with help from Sarah Ferris
THE NEXT EPISODE -- Now that the last scheduled impeachment hearing has wrapped up, Democrats are eyeing the next phase of their investigation: passing the baton to the House Judiciary Committee. So, what does that entail?
First up … Staffers and lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee are working through the Thanksgiving recess to review all the evidence and compress dozens of hours of witness testimony into a comprehensive report on the Ukraine scandal. The report, which the panel will have to vote on, is expected to serve as the basis for articles of impeachment. But Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is not guaranteeing that the document will be ready by the time Congress returns from recess next week, and told CNN on Sunday that “we don't foreclose the possibility of more depositions, more hearings." The latest from NPR’s Bobby Allyn: https://n.pr/2KR7PX7.
And Democrats may have new evidence to sort through: the House Intelligence Committee is in possession of video and audio recordings from Rudy Giuliani's indicted associate Lev Parnas, reports ABC News. Much more on that from Katherine Faulders, John Santucci and Allison Pecorin: https://abcn.ws/2KTraXD;
Also happening … a federal judge is expected to rule today on whether Robert Mueller’s star witness, former White House counsel Don McGahn, is required to obey a Judiciary Committee subpoena to testify. The outcome could determine whether Democrats push to include some of former special counsel Robert Mueller’s findings in an article of impeachment, especially in relation to Trump’s attempts to obstruct congressional probes. The backstory from Darren Samuelsohn: https://politi.co/2L6Ytqv.
On the GOP side … Republicans are expected to use the short week to plot their own impeachment strategy as they prepare for the next stage of the investigation. And the GOP may also draft its own report on the Ukraine saga to serve as a rebuttal to the Democrats’ narrative. More on all the decisions ahead from Bloomberg’s Billy House: https://bloom.bg/2rrUuNT.
Related read: “White House review turns up emails showing extensive effort to justify Trump’s decision to block Ukraine military aid,” via WaPo’s Josh Dawsey, Carol Leonnig and Tom Hamburger: https://wapo.st/2DqsU6N.
NUNES NEWS … “Giuliani associate willing to tell Congress Nunes met with ex-Ukrainian official to get dirt on Biden,” by CNN’s Vicky Ward: https://cnn.it/34kHybj; and “Top Dem says ethics investigation into Devin Nunes likely,” from Evan Semones: https://politi.co/33nw5Xr.
BUDGET BATTLE -- If Congress and the White House can’t agree on how to carve up this year’s massive budget deal, it could give Mick Mulvaney and Trump’s negotiating team exactly what they wanted in the first place. Without an agreement, Washington could end up handcuffed into the budget restraints the White House initially sought in June – billions of dollars in funding cuts.
Party leaders got one step closer to a funding deal with an agreement on spending levels over the weekend. But there’s still a real chance Congress falls flat on its face, unable to get all 12 spending bills done in time. “We’re hoping to get it done by December, if not, we’ll see if it gets extended again,” Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) said of the temporary funding bill signed into law last week. “Once you get to February or March, it’s unlikely you don’t have a forever CR.” More from Sarah and Burgess: https://politi.co/2Ojmhtd.
Related: “House, Senate reach agreement on subcommittee spending levels,” via CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt: http://bit.ly/2XOqrMO; and “Fate of Next Spending Deal Lies With Pelosi, Mnuchin,” from WSJ’s Kate Davidson and Andrew Duehren: https://on.wsj.com/2rjsRXr.
HAPPY MONDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this November 25. Santa might not be real, but this Mitch McConnell Christmas wrapping paper sure is!
FRIDAY’S MOST CLICKED: Andrew and Kyle’s stepback piece on last week’s round of hearings was the big winner.
WHERE’S THE CAVALRY? -- With the House’s impeachment probe in full swing, Democrats are getting outspent by GOP groups in battleground districts nearly 3 to 1. And frontline Democrats are beginning to hit the panic button, telling Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team in a private meeting last week that they want more air cover.
In the words of one Democrat: “Everyone knows you don't just take a shot and sit there… It’s like someone taped our arms to our side and punched us in the face.” Party officials and strategists, meanwhile, say GOP spending is just an attempt to goad Democrats into pouring cash into a race that’s still a year away. The scoop from Sarah and Ally Mutnick: https://politi.co/2OG7qrv.
Related: “Independents souring on impeachment underscores risk for Democrats,” by The Hill’s Jonathan Easley: http://bit.ly/33dNFwF; and “A Split Decision From Congress Will Leave Voters With Final Say on Trump,” via NYT’s Peter Baker: https://nyti.ms/33jZ5Pu.
CAN’T BEAT CORNYN -- Texas Democrats are starting to worry that their Senate field is too weak to beat Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), reports the Dallas Morning News. The deets from Gromer Jeffers Jr.: “After Beto O'Rourke came close to beating Ted Cruz in their thrilling 2018 Senate contest, Texas Democrats hoped they could use that momentum to oust John Cornyn in 2020.
“But less than four months from the March primary, the Democratic race for Senate is a sleepy affair, with the major candidates struggling to find traction with voters, spark energy in the party's base and offer a formidable alternative to Cornyn. Four of the top five candidates got into the race late by today's standards, and some of them still haven't built out their field and fundraising operations. Their social media presence, a must in modern campaigns, is not big-league quality. Voters aren't paying attention to the race." The story: http://bit.ly/33iPjgG.
MYSTERY SOLVED -- Right after a contentious White House meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier this month, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) went to the Senate floor and blocked a House-passed resolution that would have formally recognized Turkey's genocide of the Armenian people. The move perplexed some on Capitol Hill, since Graham has been one of the harshest congressional critics of Turkey for its recent invasion of northern Syria.
Well, now we know the story behind his surprising move, per Axios: “As Graham was leaving the Oval Office, senior White House staff asked him to return to the Senate and block the Armenian genocide resolution — a measure that would have infuriated Erdoğan. … ‘After the meeting, we kind of huddled up and talked about what happened … I said sure,’ Graham said. ‘The only reason I did it is because he [Erdoğan] was still in town. ... That would've been poor timing. I'm trying to salvage the relationship if possible.’” More from Jonathan Swan: http://bit.ly/2Dffvy5.
FUN READ … “Trying Out a Life on the Hill,” by the NYT’s Susan Dominus: https://nyti.ms/34k81pB.
CHRISTMAS IS COMING! … The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree arrives in the nation’s capital today. This year, the tree was sponsored by the New Mexico Congressional Delegation and chosen from the Carson National Forest. (And the tree will be lit by Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday, Dec. 4.)
Anne Gordon is now tax counsel for Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.). She previously was manager of Washington national tax services and international tax at PwC.
The House and Senate are out.
All is quiet.
FRIDAY’S WINNER: Kaitlin Clark was the first person to guess that Donald Rumsfeld and Frank Carlucci were Princeton University wrestling teammates who later became Secretary of Defense.
TODAY’S QUESTION: From yours truly: When did the annual lighting of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree tradition first begin? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: mzanona@politico.com
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- Melanie Zanona @MZanona
