Jeffries oversees $33M in fundraising for first-quarter stint as House Democratic leader

Brady Knox

April 13, 04:29 PM April 13, 04:29 PM

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has raised more than $33 million in fundraising during his first quarter as House minority leader.

Jeffries took over the mantle from Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) once she stepped down from the position after 20 years following the 2022 midterm elections. Jeffries credited the fundraising success with holding "extreme MAGA Republicans accountable."

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“Our historic grassroots support is a testament to the faith and trust Americans have in Democrats to hold extreme MAGA Republicans accountable, take back the House in 2024 and continue our work delivering For The People by lowering costs, creating better-paying jobs and making our communities safe,” he told NBC News.

While Jeffries credits the fundraising as coming from grassroots support, the outlet reported that a fair chunk came from a network of donors he has cultivated while in his position. He has spent nearly a third of his first 100 days traveling from state to state, largely to court donors. So far, he has clocked 20,000 miles across nine states.

Jeffries's statement about the large fundraising total being due to his party combating "MAGA extremism" has become a theme of his tenure as House minority leader. Last month, he said that the Republican Party had become extremist.

"The American people rejected political street extremism all throughout the country in the most recent midterm elections in 2022," the New York Democrat said. "And it's my expectation that they will continue to do so moving forward. It is unfortunate that the extreme has become mainstream for this version of the Republican Party."

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The House minority leader's fundraising total isn't unprecedented, as his predecessor reportedly raised over $32 million in the first quarter of 2021 alone.

Jeffries was bested by his Republican counterpart, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who raised $38 million, setting a record, according to Axios.

Democratic lawmakers file to challenge Texas abortion pill ruling

Brady Knox

April 11, 11:47 PM April 11, 11:49 PM

Two hundred and forty Democratic and independent members of Congress filed an amicus brief on Tuesday, urging an appeals court to block a Texas judge's ruling that would stop the prescription and distribution of the abortion drug mifepristone.

The group includes 50 senators and 190 House members, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) signed the brief as well.

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Much of the brief defends mifepristone specifically, but it also focuses on defending abortion in general.

"Amici believe that the district court’s stay of FDA’s September 28, 2000 Approval of mifepristone and other challenged agency actions has no basis in law, threatens the Congressionally mandated drug approval process, and poses a serious health risk to pregnant individuals by making abortion more difficult to access— when access has already been seriously eroded in the aftermath of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization," the filing stated. "Accordingly, Amici respectfully urge this Court to grant emergency relief from the district court’s stay."

The filing stresses its inclusion of transgender people who want an abortion, writing that approximately 22 million women of childbearing age are now without access to abortion, "in addition to other people who may not identify as women but are capable of becoming pregnant and may need an abortion."

The filing spent much of its conclusion stressing that the blocking of the drug threatens to especially harm "Black women — and exacerbate an already grave Black maternal health crisis."

The 65-page brief was filed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Tuesday.

House Democrats call for DOJ to drop Assange charges

Misty Severi

April 11, 07:12 PM April 11, 07:12 PM

A group of Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday asking him to drop the 18 charges against Australian Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

The Democratic House members argued that the charges against Assange “pose a grave and unprecedented threat” to press freedom and the First Amendment.

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“Press freedom, civil liberty, and human rights groups have been emphatic that the charges against Mr. Assange pose a grave and unprecedented threat to everyday, constitutionally protected journalistic activity, and that a conviction would represent a landmark setback for the First Amendment,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

Assange, who was arrested in London in 2019 on a warrant issued by the United States, faces 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. Assange's charges are related to his publication of classified and sensitive U.S. documents, which were leaked by former Army soldier Chelsea Manning.

“The prosecution of Mr. Assange marks the first time in U.S. history that a publisher of truthful information has been indicted under the Espionage Act,” the lawmakers said. “The prosecution of Mr. Assange, if successful, not only sets a legal precedent whereby journalists or publishers can be prosecuted, but a political one as well.”

The Democrats urging Garland to drop the charges include Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI), Jamaal Bowman (NY), Cori Bush (MO), Greg Casar (TX), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Ilhan Omar (MN), and Ayanna Pressley (MA).

The lawmakers claimed that prosecuting Assange for carrying out "journalistic activities ... greatly diminishes America’s credibility as a defender of these values, and undermines the United States’ moral standing on the world stage."

Global and national news organizations have also urged the Department of Justice to drop the charges, among them the New York Times, the Guardian, El Pais, Le Monde, and Der Spiegel. Other freedom groups, including Amnesty International and the International Federation of Journalists, have also called for an end to the charges.

Assange is currently being held by the British government in a London prison. He has been there since 2019. He hid at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London from 2012 to 2019 before his arrest.

Centrist Democrats plotting fallback plan if Biden fails to strike debt deal

Ryan King

April 03, 08:36 AM April 03, 08:36 AM

A cohort of centrist House Democrats is reportedly in the early stages of hatching a contingency plan to muffle fallout from a debt ceiling negotiation breakdown.

For weeks, the band of Democrats has been molding plans for a deal with centrist House Republicans in the event that the country winds up on the precipice of default, riling both their progressive peers and the White House, which has sought a united front against the GOP, Politico reported.

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“You’ve got party leaders in both houses that don’t want us to talk to one another," one centrist Democrat said.

Specific details of the plan remain sparse, as it is still in its infancy, but the group of Democrats has met with centrist Republicans since February, per the report. They fear that the possible ramifications of blowing past the deadline to resolve the debt ceiling impasse could be dire.

Democratic leadership has sought a clean bill to raise the debt ceiling without making any concessions to Republicans and believes they have the advantage. Earlier this year, the White House was adamant there would be no negotiations with Republicans on the nation's borrowing authority, though President Joe Biden later met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

In January, the United States hit its $31.4 trillion debt limit, meaning it can no longer borrow additional money. However, Congress approved a budgeting package last year that relies on massive deficit spending. At the moment, the Treasury has been undertaking "extraordinary" measures to keep national payments going by moving money around for various accounts.

But those measures are projected to run out by June, according to the Treasury. The Congressional Budget Office is more optimistic and projects the Treasury will run dry on cash between July and September.

Members of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers that seeks to find common ground, have long signaled plans to try to concoct a solution to the stalemate. Further complicating these efforts is the fact that Congress has adjourned until April 17.

Biden unveiled a $6.9 trillion budget proposal last month seeking to increase pressure on Republicans. GOP leadership has so far been unable to produce a counterproposal, though members of the Freedom Caucus have outlined demands that the White House has dubbed a "five-alarm fire."

McCarthy, who wrote a letter to Biden last week demanding he step up, has insisted that a GOP budgeting plan is not needed to resolve the debt ceiling impasse. But Democrats see GOP complacency as an advantage.

“We’re gaining ground because of [House Republicans’] inability to put together a plan,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. “I’m certainly willing to entertain a mix of things on the budget. Not on the debt ceiling.”

In addition to sensing an advantage, Democratic leadership views granting concessions to McCarthy as emboldening him to strong-arm them with the debt ceiling in the future. They want the debt limit off the table.

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Should the two sides fail to broker an agreement, the U.S. runs the risk of default, which economists argue would ravage the economy.

Some solutions that have floated around include prioritizing spending so that the interest payment is always met regardless of whether the extraordinary measures run out. However, some Treasury Department officials have cast doubt on the ability to move money that way.

New 2024 headaches for House Democrats

David Mark

March 31, 07:00 AM March 31, 07:04 AM

Three months into the 118th Congress, seven House members are looking for promotions to the Senate. And in two cases, the candidates are causing political headaches for House Democrats, as the departure of battle-tested incumbents means their seats are now up for grabs.

Both are class of 2018 members, Reps. Katie Porter (D-CA) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), political foot soldiers in an army of House Democrats who that year beat incumbent Republicans and helped their party win House control midway through former President Donald Trump’s single White House term. Their 2024 Senate bids practically guarantee Democrats and allies will need to spend tens of millions of dollars to defend these House districts, in which Porter and Slotkin would otherwise have been the favorites to win again.

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It’s part of a broader 2024 battle for the House, where Republicans hold the House majority by a narrow 222-213 edge. Democrats are aiming to win back control of the chamber after a single two-year term, while in the Senate, Democrats are trying to hold on to their majority, currently at a slim 51-49 over Republicans.

Porter, in her effort to win statewide, is among three Democratic House members from California, along with Reps. Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee, seeking the Senate seat of retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D). Porter will leave behind a competitive Orange County House seat in California’s 47th Congressional District. Porter in 2022 won the coastal Orange County and Irvine district 51.7% to 48.3% over Republican Scott Baugh, an attorney and former GOP leader in the state Assembly.

Baugh is running again in a test of how blue traditionally Republican Orange County has turned. Under California’s top-two election system, Baugh is likely to make the November ballot. Democrats angling for a spot on the November ballot include state Sen. Dave Min, a onetime faculty colleague of Porter at University of California, Irvine’s law school, and former Rep. Harley Rouda, who in 2020 lost reelection after one term to GOP Rep. Michelle Steel in a different district whose boundaries no longer exist.

In Michigan, Slotkin is running for Senate to replace retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D). Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Defense Department official, largely has the Democratic Senate primary field to herself. But the House seat Slotkin is vacating, the Lansing area and northwestern Detroit exurbs 7th Congressional District, could flip to Republicans under the right political circumstances.

Slotkin has twice handily won reelection to the House. But the district in 2020 would have backed President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump only 49.4% to 48.9%. So far, the candidate fields on both sides are fluid.

For the other 2024 Senate candidates, their looming departures won’t mean party turnover. In California, Schiff's Los Angeles, Burbank, and Glendale district is solidly blue. So is the Oakland and Berkeley 12th District, which Lee is giving up to wage a Senate bid.

In Indiana, meanwhile, Rep. Jim Banks looks to have the Republican Senate primary field largely to himself, clearing a path for his likely succession of GOP Sen. Mike Braun, who is running for governor in 2024. The northeastern 3rd District, represented by Banks, is deeply Republican: In 2020, Trump would have beaten Biden there 63.9% to 34%. So, the House Republican primary to replace Banks is really the only contest that matters.

It’s a similar theme in the eastern and northern West Virginia 2nd District with Rep. Alex Mooney (R) running for Senate. The district in 2020 would have backed Trump over Biden by more than a 2-to-1 margin, so the real prize is the GOP nomination, which several prominent Republicans are seeking.

And out west in Arizona, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is running for Senate against Democratic-turned-independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Gallego, representing the downtown and western Phoenix 3rd District, has a liberal voting record and is an outspoken Trump critic trying to position himself more toward the center in his statewide bid. Yet Gallego is vacating one of the most Democratic districts in the nation, with a Latino majority, meaning the primary contest is key in deciding who succeeds Gallego in the House.

AOC cries 'fascism' as Republicans advance parents bill of rights

Jeremiah Poff

March 23, 05:04 PM March 23, 05:04 PM

House Democrats took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday to denounce a GOP bill on parental rights, saying the bill was fascist and would lead to book bans.

In a series of floor speeches on Thursday afternoon, House Democrats accused their Republican colleagues of wanting to ban books and prevent children from learning about the holocaust and gay and transgender issues as the House began a heated floor debate on HR 5, the Parents Bill of Rights.

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The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA), would require all public school districts to disclose their curriculum materials to parents, mandate parental consent for participation in student surveys, and prohibit schools from selling student information "for commercial or financial gain." The legislation is one of the top priorities of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and was introduced as HR 5 to commemorate the age of students when they begin kindergarten.

"Extreme MAGA Republicans don't want the children of America to learn about the Holocaust," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said on the House floor. "They want to ban a book called Melissa, a book describing in very personal terms the experience of a trans girl beginning to understand her identity ... What's so offensive about Melissa?... Extreme MAGA Republicans don't want your child to learn about the LGBTQ+ experience in America. That's not a decision that extreme MAGA Republicans here in Congress should make."

Liberal firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) likewise blasted Republicans, saying that people wanted the party to "keep culture wars out of classrooms."

"Our children need urgent and aggressive educational solutions," the congresswoman said. "When we talk about progressive values, I can say what my progressive value is, and that is freedom over fascism."

The House is set to begin voting on a number of amendments on Thursday evening. Final passage of the bill is expected on Friday.

Democrats furious with Biden over DC crime bill won't pull support for reelection bid

Cami Mondeaux

March 04, 09:30 AM March 04, 09:30 AM

House Democrats from all corners of the party are rallying behind President Joe Biden ahead of his expected reelection bid, offering him support despite rising tensions stemming from Biden’s decision not to block a GOP-led resolution overturning and overhauling Washington’s century-old criminal code.

Party members in the House have expressed support for Biden’s likely reelection campaign, with many arguing he is the best chance for Democrats to maintain control of the White House in 2024.

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“I do think he should run; I think he will win,” Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), the No. 3 House Democrat, said during a Punchbowl News event in Baltimore this week. “Time and time again, you know, he was able to deliver with House Democrats, with Senate Democrats, and so I think that he can and should run.”

Aguilar touted some of Biden’s accomplishments during his first two years in office, such as the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in 2021, which has become a key tenet of the president’s legislative agenda. Should Biden launch a second White House bid, he would have the support of the House Democratic Caucus, Aguilar added.

Other Democrats pointed to Biden’s performance in the 2020 election, arguing the voter base he attracted would “come back even stronger in 2024.”

“In those 18 districts that are held by Biden Republicans, he’s the best in terms of his message and how he approaches this,” said Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), according to the Hill.

It’s unclear when Biden plans to announce his reelection campaign, although it’s widely expected to happen sometime in April. However, some Democrats are pushing the president to do it sooner, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who leads the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Jayapal’s support comes even after she endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in the 2020 election when he ran against Biden for the nomination.

“Nobody’s surprised that Biden was not my choice in the first election for the primary,” Jayapal said during the Baltimore retreat this week. “But the [Progressive Caucus] and the president and his administration have formed an incredibly strong partnership.”

House Democrats are likely to stand firm in their support for the president even after Biden announced earlier this week he would not veto a Republican-led bill seeking to overturn Washington’s revised criminal code — a decision that blindsided and angered several party lawmakers who voted against the measure. The legislation is poised to pass the Senate next week, and without Biden’s veto, it sets the stage for Congress to override local legislation passed by the D.C. Council for the first time in 30 years.

Democrats accused Biden of walking back his previous stance on the issue, pointing to comments the White House made last month that the president opposed the resolution seeking to overturn the criminal code. Biden didn’t tell lawmakers he planned to sign the GOP-led measure until weeks after it passed the House.

“This ain’t it. DC has a right to govern itself, like any other state or municipality. If the President supports DC statehood, he should govern like it,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “Plenty of places pass laws the President may disagree with. He should respect the people’s gov of DC just as he does elsewhere.”

At least two Democratic senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Patty Murray of Washington, said they would vote to overturn the criminal code. That all but guarantees its passage in the upper chamber, where Democrats have temporarily lost their outright majority with the absences of Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Both are currently out of office due to health problems.

Pelosi mocked for wishing 'Happy Shwanza' in final speech as House speaker

Heather Hunter

December 24, 05:11 PM December 24, 05:24 PM

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) used her final remarks as speaker to wish everyone a "Happy Shwanza" following the passing of the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill.

The soon-to-be former speaker closed the 2022 session of Congress by sharing holiday greetings, including incorrectly pronouncing the African American holiday Kwanzaa, an annual celebration held from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

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"I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe New Year. Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas. Happy Shwanza. Happy Hanukah," said Pelosi on the House floor. "Whatever it is you celebrate, be safe."

This gaffe prompted social media users to mock Pelosi by wishing others to have a "happy Shwanza." Others joked that she had already started drinking for the holidays.

WHD News personality Jimmy Failla said that it "might be safer to let Paul drive home from the Christmas Party this year."

Human Events Managing Editor Celine Ciccio asked her Twitter followers, "What are you doing for Schwanza this year???"

Another social media user asked what kind of food is appropriate to make for Schwanza. One woman reminded Pelosi that a "schwanz" is another way of describing someone as a jerk.

'Irresponsible and catastrophic': Democratic leader hammers Kevin McCarthy over omnibus opposition

Ryan King

December 21, 05:41 PM December 21, 05:41 PM

Outgoing House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) ripped into Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for working to scuttle the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill being considered in Congress.

Hoyer warned that if the measure fails to clear Congress and avert a government shutdown by Friday at midnight, the consequences would be "catastrophic." Seemingly unfazed by the alleged risks, McCarthy has vehemently opposed the bill and threatened to torpedo legislation from Senate Republicans who back it.

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"I don't know what Mr. McCarthy is doing on the deadline. I choose to believe that he understands how irresponsible and catastrophic it will be. He's in a difficult position right now," Hoyer contended, according to a WHD News producer. "The ramifications of playing games with the deadline, and even if ultimately you approve it, the ramifications leading up to the uncertainty that is creating are damaging."

Under pressure from his conservative flank, McCarthy has called for a stop-gap measure to avert a government shutdown so that Republicans can negotiate a longer-term solution after they retake the House in January. Notably, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, did not participate in negotiations for the omnibus, unlike her Republican counterpart in the Senate.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voted to advance the bipartisan bill along with almost two dozen Republican senators. Some GOP senators such as Kevin Cramer (R-ND) have publicly cast doubt on the ability of their colleagues in the House to get a funding bill through after the January takeover, given the chaotic nature of McCarthy's quest for the speaker's gavel.

"Hopefully, the Senate can move it back tonight. It will save the Senate, which has difficulty in getting things done because ... their rules allow very small numbers up to individual members to slow things down," Hoyer added.

Democratic leaders in the House, including Hoyer and outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), have courted their fellow Democrats to coalesce behind the bill, underscoring increased domestic spending and a handful of liberal wins.

The bill had been negotiated by Senate appropriators Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), as well as Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), who leads the House Appropriations Committee. Both Hoyer and Pelosi are set to remain in the new Congress despite stepping down from their leadership perches.

Pelosi appoints Rep. Susan Wild to chair Household Ethics Committee

Juliegrace Brufke

September 30, 03:44 PM September 30, 03:44 PM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced on Friday that she has tapped Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA) to provide as the new chairwoman of the House Ethics Committee in the wake of Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) resigning from his seat prior to the end of his time period.

The California Democrat touted Wild’s skills for the position, declaring she will perform a critical function in main the bipartisan panel tasked with offering advice and coaching on ethics rules for customers and personnel and overseeing investigations into allegations of violations.

“As Speaker, it is my privilege to appoint Congresswoman Susan Wild to provide as Chair of the Property Ethics Committee. As she takes her spot at the helm of this essential instrument of great authorities, Congresswoman Wild provides a revered track record for bipartisanship, a passionate belief in the higher ethical standards of elected business office and an unwavering devotion to upholding the general public interest over all else,” Pelosi explained in a assertion.

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“The daughter of a journalist and an Air Power officer, Congresswoman Wild’s devotion to general public company is in her DNA — and she will wield her gavel with the profound humility and reverence that it calls for," Pelosi additional. "Considering the fact that working day one, our House Democratic Vast majority has been a force For The Folks. Congresswoman Wild will be a critical companion in our ongoing work to honor equally the sanctity of the establishment we serve and the have faith in placed in us by our constituents.”

Pelosi went on to praise the tenure of Deutch, who announced earlier this yr he planned to step down from Congress to turn out to be the CEO of the American Jewish Committee.

“House Democrats are deeply grateful for the potent management of outgoing Chairman Ted Deutch, who served in this put up with difference. We want him, his wife Jill and their 3 kids greatest needs as they get ready to start off a new chapter,” Pelosi claimed.

Deutch's remaining working day in the Home was Sept. 30.