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02/06/2019 08:08 AM EDT

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


DEMS SOUR OVER SOTU -- President Donald Trump called for unity and compromise during his State of the Union address last night. But the divisive moments of his speech - in which he bashed the Russia probe, called for a new abortion ban and ramped up his hard-line immigration rhetoric - left Democrats with little appetite to work with the president on his top priorities.

On border security, Trump urged Congress to build a wall and stoked fears about a "migrant caravan" headed for the United States, earning a smattering of boos from Democrats. The rhetoric did little to move the needle on the border security talks that are currently underway on Capitol Hill. "I don't think he said anything in there that helped the conference committee," said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill). Negotiators, who will receive a classified briefing on border security today, are already privately discussing a stop-gap spending bill if they can't reach a deal by the Feb. 15 deadline. Heather and Burgess with the latest on the border talks:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8e2265abf073ccc0926c6f87e06efb1b08ec96cba51ac8b7d027c48f2fb54bc6dc5a258d87c4465b338b6e7576862948

On more bipartisan issues like infrastructure and prescription drug prices, Trump offered very few details about his plans, which made Democrats feel like the outreach was insincere. "I heard no unity tonight. Even the issues on which I think there should be a bipartisan basis... we heard no details and no plan," said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). "We heard the same empty campaign style rhetoric we've heard before." More from Burgess, Heather and Bres on the Dem reaction: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8e2265abf073ccc0b9e819961adabfbd530245debc72216ef106ac445f500148effded1fecd33f42049e69266c910d40

And Democrats were infuriated by Trump's jabs at "ridiculous partisan investigations", with the president saying there cannot be "peace and legislation" if there is "war and investigation" The attacks, which Democrats called "shameful" and "an outrage," could further embolden lawmakers who are vowing to conduct rigorous oversight of the administration. Andrew with the dispatch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8e2265abf073ccc0e12b9c2e7330b48e037b3d6e6206c60b897d565ff44ef37172f80957ad92bc256b816a2e9680ea49

At one point, Ohio Democrat Marcy Kaptur, when asked by a colleague what she thought of the speech, gave two thumbs down and then pressed her fingers to her temples as if she were in pain. "Who wrote that speech?" she said.

STANDOUT SOTU MOMENT -- Democratic women, dressed in a sea of white to honor the suffragette movement, erupted into cheers, applause and even a few dance moves after Trump said that "women have filled 58 percent of the newly-created jobs," which seemed to catch the president by surprise. "You weren't supposed to do that!" Trump said. Democrats, however, took the line personally, pointing at all the female freshmen who were historically elected to new jobs Congress. "He did not get what we were doing," Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) said after the speech.

Another interesting tidbit: Your Huddle host was told that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was planning to introduce the president before his address, just like former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) did in 2018. But Trump blew right through it, and began his speech without her. It's unclear if the move was intentional or accidental.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Feb. 6, where your host can't stop watching this GIF of Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) raising the roof when Trump highlighted the record-breaking number of women serving in Congress.

TUESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The Intercept's report on a top Pelosi aide telling insurance execs not to worry about Democrats pushing "Medicare for All" was by far the winner.

** A message from EMD Serono: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is up to three times more common in women. At EMD Serono, we're committed to helping these women. See how we're working to help women with MS. **


WARREN IN HOT WATER OVER HERITAGE, AGAIN -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) identified herself as "American Indian" on her registration card for the State Bar of Texas in 1986, reports The Washington Post. The revelation could further complicate Warren's presidential bid, which she is expected to officially launch on Saturday. Warren has struggled to quiet the controversy over her purported heritage, even taking a DNA test last year to prove she had some Native-American ancestry. But the move left a bad taste in some people's mouths. Much more from Annie Linskey and Amy Gardner: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8e2265abf073ccc01667831c84447a10b17a37ae11e8edc16bc4ccb8e32ed5552a42c1ec56240e5968d2a39a543349f1

DEMS TO TAKE FIRST STEP ON GUN CONTROL -- For the first time in nearly a decade, the House will hold a hearing on gun violence today. The meeting comes nearly one year after a fatal mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., which the GOP-controlled House responded to by passing legislation to enhance school safety. But now that Democrats are in charge, they are planning to make gun control a top priority.

Among their first orders of business: Leadership plans to advance a bill later this month that would require universal background checks for all firearm sales. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has also introduced legislation to raise the minimum age to buy assault rifles from 18 to 21, an idea Trump has supported in the past and which could also move in the House. But first, the House Judiciary Committee will hear Wednesday from shooting survivors, medical professionals, law enforcement and gun control advocates about how best to end the scourge of gun violence.

SENATE GOP BUCKS TRUMP ON SYRIA -- The Senate passed a Middle East policy bill on Tuesday that includes an amendment disapproving of Trump's decision to pull troops out of Syria and Afghanistan - moves Trump defended during his SOTU speech. While the non-binding amendment was largely symbolic, it represents one of the most significant foreign policy breaks with Trump among the GOP. Also in the bill: new Syria sanctions and a provision to punish businesses that take part in boycotts, divestments or sanctions of Israel. More from Marianne: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8e2265abf073ccc063a3bc9758a8ef2e6d072f0386f01e8a09a9f31ae6ae0a330f2a2eac744546b66201289aaa85aede

DEMS MULL MUELLER BILLS -- Democrats have two main priorities when it comes to the Russia probe: protect the work of special counsel Robert Mueller and ensure that his final report is made public. But House lawmakers are still weighing whether to pass two separate pieces of legislation or combine them into one single package. One reason for keeping them separate is that there is more support among Senate Republicans for disclosing the Mueller report than there is for the protect-Mueller legislation, so a standalone bill might have a better shot at success in the upper chamber. Andrew and Marianne with the latest: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8e2265abf073ccc01eec01b92438f5e8e8b9a4bd511c44bfe331c98db73f3be073be9803fff7d21c7688166218408e55

NADLER WANTS BACK-POCKET SUBPOENA -- Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has agreed to testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Friday - but chairman Jerry Nadler wants a back-up plan just in case he backs out. The New York Democrat announced that his panel will vote Thursday on issuing a subpoena for Whitaker out of "an abundance of caution." Democrats are itching to grill Whitaker over the Russia probe during the high-profile hearing. But Republicans are crying foul over the subpoena, saying there is no reason to believe Whitaker will be a no-show and accusing Nadler of playing political games. More from Andrew: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8e2265abf073ccc01eec7d475e1a23c5a2579754e7b205736cb739fa2d6d654f719a7ebbedc807f060c5290c6c79a359

Related: "GOP presses for own oversight role as House Democrats investigate," via Zachary Warmbrodt: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8e2265abf073ccc024bbf5ddcca5d90676cc04baf8b0d7aada0d5715db2ae39a93fa6055cbf2225fc28c789863939d0f

TRUMP NOMINEE UPDATES -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Tuesday agreed to advance the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to lead the EPA, despite Democratic opposition over his lobbyist past. Meanwhile, Neomi Rao, Trump's pick to replace Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Rao was grilled by Democrats over her past controversial writings from college on date rape, among other things. More from Marianne: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8e2265abf073ccc07b55016fa389730dfc2cc6e12f06704bf9f914d8f360a5575b9d1f6981614801673e4eecc6f0637a

2020 WATCH: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said she will announce her presidential plans in Minnesota on Sunday, while former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) said in an interview with Oprah that he will make a decision by the end of this month.
TRANSITIONS
Jeff Marschner is now director of media relations for the Hoover Institute. He previously was chief of staff and communications director for former Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.).

Jeff Urbanchuk is joining The American Council of Engineering Companies as a director of strategic communications. He previously served as deputy communications director for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee under former Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.).
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House gavels in at 10 a.m., with first and last votes expected between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8e2265abf073ccc028292bd8cd3330a262f675ede36bf76a8b0bc97756147f0bc58c352ff8906a483a46bb0f6f4ea992 The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of S. 47.
AROUND THE HILL
The House Democratic Caucus will hold a closed-door meeting at 9 a.m. in HC-5.

The House GOP caucus will meet behind closed doors at 9 a.m. in HVC-215.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Vice Chair Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) hold a weekly press conference at 10:15 a.m. in HC-8.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and GOP leaders hold a weekly press conference at 11 a.m. in HVC Studio A.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds a pen and pad briefing with reporters at 11:00 a.m. in his Capitol office, H-107.

Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) hold a press briefing on tariffs at 12 p.m. in S.D. 608.

Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) hold a press briefing to urge against plastic waste flowing into the ocean at 12:30 p.m. at SVC-202.
TRIVIA
TUESDAY'S WINNER -- Natalie Pavlatos was the first to correctly guess that Teddy Roosevelt delivered his "Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick" speech at the Minnesota State Fair.

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From Natalie: Which former U.S. Senator also served as Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast from 1999 to 2009? 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.

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