House GOP eyes exit over Epstein meltdown
Summer break might come early for the House, as Speaker Mike Johnson faces a Jeffrey Epstein problem that just won't quit.
Republican leaders are considering sending the House home as early as Wednesday, after a bipartisan clash over the so-called Epstein files broke the Rules Committee Monday night, Meredith Lee Hill reports. Rules recessed after Democrats threatened to force a vote on Epstein — a move that is now derailing floor action planned for this week.
Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Monday night the plan is still to stay until Thursday. The House can still work through suspension votes on relatively uncontroversial, bipartisan measures that can get two-thirds support from members.
'We're not sending anybody home,' Johnson said.
It's making for an awkward megabill celebration tonight at the White House, where Trump is planning to host Republican lawmakers.
GOP leaders have an understanding with the White House that the House will not vote on releasing further Epstein documents before the August recess.
'The Trump administration's petitioned the courts to release some of the sealed documents,' Scalise said in an interview. 'Hopefully, the court acts swiftly. It'd be important if they got that out.'
Rep. Thomas Massie, who has a discharge petition that would require the release of Epstein-related documents, is undeterred and warning that support for his effort will only be bigger when Congress returns in September. He says at least a dozen Republicans support his proposal – and he appears to have the backing of Theo Von as well.
GOOD TUESDAY MORNING. Only two days left of the Longworth Dunkin'. Email your Inside Congress crew at mmccarthy@politico.com, crazor@politico.com and bguggenheim@politico.com. Follow our live coverage at politico.com/congress.
WHAT WE'RE WATCHINGWith help from Jordan Williams
The House will vote on the Wabeno Economic Development Act and Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025 at 4:30 p.m.
The Senate will vote to confirm Terry Cole to be administrator of the DEA and Joshua Divine and Cristian Stevens to be U.S. district judges at 11 a.m.
The Senate will hold its first procedural vote on Emil Bove's nomination for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals and vote to end debate on the fiscal 2026 Military Construction-VA Appropriations bill at 2:15 p.m.
— House Republican and Democratic leaders will hold their weekly conference meetings at 9 a.m. and their weekly news conferences at 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., respectively.
— House Appropriations will mark up the fiscal 2026 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill at 10:30 a.m.
— Senate Republican and Democratic leaders will hold their weekly caucus lunches at 12:30 p.m. and their weekly briefings at 2 p.m.
Pro subscribers receive this newsletter with a full congressional schedule and can browse our comprehensive calendar of markups, hearings and other notable events around Washington. Sign up for a demo.
THE LEADERSHIP SUITE
Schumer readies Democrats for funding fights
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is beginning to organize Democrats around a looming government funding battle, after he received intense criticism from the party's base for helping advance a GOP stop-gap measure in March.
Schumer will talk today with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss the funding endgame strategy, three people granted anonymity told Jordain Carney, Nicholas Wu and Jennifer Scholtes.
As Jordain reports in a new piece this morning, Schumer has been holding active, behind-the-scenes discussions and keeping in close touch with Democrats on the Appropriations Committee. He's in 'listening mode,' says Sen. Jack Reed, an appropriator.
Democrats haven't yet landed on their formal demand for Senate Republicans, who need their votes to advance a government funding bill.
Garbarino wins House Homeland Security gavel
Rep. Andrew Garbarino will be the new chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, after the Republican steering committee approved him after two ballots Monday night, Mia reports.
The New York Republican beat out Reps. Michael Guest, Carlos Giménez and Clay Higgins for the gavel. Previous chair Mark Green announced his retirement earlier this year and officially resigned from Congress on Monday.
Garbarino, who focused his pitch on his background in cybersecurity policy, is likely to make the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency a top priority for the panel. Garbarino is currently the chair of the cybersecurity and infrastructure protection subcommittee and will lead one of its hearings today.
POLICY RUNDOWN
CURTIS 'NOT YET SATISFIED' ON CLEAN ENERGY ORDER — Sen. John Curtis, who pushed to soften clean-energy rollbacks in the GOP megabill, says he's not yet satisfied with conversations he's had with the Treasury Department about the administration's recent executive order to sunset clean energy credits.
Curtis said in an interview Monday that he would have concerns if Treasury's 'intent is to change the IRS regulations.'
FINAL SCORE FOR GOP MEGABILL — CBO says in a new estimate that the GOP megabill will add $3.4 trillion to the federal deficit and lead to 10 million people losing their health insurance.
Best of POLITICO Pro and E&E:
CAMPAIGN STOP
MIKE COLLINS INCHES TOWARD SENATE RUN — GOP Rep. Mike Collins posted a video on X Monday hinting at a potential 2026 run for Georgia's Senate seat against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.
A person familiar with the Collins campaign told Gregory Svirnovskiy Monday that Collins is likely to officially announce a run soon. He would join Republican Rep. Buddy Carter and Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King in the race.
NORMAN FOR GOVERNOR? — Rep. Ralph Norman plans to announce Sunday whether he will run for governor of South Carolina, he told Jordain.
Norman, 72, has represented South Carolina's 5th District since 2017. Should he decide to launch a gubernatorial bid, he'd join longtime state Attorney General Alan Wilson and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell in the Republican primary.
TEXAS REPUBLICANS AVOID REDISTRICTING TALKS, FOR NOW — House Republicans in the Texas delegation say they're trying to stay out of a new push to redraw the state's congressional map, an initiative that the Texas legislature will take on in a special session convening today.
'I haven't made one phone call or email on the new maps,' Rep. Pete Sessions told Calen Monday. 'I think members will stay out of it. At least until we see the plan.'
Texas Reps. Michael Cloud and Tony Gonzalez also said they weren't trying to influence the plan. Rep. Brandon Gill declined to comment on it.
Republicans hope the redrawing could eke out as many as five new GOP seats, but it also risks potentially helping Democrats in some areas.
THE BEST OF THE REST
Capitol Tea: Thune's Missouri River tunes, from David Sivak at the Washington Examiner
Lawmakers want US tech CEOs to address concerns about submarine cables, from David Shepardson at Reuters
CAPITOL HILL INFLUENCE
Pierre Whatley, a former Democratic Hill aide who's now a principal at the lobbying firm FS Vector, is planning to enter the crowded Democratic primary to unseat Georgia Rep. David Scott, POLITICO Influence reports. Whatley filed paperwork over the weekend to run for the seat and will officially launch his campaign today.
JOB BOARD
Emma Simon is now digital director for House Agriculture Committee Democrats. She most recently was a content producer for former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and is a Jamaal Bowman and More Perfect Union alum.
Kallisti Mandanis is now press secretary for Rep. Ron Estes. She most recently was staff assistant/press assistant for Estes.
Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have made some staff moves, POLITICO's NatSec Daily reports. Amy English has been promoted to deputy staff director. She was previously Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's foreign policy adviser and worked at the British Embassy. Megan Bartley took over as chief counsel earlier this year.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Reps. John Larson, Robert Aderholt (6-0) and Seth Magaziner … former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison … Andrew Feinberg … The Boston Globe's Sam Brodey … Erin Maguire … Caleb Smith … Port Side Strategies' Will Fischer … Annie Lowrey … CNN's Terence Burlij … National Association of Counties' Seamus Dowdall … John Shelton of Advancing American Freedom … Whitney VanMeter … former Reps. George Santos, Mike Ferguson and Curt Weldon … Soren Dayton … Arshi Siddiqui of Bellwether Government Affairs … Nathan Naylor … Joy Lee … Ben Leubsdorf
TRIVIA
MONDAY'S ANSWER: Andrew Stahovec correctly answered that Rep. Heath Shuler was a first-round draft pick of Washington's football team back when they were the Redskins.
TODAY'S QUESTION, from Andrew: Who is the only U.S. president who was born on the Fourth of July?
The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Inside Congress. Send your answers to insidecongress@politico.com.
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San Francisco Chronicle
10 minutes ago
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Texas and California joust for political advantage, with Trump power and US House majority in play
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The nation's two most populous states — California and Texas — grappled for political advantage in advance of 2026 elections that could reorder the balance of power in Washington and threaten President Donald Trump's agenda at the midpoint of his second term. In Texas, Democrats on Monday prevented their state's House of Representatives from moving forward, at least for now, with a redrawn congressional map sought by Trump to shore up Republicans' 2026 midterm prospects as his political standing falters. In California, Democrats encouraged by Gov. Gavin Newsom are considering new political maps that could slash five Republican-held House seats in the liberal-leaning state while bolstering Democratic incumbents in other battleground districts. The move is intended to undercut any GOP gains in Texas, potentially swinging House control and giving Democrats a counterweight to Trump on Capitol Hill. A draft plan aims to boost the Democratic margin in California to 48 of 52 congressional seats, according to a source familiar with the plan who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. That's up from the 43 seats the party now holds. It would need approval from lawmakers and voters, who may be skeptical to give it after handing redistricting power to an independent commission years ago. The rivalry puts a spotlight on two states that for years have dueled over jobs, innovation, prestige — even sports — with the backdrop of clashing political visions — one progressive, one conservative. A standoff in Texas after Democrats leave the state After dozens of Democrats left Texas, the Republican-dominated House was unable to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has made threats about removing members who are absent from their seats. Democrats counter that Abbott is using 'smoke and mirrors' to assert legal authority he does not have. The House quickly issued civil arrest warrants for absent Democrats and Abbott ordered state troopers to help find and arrest them, but lawmakers physically outside Texas are beyond the jurisdiction of state authorities. 'If you continue to go down this road, there will be consequences," House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows said from the chamber floor, later telling reporters that includes fines. Democrats' revolt and Abbott's threats intensified a fight over congressional maps that began in Texas but now includes Democratic governors who have pitched redrawing their district maps in retaliation — even if their options are limited. The dispute also reflects Trump's aggressive view of presidential power and his grip on the Republican Party nationally, while testing the longstanding balance of powers between the federal government and individual states. The impasse centers on Trump's effort to get five more GOP-leaning congressional seats in Texas, at Democrats' expense, before the midterms. That would bolster his party's chances of preserving its fragile U.S. House majority, something Republicans were unable to do in the 2018 midterms during Trump's first presidency. Republicans currently hold 25 of Texas' 38 seats. That's nearly a 2-to-1 advantage and already a wider partisan gap than the 2024 presidential results: Trump won 56.1% of Texas ballots, while Democrat Kamala Harris received 42.5%. The California pushback: A move to undercut GOP House members According to the tentative California proposal, districts now held by Republican Reps. Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Kevin Kiley, David Valadao and Doug LaMalfa would see right-leaning voters shaved and Democratic voters boosted in a shift that would make it likely a left-leaning candidate would prevail in each race. In battleground districts held by Democratic Reps. Dave Min, Mike Levin and Derek Tran, the party's edge would be boosted to strengthen their hold on the seats, the source said. Democratic members of California's congressional delegation were briefed on the new map on Monday, according to a person familiar with the meeting who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations. The proposal is being circulated at the same time that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he wants to advance partisan redistricting. He says he won't move ahead if Texas pauses its efforts. Newsom said he'd call a special election for the first week of November. Voters would weigh a new congressional map drawn by the Democratic-controlled Legislature. 'California will not sit by idly and watch this democracy waste away,' Newsom said Monday. More than 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) from Austin, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appeared with Texas Democrats and argued their cause is national. 'We're not going to tolerate our democracy being stolen in a modern-day stagecoach heist by a bunch of law-breaking cowboys,' Hochul said Monday. 'If Republicans are willing to rewrite rules to give themselves an advantage, then they're leaving us with no choice: We must do the same. You have to fight fire with fire.' Status of the vote In Texas, legislators who left the state declined to say how long they'll hold out. 'We recognized when we got on the plane that we're in this for the long haul,' said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer while in Illinois. Texas House Democratic Caucus leader Gene Wu said members 'will do whatever it takes' but added, 'What that looks like, we don't know.' Legislative walkouts often only delay passage of a bill, like in 2021, when many Democrats left Texas for 38 days to protest proposed voting restrictions. Once they returned, Republicans passed that measure. Lawmakers cannot pass bills in the 150-member House without two-thirds of members present. Democrats hold 62 seats in the majority-Republican chamber, and at least 51 left the state, according to a Democratic aide. The Texas Supreme Court held in 2021 that House leaders could 'physically compel the attendance' of missing members, but no Democrats were forcibly brought back to the state after warrants were served. Republicans answered by adopting $500 daily fines for lawmakers who don't show. Abbott, meanwhile, continues to make unsubstantiated claims that some lawmakers have committed felonies by soliciting money to pay for potential fines for leaving Texas during the session.
New York Post
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Cory Booker refuses to endorse Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor— while blasting ‘defund the police' movement
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Boston Globe
10 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Texas and California joust for political advantage, with Trump power and US House majority in play
Advertisement A draft plan aims to boost the Democratic margin in California to 48 of 52 congressional seats, according to a source familiar with the plan who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. That's up from the 43 seats the party now holds. It would need approval from lawmakers and voters, who may be skeptical to give it after handing redistricting power to an independent commission years ago. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The rivalry puts a spotlight on two states that for years have dueled over jobs, innovation, prestige — even sports — with the backdrop of clashing political visions — one progressive, one conservative. A standoff in Texas after Democrats leave the state After dozens of Democrats left Texas, the Republican-dominated House was unable to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has made threats about removing members who are absent from their seats. Democrats counter that Abbott is using 'smoke and mirrors' to assert legal authority he does not have. Advertisement The House quickly issued civil arrest warrants for absent Democrats and Abbott ordered state troopers to help find and arrest them, but lawmakers physically outside Texas are beyond the jurisdiction of state authorities. 'If you continue to go down this road, there will be consequences,' House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows said from the chamber floor, later telling reporters that includes fines. Democrats' revolt and Abbott's threats intensified a fight over congressional maps that began in Texas but now includes Democratic governors who have pitched redrawing their district maps in retaliation — even if their options are limited. The dispute also reflects Trump's aggressive view of presidential power and his grip on the Republican Party nationally, while testing the longstanding balance of powers between the federal government and individual states. The impasse centers on Trump's effort to get five more GOP-leaning congressional seats in Texas, at Democrats' expense, before the midterms. That would bolster his party's chances of preserving its fragile U.S. House majority, something Republicans were unable to do in the 2018 midterms during Trump's first presidency. Republicans currently hold 25 of Texas' 38 seats. That's nearly a 2-to-1 advantage and already a wider partisan gap than the 2024 presidential results: Trump won 56.1% of Texas ballots, while Democrat Kamala Harris received 42.5%. The California pushback: A move to undercut GOP House members According to the tentative California proposal, districts now held by Republican Reps. Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Kevin Kiley, David Valadao and Doug LaMalfa would see right-leaning voters shaved and Democratic voters boosted in a shift that would make it likely a left-leaning candidate would prevail in each race. Advertisement In battleground districts held by Democratic Reps. Dave Min, Mike Levin and Derek Tran, the party's edge would be boosted to strengthen their hold on the seats, the source said. Democratic members of California's congressional delegation were briefed on the new map on Monday, according to a person familiar with the meeting who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations. The proposal is being circulated at the same time that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he wants to advance partisan redistricting. He says he won't move ahead if Texas pauses its efforts. Newsom said he'd call a special election for the first week of November. Voters would weigh a new congressional map drawn by the Democratic-controlled Legislature. 'California will not sit by idly and watch this democracy waste away,' Newsom said Monday. More than 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) from Austin, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appeared with Texas Democrats and argued their cause is national. 'We're not going to tolerate our democracy being stolen in a modern-day stagecoach heist by a bunch of law-breaking cowboys,' Hochul said Monday. 'If Republicans are willing to rewrite rules to give themselves an advantage, then they're leaving us with no choice: We must do the same. You have to fight fire with fire.' Status of the vote In Texas, legislators who left the state declined to say how long they'll hold out. 'We recognized when we got on the plane that we're in this for the long haul,' said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer while in Illinois. Texas House Democratic Caucus leader Gene Wu said members 'will do whatever it takes' but added, 'What that looks like, we don't know.' Advertisement Legislative walkouts often only delay passage of a bill, like in 2021, when many Democrats left Texas for 38 days to protest proposed voting restrictions. Once they returned, Republicans passed that measure. Lawmakers cannot pass bills in the 150-member House without two-thirds of members present. Democrats hold 62 seats in the majority-Republican chamber, and at least 51 left the state, according to a Democratic aide. The Texas Supreme Court held in 2021 that House leaders could 'physically compel the attendance' of missing members, but no Democrats were forcibly brought back to the state after warrants were served. Republicans answered by adopting $500 daily fines for lawmakers who don't show. Abbott, meanwhile, continues to make unsubstantiated claims that some lawmakers have committed felonies by soliciting money to pay for potential fines for leaving Texas during the session. Barrow reported from Atlanta. Blood reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti in Washington, John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, and Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas, also contributed to this report.
