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12:30 REPORT
It’s Thursday, Feb. 29. Happy leap day! The National Park Service just announced that the D.C. cherry blossoms’ peak bloom will happen March 23-26 this year. 🌸 I treat this as my personal reminder to stock up on Claritin. Here’s what’s happening today:
- Longtime Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s (Ky.) surprise announcement that he will be stepping down from leadership has sent shockwaves through the Senate. Out with the old, in with the pro-Trump, you could say.
- President Biden and former President Trump are both visiting the U.S.-Mexico border today.
- A few restaurants have specials to celebrate the leap year — like free guac at Chipotle — so keep reading for those deals.
- ReesaTeesa’s popular TikTok series about her ex-husband, whom she describes as a “pathological liar” and “narcissist,” has gone completely viral.
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.
🚪 In Congress
Changing of the guard:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sent shockwaves through the upper chamber Wednesday with his surprise announcement that he will step down from leadership in November.
Why McConnell is calling it quits: GOP senators said McConnell saw the writing on the wall that the Republican Party is drifting further from him and toward former President Trump, reports The Hill’s Alexander Bolton.
A hint: During McConnell’s Wednesday floor remarks, he reminisced about the early years, including the Reagan Revolution.
So, who will replace McConnell?: Or should I say, which John will replace McConnell? A trio of Johns are the top contenders:
- John Thune (R-S.D.)
- John Cornyn (R-Texas) (announced his bid this morning)
- John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)
Where do the Johns stand on Trump?: Barasso was the first to endorse Trump, doing so in early January. Cornyn endorsed later that same month, and Thune endorsed Trump earlier this week.
Timing: The election won’t happen for nearly nine months, so Republicans have a lot of time for auditions. Keep in mind that this is the first open leadership election for the conference in nearly two decades(!)
The Hill’s Al Weaver has a helpful explainer on the race to succeed McConnell.
➤ A FEW REACTIONS TO MCCONNELL’S ANNOUNCEMENT:
From Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio): “I think it’s a good thing … Hopefully we get a Republican leader a little more in tune with the preferences of our voters, but we’ll see.” (The Hill)
From a GOP senator who requested anonymity: That senator said the conservative backlash McConnell received from the recent bipartisan border bill was “vicious.” (The Hill)
‘Tonight Show’ host Jimmy Fallon made a joke about it: “After nearly two decades as the Republican leader of the Senate, McConnell is stepping down. McConnell just turned 82, so that can only mean one thing. He’s running for president.” (HuffPost)
➤ A FEW TAKES ON THE MCCONNELL ANNOUNCEMENT:
‘Mitch McConnell Surrenders to Trump’: From The Atlantic's David A. Graham
‘How Mitch McConnell can end on a high note’: The Washington Post’s editorial board
‘Inside Mitch McConnell's Season of Losses’: “The GOP leader is frustrated and vexed but as clear-sighted as ever in his strategy.” From Politico's Jonathan Martin
‘Mitch McConnell’s Exit’: “He will be remembered as one of the most skilled Senate leaders ever.” From the editors of National Review
‘Good Riddance to Mitch McConnell, an Enemy of Democracy’: From The Nation's John Nichols
‘McConnell gets swept away by rising Trump tide’: From The Hill’s Niall Stanage
➤ TIDBITS:
Who will Mitt Romney vote for in November?: CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) if he would vote for former President Trump over President Biden in November. “No. No, no, absolutely not,” Romney responded. 📺 Romney’s full reasoning
Can anyone top this leap day reference?: C-SPAN’s Howard Mortman posted a video of former Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.) talking about the leap year in 1996. 📼 Watch
Let’s make this a later-March-problem:
Congressional leaders reached a deal to punt the government funding deadlines, yet again.
The newest dates: Part of the government is funded through March 8 and the rest through March 22.
Is this solidified?: The House is expected to vote today to keep the government open. The Senate will vote shortly after.
🇲🇽 Happening Today
Cue the split screen:
President Biden and former President Trump have dueling trips to the U.S.-Mexico border today. Biden will be in Brownsville, Texas; Trump is visiting Eagle Pass, Texas.
Livestream of Biden’s 4:30 p.m. remarks
This is a cool photo: Of Biden boarding Air Force One
'Biden seeks to shift border from vulnerability to line of attack on Trump' from The Hill's Brett Samuels and Alex Gangitano
🏛️ Trump’s Legal Battles
This case feels like a Bravo show:
“Details of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s (D) romance with a special prosecutor overseeing former President Trump’s Georgia 2020 election interference case grew increasingly murky after a second round of testimony from a star witness this week.”
Why is case the murky?: Willis and Nathan Wade say they didn’t start seeing each other until after Willis hired Wade for Trump’s case.
But: Witnesses, including Wade's ex-divorce lawyer, are arguing against that timeline.
Why this matters?: The defense is trying to have Willis and Wade removed from overseeing the case, claiming Willis has benefited from Wade’s employment as special prosecutor.
Read more on why Willis’s relationship matters to the case, from The Hill
The Supreme Court will hear Trump’s immunity case:
“The Supreme Court’s announcement that it will take up former President Trump’s criminal immunity claims has cast doubt over the timing of when his federal Jan. 6 trial may take place — leaving a narrower window for it to occur before November’s election.”
When will the trial begin?: Probably not until this summer
Adding to the pressure: “The timing also increasingly puts the future of special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution in doubt as the race against the Election Day clock comes down to the wire. If the trial is delayed beyond November and Trump retakes the White House, he could pardon himself, fire Smith and end the case all together.” (The Hill)
➤ ALSO — TRUMP WAS REMOVED FROM ILLINOIS’S PRIMARY BALLOT:
An Illinois judge kicked former President Trump off the state’s primary due to the 14th Amendment’s Insurrection Clause. (The Hill)
Unsurprisingly: Trump’s team has already appealed the ruling.
🐝 Internet Buzz
🐸 Celebrate: Today is National Frog Leg Day, or should I say, National LEAP frog legs day! *ba dum tss*
^ But more importantly: Today is leap day! Krispy Kreme has a doughnut special, Chipotle is offering free guacamole and Wendy’s is giving out Cinnabon Pull-Aparts. List of deals, from USA Today
🤯 What is absolutely consuming my social media feeds: Let me tell you about TikTok user @reesateesa who posted a 50-part series on her relationship with her ex-husband, whom she describes as a “pathological liar” and “narcissist.” Her series has captivated TikTok, racking up millions of views per video. (E News)
📱 Watch the full TikTok series: It plays like a podcast, so you can go about your day while listening. She is a very good storyteller.
📝 If you don’t want to watch the full story: TikTok user @Abbeybonadies summed up the story into one video. Having watched the entire series, this is a very good summary. 💻 Watch the ReesaTeesa summary
🚰 Getting traction: Boiling tap water may be the solution to microplastics, according to a new study. (The Hill)
🤖 This is dystopian: “The future of AI video is here, super weird flaws and all,” reports The Washington Post. Check out some of these AI-generated fake videos
🗓 On The Agenda
The House and Senate are in. President Biden is in Brownsville, Texas, today, and Vice President Harris is in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern)
- 1:15 p.m.: State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
- 1:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 🗓️ Today’s agenda
- 2 p.m.: Harris convenes faith leaders.
- 2:35 p.m.: Biden arrives in Brownsville, Texas, and receives briefings on the border.
- 4:30 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks in Brownsville. 💻 Livestream
- 6 p.m.: Harris hosts a Black History Month reception to celebrate historically Black college and university scholars and leaders.
- 9:55 p.m.: Biden returns to the White House.
👋 And Finally…
Because you made it this far, watch these two best buds take in the scenery.
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