12:30 Report — Senate controls TikTok’s fate

It’s Wednesday. Kate Middleton, if you’re reading this, please sign me. I can’t get these conspiracy theories out of my head. In today’s edition:

• Georgia judge brings several charges against former defendant president trump In the case of election interference.

• The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the bill today. Ban TikTok (or force a sale from the Chinese parent company). Now everyone is looking to the Senate to see what happens next.

• Disagreements over immigration policy could lead to a partial government shutdown next weekend. This second government funding bill includes: Department of Homeland Security.

I kate martel 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.

The House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed a bill to ban TikTok, less than a week after it was introduced.

vote: 352-65 and 1 member voted for the giveaway.

its meaning : This bill doesn’t just ban video-sharing apps outright. Instead, TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance will sell its stake in the app within about five months.If that doesn’t happen, *then* the app will be banned from the US summary: If you don’t sell the app, it will be banned.

what? Next?: The Senate will decide whether to ban TikTok. It is unclear whether the Senate will pass the bill, known as the Foreign Adversary Control Applications Act, but if it does, president bidenSaid He will sign it into law.

Two important observations : The two chairs of the Senate Intelligence Committee—Sen. mark warner (Virginia) andmarco rubio(R-Florida) — Both support the bill and said they will work toward its passage. (the hill)

From Warner and Rubio’s joint statement“We are united in our concern about the national security threat posed by TikTok. TikTok is a platform with tremendous power to influence and divide Americans, and its parent company ByteDance remains a member of the Chinese Communist Party. You are legally required to comply with orders.”

TikTok spokesperson’s response: “This process was done in secret and this bill stalled for one reason: it is prohibited. We look forward to recognizing the impact on businesses and the 170 million Americans who use our services.”

Why do lawmakers want to ban TikTok?: Lawmakers are concerned about national security. Many argue that China could use the app to collect data on Americans and use its sophisticated algorithms to influence public opinion.

💻 monitor the House vote

📸 TikTok supporters protest outside the US Capitol

China described a possible ban on TikTok as a “bullying act” and warned it would “come back to bite the US.” ( the hill )

georgia judge Scott McAfeeI threw away some of my old stuff. president trumpHe was indicted this morning in the Georgia election interference case.

Details of charges dropped: The judge dropped six charges in the entire case, three of them against Trump. However, the dismissed charges do not affect the historic RICO Act charges.

why?: “The judge ruled that while the charges contained the “essential” elements of each crime, they did not provide sufficient detail for the defendant to mount a defense.” McAfee said that under the current charges, the defendants could have violated the law in “dozens, if not hundreds, of different ways.”

What we know about the charges that were dropped via The Hills Zach Schoenfeld and Ella Lee

A Georgia judge will rule on the Fulton County District Attorney’s decision. Fanny Willis(D) As is. president trumpThe election interference scandal came to light earlier this year after her romance with the special prosecutor.

Not following this case?: Recommended to read Ella LeeDiscuss the potential outcomes and what each outcome means for your case.

this is important: If Willis is activated, the entire incident is in jeopardy. Another district attorney’s office in Georgia will be handling the case, but it may be difficult to find one that wants to take on the case and has the resources to handle it. There is also a possibility that the new prosecutor may drop the charges if he wishes.

I feel like a broken record at this point, but I have to let you know that there may be a partial government shutdown next week. Don’t kill the messenger!

I thought the threat was over : Congress passed the first half of the government funding bill last week; president biden It was signed into law on Saturday. This last part of the funding bill is even more difficult. This includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), one of the toughest releases over disagreements on immigration policy.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Patti Murray(D-Wash.) told The Hill on Tuesday that the Homeland Security funding bill is “the most difficult bill we’ve ever seen,” and other senators agreed.

The bill has several controversial measures that Republicans want.: Example: Zero out the Secretary of Homeland Security. Alejandro MayorkasHis salary after being impeached in February and how he will spend funds earmarked for responding to the immigration surge.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) I have an idea. : Murkowski hinted at the possibility of separating DHS funds from the remainder of the March 22 federal funding deadline. That could potentially avoid a broader shutdown.

read more: ‘Immigration fight could lead to government shutdown as early as next weekend’

Member of Parliament Ken Buck (R-Colo.) surprised Congress on Tuesday by announcing he would retire from Congress *next week*, leaving the Republican majority with just two seats.

speaker mike johnson (R-Louisiana) said he was not informed of Buck’s plans before the announcement.

Read Buck’s announcement

What you need to know about the bag: He is known for opposing his own party on a variety of issues, including election denialism (just kidding).he voted to expel the former chairmankevin mccarthy(R-Calif.), but opposed Republican efforts to impeach Mayorkas. ( the hill)

This complicates matters for lawmakers. lauren boebert(Republican, Colorado)’s path to winning his seat. She currently represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, but she plans to run for the 4th District. (She almost lost her last re-election to a Democrat.) Now, now that Buck has resigned, a special election for his seat will be held in June. Whoever wins that seat will have an advantage in November.

explanation of how it worksvia The Hills caroline bakir

a little information : Will Ms. Boebert resign her current seat to run in a special election? according to hill michael schnelland
caroline bakir. However, she called Buck’s decision to retire early a “weak sauce.” lol.

President Biden’s son hunter bidentold Republicans he would not attend the hearing scheduled for March 20. A lawyer for the younger Biden said he “declines the invitation to this carnival entertainment.”
complete before and after

please remember: Hunter Biden testified behind closed doors in February.

🥣 celebrate: Today is National Chicken Noodle Soup Day!

🌸 I mean, it feels like May in Washington, D.C. : Washington Post harry stevenswrites as follows: Spring has come early, isn’t it? ” here are some graphics Here’s how spring has changed over the past few decades.

💵 No way: Dollar Tree announced it will close 1,000 Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores.

👏 wonderful : @Ysylon Posted in X, formerly known as Twitter: “So we taught our 1-year-old to say ‘all done’ when he’s finished eating.” He also uses it to tell people when he’s been playing too much together, so I’m going to start using it too. ”

Notus’ Kate Nocera There was a chime later: “My toddler recently said emphatically, ‘Everything is done,’ with sign language, at the dentist.”

the house There is.senate It has come out. president biden Located in Wisconsinvice president harrisI’m currently in Washington, D.C., and there are no public events scheduled.

(always eastern)

• today: Harris records two radio interviews.

• 5pm: Biden speaks in Milwaukee about investing in communities. 💻 live stream

• 5:50pm: Mr. Biden participates in the election campaign.

• Thursday 10am: The Senate returns.