Barack and Michelle Obama Portraits Revealed, Ted Lieu Wants Oversight on Nukes, and Ro Khanna SCRAPS Perks for Members

The immigration debate in the Senate kicks off today. The White House has  proposed a pathway to citizenship for nearly two million “Dreamers” in exchange for $25 billion for a border wall and enhanced border security, in addition to large cuts to family-based immigration. Also happening today, Trump unveils a blueprint for $1.5 trillion in spending for transportation and other projects over the next decade, of which the federal government would be responsible for $100 billion. The budget will also include funding for a return to the moon. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s infrastructure was dealt another blow. An explosion and fire at an electric substation threw much of northern PR, including parts of San Juan, into darkness late Sunday. It’s a setback for the island's efforts to fully restore power nearly five months after Hurricane Maria started the longest blackout in U.S. history. On Friday, 74-year-old Congressman Rick Nolan (R-MN) announced that he will not run for re-election this year -- an unexpected decision that elevates the stakes in what was already going to be an expensive, all-out battle between Democrats and Republicans for the seat. Tired of career politicians? You may want to look to the Kansas gubernatorial race, where six teens between 15 and 17 years of age are on the ballot. And there are more staff shake-ups at the White House. Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Carroll has been tapped to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy. He’ll serve as Deputy Director while awaiting confirmation. Lastly, they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, the Obamas are worth two thousand. Their official portraits are being unveiled as we hit send. More on that below. But over the weekend, a photoshopped pic of a bearded Obama sent the twitters into a frenzy. Have you seen?? Stay thirsty, my friends. We’re kicking off the week with this...

  • Happening now: The National Portrait Gallery unveils official portraits of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
  • Democratic legislators hit Homeland Security for separating immigrant families.
  • Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) wants a hearing on the authority to use nuclear weapons.
  • House passes part of Congresswoman Mia Love’s (R-UT) bill against paying harassment settlements with taxpayer funds.
  • Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) wants to SCRAP congressional perks for former members.
  • Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Congresswoman Michelle Luján Grisham (D-NM) push legislation on Indian Country nutrition.
  • Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) wants answers on how FEMA awards disaster relief contracts.
  • Clueless actress Stacey Dash mulling congressional run.
  • Latino voters could be key in CA gubernatorial race.
  • Indian American PAC makes first round of 2018 endorsements.
  • Meyer Memorial Trust taps Obama alumna as new President and CEO.
  • USHCC head hit with harassment allegations.
  • Former SBA administrator María Contreras-Sweet withdraws bid to buy Weinstein Co.
  • Rockefeller Foundation President Rajiv Shah heads to India today.
  • Post-Katrina debt cleared for four HBCUs.
  • Harvard hires first tenured professor of Native American history.
  • Rumaan Alam is joining the NYT’s Books desk as Special Projects Editor.
  • The National Congress of American Indians kicks off its 2018 winter meeting.
  • Meet Javier Gamboa, the "Dreamer" helping to lead the DCCC's efforts to win back the House, in Blogs.
Brenda Arredondo