Welcome to Friday, folks. It’s going to be a nail biter, and the showdown will be in the Senate. The upper chamber has until midnight to vote to keep the government open, and it’s not looking good. Despite the House passing a fourth Continuing Resolution, in which the GOP included a six-year funding deal for the Children’s Health Insurance Program in an attempt to force Democrats to vote for the deal, the Senate could barely get a vote to adjourn last night, let alone a vote on the CR. After the morning echo chamber of the cable news outlets blasted Donald Trump for plans to head to Mar-a-Lago for a party to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his inauguration, leaving the governing to Congress, somebody in the WH thought better of it and 45’s trip was canceled this morning. Now it’s a race for votes. Speaking of race, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is linking up with RuPaul to be a guest judge on his drag queen competition show. True story. And, the outgoing American Express CEO has joined a Board. More on that below. BTW, does anyone know if an outgoing CEO can forgive a really big AmEx bill? If so, someone send me his contact info, please. Asking for a friend. In other news, I’m hitting send from the Amtrak Acela this morning as I head off to NYC to join Harris Faulkner on Fox News this afternoon, and Joy-Ann Reid with my Beat DC colleague Jamal Simmons on Sunday. See you on the tube. As soon as I am back in the Beltway, I’m headed to see and be seen at the uber cool spot where the Obamas celebrated Michelle’s birthday. To get in, I’m going to say I’m FLOTUS44’s niece. That’s believable, right? Anyway, we’re kicking off the weekend with this...
- New administration report tries to justify Muslim travel ban.
- Former NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito joins Latino Victory Fund.
- Outgoing AmEx CEO Ken Chenault named to Facebook board.
- California AG tells businesses to stop snitching or pay.
- Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) leads congressional effort to reestablish military-to-military communication with North Korea.
- First Black male President ends his term leading the National Press Club.
- Lawmakers ask for IG investigation of immigration enforcement practices.
- Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) intros workers’ rights legislation.
- Telemundo International President Marcos Santana named to new position.
- Meet the new contributing editor at Forbes magazine.
- Real-life activists Nina Turner and Roland Martin make cameo appearances on Black Lightning comic book series.
- Hispanic Heritage Foundation announces partnership with the NFL.
- Former Congressman Chaka Fattah appeals sentence.
- TX Governor Greg Abbott is on the lookout for Black and Hispanic voters.
- The race in California’s 42nd Congressional District has turned ugly.
- Meet the 2018 Knight Fellows.
- Attorney Nirali Patel appointed Special Counsel to FCC Chairman.
- Barack Obama AND George W. Bush recently joined the same golf club. Which one?! Find out in Blogs.