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11/18/2016 07:59 AM EDT


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

With assistance from Elana Schor and Daniel Lippman

SEE YA LATER, SEN. SESSIONS- Longtime Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions has been tapped as President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general, Bloomberg reports this morning. "It wasn't immediately clear if Trump has formally offered the job to Sessions, a lawyer who was an early and ardent Trump backer," Jennifer Jacobs and Steve Dennis report. "A Trump aide on Thursday night called Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a one-time Trump rival who was under serious consideration for the role, to tell him the job was instead going to Sessions, one of the sources said." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3ebe799356342a31caf090d7458a2fc68b18a4a5e363f50a82

Sessions' Alabama colleague, Sen. Richard Shelby, called him "an excellent choice for any role" in Trump's cabinet in a Thursday statement. "Not only would Jeff bring integrity and immense expertise to the role of Attorney General due to his decades of experience in the legal field and an impressive tenure on the Senate Judiciary Committee, but Jeff has also gained the deep respect of his Senate colleagues for his commitment to upholding the rule of law," Shelby said.

BRING IT ON- Senate Republicans are already drawing a hard line on the Supreme Court, making it clear to Democrats that Trump's nominee will eventually be joining the top bench, no matter what tactics they try to deploy. But does that mean the GOP would go so far as to nuke the filibuster? "Both Senate leaders, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and incoming Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have been mum on the topic. But the debate over whether the supermajority requirement for Supreme Court nominations will disappear is raging in the Democratic and Republican caucuses," Burgess reports.

"Republicans won't come out and say it, but there's an implicit threat in their confidence: If Democrats play things the wrong way, they might find themselves on the wrong end of a legacy-defining change to Senate rules that scraps the chamber's 60-vote threshold to confirm Supreme Court nominees. 'We're going to confirm the president's nominee one way or the other. And there's an easy way and there's a hard way,' said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas). 'They just need to accept that reality.'" More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e2d8f457abf487dc6b425e53421c8e812995c6e1dd7c4978a

RYAN'S RUNNING FOR MINORITY LEADER- Rep. Tim Ryan jumped in the race against Nancy Pelosi for House minority leader Thursday, promising his colleagues a return to the Democratic glory days (and the majority at some point) if they back him. "It's time for change," Ryan said this morning on MSNBC's Morning Joe, while being careful not to directly criticize Pelosi. And he had a similar strategy on Rachel Maddow Thursday night (sidenote: Your Huddle host is watching a lot of TV lately): "This is tough because this is a battle kind of within the family," he said. Bres and yours truly with more on Ryan's long-shot run: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e40143302cc71f635fd5970d3e467c6768346b9182d40b0a5

So just who is Tim Ryan anyway? "Ryan has been on the short list for every significant opening in Ohio politics since 2006, and each time he's opted for the safety of his House seat," until launching his bid to unseat Pelosi, Kyle reports. "Ryan succeeded his old boss [Jim] Traficant in 2003, winning a bruising primary in which he hammered his opponent for supporting international trade deals, a staple of Donald Trump's populist pitch in 2016. ... He has also authored two books, including one on mindfulness and meditation." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3ef5bf28f3ce9dc3920d1ab867ec4d6dccf55e866ffe569932

WE'RE COMING FOR YOU- Senate Democrats are still trying to figure out how they're going to work with Trump. Meanwhile, some ambitious House Republicans are already eyeing 2018. "Several of the 10 Democrats up for reelection in states that Trump won are likely to face off against members of the House Republican Conference. And on Thursday, one of those potential Senate hopefuls, Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, fired a warning shot at his possible rival, Democratic Sen. Jon Tester," Elana and Burgess report.

"'What I'm hoping, quite frankly, is that Sen. Tester moves rapidly to the middle,' Zinke said of the two-term incumbent he is considering taking on. 'His votes have not been consistent with Montana.'" More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e32656f3017c23036304c1b15517da85f2902d03f9bf74a25

WELL, THAT WAS FAST- The war over Donald Trump's future Supreme Court nominee has already started, at least on TV. Burgess with the deets: "The conservative Judicial Crisis Network is launching an ad buy of more than $175,000 to applaud Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) for holding the line against President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.

"JCN, which spent more than $5 million encouraging Republicans and moderate Democrats to block Garland, is running TV and digital ads in Iowa and Washington, D.C., aimed at bolstering Grassley's resolve ahead of the next fight: Confirming Trump's nominee." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e0de59b725b53eb659ae07bbc0f77d3d6236dc6f1b5b9e685

Related: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that tried to force the Senate to take up Garland's nomination. Mike DeBonis: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3ea524312aeb6473e5375b531ae4abdcaf496259532999f81f

GUYS, IT'S FRIDAY. Welcome to Nov. 18. Thanks for reading POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, during what was the longest of long weeks. Now kick back, relax and watch Alabama take on the Chattanooga Mocs Saturday at 7 p.m.

THURSDAY'S MOST CLICKED- Paul Kane's story about Nancy Pelosi's leading allies turned antagonists.

TODAY IN CONGRESS- The House meets in a pro forma session at 3 p.m. The Senate meets in a pro forma session at 9:30 a.m.

DON'T WORRY, WE'VE GOT THIS- Good news for staffers trying to book those December holiday plans: "Capitol Hill Republicans and the incoming Trump administration are nearing agreement on a plan to fund the government at current levels through March 31, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) told lawmakers during a closed-door meeting Thursday," Rachael, Burgess and Kyle report. "The short-term patch is aimed at giving Trump a say in next year's funding priorities and preventing President Barack Obama from putting his mark on a massive spending deal."

#BACKTOWORK: By work, I mean at least there might be more days on the congressional calendar next year. "'Advise your families that you need to be prepared for work,' [Vice President-elect] Mike Pence told them, according to Meadows, 'and that you're going to be working a lot more aggressively with a more aggressive schedule than you've seen in a long time.'" More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e702f2ae7cb4fbb3e8ce02ea0049a14cde54292502d49f3c9

Flint aid likely to hitch a ride: "House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton said that aid to address lead contamination in Flint, Mich., will most likely hitch a ride on a spending package, rather than the Water Resources Development Act that is currently being negotiated." Annie Snider has more for subscribers: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e1d3d1b0406b87d5613521995cd3a5a29f5de441200b76573

Sen. McCain is not a fan of the CR: "The Arizona Republican said a sprawling defense policy bill being negotiated would have limited utility "if these idiots say they want to go for the continuing resolution." Roll Call's Niels Lesniewski: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e559198dfaaa247752d035bee7b0edceb2722526ab0267a61

SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW CHAIRMAN- Freshman Rep. Mark Walker bested House Freedom Caucus member Andy Harris Thursday, winning his bid to lead the Republican Study Committee in a close 60-53 vote. "Walker, in just his second term, will be the youngest member ever to lead the group of more than 150 conservatives," Rachael reports. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e99fa274582fd847c2b098efad237c9cb258bb6b5f9573105

RYAN'S IN FOR TERM LIMITS- Well, at least one GOP leader is on board with Trump's "drain the swamp" plan to mandate term limits for members of Congress. "I've always supported term limits," House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has been in Congress since 1999, said. "Ryan, however, stopped short of saying he would seek to pass legislation to make such a change," Rachael reports. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell swiftly shot down the idea of term limits right after the election. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3ed9c6c002515ff0212fb58e84a29ceeeddf9d97fc1864920a

SENATORIAL CONFIRMATION WATCH- As at least three GOP senators land on Trump's list of Cabinet contenders, one of their Democratic colleagues gave his thumbs-up on Thursday. "I'd support Bob Corker for secretary of State," Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) told reporters. Would he back Sen. Ted Cruz for a Supreme Court nomination, as some conservatives have suggested? "Well, that's another question," Nelson replied.

GOOD NEWS: CONYERS SON FOUND SAFE- "Houston police say longtime U.S. Rep. John Conyers' youngest son, who was reported missing this week, has been found safe. KXAS-TV reports Houston police spokesman Kese Smith says Carl Conyers, a 21-year-old student at the University of Houston, was found early Friday in the Houston area." The AP: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e5419f39ba36b050057b7a751dde2fe4e930cdf8535460e17

KAINE: I'M STICKING AROUND- Sen. Tim Kaine, fresh off the campaign trail with Clinton, says he has no plans to run for president or vice president in 2020. "I want to run and I want to serve in the Senate for a long time," Kaine told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "I have been through the VP stakes twice, and came close once and got on the ticket, and won Virginia and won the popular vote and lost - so I came close the second time," he added. More from Jim Nolan: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3eb7ed910443a901343fe95e8df9d5cac700bf88522f1f8241

And if you're in the mood for Tim Kaine profiles today: "After crushing defeat, Tim Kaine is oddly happy," from the Washington Post's Jenna Portnoy. Read: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3ee8375ccfc0af9db58bc0fb19ba7e180f42599058035b172a


** Presented by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals: A story of courage -- Kristine's son, Brock, became sick and needed surgery. For pain, a multimodal analgesic approach was used after surgery, thus reducing the amount of opioids Brock received. Surgery was successful. The care team did an excellent job helping him manage his pain with MMA therapy. To learn more about Kristine and Brock's story visit http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e4598a93ae070711030cac1740c0411c53c2f94ce1b753457 **


INDEPENDENT AND STAYING THAT WAY- Never mind that Sen. Bernie Sanders was just selected for a Senate Democratic leadership position. He still has no plans to change his party affiliation from independent to Democrat. More from the Hill's Jonathan Easley: "'I was elected as an Independent and I will finish this term as an Independent,' Sanders said at a breakfast Thursday morning hosted by the Christian Science Monitor." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e35464bbbdc5e6666fcc4a73b1db90777ea0f45786d79a40c

ENGAGED - Julia Krieger, press secretary for Sen. Heitkamp, got engaged on Saturday to Evan Vanderveer, who manages Vanshap Capital in Rosslyn. On a trip to Paris, he surprised her with a dinner on the balcony of their hotel room, where he proposed. They met through a mutual friend and former roommate. Pic http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e72c111d264d5a8e383bd07ccab2435bd583a70db60ace949

How Burlington fired up an energy revolution: The newest installment of POLITICO Magazine's "What Works" series explores how Burlington - a former logging port on the shore of Lake Champlain -- transformed itself into a global trendsetter in sustainable practices in power generation and food production. Read More. Photo gallery.

THURSDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER- Kirtan Mehta was the first to guess Tonie Nathan was the first woman to receive an electoral vote in the 1972 presidential election from Virginia.

TODAY'S TRIVIA- I'll take today's question: About one-third of all House Democrats hall from these three states. The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in Monday's Huddle.

Have your own Congress or D.C.-themed trivia questions you'd like to see in Huddle? Send them my way: hcaygle@politico.com

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning.


** Presented by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals:
Kristine's son, Brock, became very sick and needed surgery. As a mother, her primary concern was making sure he received the best care available, leading to the greatest recovery possible.

Before the procedure, she asked her son's care team if a multimodal analgesic (MMA) approach could be used during and after surgery. She knew MMA therapy would mean her son would receive multiple types of pain medications to treat different pain pathways in his body, which could reduce the amount of opioids he would receive.

Fortunately, Brock's surgery was successful. His care team did an excellent job of helping him manage his pain with MMA therapy, and stay on track for his recovery following surgery. To learn more about Kristine and Brock's story visit http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=63cc22d5be9a1d3e4598a93ae070711030cac1740c0411c53c2f94ce1b753457 **

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