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01/28/2019 08:07 AM EDT

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


With an assist from John Bresnahan

GOVERNMENT FUNDING TALKS, ROUND TWO -- Now that the government has been temporarily reopened, what comes next? Congress has already agreed to go to conference, setting the stage for formal negotiations over a border security package. A senior aide said the first meeting is expected to take place Wednesday. Here's what you need to know:

The deadline: President Donald Trump signed a stopgap spending bill on Friday that will keep the government funded until Feb. 15. If lawmakers cannot come to an agreement that satisfies Trump by then, the president has threatened to either shutter the government again or bypass Congress by declaring a national emergency. "The president's commitment is to defend the nation, and he will do it either with or without Congress," Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, told "Fox News Sunday."

The conferees: Seven senators were named to negotiate a Department of Homeland Security funding bill: Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.).

And the House named 10 lawmakers: Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) David Price (D-N.C.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Kay Granger (R-Texas), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Tom Graves (R-Ga.) and Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.).

The sticking points: The biggest hurdle, of course, will come over the border wall. Democrats were drafting a proposal last week that would have provided over $5 billion for border security, but no new wall. Will Trump accept something like new fencing and "smart wall" technology instead? And will Democrats demand permanent relief for certain undocumented immigrants? Also watch out for progressives to make noise if negotiators try to increase the number of detention beds or border patrols agents, while conservatives may push for more restrictions on asylum seekers.

Related read: "Trump Skeptical He Would Accept Any Congressional Border Deal," from Peter Nicholas and Kristina Peterson at The Wall Street Journal: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c924fca92216c2072e1d5019f1e1c7b12b40abf320b435c8e083b90c573927206653541b7901a7745e0

SCHEDULING SOTU -- Trump's State of the Union address will not take place on its originally scheduled date of Jan. 29. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) canceled the speech, citing security concerns due to the shutdown. Even though the government reopened Friday, it would have been logistically challenging to prepare for an address tomorrow on such short notice. Pelosi said she and Trump will now "discuss a mutually agreeable date." But it remains to be seen if she will allow SOTU to happen before the next government funding deadline lapses.

Related: "'She's not one to bluff': How Pelosi won the shutdown battle," the tic-toc from Rachael, Heather and Bres: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c927ec3285c3efa0da2beb745d43c512ad15396924ad7791ea73eda0e3e77ba30c32999aa77c106412a

BACK TO BUSINESS -- Lawmakers are eager to roll up their sleeves and get to work on other legislative priorities now that the government is open, reports Nicholas Fandos for The New York Times. The new Congress has been completely consumed by the shutdown thus far, with dozens of freshmen who have only served while government agencies are closed. In the House, lawmakers plan to shift their attention to oversight and legislation closing the gender wage gap, while the Senate will focus on a Middle East policy bill and confirming Trump's nominees. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c927b615fcdf91608a86f54f6d6948cf5b79504d29c21ff88d99c049a202b3a246f8bb5b96b18b833bc

Related: "'Mean as a Snake': When President Trump Met the Real Mitch McConnell," an exclusive excerpt from the book "Team of Vipers" by Cliff Sims: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c927d50b17a1608cf0fc238920cdda01e30d018841428bafdce51a8dd4c0900faf9caceea43ecd7babe

HAPPY MONDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Jan. 28, where we're holding out hope for a freshman class dance battle between New York Democrats Max Rose and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

FRIDAY'S MOST CLICKED: CNN's report on the White House's emergency declaration draft was the big 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 **


OVERSIGHT ALERT -- With the partial government shutdown finally over - at least temporarily - House Democrats can launch into what they really want to do during the 116th Congress: oversight of President Trump.

The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday to review the "Department of Defense's Support to the Southern Border." Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chairman of the panel, says Trump's desire to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border is "rooted in xenophobia and racism," and he wants to look into the president's decision to send Army troops to the region.

Also on Tuesday, the Oversight and Reform Committee will hold a hearing "Examining the Actions of Drug Companies in Raising Prescription Drug Prices," while the Ways and Means Committee looks at "Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions." Both were big issues on the campaign trail last year.

Finally, on Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing "Examining the 'Trump Shutdown's devastating impact on federal workers, public health, the environment and consumers."

Related read: "Americans support investigating Trump, but many are skeptical that inquiries will be fair, new poll finds," via The Washington Post: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c922034fec6a2194fcf210571799fd527580f04cfad99af81bb09b8e79ef80810f913db5b09f655734a

WALTER JONES IN HOSPICE -- Some sad news out of North Carolina. Longtime GOP Rep. Walter Jones has entered hospice care, his office confirmed over the weekend. Jones, who hasn't attended House votes since September due to his health, broke his hip last week. The 75-year-old was elected to his 13th term in Congress in November, which he said would be his last before retirement. "The family asks for your prayers, and for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time," his office said in a statement. More from the News Observer: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c92080a3e13009d44a706c1cfdfd60a739af54d2e8d8fce1e8e6e2deba1eccd01de1a92cfb8216e31c9

DEMS REACT TO STONE -- House Democrats resisted using the "I" word in reaction to the indictment of Trump's longtime adviser Roger Stone, with House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) saying it is "certainly not appropriate right now" to launch impeachment proceedings against Trump. But Pelosi, who has set a high bar for impeachment, used her strongest language yet to condemn Stone, saying there clearly was a "deliberate, coordinated attempt by top Trump campaign officials to influence the 2016 election and subvert the will of the American people." The Speaker's full statement: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c92b43f9e0fffdd8962bd6ed3505de700ecf62b627ff4cdd94ad8fb129c1f5c5ad3f8f95fe7aea1e1f8

Related: "'Unless you support impeachment, we're not supporting you,'" via Maggie Severns: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c925aed01f6145ae4be2d0c0037c4cc4f6401edcc78c198dd7625ad1bd2f562a84b6e30f7dca51f34b5

STEVE KING SPEAKS -- Rep. Steve King held his first town hall since his interview with The New York Times in which he defended white nationalism and white supremacy, which was formally condemned by the House. But despite the controversy, many town hall attendees expressed support for King, according to the Des Moines Register, though some people pressed him over getting kicked off his committee assignments. King, who narrowly won reelection last fall, said being on a committee means less in the minority, adding he was at "peace" with the situation. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c922bbe0e499dcb10bf58d78939de16eb61c9176a9bd0b755bad0cb620d9fa57fe4126ecf33933fd27d

CHC LOOKS TO FLEX ITS MUSCLE -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is eyeing a bigger role in the new Democratic majority, reports The Hill's Juliegrace Brufke. The powerful group has grown its ranks from 30 to 38, with two of its veteran members securing committee gavels. They also have some new star power after welcoming freshman firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) into the caucus. And with immigration issues front and center during the Trump presidency, the CHC is ready to be a key player in the fight. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c92b1c93658f23f6465a64b41e4fd2fed91968a817808ad1c1517744399f76a9f66525c4c1bf5dcf1cf

KAMALA KICKS OFF 2020 -- Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) officially launched her presidential bid on Sunday during a raucous rally in her hometown of Oakland, Calif. The former state attorney general promised to fight for progressive causes and took aim at Trump, saying she would end the politics of divisions and only speak the truth. Harris also called out the administration for "bullying and attacking a free press" and putting "children in cages crying for their mothers and fathers," though she never mentioned Trump by name. Much more from Christopher Cadelago and Carla Marinucci: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c92b5a6730dd6b384f654b163d539dba9b68165acf156bdb8a7ecdc861bfea002cacfc50b3388abbbc0

Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is planning to soon announce his 2020 bid, according to Yahoo News. The Vermont senator was reportedly encouraged by recent polls that show him leading a crowded primary field and performing well with African American and Latino voters, whom he struggled with in 2016. More from Hunter Walker: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c92b5dbf062fb0498f4a10b8279e62b4c029d72ec20ac2efc4326aa1412f3e1990ddc43863f09543026

Related reads: "Brown says he could beat Trump in Ohio, New York in 2020," via The Hill's Michael Burke: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c9203b040737a2c58bc209c7a36a3e5fe21b7a0480d2f4e6264a4acd4124109c4e0bada9066eacefba4 and "Beto O'Rourke says 2020 decision could be months away," by David Siders: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c92afea14001eb76aaf0a8d3af90e1c43f10126ca67b5814e8302eea918a708d5e7181544c6df07a1e7

KELLI WARD TO LEAD ARIZONA GOP -- In an upset victory, conservative Kelli Ward has been elected to chair the Arizona GOP, reports AZCentral.com. Ward, a right-wing Trump supporter and former state lawmaker, unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate twice. Ward lost a primary challenge against late Sen. John McCain (R) in 2016, and lost against in the 2018 primary race to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Flake (R). Arizona has been growing increasingly purple in recent years, with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema becoming the first Democrat elected to the state in three decades. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c9284c55bce7f8c40e1d59c7572533d17673e9e087ba76da0cd3dd7419b400f82388e5d7e90d321a4c0
TRANSITIONS
Laura Driscoll is now a senior legislative assistant for Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-N.Y.). She previously was a legislative aide for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

Matt Whitlock will join the National Republican Senatorial Committee as a senior adviser for communications and digital for the 2020 cycle. He previously worked for Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah.).

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) announced several committee moves: Wicker telecom aide Olivia Trusty has been named the panel's policy director overseeing telecom and consumer protection subcommittees, while longtime committee staffer Crystal Tully has been retained as deputy staff director.
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House gavels in at noon, with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3f978d8aa9ce7c92694adf606b0dec0bf7de0df58ba47bb22a06b28dd00fe518f310646465198176dade55088fdb0ebb The Senate will meet at 3 p.m. to resume consideration of S. 1. At 5:30 p.m., senators will take a procedural vote on the motion to proceed.
AROUND THE HILL
Nada. It's a fly-in day.
TRIVIA
FRIDAY'S WINNER -- Kirtan Metha was the first person to guess that Michael Dukakis was a candidate for president the same year that his cousin, Olympia Dukakis, won an Academy Award for her role in "Moonstruck."

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From me: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was a bartender before she was elected to Congress. Who was the only U.S. president to be a licensed bartender? 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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