A dozen times, Rep. Ayanna Pressley asked the witness for a yes or no answer on housing policy.
Not once did Ben Carson, President Donald Trump's housing secretary, give her one. Instead, he mocked her: "Yes or no, can you ask me some questions yourself and stop reading?" Other times, he repeated: "You already know the answer."
"I know the answer," snapped Pressley. "Do YOU know the answer?"
It was a smaller pop in the epic struggle over who's in charge in Washington these days, reflecting the dynamics crackling high and low across the battlefield of divided American government. Meeting by meeting, questions of competence, generational change, #MeToo politics, special counsel Robert Mueller's report, and the 2020 elections are animating the fight for power. Even as Trump and his top Cabinet officials refuse to cooperate with congressional investigations, there is evidence that newly empowered Democrats are slowly — sometimes messily — resetting the balance after Trump's first two years in office under Republican congressional control.
This week alone, a selection of skirmishes big and small played out in public, including a Trump-size explosion by noon on Wednesday. In the span of three hours: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi jabbed at him, telling reporters that "the president is engaged in a cover-up," repeating for emphasis, "a cover-up" — and breezily added that she was due at the White House for a meeting on infrastructure.
On his turf, Trump blew up that gathering in under three minutes, refusing to shake anyone's hand or take a seat. He announced he could not do such a deal "under the circumstances" of "phony investigations" — and stalked out. Pelosi then I-told-ya-so'd to the people still in the Cabinet Room: "I knew the president was not serious about infrastructure and would find a way out," according to a Democratic aide.
"For some reason, maybe it was lack of confidence on his part ... he took a pass and it just makes me wonder why he did that. In any event I pray for the president of the United States," Pelosi, going on with her day, said later.
It was the latest sass she'd aimed at Trump after questioning his manhood, clapping and smirking at him at the State of the Union speech and, before that, forcing him to reopen the government without the money he demanded for his border wall.
"Nancy, thank you so much for your prayers, I know you truly mean it!" Trump tweeted from the White House.
It's more than a public shoving match between septuagenarians at the pinnacle of American government. The spectacle Wednesday took attention away from dissention among Pelosi's Democratic ranks over what some say looks like a march toward impeachment proceedings against Trump. But more broadly, it's part of an ongoing tug-of-war for public perception about who has political power now and who should wield it after the 2020 presidential and congressional elections.
In hearing by hearing, across the warren of Capitol Hill, a new generation of House Democrats, including a record number of women, are transforming what Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin last month called "this relationship" between the administration and, in his case, the House Financial Services Committee. There, Mnuchin tried to goad Rep. Maxine Waters, the panel's first African American chairman, into banging her "gravel" and dismissing him. In a widely shared video, she told him not to tell her how to run the panel.
Mnuchin was back in the witness chair before her panel on Wednesday saying he has no idea who wrote a confidential IRS memo that says, according to The Washington Post, Trump's tax returns must be given to Congress unless the president asserts executive privilege. Mnuchin said he believes he was following the law when he refused to turn over six years of Trump's tax returns.
A day earlier, Waters' committee also was a class in oversight for Carson, and a chance for Democrats to question the former neurosurgeon's qualifications to serve as secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Freshman Rep. Katie Porter, a California Democrat, lawyer and expert in foreclosure law, asked Carson whether he knew the housing term "REO." Carson seemed to think she was referring to a popular chocolate sandwich cookie.
"An Oreo?" Carson asked.
"No, not an Oreo," Porter said. She spelled it back for him and asked again.
Carson replied, "Real estate," and hesitated.
"What's the 'O' stand for?" Porter pressed.
Carson said, "Organization."
"Owned," Porter corrected him. "Real estate owned." She explained that the term, obscure to most anyone but housing experts, refers to what happens when a property goes to foreclosure.
Later, Carson later sent Porter and a family-size box of double-stuffed Oreos. She countered, "What I'm really looking for is answers."
His exchange with another woman on the committee — Pressley — grew especially sharp.
"It pains me that your gifted hands and mine are doing the bidding and carrying the water of what I believe is one of the most morally bankrupt presidents in our nation's history," Pressley, Massachusetts' first black congresswoman, began.
Quickly though, she demanded yes or no answers, "reclaiming" her time when he refused. When she pressed, he parried, "Reclaiming my time."
"You don't get to do that," Pressley said.
Waters dropped the gavel. "The time belongs to the lady."
Follow Kellman on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman
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SUPREME COURT-TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT — AP Explains the latest election subversion case before the Supreme Court: Whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Includes an AP reporter debrief from last week's hearing on whether federal prosecutors went too far in bringing obstruction charges against hundreds of participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Newsroom Ready and Consumer Ready edits sent on April 16.
ELECTION 2024-US TERRITORIES — What to know about living in U.S. territories ahead of the 2024 election. Newsroom Ready and Consumer Ready edits.
7 a.m. — Live US Network Pool Cameras and Live AP Cameras outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington where justices are hearing arguments on presidential immunity. Live cameras on protesters amid supporters outside, along with live reaction from lawyers. Audio livestream also booked.
7 a.m. — Live AP Camera coverage outside of Trump Tower in New York is planned.
8:30 a.m. — Live NY Trump Pool coverage outside of the courthouse in New York is planned.
ELECTION 2024-PENNSYLVANIA-HALEY — When Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign, she refused to endorse Donald Trump as the last remaining major candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination — and so did some of her supporters in Pennsylvania. SENT: 480 words, photo.
BIDEN-FUNDRAISER — President Joe Biden is scheduled to attend a campaign fundraiser in Irvington, New York, on Thursday night. Hosts include Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. AP does not expect this event to be open to the media, but it will be traveling with the president and it will provide video edits and Live coverage if there is breaking news.
ELECTION 2024-DECISION NOTES-PUERTO RICO — Puerto Rico will hold a Democratic presidential primary Sunday, the only opportunity for Democrats on the island to officially weigh in on the race for the White House. Sent April 24: 970 words, photos.
SUPREME COURT-TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT — Supreme Court justices seem to agree on a basic truth about the American system of government: No one is above the law, not even the president. But former President Donald Trump and his legal team are putting that truth to the test when the high court takes up Trump’s bid to avoid prosecution over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. SENT: 780 words, photo. UPCOMING: 1,100 words after 10 a.m. arguments. With TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT-LISTENERS’ GUIDE — What to listen for during Supreme Court arguments on Trump and presidential immunity. Sent April 24.
TRUMP-HUSH MONEY — A judge is weighing whether to hold Donald Trump in contempt of court for what prosecutors say have been repeated violations of the gag order in his hush money criminal trial. Jurors are also expected to hear more testimony from David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, about the tabloid’s involvement in a scheme to benefit Trump. SENT: 650 words, photos. UPCOMING: 990 words after trial resumes at 9:30 a.m.
BIDEN — President Biden heads to upstate New York to tout his administration’s efforts to promote computer chip manufacturing in the U.S. SENT: 760 words, photos. UPCOMING: Speech at 2 p.m. Video edits and Live planned.
FAKE ELECTORS-INDICTMENT-ARIZONA — An Arizona grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump ’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and 16 others for their efforts to use so-called fake electors to try to overturn Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. SENT: 1,200 words, photos, audio. With ELECTION 2020-MICHIGAN-FAKE ELECTORS — Investigator said Trump, allies were uncharged co-conspirators in plot to overturn Michigan election.
ELECTION 2024-BIDEN-TIKTOK — President Joe Biden’s signing of legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. runs counter to his campaign’s embrace of the platform and outreach to influencers. The president is also facing criticism from some avid users of the app. SENT: 1,300 words, photos.
ELECTION-2024-BIDEN-UNION — President Joe Biden picked up the endorsement of North America’s Building Trades Unions where the president and his allies set out to dismantle Republican Donald Trump’s reputation as a successful real estate developer. SENT: 380 words, photos, audio.
Sun., April 28 — Puerto Rico Democratic presidential primary.
May 7 — Indiana presidential primary.
May 14 — Maryland presidential primary, Nebraska presidential primary and West Virginia presidential primary.
May 21 — California 20th Congressional District special election, Kentucky presidential primary, Oregon presidential primary.
May 23 — Idaho Democratic Caucuses.
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President Joe Biden speaks before signing a $95 billion Ukraine aid package that also includes support for Israel, Taiwan, and other allies, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
