• Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk about the House’s passage of President Obama’s stimulus package last night.
• The House last night passed an $819 billion economic stimulus package on a party-line vote, despite President Obama’s efforts to achieve bipartisan support for the bill. The Senate is likely to take up the bill next week.
• President Obama visited the Pentagon yesterday for a dose of “unvarnished” give-and-take on how to move forward in America’s two wars. Obama sat down with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to get a “comprehensive view of the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the impact on our forces.” Obama first expressed his thanks for the men and women fighting abroad.
• The Senate confirmed by unanimous consent retired Adm. Dennis Blair as director of national intelligence yesterday. The confirmation followed the resignation of former director Michael McConnell, who left the post Tuesday after nearly 2 years on the job.
• Senate GOPers, who acted like lions in challenging Eric Holder, turned into lambs yesterday as they joined Dems in recommending President Obama’s choice for attorney general. The Judiciary Committee voted 17-2 to endorse Holder, and the full Senate could vote as soon as today.
• Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has announced he wants to speak at his impeachment hearing before the state Senate today if lawmakers allow him to do so.
