Trump sticks embattled health chief with coronavirus response

Trump sticks embattled health chief with coronavirus response-politico: In the span of a day, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar suddenly became the face of the Trump White House’s public response to the Wuhan coronavirus. He could just as easily become the fall guy if the president grows unhappy with the speed or nature of the virus’ transmission, or the increasingly intense media coverage surrounding the administration’s actions.

McConnell, Romney vie for influence over Trump's trial

McConnell, Romney vie for influence over Trump's trial-thehill: The fight over calling additional witnesses at President Trump's impeachment trial has turned into a struggle for influence between Mitch McConnell and Mitt Romney.

GOP scrambles to sidestep messy witness fight

GOP scrambles to sidestep messy witness fight-thehill: Republicans are scrambling to prevent a protracted, messy fight as they try to dismiss renewed talk of calling witnesses during President Trump's impeachment trial.

McConnell struggles to maintain GOP unity post-Bolton

McConnell struggles to maintain GOP unity post-Bolton-thehill: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is struggling to maintain control of President Trump’s impeachment trial following news of former national security adviser John Bolton’s bombshell manuscript. McConnell deflected growing calls, including from fellow GOP senators, to allow testimony from Bolton and other potential witnesses, which could prolong the trial and deal a massive blow to Trump and Republicans.

How record-high turnout in Iowa could upend the 2020 race

How record-high turnout in Iowa could upend the 2020 race-politico: It might not be enough to blunt the momentum swinging nationally to Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. But for Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, high turnout in the Iowa caucuses may be their only chance.

What to watch for on day 4 of the Senate impeachment trial

What to watch for on day 4 of the Senate impeachment trial-thehill: House Democrats get their final shot on Friday to make their case to the Senate and the American public that President Trump’s actions warrant conviction and removal from office. Democrats are expected to use the fourth day of the trial, which marks their third day for opening arguments, to explore the second article of impeachment adopted by the House last month: obstruction of Congress.

White House prepared short list to shake up HHS leadership

White House prepared short list to shake up HHS leadership-politico: White House officials drew up a short list of potential replacements for Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Medicare chief Seema Verma at the height of their contentious feud in case either was forced out late last year, three people with knowledge of the exercise told Politico.

Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 22

Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 22-rollcall: Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Wednesday he’s not done putting his colleagues on the record on how the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump is conducted.

Biden leads Sanders by 7 in new national poll

Biden leads Sanders by 7 in new national poll-thehill: Former Vice President Joe Biden has a 7 point lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in a new national poll, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) a distant third place. The latest Monmouth University survey finds Biden at 30 percent, followed by Sanders at 23 percent and Warren at 14 percent. All three candidates saw a modest increase in support, with Biden gaining 4 points, Sanders 2 and Warren 3.

Biden could be winner in Warren-Sanders fight

Biden could be winner in Warren-Sanders fight-thehill: Former Vice President Joe Biden is an interested observer of the squabble between Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Biden, who after downplaying expectations in Iowa is now signaling he believes the state’s caucuses are in play for his campaign, could end up benefiting if voters in the state are turned off by the fight between his two progressive rivals.

President Trump on trial

President Trump on trial-thehill: The Senate opened its impeachment trial against President Trump on Thursday as the chamber continues to consider taking testimony from new witnesses and wrestles with new allegations surrounding Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. The trial will not begin in earnest until Tuesday when the Senate passes a resolution to lay out the rules and procedures. According to The Hill’s Scott Wong and Cristina Marcos, the Senate will then notify the president’s defense team, which must be given at least two days’ notice, meaning opening arguments by Trump’s team and the House managers will not kick off until later in the week.

Warren, Buttigieg spar over health care costs

Warren, Buttigieg spar over health care costs-thehill: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg tangled over the costs associated with their health care proposals at the Democratic debate. Warren, who supports "Medicare for All," said Buttigieg's plan to create a public option costs less because it's only a "small improvement" over the current system.

What we learned about the Democratic field from the debate

What we learned about the Democratic field from the debate-politico: This was not the debate anyone expected, but it was perhaps the debate that voters needed. Democratic voters, especially those who don’t have the time to pay close attention to politics, in polls and interviews have consistently been bewildered by the size of the field and turned off by petty fights between candidates that do little to clarify their differences.

House priorities for 2020 include health care, infrastructure, climate, redistricting

House priorities for 2020 include health care, infrastructure, climate, redistricting-thehill: House Democrats in 2020 plan to pass legislation on top party priorities like health care, infrastructure and climate as well as more under-the-radar subjects like modernizing Congress and redistricting, all while trying to fully fund the government on time for the first time in 24 years, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said.

Impeachment spotlight shifts to the Senate

Impeachment spotlight shifts to the Senate-thehill: Impeachment is heading to the Senate after a weeks-long delay sparked by a standoff between Democrats and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said in a “Dear Colleague” letter that she would transmit the articles and appoint impeachment managers this week, paving the way for a trial to start as soon as Wednesday.

Hoyer: Democratic chairmen trying to bridge divide on surprise medical bills

Hoyer: Democratic chairmen trying to bridge divide on surprise medical bills-thehill: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said that two Democratic committee chairmen are trying to work out their differences over a measure that would protect patients from surprise medical bills. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has been pushing for months to pass legislation protecting patients from getting massive bills when they go to the emergency room and one of their doctors happens to be outside their insurance network.

Democrats top Trump in Michigan matchups: poll

Democrats top Trump in Michigan matchups: poll-thehill: A poll in Michigan finds several 2020 Democratic White House hopefuls leading President Trump in hypothetical matchups in the crucial battleground state, according to the Detroit News. The Glengariff Group poll showed former Vice President Joe Biden with the widest lead, at 50 percent to Trump’s 43 percent, followed by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, at 47 percent to 41 percent, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) with a 4-point lead, 49 to 45 percent.

DNC says next debate will be rescheduled if it conflicts with impeachment trial

DNC says next debate will be rescheduled if it conflicts with impeachment trial-politico: The chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Tom Perez, said on Tuesday that the party organization would reschedule next week’s presidential primary debate in Iowa if the televised event conflicts with President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate.

Congress' health agenda barrels toward 2020 buzz saw

Congress' health agenda barrels toward 2020 buzz saw-politico: Republicans and Democrats have a narrow opening to cut big deals on drug pricing and surprise medical bills and address two key concerns of voters, just in time for 2020 electoral politics to drive them apart. Congressional leaders are feeling renewed urgency to do something about the high-profile issues, but they fear impeachment and escalating tensions with Iran could swamp the legislative agenda. And on drug pricing, both sides are reluctant to let the other claim victory on a pocketbook issue that recent polling shows ranks high among voter concerns.

Biden builds primary strategy around general election

Biden builds primary strategy around general election-thehill: Former Vice President Joe Biden is running a general election campaign during the Democratic primary. While other candidates are running campaigns tailored to the Democratic base, Biden's message, for the most part, is targeting centrists and independents, a move typically reserved for the general election. While the strategy can be risky for primary candidates, Democrats say the strategy works well for Biden. He is currently well ahead of his competitors.

Presidential field narrows again as Castro suspends campaign

Presidential field narrows again as Castro suspends campaign-rollcall: Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro announced Thursday that he is suspending his presidential campaign. But the Democratic primary field remains crowded, with 14 candidates still in the race. “I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together,” Castro said in a tweet Thursday morning. “I’m going to keep fighting for an America where everyone counts, I hope you’ll join me in that fight.”

House retirements already outpace average for past election cycles-

House retirements already outpace average for past election cycles-rollcall: The number of House members deciding to retire has already exceeded the average for recent election cycles, and more could be coming as lawmakers return to the nation’s capital after the holidays.