Senate Democrats want to leave the issue of trans athletes playing in women's sports to state and local governments.

Why it matters: Democrats privately admit they need a sharper response to counter Republican attacks on their support for transgender rights, especially when it involves sports.

• In the Senate, their emerging strategy is to argue that one part of the issue is best left to the states, while acknowledging concerns about athletes gaining an unfair advantage.
• "There are basic issues of fairness here," said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) "There are really important issues that we should be discussing on the local level, within sports leagues and within conferences."

Between the lines: The Democratic messaging effort has been spearheaded by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), sources tell us.

• Baldwin, the first openly gay person elected to the Senate, faced a barrage of attacks on the topic in her 2024 reelection campaign.
• She feared Republicans were flooding the zone with their attacks without Democrats having a clear and consistent rebuttal.
• "Republicans in Washington are saying they know better than parents and local school districts," she said in a statement. "They are wrong. I trust parents, schools and local sports leagues to make these decisions for their children."

Zoom in: The issue was thrust into the public today by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who broke with progressives by saying transgender participation in sports was an "issue of fairness."

• "It's deeply unfair," Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, told Charlie Kirk on his inaugural podcast, "This Is Gavin Newsom."
• Senate Democrats this week blocked a bill that would have banned trans women from women's sports. Not a single Democrat voted to bring the bill to the floor.

What they are saying: Some Senate Democrats agreed with Newsom on the sports fairness issue, but they said to be careful that the overall conversation doesn't demonize transgender athletes. They also want to avoid federal overreach.

• "It's leading to more bullying. It's leading to more mental health issues as people are feeling targeted," Booker told us. "Yes, when it comes to sports leagues, they have to find a way to create fairness."
• Said Sen. Angus King (I-Maine): "I understand the concern. I have a daughter who was a high school athlete. Interestingly, when I asked her about this issue, she said, by all means, there should not be a federal ban."
• "Every state and every community is going to come to their own decision on it," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told Axios.

The bottom line: "Everyone deserves a level playing field, but the governing bodies — the parents, the coaches, the NCAA ... need to make those decisions," said Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).

• "We let local schools make those kinds of decisions," said Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) "There's no one set of facts. These are going to be pretty complicated situations."

Share this story

— Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols

A dozen House Democrats faced a "come to Jesus meeting" with their leaders this morning after they disrupted President Trump's speech.

• The list included Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) and Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), sources tell us.
• All three top three House Dem leaders were present this morning: Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).

Why it matters: Ahead of Trump's speech Tuesday night, Jeffries and the rest of the leadership urged Democrats to not make themselves the story.

• They blew off his advice.

Zoom in: The floor disruptions are a sign Jeffries and Clark have a rough ride coming for the next 18 months.

• One group of Democratic lawmakers won't listen to their leaders.
• When that happens, a bigger group gets upset with the smaller group but also blames the leaders for the smaller group's behavior.
• Everyone ends up angry with each other, instead of focusing their energy on the real threats they all actually agree on.

Between the lines: The disruptors weren't yelled at this morning, a source familiar with the matter told us.

• "They are not being talked to like they are children. We are helping them understand why their strategy is a bad idea," the source told us.
• A spokesperson for Jeffries declined to address the private meeting. Spokespeople for Clark and Aguilar did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Share this story.

— Andrew Solender and Hans Nichols

Ten Democrats joined every House Republican in voting to censure Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) this morning.

• As the resolution was read on the floor, Green and other Dems sang, "We Shall Overcome."
• That prompted House Speaker Mike Johnson to put the House in recess until the disruption subsided. Now Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) says he'll force a vote on removing today's protesting Democrats from committees.

The bottom line: Lawmakers will need to develop a consistent standard fast. Green's will likely be the first of many censures this Congress.