Jeffries doubles down
Plus: Sen. Mark Kelly shares the harrowing details of his recent trip to Ukraine and House Democrats express grave concern about the measles outbreak.
👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! Let’s get straight to it: Keep reading for what else is worth knowing from the Hill today before you call it a night—straight from my notebook to your inbox.
○ ● ●
Jeffries doubles down
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is holding firm against a Republican-proposed full-year funding extension that would keep the government open through September.
Allow me to explain: In a televised statement at the Capitol flanked by his top two deputies, Jeffries made clear where House Democratic leadership stands ahead of tomorrow’s expected floor vote.
In his own words: “It is not something we could ever support,” Jeffries said of the 99-page bill while standing alongside House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.). “House Democrats will not be complicit in the Republican effort to hurt the American people.”
In the know: Hill Democrats argue the bill isn’t a true continuing resolution, a term for legislation that typically extends funding at current levels with minimal changes. Instead, they say the proposal slashes domestic spending by billions while boosting defense funding.
Democrats have proposed a short-term extension to give the money folks time to craft bipartisan funding bills that better meet the moment.
Not so fast: House Republicans accuse Democrats of welcoming a shutdown to score political points rather than engaging with a bill they had little influence over.
Beyond the immediate funding deadline, Democrats argue the GOP’s real goal is to clear the decks for a massive bill extending President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
Final thoughts: With full attendance, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) can only afford to lose two votes on the funding measure.
ICYMI: “House Dem leaders spurn Johnson’s funding plan”
● ○ ●
Kelly’s expansionist worries
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) heard it directly from Ukrainian fighters: The Trump administration’s recent pause on military aid and intelligence-sharing has weakened them as Russia’s invasion grinds on.
Allow me to explain: Kelly met with reporters this afternoon after a 36-hour trip to Ukraine, where he emphasized the war’s emotional toll—recounting stories of war crimes and Ukrainian soldiers’ resilience. He also warned of Russia’s expansionist ambitions and the risk of future conflicts in Europe, calling for a reassessment of U.S. policy to better support Ukraine.
Kelly visited a military hospital to speak with wounded service members and meet with the International Red Cross.
He was briefed by U.S. embassy officials and Ukrainian military leaders.
He also stopped in Poland to meet with U.S. military officials and service members.
This was Kelly’s third trip to Ukraine since 2023—and his first overnight stay in Kyiv.
In his own words: “I want this conflict to end, but it needs to end in a way where Putin walks away understanding that this was a bad deal and a bad idea for him,” Kelly said. “If he thinks he benefited from this in any way, we run the risk of seeing more conflict in Europe—whether a year from now, five years from now, or ten. And that’s not good for us.”
Asked about Elon Musk calling him a “traitor” on X, Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former astronaut, dismissed him: “Obviously, he’s not a serious guy,” he said. “He’s slashed and burned the federal government to make room for a giant tax cut for billionaires like himself. He should go back to building rockets.”
In the know: His visit comes amid major military and diplomatic developments in the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyysaid that Russia has escalated attacks just as Trump halted U.S. military aid—a move aligning Washington more closely with Russian interests and breaking from the U.S.’s longstanding support for European allies.
Zelenskyy arrived in Saudi Arabia today for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of high-stakes discussions between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Jeddah. The goal: progress on a potential ceasefire and peace framework with Russia.
Kelly has been a staunch advocate for U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
He has backed legislation to fund weapons and assistance and has stressed the importance of U.S. leadership in countering authoritarian threats.
Looking ahead: Despite pressure from Ukraine hawks like Kelly, expect a continued shift in U.S. foreign policy under Trump, prioritizing negotiations over military support.
The administration’s reduced aid to Ukraine and broader reevaluation of alliances have left NATO members reassessing their security strategies.
While conventional wisdom suggests cutting U.S. support weakens Ukraine and makes a Russian victory more likely, Trump’s foreign policy is unpredictable and transactional.
That uncertainty could push Russia to accelerate territorial gains before the political landscape shifts again, rather than waiting for Trump to broker a favorable peace deal.
Want to reach the people shaping policy and politics? Once Upon a Hill puts your message in front of the Capitol’s most plugged-in audience—where influence meets insight. Let’s talk about how a sponsorship can align with your goals. Email michael@onceuponahill.com to learn more.
● ● ○
House Dems’s measles ask
A group of House Democrats is calling on the top Republican overseeing public health to hold an immediate hearing on the rapidly spreading measles outbreak.
Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee sent a letter expressing concern that committee Republicans are unwilling to conduct oversight of the Trump administration’s public health policies—including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claim that the current outbreak isn’t unusual.
Allow me to explain: Since Republicans control the House and hold majorities on key committees, they determine which issues and legislation receive hearings and floor consideration.
In the know: The U.S. reported its first measles death in a decade last week when a school-aged child died at a children’s hospital in West Texas.
There have been 164 known cases across nine states, including 55 in children under age five, according to committee Democrats32 patients—26 of them children—have been hospitalized.
Democrats proposed adding vaccine-related oversight to the committee’s official agenda, but Republicans unanimously opposed the amendment.
What they’re saying: Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas), a Health Subcommittee member whose district includes the state where the outbreak began, pointed to vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation.
“I think it’s nuts. I think it’s crazy. And it just worries me,” Veasey said, referencing a church in his district that recently announced it has the least-vaccinated school in Texas.
“The only reason this has become so partisan is because of social media and the internet exacerbating everything. People go into their own rabbit holes, and we don’t have shared platforms for information anymore. It’s going to lead to even more serious and dangerous health consequences.”
Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) argued there’s a direct line between RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine rhetoric and the current measles outbreak.
“People are doubting vaccines. Instead of hearing how helpful they are and how they save lives, that messaging isn’t getting through because they’re afraid of this administration,” she said. “And of course, in this situation, Kennedy has control of that department.”
Read all about it: “During the last major measles outbreaks in the US, it took extraordinary measures to stop the spread”
Thanks for reading! I’ll see you tomorrow unless you have something I should know sooner. You can email, DM, or Signal anytime. And please invite your friends to join Michael’s List.