Dems lay down the marker in gun control debate — House files long-awaited Don McGahn lawsuit — Trump lashes out at Congressman Castro Presented by

With help from Andrew Desiderio

BACKGROUND CHECKS OR BUST -- Democrats are laying down the marker in the gun control debate. Even though momentum is growing among Republicans for so-called red flag laws — which allow the authorities to take away guns from dangerous people — Democrats say that’s not enough. Over 200 Democrats called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring up House-passed bills to expand background checks, while Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will not support red flag legislation unless there is also a vote on stricter gun control measures. “We Democrats are not going to settle for half-measures so Republicans can feel better and try to push the issue of gun violence off to the side,” he said. Much more from Marianne: https://politi.co/2YOI8dP .


Recess is cancelled? Meanwhile, it looks like the House Judiciary Committee is preparing to come back from recess so the panel can mark up legislation to combat gun violence, reports The Hill. While nothing is finalized, Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) began to set things in motion “after the committee held a members-only phone call early Wednesday afternoon to discuss the prospect of returning to the beltway in order to address the renewed and heated debate over the nation’s gun laws.” While Speaker Nancy Pelosi has pushed back against the idea of cutting recess short, arguing it keeps more pressure on the Senate to act, she did leave the door open to the idea in a “Dear Colleague” letter. Olivia Beavers with the story: http://bit.ly/2YQF8xB .

But, but, but … Democrats’ demand to tie red flag laws to stronger background checks may guarantee gridlock on Capitol Hill, unless they soften their stance. Why? Because even though Trump has repeatedly signaled he is open to endorsing tougher background checks, NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre told Trump on Tuesday that such a measure would not be popular among Trump’s supporters, reports the Washington Post. And the NRA remains opposed to the narrower background checks bill sponsored by Sens. Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.) and Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), making it tougher to win GOP support. The dispatch from Josh Dawsey and Seung Min Kim: https://wapo.st/2GWvtiO .

Related reads: “McConnell, GOP Senate unlikely to act swiftly on guns,” by the AP’s Lisa Mascaro and Matthew Daly: http://bit.ly/2GWk3fb ; and “‘There Will Be a Next Time’: A GOP Congressman Talks About Gun Violence,” from Elaina Plott of The Atlantic: http://bit.ly/33mC6EX .

DAYTON, OHIO - AUGUST 07: Demonstrators protest in the Oregon District, where a mass shooting early Sunday morning left nine dead and 27 wounded, on August 07, 2019 in Dayton, Ohio. President Donald Trump visited the city today to offer his support to the community but did not go into the Oregon District where the shooting occurred. The shooting happened less than 24 hours after a gunman in Texas opened fire at a shopping mall in El Paso killing 22 people. Trump is scheduled to visit El Paso later today. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

MCGAHN HITS THE FAN -- The House Judiciary Committee filed its long-awaited lawsuit against former White House Counsel Don McGahn on Wednesday, a bid to force him to testify about the president’s efforts to interfere with the Mueller investigation. If successful, Democrats believe the ensuing court order could unlock testimony from other witnesses that the White House is blocking, too, including Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson. In a 54-page court filing, the committee referenced impeachment several times, leaning into the issue more than ever before and making clear that it’s conducting an impeachment investigation. How important is McGahn for the Democrat-led probe? Well...

“McGahn is the Judiciary Committee’s most important fact witness in its consideration of whether to recommend articles of impeachment and its related investigation of misconduct by the president, including acts of obstruction of justice described in the special counsel’s report,” the court filing states. In other words, as one Judiciary Committee Democratic lawyer put it: “Don McGahn is this generation’s John Dean.” The biggest question for Democrats is how fast they can get a decision from a federal judge. Andrew with the deets: https://politi.co/2OHVN6L .

Meanwhile … Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said he would back an impeachment inquiry if the president defies a court order – a red line shared by many Democrats who say they would support ousting Trump from office if he crosses it. “I have said over and over again that the time for impeachment may come,” Cummings said Wednesday. More from Jeff Barker of the Baltimore Sun: http://bit.ly/2MMdNKB .

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, August 8, where your host has desperately tried to avoid googling what is behind all these “feral hogs” memes on social media. But alas, this Twitter thread got me to bite.

TUESDAYS MOST CLICKED: The big winner was the Vice News report on Democrats urging Speaker Pelosi to cut recess short so they can work on domestic terrorism and gun control legislation.



CASTRO CONTROVERSY -- Trump lashed out at Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) last night, who has come under fire this week for tweeting out a list of names of constituents who have donated to Trump’s campaign. The president called Castro, whose brother Julián is running for president, the "lesser brother of a failed presidential candidate (1%) who makes a fool of himself every time he opens his mouth."

But in the face of criticism, Castro has defended himself, saying it wasn’t meant to be a target list or encourage violence. “Unless you support the white nationalism and the racism that Donald Trump is paying for and fueling then I hope that you, as a person of good conscious, would think twice about contributing to his campaign,” he told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” The latest from Caitlyn Oprysko: https://politi.co/2TgSWk0 .

Related: “Six Trump donors Joaquin Castro tried to shame also gave to him and brother Julián," via Emily Larsen and Joseph Simonson of The Washington Examiner: https://washex.am/33kQNYX ; and “Rep. Lucy McBath, whose son was fatally shot, accused by Republicans of politicizing shootings,” via WaPo’s Colby Itkowitz: https://wapo.st/31tMNUu .

TWITTER DITCHES MITCH -- It’s been a tough week for Team Mitch on social media. Twitter has temporarily locked out McConnell’s campaign account for posting a profanity-laced video of demonstrators who were protesting and hurling threats outside the majority leader’s Kentucky home. Twitter said it suspended the account because the video “violated our violent threats policy” (even though the threats were against McConnell himself.)

McConnell’s campaign manager, Kevin Golden, slammed the move, saying “this is a problem with the speech police in America today... Twitter will allow the words ‘Massacre Mitch’ to trend nationally on their platform. But locks our account for posting actual threats against us.” Earlier this week, McConnell’s campaign faced a backlash for posting a picture of satirical tombstones with the names of his Democratic opponents. More from Ben Tobin and Phillip M. Bailey of the Louisville Courier Journal: http://bit.ly/2Kxag02 .

SPREADING JUSTICE -- Justice Democrats – the progressive group that helped propel Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to victory — has rolled out its newest batch of endorsements for the 2020 cycle. The group is backing Alex Morse, who is running to unseat House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.); Morgan Harper, who is vying to replace longtime Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio); and Kara Eastman, who is challenging Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.).

“We are honored to endorse these three candidates as part of a new generation of Democrats who will fight for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, free college, and ending mass incarceration and deportation,” said Justice Democrats Executive Director Alexandra Rojas. The group, which is looking to replicate its success with AOC, has ruffled some feathers on Capitol Hill for backing challengers to Democratic incumbents. So far this year, Justice Democrats has also endorsed challengers to Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Lacy Clay (Mo.), Eliot Engel (N.Y.) and Dan Lipinski (Ill.).

Related: “In Reagan's California, Democrats overtake Republicans,” via Jeremy B. White: https://politi.co/2KnBFCT .

SOME ARE ENRAGED BY EMMER -- Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the head of the House GOP’s campaign arm, is facing accusations of anti-Semitism after claiming in a fundraising letter that Michael Bloomberg, Tom Steyer and George Soros – who are all either Jewish or of Jewish descent – “bought” control of Congress for Democrats, reports The Washington Post. Earlier this year, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) came under fire for making a similar statement in a now-deleted Tweet.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has been quick to pounce on comments from Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) seen as anti-Semitic. But the NRCC defended the letter, saying “there is nothing anti-Semitic about drawing attention to three billionaire donors (one who does not even identify with the Jewish faith) and who they are giving money to.” Felicia Sonmez and Mike DeBonis with more: https://wapo.st/2TeTero .

SPOTTED … Per a tipster: Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who is actively considering whether to challenge Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in 2020, in the Longworth House Office Building’s Dunkin Donuts in the middle of August recess.





TRANSITIONS

Sara K. Broadwater, who served as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's deputy press secretary and Rep. Roger Williams’ (R-Texas) communications director, is leaving the Hill to serve as communications director for Indiana Lt. Governor Crouch.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House and Senate are out.

AROUND THE HILL

All is quiet.

TRIVIA

WEDNESDAY’S WINNER: Diana Deem was the first person to correctly guess that six states — Michigan, Vermont, Wyoming, Washington, Idaho and Delaware — have both senators serving as a chair or ranking member of a full Senate committee.

TODAY’S QUESTION: From Diana: Richard Nixon is related to which other president? 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