9/30/2021

My Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Did you get to see Rep. Greg Steube knock the ball out of the park at the Congressional Baseball game last night? Apparently, that doesn’t happen very often in the Congressional game. It’s even more impressive because he was also pitching! I wonder if he is sore today – physically speaking that is. I know he is sore about his failure at getting an amendment added to the National Defense Authorization Act that would sanction anyone trying to purchase rare minerals from the Taliban. What are your thoughts on that?

            It’s nice that you got a minute to have some fun. It sounds like you’ve been spending all of your time meeting with various Congress people. According to Seung Min Kim writing in the WP this situation with your bills is testing your legislative acumen. They say that for the time being you are sticking to your deal making strategy, avoiding twisting arms as you determine the realm of the possible.

            The WP calls this situation, “Waiting for Manchema” & singles out KLS as being enigmatic. I respect her tenacity & her courage in putting herself in the middle of all of this. I understand that she has specific concerns about specific pieces including things like the Civilian Climate Corps & wants to make sure that things that were edited out of the bipartisan bill are not in the BB bill. I’m sure you’ve heard she’s getting heat from folks in AZ & getting love from AMM. I suspect that once she gets everything figured out, she’s going to make a big announcement. I am eager to see what she comes up with.

            Rep PJ believes things can come together quickly, noting, “There’s always a chance here on Capitol Hill. Pigs fly here on Capitol Hill.” I will keep my fingers crossed.

            BYBS,

            RCA

PS – Keep Myanmar in your prayers & ask about it every day in your security briefing.