With an assist from Burgess Everett, Nancy Vu, Jordain Carney and Nicholas Wu

RECESS FORECAST: Mostly sunny with a chance of a callback: It still seems like the Senate is on track to go on recess this weekend, and possibly as soon as today, with a big asterisk. If the chamber goes home, there’s guidance that senators need to be ready to come back to potentially vote on a debt deal. It’s all fluid, but that’s our informed guess as of this morning. More on that below.

EVERYTHING BUT DEBT — Sure, the nation is barreling toward defaulting on its debt in as little as two weeks — but there’s been lots of other action at the Capitol. Let’s take a look at what you might have missed this week while keeping up with the debt ceiling bonanza (which, for the record, is still the issue on the Hill):

Santos, (not) expelled: The House, along party lines, voted to refer back to the House Ethics Committee Rep. Robert Garcia’s (D-Calif.) measure to expel Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) – with all Republicans on the Ethics panel committee voting for the measure, while the Democrats voted present. The panel’s Dems suggested that they wanted to avoid the appearance of having already made a decision on a case that is still a live inquiry. The Ethics Committee is the only House standing committee with membership evenly divided between each political party, with five Democratic and five GOP members.

What’s next? Santos has, of course, already been referred to Ethics before his 13-count indictment. Republicans say that they want the (notoriously slow) internal watchdog panel, which stood up an investigative subcommittee back on March 2, to expedite its inquiry into Santos and deliver a decision within a few months. The investigation can yield punishments ranging from a fine, reprimand, censure or expulsion.

The vast majority of cases where Ethics finds (or is about to make public) serious wrongdoing, lawmakers have usually opted to resign rather than face the punishment from their colleagues in the House. But Santos has already made clear that he isn’t like other lawmakers.

Santos staffer update: His communications director resigned on Wednesday after a leaked video revealed her saying she hoped he was expelled from Congress. “With respect for my colleagues, the people of New York, and most importantly, myself, I am honored to tender my resignation,” Naysa Woomer said in her resignation email. “Unfortunately, you never took one point of professional advice given.” Note: There had been some chatter she would leave before the leaked video, per Olivia.

Expulsion could be contagious. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) is trying to oust Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

Tuberville blocks noms: It’s been weeks since Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) began holding defense nominations over the Pentagon’s abortion policy – and he’s now angering some of his fellow Republicans who don’t agree with this strategy, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). So far, the Alabama Republican has blocked confirmation of more than 100 nominees since February because of his disagreement over the Pentagon shoring up troops’ access to abortion services.

What happens next? When Nancy asked Tuberville when he plans to stop holding up noms, he responded: “I have no plans until they change or go back to the old (abortion) policy or get it to the floor and let’s vote on it,” he said.

Senate simmering along: The Senate has confirmed a steady stream of judges while the debt limit talks happen in the background, the majority so far this week on a bipartisan basis.

The chamber voted earlier this week a measure to roll back a D.C. police discipline and accountability bill, despite President Joe Biden’s veto threat.

And on Wednesday the Senate cleared yet another Congressional Review Act resolution, one that would roll back a Biden administration Homeland Security Department rule barring immigrants who receive certain government benefits from obtaining permanent U.S. residency. The Biden rule followed a rescinded Trump-era regulation that had broadened the bar to people who receive food stamps and Medicaid. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana joined Republicans in favor. Biden has threatened to veto.

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, May 18, where we are very interested in this new reporting from our Playbook colleagues on Dianne Feinstein.

RECESS REVOKED? Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said leaders will make a call on whether senators will remain in Washington, D.C. during their pre-scheduled Memorial Day recess by today or Friday depending on progress in debt talks, Burgess reports. Recess is scheduled for next week and Durbin says he’s not planning to go home unless there’s “amazing progress.”

JUDICIARY FIREWORKS — Rep. Jim Jordan’s sub-panel investigating GOP claims of a federal government biased against conservatives will hold its fourth hearing on Thursday morning. We’ve already got a preview of the fireworks likely to come: The FBI told Jordan in a letter (obtained by our colleague Jordain) that it had revoked security clearances for three agents over January 6-related incidents. Two of those individuals — Steve Friend and Marcus Allen — are set to testify before Jordan’s subcommittee in just a few hours. Read the full letter here.

But Russell Dye, Jordan’s spokesperson, called it a “last minute Hail Mary from the FBI in a desperate attempt to salvage their reputation after John Durham illuminated their election interference and before brave whistleblowers testify about the agency’s politicized behavior and retaliation.” Jordan and other GOP members will also hold a press conference shortly before the hearing to release an interim report on the same topic.

IT’S MID-MAY, DO YOU KNOW WHERE NDAA IS? — The new timeline for the House to consider the annual defense policy bill is looking like a House Armed Services markup the third week of June and a House floor debate likely the week after the July Fourth holiday, but that’s not yet finalized.

“I think mid-July, mid-to-late-July is when you can expect the NDAA to come across the floor and be ready to go to the Senate,” Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), who chairs the Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittee, told our colleagues Lee Hudson and Connor O’Brien.

JEWISH DEMS SPEAK OUT — A group of House Democrats who identify as Jewish or have Jewish heritage sent a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) asking him to censure Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) for harboring a follower of a prominent white nationalist within his office.

“The Capitol is no place for the employment of neo-Nazis or for people who espouse the ideology of white supremacy. We urge you to censure Rep. Gosar for legitimizing antisemitism and extremism against the American people,” they wrote in the letter. The group includes Reps. Seth Magaziner (R.I.), Dan Goldman (N.Y.), Becca Balint (Vt.), Jared Moskowitz (Fla.), and Greg Landsman (Ohio).

NEWSOM VS MCCARTHY — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has grown increasingly frustrated over the lack of federal action on water funding is his state and is casting Republicans as unwilling to fund critical flood protection in the Central Valley. Record snowmelt in the Sierra Nevadas has already submerged farms and will continue to threaten communities into the summer while California steps up to front the money. Newsom is singling out House McCarthy and Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), who represent the Central Valley, in a letter shared with POLITICO that marks an unusual escalation for a governor more used to calling out his foes in speeches and tweets than issuing stern, behind-the-scenes appeals for their cooperation. More from our California colleagues here.

CABLE CALL — “The State Department has offered to let House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) see a dissent cable related to the 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan at its headquarters,” reports Anthony. McCaul had threatened to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress if he refused to allow lawmakers to see the cable.

THE NEW BIG FOUR — Folks on Capitol Hill are cheering the newly assembled quartet of negotiators on the debt limit, in part because they’re familiar faces with a track record of making things happen. The group is White House counselor Steve Ricchetti, budget chief Shalanda Young, legislative affairs chief Louisa Terrell and McCarthy emissary Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.). Sarah and Burgess explore a whiff of optimism on Capitol Hill Wednesday, plus lots more on where different lawmakers stand on the debt limit state-of-play.

Um… Neither of your Huddle hosts are from Georgia but maybe you knew about this? (We didn’t.)

Paul Ryan has a new portrait at the Capitol ... personally, we’re partial to this one instead.

PURO PINCHE SPURS… Bipartisanship is alive and well in the Texas delegation … when it comes to basketball.

FASTEST MEMBERS… Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) maintained their respective titles as the fastest man and woman in Congress, clocking in a 20:03 and 22:10, respectively, for the three-mile ACLI Capital Challenge race. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) ran her 17th Capital Challenge, setting a record for the most appearances by a woman member of Congress. (Not to be outshined, some POLITICO colleagues made us proud!)

QUICK LINKS

Leak suspect shared classified secrets with foreigners, prosecutors say, from Devlin Barrett at The Washington Post

TRANSITIONS

Andrew Peek is now national security adviser for Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.). He most recently was a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and is a Trump NSC and State Department alum.

Aaron Larson is now legislative director for Rep. William Timmons (R-S.C.). He most recently was policy director of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry and is a Dan Newhouse and Erik Paulsen alum.

Adam Joseph is now the press & digital assistant for the House Committee on Small Business under Chair Roger Williams (R-Texas). He recently graduated from Catholic University of America.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House convenes at 9 a.m. First and last votes are expected at 10:10 a.m.

The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. for consideration of Nancy G. Abudu, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit. A confirmation vote is expected, but no time has been set.

AROUND THE HILL

8 a.m. The House Judiciary Committee and the subcommittee on weaponization hold a press conference on a whistleblower report. (Studio A)

9 a.m. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) holds a press conference on impeachment. (Studio A)

9:30 a.m. Senate Banking Committee hearing on financial regulators oversight. (G50 Dirksen)

9:30 a.m. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hold a press conference on The Affordability is Access Act. (Senate Swamp)

10 a.m. Senate Judiciary Committee considers two nominations and six bills. (106 Dirksen)

11 a.m. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) holds a press conference on gun safety legislation. (Senate Swamp)

1:30 p.m. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) holds a press conference on fossil fuels. (Senate Swamp)

2:30 p.m. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) holds a press conference on NASA’s Artemis II Mission. (Senate Swamp)

TUESDAY’S WINNER: Hunter Pickels correctly answered that the House bought the Hotel Congressional in 1957, intending to use it as temporary office space. It was also the “old O’Neill building.”

TODAY’S QUESTION: Who was the first Latino senator and when were they elected?

The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to [email protected].

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Follow Katherine and Daniella on Twitter: @ktullymcmanus and @DaniellaMicaela

CORRECTION: This newsletter has been updated to note that the earliest projected X-date at which the federal government might default on its debt obligations is in two weeks.