Voters in Atlanta are facing a big choice today as two candidates face off in a mayoral contest that centers on race and could make history. More on that below. In another Southern contest, a CBS poll shows accused pedophile Roy Moore leading his Democratic opponent Doug Jones in the Alabama Senate race by five points. Moore has denied all allegations against him and even said he doesn’t know any of the accusers. But one of the women who said that she dated Moore when she was 17 and he was 34, revealed a graduation card that appears to be signed by Moore. Back on Capitol Hill, House and Senate lawmakers have begun wrangling over a tax reform plan that reconciles versions from both chambers. The Freedom Caucus almost derailed the plan when they did some arm twisting yesterday over a stopgap bill, underscoring the divisions among Republican lawmakers. The full GOP conference is expected to settle on its spending plan at a closed-door meeting today, with a full floor vote expected tomorrow. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said they will meet with Donald Trump to resume negotiations to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the week. They reiterated on Monday that they are seeking a compromise which extends protections for DACA recipients. Trump is planning to end the program in March. The partisan House of Cards could still fall by Friday. Speaking of, actress Robin Wright will lead the cast in the Netflix show for its final eight episodes. It’s a busy season in the nation’s capital, and we’ve got to start newsgathering for tomorrow’s Beat. Time for us to make like LaVar Ball and bounce so you guys can start your morning with this...
- Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) will not seek re-election.
- Michelle Obama heads to Montreal.
- Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) gets millennial challenger.
- Senators want FCC Chair Ajit Pai to delay vote on net neutrality.
- Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) wants Feds to study impact of mergers.
- Ford Foundation names new Director of Mission Investments.
- Podesta Group alumni start their own firm.
- Former FL Congresswoman Corrine Brown sentenced to five years in prison.
- Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) names new Deputy Chief of Staff.
- House staffer heads over to the FCC.
- Race at the center of today’s Atlanta mayoral contest.
- Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s brother launches congressional bid.
- RNC names new AAPI Outreach Director.
- Honolulu City Councilman announces run for Congress.
- Discovery Channel buys majority stake in Oprah Winfrey Network.
- HuffPost Black Voices Editor steps down.
- Trump will reportedly attend opening of MS civil rights museum on Saturday.
- Congressman Rubén Gallego (D-AZ) intros bill to protect the Bears Ears National Monument.
- SCOTUS allows latest travel ban to go into effect but Justice Sonia Sotomayordissents.
- Cuban American legislators want program reinstated that helped Cuban doctors settle in the U.S.