PoliticsGood morning! We hope you had a great weekend. Welcome back to
Send your tips and thoughts to bgriffiths@insider.com or tweet me @BrentGriffiths.
Here's what you need to know:
- The House wants to pass the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan this week.
- Trump will make his first public appearance since leaving the White House.
- Both a Republican and Democrat are expected to grill a Biden nominee over her past criticisms of fossil fuels.
1. WHAT TO WATCH FOR AT TODAY'S HEARING: This is not the hearing Merrick Garland was waiting for. In 2016, Senate Republicans blocked his Supreme Court nomination. Now, he faces a confirmation hearing to become the next attorney general amid an onslaught of domestic terrorism, unrest, and broader questions about the rule of law.
To get a sense of what he'll face during his confirmation hearing, I spoke with Insider's new federal law enforcement reporter Camila DeChalus on what she's watching for.
Here are the top things:
What happens with Trump?: "A lot of people are looking at this hearing to signal whether Garland will launch an investigation or whether he won't," Camila said. Trump has legal exposure far beyond the events of Jan. 6, including at the federal level.
Domestic terrorism: Garland will make clear in his opening statement that he will pursue justice against those who participated in the insurrection. But there are thornier questions at play - like whether everyone who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 should be charged. Prosecutors are reportedly worried about potentially losing cases and overwhelming federal D.C. courts.
- There's also the question on how to combat domestic terrorism long-term. This might include "policies to weed out police officers that have ties to these extremist groups," Camila said. Multiple police departments are already investigating off-duty cops suspected of participating in the Capitol riot.
- Garland's backstory: He insisted on being sent to Oklahoma City after the 1995 attack that killed 168 people, the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in US history.
Other key topics:
- A spike in anti-Asian-American hate crimes: Advocacy and civil-rights groups are going to be watching what Garland will propose to address this issue on a federal level, Camila said.
- The future of the federal death penalty: Biden has said he's committed to working with Congress to abolish the death penalty on the federal level. But given the difficulty of getting such legislation through the Senate, Camila said people will be watching Garland's views on the matter and "whether he will take steps to immediately suspend death sentences that are coming up."
- What to do about Gov. Andrew Cuomo?: Senate Republicans have called for the DOJ to investigate the New York Democrat's handling of nursing-home deaths, and pledged to press Garland on it today. The FBI is reportedly already investigating, as Cuomo's standing continues to sink.
2. The House wants to vote on the latest COVID-19 relief bill this week: Biden's $1.9 trillion package is nearing its critical final steps, which may include House passage by the weekend.
Here's our exclusive recap on what's in the proposal, including another round of stimulus checks.
3. Rep. Deb Haaland faces a confirmation showdown: Haaland, who would become the first Native American interior secretary if confirmed, is expected to be grilled by two top senators - Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) - over her past environmental activism, given their staunch support of fossil fuels.
Our exclusive report has more on Haaland's past views, including joining protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
4. Texans face $5,000 electrical bills: Gov. Greg Abbott says he and state officials are "moving quickly" to alleviate the five-figure sum some residents on non-fixed-rate plans are facing, if they managed to get power amid the state's blackouts.
Read this explainer to know why Texans are getting such huge bills.
- Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz continues to be mocked for his Mexican vacation: The Texas Republican tweeted photos of himself loading bottles of water into cars, prompting criticism and trolling online.
5. We're nearing 500,000 COVID-19-related deaths: In one year, America has lost more lives than the number of people who live in Kansas City, Missouri, to the novel coronavirus. The Washington Post reported that the Vietnam Memorial would need to be eight times taller to carry the names of the deceased. Biden will address the nation tonight and then hold a candlelight vigil at the White House.
6. The top things for your calendar, all times Eastern:
- 9:30 a.m.: Garland's Senate confirmation hearing.
- 12:30 p.m.: Jen Psaki holds the White House's daily news briefing.
- 6:00 p.m.: Biden speaks as the nation nears 500,000 COVID-19 related deaths.
7. Trump prepares for his public comeback: The former president will speak later this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the annual conservative gathering that is being held this year in Florida. It will be Trump's first public appearance since leaving the White House.
8. Kyle Rittenhouse's journey to far-right hero: "Kyle, a boy who loved police and guns and the president, came to believe it was both his right and his duty to preserve law and order as he saw fit." Insider's Michelle Mark on how the reaction to Rittenhouse's shooting of three people in Kenosha last summer illustrates the type of far-right mentality behind the Capitol riot.
Read the exclusive report here.
9. Boeing recommends suspending planes that have the same engine that dropped debris out of the sky over Colorado: The company's announcement came after the Federal Aviation Administration said it was requiring immediate inspections of all 128 Boeing 777 airplanes equipped with a Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engine model. No injuries were reported on board or to anyone on the ground from the debris.
10. SNL takes another swat at "Flyin' Ted" Cruz: "Now, I'm in a little bit of hot water, which I'm told is a thing no one in Texas has," Aidy Bryant, playing Cruz, told cast member Chloe Fineman, who was playing Britney Spears for the cold open. Watch the full sketch here.
One last thing.
Today's trivia question: We're sticking with presidential pups for one last day. Today's question comes from Sharron Links. What was the name of JFK's dog given by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev? Email your response and a suggested question to me at bgriffiths@insider.com
- Friday's answer: President George H.W. and first lady Barbara Bush's dog Millie is the only first pet to write a best-seller.