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02/16/2017 07:59 AM EDT


By Heather Caygle (hcaygle@politico.com or @heatherscope)

WILL REPUBLICANS INVESTIGATE TRUMP? Democrats' amped-up calls for an independent investigation into President Trump's ties to Russia are being summarily dismissed by Republican leaders. Instead, Republicans say, any investigation into Trump associates' frequent contact with the Kremlin during the campaign and Michael Flynn's secret sanctions talk will be wrapped into a larger probe into Russia's meddling in the U.S. election. "I can tell you there is absolutely not going to be [a select committee]," House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes said in an interview, accusing Democrats of playing politics, Bres and Rachael report.

But Democratic leaders say the issue should transcend politics. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer even called for two independent investigations: one by Congress and the other by the executive branch, with Attorney General Jeff Sessions recusing himself. "They're stonewalling this," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday of GOP leaders' refusal to back an independent probe. "The American people deserve better."

Just don't expect any big Hill investigation to go public soon. GOP leaders insist the House and Senate intel committees have been investigating Russian meddling for weeks (this came after a bipartisan group of senators pushed for a select committee and were shot down). But Senate Intel Chairman Richard Burr on Wednesday declined to offer a timetable for a hearing, saying committee staff started reviewing documents for its Russia probe last week. "The committee has yet to reach out to Flynn, Burr added, but said it's 'very likely' Flynn will be invited to testify," report Kyle, Elana and Seung Min. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6cff571b3ae6c78a7118632577c786998cfd5d3f0d72b7458659acaac66fd449744142bc1b2768344960173fdd5a0204

Nothing to see here: House Republicans do seem intent on getting to the bottom of who leaked the classified information that led to Flynn's firing in the first place. House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz and House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte sent a Wednesday night letter to DOJ's top watchdog requesting an investigation into the source of the leaks. Goodlatte, meanwhile, beat back more than a dozen Democratic amendments related to the Russia investigation, Trump's debunked claims of voter fraud, his potential conflicts of interest and his immigration policies when the committee met Wednesday to approve its oversight plan for this Congress.

Related: Kyle and Darren Samuelsohn take a deep dive into Chaffetz' delicate balancing act as Oversight chairman in the Trump era: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6cff571b3ae6c78a52065fb21bc1c9bb069312f8e7d73c2293fe56af058118c9ebc5baee1f258bc2f18c90d5edec28b3

SO WHY WON'T REPUBLICANS PLAY BALL? Let Seung Min, Burgess and Rachael explain: "Republicans are betting that the [Russia] story won't gain much traction outside the Beltway bubble. Their calculation: If they antagonize the administration with a flashy probe, they can kiss their own legislative to-do list goodbye. Trump is, after all, their only shot at getting Obamacare repealed and enacting tax reform - priorities they've campaigned on for years but have been unable to move," they report. "If he's a success; we're a success. So a circular firing squad won't help us," said one House Republican source who asked not to be named. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6cff571b3ae6c78ac968dcb3251f367481afb46b971d87524b94cdd72c0eefe0348021e06440ac3d7091dd5e7b8465af

TOP TRUMPERS HEAD TO WH - Capitol Hill's earliest Trump backers will head to the White House this morning for a little love from the president, Rachael reports. House Trump caucus chief Chris Collins organized the meeting last week. Other attendees include Lou Barletta, Tom Marino, Billy Long, Kevin Cramer, Mike Kelly, Scott DesJarlais, Tom Reed and Duncan Hunter.

HOW PUZDER FELL - Labor secretary nominee Andrew Puzder officially dropped out Wednesday after it became clear he didn't have the GOP support in the Senate to win confirmation. Puzder was scheduled to have his confirmation hearing today but several shocking allegations, including a video of his ex-wife leveling abuse claims against him on Oprah in 1990, sank his nomination before he even sat for questioning. Puzder also never had the full backing of key White House advisers Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, who thought he was too soft on immigration. Tim Noah with the deep dive: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=6cff571b3ae6c78af16ee3e9094bfd1cef830f50088f8edce475a99805f6a69ca22fc2c996dd1e2caa5b50cd068adde0

-And don't miss Marianne Levine's tale of just how she got her hands on the Oprah tape: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef797215d45002af646bf5afd780e89181f9c3946bd4cba0652a9be968d9b7e85d28153d48d00c91537d3b6

** A message from Susan B. Anthony List: Congress will soon consider re-directing taxpayer funding away from Planned Parenthood and to community health centers, which outnumber Planned Parenthood 20:1 nationwide. These centers provide comprehensive health care for women but do not perform abortions or harvest fetal body parts. Polling shows the majority of Americans support this effort. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef7972175f13f2e8858f8a7aabaf8a300518f2babe76c1d987bbf970ef2210eda7e501de701a92cf4af0b2c **

COOL IT WITH THE TWEETS, MAN - The normally reserved Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said about Trump what every other Republican lawmaker is thinking: "It would be, I think, easier for us to succeed were there fewer daily tweets," he told the Wall Street Journal. McConnell also told the Journal he doesn't see the need to vote on bipartisan legislation to prevent Trump from easing sanctions on Russia. (House Speaker Paul Ryan has said he would support codifying the sanctions if they were "watered down" by Trump.) More from Siobhan Hughes, Byron Tau and Kristina Peterson: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef7972132e03e60cf1a83df8873929acb32530aa25c9188b5c4a49a8718cbc2dd710d3cb79e538e3a8ff9cf

TAKING ON THURSDAY, Feb. 16. Thanks for reading POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill.

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The New York Times story on Trump campaign contact with Russian intelligence officials.

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The House meets at 10 a.m. with first and last votes around 2 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef797217a1bfee7ff4978b6071fb97f09937790aa91da6497c7537ee96698b967da7f035377f0d3396432e3 The Senate meets at 10 a.m. will a confirmation vote on Mick Mulvaney's OMB nomination at 10:30 a.m. and a procedural vote related to Scott Pruitt's EPA nomination shortly after.

AROUND THE HILL - House GOP Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers holds a press conference on federal regulations at 8:30 a.m. in HVC Studio A. Sens. Chris Coons and Thom Tillis participate in a discussion with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation on workforce retraining at 10 a.m. in 385-Russell. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A. Rep. Marc Veasey hosts a discussion on opportunities for African Americans in the energy sector at 11 a.m. in 121-Cannon.

House Speaker Paul Ryan holds his weekly press briefing at 11:30 a.m. in HVC Studio A. Reps. Walter Jones, Seth Moulton and Rep. Ruben Gallego hold a press conference on clearing the names of marines involved in a 2007 firefight starting at 11:30 a.m. in the House triangle. House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry holds his weekly press gaggle at 1:30 p.m. in 2216-Rayburn. Senate EPW ranking member Tom Carper holds a press conference on EPA nominee Scott Pruitt at 12 p.m. in the Senate studio.

Sen. Bob Casey meets with SCOTUS nominee Neil Gorsuch at 12 p.m. in Russell-393. Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Earl Blumenauer, Don Young and Jared Polis launch the Cannabis Caucus at a 2 p.m. press conference in HVC Studio A. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden and Reps. Peter DeFazio, Jan Schakowsky and Raul Grijalva hold a 2 p.m. press conference on millionaires and social security in 106-Dirksen.

TAKE TWO? House lawmakers will sit down with acting ICE Director Thomas Homan today about the recent wave of raids Democrats fear is just the start of "mass deportations" of undocumented immigrants. Several Democrats including Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham were still fuming Wednesday after Homan abruptly canceled a planned meeting the day before, saying it wasn't bipartisan enough. "We're going to get the facts, we're going to get the answers and we're going to fight for our communities," Lujan Grisham said Wednesday.

CANDID CAMERA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a few snaps from his trip to Capitol Hill Wednesday, including one pretty great pic of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy guffawing while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi looks on. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef7972108c4566f500dc3fed72ff36c7cdee94a75f133684374fef27d1a662fe539d501b1322e42fa72d7f2

McCAIN IS NO MULVANEY FAN - GOP Sen. John McCain will vote against Rep. Mick Mulvaney's nomination to lead OMB today. McCain, an unabashed defense hawk, had been leaning towards "no" for weeks given Mulvaney's push to slash military spending during his time in the House. Mulvaney is expected to be confirmed. Jen Scholtes and SMK: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef7972129d33b59299942dbc043ecad7dd5396ba63594d3109ee34a93c569ec956589cf8fc90833953ca702

A CAPITOL HILL LOVE FEST - Ashton Kutcher was on the Hill Wednesday to talk about a very serious issue: how to combat sex trafficking using technology. But senators (and Bres) couldn't help but gush a little over Kutcher's dreaminess. ABC has a hilarious gif of Kutcher blowing McCain a kiss after the Arizona senator told him "you were better looking in the movies." See the gif: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef797213b907fc67391d2af1eba38126552aadf7c1c1dc9cdd2246e4a35c8525d851ee8ae2c7c8d34e24437 And you know Sen. Chuck Grassley had to post an Insta snap with the fellow Iowan: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef7972129c96f4481e8015ac3597ecc8201fa53eb6bccbc7b871ac91f1a53cc8842d3cc704f64f111555c7e Roll Call's Alex Gangitano has more on Kutcher's Capitol Hill lovefest: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef79721c4bae7f99198796d169968089269c555ab14b000a2c53469492f9d0280bdb85d5463ddee36feb72c

MUST SEE TV - Freshman Sen. Kamala Harris will deliver her official maiden speech on the Senate floor today around 4:15 p.m. The former California attorney general is expected to touch on immigrants' contributions the U.S. She'll also ding Trump's recent immigration policies as a threat to public safety and national security. Harris previously spoke on the floor in opposition to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

SENATE ROLLS BACK GUN LAW FOR MENTALLY ILL - "The Republican-led Senate has voted to block an Obama-era regulation that would prevent an estimated 75,000 people with mental disorders from being able to purchase a firearm." The bill now goes to President Trump's desk. The AP with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef797218741e91594f978542f5a56f25854144f5ddbce61e44b7b8fbeed45d397492745c42ae0c89bf52361

'JUST BE GRATEFUL' - Utah Rep. Mia Love has found a work around for those rowdy town halls her GOP colleagues, including fellow Utahan Rep. Jason Chaffetz, have been confronting: she just won't hold any. Constituents have been told by her office she will meet with people in small groups, with no media or recording devices allowed. "She said, we're throwing you a bone, you should just take it," Terry Mitchell, a constituent, told KUTV, adding that Love's district director said, "most people would just be grateful that they even get to meet Mia Love." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef797210b28b6df039d38b3b7735afb1198bb197fd9cabd9d6a898dc0d6d4bb3b43b17ec542d22f4dbf50e0

FOR YOUR RADAR: Democrats are planning massive anti-Trump protests on Tax Day (April 15), Gabriel Debenedetti reports: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef79721f3102bf3a278a8f17548c309d31d2a9165a345a1eb6b98174425ddb9067426664f1ca5fc314478da

CAN'T STOP TROLLING - House Republicans' campaign arm just can't stop poking freshman Rep. Charlie Crist, this time for his "day drinking." Following reports that Crist was spotted enjoying a screwdriver on a flight between Tampa to DC, the NRCC sent Crist a gift basket that includes Finlandia vodka and Florida OJ. As Tampa Bay Times' Adam Smith points out, the timing was a little serendipitous since Crist held a D.C. fundraiser Wednesday called "Cocktails with Charlie." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef7972180aebb07e685d8867fe19256c28e43a7ee2cc60cabb375eca8b93c1aa3993acdfff6c8a1faf1ab4e

MOVERS AND SHAKERS - Brad Grantz is being promoted to legislative director for Sen. Pat Toomey. And Theo Merkel will take over as Toomey's staff director for the Senate Finance subcommittee on health care.

WEDNESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Logan Ferree was the first to guess that former Rep. Allyson Schwartz beat Apprentice contestant Raj Bhakta for the PA-13 seat in 2006.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Logan with today's question: This lawmaker sponsored a resolution to form a special committee to investigate un-American activities in the United States, a predecessor of HUAC, but was actually getting paid by a foreign spy agency and helping sell passports and secure US citizenship. Name this person.

The first person to correctly answer gets a shout out in tomorrow's Huddle. And don't forget, send suggestions for trivia questions my way: hcaygle@politico.com

TRADE WARS: Trade policy is at the top of the Trump agenda. What happens when the U.S. scraps its deals and starts pushing into America First territory? In a new series, The First 100 Days, The Agenda examines the biggest stories and the power players changing the world of trade. Our industry-leading team of policy reporters shares regular insights, daily updates and big picture stories on one of the biggest moving targets in global policy. Read more here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef79721e61a88d687f13153a14425ad09333be5d054c3b08d4a3761ba2b87a7ab4a77786db73472d2cc5ba6

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** A message from Susan B. Anthony List: Despite receiving over $550 million tax dollars a year, Planned Parenthood's cancer screening and prevention services have dropped by 57% since 2010. Additionally, contraceptive services dropped by 20% since 2010. Community health centers outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities 20:1 nationwide: Women don't need Planned Parenthood. Just this December, after reviewing over 20,000 documents, the Senate Judiciary Committee referred Planned Parenthood to the Department of Justice and the FBI for potential criminal prosecution for trafficking fetal body parts from abortions for profit. And despite claiming to offer prenatal services, undercover
investigators discovered fewer than 6% of facilities surveyed provided prenatal services. A 2015 nationwide poll showed 53% of Americans support redirecting tax dollars to federally qualified community health centers. Congress should redirect taxpayer dollars to community health centers that provide real healthcare for women. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=815f51850ef7972175f13f2e8858f8a7aabaf8a300518f2babe76c1d987bbf970ef2210eda7e501de701a92cf4af0b2c **

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