Inside Trump’s roast of House Republicans Presented by

THE PRESIDENT UNPLUGGED -- House Republicans who raked in the most money for a private fundraising event at Trump Hotel on Tuesday night got a little extra reward: a roast from President Donald Trump. The president — unscripted, unfiltered and totally in his element — went on an extended riff about a wide range of topics, from his recent White House meeting with “nasty Nancy” Pelosi and “lap dog” Chuck Schumer to bragging about the raid on Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (“we saw his car tires blown over six miles away from where the missiles hit,” he said, according to an attendee.)

Trump spoke for roughly an hour to lawmakers in the crowd, who were forced to ditch their phones as they dined on steaks, mashed potatoes and asparagus. But some of the most memorable lines of the night came when Trump gave a shout out — and a light ribbing — to the top GOP fundraisers, multiple sources inside the room tell your Huddle host. The highlights:



Trump praised House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and his joint fundraising committee, Take Back the House. “My Kevin is always on my side,” he said, and talked about him becoming speaker one day.

Rep. Greg Pence (Ind.), who is the brother of Vice President Mike Pence, was also in attendance. "I know a guy who looks like you,” Trump joked. “How did you get that good of a seat in here ya cheap-o?"

Trump mentioned the Alabama Senate race, where former Attorney General Jeff Sessions is considering jumping in. “Question for Gary Palmer: who is gonna win Alabama? Don't tell me Sessions. Is it gonna be the coach?"

The president reflected on the shooting of House Minority Whip Steve Scalise a few years ago and remarked how tough the Louisiana Republican is – and Trump quipped he wouldn’t recommend getting shot as a weight loss plan. Trump also said Scalise’s wife “cried her eyes out when I met her at the hospital that fateful day … I mean not many wives would react that way to tragedy, I know mine wouldn't.”

The spotlight shifted to Rep. John Joyce’s (Pa.) family for a bit, with Trump asking: “should we get your handsome son to run for your seat? He's quite the handsome man. Stand up son,” he said, before adding that Joyce’s wife is a “looker” too.

Trump praised Rep. Andy Barr (Ky.) for beating Democrat Amy McGrath last year, but then took a little credit for himself: “Well technically I did,” Trump said. “So do I have to beat her twice?” McGrath is now running against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.).

Republican pollster Frank Luntz got teased by Trump at one point. “You used to be against me, but now you are on my side,” Trump said. “Not so nice before, but now I have to say I like you and I like your work.”

The president said he was pleasantly surprised by how much Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (Tenn.) “really came through” on fundraising. “That lil guy packs more punch than I thought,” the president said.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.) was dubbed by Trump to have “the best name" in politics. “If I had that name, I would have been president 10 years ago," Trump said. The worst name in politics? Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), he added.

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OFF TO THE RACES -- Today, Democrats will take their biggest step yet in their march toward impeachment. The House will vote on a resolution that outlines how they plan to approach the public phase of their impeachment inquiry — a step that the GOP will try to paint as a proxy vote for actually impeaching Trump. Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the Atlantic that she thinks there is already enough evidence to impeach Trump. “We’ve had enough for a very long time,” she said. “But as long as there is corroboration, we might as well get some more. And then we'll see." Much more: http://bit.ly/2Nt3z0n .

Both parties are expecting near unity on today’s vote, report Sarah and Heather. But there are a couple of members to keep an eye on. On the Democrat side … Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), who is still in the running for 2020, will be back in town for the vote and leadership is in the dark on how she’ll vote. And Reps. Jeff Van Drew (N.J.) and Collin Peterson (Minn.) both have not yet backed the resolution. The story: https://politi.co/2JDV2GK .

On the Republican side … retiring Rep. Francis Rooney (Fla.), who has expressed deep alarm over Trump’s communications with Ukraine, told Heather he “doesn’t know” how he will vote today. And the White House is considering hosting some Republicans at the White House to rally the party ahead of the big vote, per WaPo’s Rachael Bade. The latest: http://bit.ly/36kmYJr .

Speaking of the GOP ... Burgess and Nancy Cook have the inside story of how Trump is working to keep congressional Republicans in line. It involves rounds of golf, a World Series game, frequent phone calls and tweets, and constant contact with GOP leadership. In fact, he met with McConnell just last week, where the majority leader urged the president to lay off the senators who may wind up as jurors in an impeachment trial. The dispatch: https://politi.co/2JCk8pM .

OTHER IMPORTANT IMPEACHMENT READS:

—”Trump's Russia Director To Leave National Security Council Amid Impeachment Inquiry,” by NPR’s Franco Ordonez :

— “John Bolton scheduled to testify in impeachment inquiry,” via Andrew .

— “Source: Bill Taylor will 'fulfill his duty' if asked to testify in impeachment probe,” by CNN’s Kylie Atwood, Manu Raju and Jeremy Herb.

— “White House lawyer moved transcript of Trump call to classified server after Ukraine adviser raised alarms,” per WaPo’s Carol D. Leonnig, Greg Miller and Tom Hamburger.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, October 31. Instead of storming the SCIF, lawmakers should storm the stadium, because the NATS ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!

WEDNESDAY’S MOST CLICKED: Roll Call’s report on an impeachment resolution loophole was the big winner.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: The Washington Nationals celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros in Game Seven to win the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. The Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros with a score of 6 to 2. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Tim Warner/Getty Images

'BABY BOOMER ERA OF JUDGMENT’? -- In a House chamber where the average age is 56 years old, not all lawmakers have agreed on exactly how to process the scandal that forced freshman Rep. Katie Hill’s resignation this week -- a smear campaign of nude photos by her ex-husband circulated in the conservative media.

Many senior Democrats have been visibly uncomfortable commenting on the situation, or have privately suggested she should be more careful. Millennial members, though, have come to Hill’s defense, with some saying she never should have resigned. “I don't think we're really talking about how targeted and serious this is,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told us. And it’s not just a party-line defense. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said that he, too, has seen a “baby boomer era of judgment” looming over Capitol Hill. The story: https://politi.co/36io0Wu .

Happening today … Hill will give her final floor speech after she takes her last floor vote before resigning, which will fittingly be on the impeachment resolution.

MITCH BETTER HAVE MY MONEY -- Well, this is a step in the right direction at least. From Bres: “Pelosi and McConnell spoke on the phone Monday and agreed that the goal was to finish all appropriations bills by Dec. 31. ... But a standoff over President Donald Trump’s border wall remains the biggest obstacle in bipartisan talks to avoid another government shutdown.

“House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) also told Democratic committee chairmen that any short-term funding measure to keep the government open shouldn’t extend past year’s end, and that he understood that to be McConnell's position as well after a recent conversation with the Senate GOP leader.

“And White House officials met with Republican and Democratic aides from both the House and Senate on Tuesday to discuss outstanding issues on spending bills, although there’s no consensus on whether any progress was made or not. Current government funding lasts through Nov. 21.” The story: https://politi.co/34ku5zI .

Related: “Congress Considers Delaying Spending Talks Until After Impeachment,” from Erik Wasson of Bloomberg: https://bloom.bg/323zSZ7 .

NOT A GOOD IDEA -- Republican senators are shooting down a White House plan to appoint immigration hard-liner Ken Cuccinelli to lead the Department of Homeland Security, which would require a special work around. “The White House would be well advised to consult with the Senate and senators before they take any decisive action that might be embarrassing to Mr. Cuccinelli or to the White House itself,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who called the attempt to fill the top role at the department without Senate confirmations a “concern.”

That follows from earlier this year, when McConnell said he has a "lack of enthusiasm" for Cuccinelli and warned in April about nominating Cuccinelli to the permanent position. The latest from Burgess, Anita Kumar and Daniel Lippman: https://politi.co/36owETh .

Speaking of things that might be nixed … “Trump takes pulse of GOP on Alabama Senate race,” via The Hill’s Scott Wong: http://bit.ly/334ERKi ; and “Trump’s Disfavor Hangs Over Possible Sessions Senate Bid,” via WSJ’s Lindsay Wise, Natalie Andrews and Andrew Restuccia: https://on.wsj.com/2N5zlSp.

YOU CAN FIND ME IN DA CAPITOL … Rapper and actor 50 Cent, who is famous for his hit “In Da Club,” was spotted in the Capitol during votes yesterday. Word is that he was meeting with lawmakers to discuss Comcast’s plan to drop the Starz network (which carries his show "Power"). Fifty even posed for photos with Nancy Pelosi at one point. Video. (h/t The Hill’s Scott Wong.)

TRANSITIONS

Nothing today.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House gavels in at 9 a.m. with first and last votes expected between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Today’s agenda: http://bit.ly/2NlJeKg .

The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of H.R. 3055 (116) , one of the fiscal 2020 appropriations minibuses. They will vote on passage of the bill and its amendments at 11:30 a.m.

AROUND THE HILL

Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly news conference at 10:15 a.m. in HVC Studio A.

House Republicans will hold a media availability with reporters after the impeachment resolution vote around noon in the Rayburn Room.

TRIVIA

WEDNESDAY’S WINNER: Sara Bonjean was first to guess that the Bankhead family includes a Speaker of the House during the FDR Administration, two Senators, and an internationally-acclaimed actress of stage and screen known for her outrageous personality and witticisms such as “I’m as pure as the driven slush.”

TODAY’S QUESTION: From Sara: As chairman of this state’s delegation, this man cast the deciding votes at the 1960 Democrat Convention that secured John F. Kennedy’s position on the ballot. What is the state, his name, and what distinction does he hold? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: [email protected]

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Follow us on Twitter Melanie Zanona @MZanona