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02/25/2019 08:03 AM EDT

By MELANIE ZANONA (mzanona@politico.com; @MZanona)


with an assist from Andrew Desiderio

WELCOME TO A WILD WEEK -- We hope everyone enjoyed the recess break, because it's about to get hectic on Capitol Hill. The House is scheduled to vote on a resolution to terminate President Donald Trump's national emergency on Tuesday, kicking off a weeks-long battle over Trump's controversial effort to build a border wall without Congress.

The Senate will be forced to vote on the privileged resolution within 18 days, and just four Republican senators need to back the measure for it to pass (which seems likely, given the amount of GOP opposition to the idea.) That means the real key for the White House is to keep Republican defections below a veto-proof majority, though it's unclear whether officials and Senate GOP leaders have started whipping hard against it yet. Sarah with the dispatch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9a23165f1ec4392de39d0146f3308fb434b40f642c22d7e63c14ef6ec7bbc2f05c950f2494ae8bf1dea70d121841239a

But the wall rebuke isn't the only headache awaiting Trump on Capitol Hill this week. His former fixer and personal attorney Michael Cohen will be testifying in front of a trio of committees, including a blockbuster public appearance on Wednesday at the House Oversight Committee. And with Cohen promising to tell "my story in my voice," the hearings could produce some embarrassing and damaging headlines for the president.

On top of all that, the pressure is on for Trump to deliver on his second summit with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday. House Democrats have already demanded a briefing on the first summit, while senior Senate Democrats sent a letter to Trump on Sunday urging him to "execute a serious diplomatic plan" and calling for him to "demonstrate tangible, verifiable progress on denuclearization and reducing tensions." More from Quint Forgey: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9a23165f1ec4392d79bf486a850add37a93f214513dec4caa55caa2351075c4f45c009e7f9b9c7d0dbaeb9fba8afd9a7

RELEASE THE REPORT -- With anticipation building that special counsel Robert Mueller may soon complete his two-year Russia probe, Democrats have begun mounting an aggressive pressure campaign to ensure that the findings are made public. During an interview on Sunday with ABC'S "This Week," House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) vowed to subpoena the report, haul Mueller in to testify and even take the fight to the courts if necessary. And six committee chairmen sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr on Friday arguing that a failure to disclose the investigation's findings would essentially amount to a coverup. Quint with the latest:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9a23165f1ec4392ddaddc8ac9902606e070e88b15668cfbc928736b46ca40d59a8a0be2648e2df2c804a2978725fe01d

HAPPY MONDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Feb. 25, where we're jumping into the week like Spike Lee jumped into Samuel L. Jackson's arms at the Oscars.

FRIDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Andrew's report on Sen. Jim Risch's attempt to calm Republicans furious with Trump was the big winner.

** A message from Freight Rail Works: The Department of Transportation expects total freight demand to grow 37% by 2040 - and only one industry is spending billions of dollars annually to build the freight transportation network of the future. Learn how freight rail's private investments are creating a safer, cleaner and cost-effective solution for today and tomorrow. www.aar.org/freight-rails-investments **


CAN NICE GUYS FINISH FIRST? -- Rep. Ben Ray Luján helped Democrats win back the House, climbed the party ranks and built strong ties in the caucus, even bestowing little gifts on his colleagues like chili-infused chocolates and pork rinds during the 2018 election cycle. Those are just some of the reasons that the New Mexico lawmaker has been floated as a potential speaker one day. But can a nice guy like Luján elbow his way to the top, especially at a time when anger with Trump is at a boiling point and when the party's younger, more animated liberals are eager to hit the gas pedal? "It's easy to box a guy like that in," said freshman Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.). "[But] he is
strategic. He thinks long term. So he's definitely not to be written off." Much more from Heather and Sarah: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9a23165f1ec4392d5d4ca13071657e8ef795997a82f0871c32bed3d93ab57098684f2ab42b0d66ea7453a58609271762

Related read: "In Conservative Districts, Democrats Have to Answer for Party's Left Wing," by Catie Edmondson and Emily Cochrane of The New York Times: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9a23165f1ec4392d69a63acb919af758a0453e742c801b788f7caea46b691fd8be523b9733e375647957a50dc49f3273

NEOMI'S NOMINATION ON ICE -- Trump's pick to replace Brett Kavanaugh on the D.C. Circuit Court was thought to be on the fast-track toward confirmation. But it appears that the nomination of Neomi Rao has hit a snag in the Senate. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) tells Axios that he has concerns about Rao's judicial philosophy and views on abortion, saying, "I am only going to support nominees who have a strong record on life." Hawley also said that at least one other Republican shares his concerns. If Rao's nomination is derailed, it would represent a serious setback for the White House's push to confirm conservative judges, which has been largely successful thus far. More from Jonathan Swan:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9a23165f1ec4392dd5829ef037f21f4454796b57ceac759938607b12a2dc5c5b66b44c4d71f7160030ef649fece30850

GET READY FOR GUN CONTROL -- House Democrats are gearing up to take their first major step to crack down on gun violence, taking two high-profile votes on gun control measures this week. The legislation's quick passage in the House reflects a notable shift from the last time Democrats controlled the chamber, when party leaders were wary of wading into a divisive issue and putting some of their members in an uncomfortable spot. But now, after a string of deadly mass shootings and zero congressional action over the years, the Democratic party is ready to dive head first into an issue that has widespread public support and will likely be featured prominently in the 2020 presidential primary
race. Bres with the latest: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9a23165f1ec4392d5ae0ce6b4c06560e98d6cd3bb1c43024dd5fd27d64ee00bb117b90c06c64824011a2faeffaec954f

Related: "N.R.A. Magazine Draws Criticism for 'Target Practice' Headline With Photo of Pelosi and Giffords," by Emily S. Rueb of The New York Times: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9a23165f1ec4392deff74c8df5ca048fa7d90a18b869d159f2a805e409c0fafb489f0aac7a5c15e9821b54d45fdbb488

NEVER FORGET -- Supporters of a compensation fund for 9/11 first responders are taking their fight to Capitol Hill - again. Congress has intermittently funded the compensation programs, which provide health care and treatment for responders and survivors of the September 11th terrorist attacks. But the fund is once again starting to run out of money, even as new cases continue to emerge of sick people who lived or worked around Ground Zero. Victims are now lobbying Congress to permanently authorize the fund, and will head to Capitol Hill on Monday with high-profile champions like former "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart on their side. Much more from Michael McAuliff of the New York Daily
News: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9a23165f1ec4392d456c67a1cb40d678a240d979d8a20c17dc1b5adbd4257fff7e88babe45c20ea2ed6fad1a8b884bb4

WEEKLY OVERSIGHT WATCH -- While Trump is in Vietnam meeting with Kim Jong Un this week, Michael Cohen will become the highest-profile witness to testify against an American president since John Dean turned on Richard Nixon. Cohen will testify before three congressional committees, where he'll face lawmakers on a range of issues relating to the Mueller probe, the SDNY investigation, and much, much more. Here's the full rundown from Andrew.

TUESDAY ... Cohen will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee behind closed doors. You'll recall there's some bad blood between Cohen and Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who suggested recently that Cohen was trying to "stiff" the committee.

HOUSE JUDICIARY will hold its rescheduled hearing on family separation on Tuesday, featuring top officials from ICE, DOJ, CBP, and HHS.

ON WEDNESDAY ... the House Oversight Committee will question Cohen in public in what's expected to be a blockbuster hearing for a man who says he regrets his past work on behalf of Trump. The scope of Cohen's testimony will include the president's "payoffs, financial disclosures, compliance with campaign finance laws, business practices, and other matters." But don't expect Cohen to answer questions about the Mueller investigation in public - those questions will be saved for the following day...

... when the HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE questions Cohen behind closed doors. Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Intel Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) coordinated in advance of Cohen's Hill appearances in order to limit potential overlap.

ALSO ON THURSDAY ... the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing about the president's national emergency declaration. Witnesses to be announced soon...

IN THE MEANTIME ... House Democrats are keeping their powder dry as they seek documents about the Trump administration's family separation policy. Your Huddle host reports that House Oversight will vote this week to authorize subpoenas for DOJ, HHS and DHS.
TRANSITIONS
David Smentek is now director of business development for Armored Things, a Boston-based cybersecurity startup. Smentek was a long-time House GOP Conference staffer and legislative director for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.).

Morgan Anderson is now digital director at the House Republican Conference. She previously was digital media manager for Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.).

David Marten is now deputy director of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee's D.C. office. He previously was legislative assistant with Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.).

Elyse Bauer has left Capitol Hill where she was staff director at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (serving as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)'s designee on the Commission when he was the chair.)

Andrew Wright has started as communications director for Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.). He previously worked for the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

Christopher Jerrolds has joined the office of legislative counsel for the New York City Council. He most recently was counsel for Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.).

Lauren French is joining Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján's (D-N.M.) senior leadership team as communications director. She previously was communications director for the House Democratic Caucus and its then-Chairman Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.).
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House gavels in at 2 p.m., with first and last votes expected at 6:30 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9a23165f1ec4392d2b35b5834a00ea8fc181a564d03321410b41a4490b360a98bddd525c76be79a423e2114a8c4dbb3d The Senate meets at 3 p.m. to resume consideration of S.311.
AROUND THE HILL
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), former "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart and 9/11 first responders hold a press conference to introduce bipartisan legislation permanently reauthorizing the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund at 3 p.m. in SVC 208.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) and House Democrats hold a press conference on a resolution to terminate Trump's wall emergency at 5 p.m. in H-207.
TRIVIA
FRIDAY'S WINNER -- Lynne Weil was the first to correctly guess that former Speaker Tip O'Neill had a cameo on Cheers (where he tried to avoid Dianne.)

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From Lynne: While O'Neill was majority leader, which House member introduced the first resolution to impeach President Nixon, what was his lifelong profession, and at which of his alma maters did he teach about human rights, ethics and other weighty matters after leaving Congress? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: mzanona@politico.com.

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** A message from Freight Rail Works: America's freight railroads spend an average of $25 billion a year on infrastructure, equipment and innovation - all at no cost to taxpayers. What does America get out of it? A cleaner environment, a cost-effective solution to get American goods to market nationally and beyond, and a boost in economic activity that amounted to $220 billion in 2017 alone. Learn how the future of freight transportation is working for America today. www.aar.org/freight-rails-investments **

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