Nov 28, 2018

3. Nancy Pelosi nominated to be speaker of the House

Photo: Zach Gibson via Getty Images

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has been nominated by the Democratic Caucus to be speaker of the House and will face a full floor vote on Jan. 3.

Why it matters: Pelosi, who has faced a wave of resistance from Democrats that believe the party needs fresh leadership, told reporters she thinks she's "in pretty good shape" to get the 218 votes necessary to be elected speaker for the second time. If elected, Pelosi will serve as a de facto opposition leader to President Trump, responsible not only for advancing the Democratic Party's policy agenda, but also for setting their strategy for investigating the administration.

Full House Democratic leadership results:

  • House majority leader: Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)
  • House majority whip: Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.)
  • House Democratic Caucus chair: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)
  • Congressional Black Caucus chair: Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.)
  • Assistant House Democratic leader: Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.)

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China-Iran deal envisions massive investments from Beijing

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

China and Iran have negotiated a deal that would see massive investments flow into Iran, oil flow out, and collaboration increase on defense and intelligence.

Why it matters: If the proposals become reality, Chinese cash, telecom infrastructure, railways and ports could offer new life to Iran’s sanctions-choked economy — or, critics fear, leave it inescapably beholden to Beijing.

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Axios
Updated 5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7 p.m. ET: 13,048,249 — Total deaths: 571,685 — Total recoveries — 7,215,865 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7 p.m. ET: 3,353,348— Total deaths: 135,524 — Total recoveries: 1,031,856 — Total tested: 40,282,176 — Map.
  3. World: WHO head: There will be no return to the "old normal" for foreseeable future — Hong Kong Disneyland closing due to surge.
  4. States: Houston mayor calls for two-week shutdown — California orders sweeping rollback of open businesses — Cuomo says New York will use formula to determine if reopening schools is safe.
  5. Education: Los Angeles schools' move to online learning could be a nationwide tipping point.
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Zachary Basu
7 hours ago - Politics & Policy

House Judiciary Committee releases transcript of Geoffrey Berman testimony

Geoffrey Berman. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

The House Judiciary Committee on Monday released the transcript of its closed-door interview with Geoffrey Berman, the former top federal prosecutor in Manhattan who was forced out by Attorney General Bill Barr last month.

Why it matters: House Democrats have seized on Berman's testimony, in which he claimed the attorney general sought to "entice" him into resigning so that he could be replaced by SEC chairman Jay Clayton, to bolster allegations that the Justice Department has been politicized under Barr.

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