CONTROL

Biden’s Out, Kamala’s In and Trump Picks Vance – What Now for Both Parties?

After one of the most newsworthy two-week stretches in recent memory, Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci are back to make sense of everything that’s happened and where things may go. From President Biden’s decision not to stand for re-election to the groundswell of support for Vice President Harris to the assassination attempt on former President Trump to JD Vance’s debut at the RNC, the political fallout will be felt in the halls of Congress and around the country for years to come. Plus, Speaker Johnson marks a noteworthy milestone and Bibi Netanyahu heads to Washington.
 
Hosts: Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
Politico: Kamala Harris clears the path to the nomination as potential challengers fall in line
NYT: Harris Raised $81 Million in First 24 Hours as Candidate
AP: Who’s No. 2? Four leading Democrats emerge as a possible running mate for Kamala Harris
AP: Biden continues to recover from COVID-19, stays out of public view after ending his 2024 campaign
AP: JD Vance introduces himself as Trump’s running mate and makes direct appeal to his native Rust Belt
Punchbowl: The Canvass RNC recap: Most prefer Youngkin over Vance for VP
NYT: Seeking Answers, Lawmakers From Both Parties Ask Secret Service Chief to Quit
Punchbowl: Trump’s Capitol Hill Cabinet
WaPo: Harris won’t preside over Netanyahu’s speech to Congress
NBC News: Matt Gaetz and Kevin McCarthy's feud erupts at Republican convention

Can Biden Hold the Hill?

As President Biden works to shore up support on Capitol Hill following his disastrous debate performance, Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci discuss the factors at play for congressional Democrats. How can Hakeem Jeffries maintain unity? What is the impact on down-ballot races? And what should House Republicans be doing amid all this? Plus, the appropriations process inches forward, the Senate’s workload remains a mystery, and the left emerges victorious across the pond.
 
Hosts: Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
Politico: Hill Dems brace for fight over Biden’s future to get worse
Politico: Biden’s Survival Plan: Decry ‘Elite’ Critics, Appeal to His Base
Politico: House Republicans request interview with White House physician
WaPo: Trump running mate decision nears, with Vance, Rubio at center of talks
NBC News: House and Senate races draw renewed focus for Democrats after Biden's bad debate
NYT: McCarthy’s Revenge Tour Rolls On, With Mixed Results
Axios: Rep. Celeste Maloy holds razor-thin lead in GOP primary re-election bid
BBC: UK election: What's happened and what comes next?
The Guardian: France election: surprise win for leftwing alliance keeps Le Pen’s far right from power

Prongs, Primaries and ‘Propriations

The House is back from recess and so are hosts Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci. Appropriations bills are front and center this week, but the duo is also keeping their eyes on some other long-running topics, including Speaker Johnson’s oversight prongs, House primaries and the Senate leadership race – not to mention the Presidential debate and the British general election. With little time before the next recess, Congress has a lot to cover.
 
Hosts: Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
The Hill: House set to dive into spending bills
Punchbowl: House GOP Oversight misses Biden, but his allies pay the price
WaPo: The establishment wins: Primary voters keep backing incumbents
CNN: The ‘MAGA civil war’ that threatens to claim another conservative Republican
NYT: What to Know About Jamaal Bowman’s Bitter Democratic Primary Race
Politico: Conservatives rock race to replace McConnell with hardline push
Axios: McConnell eyes his next move
Reuters: UK PM Sunak's Conservatives set for heavy election defeat, polls forecast
The Telegraph: Welcome to the most unpopular G7 summit ever
Politico: Scorched-earth summer: Biden, Sunak and Macron go negative

Oversight Kicks Into Overdrive

As the fallout from the Trump verdict continues to shape Congress, hosts Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci debate the latest moves from Republicans in the House and Senate targeting the Biden admin: will the vote to hold Merrick Garland in contempt succeed? What other actions can the House take? And can Mike Lee and other GOP senators hold up the Senate? Later, more Primary Watch and a lesson in optics management from British PM Rishi Sunak.
 
Hosts: Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
Washington Examiner: House GOP jump-starts push to hold Garland in contempt of Congress
New York Times: After Trump’s Conviction, House Republicans Vow Again to Target His Foes
New York Times: Far-Right Vows to Tie Up the Senate to Avenge Trump Are So Far Mostly Empty
AP: Speaker Johnson appoints two Trump allies to a committee that handles classified intelligence
BBC: Sunak's D-Day absence: How the PM walked into an election blunder

The Spending Wars Have Begun

With the House set to debate its first appropriations bill, hosts Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci analyze the outlook for appropriations season and some other happenings around Capitol Hill. They discuss the Fauci hearing, ICC sanctions, the border, and reproductive rights. Plus, some musings on elections taking place on both sides of the pond: House primaries and the UK general election.
 
Hosts: Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
Roll Call: Scalise lays out ambitious summer appropriations timetable
NBC News: Fauci parries with Republicans in combative hearing about Covid's origins and possibility of a lab leak
Semafor: Speaker Mike Johnson promises a Republican mega-bill that would define Donald Trump’s second term
Axios: Behind the Curtain: Speaker Johnson's secret muse
Politico: Senate border vote fails again, losing support from both sides
CBS News: Senate Democrats to unveil package to protect IVF as party makes reproductive rights push this month
New York Times: U.K. 2024 General Election: What to Know

The Immigration Bill is Back – But Why?

After falling short months ago, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is bringing up the bipartisan immigration bill for another vote – what’s the play? Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by new co-host Mike Ricci, a partner at Seven Letter and former top advisor to Speakers Ryan and Boehner, to try to make sense of Schumer’s actions and a few other topics bedeviling Capitol Hill. The trio discuss upcoming votes related to Israel, President Biden’s battle with the House Oversight Committee over executive privilege, and the outlook for the appropriations process. Plus, a check-in on Rep. Tom Cole’s primary.
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck, Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
Reuters: Schumer says US Senate will try again to pass border bill
ABC News: Biden asserts executive privilege over audio of interview with special counsel Hur
CNN: House committee meeting devolves into chaos as Greene and Ocasio-Cortez trade barbs
Axios: House Republicans "curry favor" with Trump trial visits
Politico: Greg Steube has achieved a rare feat: Successfully forcing a bill to the House floor
Punchbowl: Spending wars are back as House GOP seeks big cuts

Johnson Survives the MTV – What’s MTG’s Next Move?

The chips fell with the House resoundingly voting to table a motion to oust Speaker Johnson. Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller dive into the next moves for the key players: Will Marjorie Taylor Greene trigger another vote? How will Speaker Johnson maintain party unity? And will anyone face consequences for their vote? Plus, a discussion of the FAA reauthorization and some drama in primary races.
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
Brendan’s Politico OpEd
Politico: Greene's rebellion sparks new talk of consequences for House GOP rebels
Axios: Congress plans all-out brawl with Biden over pausing Israel arms transfers
Atlanta Journal Constitution: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s constituents mixed over effort to oust House speaker
KFOR: Who is Paul Bondar, running to unseat Tom Cole? We found him.

Let the Chips Fall Where They May Feat. Andrew Solender of Axios

Is this the week that Marjorie Taylor Greene finally forces a vote to remove Speaker Johnson? Following a marathon meeting in the Speaker’s Office Monday afternoon, Greene and her allies leave us waiting on what’s next. In the meantime, hosts Annalyse Keller and Brendan Buck break down what to watch if a vote moves forward. They also discuss Johnson’s reported comments about punishing troublemaker members and changing the rules for the Motion to Vacate. And they get into the drama last week with a handful of Republicans joining Democrats to pass a rare motion to recommit. All that before being joined by Andrew Solender, congressional reporter for Axios, to talk about how Democrats are viewing all this chaos and how long Johnson can count on them to keep his job. 
 
Hosts: Annalyse Keller and Brendan Buck
Guest: Andrew Solendar
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
CNN: Speaker Johnson faces threat of ouster vote in pivotal week as he meets with Marjorie Taylor Greene
Punchbowl: What Johnson told big donors behind closed doors
The Hill: GOP hard-liners use rare procedural move to block leadership-backed bill
Axios: Democrats warn Mike Johnson: Don't get used to us saving you

What Is Left For Congress The Rest Of The Year?

More like Motion to Vacation… With foreign aid passed and a light floor schedule this week, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller take a look down the road at what Congress needs to accomplish between now and the election, starting with FAA reauthorization. Then they discuss the latest developments with Speaker Johnson and the Motion to Vacate before offering an update on impeachment.
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
The Hill: FAA bill adds 5 long-distance flights to Reagan National airport
CNN: Johnson calls on Columbia University president to resign during tense news conference
Punchbowl: Jim Jordan ramps up his inside game
CNN: How the House GOP’s Biden impeachment effort fell apart

Bonus Episode: Johnson Gets Foreign Aid Done

On a special bonus episode of CONTROL, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller break down how Speaker Johnson got the foreign aid package over the line and what the fallout may be. Will he survive a Motion to Vacate? Can the “coalition government” of Republicans and Democrats keep the House functioning? And what else can Congress get done the rest of the year?
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
Brendan’s NYT oped
AP: The House passes billions in aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle. Next is the Senate
Politico: Bipartisan outrage boils over at threat to Johnson’s speakership
WaPo: Senate votes to dismiss impeachment charges against Mayorkas