The WH appears to be scrambling to change the narrative around the President’s response to Puerto Rico. After days of tweeting about everything from the NFL to the Alabama Senate race (Trump’s candidate lost, btw), 45 announced he will travel to PR and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Tuesday. But which Donald Trump will show up? Millions remain without power or clean water, hospitals have been crippled, and homes have been leveled. More on what Congress is doing below. Did Trump tweet any words of comfort this morning? Or offer any guidance on how the country can donate and help their fellow citizens? Nope. He’s still tweeting about the same things. So, the timing could not be worse for Twitter to start testing tweets that go beyond its signature 140 characters -- doubling the limit to 280 in an experiment with 5% of users globally. Thankfully, this is only being reported in papers. But the second Fox News gets a hold of this -- brace yourselves. On Capitol Hill, RIP to the ACA repeal. The new battle is tax reform as Republicans prepare to release the framework of their proposal today. Lastly, Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) announced his retirement. If you’re new to politics you may not remember that his 2006 Senate race was beset with its own racial undertones when he was in a heated contest with then-Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. The battle included a Super Bowl party, Playboybunnies, and an impromptu face to face confrontation at a press conference. It was a scene. Anyway, here’s what’s up this Wednesday ...
- Congressman Al Green (D-TX) pushes for impeachment.
- Lawmakers push to fast-track DREAM Act.
- Trump admin plans to collect social media info on all immigrants.
- Barack Obama to be honored at global crowdfunding convention.
- Valerie Jarrett honored at LGBT LA event hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
- Congressmen Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Rubén Gallego (D-AZ) want admin to provide casualty estimates in case of war with North Korea.
- Meet Barack and Michelle Obama -- the spiders.
- Bicameral legislators call on the military, and themselves, to help with hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.
- There's more work to be done on diversity on Capitol Hill. The Joint Center's Don Bell breaks it down.
- STEM initiative launched by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)turns 25.
- Former Congresswoman Corrine Brown files for FEMA assistance.
- DNC Chair Tom Pérez heads back to Brown University.
- Meet the new Democratic Director of Public Engagement on the House Natural Resources Committee.
- Top Latino donor gets private audience at the WH to talk taxes.
- Oprah sheds light on mass incarceration.
- Meet the new members of the bipartisan Congressional Climate Solutions Caucus.
- NABJ names a new Executive Director.
- Knight Foundation announces diverse commission to tackle distrust of the media.
- Brown University settles land dispute with Native American tribe.