ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR KEEPS SPLITTING DEMS More than four months into the Israel-Hamas conflict, it’s still causing a painful rift within a Democratic Party that’s occasionally struggled to project both security-first and pro-humanitarian messages in the Middle East. It’s far from clear whether the enduring frustration with the Biden administration’s approach to the war — concentrated among progressives — will keep the party’s base sitting on its hands in November. But for the moment, Democrats aren’t done collectively wrestling with their perspective on the war in Gaza. The latest sign of existential angst: Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) has quietly left the Congressional Progressive Caucus over its treatment of the Israel-Hamas war, according to a person familiar with the situation. He’s no longer listed on the nearly 100-member bloc’s website. Torres’ vocal support for the conservative Israeli government has put him at odds with other liberal lawmakers who have taken a more critical line. He described his advocacy in a previous POLITICO interview: “There are few people in American politics who have been as visibly and vocally supportive of Israel as I’ve been.” A spokesperson for the caucus declined to comment. Torres did not respond to a request for comment. Torres had stridently opposed calling for a ceasefire in the conflict, a goal that other more liberal members have embraced. His departure comes after Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) also left the bloc amid other Israel policy-related disputes. Zooming out: The Progressive Caucus has faced no shortage of drama within the party as Israel’s war in Gaza escalated. Several members of the progressive Squad are facing primary challenges this year, in part because of their vocal criticism of Israel’s handling of the war. The Progressive Caucus’ chair, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), has faced criticism herself after making controversial remarks about Israel that she later walked back. Torres isn’t the only Democrat speaking out about Israel lately. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), a Squad member who’s the first Palestinian American elected to Congress, declared over the weekend she’d be voting “uncommitted” in the Michigan presidential primary later this month. She did so after repeatedly criticizing the Biden administration’s response to the Israel-Hamas war. Michigan Democrats privately acknowledged that Tlaib’s push risks legitimately hurting Biden in a swing state where Arab American voters could hold the key to the general election this fall. But many held out hope that the effort would blow over – that Tlaib and other liberals who have criticized the president would pivot to supporting the president after registering their protest in the primary. Worth noting: Others in the Squad aren’t likely to echo Tlaib’s outspoken “uncommitted” calls. Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), for example, is a vocal defender of the president. Unlike several other fellow progressive lawmakers of color, Tlaib also has the breathing room provided by the lack of a competitive primary and a massive campaign war chest. — Nicholas Wu and Daniella Diaz GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Inside Congress, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, Jan. 20, where we are requesting this array of cheese when Congress is back next week. FEAR AND LOATHING OF ANOTHER FUNDING STOPGAP The Hill is quiet, but it’s a crucial week for lawmakers who are racing to meet the first of two government funding deadlines on March 1. People familiar with the talks are reporting good progress and bipartisan agreement when it comes to the details packed into a dozen fiscal 2024 bills … but there’s concern that things aren’t moving fast enough. Cue the collective groan: Congressional leaders will likely have to decide by this weekend whether or not they’ll need another short-term funding patch to finish their work — an idea for which there’s little enthusiasm on either side of the aisle, considering it would be the fourth such continuing resolution this fiscal year. “My gut tells me yes,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said Tuesday of whether Congress will need another stopgap. “It’s hard to do this week.” Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and ranking member Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) “are making good progress,” Kaine added. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re making progress with the deal on the House side.” Congress could technically afford to keep kicking the can a little further down the road before tens of billions of dollars in spending cuts automatically take effect on April 30, a consequence of last summer’s debt deal. Democrats aren’t likely to sign off on a longer patch through the rest of the fiscal year, since that option would result in massive cuts to non-defense programs. So much rides on… riders: Appropriators say that a number of the spending bills are largely wrapped up, excluding the most contentious policy disagreements, which are now in the hands of congressional leaders. That means a lot of the current uncertainty comes down to just how hard Speaker Mike Johnson wants to push for policy wins in the coming days, with Congress’ ability to meet the March 1 and March 8 deadlines on the line. The Louisiana Republican is once again in an impossible spot. He’s likely to be unable to deliver conservative riders sufficient enough to satisfy those on his right flank who typically don’t support spending bills. On the other hand, though, resorting to yet another temporary spending patch would surely land him in hot water with those same conservatives. Johnson’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment. One person familiar with the talks, addressing them on condition of anonymity, said disagreements between House and Senate Democrats are also causing holdups. Ideally, text for at least some of the fiscal 2024 spending bills would be finalized by this weekend so that top lawmakers can figure out their next steps. Those include giving the Congressional Budget Office enough time to analyze the bills and process the measures through both chambers before federal cash dries up for a portion of the government in just 10 days. “As I’ve said, the thing that could really blow a hole in [our progress is] the riders,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the top Democratic appropriator in the House, said late last week. — Caitlin Emma, with assists from Ursula Perano and Jennifer Scholtes
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