Uncertainty clouds Congress’ 2020 start
The end of the week brings the start of a new decade, and an uncertain sense of what’s next after reports broke Thursday night that the US had killed Iran’s top general by drone in Iraq.
“As President, I will never hesitate to defend the safety of the American people, you,” Trump told supporters Friday at a church in Miami. “So let this be a warning to terrorists, if you value your own life, you will not threaten the lives of our citizens.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the act saved American lives in the face of an “imminent attack.” Meanwhile, Iran has vowed revenge.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made his return to Washington on Friday, back from the two week-long holiday recess. He praised the military’s efforts: “No man alive was more directly responsible for the deaths of more American service members than Qasem Soleimani.”
McConnell also addressed the major issue looming domestically: Impeachment.
All the questions that remained at the end of 2019 about the Senate’s impeachment trial are still lingering in the new year. McConnell again made it clear he would not proceed by the House’s preferences: calling it “fantasy” that Speaker Nancy Pelosi would be able to dictate the Senate’s impeachment process.
We’ll (hopefully) know more in the coming week. House members (including Pelosi) return from their own recess on Tuesday.
The Point: Congress is heading back to town, and will have to contend with problems both old and new.
Monday:
- Putin again invites Trump to visit Moscow in Christmas and New Year message
- New York Times: White House predicted congressional pushback for holding Ukraine aid
Tuesday:
- Kim Jong Un warns hostile US policy means there will never be denuclearization on Korean Peninsula
- Chief Justice John Roberts says Americans may ‘take democracy for granted’
- US sending additional forces to protect embassy threatened by protesters in Iraq
- Trump says China trade deal will be signed in January
Wednesday:
- White House official says Trump expected to go to Davos after skipping during 2019 shutdown
- Pompeo postpones Ukraine trip due to situation in Iraq
Thursday:
- All eyes on McConnell as Senate returns Friday
- White House budget official told Pentagon that order to hold Ukraine aid came from Trump, national security site reports
- Bill Taylor departs post as top US diplomat in Ukraine
Friday:
- Pompeo: Strike on Soleimani disrupted an ‘imminent attack’ and ‘saved American lives’
- McConnell defends communication with White House on impeachment and says it’s a ‘fantasy that the speaker of the House will get to hand design’ trial
And that was the week in 13 headlines.
