House and Senate Dems split over Sanders - Politico

With an assist from Heather Caygle

HEART BERN -- Bernie Sanders’ foreign policy is causing some serious consternation in the Democratic party. The most recent example was his praise for some of Fidel Castro’s policies, which is basically like touching the “third-rail” of politics in Florida and prompted immediate pushback from Democrats in the state. “As the first South American immigrant member of Congress who proudly represents thousands of Cuban Americans, I find Senator Bernie Sanders’ comments on Castro’s Cuba absolutely unacceptable,” tweeted freshman Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.), who flipped a GOP district in 2018.

And Jewish Democrats are furious that Sanders slammed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and accused the platform of bigotry. “Senator Sanders owes an immediate apology for his appalling comments about AIPAC and those who believe deeply in the US-Israel relationship — a strategic alliance that is key in the fight against terror,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) tweeted last night. While the flaps might seem like more regional issues, they are fueling broader concern about whether Sanders’ brand of Democratic socialism will be an easy sell in key swing states like Florida. Much more from Matt Dixon: https://politi.co/3a4wjX8.

But not everyone is hitting the panic button. Across the Capitol, Senate Democrats — who represent a key part of the Democratic establishment — actually believe Sanders can beat Trump in the general election. “I do believe he can beat President Trump,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who sought the presidential nomination earlier this cycle. “What Bernie has shown us until now is that he has a very broad base of very, very passionate followers. That is the first thing you need for a campaign on any level. Especially in a red or purple district.” The dispatch from Burgess and Marianne: https://politi.co/2HTKd2b.

Related reads: “Who would win a Trump-Sanders election?” via WaPo’s Philip Bump: https://wapo.st/2SXZENi; and “Bloomberg internal poll claims Bernie would sink downballot Dems,” by Chris Cadelago and Laura Barrón-López: https://politi.co/37ZHS0d.

SO NOT GOING THERE -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi had no desire to answer questions about how a Sanders presidential nomination would impact the ticket down ballot, particularly Democrats’ efforts to hold onto the House. “Well, let’s get through the prospects of the election. I love the people participating – the people’s choice,” Pelosi told reporters in San Francisco on Monday.

Pelosi hasn’t endorsed in a competitive presidential primary since 2003, when she backed Rep. Dick Gephardt, her predecessor as House minority leader. And allies of the speaker say she doesn’t have any plans to weigh in this time around. “It is absolutely absolutely essential and urgent, not to get involved in politics here because that’s not our purpose,” Pelosi said Monday. “But I will say, from a patriotic standpoint, we must have a new president of the United States.”

Related: “Most vulnerable Democrats are avoiding the presidential primary. Not Colin Allred,” via Roll Call’s Bridget Bowman: http://bit.ly/2HUQbzK.

STAFFER SWAP -- GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has hired a staffer away from Democratic Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas, which is raising some eyebrows on Capitol Hill, your Huddle host has learned. Isabela Belchior, who handled Judiciary issues for Garcia, will now serve as legislative counsel for Gaetz. "We are happy to welcome Isabela Belchior to our team. Our office believes in second chances," Gaetz’ office said in a statement provided to Huddle.

It's pretty rare — though not entirely unheard of — for staffers to work for members of different parties. But this move is particularly notable given that Garcia helped prosecute the case against Trump as a Democratic impeachment manager, while Gaetz is a firebrand conservative and one of Trump’s fiercest allies on Capitol Hill. Both Garcia and Gaetz serve on the influential House Judiciary Committee.

HAPPY TUESDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this February 25, where Michael Jordan becoming another crying meme at the Kobe Bryant memorial is giving your host all the feels.

MONDAY’S MOST CLICKED: The New York Post’s story on Chuck Schumer spending $8,600 on cheesecake was the big winner.

CORONAVIRUS CASH -- The White House is requesting $2.5 billion in emergency funding to combat the coronavirus, report Nancy Cook and Caitlin Emma. The supplemental package, which comes after days of internal White House wrangling, would also require enhanced authority to move around federal funds. “The Trump Administration continues to take the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease very seriously," said Rachel Semmel, a spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget.

But Democrats are already slamming the supplemental request as insufficient, and have also warned the White House against siphoning funds from other health initiatives to fight the coronavirus. “Despite urgent warnings from Congress and the public health community, the Trump administration took weeks to request these emergency funds,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.). “It is profoundly disturbing that their answer now is to raid money Congress has designated for other critical public health priorities. Worse still, their overall request still falls short of what is needed for an effective, comprehensive government-wide response.” The story: https://politi.co/38219Op.

Related: “Trump says coronavirus under control in the U.S.,” per Reuters: https://reut.rs/2w09aX9.

NOT GAGA FOR GRENELL -- At least one Senate Republican isn’t thrilled that Trump chose to tap U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, a loyalist with no intel experience, to serve as the acting director of national intelligence. “I would have much preferred that the president nominate acting director Maguire for the post,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). “I care deeply about that position and believe the person needs experience in the intelligence community which regrettably ambassador Grenell does not have.”

Collins, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee and is up for reelection this fall, is the first Senate Republican to break with Trump over his intelligence shake-up. And Collins helped write the law creating the position in 2004, notes Burgess. Much more: https://politi.co/3a4CjPE.

Related: “Schumer calls on Trump admin to sanction Russia over election meddling,” from Marianne: https://politi.co/38XXGlB.

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? -- Trump’s former physician Dr. Ronny L. Jackson is running for Congress in Texas – and he’s hoping his ties to Trump will boost him in the crowded GOP primary field. The NYT’s Annie Karni has a great look at the race from on the ground in Wichita Falls: “In a primary field of 15 anti-immigrant, anti-abortion Republicans, Dr. Jackson is betting his personal connection with the president is enough to win the Republican nomination tantamount to election.

“‘I’ve been working side by side with the president,’ Jackson said. ‘I know all the cabinet secretaries. I have their cellphones. I know the chief of staff, the national security adviser. I can pick the phone up and I can call them. They’re all friends of mine.’ … But it is not clear if that connection, combined with his background as a Navy rear admiral, will be enough to help Dr. Jackson overcome some rookie mistakes as a candidate. There have been more than a few.”

And don’t miss the kicker: “Mr. Jackson said his goal was to help Mr. Trump lose 10 to 15 pounds and that he planned to bring an exercise bike or elliptical machine into the White House residence. Mr. Jackson said those plans never came to pass. (Mr. Trump had gained four pounds by his following physical.) ‘The exercise stuff never took off as much as I wanted it to,’ he said. ‘But we were working on his diet. We were making the ice cream less accessible, we were putting cauliflower into the mashed potatoes.’" Much more: https://nyti.ms/32orANn.

UPTON RE-UPS -- The House GOP, which has been rocked by a string of retirements this cycle, finally got some good news: veteran Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) will seek re-election. The story from the Detroit News: “The decision by Upton, who said he had ‘unfinished business,' ensures that Republicans will have a well-funded incumbent to run in what could be a competitive southwest Michigan district. In 2018, a year when Democrats flipped two other U.S. House seats in the state, voters re-elected Upton by 4.5 percentage points.

“Known as a moderate Republican, Upton has, at times, publicly disagreed with President Donald Trump. He said his ‘unfinished business’ included fighting the opioid epidemic, immigration reform and protecting the Great Lakes. He also touted his willingness to work across the aisle in the statement announcing his re-election campaign.” The latest from Craig Mauger: http://bit.ly/2w77Am1.

KIND OF A BIGGS DEAL -- Most congressional Republicans have been reluctant to wade into the Georgia Senate race, which has turned into an intra-party battle between Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.). But on Monday, Collins scored one of his first congressional endorsements from Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who chairs the conservative House Freedom Caucus and serves on the Judiciary Committee with Collins. “I am pleased to support my good friend and freedom fighter, Congressman Doug Collins, for the office of Senator for the great state of Georgia,” Biggs said in a statement, per Fox News’ Chad Pergram.

TRANSITIONS

Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) has hired Nick Martin as communications director. He was previously a director at Forbes Tate Partners and before that worked in the Department of Health and Human Services during the Obama administration.

Public Knowledge has hired Alex Petros as policy counsel. Petros previously was a law fellow for Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

Christiana Reasor has joined Sen. Jerry Moran's (R-Kansas) office as his healthcare, education, labor and pension legislative correspondent. She previously was a legislative assistant for Rep. Steve Watkins (R-Kansas).

Lia Palazzo, formerly of the Department of Energy, has joined Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) office as deputy press secretary.

Molly Carpenter, who worked for the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), is joining Sen. Mike Crapo’s (R-Idaho) office as a legislative assistant.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House gavels in at 2 p.m., but no votes are expected in the House. Today’s agenda: http://bit.ly/2PBrugf.

The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of the nomination of Robert Molloy to be Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands. Senators will take several roll call votes at 11:30 a.m.. The chamber will then recess from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. for weekly caucus meetings.

AROUND THE HILL

Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) holds a discussion on a Government Accountability Office report titled "State Department: Additional Steps are Needed to Identify Potential Barriers to Diversity” at 12:30 p.m. in SVC-215.

TRIVIA

MONDAY’S WINNER: John Jones was the first person to guess that when George Washington ran in 1755 to the House of Burgesses, he spent his entire campaign budget on alcohol to drive voter turnout to win his election.

TODAY’S QUESTION: From John: The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture was established in 1785, and had a mission "to discover and disseminate the best methods of scientific farming practice." Which four founding members of the society also signed the Declaration of Independence? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way at mzanona@politico.com.

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