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By Lauren French (
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THE SAGA OF MITCH AND CHUCK. They've been political enemies in the past but with Chuck Schumer poised to assume control of Senate Democrats next Congress, the relationship between him and Mitch McConnell is now one of the most important in Washington. And whether these two deal-makers can get along will have a large impact on the next president's agenda. "McConnell remembers Chuck Schumer's role during his contentious 2008 campaign like it was yesterday. In the home stretch of the election season, the Schumer-led Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee launched blistering TV ads accusing the Republican leader of inducing the economic meltdown with lax regulations and then bailing out Wall
Street. McConnell was infuriated. He believed the attacks breached a pact by the two parties not to politicize the government rescue in the elections, something Democrats disputed..."

"Despite serving 16 years together in the chamber, the two men have developed virtually no rapport in a body where trust and relationships are essential. To the extent they've engaged, it's mainly been to launch political - and at times, personal - attacks."
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TRADE, PART DEUX. Jake Sherman and I report, it's a question no one really has the answer to: Is President Barack Obama's push for fast-track trade authority dead? The House is poised to answer it this week - maybe. "House Republicans could take another shot at passing Obama's trade agenda this week, just days after Democrats handed Obama a stinging defeat by blocking the package. But it's not clear what's happened since last Friday's trade votes that could change the minds of the more than 70 Democrats Obama needs to advance the centerpiece of his economic agenda. House Democratic sources suggest any vote switching en masse is very unlikely at this point. Still, House Republicans are
planning to use the bully pulpit to pressure Democrats into voting yes on the trade assistance program known as TAA, which offers help and retraining for American workers displaced by free trade. Republicans and Obama need to pass the TAA bill to clear a fast-track authority measure that the president needs to complete a huge 12-nation Pacific trade deal."
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ICYMI: HOW THE TRADE BILL WENT DOWN. It was late - and we hope you loyal Huddle readers were already out blowing off steam - but Jake, John Bresnahan and I reported Friday night about how the trade deal went down.
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SID'S UP. Rachael Bade repots, 'House GOP Benghazi investigators will face off with a combative confidant of Hillary Clinton this week in a closed-door interrogation session - one of the biggest moments for a Benghazi probe that continues to dog the Democratic presidential front-runner. The House Select Committee on Benghazi on Tuesday will depose Sidney Blumenthal - a longtime Clinton family friend - about why he emailed the former secretary of state unsubstantiated intelligence on Libya, whether he was paid for the work and whether he used his Clinton connections to help his business partners."

GOOD MORNING, it's Monday, June 15, 2015 and welcome to The Huddle, your play-by-play guide to everything Capitol Hill. This week's weather forecast is the season's most stark reminder yet that we live in a swamp. Good luck out there. And let me know what's going on at
mailto:lfrench@politico.com
lfrench@politico.com or at @laurennfrench on Twitter.

TODAY IN CONGRESS - Votes in the House will be at 6:30 p.m. The Senate will hold two votes beginning at 5:30 p.m.

AROUND THE HILL - Not all that much as lawmakers in both chambers are flying back into D.C. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy will hold a pen & pad today at 10:30 a.m. in H 107.

WE'RE ALL A LITTLE CLOSER TO CUBA LIBRES IN HAVANA. Voice of America Reports, "Three U.S. Republican senators met with senior Cuban officials Saturday in Havana, with one lawmaker saying the opening of a U.S. embassy on the island is 'close.' Senators Jeff Flake, Susan Collins and Pat Roberts comprise one of several Congressional delegations to Cuba since the December announcement by leaders in Washington and Havana to restore diplomatic relations."
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SENATE LOOKS TO HELP HILL WORKERS. Bridget Bowman reports for Roll Call, "More than six weeks after reports of low-paid Senate food-service workers shocked lawmakers, senators are in the process of finding the best avenue to address the situation... the senators in charge of the subcommittee of jurisdiction said they will continue to work on the issue while the Senate's food service contract is in flux... The Senate food service contract with Restaurant Associates is set to expire in the coming months, which Blunt said provides a prime opportunity to address the issues of hours and wages for workers."
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WHAT BOEHNER EATS. The speaker of the House is well-known for loving Pete's - the unassuming diner right outside the Capitol complex - but apparently the Ohio Republican is the sort of guy who orders the same thing at multiple establishments. Al Kamen reports for the Washington Post, "Most members of Congress seem to prefer upscale restaurants like Charlie Palmer Steak or Bistro Bis when they're out for dinner. Not House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). Boehner's preferred locale seems to be Trattoria Alberto, a venerable ( 30-plus year old) and decidedly less fancyItalian restaurant on Barracks Row on Capitol Hill. We're told he's there about once a week when he's in town. And last week,
a somewhat busy one for House members, he was there twice, eating the most expensive dish on the menu. It happens to be named for him."
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TODAY'S TRIVIA - We stumped you. Here is Friday's question again. Who was the first member of Congress to serve at the local, state, and federal level in the same year? The first person to email
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