Happy Thursday! What does everyone’s Spotify Wrapped look like this year? Taylor Swift obviously ran away with mine … Here’s what’s happening today:
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.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Hill’s 12:30 Report will not publish tomorrow. We will be back on Monday, Dec. 9. Enjoy your weekend! 🎄
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Please, sir. Could you spare a vote?:
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The November election is finally over. The last pending House race was called Tuesday night, solidifying Republicans’ 220-215 majority.
If that sounds narrow: Now factor in that former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) resigned and Reps. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) and Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) are expected to move to the administration. The first special elections to replace these three House members are expected to happen in April.
That means that Republicans have a zero-vote margin of 217-215 in the first months of the second Trump administration. (A 216-216 tie vote loses in the House.)
That’s a logistical nightmare: Aside from needing complete agreement to pass anything, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will also need to factor in delayed flights, sickness, family emergencies, etc.
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Senate Republicans are hoping to pass two separate reconciliation bills in 2025 and give President-elect Trump a few easy wins to start his administration. Reconciliation bills only need a simple majority to pass, but they can only include spending-related priorities.
Incoming Senate Republican leader John Thune (S.D.) told colleagues Tuesday that he’s prioritizing border security and defense spending for the first reconciliation bill.
^ That’s news to House Republicans: For months, House Republicans had been planning to prioritize extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. Passing just one reconciliation bill will be a heavy lift, never mind two. That means tax cuts would be put on the back burner.
And let’s not forget the other big looming headache: Congress will have to pass a government funding package at the beginning of 2025 to avoid a shutdown. That, plus Trump’s Cabinet confirmations, will take up much of the oxygen of Trump’s first 100 days in office.
Read more on the legislative game plan, via The Washington Post: ‘GOP caught between immigration and tax cuts for early 2025 priorities’
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Happening on Capitol Hill:
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It’s shaping up to be a busy day on Capitol Hill.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are meeting with House and Senate Republicans to discuss their new Department of Government Efficiency.
Plus: The House Ethics Committee is meeting today amid the saga over whether to release the now-defunct investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
Plus plus: Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, is still trying to keep his nomination alive amid the negative headlines about his personal life.
Plus plus plus: The House task force investigating the assassination attempt of Trump is meeting today.
🗨️ Live blog of updates from Capitol Hill today
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Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) argues that former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) wanted an “excuse to resign” from Congress when Trump tapped him for attorney general.
Why?: The House Ethics Committee report on him was set to be released.
Keep in mind: Gaetz and McCarthy have had beef for a while now.
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Police are still searching for the gunman who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson early on Wednesday morning.
What we know: The suspect shot Thompson at least once in the back and once in the right calf, according to New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
“The shooter ran into an alleyway near the hotel and later got on an e-bike that he took into Central Park, The Associated Press reported. He remains at large.”
A description of the shooter: “The shooter appears to be a light-skinned male. He’s wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers, and a very distinctive gray backpack,” Kenny said. The shooter also seemed to be proficient at using guns. He was able to clear a jam and continue firing.
📸 Police just released these images of the a person of interest
Found on the shell casings: The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the shell casings found at the scene, according to NBC News.
Read more: Everything we know about the shooting
The New York Times: ‘A City of Cameras: How New York Police Are Hunting a Killer’
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🕶️ Trump Transition Lenses
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Elon Musk may be a bit of a wild card:
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“Elon Musk’s growing criticism of President-elect Trump’s opponents and industry competitors is raising concerns he may use his increasing influence to intimidate adversaries,” reports The Hill’s Miranda Nazzaro.
“These fears are compounded by Trump’s repeated vows for revenge against his perceived enemies, with experts warning Musk could echo and carry out the same rhetoric on his social media platform, X, in the coming months.”
Read more on what to expect: ‘Concerns mount over Musk’s taste for revenge’
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➤ TRUMP’S LATEST NOMINATIONS:
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Social Security: Trump selected financial software giant CEO Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration (SSA). (The Hill)
The IRS: Trump tapped former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) to serve as the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). (The Hill)
Small Business: Trump plans to nominate former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) to serve as administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA).
The State Department: “President-elect Trump on Wednesday nominated Monica Crowley, a former Fox News contributor who faced public scrutiny during Trump’s first term over allegations of plagiarism, for a top public relations post in the State Department.” (The Hill)
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🍰 Celebrate: Today is National Comfort Food Day and National Sacher Torte Day!
🍟 No way. Snack Wraps are actually coming back!: McDonald’s announced the return of the popular Snack Wrap this morning. The chicken wraps were introduced on menus in 2006 but were removed in 2013. There’s been an outcry on social media to bring them back, and McDonald’s finally relented. (ABC News)
🚇 Eli Manning rode the Subway for the first time: He 📸posted a selfie of his first trip.
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📱 To keep on your radar: A federal court is expected to rule by Friday on whether the TikTok ban will take effect in January. (Forbes)
🏆 The best in the biz: The Hill published its annual list of top lobbyists. See who made the list
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern)
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- 1:45 p.m.: Senators hold a cloture vote on a judicial nomination. 📆 Today’s agenda
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4:45 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆 Today’s agenda
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6 p.m.: Biden, Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff participate in the National Christmas Tree Lighting. 💻 Livestream
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