Some Senate Democrats are demanding the Senate consider a host of gun control provisions, not just the bipartisan bill commonly assumed to have the best chance of passage. And one of the Democrats who wants a broader debate is Sen. Chris Murphy, the cosponsor of the bipartisan bill.
Between the lines: If Murphy says he won't vote for his own bill — Fix NICS, which would strengthen the existing background check system — without a broader debate, that narrows the chances of a standalone vote on the bill being successful.
Chris McDaniel, a Republican Mississippi state senator, will reportedly launch a bid this week to unseat incumbent GOP Sen. Roger Wicker, Politico reports, citing two sources who have been briefed on the bid.
Why it matters: McDaniel unsuccessfully challenged Republican Senator Thad Cochran in 2014. The state senator announced a rally to share information about his "political future" slated for Wednesday in Ellsville, Mississippi.
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court will not review the Trump administration's appeal on an injunction which has stopped Trump from rescinding DACA, the "Dreamers" will be able to continue to renew their visas until a final decision on the case — likely May or June of 2019.
Bottom line: While court actions have bought Dreamers and Congress another year, saving Republicans and President Trump from the months of Dreamer deportation coverage ahead of midterm elections, it isn't a permanent solution.
President Trump said Monday that he believes he would "run in there even if I didn't have a weapon,” referencing the officer on-duty at Stoneman Douglas High School who allegedly stood outside of the school while a gunman killed 17 people earlier this month. “I really believe I would have,” he added, “you never know until you’re tested.”
The president was speaking at a meeting with Governors at the White House and suggested — again — that teachers and school staff should be armed in schools. After the president opened the floor to suggestions, Governor Jay Inslee of Washington stood and objected, “We need a little less Tweeting, a little more listening."
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's appeal of an injunction that has allowed DACA recipients to renew their legal status, despite Attorney General Jeff Sessions announcing the end of the program in September.
Why it matters: The decision essentially makes the March 5th deadline meaningless, and there will be much less incentive for lawmakers to reach an agreement soon. Until a final decision on the case, which experts say isn't expected for another year, current DACA recipients will be able to continue to renew their DACA protections.
Ivanka Trump, asked by NBC's Peter Alexander whether she believes the women who accused the president of sexual misconduct, said she stands by her father's denials:
“I think it’s a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter if she believes the accusers of her father when he’s affirmatively stated that there’s no truth to it ... I believe my father. I know my father.”
Six Republican leaders of congressional committees with a stake in the Russia investigation told CNN that they have no intention of investigating the finances of President Trump or his family. Their statements come as top Democrats have begun to push the issue, calling Trump's potential financial links to Russia a key part of any investigation.
I don't see the link at this stage. Deutsche Bank is a German bank — I don't see the nexus. ... I bet every big bank has a Russian customer somewhere.
— Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), leader of the House Russia investigation, to CNN
Rep. John Delaney, a Maryland Democrat and 2020 presidential candidate, sees the dawn of artificial intelligence as a net positive — as long as the government is prepared for it. "The cost of doing nothing is not nothing," he told Axios. "You pay a huge price if you fail to act around change."
Why you'll hear about this again: Delaney co-founded the congressional AI Caucus and has sponsored "Future of AI" legislation. He's a technology booster ("History tells us innovation is always positive," he said), but one thing he's not so optimistic about is technology's impact on children.
In this era of drones and driverless cars, President Trump often sounds and feels like a man from the bygone days of station wagons and smokestacks.
"He feels he’s the personification of the American dream. ... That means building things, going back to the era of his dad. He assumes the rest of the country pines for that. "
