Collins To Remain In Senate, Bypass Run For Maine Governor

“Sen. Josh Hawley said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, told him he was ‘open’ to reimposing some restrictions on access to the abortion pill mifepristone,” NOTUS reports. “Hawley, a staunch ally of the anti-abortion movement, said Kennedy’s remarks were made in a private conversation he had with Kennedy on Tuesday.

“Federal officials say they’re worried about sharing documents via email with Donald Trump’s transition team because the incoming officials are eschewing government devices, email addresses and cybersecurity support, raising fears that they could potentially expose sensitive government data,” Politico reports. “The private emails have agency employees considering insisting on in-person meetings and document exchanges that they otherwise would have conducted electronically.”

“At least a dozen senators are pushing to see the FBI’s background check on Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s embattled pick for Pentagon chief — a rare move for the committee that oversees his confirmation and a sign the former Fox News host still faces hurdles in the Senate,” Politico reports. “Unlike some other committees, the Senate Armed Services usually limits access to these types of background checks to its two lead senators.

“A small, bipartisan group of senators have been quietly sketching out a possible new border deal for early 2025,” Axios reports. “Top Senate Republicans plan to move quickly on a border package, using the budget reconciliation process to get it done.” “But the idea of a bipartisan border deal that could get 60 votes has popped up as GOP infighting drags on over the best path forward in Trump’s first 100 days.”

Playbook: “In-the-know sources tell us that Trump has privately pushed Johnson to quickly raise the debt ceiling since the election, hoping to clear the decks for his post-inauguration sprint. The speaker, we’re told, refused to take the request seriously — probably because he knows any debt ceiling increase would mean major concessions to Democrats, which could in turn mean kissing his speaker’s gavel goodbye.” “Johnson’s not wrong about that: Even before Trump made his debt ceiling demand, some conservatives were so peeved with the CR that they were threatening to oppose Johnson’s bid for speaker early next year.

Wall Street Journal: “Lutnick is slated to close this week on the purchase of the French Château-style house in the Foxhall area, local agents said. Baier and his wife, Amy Baier, listed the property for $31.9 million last year. It was most recently asking $28.995 million, according to Zillow.” “While Lutnick’s contract price couldn’t be determined, agents said the deal could set a record for the D.