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03/13/2019 08:00 AM EDT

By MELANIE ZANONA (mzanona@politico.com; @MZanona)


UP AGAINST THE CLOCK -- Time is running out for Senate Republicans to escape an ugly, public clash with President Donald Trump. The Senate is slated to vote Thursday on a House-passed resolution killing Trump's national wall emergency, and as of right now, there are enough Republicans supporting the measure for it pass, which would tee up Trump's first veto.

But there are few exit ramps available to lawmakers. The parliamentarian is unlikely to allow any significant amendments to the measure at a majority threshold, report Burgess and Bres. And Republicans discussed a potential deal with Vice President Mike Pence in which Trump would support amending the National Emergencies Act in exchange for some wavering Republicans agreeing to vote against the resolution. But it's unclear whether Trump would accept a deal reining in his future power.

The desperate, last-minute maneuvering underscores how even though Republicans are deeply uneasy with the emergency declaration, they are also incredibly reluctant to rebuke a president with a long memory and quick Twitter finger. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=21d56c95a3a3b77c95901a80efbcb91baeb0735870f1a7901aac1a193f2798a144177ff52de49a135d9272a34419f510

Related read: "Pence takes GOP punches for Trump," by Eliana Johnson and Burgess: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=21d56c95a3a3b77cf8e2a123f8bcd53d44164b723f28d84d523b2505d9f7072101193edc3e71cafb98ab5156228985ad

ALL ABOUT TRUMP -- House Democrats are finding it difficult to turn the channel on the Trump show, even in the majority. Democrats, who are eager to push their robust policy agenda, have so far struggled to break through the fast pace news-cycle that can be thrown into chaos with a single tweet - a harsh reality that plagued their Republican predecessors.

Case in point: The House voted on a landmark gun control bill, but headlines were dominated by the testimony from Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen. When Democrats introduced the Dream Act, leaders were instead peppered with questions about impeachment. And in a stumble of their own making, the passage of a signature ethics reform package was overshadowed by an anti-Semitism controversy sparked by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

The frustration among Democrats in palpable, and some worry it could hurt the party's majority makers. "When have we ever had a presidency when the news cycle is dictated in the morning by what he tweets?" asked Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.). "You're working overtime to make your case, and it's like pushing the bean uphill, you realize what a difficult job it is in this environment." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=21d56c95a3a3b77cdd3c0738474d03b04b603b9393ca56bb0dccf1457e4b673fbae73dd3a0c663611a5ed86e2becd3fd

Related: "'Shooting with real bullets,' Democrats change tune on impeachment vote," from Roll Call's Lindsey McPherson: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=21d56c95a3a3b77cc502eca53ebd0d9bf62d7c9dd964fa3a495f1e2d99b74fee84cb6aa0c60a0cba4bcdb6b161739491 and "Sanders aide apologizes for questioning American Jews' 'dual allegiance' to Israel," by Marc Caputo and Holly Otterbein: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=21d56c95a3a3b77cc6cec532b2a02bdfb56f8a6add7957a74298de9cbce059c4a24c387599abe2813592b635e007e2ae

HAPPY WEDNESDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this March 13, where POLITICO's Congress team is still deeply divided over Mitt Romney's controversial twinkie cake and candle-blowing methods.

TUESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: USA TODAY's report on whether AOC is hurting the party's moderates was the big winner.

** A message from AARP: The big drug companies don't see us as people. They see us as profits. Americans pay the highest drug prices in the world while they rake in billions. We shouldn't have to choose between buying medication and buying food. Congress, stop the greed. Cut drug prices now. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=21d56c95a3a3b77c0bccb07812a41a9baa865d251dfcd74411f4dfc7869f0b407db5e21b77332cbe70caf7a6f3e1c41d **


BOEING BLEEDS SUPPORT -- Boeing's wall of support on Capitol Hill is starting to crumble amid a global crisis surrounding the safety of its new 737 Max 8 jetliner, which has been involved in two deadly crashes in recent months. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) became the most visible defector on Tuesday, calling on the U.S. to join other nations in grounding the aircraft until the FAA can confirm its safety. Why his position is notable: Texas is home to Southwest and American Airlines, which both fly dozens of planes using the beleaguered model.

And Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), who represents a district with a Boeing facility, was overheard on the phone in the Capitol saying he wanted to get in touch with the Boeing lobbyists, who have a powerful presence in Washington. Asked about it afterward, Lieu told your Huddle host that he wanted to let them know that he was joining the growing calls for a temporary ban on the jet. While the FAA has held off on taking the planes out of service, a number of congressional committees are vowing to hold hearings on the issue. More from your Huddle host and Brianna Gurciullo: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=21d56c95a3a3b77c01c0ac9e22d881551b597aca46682239bdd2404b1a40e0d2ed2219a2b21c9fc397a83bd57a9cdab9

Related: "Pilots complained at least 5 times about Boeing 737 MAX problems, records show," via Kathryn Wolfe: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=21d56c95a3a3b77c0c3cb3d0736de9ec4ba4c136f11715befe4257f1c154c212a5e7b01f56ee2a9dd4e0de23733bcbba

COMING ATTRACTIONS -- The emergency declaration resolution isn't the only Trump rebuke on the horizon. The Senate will vote today on a resolution ending U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, which Trump has threatened to veto. The measure is likely to pass the Senate, and House Democrats are expected to take it up soon after. The House already passed a similar version, but Republicans in the lower chamber were able to tank it by adding unrelated language using a "motion to recommit." Keep an eye on how Republicans try to use the same procedural tactics this time around. The dispatch from Marianne: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=21d56c95a3a3b77cccbc9847bec1ec46b3ca33f00ec01bd848323d7357d13705001992c663c80f72591828bd531bf124

TRADE TROUBLES -- The White House has been ramping up efforts to sell Democrats on Trump's revamp of NAFTA, one of his key campaign promises. But so far, the effort is falling short, reports Sabrina Rodriguez. Leaders of the 90-plus members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus announced on Tuesday that they have concerns with the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and are calling on the president to reopen the negotiations. Even though Democrats and the president have some common ground on trade issues, they may be reluctant to hand Trump a major victory. The president, however, has threatened to pull out of NAFTA if Congress doesn't approve his pact. The latest:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3b47b32888a46fb531781b1915c7b1155ff5883914aa846048a04c9944e593c033e9184b1f70fd591f4ca0245b03a6a0

OFFICE SPACE -- Oh the perks of being in power. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has taken away Vice President Mike Pence's office on the House side of the Capitol, reports NPR. While Pence rarely used the space, which was assigned by ex-Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the move reflects the shift in power dynamics underneath the Capitol Dome. As Speaker, Pelosi has the authority to assign office spaces. More from Susan Davis: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3b47b32888a46fb5575a59046c8a04f7ed05cfe536023bd547a88de05e878d13151d0c9cdaf234e6dc069966a71dd76d

***Ben White will once again bring POLITICO's Morning Money newsletter to the Milken Institute Global Conference from April 28 through May 2. The special edition newsletter will detail conference highlights, major conversations, evening festivities and VIP gatherings throughout the conference. Sign up today to receive exclusive, in-depth coverage from the scene of #MIGlobal.***
TRANSITIONS
Jake Cornett, a senior adviser to Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) on the Senate HELP Committee, has been named executive director of Disability Rights Oregon.

Sarah Paul, former chief of staff to Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.), is joining Uber as senior manager of federal affairs.
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House gavels in at 10 a.m., with first votes expected at 1:30 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3b47b32888a46fb5e16c7ba0dc7ea13642e09568b9098530278ca582d971fe3504fd015c4a1d2a1f9b61f01f1a6208c7 The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m. to resume consideration of Neomi Rao's nomination to be U.S. circuit judge for the District of Columbia. At noon, the Senate will vote on confirmation.
AROUND THE HILL
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) hold a news conference on born alive legislation at 8:15 a.m. on the House Triangle.

Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) holds a news conference on "Building a 21st Century Workforce" at 2 p.m. in the Senate Radio/TV Radio Gallery.

Congressional Democratic leaders hold a press event to introduce the "Equality Act" at 2 p.m. in the Rayburn Room.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) hold a news conference to discuss the introduction of the bicameral Jaime's Law gun control legislation at 2:30 p.m. in S-115.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) holds a news conference on suicide prevention at 3 p.m. in S-325.
TRIVIA
TUESDAY'S WINNER -- Frank McDougall correctly guessed that the first live television broadcast from the House Chamber was on Jan. 3, 1947.

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From Frank: How and when did the term " OK" come into use, and which U.S. President was responsible for it? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: mzanona@politico.com.

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning.


** A message from AARP: There's no question about it: The big drug companies' profits are soaring while too many Americans are struggling to make ends meet. As we continue to pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world, drug companies continue to pocket billions of dollars. They can afford to spend nearly $175 million for lobbying, and more than $6 billion for advertising, and yet we're supposed to believe they can't find a way to lower prices? Americans shouldn't have to choose between buying medication and buying food for our families. It's time for Congress to step up and put people before profits. Stop the greed. Cut drug prices now.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=21d56c95a3a3b77c0bccb07812a41a9baa865d251dfcd74411f4dfc7869f0b407db5e21b77332cbe70caf7a6f3e1c41d **

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