1. The big whip
Donald Trump visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to exhort House Republicans to pass the healthcare bill on Thursday. “I honestly think many of you will lose your seats in 2018 if you don’t get this done,” Trump was quoted as saying.
'A loss is not acceptable'
I’m gonna come after you, but I know I won’t have to, because I know you’ll vote ‘yes’. Honestly, a loss is not acceptable, folks.
– Donald Trump, as quoted by multiple Republicans
‘I’m still a No’
“I’m still a no." Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus
— Robert Costa (@costareports) March 21, 2017
No no no
NBC News has now ID'ed 26 House GOPers who are opposed/leaning strongly against House health-care bill, per @AlexNBCNews & @LACaldwellDC pic.twitter.com/lksvwOTw3x
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) March 21, 2017
Yes yes yes?
Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) predicts AHCA passes the House by ONE VOTE.
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) March 21, 2017
Why? He says enough Republicans are a "no, but yes if you need me." pic.twitter.com/OL57QN9IVj
Fast-track legislation
Rs accuse Dems of ramming through Obamacare. But Obamacare was passed at the pace of Zootopia DMV sloths compared to this AHCA attempt.
— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) March 21, 2017
Next stop: Senate
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR): “Despite the proposed amendments, I still cannot support the House health-care bill, nor would it pass the Senate."
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) March 21, 2017
2. Gorsuch: I made no promises on Roe
.@LindseyGrahamSC asks what #Gorsuch would have done had @POTUS asked him to overrule Roe v. Wade. “I would have walked out the door.” pic.twitter.com/FireuF1dLg
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 21, 2017
3. McConnell sees April confirmation
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said supreme court nominee Neil Gorsuch would be confirmed “before we leave for the April recess”. A day of questioning did not produce recognizable Democratic determination to stop the nomination.
4. Next steps for FBI inquiry
A day after James Comey said the FBI is investigating Trump campaign ties to Moscow, “it is unknown if this investigation will lead to a grand jury empanelment, let alone a criminal case, let alone a conviction”, writes the Guardian’s Spencer Ackerman.
5. A room of her own
Ivanka Trump is moving into office space in the West Wing and will get a security clearance, the White House said – but she will not, apparently, have an official position in the administration.
Look over there! How Trump distracts
Summary
Most important thing new WH aide @IvankaTrump can say to @POTUS: "Here, Dad, let me hold your cellphone for you."
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 21, 2017
6. Trump signs Nasa authorization
Trump paused to remark on the difficulty of being an astronaut.
“It’s a pretty tough job,” Trump said before turning to Cruz. “I don’t know, Ted, would you like to do it? I don’t think I would.”
Cruz shook his head indicating that he would not want to be an astronaut … [and] piped in with a proposal.
“You could send Congress to space,” said Cruz.
“We could,” Trump said turning to look at Pence. “What a great idea that could be.”
– Pool reporter Hunter Walker
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... and another thing:
Breaking News! Jimmy Dean Sausage Co will be renamed GORSUCH SAUSAGE because he's grinding up some Democrat Senators into PURE PORK SAUSAGE!
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) March 21, 2017
... and another thing:
Omarosa had wanted a White House reception. This is next best thing, maybe https://t.co/J670btlXgT
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 21, 2017
... and another thing:
"We're now like David Foster Wallace's fish," Gorsuch says. "We're surrounded by the rule of law, it's in the fabric of our lives."
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) March 21, 2017
... and another thing:
Bill Gates cruises through the Senate on Tuesday afternoon pic.twitter.com/z5RtjSJGtS
— Alice Ollstein (@AliceOllstein) March 21, 2017
