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03/05/2018 07:45 AM EDT


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

TARIFFS EXPECTED THIS WEEK -- President Donald Trump is poised to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports -- and possibly European cars -- this week, despite threats of retaliation from around the world and opposition from within his own party. And there will be no exceptions, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and White House trade officer Peter Navarro said Sunday. "Trump is imposing the tariffs as a result of a nine-month investigation that found that current volumes of steel and aluminum imports are a threat to national security because they undermine the long-term viability of both industries," Doug Palmer and Zachary Warmbrodt report. "But most other nations see that as a thinly
disguised excuse to take protectionist measures."

"His announcement that he planned to impose tariffs came amid a bitter fight inside the White House between officials who believe in free trade, as many Republicans do, and those who want to aggressively crack down on what they see as unfair practices," they continue. "Despite the strong commentary from Navarro and Ross on Sunday, the free-trade types inside the administration, led by National Economic Council director Gary Cohn, hope they still have time to change Trump's mind, according to people close to them." In the end, though, officials believe the president will allow exemptions and not impose tariffs across the board. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481c19ef4b0402356187e9def2168ae54ae88d35ddc273c0d5971c73eb25e4d1fdc16e823997707a513

The latest: Trump signaled via Twitter this morning that Canada and Mexico will be exempt from tariffs only if a "new & fair NAFTA agreement is signed."

Related: "Trump was angry and 'unglued' when he started a trade war, officials say," by NBC News' Stephanie Ruhle and Peter Alexander: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481142c9bacb46ca148f76f94871a161791973a1c64af675d41c61a0a2a9104fdda54ccb84d1d7b4d4b and "As Congress moves to drop tariffs, some U.S. firms cry foul," from Reuters' Andy Sullivan: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481bb88d58e4bd2738a5d26ee43f117d91b8e9fc6e580fbe522ad9583d01599fa5c9503f8c8d44da4b2

TARIFFS COULD TEAR UP GOP MAJORITIES -- Some Republican lawmakers and strategists fear the president's proposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum imports will undermine their effort to maintain their majorities in Congress. "Republicans plan to brag about the economy in midterm campaigns in hopes of countering Trump's unpopularity, touting a strong stock market, low unemployment rate and -- most importantly -- their increasingly popular tax legislation," Rachael and Burgess report. "But Trump's suggestion Saturday that he might slap penalties on European cars, in addition to the tariffs on aluminum and steel he already promised, could upend that strategy completely,
Republicans say."

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) warned that "American manufacturers, businesses and consumers would be forced to bear the brunt" if the administration moves forward with the tariffs. "Such action could very well undercut the benefits of the pro-growth tax reform we fought to get on the books," Hatch said. "The clash suggests that what might be good politics for Trump personally might not work for the entire party," Rachael and Burgess write. "While narrow action directed at China alone might be well received, two top Republican congressional campaign sources said any broader trade actions -- such as what Trump is floating now -- could be devastating."

Congressional Republicans can do little, if anything, to stop Trump. "While they're relatively accustomed to a president whose views don't always align with their own, they don't usually panic because they can simply refuse to pass legislation to make most significant policy changes," they add. "On trade, however, Trump can do as he pleases -- sans Congress." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481f0730b07c2cc06490ed2b9dcfba1a2aa1a8892f2cdf2453f8405fd6162fa1aff5dbf3f59e10eb6ed

SENATE TAKING UP BANKING BILL THIS WEEK -- The Senate is poised to pass a bill this week that would relax key banking regulations, despite opposition from liberal lawmakers such as Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). "For the bill's supporters, the legislation is a chance to show voters that it's still possible to get things done in an often paralyzed Congress," Zachary Warmbrodt reports. "They include at least 12 Democrats, several of whom face tough reelection campaigns in states that President Donald Trump won in 2016." Supporters say the bill would right-size post-financial crisis rules imposed on small and regional lenders, making it easier for them to provide credit.

Most Democrats, however, are expected to oppose the measure. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced his opposition Friday. Yet Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) predicts the chamber will pass the legislation with between 65 and 70 votes. "The bill marks the biggest legislative change to banking industry oversight since Democrats enacted the Dodd-Frank Act, the historic 2010 law that imposed reams of new rules on lenders after the global financial crisis," he notes. "The first procedural vote on the bill is scheduled for Tuesday." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481351cdbe42beaf47cf8ecbcb0b840b770c3b71d00c448ea58739c434021c51984795861b67a3e5bc2

HAPPY MONDAY! Thanks for reading Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this March 5.

FRIDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Michael Kruse's dispatch from West Virginia on Democratic congressional candidate Richard Ojeda was the winner.

REMEMBER WHEN -- Today was once considered Congress' deadline to pass a legislative solution to shield Dreamers from deportation. Trump announced in September that he was rescinding the Obama-era DACA program, effective today, but courts have rendered that date useless. "On Feb. 26, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the administration's unusual request to intervene, which would have leapfrogged the appeals court," Elliot Spagat reports for The Associated Press. "The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals put its review of [U.S. District Judge William] Alsup's decision on fast track, but legal experts don't expect a decision until June at the earliest. From there, it is expected to go to the Supreme
Court, likely keeping DACA alive through November midterm elections."

Advocates are using today's deadline to pressure the White House and Congress for permanent protection. The ACLU said it's launched six-figure ad buys with United We Dream and MoveOn.org. "Congress must pass a spending bill by March 23 to keep the government running, giving Democrats a chance to condition support on a DACA bill," Spagat adds. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a48179a8eee81cca385eecf6e8ae6836e908689c829d4f330b5e082f47c9a54ea9083db31a25fdf705f4

DEMS LEARN FROM IMMIGRATION AS THEY TAKE ON GUNS -- Though Democrats failed to strike a DACA deal with the president, they've learned their lesson. "Democratic leaders are working closely with rank-and-file lawmakers and activists, taking steps to stay unified on guns and avoid the kind of strategic lurches that fueled the failed fight over Dreamers," Elana and Heather report. "So Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are acknowledging that big-ticket gun control is probably a non-starter in Congress, given entrenched opposition among Republicans. Instead, they're working to seize on the mounting public outrage and press their advantage by stoking big turnouts to demonstrations later this month
planned by survivors of the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida."

Democrats know they can't rely too heavily on Trump, who expressed support for expansive gun control last week before meeting with top NRA lobbyist Chris Cox. And this time around, Democrats are finding their intraparty dynamic easier to navigate than they did on immigration. "In both the House and Senate, party leaders are pushing expanded background checks as a bipartisan rallying point while remaining realistic about the prospects for reinstating an assault weapons ban that continues to split the party and faces stiff GOP opposition," they write. "And unlike immigration... gun control activists say they're more interested in getting something done than clamoring for Democrats to embrace
the most left-leaning idea on the table." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481adad7bdca23c0ba22ce083167a505741ef86132b57ae0828de01e4a4a0d52951defc5ba522f8581d

Related reads: "Vulnerable lawmakers answer a noisy gun debate with silence," via AP's Steve Peoples: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481e5b37c8c89dedfd43d464bf425b6b358ed9680099f7aa1b15e05123806bd9d48ff93a0fef1a1a702 and "'Like a pinball machine': Lawmakers struggle to negotiate with an erratic Trump," by The Washington Post's John Wagner and Seung Min Kim: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a4812879d0856f522c7df8a9a6852b3da76681c1a944f09e7c0a603ba879c4eb1e993bf60f234cc5e9f5

REPUBLICANS GROW WEARY OF PARTISAN RUSSIA PROBE -- Some Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee just want its investigation into Russian meddling to end. "There are new signs that Republicans may soon conclude a probe that Democrats call far from complete following Wednesday's testimony by President Donald Trump's confidante, [White House communications director Hope] Hicks," Kyle reports. Leaks disclosed that Hicks admitted to sometimes telling "white lies" on the president's behalf, and Speaker Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) office confirmed that the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee paid an extraordinary visit to him to express concern about their House counterpart.

"I want [the House investigation] to end, because we have gone off the rails of being able to objectively do our job," Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) said, adding that he has "finally come to the realization that we are not going to put together any kind of a bipartisan product that's going to help the national security apparatus we oversee or to find out objectively what happened in the last election." Rooney said he has urged Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) to end the probe. "But Democrats insist that dozens more witnesses must testify," Kyle writes. "The bitter mood will likely weaken the committee's final report, which looks increasingly certain to reflect the panel's partisan fissures." More:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a4815d44e704985654df759c08981c3988900c9b6d9703bf5f0bf3d2c796fa050d364bc10ccb3ba3abd3

Related: "State Dept. Was Granted $120 Million to Fight Russian Meddling. It Has Spent $0," by The New York Times' Gardiner Harris: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a4814f1be8d757b72afc5938832ae4a7216ac44d7618395993884027ae214fe51958033c6cd91d6dfd7a

PRIMARY SEASON KICKS OFF IN TEXAS -- Democrats' first test of the 2018 midterms comes Tuesday, when Texas holds its primaries. "The DCCC has warned for months that it would wade into crowded primary fields -- here and elsewhere -- either to pick favorites or harm candidates it sees as weaker in the general election," Elena Schneider reports from Houston. "But there are few signs here that the DCCC's punches have landed." The DCCC is trying to stop Democratic candidate Laura Moser from becoming the party's nominee in a Texas congressional race, but her funding has ticked up since House Democrats' campaign arm attacked her in a post on its website.

"And now some Democrats are anxious the national party's tactics may backfire, reopening wounds that exacerbate a divide between the insurgent and establishment wings of the party -- and emboldening the very candidates the party seeks to stop," Elena continues. "Moser said in an interview that she 'feels like the test case' for how the DCCC will intervene in primaries this year, and she's demonstrating how candidates can respond when they're attacked by their party in Washington." It's not clear, though, whether she will emerge from the crowded Democratic field. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a48178753e41799142eaffbf6ccae634ae8e2b9ed37a0655d55576c26ffba710485cf74fcf071a8d8074

Related reads: "A $6 million candidate dominates in 9-way race to replace US Rep. Ted Poe," via the Texas Tribune's Abby Livingston: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481efd3f7c21a0e6988acc69fa7342ad54c52a73acfae076b8c67b0aaf76c78018481f4466485b28e8e and "The Democratic Party's Campaign Arm Grows More Toxic in Midterm Races," by The Daily Beast's Gideon Resnick: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481dc25839b48f575bb907161ac75110ae88eb2ef96a63c3487901e8520ea21bc275b247c543d39c3c6

UNPAID HILL INTERNS SIGN NDAS -- For some, Day One of an internship on the Hill requires their signature on sweeping nondisclosure agreements. "Employment lawyers reviewed two Hill NDAs obtained by Vox and said they are written in a way that could discourage interns from speaking up about anything, potentially protecting members of Congress and their staff even in cases of harassment or abuse," Vox's Rachel Wolfe reports. The documents came from a Democratic office in the House and Senate, but 20 current and former interns told Vox they signed NDAs while working in Republican and Democratic offices in both chambers.

"Five offices confirmed they require interns to sign, several citing the need to keep legislative decisions and constituent information private," Wolfe writes. "But the NDAs obtained by Vox are much more broad. They apply even after an intern leaves the Hill. They prohibit an intern from talking about the professional or personal lives of the member of Congress or other office employees. And the interns are left to believe that breaking the agreement jeopardizes their internship." Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a48104d9becd4312eaa5e71083e832c7530606ccbd26d5fb5ef908c8823d0bde04b29ba194a551b78336

MOVING UP AND MOVING ON -- Michelle Altman will be promoted from legislative director to chief of staff in Sen. James Lankford's (R-Okla.) office. Sarah Seitz will replace Altman as legislative director. Gregory Slavonic, Lankford's former chief of staff, was nominated to be assistant secretary of the Navy.

Nora Retana has left Rep. Tom Reed's (R-N.Y.) office, where she served as his strategic director.

Shane McDonald, a speechwriter for the House Ways and Means Committee, has left after six years on the Hill. He begins working at the Business Roundtable as a senior communications adviser today.

TODAY IN CONGRESS -- The House gavels in at 12 p.m. with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481baf68d525a1c26c8a28f2012d5b0aa940bf595d233d85405a50f733cc195a1b2777f6234f3f41694 The Senate meets at 3 p.m. to resume consideration of judicial nominee Karen Scholer. The chamber will hold three votes at 5:30 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=fa428b4a7c11a481b70e3ce595e4645848e7a799821df226a2615414d4182b67e34e7dcd4900000ccc4640df2d8abf5e

FRIDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER -- No one guessed that Max Cleland (D-Ga.) was the last person elected to the Senate whose immediate prior public office was secretary of state. After serving as Georgia's secretary of state, he was elected to the Senate in 1996, defeating Guy Millner.

TODAY'S TRIVIA -- Three Republicans voted yea on Dodd-Frank in July 2010. Who is the GOP lawmaker who voted for it and still serves in the Senate? 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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