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06/06/2016 08:07 AM EDT


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

With an assist from Seung Min Kim and Daniel Lippman

TICK TOCK GOES THE CONGRESS CLOCK: House Speaker Paul Ryan may have that pesky Trump endorsement out of the way but the GOP leader still has a lengthy list of legislative items to check off before Republicans roll up to the convention in July.

"Ryan and the House GOP leadership face serious challenges to pass a fix for Puerto Rico's debt debacle, funding to fight the Zika virus and the annual spending bills they deemed a top priority. A decision also has to be made on whether to press ahead with the impeachment of IRS Commissioner John Koskinen," write John Bresnahan and Rachael Bade in a story out this morning.

And with just 21 days to make Congress great again before the July recess, Ryan isn't getting much help from Democrats or unruly Republicans: "Democrats are balky and restless, smelling a chance to win back the House this fall, or at least make serious inroads into the Republican majority. Hardline conservatives are unruly as usual and trying to maximize any leverage they have over their own leaders." The story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a595c0fcb7fb3d220dae14c7154217f2bd65fea5648a763ab7289d34c7c329b1

New this A.M.-House GOP agenda site launches: A little good news for Ryan? The House GOP's new policy website is officially live this morning as Republican leaders prepare to roll out pieces of their agenda beginning tomorrow. Give it a look: www.better.gop. Ryan will head to a rehab facility in Southeast D.C. tomorrow to unveil the agenda's anti-poverty plan.

TOEING THE TRUMP LINE: As GOP lawmakers head back into the Capitol after a blissful recess week free of nagging Hill reporters, members are going to find it increasingly difficult to separate themselves from Donald Trump's more disagreeable positions all the while continuing to back the Republican nominee. Case in point: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who on Sunday repeatedly ducked a question about whether Trump's recent comments about a federal judge were racist.

More from Kyle Cheney: "McConnell refused repeatedly Sunday to say whether Donald Trump's attack on a judge's Mexican heritage is 'racist.' Pressed by Chuck Todd in an interview on 'Meet the Press,' McConnell three times ignored a question about whether Trump's comments could be characterized as racist. 'I couldn't disagree more with the statement,' McConnell said each time he was asked." The story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a595c0fcb7fb3d22f9c161d54f048931f48291f2b611559c42c9d5924432c851

Reid jumps in: Minority Leader Harry Reid immediately seized on the moment, with his spokeswoman shooting out an email shortly after chiding McConnell for his "moral cowardice" and promising Reid would have more to say when the Senate gavels in this afternoon.

Related read: McConnell wasn't the only Republican trying to distance himself from Trump's comments this weekend. Reuters: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a595c0fcb7fb3d22aa44a42b7c539265a0f4c42f9ca3e69248dbd1563e8020c3

From the Twitterverse: Rep. Xavier Becerra, House Democratic Caucus Chair, the highest ranking Latino member of Congress and the son of an immigrant from Mexico, took to Twitter this weekend to blast Trump's comments: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a595c0fcb7fb3d22c3ce2cb665fe6bc3b119c6433e69b00495dbd1d8cf1bc0f6

DEAD MAN WALKING: Future POLITICO Nevada bureau chief Burgess Everett (I kid, I kid) brings us his latest dispatch on the effort to replace Reid and things are getting a little messy: "The retiring minority leader is hellbent on keeping his seat in Democratic hands. He controls a vaunted turnout machine in the state and has already helped gin up some $12 million to ensure Heck loses."

The money quote: "'Joe Heck is a dead man walking. I mean he really and truly is,' Reid told Burgess about the GOP nominee and current congressman. 'Here's a man that had an opportunity to be courageous. Instead he gave a big bear hug to Donald Trump.'"

Why it matters: "It's not a stretch, given Heck's party's poor prospects in other key states and the grim electoral map for Republicans, to say that the GOP congressman's performance in the race for Harry Reid's seat could decide which party controls the Senate next year."

"As if that's not pressure enough, Heck will be up against the potential first Latina senator, Catherine Cortez Masto, in a state with a surging Latino population - with Donald Trump, who polls horribly with minorities, heading the ticket." Read the full report from Henderson, Nevada: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a595c0fcb7fb3d22fe5828304975677f5772e286c519f7f69b127ded8e6805cd

HEY, HEY, IT'S MONDAY, June 6. Good morning and welcome to POLITICO's Huddle, your must-read tipsheet on all things Capitol Hill. I'm your new host, Heather, just settling in behind the wheel to guide you through this crazy thing we call Congress.

A few things you should know about me: Expect a sprinkling of my southern sass now and then-- I'm from Alabama, y'all-and to hear a lot about the greatest football team of all time, especially come September. And if you're nice, I'll throw in an occasional pic of my pup Biggie Smalls to spice things up.

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The House is dark until tomorrow. The Senate gavels in at 2 p.m. with a vote related to the defense authorization at 5:30 p.m.


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AROUND THE HILL - The sound of sensible shoes shuffling to catch that evening vote.

TRUMP TAKES SIDES IN HOUSE RACE -- The bombastic GOP nominee has decided to endorse in a congressional race for the first time and boy, did he pick a doozy: "Donald Trump has inserted himself into one of the most contentious House primaries in the country this weekend, endorsing GOP Rep. Renee Ellmers in her member-versus-member race in North Carolina. Trump makes a personal appeal to voters to back Ellmers in a robocall released Saturday." More from Elena Schneider: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eafddd7acdaddd12f47a6d66b75af9b212ee2c3188e50022812a73143b82b156

BOEHNER'S BIG BILL - Roll Call: "Former Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, may be busy commenting on the state of politics while far away from Washington, but he hasn't completely closed up shop on Capitol Hill. The speaker's post-retirement office spent nearly $100,000 from the time he left Congress last fall through the end of March, according to data from the Chief Administrative Officer of the House. The taxpayer-funded benefit for ex-speakers can't be used for political purposes, but is intended to wrap up a former speaker's congressional and constituent service." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eafddd7acdaddd129d2977fdee3d67a87dd278fe9cadd37933fd863493b4e519

RUN RUBIO RUN? Or don't, but please decide soon, says GOP- "GOP leaders' surprise move to draft Marco Rubio into the race for his Florida Senate seat has frozen the campaign in the state, throwing into jeopardy a seat the party desperately needs to maintain control of the Senate," writes Kevin Robillard.

"The Republican campaigns already running for Rubio's seat complain that the improbable move to lure the senator into the race has paralyzed donors during a crucial stretch of the electoral calendar. And it doesn't help, they say, that leaders such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are proclaiming that only Rubio can win in November, essentially warning donors not to waste their money." The story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eafddd7acdaddd1267eae020b26cb4df7d88469fd2c4253e5a1f813da85418f3

The Senate's uphill battle: Wondering just how hard it will be for Republicans to hold onto the Senate majority come November? The Hill's Alex Bolton breaks down the top ten seats most likely to flip: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eafddd7acdaddd12027154765992231c83c0dd011b6ceead1427e774739c2d3c No. 1? Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk.

TRANSITIONS: STEEL TO HAMILTON PLACE - From our friends at Playbook: Michael Steel, longtime spokesman to former House Speaker John Boehner (and recent dog theft victim), will be joining Hamilton Place Strategies as managing director. Steel most recently served as a policy and communications advisor on the Jeb Bush presidential campaign. The announcement, out this morning: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eafddd7acdaddd127d8a57a93e80483e7d2b2fbf6b3ab8d839abd5e403e80e8c

SCOOP: NEW CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAMPAIGN -- A new advocacy group meant to bulk up conservative support for criminal justice reform will officially roll out a new digital ad campaign today promoting a Senate bill that overhauls the country's sentencing laws. The digital campaign is in the high five figures and started running in key states last week. Watch the ad here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eafddd7acdaddd120185408dfd2027d9609d1f2245fae105c754e9805c0769d9 The new website: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eafddd7acdaddd12d74c2610c134e02bb2b41ced54c0fe5a7ec99b4bed5f0692

Who's backing the group: The Project for Safety & Opportunity, a new 501C4 group led by two former aides to Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas), is behind the ad.

DROP AND GIVE ME TWENTY-TWO: Do you want to see senators doing pushups? Better yet, pushups for a good cause? Of course you do. Lawmakers around Capitol Hill have been challenging each other to participate in the 22 pushup challenge to bring attention to veteran suicide prevention. Here's the latest from South Dakota Sen. John Thune, who not only rocks the challenge but does so in a cobalt blue bro tank: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eafddd7acdaddd12ad63922ccf3c304cacde0ca67a633c6ec91a1299e75e224b

CONGRATS LADY: Your Huddle host would like to send a very special congrats to colleague and star reporter Rachael Bade, who married her longtime love Alex Bishop in a beautiful ceremony this weekend and is now hopefully enjoying gelato and not checking email during a blissful two-week honeymoon. The happy couple: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eafddd7acdaddd122f6c9e1eb63210692131f985f9d36b3f13eb98d98780efc5

FRIDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Kirtan Mehta was the first to correctly name the three states that have had three female senators: Louisiana, Maine and Nebraska.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - On the eve of tomorrow's Golden State primary, Kirtan brings us today's question: In what year did the Democrats last secure their nominee as a result of the California primary and who was that person? The first person to correctly answer will get a mention in tomorrow's Huddle. Email me: hcaygle@politico.com

HELP YOUR HUDDLE HOST -- Know any hot gossip, scoops, tips or transitions happening on the Hill? Send 'em my way hcaygle@politico.com.

POLITICO AT CONVENTIONS - Live programming originating from the POLITICO Hub during both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions this July will feature a range of conversations from headline interviews and policy discussions to watch parties and performances. Sign up to receive notifications about live programming: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eafddd7acdaddd12c4846cb7d85ef6f776aec2e6f1ae2e531de33fed4bac54e3

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