Jack Fitzpatrick

Covering Congress for MS NOW

Signal: jackfitzpatrick.62

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

Sens. Bennet, Sanders, Van Hollen and Duckworth draw a hard line on the Dec. 11 funding deadline, in a joint statement:

"Any short-term package must include language that restricts the Trump Administration from using appropriated funds to continue his war against Iran."

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

Sen. James Lankford aims to be HSGAC ranking member, he says in a statement.

He has a long list of priorities: FEMA reform, improving emergency comms, USPS, cybersecurity preparedness...

Here's what he has to say about working with the expected next chair, Sen. Maggie Hassan:

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

siren emoji:

[Senate Press Gallery @SenatePress]

FYSA: The #Senate carryout is OPEN and will be open one hour after Senate adjourns or, at the latest, 9:00 p.m.

[Ryan Wrasse @RWrasse]

While the Senate was originally scheduled to be out of session for the balance of the week because of the Veterans Day holiday, folks should now expect votes throughout the balance of the week.

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

@DidiMartinez5 @MSNOWNews Welcome!

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

https://t.co/lEUqUDPMQL

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

John Thune reelected by Senate Republicans. Jim Jordan elected by House Republicans. Chuck Schumer riding high on 54-56 seats but facing an unofficial challenge from Chris Van Hollen. Hakeem Jeffries taking a big victory lap.

It will be a fascinating group of leaders.

[Ali Vitali @alivitali]

While this presser was happening, I was interviewing @VanHollenForMD at a @Groundwork event in DC. He told me he’s “in the process right now of calling my colleagues” about who should lead them going forward– reiterating that he’s “actively listening.”

“Let's face it, there was also a clearly an anti-Washington establishment tone to this to this election,” he said, “…So I'm actively calling my colleagues because at the end of the day, this is a vote in the Democratic caucus, and so let's just keep in touch.”

Yet even as he’s working the phone – which sounds a lot like whipping votes – he said he’s not yet connected with Senator Schumer. “We actually have continued to play phone tag,” Van Hollen said.

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

Senate Republicans are leaving their leadership election meeting without housing a vote. They'll return at 2 pm, Sens. Rick Scott and Kevin Cramer say.

There's no specific challenger to John Thune, they say.

[James Talarico @jamestalarico]

I just met with Senator John Cornyn.

He has served our state honorably, and I’m grateful for his advice and guidance. 

Now is the time for us to come together — Democrats and Republicans — to deliver for Texas.

[John T. Seward @JohnSewardDC]

Majority Leader John Thune says that "funding conversations that are had will shape" if Congress has a hand in ending the Iran war.

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

Between a Dec. 11 shutdown deadline, a Dec. 31 NDAA deadline and immediate push to impeach Pete Hegseth, Democrats may not even wait until January to try to end the war with Iran.

w/ @KevinJFrey
https://t.co/Lp0osmbC8t

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

More from Amodei on Miller:

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

Rep. Mark Amodei, DHS funding cardinal, tells me he never had any direct talks with Stephen Miller as Homeland Security advisor.

"There would have been times, if you were working towards the same objective, it would have been nice to have a team meeting once in a while."

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

Would you believe me if I told you his wrestling name at one point was Angus King?

[Al Weaver @alweaver22]

Say hello to your frontrunner to replace Marsha Blackburn in the Senate:

Glenn Jacobs, aka ex-WWE star KANE

w/ @reporterjoe @kadiagoba

https://t.co/sqKLQfo87M

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

A few points from Schumer at CAP event:
1. The election was a referendum on Trump.
2. Many voters "are still skeptical of our party."
3. Shutdown sharpened people's sense of the divide between the parties on health care and "propelled us forward."

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

Rep. Brendan Boyle says he's not going to run for Senate in 2028, will focus on his role as House Budget Committee chairman.

(Seems like last night's results increase the odds of a Dem trifecta after 2028 and the chances of a reconciliation bill through Boyle's committee.)

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

Reconciliation-mentum:

https://t.co/YBh9d1lcn6

[Chip Roy @chiproytx]

The @HouseGOP and @SenateGOP should work to pass a reconciliation package in the next 8 weeks to take away leverage points from Democrats on spending.

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

There's still time for the Last Supper, though it's fair to expect some attendance issues.

https://t.co/7hn6e6hSBq

[Mitt Romney @MittRomney]

Bad policy, bad character make bad politics: erratic tariffs, impulsive Iran war, blanket pardons, apparent corruption, weaponized justice, ICE brutality, mountainous deficits, hiding Epstein, abandoning allies and coddling enemies. Hoping for a course correction, for the country and for my party.

[Jack Fitzpatrick @jackfitzdc]

WSJ op-ed by Sen. @JohnCornyn: Republicans Forgot How to Win Elections
https://t.co/KPAlHxEeoE #TXSEN