Before Election Day, NOTUS reported that Democrats were gravely worried about Jan. 6, 2025. One even said they had put together an “insurrectionist getaway costume” in case they needed to make a covert escape from the Capitol building.
But even before a threatened snowstorm promised a quiet — and perhaps sparsely attended — certification, lawmakers were not concerned about their safety. (A spokesperson for Speaker Mike Johnson said the certification process would take place “in accordance with federal law,” despite the weather. )
“Donald Trump won. So it’ll be all ice cream and puppy dogs,” Democratic Rep. Jim Himes told NOTUS. “If Donald Trump lost, I’d be wearing body armor right now and that says something about the asymmetry of our politics.”
Yes, security will be upped as lawmakers certify the 2024 election results — gates have already been installed around Capitol Hill. But it’s become something of a joke in Washington that they might be unnecessary. Neither party has an appetite to deny or obstruct the certification.
Republicans told NOTUS’ Shifra Dayak, Torrence Banks and John T. Seward that they are already ready for the day to be over.
“If everyone wants to continue to think about what’s happening Jan. 6, and by all means, they have a right to do so, but I’m just wanting to certify the election and move on,” Rep. Cory Mills said.
Harris’ Day
The sitting vice president oversees the joint session, which means that Kamala Harris is probably going to have a strange day as she certifies the victory of a rival who she still believes is a threat to democracy.
She joins the likes of Richard Nixon, Al Gore and Mike Pence in fulfilling the awkward constitutional duty of presiding over one’s own election loss. Harris is set to release a prerecorded video to her supporters later today, NOTUS’ Jasmine Wright reports, where she’ll talk about this “sacred obligation.”
“The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most fundamental principles of American democracy. As much as any other principle, it is what distinguishes our system of government from monarchy or tyranny,” she says in the video.
While the day will likely be relatively routine, that’s part of the point Harris wants to make. In the video, she casts her duty as one that reestablishes the norm destabilized after the attack on the Capitol four years ago.
Front Page
- ‘Fear Everywhere’: The Haitian Community Prepares for Trump’s Agenda: Immigration advocates are instructing Haitian migrants on what to do if Trump ends their immigration protections.
- Trump Wants One Big Reconciliation Bill With All His Priorities — Not Two: Mike Johnson told his ranks that the president-elect doesn’t want the strategy Senate Majority Leader John Thune proposed.
One Call (From Trump) Is All It Takes
Friday morning was something of a guessing game on Capitol Hill. How many rounds would it take for Mike Johnson to secure the speaker’s gavel?
Even Johnson’s allies expected it would take more than one ballot, given the conservative headwinds the speaker faced. That is, until Trump called, persuading holdout Reps. Ralph Norman and Keith Self to change their votes to Johnson.
NOTUS has a few behind-the-scenes details you may have missed.
For one, Trump told members he was in the middle of a round of golf when he coaxed Norman and Self to switch votes — he had already spoken to Self earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Republicans had made a point to “stash the tellers” — so the vote could not be recorded — to buy time.
Trump first spoke to Norman, emphasizing that rallying behind Johnson was the smart move to maximize the party’s chances of sweeping reform. After their call ended, Norman and Rep. Nancy Mace took the phone to Self in another room. There, they put the phone on speaker for Johnson, along with Rep. Kat Cammack and Johnson senior adviser Hogan Gidley.
Trump’s argument, according to Norman, went like this: “‘Mike is the only one that’s got the likability factor to be elected speaker.’”
No, Mike Rogers Didn’t Lunge at Anyone, But…
There were plenty of memorable moments as the 119th Congress elected Johnson speaker. We rounded a few that stood out.
- Lawmakers applauded when the clerk announced that (now former) Rep. Matt Gaetz would not be returning for the 119th Congress.
- When the No. 3 House Democrat Pete Aguilar started a “hell no” chant to troll Republicans, Rep. Sara Jacobs covered the ears of the child in her lap.
- Del. Stacey Plaskett delivered a fiery speech condemning the fact that delegates from Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and her home of the Virgin Islands are not allowed to vote for speaker (or any legislation on the House floor).
- Rep. Jared Moskowitz’s two kids tried to vote on his behalf, but the clerk refused to count it until he personally said the name “Jeffries.”
Week Ahead
- Congress is set to certify the presidential election today, with Harris presiding.
- Biden is scheduled to travel to New Orleans today, in the aftermath of the New Year’s Day terror attack.
- The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in TikTok, Inc. v. Garland Friday.
- Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in the New York hush money case on Friday.
Not Us
We know NOTUS reporters can’t cover it all. Here’s some other great hits by … not us.
- The U.S.’s Worst Fears of Chinese Hacking Are on Display in Guam by Katrina Manson for Bloomberg
- Sen. Ben Cardin reflects on his six-decade career and impact on Maryland by Erin Cox for The Washington Post
- Italy, Caught Between U.S. and Iran, Seeks to Free Journalist Cecilia Sala by Marcus Walker for The Wall Street Journal
Be Social
Oops.
https://x.com/nicholaswu12/status/1875248832348389843?s=46&t=Kjn3mdB1ffIrtyz3f-tbmw
https://x.com/rep_jackson/status/1875249520726163838?s=46&t=NhM5PNWgGl6TxrZr3o_CBg
Meet Us: Shifra Dayak
Welcome to “Meet Us” where we introduce you to a member of the NOTUS team. Up today is Shifra Dayak who is an AJI fellow and reporter covering New Jersey.
- Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland
- Past: University of Maryland with dual bachelor’s degrees in journalism and environmental science and policy. The Diamondback, Capital News Service and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism. I’ve interned at the Connecticut Mirror, Stars and Stripes and The Frederick News-Post.
- Why journalism: To hold those in power accountable, platform previously untold stories and learn more about the people around me.
- AJI highlight so far: Matt Fuller’s class on the importance of hustle and how to ask members of Congress good questions.
- Thing you can’t live without: Trader Joe’s.
- Best advice you’ve ever been given: Take things one day at a time.
Tell Us Your Thoughts
Trump is ready to take on the swamp, but is he ready to take on the D.C. snow?
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