Evening Report — GOP holdouts inch toward Trump

© The Hill

TOP SENATE REPUBLICANS appear to be closing ranks around former President Trump, who has tightened his grip on the party ahead of a likely rematch with President Biden in November.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell‘s (Ky.) team is reportedly in talks to endorse Trump as he closes in on the Republican nomination. Only a handful of states have voted so far in the GOP primary, but Trump has dominated throughout and holds large leads in states that have yet to vote.

Two sources also told The Hill that McConnell is inching toward an endorsement, amid discussions among his and Trump’s top aides.

Meanwhile, Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Republican in the chamber, is throwing his support behind Trump after the former president notched his fourth consecutive early-state win on Saturday, a source told The Hill.

Trump won South Carolina’s GOP primary, defeating his last remaining rival Nikki Haley in her home state by 20 points. Still, Haley is pushing ahead to Michigan, which votes Tuesday, and Super Tuesday, on March 5.

The moves come despite Trump’s relentless attacks on McConnell after leaving office. McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, was Trump’s transportation secretary but resigned after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Trump then disparaged her on social media and alleged that McConnell had a “death wish” for brokering bipartisan agreements with Democrats.

The newfound support comes after several other GOP senators announced they would back Trump after the New Hampshire primary late last month.

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• Former House Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) is calling on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to stop President Biden from giving his annual State of the Union address next week.
  
  

• The White House is rolling out plans for one of its oldest traditions: the Easter Egg Roll.
  
  

• President Biden is expected to stop by “Late Night” for a visit with host Seth Meyers on Monday during a campaign fundraising trip.

© Greg Nash / The Hill

President Biden and former President Trump are heading for the border this week, amid growing alarm over the migrant influx into the United States and as the 2024 candidates’ rematch heats up.

The dueling trips will take place Thursday.

Biden will visit Brownsville, Texas, and meet with border control agents and urge House Republicans to pass border security legislation, according to a White House official.

Trump will be about 300 miles away in Eagle Pass, Texas, as he continues his campaign for the GOP’s presidential nomination.

The news comes as a new poll has shown that a majority of Americans support building a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico to curb record-setting migrant apprehensions. Trump campaigned on building a wall along the southern border when he won his 2016 White House bid.

Trump’s team accused Biden of “chasing” his Republican rival to the border.

“Biden’s last-minute, insincere attempt to chase President Trump to the border won’t cut it — Americans know Biden is single-handedly responsible for the worst immigration crisis in history and the ensuing Biden Migrant Crime Crisis affecting every community in our Country,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Monday.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), backed by attorneys general from nine states, is suing to stop Kroger’s $24.6 billion acquisition of the Albertsons grocery chain, alleging the the proposal would lead to price hikes and harm workers.

• The bipartisan group of state attorneys who have signed on include Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming.
  
  

• “This supermarket mega merger comes as American consumers have seen the cost of groceries rise steadily over the past few years. Kroger’s acquisition of Albertsons would lead to additional grocery price hikes for everyday goods, further exacerbating the financial strain consumers across the country face today,” Henry Liu, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, said in a statement.

Kroger operates several regional brands including Harris Teeter, and Albertsons has several regional brands including Safeway. They are two of the largest competitors in the grocery industry.  (The Hill)

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An FBI informant indicted earlier this month for making false statements about President Biden and his son will remain behind bars until his trial. 

A federal on Monday reversed an earlier order that had allowed for Alexander Smirnov‘s release amid concerns he would flee the country.

Smirnov was first arrested on Feb. 14 and accused of making false statements to the FBI about Hunter Biden‘s foreign business dealings —  claims central to the ongoing House GOP probe into the Biden family. (The Hill)

Lawmakers are racing to avoid a partial shutdown by Friday’s funding deadline, but the weekend didn’t offer up much hope for a deal.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has blamed House Republicans for the delay, while Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) accused Democrats of new demands in negotiations.

Lawmakers are heading back to the Capitol this week after a short break, with the narrow timeline ahead of them. Without an agreement, legislators could pursue a short-term stopgap or force a federal shutdown.

President Biden is scheduled to host the top four Congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday to try to hash out an agreement. (The Hill)

“President Biden, don’t allow DC’s crime problem to become Democrats’ problem in 2024,” via Austin Sarat, professor at Amherst College.

“How and why legislators are suddenly trying to crack down on peaceful protest,” via Huma Yasin, criminal defense attorney.

8 days until Super Tuesday.  

253 days until the general election. 

Michigan voters head to the polls Tuesday in the latest primary races.

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