“Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.”
― John F. Kennedy
CASE CLOSED?: In a surprise turn of events, the State Department has decided to reopen its internal review of the Hillary Clinton email probe despite that fact that DoJ is no longer pursuing criminal prosecution. On top of that, the heated House Oversight hearing was everything we expected and more - FBI Director James Comey withstood a blitzkrieg of detailed questioning as he was being pressed hard for answers by Republicans on the House panel. We may be done with oversight, but that doesn’t mean House Republicans will shut the book completely. Attorney General Loretta Lynch will head to the Hill next week to face the House Judiciary Committee, where we expect that Committee to double down on questions regarding her little tete-a-tete with Bill Clinton. To add insult to injury, Republicans are also floating legislation to block Clinton from obtaining the security clearance granted to candidates following their conventions.
KING OF THE HILL?: Trump held court on Capitol Hill yesterday with more than 200 House Republicans and more than handful of Sass-e Senators. The packed House, which included Speaker Paul Ryan, was fully engaged as Trump professed to stand for the same values as many of them, highlighting an overhaul of the tax code, the repeal of Obamacare, and vowing to unify the party by doing whatever it takes. On the Senate side, the meeting was a bit more contentious and a handful of Senators challenged Trump and his controversial statements (about their fellow colleagues and then some) and stances on trade and immigration, which run counter to everything they stand for. Overall, mixed reviews and some progress, but despite continued differences and angst, Republicans around the nation are realizing the need to unite now more than ever.
CAN TRUMP BE DUMPED?: The push to repeal and replace Donald Trump is heating up, but hasn't yet reached the boiling point. For that to happen, the anti-Trump camp needs the backing of one-quarter of the 112 Convention Rules Committee members. Though nothing is set in stone until they meet privately next week, some members are being swayed to revolt - whether they admit it publicly or not. If the effort makes it to the full convention, it would need half (1,237) of all the delegates to pass. At this time, about 900 delegates are in play, meaning anti-Trumpers would need a majority to block the nomination. The measure would undoubtedly create chaos within the party and be a colossal embarrassment in front of millions of viewers - having delegates fight over a nomination long viewed as settled. Even after the dust settles, the party would be left with a more important question – what do we do now?
SMELLING BLOOD IN THE WATER: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is ready to break the bank on House elections this fall – planning to spend millions on ads labeling the Republican party as the party of Trump. The plan is to target 10 incumbent Republicans in areas where Trump has struggled - including Denver, San Antonio and the Chicago suburbs. The message is simple – paint Trump’s vision as “party over country.” Democrats entered the cycle expecting to net around 10 seats and barely recovering from their historically low current numbers, but further effects from the Trump trickle down have already pushed that number into the teens, giving it the potential to hit closer to 20.
GET YOUR BUG SPRAY READY: President Obama has made it his personal mission to obtain Zika funding before Congress departs for its seven-week summer recess next week, but don’t bet your stockpile of OFF! on it. The Senate and House both have just six legislative days left in session and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vows to only vote on the Republican Zika funding package that the White House has threatened to veto. The $1.1 billion bill, which uses funding from Obamacare and targets Republican’s favorite whipping boy - Planned Parenthood, passed the House last month but was later blocked in the Senate. Don't let the screen door hit you in the back on the way out.
NOTE: WE'LL BE BACK ON TUESDAY - HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
