Biden vs. Trump — again?

Plus: Debt ceiling drama and John Fetterman on depression [View this email online]( [NPR Politics]( April 22, 2023 The Latest: On Friday night, the U.S. Supreme Court [blocked lower court decisions]( banning or limiting the use of the abortion pill mifepristone for the foreseeable future. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Big Picture: DeProblem [Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives remarks on April 21.] Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis went to Washington, D.C., this week to try and round up support for a potential presidential run. It didn’t go as planned. Former President Donald Trump instead scooped up more [endorsements]( from Florida members of Congress in the hours before and after DeSantis’ meeting. It was yet another black eye for DeSantis, who has been bludgeoned by Trump politically — even before getting in the race. “People want to get behind someone they’re confident can win,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who is remaining neutral in the primary at this point, [told reporters](. Right now, that doesn’t appear to be DeSantis. Unless he can right the ship and prove the naysayers wrong, Trump will be in a stronger position for the GOP nomination with each passing day — unless another Republican can show more support. Meantime, President Biden is widely expected to announce his reelection soon, and if no one on the GOP side can convince Republican rank-and-file voters that they have a better chance against Biden than the former president, the country is looking at a Biden-Trump rematch. Still, Trump is facing a much stiffer primary than the nominal opposition to Biden. That means the president will be able to focus on the center from the start, while Republicans duke it out over who is the most hard-right culture warrior. This week officials at [Fox News]( — and pillow company CEO [Mike Lindell]( too — learned they will have to shell out millions for their lies about the 2020 election. Trump, so far, hasn’t had to pay any price for those lies with the GOP base. But those lies and his role in inspiring the Jan. 6 insurrection have only hurt him with persuadable voters. And Trump has done little in the years since his loss to try and win them over. — [Domenico Montanaro]( NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- ICYMI: Top Stories [Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., returns to the Senate after being admitted to the hospital for clinical depression.]( Keren Carrión/NPR Fetterman returns to the Senate: Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman is back to work on Capitol Hill after receiving treatment for depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. In his first broadcast interview since his return, [the Democrat told NPR’s Scott Detrow]( that he’s committed to “letting people know: To anyone that has any of these feelings, there's a path, and you can get better." McCarthy unveils debt plan: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has [introduced a proposal]( to avoid a debt limit crisis. The plan would raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion or through March 31, 2024 — whichever comes first — while scaling back federal spending and repealing key parts of President Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act. But it’s not clear whether McCarthy can keep his conference united enough to pass it. White House stands firm: Meanwhile, the White House has been clear that Congress should raise the debt limit without any preconditions or linked spending cuts. White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients [told NPR's Asma Khalid]( that House Republicans are “tying two things together that should never be tied together,” risking the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The Senate wants to hear from Roberts: The Judiciary Committee has [invited Chief Justice John Roberts to testify]( about the Supreme Court’s ethical rules. This comes after reports that Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose 20 years of luxury trips paid for by billionaire GOP donor Harlan Crow. Feinstein’s absence stalls Dems: This week Senate Republicans [blocked an effort by Democrats]( to temporarily replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on the Judiciary Committee while she recovers from shingles. Feinstein, 89, has not voted since February, and Democrats have raised concerns that without her vote, many of Biden's judicial nominees are stalled. Defamation: Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems agreed to [a last-minute $787,500,000 settlement]( this week in a high-profile defamation case. But there are [even more defamation cases]( that are tied to the 2020 presidential election. — [Lexie Schapitl]( NPR Politics producer --------------------------------------------------------------- It all comes down to you Your financial support is the NPR Network's greatest strength. You keep the facts flowing. You bring more stories to more ears. You make a real difference when you contribute to independent, trustworthy media. [Please donate today](. The Shot: [Scientists are camped on top of the massive Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica.]( Icefin/ITGC/Mullen Some of the fastest sea level rise in the world is happening in Galveston, Texas. By 2050, Galveston could see more than 200 days of flooding every year. And some 8,000 miles away, [the massive Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica could hold hints to Galveston’s future]( How fast the ice melts there will determine how fast the water rises in Texas. Check out more from [this special series here](. — [Lexie Schapitl]( NPR Politics producer --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Footer]( [Footer]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprpolitics@npr.org](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Politics emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]