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06/08/2017 07:49 AM EDT


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

COMEY COMES TO CAPITOL HILL - Life inside the Beltway will come to a halt today as everyone tunes in to former FBI Director James Comey's testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The hearing, which kicks off at 10 a.m., will be broadcast by the major networks and several local bars will carry the much-hyped event live. Comey's testimony, the first time he's speaking publicly since being fired last month, "has the power to plunge Donald Trump's presidency even deeper into crisis," Kyle reports this morning.

We already have some idea of what Comey will say, given that the Intel panel released his written statement yesterday. In it, Comey describes several uncomfortable interactions with Trump from January until April in which the president demanded loyalty, asked him to end the FBI investigation into Michael Flynn and at one point even called on Comey to "lift the cloud" around his administration by publicly denying Trump was under investigation. Comey's statement: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c845f797dcd2859073b4b5b0cda2d0f0a5d4c37da4341c147299ba38bcda478efe2318f51de72925b093e232e35e1281

THE BIG QUESTION - Will Trump lash out at Comey on Twitter? The president doesn't have anything on his public schedule until noon. That's two hours after the hearing starts and plenty of time for Comey to rattle Washington depending on how far he goes beyond his written testimony.

"White House aides are trying to keep Trump busy Thursday morning with meetings so he won't watch TV and tweet during the hearing," Matthew Nussbaum, Josh Dawsey, Darren Samuelsohn and Tara Palmeri report. "But if he wants to watch it, it's not like we can say, 'oh, the TV doesn't work,'" one official said. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c845f797dcd28590080ee3edee7b83c8b39875614e94c2aa8318d1ec638cdcf5ae14ab898b78b301681532c509be059f

Even if Trump doesn't tweet, the Republican National Committee circulated its talking points last night and has a team of 60 staffers ready to go on the offensive during the hearing, the Wall Street Journal's Michael Bender and Peter Nicholas report.

"Mr. Trump may be relatively new to Washington, but Mr. Comey is not," write Peter Baker and Glenn Thrush for the New York Times. "A savvy veteran of the capital who has worked in high positions in multiple administrations, [Comey] has usually emerged on top in any internal power struggle. And in the month since his dismissal, Mr. Comey has shown why presidents are normally loath to fire F.B.I. directors."

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH TODAY, via Kyle Cheney, who will be in the hearing room: 1. How much will Comey say beyond his written statement? Top intelligence officials testifying Wednesday refused to detail their conversations with the president - including whether he asked them to pressure the FBI to end its Flynn investigation. Similarly, Comey could clam up on certain questions, citing the ongoing special investigation led by Robert Mueller.

2. Comey will have to square his opening statement with his previous testimony about the Russia investigation and his interactions with Trump. 3. The prospect of a Trump counterpunch, via Twitter or through surrogates, looms.

4. How will Senate Republicans question Comey? And will any go to bat defending Trump? And 5. Will Comey detail all of his conversations with Trump? Comey's written statement says he had nine one-on-one conversations with the president but only describes five in detail. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c845f797dcd2859050685f14479e27b45a78829f65689d268c470c8e8cc4f2fde60945c057d22bd525ad6f6916084110

WELCOME TO COMEY DAY, Thursday, June 8. Thanks for reading POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill.

WEDNESDAY'S MOST READ: Senate Democrats backing off calls for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's recusal, brought to you by Seung Min and Kyle, was the winner.

STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A DEBT CEILING - Speaker Paul Ryan is in an awkward spot: Does he back the clean debt ceiling hike now endorsed by the White House or does he stand with members of his conference, who are balking at the idea of raising the debt limit without spending cuts to match? "180 Democrats and 35 of us in the Tuesday Group will carry the heavy burden," predicted centrist Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), a Trump ally. "That's what always happens, isn't it?" Rachael with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c845f797dcd285904c341fd09c65482f2903296cd7a06582c3b8a7ae9356c6bcf8fb542a29ed4ce09c7507308455b4be

RUSSIAN SANCTIONS THREATEN IRAN BILL - There's a growing consensus in the upper chamber that senators should vote to punish Russia for meddling in the U.S. election as part of a broader bipartisan Iran sanctions bill. But senators have yet to coalesce around one of the many competing Russian sanctions proposals, and the lack of agreement is threatening to imperil the Iran bill. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) "warned Wednesday that without a deal to vote on punishing Russia, Democrats would find it 'very difficult' to cast a vote on passage of the Iran bill," Elana reports. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=7933971526e9179dcfda0070f0e68b88f8d5bddf6e3801ff209a7f2bcc6ef2e1c4c6119f02daf96eb66ec34534966a96

Senators are also expected to vote on an amendment blocking Trump's weapons deal with Saudi Arabia as soon as today. The amendment is expected to fail, Elana reports, but will likely get more support than a similar proposal aimed at President Barack Obama last year. "Several senior Democrats who voted to allow Obama's Saudi sale are now shifting to oppose Trump's weapons deals, which are being rolled out without the humanitarian or political pressure that the previous White House had exerted on Riyadh." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=7933971526e9179ddb89f76b7e471337edc8ec277f1d55590c2285eaf3f0c3d5d820e296d62a9b4ca72a733a15001ad4

Related tweet du jour: @ChrisMurphyCT: I know Comey hearing is the thing, but don't sleep on a possible Senate vote tomor on Saudi arms sale. I'm hustling for votes as we speak.

I NEED YOU BUT I DON'T WANT YOU - Senate Republicans have a big problem: They are determined to make their Obamacare repeal more generous than the House version but they're struggling with how to pay for it. Now some senators are saying they should keep Obamacare's taxes in place for a few more years - something Republicans have long railed against - to fund the GOP replacement. "But the approach won't sit well with conservatives, particularly in the House. The House-passed repeal bill would have rolled back almost every Obamacare tax retroactively to Jan. 1, 2017," Jen Haberkorn, Burgess and Adam Cancryn report. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=7933971526e9179d4cfebcc83343d39934ce1eaffb77c0932798efa3c04976db1035e90377aeca328988ee9c1c957054

Related: Trump is "all in" on the Senate's repeal plan but he's taking a much softer approach in the upper chamber's healthcare negotiations, Burgess and Josh Dawsey report. "Trump is impressing on party leaders the importance of success, yet is not directly engaged in the details of the bill and is not yet calling up wavering senators." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=7933971526e9179d8fc36ccdd21c1970a29fdecec84563aa7b929387833b5e8295f08b8c62fd066599cf0e246761cc9f

DEMS TO SUE TRUMP - Dozens of Democrats are planning to sue Trump in the coming weeks, saying he's breaking the law by continuing to profit from his sprawling real-estate empire while serving as president. "We'll be suing to stop his violations of the emoluments clause," senior House Judiciary member Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) confirmed to Huddle. Nadler said nearly 80 House Democrats and 25 Democratic senators have signed onto the lawsuit so far, which is being led by the Constitutional Accountability Center. More from yours truly: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=7933971526e9179dc131cc12fdd95960b23d15a626d071cf6998d636d460b4a151f39a08e450c101261873fe94a34fd1

GOP PICKS NEXT OVERSIGHT CHAIRMAN -The House GOP steering committee meets this afternoon to officially decide who will take over the Oversight Committee perch after Rep. Jason Chaffetz's exit from Congress later this month. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) is the favorite and widely expected to win. The real question is when Gowdy will take over for Chaffetz, who has resisted members' calls to step aside. Chaffetz said he will "probably" give up the gavel before he leaves Congress June 30, the Hill's Scott Wong reports.

GIANFORTE'S MEA CULPA - Montana GOP Rep.-elect Greg Gianforte issued a lengthy apology Wednesday night for his "physical response" to Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs. Gianforte is facing assault charges after allegedly body-slamming Jacobs the night before the election. Gianforte said in the letter his actions were "unprofessional, unacceptable and unlawful." "[You] did not initiate any physical contact with me, and I had no right to assault you," Gianforte wrote to Jacobs. He's also donating $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The Guardian: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=7933971526e9179de8b6635ac58454f2a3f21512664e5ac1f9ad844305db0af9234cb0b022a4e9e5a25ef7e4f3e4ad95

THE INNOVATION ISSUE: How should Washington think about innovation? What's its role in the economy-and what does it take for government to foster new technologies that help the whole nation, not just a favored few? In a month long Special Report, The Agenda takes a deep look at the surprising new politics of innovation, and ideas for how to drive it in a new era.

** A message from Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America: It is imperative that state laws concerning sales and delivery of wine, beer and spirits be respected. WSWA is opposed to permitting direct shipment of beverage alcohol via the U.S. Postal Service. **

In this package, you'll read about how AOL founder Steve Case became the first call for lawmakers who want to bring innovation to the heartland; a critical look at Challenge.gov, the federal government's prize competition designed to spur innovation; and the surprisingly innovative history of the U.S. Post Office, which was long on the forefront of technology before turning into a lesson in what *not* to do. Read the entire package here.

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The House meets at 10 a.m. with first and last votes on the Dodd-Frank repeal bill between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. The House won't be in tomorrow. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=7933971526e9179d6ac4de45bbca59d27704216c8d63e172acb3b6a42f3ae3066aed87d5bc1728ccc2cd1109aaa0bfe9 The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m. with at least one vote related to the Iran sanctions bill by 4:30 p.m. Other votes on the bill are possible today.

AROUND THE HILL - The House Republican Conference will be hosting a "media row" from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today in Longworth B-208 promoting the GOP's Dodd-Frank repeal bill. Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), GOP Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and other lawmakers will be available for interviews. Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) holds his weekly press conference at 11:30 a.m. in HVC Studio A.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) and Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) hold a 1 p.m. press conference in the House triangle denouncing anti-Muslim protests.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) hold a press conference on Republican efforts to roll back Dodd-Frank regulations at 2:30 p.m. in HVC Studio A.

Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Reps. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Diane Black (R-Tenn.) and Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) participate in a Capitol Hill townhall as part of the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference at 2:30 p.m. in Dirksen G-50.

WEDNESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Colin Alberts was the first to correctly guess that (at least as our research could find) there has never been a Cabinet-level official born outside of the U.S. but not in Europe or a former European colony.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Colin with today's question: Which state governor used the power to fill Senate vacancies (granted in the 17th Amendment) to appoint him/herself to the chamber and then went on to win reelection? Send answers my way: hcaygle@politico.com

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** A message from Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America: The American beverage alcohol industry has established an eight-decade record of success, fostering competition and innovation while preventing underage access, ensuring social responsibility and guaranteeing product integrity through strict regulatory oversight and state regulatory authority. This record is a result of the three-tier system and each tier's commitment to working cooperatively with their licensing authorities.

The 21st Amendment gives states the primary authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution and sale of beverage alcohol. As Congress works to make the U.S. Postal Service solvent, it is imperative that state laws concerning direct to consumer shipping of wine, beer and spirits be respected.

WSWA opposes legislation that would permit the U.S. Postal Service to deliver beverage alcohol.

Click here to watch how wholesalers help a bottle get to you. **

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