| | | | Trump's Russia reveal and a new Congress kick off 2017 | | By now you know that President-elect Donald Trump kicked off the new year from his Mar-a-Lago estate with some news: He knows something the intelligence community hasn't revealed about Russia's election hacking -- and, for now, he's not telling. "It could be somebody else. And I also know things that other people don't know, and so they cannot be sure of the situation," he said. Asked to describe what undisclosed information he knew, Trump said: "You'll find out on Tuesday or Wednesday."
The Russia story will dominate the start of a new year in politics. Here are the five other themes we'll be tracking this week:
1. Trump vs. the GOP: The Senate Armed Services Committee, led by Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, will hold a hearing Thursday on cyberthreats and the election-related hacking. The issue could set the tone for relations between Trump and the Republican majorities in the House and Senate.
2. A new Congress kicks off: The newly elected Congress will begin its work Tuesday at noon with a vote to officially re-elect Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as House speaker. The Senate will quickly move toward confirmation battles over Trump's nominees -- where Democrats have identified eight they're targeting. House Republicans, meanwhile, will condemn the Obama administration's handling of a United Nations vote on Israeli settlements on the West Bank.
3. Obamacare strategy sessions: President Barack Obama will make an unusual trip for a lame-duck president -- visiting Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning to meet with congressional Democrats and discuss how to fight Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Vice President-elect Mike Pence, meanwhile, will visit GOP lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is set to push the repeal of Obama's signature domestic achievement in the first week of the new Congress. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, urged Americans to "take a second look" at the law.
4. Filling out the Cabinet: Trump has several Cabinet positions left to fill. He's expected to soon announce his choices for secretary of Veterans Affairs and Agriculture. Other key roles remain unfilled as well -- including solicitor general, where top aide Kellyanne Conway's husband, George Conway, is reportedly a candidate, as well as director of national intelligence and deputy secretary of state.
5. Trump to give deposition: Trump will attempt to conclude a piece of older business this week with a deposition at Trump Tower. The deposition comes as part of Trump's legal battle with chef Jose Andres. | | "I've felt disgust before, but never the kind of fear that you feel now." -- Bruce Springsteen, discussing President-elect Donald Trump on Marc Maron's podcast. | | | Trump to 'repeal a lot' of Obama's actions, aide says | | ABC's Jonathan Karl yesterday asked incoming Donald Trump White House press secretary Sean Spicer what Trump will do right after taking the oath of office. The answer -- without any more specifics: Trump will immediately "repeal a lot of the regulations and actions that have been taken by this administration over the last eight years that have hampered both economic growth and job creation."
Spicer clashed Monday with CNN host Alisyn Camerota, casting doubt on a US intelligence assessment that suggests Russia directed hacks on the Democratic National Committee in order to sway the presidential race in favor of Trump.
Will Trump give in to a tough Washington? Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- a Trump backer -- talked about his fears for Team Trump with Karl on ABC's "This Week." He said: "I'm worried that when they realize how big the problem is, that they decide that they're just going to do the best they can and give in." | | | President Barack Obama defended his legacy in his own terms on Twitter. This was his final of seven tweets -- see the rest here. | | Nixon scuttled Vietnam peace talks to win 1968 election | | Amid talk of how Russian President Vladimir Putin's meddling in the 2016 election helped Donald Trump, The New York Times' John Farrell revisits the 1968 contest -- and finds new evidence that Richard Nixon meddled in war and peace talks to win his own election.
The entire story is a must-read -- and here's how it starts: "Richard M. Nixon always denied it: to David Frost, to historians and to Lyndon B. Johnson, who had the strongest suspicions and the most cause for outrage at his successor's rumored treachery. To them all, Nixon insisted that he had not sabotaged Johnson's 1968 peace initiative to bring the war in Vietnam to an early conclusion. 'My God. I would never do anything to encourage' South Vietnam 'not to come to the table,' Nixon told Johnson, in a conversation captured on the White House taping system.
"Now we know Nixon lied. A newfound cache of notes left by H. R. Haldeman, his closest aide, shows that Nixon directed his campaign's efforts to scuttle the peace talks, which he feared could give his opponent, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, an edge in the 1968 election. On Oct. 22, 1968, he ordered Haldeman to 'monkey wrench' the initiative." | | | A Donald Trump biographer said Trump booted him -- and his foursome including financial titan David Koch -- from his golf course. ... Liberal groups want a delay in Sen. Jeff Sessions' confirmation hearing for attorney general. | | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Check out Five Things for Your New Day, CNN's morning newsletter. Give us five minutes, and we'll brief you on all the news and buzz people will be talking about. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
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