12:30 Report — Republicans’ day of chaos

It’s Wednesday — And what a chaotic week it’s been at the Capitol. Here’s what happened today:

• A bipartisan border agreement quickly fell apart, but the Senate Majority Leader
  Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) has a plan B. Essentially, if the first vote on the deal fails, the Senate would remove the border portion and try to vote again on just funding for Ukraine and Israel.

• In a surprising vote, House Republicans failed to impeach the Secretary of Homeland Security.
  Alejandro Mayorkas. It was all the fault of three Republicans.

• Republicans are already committed and willing to serve. Possibility of a second Trump administration. Keep reading for the names of those you are interested in.

I kate

martell A quick summary of this morning and what’s to come. Send tips, explanations, feedback, and cookie recipes to: cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.

Republicans on Capitol Hill had a chaotic day Tuesday, first trashing a bipartisan border deal that had been in the works for months and then unsuccessfully impeaching the secretary of Homeland Security.
Alejandro Mayorkas He lost by one vote in the controversial vote.

First, there’s the border bill.Senate Republicans voted Tuesday to block a border bill that would include funding for Ukraine and Israel.

But isn’t that vote still on the minutes? : Yes, there will be a procedural vote on the bill today, even if it is expected to fail.Senate Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.) wants to keep that vote intact so vulnerable Democrats can vote yes and tell voters they are trying to address the border crisis.

💻
Watch the voting process at 1 p.m.

But Schumer has a backup plan. : After that procedural vote failed, Schumer plans to remove border security proposals from the bill and vote “only” on funding for Ukraine and Israel.

What to expect:The hollow bill is expected to pass, but will need 60 votes to pass.

Funding details : This bill would fund wars in Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific region, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Gaza.

Read more about the Senate’s Plan Bvia The Hills alexander bolton

please remember : The House also tried a backup plan on Tuesday.the house voted Targeting only funding to Israel, the measure failed 250-180.

former president trump

senate republican leader
Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had pushed for a bipartisan border bill, but President Trump told Republican lawmakers to reject any deal that didn’t give them “everything” they wanted. In the end, Trump won this battle.

hill
alexander bolton“There are several major factors that explain why it will be difficult for Mr. McConnell to lead the Republican Party in the direction he wants.” for example : Some of Mr. McConnell’s longtime allies have retired. (the hill)

House Republicans fail to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro MayorkasOn Tuesday, it fell short of the threshold by just one vote.

why?: Two or more Republican “no” votes would have made impeachment difficult, but three joined Democrats in voting against the resolution.

Three Republicans voted “no” : Representative Ken Buck (Colorado),
tom mcclintock (California) and mike gallagher(Wisconsin) — Gallagher To my surprise, the answer was “no”.

Tips from the poll :Member of Parliament al green(D-Texas), who had recently undergone surgery, suddenly showed up at the last minute in a wheelchair wearing scrubs and socks, according to NBC News.

Green said after the vote.: “It wasn’t easy leaving the hospital and coming back here because I had to go to the emergency room and I had to have surgery. So I was always going to show up. Mr. Mayorkas is good. People. That was a bad move. I had to be here.” (NBC News)

why is this important : This vote failed in embarrassing fashion for Republicans. The impeachment vote was political and controversial among legal experts on the left and right, but Republicans nevertheless pressed ahead with full force.

read more – “Surprisingly, the House Republican proposal to impeach Mayorkas failed.”

Member of Parliament mike gallagher(R-Wis.), a surprise Republican “no vote” that threatened Mayorkas’ impeachment; explained his vote That would have “opened Pandora’s box,” he argued in a Wall Street Journal editorial.

excerpt:”[Mayorkas’s] The performance was disgraceful. But I disagree with my Republican colleagues who voted to impeach Mr. Mayorkas on Tuesday. Not only would impeachment fail to resolve Biden’s border crisis, it would set a dangerous new precedent that could be used against future Republican administrations. ”

“Why I voted against impeaching Alejandro Mayorkas.”: Wall Street Journal

The New York Times wrote how “dysfunction reigns in Congress.” [GOP] Defeat will be doubled. ”

in particular: “In a day of chaos at the Capitol, Republicans failed to impeach the Secretary of Homeland Security, lost a vote to expedite aid to Israel, and scrapped the border agreement they had demanded. (new york times)

former
president trump The Trump administration is notorious for rapid personnel changes and tensions, and many former Trump administration officials are now criticizing their former bosses, raising questions about who will work in a potential second Trump administration. .

Now, The Hills Brett SamuelsThe report says there is no shortage of Republican officials willing to do this work.

Isn’t it too early to think about that?: no. “Conservative groups are working hard to identify potential staffers ahead of this November’s election. In recent days, some former Trump Cabinet members have endorsed Trump, and in 2024 Several of the people who challenged Trump in this year’s nomination contest appear to be aiming for executive branch positions.

some names that come to mind :Member of Parliament Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.), Senator. Tim Scott (RS.C.), Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem (R), Rep. byron donald (Republican, Florida), Governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum(R), former Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchinformer Secretary of Commerce
wilbur ross former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development ben carson And even the former chairman kevin mccarthy(R-Calif.).

What is former Vice President Mike Pence up to?: He has not endorsed anyone since he withdrew from the presidential race.

What we know about the possibility of a second Trump presidencyvia The Hill

• “DeSantis has withdrawn from the 2024 race. But he’s acting like he’s still running.: politiko

• “What does the 14th Amendment say about whether Trump can vote?”: washington post

• “Legal Outsiders, Outlandish Theories, and the Fate of the 2024 Election.”: new york times

• “Biden aims to reconnect the 2020 coalition.”: the hill

🍝 celebrate : Today is National Fettuccine Alfredo Day!

🌏 Satellite images of Earth are turning green: “Humanity is literally changing the color of the Earth. Scientists are worried.”
vox explainer

🥘
Looking at these photos makes me so hungry: This is Washingtonian’s list of the “100 Best Restaurants” in Washington DC 🍽️ list of washingtonians

🏈 Thinking about a last-minute trip to the Super Bowl? : New York Times Estimate This will cost approximately $9,859 per person.

of House And the Senate is also included. president biden Located in New York City,
vice president harrisI’m in Leesburg, Virginia. (always eastern)

• 12:15pm : White House Press Secretary
  Karine Jean Pierre and National Security Spokesperson John KirbyTalk to reporters aboard Air Force One. 💻 live stream

• 1pm: A vote related to the National Security Supplemental Bill will be held in the Senate. 🗓️ Today’s topic

• 2:30pm – 7:30pm: Mr. Biden participates in a campaign reception in New York City.

• 3 pm: Harris speaks at the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg.

• 9:15pm: Biden returns to the White House.
• February 29th : Secretary of Defense Lloyd AustinHe is scheduled to testify about his recent cancer diagnosis and subsequent secret hospitalization. 📝 Details and backstory