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01/31/2019 08:00 AM EDT

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


With an assist from Andrew and Connor O'Brien.

BORDER TALKS BEGIN -- Congressional negotiations to avoid another government shutdown are officially underway. Democrats' opening bid includes zero money for Trump's wall, though deal-makers did not rule out an eventual compromise on some kind of physical border barrier. "I'm not going to give you the conclusion," House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) told reporters after the meeting. "Everything's on the table."

Where both sides agree: Democrats and Republicans signaled during Wednesday's meeting that they both support additional funding for detection technology, immigration judges, customs officers and resources to help meet humanitarian needs of migrants.

What still needs to be resolved: Lawmakers must decide how much money, if any, to allocate toward a physical barrier along the southern border, and what form that would actually take (pedestrian fencing or vehicle barriers, perhaps?) There is also still debate about whether to broaden the scope of the talks to include deals on issues like the debt limit and immigration policy, which Democrats have thus far kept off the table.

What's next: The second conference committee meeting has yet to be scheduled, and the House is out of session for the rest of the week. But negotiations are expected to continue on a staff level over the next few days. And per the Washington Post, Republican conferees may also meet with Trump at the White House at some point. More from Jennifer Scholtes: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f8056301a717ca9f56db288f5dcf4f6964e703251ce96ccda655ff65bc48a587186eb6a1a01711fc8f8

Related read: "'Get this done': McConnell moves to avoid new shutdown," from Burgess: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f80f0ab94878918b341354cb246004c668d6e6bacfae4c736ef70ef511ab8e899738d17372851fcedcb

TRUMP'S BACK UP PLAN -- In the meantime, President Donald Trump is finalizing his plan b: declaring a national emergency to bypass Congress and build the wall. The president has begun meeting with top White House officials and reaching out to conservatives about the politically and legally risky move, a sign Trump is ready to act fast if Congress comes up short. "It's definitely an option," said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), a top Trump ally. More from Nancy Cook: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f809a86a1bd486f26d84779e37fa9f3e94ce8fd3f1111ff8e643aa60a330341d60f08e02e2a926a3a55

HOUSE INTEL OFF TO THE RACES -- The House Intelligence Committee can finally convene after House Republicans finalized their roster, with Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announcing Wednesday that Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) will be joining the panel. Some Democrats questioned whether the GOP was purposely slow-walking their committee appointments in an effort to hamstring the work of the panel, where Democrats are expected to relaunch a probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. McCarthy, however, cited internal procedural reasons for the delay. More from Martin Matishak: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f80e90f7a50ccedad19579dd302e76568fd38c2a23d97be4c34a78fe1ac2600bd5eb9fa42fb1d162868

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, Jan. 31, where your host is giving mad props to the Pittsburgh news station employee who got fired for describing Tom Brady as a "known cheater" in the chyron (sorry, Sarah!)

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Burgess and Gabby Orr's report on why Trump is still beefing with "Da Nang Dick" was by far the 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 **


THE BATTLE FOR THE CBC -- An early primary race is quietly underway among presidential hopefuls: the battle to win over the Congressional Black Caucus. Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) both dropped by a CBC meeting on Wednesday, where the African-American senators have been courting the support of the powerful caucus. Harris reached out to several CBC members before she formally rolled out her bid, and has already asked at least one member for their endorsement. But Booker and Harris will be competing with another potential 2020 contender with strong ties to the group: former Vice President Joe Biden. Laura Barrón-López and Bres with the dispatch:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f8037ea41bde1ab25551e67021a3da46a33e0dc3a83dc0bb93e39a3366137cc9dd5d4b491b2d3dcc756

GOP SEEKS ANSWERS ON STONE ARREST-- Republicans want more information about the arrest of longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone. But they're not seeking details on his indictment; they're questioning whether the FBI's tactics in the raid (such as showing up to his door announced) were necessary and asking if the pre-dawn arrest was leaked to CNN, who had been staking out Stone's home. The network says it was not tipped off to the arrest. Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Rep. Doug Collins (Ga.), the top Republicans on the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, both sent letters to the FBI requesting a briefing on the issue. "I am sure these tactics would be standard procedure for the arrest of a
violent offender... I have questions regarding their necessity in this case," Graham wrote.

GREEN NEW DEAL, COMING SOON -- Freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) may unveil legislation for a "Green New Deal" as early as next week, though final details are still being worked out, according to Axios. The proposal is part of an ambitious effort by Democrats to lay out their vision for addressing climate change. Their goal: get to 100 percent renewable electricity within 10 years, create a federal jobs guarantee program and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from electricity, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and other sectors within the next decade. More from Amy Harder: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f802fcee7ea4c4fbfe1a31bc19b7e698bb6053b3bed8ecb9632c1946e0e82c30cdd8a69e14d57d7e3a8

Meanwhile, the House will hold its first hearing on gun violence in nearly a decade, the House Judiciary Committee announced. The meeting, slated for next Wednesday, will focus on gun violence prevention - a top priority for Democrats.

SUBPOENA THREATS HEATING UP-- Nearly one month into their new majority, House Democrats are starting to ratchet up their oversight of the Trump administration and showing they're not afraid to use their newfound powers. The latest salvo came from Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who is threatening to subpoena Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen if she doesn't agree to appear in front of his panel. Nielsen has declined multiple invitations to testify on border security and migrant family separations. Thompson is giving her until the end of February to voluntarily come in. Andrew with the latest: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f80ed5e7a4c804c49813e847133e7a6f2b19238f0908cc0276bd90984163d7bb7a5a6392141d7f061b3

Related read: "Trump administration faces an increasingly adversarial Congress - in both parties," via Seung Min Kim, Sean Sullivan and Josh Dawsey of The Washington Post: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f804effd1f59dd4a29702aab2f5b5d434692a7a134253e076b0f146df92bb273124ce33c7bce7be14f3

LAWMAKERS GET SYRIA UPDATE -- Senior Pentagon officials briefed members of the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday about the administration's Syria policy. Lawmakers who attended the briefing told us that it did little to assuage their concerns about Trump's abrupt decision to withdraw from Syria. "I'm concerned that that announcement by President Trump and then this talk about quick withdrawal undermines the successes that we've had against ISIS," said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). "And I would just say from the briefing, I'm still alarmed by it."

Democrats felt like defense officials were trying to do clean up for the president, who announced the withdrawal last month while declaring that ISIS had been defeated, contradicting his intelligence chiefs. "I don't know what that briefing was, but it certainly did not make us very trustful that the president is making a decision in the right manner about Syria," said Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). "And I think they're trying to find a way to fix it, but that's not what was communicated to me in that meeting."

Related reads: "Top Republicans pushing back on Trump's national security moves," via Ted Barrett, Eli Watkins and Manu Raju at CNN: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f80caf51a3ba57ede038e5bf54a655bcac35321c10e364f08db49fa1ce8b8f1e584d41d9b70829fdf9c and "Bipartisan House group introduces bills to stall Syria, South Korea troop withdrawals," via The Hill's Ellen Mitchell: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f803436496e2ed3375d8f9c95e7a4d05f192ddae97e139219b8c39018945813b211f22c9bb74ab4c850

TLAIB CODEL SPARKS DEM CRITICISM -- A top Democrat is throwing cold water on freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib's (D-Mich.) push to lead a congressional delegation to the West Bank, reports the Al-Monitor. Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress, wants to provide her colleagues with a more rounded perspective of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the proposed trip. "Instead of her talking about things, she's new here, she ought to listen and learn and open her mind and then come to some conclusions," said House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.). "If you're going to be close-minded and have your views, no one's going to change her views. But I would hope that
once you're elected to Congress, you would at least care to see the other side of the coin." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b7a3ac1f17ce3f80107611d171101271dbf91866706cc170d4191ef569b1c3c5205b33f5321d8a2a3c8d30a996f201ff

Get "Freezin' for a Reason" on Saturday with Special Olympics DC. POLITICO is thrilled to partner with the "Polar Plunge," an annual event that supports more than 1,600 Special Olympics DC athletes on Saturday, Feb. 2. Attendees will enjoy ICE YARDS festivities, including icy cocktails and local D.C. brews, fun activities, live music, an ice bar, food from neighborhood restaurants, D.C.'s largest group shotski attempt and so much more! Visit dcpolarplunge.org to register as an individual, as a team or join an existing team and take the plunge.
TRANSITIONS
John LaBombard is now Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's (D-Ariz.) communications director. He was previously deputy campaign manager for former Sen. Claire McCaskill's (D-Mo.) re-election, and before that her communications director.

Tremayne Smith, previously a director of scheduling for Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), is leaving the Hill to join JPMorgan Chase Institute as a special assistant to the president and CEO.
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House is out until Tuesday. The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of S. 1. At 3:30 p.m., senators will take a procedural vote on a McConnell amendment.
AROUND THE HILL
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds weekly her press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A.
TRIVIA
WEDNESDAY'S WINNER -- Diana Deem was the first person to correctly guess that President Andrew Johnson - the "Tennessee tailor" - made his own suits and his wife's dresses while living in the White House.

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From Diana, in keeping with the fashion theme: Which U.S. president worked as a fashion model, and in which two magazines did he appear? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: mzanona@politico.com.

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning.

** 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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