January 1, Poll: Trump Shouldn’t Declare Emergency to Build Border Wall

Two-thirds of Americans oppose President Donald Trump declaring a national emergency if Congress doesn’t offer up the funds he wants to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border, a CBS News poll released Sunday shows.

Most survey respondents — 73 percent — also said they want Trump to continue negotiating while keeping the government open, rather than forcing another shutdown when funding expires again in mid-February. A congressional committee is trying to reach an agreement on border security after the record 35-day government closing ended Jan. 25.

Pentagon: 3750 More Troops Head to U.S. Border

The Associated Press reports that the he Pentagon will send send 3,750 more troops to the U.S.-Mexico. According the the Pentagon, the troops will construct another 150 miles of concertina wire and provide other support for Customs and Border Protection.

The additions will bring the total number of active-duty troops on the border to 4,350.

Last week, Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan said he provided estimates for the next phase of a military mission that has grown in size and length. Critics have derided it as a political ploy by the White House as President Donald Trump seeks billions to build a border wall.

FL Sen. Rick Scott: “So Much Hatred” in Washington D.C.

There’s “so much hatred” on Capitol Hill that it’s getting in the way of reaching a compromise on border wall funding that’ll avoid another partial government shutdown, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said Sunday.

In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet The Press,” Scott said politics has to be taken out of the equation if there’s to be a deal by the Feb. 15 deadline.

“There’s so much hatred up there right now and people aren’t working together,” he lamented. “We’ve got to stop and say ‘let’s act in the interest of the American public’ instead of ‘how do I win the next election.'”

Va Gov. Northam: Could He Be Impeached?

During a news conference over the weekend, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam strongly denied being either of the two people in a racist photo on a page of his medical school yearbook. One of the subjects in the photo appeared in blackface, the other was wearing a Klu Klux Klan robe and mask. According the the Virginia Pilot, Gov. Northam refused to resign, “despite a mounting number of legislators and members of the public calling upon him to do so.”

According to Virginia’s Constitution, governors can be impeached for “malfeasance in office, corruption, neglect of duty, or other high crime or misdemeanor” by the House of Delegates, with the state Senate then empowered to vote on the impeachment. It would take a vote of two-thirds of the Senate to remove an impeached governor.

“George Allen’s bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2006 collapsed after he called a campaign worker for his opponent a racial pejorative. Corey Stewart’s defense of Confederate memorials alienated some voters in his bid last year for the Senate,” The Pilot reported.

Congrats to the Pats!

Boston Globe Photos: Patriots Celebrate with their families