“The House was scheduled to vote on the rule that would allow the chamber to debate and vote on extending FISA’s Section 702, which permits U.S. intelligence agencies to surveil foreign nationals overseas. This has long been a politically charged issue in the House, one that unites privacy-minded liberals and hardline conservatives.”

“House GOP leaders delayed the vote as they lobbied members, and then canceled all of the day’s remaining votes.”

“The move to take up the measure failed on a vote of 52 to 47. It fell largely along party lines, with Republicans and a single Democrat, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, opposed and Democrats joined by a lone Republican, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, in favor.”

“That trend appears to be continuing: Republican Party committees, super PACs, MAGA Inc. and other Trump-related groups had over $600 million in cash on hand in early February, while Democratic Party committees and congressional super PACs were short of $200 million.”

“Trump’s most recent budget request called for $1.5 trillion in base funding for the Pentagon. The Office of Management and Budget called for most of that funding to be enacted in bipartisan appropriations legislation while moving another $350 billion with just Republican votes through the budget reconciliation process.”

“In a remarkable 100 hours, he went from the front-runner in a race to lead the nation’s most populous state to abandoning his House seat in disgrace. His resignation, effective Tuesday, capped a 13-year congressional career, in which he held coveted party positions and was seen by some as part of a new generation of Democratic leadership.”

NPR: “Before allegations against Eric Swalwell surfaced in the media, they gained momentum online after a network of accusers came together to share stories of alleged assault by the California Democrat.”

“What began as curiosity became—one story at a time—an intimate, revealing portrait of America today.”

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Eric Swalwell (D), who resigned after bombshell sexual assault allegations, polled at third with 9% of voters. Former Rep. Katie Porter (D) is also at 9%.

For members: Who Will Benefit from Eric Swalwell’s Departure?

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed legislation this week adding her state to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact — a two-decades old effort to effectively sidestep the Electoral College without amending the Constitution.

The idea is straightforward: states agree to award their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote, rather than the result within their own borders.

“House Democrats launched Wednesday what they call a task force to overhaul ethics rules and protect access to the ballot. They also want to highlight the Trump family’s business dealings and the president’s transformation of the federal government.”

Key takeaway: A stunning 65% say they blame Trump for higher gas prices, while 34% blame him not much (11%) or not at all (23%). 

“The chat is among members of Congress’ ‘Main Street Caucus,’ a group of almost 100 GOP lawmakers. One Republican lawmaker questioned how the remarks were helpful to those having to defend Trump’s costly war with Iran and complained that the president’s rhetoric isn’t doing the party any favors, according to three House Republicans with direct knowledge of the exchange. Multiple members then chimed in to echo similar concerns.”

Said one House Republican: “People were pissed.” 

Said another: “You cannot just threaten to erase an entire civilization.”

“Some in the group debated whether and how to respond but, in the end, most stayed silent for fear of angering Trump or undermining him in wartime.”

The exit of Eric Swalwell from California’s gubernatorial race — forced by a sexual assault scandal — reshapes the field in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.

The conventional wisdom points to Katie Porter and Tom Steyer as the most likely beneficiaries. Both have the name recognition and infrastructure to capitalize.

“Instead, the void is being filled by radical new leaders who have shown little interest in political compromise at home or abroad. Iranians demonstrating against Israel walk in front of a billboard showing Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.”

“Iran’s hard-liners—anti-Western ideologues with no tolerance for domestic dissent—have always had a place in the country’s overlapping and competing circles of power, their influence rising under the patronage of the elder Khamenei. But they now dominate Iran’s political and military leadership, energized by a war that many of them believe presages the return of a Shiite Muslim messiah.”

“Former lawmakers across the political spectrum have warned for years of a hushed congressional bacchanal marked by inappropriate revelry and sexual misconduct. But a sense of growing momentum gripped Congress on Tuesday, as Democrats grappled with Swalwell’s resignation and Republicans called for other lawmakers to face scrutiny.”

“On the same day that the Senate Banking Committee announced the date of his confirmation hearing to become the next Fed chairman, prosecutors from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office sought to escalate the very investigation that threatens to delay his appointment.”

“Then, in a Fox Business interview that aired Wednesday morning, President Trump made a full-throated defense of the probe of Chair Jerome Powell related to the renovation of the Fed’s headquarters.”

“The confirmation faces a roadblock led by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who has vowed not to advance any Fed nomination until the Justice Department ends its probe.”