It’s Wednesday. The National Park Service brought its A-game today with the most eloquent poem that I would like to share. “Footloose, pet goose, picked a fight with a moose,” it begins. Just let those words sink in. And Happy Birthday, Taylor Alison Swift! 🎈 Here’s what we’re covering today:
Instead of showing up for his scheduled deposition, Hunter Biden gave an impromptu presser in front of the U.S. Capitol, arguing he would be happy to testify publicly, but not behind closed doors as Republicans have demanded.
Special counsel Jack Smith’s move to ask the Supreme Court to weigh in on former President Trump’s immunity from prosecution is a big deal. I explain why below.
The owner of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards is trying to move the teams from Washington, D.C., to neighboring Alexandria, Va. It has ruffled a lot of feathers.
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-stage.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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Hunter Biden found a lil’ loophole: |
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Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden, defied House Republicans’ subpoena this morning, refusing to testify behind closed doors over his business dealings. The younger Biden has argued he is willing to testify publicly, so instead of completely ignoring the subpoena, he showed up in front of the U.S. Capitol to give a surprise statement, right after his deposition was scheduled to begin.
💡 Why this matters: House Republicans will very likely hold him in contempt of Congress, but this is one of the first times Americans have seen and heard from Hunter Biden directly. He spoke in personal terms about his troubles with addiction and emphasized the support of his family. This was a very calculated maneuver politically.
What happens next?: The House is expected to vote today to formalize the impeachment inquiry into the president, giving more legal weight to their probe of Biden and his son.
Watch Hunter Biden’s statement |
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Hunter Biden pulled up in a black SUV: Photo
Hunter on his father: “Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not financially involved in my business — not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma, not in my partnership with a Chinese private businessman, not my investment at all nor abroad, and certainly not as an artist,” he said.
Interesting tidbit: Hunter Biden gave his statement on the Senate side of the Capitol Building — not the House side, where he was scheduled to testify. Fox News’s Chad Pergram offered a theory on why. Photo of Hunter Biden and his lawyer at the podium
From Biden: “There’s no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business, because it did not happen,” he told reporters. I know I cover Congress, but: I will never get over this backdrop. |
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➤ WHAT’S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES: |
Axios has some interesting reporting on how the legal and political troubles for Hunter Biden have affected President Biden.
Excerpt: “Only a few long-serving aides feel free to discuss Hunter’s situation with the president, and only at certain moments — knowing that it can prompt both fury and dejection.” (Axios) |
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Another major abortion case in the Supreme Court: |
“The Supreme Court said Wednesday it will take up a case that could limit the availability of the common abortion pill mifepristone, bringing the issue of abortion back to the court more than a year after the justices ended the constitutional right to one.”
Timing: A decision is expected by the end of June.
The Hill’s Nathaniel Weixel and Zach Schonfeld have a helpful explainer on the case. |
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What Trump is ~actually~ doing here: |
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Former President Trump told Fox News’s Sean Hannity last week that he would be a dictator for a day if he wins reelection to a second term. Republicans have mostly shrugged off the comments, and some GOP lawmakers have even defended the criticism as a manufactured media storyline, reports The Hill’s Brett Samuels.
💡 Why this matters: “The reaction underscores Trump’s enduring power in the party and serves as the latest example of how legal woes and incendiary rhetoric have done little to damage his standing with GOP voters.” (The Hill)
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⚖️ Trump’s legal troubles |
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Special counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court to decide whether former President Trump has immunity from prosecution for any actions he took while in office.
💡 Why this matters: Smith’s intent is to establish whether Trump is criminally culpable before voters decide whether to put Trump in office. Instead of letting this play out in lower courts with various appeals, Smith is hoping to escalate the matter to the highest court, expediting the process.
The sense of urgency: The Hill’s Niall Stanage pointed out that “If Trump becomes the GOP nominee, as seems likely, and wins the general election, he could then order the Justice Department to discontinue the case against him.” (The Hill)
Reaction from the Trump campaign: A Trump spokesperson accused Smith of being “obsessed with interfering in the 2024 Presidential Election with the goal of preventing President Trump from retaking the Oval Office.” The reaction also included calling Smith a “henchman,” “deranged” and of using “authoritarian tactics.” (The Hill)
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➤ WHAT’S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES: |
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Why Smith is expediting the process: The New York Times
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How this could play out: USA Today
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How the Supreme Court appeal puts Trump in a tough spot: MSNBC
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How long Trump’s lawyers have to respond: Dec. 20 — Fox News
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➤ SENATE DEMS WANT CLARENCE THOMAS TO RECUSE HIMSELF:
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Senate Democrats, including Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), want Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from the Trump immunity case. Why?: His wife, Ginni Thomas, was outspoken about supporting Trump’s false claims of a 2020 stolen election. |
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Ted Leonsis found a way to make everyone mad: |
Ted Leonsis, the owner of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals, announced plans this morning to move the D.C. teams to Alexandria, Va.
What we know about the proposed setup, if approved by Virginia lawmakers: “The campus would include a new headquarters for Monumental, a Wizards practice facility, a performing arts venue and an expanded esports facility in addition to the new arena, according to the news release.” (The Athletic)
Watch the announcement: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) joined Leonsis for a press conference this morning in the Potomac Yard neighborhood of Alexandria. Watch
Photo of the proposed site A rebuttal from D.C.: Following the reporting of the move, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser offered $500 million in renovations to keep the Caps and Wizards in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. (WTOP)
The response to the news: D.C. residents are worried about the economic impact of moving the teams out of the city, reports WUSA9. And Alexandria residents have had mixed reactions to the announcement.
💡 Why this matters: “Capital One Arena has been a linchpin of the revitalization of the downtown D.C. economic corridor since its opening in 1997. If Leonsis were to take his teams to Virginia, it would be a devastating economic blow to D.C., and the Penn Quarter district in which the building resides. The tentacles that extend from the arena to the nearby restaurants, bars and hotels that all depend on game night traffic for large chunks of their businesses during the fall and winter months are crucial.” (The Athletic)
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🍿 Celebrate: Today is National Popcorn String Day! 🍲 Brb, I’ll be on OpenTable if anyone needs me: Washingtonian released its list of readers’ favorite restaurants in the DMV area.
Here are a few highlights: - Best restaurant in D.C.: Albi
- Best restaurant in Virginia: Ruthie’s All Day
- Best restaurant in Maryland: Bob’s Shanghai 66
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Best new restaurant: El Presidente
The full list of readers’ favorite DMV restaurants
🚗 A Tesla recall: “Tesla is recalling more than 2 million vehicles to fix Autopilot systems that U.S. safety regulators determined did not have enough controls to prevent misuse, the largest recall of Tesla’s driver-assistance software to date.” (The Washington Post)
👉 The Hill’s Changemakers list is out: The Hill released its inaugural list recognizing the major players and under-the-radar staffers of Washington who have made a difference shaping the conversation on Capitol Hill and beyond. See who made the list |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern) |
12:15 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks at a meeting of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council. 💻Livestream
1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby brief reporters. 💻 Livestream
2 p.m.: Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff host a holiday reception, followed by a second at 5 p.m. 5 p.m.: First and last House votes. 🗓️ Today’s agenda |
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