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05/02/2018 07:59 AM EDT


By Nolan D. McCaskill (nmccaskill@politico.com or @NolanDMcCaskill)

PELOSI'S CONFIDENCE -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is supremely confident that Democrats will win the House and she will become speaker. "I feel confident about it. And my members do, too," said Pelosi, who was in Boston for a fundraiser held by Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.). She told The Boston Globe it's important that there aren't "five white guys at the table" -- Pelosi is the only female leader at "Big Four" meetings with President Donald Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) -- and said, "I have no intention of walking away from that table."

"Pelosi's determination to hang on could not delight Republicans more," The Globe's Liz Goodwin reports. "The GOP, desperate to stave off a blue wave in November, is pounding Democrats in swing districts by linking them to the 78-year-old former speaker, who guided the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street overhaul through Congress during Barack Obama's first term." Some congressional Democrats, however, want fresher faces in leadership -- the top three Democratic leaders in the House are septuagenarians -- and a growing number of Democratic candidates have run races vowing to oppose Pelosi as the House Democratic leader. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d202acc64463524800032a917b23f043dd163f564274d0cb7159524eb9c1573cce39cf2cbe7d37329


Related: "Pelosi says she'll run for speaker, as more swing-district Democrats look for alternative," by The Washington Post's David Weigel: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d2ead2bd6a998be689a62bdc6180b0fb5a80d740c7777280c252d3f5112eadd6973844feba5edf292

TRUMP LITMUS TEST HITS GOP PRIMARIES -- Past criticisms against now-President Donald Trump are haunting some Republican congressional campaigns. "Hundreds of Republican primaries are just ahead on the 2018 calendar, and after watching Trump play a huge role in special primaries last year, GOP candidates have seen the power of dredging up an opponent's old comments opposing the president before he was the party standard bearer," Elena Schneider reports, pointing out that Rep. Mo Brooks' (R-Ala.) past statements sunk his Alabama Senate campaign. "And other candidates think it could be a poison pill for their opponents, too."

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) and Scott Baugh are calling each other a "Never Trumper," with Baugh's campaign highlighting that Rohrabacher said during the 2016 GOP primary, "I can't support a man who is a mean, nasty SOB." And in Texas, a super PAC is attacking Republican Dan Crenshaw for using the words "insane," "hateful" and "idiot" to describe Trump in 2015. And in Indiana's GOP Senate primary, in which three candidates are lining up behind Trump, the front-runner is deriding Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) as "Todd the Fraud" because he wore a "Make America Great Again" cap in an ad but had once called Trump "vulgar." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80dd2578783d45d017c530d94558cbe4cd3071c970f4a08c366e6ad492334667d18302acb0a3f8fdbc1

Related read: "Indiana candidate's rhetoric, business record don't line up," by The Associated Press' Brian Slodysko: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d9294f49504963ac7cb673cdd104b7c16ff7ea6a0fbd93a222a827b5bb292e9de8e3d56c900a3a925

** A message from the Association of American Railroads: The Association of American Railroads wanted to park a modern locomotive in the Rayburn Foyer. Turns out there are rules against that. So we're bringing you the next best thing. Find out what on May 15. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80de7854decb4ec023b264a3501c9be964f923e10480d4da4c113c9a9680139499116d6a4224ef3ddbb **

THE GOP'S NASTIEST CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY -- The New York primary is nearly two months away, but the race between Rep. Dan Donovan (R-N.Y.) and former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) in the 11th Congressional District has already devolved into "a smash-mouth contest featuring name-calling, accusations of dirty tricks, lies and dishonesty," Laura Nahmias reports. The candidates have nicknamed each other "Desperate Dan," "Dishonest Dan" and the "convict congressman." Donovan accuses Grimm of filing a complaint alleging that he interfered in the 2015 arrest of his fiancée's son and using a "dirty trick" to try to get him booted from the New York state Reform Party's ballot line.

Grimm says Donovan "is the one getting nasty." But Donovan, who released a 60-second radio ad that begins with the recitation of Grimm's inmate number, says it's his opponent who's set the tone for the campaign. Grimm established a centrist record in his two terms in Congress but is running for his old seat as a Trump-style populist. He's still popular in the district but has roughly half of the nearly $740,000 Donovan had on hand at the end of the first quarter. Still, the NRCC designated Donovan one of three incumbents in its "Primary Patriots Program" for members facing strong primary challengers. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80dde3fc1898f46a51ee4cfc61e1113a2908488dd66c73119a1d2e3f5b13442be637396404f7b751640

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TUESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Republican West Virginia Senate candidate Don Blankenship's "Cocaine Mitch" ad was the winner.

TRUMP TO MEET WITH JEFF MILLER FOR VA TALKS -- Trump is expected to meet this week with former Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), a past House Veterans' Affairs Committee chairman who is being considered as a potential VA secretary nominee. Miller "has been discussed as a potential successor to ousted VA Secretary David Shulkin given his experience on the House panel and the likelihood that he would avoid major controversy during the Senate confirmation process," the Washington Examiner's Gabby Morrongiello reports. "He also served as an informal adviser to then-candidate Trump on veterans issues during the 2016 election, and was heavily involved in drafting a white paper on VA reforms that the
Trump campaign issued months before the election." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d6804f04520bb51c366dd9305104f52b808747dc396be56e3c42d0200b2bf76f353db1083019abf4a

Related: "White House poised for more chaos over Veterans Affairs pick," via CNN: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80dd8bca569ace91817d055e89e9527db1f39a7c9c704bc35d43fd660053088ce6ad32706146be6858e

TRUMP'S TESTER TAKEDOWN -- The pro-Trump super PAC America First Action is out with a new TV ad targeting "disgraceful" and "dishonest" Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) for his role in Ronny Jackson's withdrawn nomination to be VA secretary. "Jon Tester spread false information about a respected Navy admiral, helping D.C. Democrats derail President Trump's Veterans Affairs nominee," the ad alleges. The 30-second spot adds that Tester "betrayed out trust, our veterans and our president" -- and "it's time for him to go." America First Action is spending roughly $344,000 to run the ad on Fox News and broadcast stations throughout Montana. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d3f62841021c0f3e7775b5e3c6740d693c1a0e87f199ac0ed2f5790298c76a23902c10a69fae312b8 the
ad: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80da1e687d668a65743adcba0e76db60b14737489c4a8c8ea20b93dcdb596d7a32828182afcde129e4e

FEINSTEIN FINDS NEW POSITION ON MARIJUANA -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) no longer opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana. Her office says her views changed after meeting with constituents, including those with young children who have benefited from the use of medical marijuana. But the shift comes "in the middle of a 2018 campaign for her seat in a state that has settled into the legal pot market," McClatchy's Kate Irby reports. "My state has legalized marijuana for personal use, and as California continues to implement this law, we need to ensure we have strong safety rules to prevent impaired driving and youth access, similar to other public health issues like alcohol,"
Feinstein said.

Feinstein signaled possible support for Sen. Cory Gardner's (R-Colo.) bill, which would leave the choice of legalization to the states. "Its passage would be significant even in states such as California that have already legalized pot, easing the banking issues plaguing the industry and generally providing more stability," Irby adds. "Those running marijuana dispensaries typically have to deal largely in cash, and cannot use most banking services. Banks fear federal penalties if they work with an illegal industry." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80dbd8a495add15b1a5471686e9968406be964b2b713302d66965798d44fa61e7c67a93acefc80c6a3e

CIA RELEASES TIMELINE OF HASPEL'S CAREER -- The CIA has released a broad timeline of Deputy Director Gina Haspel's career, a move that has only fueled pushback from liberal and human rights groups incensed by her role in the George W. Bush administration's use of interrogation tactics on detained terrorist suspects. "The latest two-page CIA timeline offers basic job titles for Haspel ahead of her May 9 confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee," Elana reports. "Its release follows the declassification of an internal 2011 memo that absolved her of impropriety in the destruction of videotapes said to have shown waterboarding and other instances of torture later outlawed by
Congress." That memo, however, hasn't won Haspel any swing votes in her bid to become CIA director. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d2702f869e9c44425f55046c4a6f8cd823e2c811c2cb5689d0c3306e60393d34e8c344d2f710dad9a

LAMBORN BACK ON BALLOT -- A federal judge ruled that Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) should be back on the ballot for the state's June 26 primary. The state Supreme Court had kicked Lamborn off the ballot after a lawsuit alleged that the six-term congressman had violated rules by using out-of-state residents to secure signatures. "At issue was the method in which Lamborn qualified for the primary," The Denver Post's Mark K. Matthews reports. "Under Colorado law, prospective members of Congress can get their names on the ballot by gathering 1,000 signatures from fellow party members in the district they want to represent -- so long as the campaign workers gathering the signatures are state
residents." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80dbb422862f3a1e5b58d75471a92f7761f0577061288aa8d0beeac437ea8428f4fcc06b23d615738ee

DEMS RUN ON OBAMACARE AFTER FAILED GOP REPEAL ATTEMPTS -- Remember when Republicans tried to repeal and replace Obamacare last year? Democrats do, and they plan to remind voters. "After years of playing defense on health care, Democratic candidates have made it a top issue this election cycle," USA Today's Nicole Gaudiano and Eliza Collins report. "They are pledging to fix the flaws in Obamacare while targeting Republican attempts to 'sabotage' it and take coverage away. And grassroots organizations that protested Republican efforts are keeping up the pressure with events planned around the anniversary." Friday marks the anniversary of House Republicans' vote to repeal and replace
Obamacare, a months-long effort that ultimately cleared the chamber but never passed the Senate. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d7168da0f55bcc208de5896921645ecc8c28f6bd51958c892957791a8a86d7ffe9c502df7859d9273

Related read: "Chuck Schumer: The GOP owns Obamacare's troubles," from the Washington Examiner's Susan Ferrechio: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d1b788935777fbe356bf23980484d4ad78b8d77ace5349ee7606b3e9c73de0ddbc2c8dc15d82aac09

GRAYSON WILL CHALLENGE SOTO IN FLORIDA PRIMARY -- Former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) says he will run against his successor, Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), in Florida's 9th Congressional District. Grayson told an Orlando TV station he could "run anywhere in the state" and doesn't "need anyone's permission to run for office." But the DCCC quickly expressed support for Soto, saying the incumbent "will run a winning campaign." "Grayson has high name ID in the district and more money than Soto," Marc Caputo reports. "Independently wealthy and an effective online fundraiser, Grayson reported $700,000 cash on hand in his open congressional campaign account as of March 31. For the same time period,
Soto had $365,000 in the bank." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d5c58194b70e7afc20b4168808ee6c82b26122269dfc00af9d7a5421068553a1ec59638f32f92f837

MUELLER INTERESTED IN GOP PLATFORM CHANGE -- Special counsel Robert Mueller wants to ask the president about a change to the 2016 Republican Party language about Russia and Ukraine, something Trump has said he had no role in. "Mueller's continued interest in the matter contrasts with House Republican investigators, who rejected the idea that the platform had been weakened 'as a favor to Russia or perhaps for some other nefarious motive,'" Kyle reports. "It's unclear whether Mueller has any specific reason to doubt Trump's denial, but he has access to documents and witnesses never consulted by the House Intelligence Committee, which last week released its final report on Russian election
interference." Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80df7ecce53cc57db26a69c28d3725c51a5d7e7332c37b09dc88f4901504f7b3971a43bd250e32f318f

Related: "Why firing Mueller won't end the Russia investigation," from Darren Samuelsohn: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d10de950d5c173fbe27b500cb6770f1b6d5477259c9c3105769dc92133778db1720f941dc21263ad6 and "Michael Caputo slams Senate intel panel in interview," per CNN's Jim Acosta and Jeremy Herb: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d13c501e77ba33940726c32312b52d2b50dbd56748527a22e73ecec4c088b9a452568275243e9fce9

TRANSITIONS -- Rebecca Glover is heading to the Commerce Department as director of public affairs from Sen. Richard Burr's (R-N.C.) office, where she aided his Senate reelection and served as Senate Intelligence Committee spokeswoman for three years. She was previously a spokeswoman and later communications director for the House Oversight Committee.

ENGAGED -- Julius West, senior adviser to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), proposed Monday night to Kemah Dennis-Morial, director of member services for the Congressional Black Caucus. "We were introduced by a mutual friend, Rhonda Foxx, who connected us for an informational interview when I first arrived on the Hill. We reconnected a few years later at Rhonda's birthday party where we hit it off." Pic http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80d0cbf28ab0eae7d36a9e05c1a7cf9e9b4409b283285e8bee1922612c0808141ba77f8a17b359a788d

TODAY IN CONGRESS -- The House and Senate are out.

AROUND THE HILL -- Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser will hold a news conference with a coalition of national and local organizations to discuss effort to protect D.C.'s local laws during the fiscal year 2019 appropriations process at 11:30 a.m. in HVC-215.

TUESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER -- Ray Salazar was first to correctly guess that former Rep. Jerry Weller of Illinois married Zury Ríos Sosa, whose father was Guatemalan dictator Efraín Ríos Montt.

TODAY'S TRIVIA -- Who was the first president to be given a Secret Service code name, and what was it? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: nmccaskill@politico.com.

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Turns out the answer was in front of our eyes. And we'll put it in front of yours. One day only, at the Rayburn Foyer, May 15. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9315bad09053a80de7854decb4ec023b264a3501c9be964f923e10480d4da4c113c9a9680139499116d6a4224ef3ddbb **

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