Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told Democratic lobbyists and donors that his GOP colleagues underestimate his party's resolve to reform ICE — and that Democrats are united in demanding big changes, we have learned.

Why it matters: Schatz's private and unguarded comments are another indication that the Department of Homeland Security shutdown could be prolonged.

• Democrats — including centrists who are sometimes quick to compromise — are united in demanding substantive changes to the agency, Schatz told guests, according to multiple people familiar with his comments. A breakthrough on DHS funding is not imminent, he said.
• Republicans, Schatz said, are living in their own information silo and don't fully appreciate the public's outrage over the killing of two unarmed Americans at ICE protests in Minnesota.

🔎 Zoom in: Some 130 donors flocked to Schatz's annual fundraising weekend at The Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu to get to know the party's presumptive No. 2 in the Senate next year.

• His event, which bookends a week of destination fundraisers in Hawaii that starts with an event held by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), typically draws around three dozen donors.
• 🤝 But the strong turnout this year reflected lobbyists' desire to improve their relationship with Schatz and growing Democratic optimism that a Senate majority is within reach in November.
• With Schatz all but guaranteed to be the next Senate Democratic whip, he's on the short list of lawmakers who could at some point succeed Chuck Schumer as Democratic leader.

Zoom out: DHS has been shut down for 10 days, and negotiations between the White House and Senate Democrats have yielded no tangible progress over the Presidents Day recess.

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— Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam

🚀 Speaker Johnson's guests at tomorrow night's State of the Union will include the crew of NASA's Artemis II lunar spaceflight mission, we're told.

The big picture: Lawmakers often use their guest lists to raise visibility for priorities and causes that are important to them and their districts.

• 🌝 Johnson wants to highlight Louisiana's manufacturing role in the Artemis program and draw attention to the upcoming mission, which centers on a return to the Moon.
• 🚜 The rocket stage was constructed at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, also known as "America's Rocket Factory."

Driving the news: "It is my privilege to welcome these brave and courageous astronauts as my guests at the State of the Union Address," Johnson said in a statement first shared with us.

• Johnson said the crew — commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — "will embark on this historic journey carrying forward the hopes and dreams of all humanity."

The details: Artemis II will take the four astronauts on a 10-day lunar flyby this year as NASA eyes its next chapter of space exploration, including a long-term presence on the Moon and future trips to Mars.

• It's the first time in more than 50 years that NASA will be sending astronauts around the Moon.

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— Kate Santaliz

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) is facing mounting blowback from fellow House Republicans — including calls for his resignation — following allegations he had an affair with a former staffer before she died by suicide.

• Gonzales has denied having the affair.

Why it matters: The backlash from conservative lawmakers could create headaches for Johnson and Trump, who have continued to back Gonzales ahead of a competitive primary next week.

• Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) this afternoon became the first congressional Republican to call on Gonzales to resign.
• Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas), a House Freedom Caucus member, followed suit, posting, "America deserves better. Tony should drop out of the race."
• Reps. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) soon followed, with Burchett telling us: "He needs to go."

Catch up quick: Gonzales is facing opponent Brandon Herrera in the March 3 primary.

• Herrera narrowly lost to Gonzales by roughly 400 votes in a 2024 runoff, and recent polling shows him leading Gonzales.

Johnson said today the allegations against Gonzales are "very serious" but argued lawmakers should allow the investigative process to play out.

The big picture: The San Antonio Express-News reported last week that Gonzales' former regional director, Regina Santos-Aviles, sent a text message that appears to show Santos-Aviles telling another Gonzales aide she "had [an] affair with our boss."

• Santos-Aviles died last year after setting herself on fire outside her Uvalde home.
• We obtained copies of text messages today between Gonzales and Santos-Aviles from her husband, Adrian Aviles, who shared them in a message with his attorney copied. In a message from May 2024, Gonzales asked Santos-Aviles for a "sexy pic." The texts were first reported by 24Sight News.

In a statement to NBC News last week, Gonzales said, "I am not going to engage in these personal smears and instead will remain focused on helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans."

• His office declined to comment on the alleged text exchanges or on the calls for his resignation.

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— Kate Santaliz