Responses rolled in Monday from top congressional leaders and key Republican senators on former national security adviser John Bolton's announcement that he would willingly testify in the Senate's impeachment trial if issued a subpoena.
Driving the news: Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) told reporters he "would like to be able to hear from John Bolton," but added: "What the process is to make that happen, I don’t have an answer for you."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday and informed him that he will not be running for Kansas' open Senate seat in 2020, the New York Times first reported and Axios confirmed from a source with direct knowledge.
The big picture: Speculation had persisted for months that Pompeo was exploring a Senate campaign in his home state, despite his repeated insistence that he was focused exclusively on his job at the State Department.
The U.S. will begin sending Mexican asylum-seekers to Guatemala to wait out their cases instead of allowing them to remain in the U.S., according to documents obtained by BuzzFeed News.
Why it matters: The Trump administration had previously implemented a "remain in Mexico" policy for asylum-seekers from Central America, but international law forbids asylum-seekers from being sent back to their home country due to concerns they may face prosecution. Mexicans account for more than half of the estimated 21,000 asylum seekers waiting along the U.S.-Mexico border.
"There's one candidate I see who's unafraid to fight like hell to make sure America's promise will be there for everyone, will make sure that no matter where you live in America or where your family came from in the world — you have a path to opportunity, too."
Why it matters: It's one of the first high-profile endorsements from a former presidential contender this cycle — and it's significant because Castro is widely viewed as a leading vice presidential pick for the eventual nominee.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a freshman and former state attorney general who's a 2024 presidential prospect, today will file his plan to allow dismissal of the articles of impeachment if House Democrats withhold them from the Senate.
Hawleytweeted last week: "Dems said impeachment was URGENT. Now they don’t want to have a trial ... In real world, if prosecution doesn’t proceed with case, it gets dismissed. So on Monday, I will introduce measure to dismiss this bogus impeachment for lack of prosecution."
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced in a letter Sunday that the House will this week "introduce and vote on a War Powers Resolution to limit" President Trump's "military actions regarding Iran."
Why it matters: Pelosi announced the action as Trump ramped up his rhetoric against Iran and also threatened Iraq with sanctions after Iraqi lawmakers passed a resolution asking the government to expel U.S. troops for the killing last Friday of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani and the leader of an Iraqi militia in Baghdad.
President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday the U.S. wouldn't leave the joint U.S. air base with Iraq "unless they pay us back," and he doubled down on his threat to target 52 Iranian sites.
If they do ask us to leave, if we don’t do it in a very friendly basis. We will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame."
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" that if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi does not transmit the articles of impeachment this week, he will seek to change the Senate's rules so that it can proceed to a trial without them.
Why it matters: Graham's comments follow a similar threat by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) last week and reflect growing Republican frustration with Pelosi's decision to withhold the articles until the Senate agrees to a fair trial. There are currently 53 Republican senators, and changing the rules would only need a 51-vote majority.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday that she thinks it's fair to question the timing of President Trump ordering the killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani so close to his impeachment trial.
In most of the 10 states that will likely lose a House seat due to reapportionment beginning in 2022, current demographic trends are poised to shift political power from rural counties to metropolitan counties, according to an analysis by The Hill's Reid Wilson.
Why it matters: Census counts are crucial for determining political representation in the House, and minor changes in population can alter a state's power in Congress for a decade.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is starting 2020 in a three-way tie for first place in Iowa, joining former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 23% each, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll published Sunday.
The big picture: Sanders' surge has come at the expense of fellow progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who soared to the front of the race in the fall but has since fallen back to Earth, trailing the three frontrunners in Iowa with 16%.
Anti-war protesters rallied across dozens of cities in the United States and the world Saturday against potential conflict with Iran and to condemn the U.S. killing of top Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
The big picture: Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, an anti-war coalition that helped organize the U.S. events, said on its website that more than 70 rallies took place in the United States. Anti-war demonstrations were also held in countries including Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada, per German news agency DPA.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement on Saturday evening that she's dissatisfied with President Trump's War Powers notification regarding Iran.
What she's saying: "This classified War Powers Act notification delivered to Congress raises more questions than it answers," Pelosi said, adding the document "prompts serious and urgent questions about the timing" of the U.S. military strike that killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Iraq.
