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![]() PRESENTED BY![]() BY JOHN BRESNAHAN, ANNA PALMER AND JAKE SHERMAN THE TOPThe Punchbowl News Q-hed: The week of fighting between Israel and Hamas has resulted in hundreds dead. A fragile peace in the Middle East has been broken by a barrage of rockets. And the Abraham Accords — much touted by the Trump administration as the harbinger of a new day in the region — has been relegated to a footnote in history, at the moment. But in Washington — for Congress and the nascent Biden administration — there are serious political and substantive policy implications of this widening conflict. The contours of the conversation about Israel are changing — especially in Congress. → The cease-fire as a political issue: On Monday, we saw the two parties lay out diametrically different approaches on how to ratchet down tensions. Put simply, most Democrats want an immediate across-the-board cease-fire, and most Republicans don’t. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) spoke out against a cease-fire in his opening remarks on the Senate floor. “No one is glad to see the fighting, but we’re already seeing some push the faulty narrative that this conflict is a tragic dispute between two legitmate combatants where both sides share blame that is roughly equal,” McConnell said. “What nonsense.” Sen. Tom Cotton (Ark.), a conservative Republican, added: “The hand-wringing calls for a cease-fire are tantamount to Hamas propaganda. ‘Both sides’ are not the same in this conflict, no matter what the Democrats naively imply. If Hamas puts down its weapons, there would be peace. If Israel puts down its weapons, there would be no Israel.” Democrats, meanwhile, are upset Biden isn’t moving quickly enough to call for a pause in the attacks. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the first Palestinian-American woman in Congress, said the crisis in Gaza proved once again that not enough attention is being given to Palestinian suffering at the hands of Israel’s powerful military machine. “I wish that people would listen to the Palestinian voices on the ground,” Tlaib said during an interview on MSNBC. “Talk to the mothers who put their children next to them because if they’re going to die, they want to die together.” And following a meeting of some Democrats on his panel, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) — an Israel supporter — wants President Joe Biden to delay the sale of $735 million in weapons to Israel while Congress reviews the transfer. Biden, meanwhile, appeared to call for a cease-fire during a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The White House readout said Biden “expressed his support for a cease-fire.” But administration officials quickly clarified that Biden didn’t call for a cease-fire, just said he’d be supportive of one if it happened. The NYT’s Isabel Kershner and David Sanger note this on A1. → A tougher climb back to an Iran nuclear deal: There are ongoing negotiations in Vienna to allow the U.S. and Iran to restart the 2015 nuclear accord. Yet these talks are going to get even more difficult for the United States. Hamas is an Iranian proxy, and opponents of a second nuclear deal are pumping out reasons why this latest round of bloody fighting in Gaza changes the entire situation dramatically. These opponents assert that Iran would use any relief from U.S. sanctions to pump billions of dollars into Hamas’ fight against Israel. Netanyahu, for his part, argues that the greatest threat to Israel stems from Iran, and he was bitterly opposed to the 2015 accord. Israel and Iran have been engaged in a “shadow war” for years, which has expanded to include attacks on naval targets. One other point is worth noting: Both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), are strongly pro-Israel and voted against the 2015 accord. Schumer has been very low key on the Iran nuclear talks, but clearly this latest crisis makes the situation exponentially more difficult a situation for both Democrats. → Internal Democratic food fight: The longer this drags on, the worse it gets for Hill Democrats. The progressive left is very vocal in calling out Netanyahu and standing up for Palestinians. This makes more traditional Democrats uncomfortable, they’ll concede privately. We were talking to one pro-Israel House Democrat about whether they were considering penning a resolution defending Israel, and this lawmaker said, essentially, it was not worth the headache given the internal party politics. In fact, as the NYT’s Nick Fandos and Catie Edmondson note, Democrats generally are turning more skeptical about Israel. → Questions about aid to Israel: The Washington Post’s Jackie Alemany scooped Monday that the United States had approved a $735 million weapon sale to Israel. This — and pretty much all other military aid to Israel — is going to come under increased scrutiny by the left. “I think it’s a very bad time to be approving military aid,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told us Monday. Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee want to delay the sale of any new arms to Israel while Congres reviews the matter. “The United States has to be strong in this — we have power to bring to bear, to call for a cease-fire, and to ensure that we’re actually trying to bring about some stability again, which we haven’t had in a very long time,” Jayapal told us. PRESENTED BY CHEVRON At Chevron, we believe the future of energy is lower carbon. And we’re taking action to get there, like tying our executives’ compensation to lowering the carbon emissions intensity of our operations. It’s only human to hold ourselves accountable. LEADER LOOK Schumer and McConnell brace for a hot summer ![]() On Monday, we gave you the latest snapshot for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). So today, we’ll turn our attention to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Chuck Schumer: As we predicted the last time we did this feature almost two months ago, the road has gotten rockier for Schumer. He’s still putting on the “happy warrior” face, and he still says, “Big and bold” about every other sentence. But after the hectic pace of the first few months — winning the majority, the organizing fight, former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial, passage of the massive $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan — things are turning into a grind. Which is ok, because Schumer is a grinder. But it’s tougher going, no doubt. S.1, the “For The People” Act, a major Democratic election reform bill, is stalled. Schumer has publicly declared that “Failure isn’t an option” on this bill, which progressives love. But unless he can get Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to support the legislation, failure may actually be the only option. Immigration reform? Stalled. Gun control? Stalled. Wiping out $50,000 in student loan debt per person, another Schumer priority? President Joe Biden said no on that one. Schumer’s office announced that they’d successfully sought a ruling from the Senate parliamentarian that would allow Democrats to craft a second reconciliation package using the same budget resolution they used for the American Rescue Plan. This would be a big deal in helping pass Biden’s $4 trillion-plus American Jobs Plan and American Family Plan. Instead, that option seems to have faded away. Schumer is not at fault here. He has a 50-50 Senate, and the GOP is in the midst of a huge internal crisis in the post-Trump era. Unless Democrats do away with the filibuster, which Manchin & Co. aren’t about to let happen, then this was always going to happen, no matter who’s in charge. There have been some victories too. The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill targeting anti-Asian hate crimes, an important issue following a wave of ugly attacks on Asian-Americans. A water resources bill passed on a big bipartisan vote as well, showing a possible route toward enactment of a bigger Biden package. Schumer is now teeing up floor debate on a big China-related package, including the $100 billion-plus “Endless Frontier Act,” which Schumer sponsored along with Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and others. If he pulls this off in the next two weeks, it’s a big win for Schumer. The New York Democrat — like other party leaders in both chambers — has delegated some important issues to colleagues. It hasn’t yielded results yet, although it allows him to work on multiple issues simultaneously. Schumer has also been successful in moving nominations. The Senate is getting ready to take action on Biden’s first bunch of judicial picks. This will prove fertile ground for Schumer and the White House. The American Rescue Plan has helped Schumer in a big way back home. There’s more than $12 billion direct aid for New York in the package, plus billions more for transit, economic development, child care — you name it. Overall, roughly $100 billion in direct and indirect federal aid for the Empire State. That kind of money may even get a guy reelected. Mitch McConnell: McConnell won’t like to hear this, but he may be the best minority leader of his era. We’re not criticizing his work as majority leader; we’re just saying that being a minority leader plays to certain traits the Kentucky Republican possesses. First of all, patience. And secondly, completeconviction in the belief that you’re right, and the other side is wrong. And given enough time, everyone will see that. In this case, it helps that McConnell has 50 seats. If you’re going to be a minority leader, it’s better this way. Overall, McConnell is doing what he has to do. He doesn’t talk about Trump anymore. That’s the past, as McConnell would say, and he’s all about the future. If you think this is easy for a senior Republican to do right now, just ask House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) how it’s going. McConnell has delegated negotiations on some key issues — infrastructure and police reform — to his colleagues, Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.). This helps McConnell broaden his leadership circle and make it seem like not every decision flows from the top down. He’s also working hard to define Joe Biden and the Democrats, although not always successfully. The American Rescue Plan was a win for Biden and Schumer, according to all the polls. McConnell, however, is having better luck attacking both the American Jobs Plan and American Family Plan, which Biden has pledged to pay for with tax increases on corporations and the wealthy. This has given McConnell and McCarthy — in fact, all Hill Republicans — something to rally around. McConnell has worked with Biden on a high-profile foreign policy issue — Burma — but as expected, McConnell has been very critical of the president’s overall foreign relations agenda. The withdrawal from Afghanistan, renewed nuclear talks with Iran, elevating climate change — these are not issues McConnell is ever going to be able to support Biden on, but at least that’s out in the open. As always, McConnell just keeps pounding Democrats every chance he gets. Here’s one week of press releases from April: “Misguided Afghanistan Plan Creates More Questions than Answers”; “Biden Administration’s Answer to Border Crisis? Politically-Correct Proofreading”; “I Will Strongly Oppose Confirming Vanita Gupta to Serve as Associate Attorney General”; “Biden Administration’s ‘Infrastructure’ Bill is a Patchwork of Left-Wing Social Engineering”; “H.R. 1 Would Create a Stunning One-Party Takeover of Voting Laws and Elections in Our Country”; “Biden Climate Agenda: Toothless Requests Abroad, Maximum Pain at Home”; “Democrats’ Spending Proposal is Neither an ‘Infrastructure’ Plan nor a ‘Jobs Plan’”; and “Biden Administration Foreign Policy: Concessions and Wishful Thinking.” Senate Republicans face a tough map in 2022. They have wide open contests in seats currently held by Republicans in states like North Carolina and Pennsylvania. While the NRSC doesn’t play in primaries, we expect McConnell to when he’s ready. → One more note on McConnell: If the Supreme Court next summer strikes down Roe v. Wade — long a goal of Republicans — McConnell will be largely responsible for it. Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett are justices because of McConnell. Whatever you think of this possibility — and Democrats will rage about it — the Kentucky Republican will have made it happen. It’s also worth pointing out that if there’s an issue that the Democrats would be willing to blow up the filibuster over, it would be abortion. So let’s say the Supreme Court strikes down or curtails Roe next summer. A Nancy Pelosi-run House — with an election just months away — quickly passes a bill legalizing abortion. A Chuck Schumer-run Senate, in the face of united GOP opposition, guts the filibuster and passes the abortion bill. Biden would sign it into law. Something to think about. PUNCHBOWL NEWS EVENTS Punchbowl News Book Club with Sen. Tammy Duckworth Join us for May’s Punchbowl News Book Club where we will be joined by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) to talk about her new memoir "Every Day Is a Gift." You won’t want to miss this. Punchbowl News Book Club ![endif]>![if>
QUICK NOTE Two things to watch for today → We caught up with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) Monday afternoon as she entered Mitch McConnell’s office. She said her updated infrastructure offer to the White House would come early this week. The Senate leaves town Thursday. Tuesday is the last day that can be considered early in the week. → We expect House and Senate lawmakers involved in police reform negotiations to meet today. SNEAK PEEK FOR PUNCHBOWL AM’ERS Christie says he won’t defer to Trump in 2024 Chris Christie was on “Ruthless, Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug and Michael Duncan’s popular podcast. And he made some big news about 2024.
IN THE HOUSE Pelosi extends proxy voting until July, and Republicans push back Speaker Nancy Pelosi extended proxy voting in the House until July 3, even as the rest of the United States is reopening. House Democratic leadership has said that they’ll keep protective measures in place until more lawmakers are vaccinated. Roughly 75% of the House has gotten the Covid-19 vaccine. A group of Republicans led by Arkansas Rep. Bruce Westerman — as well as the House GOP leadership — are asking Pelosi to roll back these remote practices now that the health emergency is abating. Here’s the letter. MOMENTS 9 a.m.: President Joe Biden will get his daily briefing 9:40 a.m.: Biden will leave the White House for Andrews and fly to Detroit, where he’ll arrive at 11:30 a.m. Jen Psaki will gaggle on board Air Force One. 10 a.m.: Speaker Nancy Pelosi will speak about the Asian hate crime bill in HVC studio A. 11:30 a.m.: House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Vice Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) will hold their weekly news conference. 12:45 p.m.: Biden will tour the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center and give remarks at 1:40 p.m. 3:55 p.m.: Biden will leave Detroit for Andrews, where he’ll land at 5:10 p.m. He’ll arrive at the White House at 5:30 4 p.m.: House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Ways and Means Ranking Republican Rep. Kevin Brady (Texas) will speak about the benefits of the 2017 tax cut bill. CLIP FILE NYT → “Trump Justice Dept. Tried to Use Grand Jury to Identify Nunes Critic on Twitter,” by Charlie Savage WaPo → “‘Our democracy is imperiled’: Maricopa County officials decry 2020 recount as a sham and call on Arizona Republicans to end the process,” by Roz Helderman → “Japanese doctors call for Olympics cancellation amid covid-19 surge,” by Katerina Ang WSJ → “AT&T’s Hollywood Ending Erased Billions in Value,” by Drew FitzGerald, Joe Flint and Benjamin Mullin → WSJ Editorial Board: “How Trump’s Steel Tariffs Failed” PRESENTED BY CHEVRON To help ensure we meet our goals at Chevron, we’re tying our executives’ compensation to lowering the carbon emissions intensity of our operations. And we’re already making strides. From 2013 to 2019, we’ve reduced methane emissions in US onshore operations by 85%. Because we believe the future of energy is lower carbon. ![]() Enjoying Punchbowl News AM? ![]() Subscribe 10 friends with your unique link (below) and get a Punchbowl News hat! Your referral link is: Or share via You currently have: 0 referrals
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