeased. How do you deal with people who believe, more or less, that the 2020 election was stolen by a vast conspiracy of pedophiles?" MB: Maybe take them in small groups on field trips to Comet Ping Pong Pizza.

Richard Fausset of the New York Times: "In states with permissive gun laws, the police and prosecutors have limited tools at their disposal when a heavily armed individual's mere presence in a public space sows fear or even panic. The question of how to handle such situations has been raised most often in recent years in the context of political protests, where the open display of weapons has led to concerns about intimidation, the squelching of free speech or worse. But it may become a more frequent subject of debate in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court decision in June, which expanded Americans' right to arm themselves in public while limiting states' ability to set their own regulations." For instance,

"Two days after a gunman killed 10 people at a Colorado grocery store, leaving many Americans on high alert, Rico Marley was arrested as he emerged from the bathroom at a Publix supermarket in Atlanta. He was wearing body armor and carrying six loaded weapons -- four handguns in his jacket pockets, and in a guitar bag, a semiautomatic rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun.... His lawyer, Charles Brant, noted that he had not made any threats or fired any shots, and had legally purchased his guns. Mr. Marley did not violate Georgia law, Mr. Brant said; he was 'just being a person, doing what he had the right to do.'"

Ruth Graham of the New York Times: "Under pressure amid a boycott by top law schools, U.S. News & World Report told law school deans on Monday that it will make several changes in the next edition of its influential ratings. In a letter to American law school deans published on its site, U.S. News said its next list would give more credit to schools whose graduates go on to pursue advanced degrees, or school-funded fellowships to work in public-service jobs that pay lower wages. The magazine, which has been publishing the ratings for decades, is responding to criticism that its rankings overvalue high-paying private-sector jobs. The 2023-24 rankings, scheduled to be published this spring, will also rely less on surveys of schools' reputations submitted by academics, lawyers and judges, the magazine said."

Beyond the Beltway

New York/Maine. An Improbably Islamic Terrorist. Andy Newman & Mihir Zaveri of the New York Times: "The man charged with attacking three police officers with a machete near Times Square on New Year's Eve had traveled to New York from his home in Maine to injure the police in an act of Islamic extremism, a senior law enforcement official said on Monday.... Sometime on Saturday before the attack, the official said, Mr. Bickford wrote a farewell letter to his family in a diary that was found on him afterward. In it, he wrote to his mother, 'I fear greatly you will not repent to Allah and therefore I hold hope in my heart that a piece of you believes so that you may be taken out of the hellfire.' Mr. Bickford also referred in his diary to his brother, who is in the U.S. military, as having assumed the uniform of the enemy, the law enforcement official said."

Virginia. Gregory Schneider of the Washington Post: "Over the past three years, as the former capital of the Confederacy [Richmond] has taken down more than a dozen monuments to the Lost Cause, [Devon] Henry -- who is Black -- has overseen all the work. He didn't seek the job. He had never paid much attention to Civil War history. City and state officials said they turned to Team Henry Enterprises after a long list of bigger contractors -- all White-owned -- said they wanted no part of taking down Confederate statues.... He has endured death threats, seen employees walk away and been told by others in the industry that his future is ruined." Read on.

Way Beyond

Ukraine, et al. The New York Times' live updates of developments Tuesday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here. The Guardian's live updates for Tuesday are here. The Guardian's summary report is here. ~~~

     ~~~ The Washington Post's live briefing is here: "More than 80 Iranian-made drones have been shot down in Ukraine so far in 2023, [President] Zelensky said in his nightly address Monday. Ukraine and the West have repeatedly accused Iran of supplying unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia for use in the war. Tehran has denied those claims.... The governor of Kherson said Russian forces attacked the region dozens of times on Monday with artillery, multiple rocket launchers, mortars and tanks."

Matthew Bigg, et al., of the New York Times: "In one of their deadliest attacks yet on Russian forces, Ukrainians used American-made rockets to kill dozens -- and perhaps hundreds -- of Moscow's troops in a New Year's Day strike behind the lines, prompting outraged Russian war hawks to accuse their military of lethal incompetence. The strike by the HIMARS rockets killed 63 Russian soldiers in a building housing them in the occupied city of Makiivka, in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday -- an unusual admission for a military that has often refused to acknowledge serious losses. A former Russian paramilitary commander in Ukraine, Igor Girkin, wrote on the Telegram app that 'many hundreds' were dead and wounded and that many 'remained under the rubble.' Ukrainian military officials said it appeared that 'about 400' Russian troops had been killed, though they did not explicitly say that Kyiv was behind the attack. None of the claims could be independently verified, but even the lowest number would represent one of the worst Russian losses in a single episode in the war, and an embarrassment for President Vladimir V. Putin." The AP's report is here.

Brazil. Andrew Downie of the Guardian: "Thousands of mourners braved punishing heat to pay their final tribute to footballing legend Pelé on Monday as the president of Fifa said he would ask every member country to name a stadium after the recently deceased Brazilian player. Fans lined up outside the 106-year-old Vila Belmiro ground in Santos -- the city in south-eastern Brazil where Pelé first made his name as a star goal scorer in the 1950s -- overnight and at about 10am mourners began filing past the coffin that had been placed under a shaded tent in the middle of the field."

Vatican. Angela Giuffrida of the Guardian: "Thousands of Catholics have begun queueing at the Vatican to pay their respects to the former pope Benedict XVI, with some hoping he would be canonised as a saint. Benedict died on Saturday, aged 95, and his body was transferred from a Vatican monastery to St Peter's Basilica on Monday at 7am, where it will lie in state for three days before his funeral on Thursday."

News Ledes

Washington Post: "The criminology graduate student accused of killing four college students in Idaho told a judge Tuesday that he will voluntarily go to that state for court proceedings, probably shortening the time before officials will make public more details in their case. Flanked by Pennsylvania law enforcement officers, handcuffed and wearing a red jumpsuit as he was guided into the courtroom, Bryan Kohberger appeared before news cameras for the first time since his arrest at his parents' home in northeastern Pennsylvania. Judge Margherita Patti-Worthington asked Kohberger whether he agreed to be taken to Idaho, where authorities are expected to make their case against him public once he appears in Idaho court. The 28-year-old confirmed as much and signed a waiver. The judge said he could be surrendered to Idaho authorities within 10 calendar days."

New York Times: "Frank R. James, who is charged with shooting 10 people last April in one of the worst attacks in recent years on the New York subway, is expected to plead guilty to terrorism on Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Brooklyn, according to court records. Mr. James, 63, had initially entered a not guilty plea, but his court-appointed lawyers from the Federal Defenders of New York said last month that he would plead guilty to an 11-count indictment that charged him with 10 counts of terrorist attack -- one for each of the 10 people struck in the subway shooting -- as well as with a firearms charge."

New York Times: "Damar Hamlin, a 24-year-old safety in his second season with the Buffalo Bills, was in critical condition in a hospital after suffering cardiac arrest during a Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Bills said. Team officials said in a statement early Tuesday that Hamlin's heart stopped after he was hit during a play in the first quarter. His heartbeat was restored by medical personnel on the field before Hamlin was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, the Bills said, adding that Hamlin was undergoing 'further testing and treatment' and had been sedated." The AP's report is here.