Against the backdrop of massively consequential events, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had an important interview today with Maria Bartiromo.
The interview covers multiple topics to include: China dropping tariffs; the overall status of the U.S. economy; potential economic impacts from the Coronavirus; an important legislative infrastructure program, and much more…  However, there’s a statement within the interview that subtle but highly important.  [Listen Carefully at 04:46]

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Long-term CTH readers may remember a key point, since we initially outlined the consequences of President Trump’s policy objectives in 2016, that everyone should carefully consider the scale of President Trump’s opposition.
We encapsulated by saying: “there are trillions at stake“.
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These moves highlight how President Donald Trump, and the priorities he has put forth into the GOP, are now leading the Republican party.   The President is correct: “the republican party has never been more united.”  Most of the GOPe ranks in the House have been removed and the strategic conservative/nationalist movement is now in place.
HJC Ranking Member Doug Collins is running for a Georgia Senate Seat; within the republican House rules he must leave his ranking position on the committee. Today the House steering committee overwhelmingly picked Representative Jim Jordan to take over as the top ranking member on the Judiciary Committee to replace Doug Collins.

Mark Meadows will take over republican leadership of the House Oversight Committee for the remainder of the year replacing Jim Jordan. This is a smart move as Jordan will be in position to counter the efforts of Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler.
Additionally, and in anticipation of the Republicans retaking the House in November, this move is a unifying effort by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to ascend the MAGA coalition into more influence. Kevin McCarthy wants to be Speaker if Republicans can retake the House.
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Earlier today President Donald Trump delivered remarks from the East room about the impeachment acquittal.  After spending more than three years under investigations by government agencies and operatives of DC politics, President Trump did not hold back in pointing out the corruption behind his opposition. [Transcript Below]

[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you. Wow. (Applause.) Well, thank you very much, everybody. Wow. We’ve all been through a lot together, and we probably deserve that hand for all of us, because it’s been a very unfair situation.
I invited some of our very good friends. And we have limited room, but everybody wanted to come. We kept it down to a minimum. And believe it or not, this is a minimum.

But a tremendous thing was done over the last number of months, but really, if you go back to it, over the last number of years. We had the witch hunt. It started from the day we came down the elevator, myself and our future First Lady, who’s with us right now. Thank you, Melania. (Applause.)

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A stunning (not really) shift in late Iowa caucus results overnight caused the New York Times to flip their predictions.  Few noticed but Tue/Wed the NYT predicted 97% certainty that Pete Buttigieg would win Iowa.  Last night as more caucus results were released that predictive model flipped and now Bernie Sanders is 54% predicted to win. [LINK]

What’s happening is clear to anyone who knows the Club’s objective.  The DNC Club is attempting to diminish Sanders and elevate any non-Bernie candidate.  Sanders has won the popular vote in Iowa and will likely split national delegates with Buttigieg.
Knowing the ongoing purpose, Sanders, declares victory today and holds a press conference. Immediately after Bernie’s declaration, DNC Club Chairman Tom Perez requests an Iowa recount in an effort to keep ‘never-Bernie‘ Pete Buttigieg elevated.
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President Trump announced yesterday he would be delivering remarks from the White House today discussing the conclusion of the House impeachment effort.  The anticipated start time is Noon today.
UPDATE: Video Added

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A member of President Trump’s legislative defense team, Jim Jordan, appears with Lou Dobbs to discuss the Senate impeachment acquittal and other DC business.
Additionally, Mr. Jordan also had the opportunity to question FBI Director Chris Wray earlier today, and provides his perspectives on the very serious issues with the FBI.

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Immediately after the impeachment acquittal vote, senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson send a letter [pdf link here] to the Director of the Secret Service, James Murray, seeking travel records for Hunter Biden.
It appears the senators are looking into the background of Biden surrounding business dealings with China and Ukraine: ““We write to request information about whether Hunter Biden used government-sponsored travel to help conduct private business, to include his work for Rosemont Seneca and related entities in China and Ukraine.”…

What makes this approach interesting is the questioning earlier today by House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler toward FBI Director Chris Wray.  Nadler asked several pointed questions to Wray about whether any FBI investigation of the Bidens was requested by the White House or Congress….  Perhaps Nadler expected some inquiries to start.
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At 4:00pm today the U.S. Senate returns to trial phase.  Supreme court Chief Justice John Roberts will return to the Senate, and the chamber will be voting on two articles of impeachment.  The Each senator will be called individually and will cast their vote guilty or not guilty accordingly.
UPDATE:

♦ Article One ‘Abuse of Power’:  Guilty 48 / Not Guilty 52
♦ Article Two ‘Obstruction of Congress’:  Guilty 47 / Not Guilty 53

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FBI Director Chris Wray is testifying to the House Judiciary Committee today and will likely receive questions about the FISA abuse issue.  Chairman Nadler scheduled the hearing today in a transparent effort to avoid publicity on the content.
Fox News Livestream Link – House Judiciary Link

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The House Managers and President Trump defense team have presented their case and defense of impeachment.  Closing arguments are complete.  Today the Senate will finish floor speeches under regular quorum and then re-enter impeachment trial for 4pm vote.
The regular floor speeches are pure partisan politics. Each of the remaining senators is allowed ten minutes for remarks today prior to the impeachment vote at 4:00pm.

• Wednesday: 9:30am Floor speeches resume (regular senate rules). At 4:00pm the Senate re-enters trial phase to vote on two articles of impeachment.

CSPAN Livestream Link – Alternate Livestream 1 – Alternate Livestream 2

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