DEMS PLOT NEXT MOVES AFTER MUELLER -- Impeachment slides to the back burner -- HOUSE SET FOR FAILURE ON TRUMP’S EMERGENCY VETO -- Senior Dems announce retirements Presented by

with an assist from Heather Caygle

MOVING PAST MUELLER -- Democrats are now wrestling with how to proceed in a post-Mueller world, where they must decide whether — and how far — to take their congressional investigations into President Donald Trump. And after special counsel Bob Mueller concluded Trump’s campaign did not conspire with Russia, some lawmakers worry there isn’t much of an appetite to continue sweeping partisan probes into the president. Instead, they appear much more eager to refocus their agenda on the core policy issues that helped win them the House majority.


Democrats are at least in agreement on two things: hauling in Attorney General William Barr to testify and getting their hands on Mueller’s final report. They’ve already reached out to DOJ to schedule a hearing date for Barr, while six House committees gave the agency until April 2 to fork over Mueller’s full report and all the underlying evidence. Much more on the Democrats’ cautious new strategy from Andrew, Sarah and Heather: https://politi.co/2OsRzfp .

Meanwhile, gleeful Republicans are going on offense to ensure Trump’s critics can’t move on so easily. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced that he will investigate whether the Justice Department and FBI influenced the 2016 election to stop Trump, report Burgess and Marianne. And many members of the GOP are calling on House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) to resign or give up his gavel for promoting allegations of collusion, prompting Democrats to rally around him, per Kyle, Sarah and Bres.

Related reads: “House Intel postpones interview with Felix Sater after Mueller findings,” via Andrew and Kyle: https://politi.co/2WltpGr ; and “Trump aides relieved, elated — and out for payback,” by Gabby Orr, Daniel Lipman and Caitlin Oprysko: https://politi.co/2uuFHjQ .

ALL’S QUIET IN THE PEANUT GALLERY -- After the “anti-climactic” results of the Mueller probe, as one Democrat described it to us, the pro-impeachment wing of the Democratic Caucus has suddenly clammed up. Some of the most fervent supporters of impeaching Trump had a notably restrained response on the topic Monday, a private relief to top Democrats who are tired of litigating the issue. “Whatever the bet was last week that the president wouldn’t finish out his term, that bet is not as good this week,” Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), who has twice filed articles of impeachment against the president, told Sarah.

But not everyone is ready to hit pause: Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) confirmed to POLITICO on Monday night that she still intended to introduce a resolution backing impeachment within days. (And our friends at Playbook got their hands on a “Dear Colleague” letter that she has begun circulating to collect cosponsors for her measure.) Sarah and Heather with the deets: https://politi.co/2UYGTaU .

Related: “Mueller’s moves doom impeachment in Senate,” by Burgess: https://politi.co/2Cyw5cb .

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, March 26, where your host is still getting a kick out of an exasperated TMZ reporter calling Sen. Elizabeth Warren “the fastest presidential nominee that’s ever run... for a train” (though clearly they’ve never seen Bernie Sanders in action .)

MONDAY’S MOST CLICKED: Your Huddle host and Sarah's story on the GOP being shut out by Democrats on once-bipartisan bills was the big winner.

ON TAP TODAY -- The House will try to block Trump’s veto of a congressional resolution that would kill his national wall emergency, capping off a months-long battle over the president’s signature campaign issue. But Democrats are expected to fall far short of the two-thirds majority they need to succeed. The fight over Trump’s executive action to build a border wall will then fall to the courts, where it’s fate is less certain. Still, the failure to override Trump’s veto will hand the president and the GOP yet another big win this week. The dispatch from yours truly: https://politi.co/2uv2ZWN .

Across the Capitol, the Senate is set to vote on the progressives' Green New Deal — a vote meant to drive a wedge among Democrats, who are deeply divided over the liberal plan. While Democrats are likely to put up a united front and just vote “present”, Republicans intend to keep the issue in the spotlight as much as possible, reports The New York Times. More from Lisa Friedman and Emily Cochrane: https://nyti.ms/2HDohKs .

NEW CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN -- House Democrats plan to introduce legislation this week to keep the United States in the Paris climate accord, scoop Heather, Bres and Anthony Adragna. Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida, who chairs a special committee on climate change, is expected to lead a Wednesday news conference on the proposal. The climate change push comes as Democrats hope to turn their attention to their top legislative priorities, including health care and equal pay, following the conclusion of the Russia probe. The dispatch: https://politi.co/2Oryc6H .

Also keep an eye on how Dems respond to this: “In shift, Trump administration backs judge’s ruling that would kill Obamacare,” by Dan Diamond: https://politi.co/2TYhCRT .

RETIREMENT LIFE -- Two senior Democrats announced they were retiring on Monday, which will likely set off a scramble for their open blue seats. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico was the first to announce he would not seek reelection, reports James Arkin. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, a member of leadership who ran the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last cycle, said in a statement he’ll consider running. Already, his colleagues are joking about Lujan’s future: when he walked into a leadership meeting, Pelosi called him “Senator Lujan”, according to Heather. The latest: https://politi.co/2FBGHcA .

And longtime Rep. Jose Serrano of New York, an Appropriations cardinal, said he would not run for another term because he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Serrano’s Bronx district is one of the most liberal seats in the country, and there will likely be a crowded primary race to replace him. More from Laura Nahmias: https://politi.co/2HEBAKN .

Related read: “Rep. Ruben Gallego, averting primary brawl, won't run for the Senate,” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez of the Arizona Republic: http://bit.ly/2FBFHFm .

HAPPY BDAY MADAM SPEAKER -- Pelosi, whose birthday is today, was feted last night by former President Barack Obama at a reception Pelosi organized for freshman Democrats at the Kalorama home of Esther Coopersmith. Obama kicked off the evening by presenting Pelosi with flowers for her birthday as he led the freshmen in a round of "Happy Birthday."

Obama: "And the reason I love Nancy is because she combines a deep belief in making this country more just and more fair and better for our kids, with a toughness that is frankly unmet. ... She knows to fight for her principles, but she also knows the importance of just getting stuff done.”

TRANSITIONS

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is staffing up. Deanne Millison, who previously worked for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), has returned to the Hill to serve as legislative director. Heather Hutt, deputy state director, has been named state director. And Meaghan Lynch, former communications and counsel for Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), will serve as press secretary.

Virgil Miller, a former chief of staff to Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), has left the Hill to join Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld as a senior policy adviser.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) has added Arielle Mueller as press secretary. She joins Team Romney from Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) office, where she served as press secretary handling Small Business Committee and Florida-centric issues.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House gavels in at 10 a.m., with first votes expected around 2 p.m. Today’s agenda: http://bit.ly/2UWdkGX . The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of Bridget S. Bade to be U.S. circuit judge for the Ninth Circuit. At 2:15 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation.

AROUND THE HILL

The House Democratic Caucus will hold a closed-door meeting at 9 a.m. in HC-5.

The House GOP caucus will meet behind closed doors at 9 a.m. in HVC-215.

Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) hold a news conference to discuss diplomacy and the foreign assistance budget at 9:15 a.m. on the House Triangle.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and GOP leaders hold a press conference at 10 a.m. in HVC Studio A.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Vice Chair Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) will hold a weekly press conference at 10:15 a.m. in HC-8.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds a pen and pad briefing with reporters at 11:00 a.m. in H-107.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) hold a news conference on gun reform at 11 a.m. on the House Triangle.

Sens. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) hold a news conference to call for "bold climate action in Congress” at 11 a.m. in the Senate Swamp.

Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) holds a news conference on "The Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2019” at 12 p.m. on the House Triangle.

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) holds a news conference with Western Caucus members on opposing the "Green New Deal” at 12:15 p.m. in HVC Studio A.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. for the weekly party luncheons.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and House Democrats hold a news conference to unveil legislation to protect people with pre-existing conditions and lower health costs at 2:30 p.m. H-207.

TRIVIA

MONDAY’S WINNER -- John D. Jones was the first to correctly guess that Francis and Oliver Bolton of Ohio were the only mother and son pair to serve simultaneously in the House of Representatives.

TODAY’S QUESTION -- From John: The first patent in the United States was issued to Samuel Hopkins for the production of potash (which is used for potassium fertilizer.) Which U.S. President signed the patent, and in what year? 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