Evening Report — House looks for FISA Plan B

House GOP leadership is working on a path forward to reauthorize the federal government’s surveillance powers, after a group of Republicans blocked the legislation from advancing this week.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) currently allows the government to spy on foreigners located abroad, but Americans who communicate with spy targets can also become wrapped up in the process.

Per The Hill’s Rebecca Beitsch and Mychael Schnell: “The plan under discussion would shorten the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) from five years down to two years and bring the controversial package back before the Rules Committee.”

But sources also said the next step is still shaky and unclear. The existing legislation expires April 19, putting the House on a tight deadline while also navigating rising GOP infighting.

 
When asked if Democrats would consider helping Speaker Johnson find a way to bring a stand-alone FISA bill to the floor — and if he’s spoken to Johnson about such a plan — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said, “No, and no.”

In an apparent protest against Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) bringing the bill to the floor without a warrant requirement in the text, 19 Republicans —led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) and other allies of former President Trump — joined Democrats Wednesday in tanking a procedural vote that would have helped advance the legislation.

Former President Trump has urged House Republicans to “KILL FISA,” despite protests from some top allies in his former administration, including former Attorney General Bill Barr.

• FBI director Christopher Wray warned lawmakers during a hearing Thursday that the failure to reauthorize FISA “would be dangerous and put American lives at risk.”
• Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe similarly counted Trump’s FISA stance, calling the former president “absolutely wrong.”

Johnson is slated to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago this weekend. 

Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Liz Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here.

• O.J. Simpson, the former NFL star who was acquitted of the murder of his estranged wife and one other man in 1996, has died from cancer.

• Some lawmakers say the federal government should be cautious about allowing additional flights between the United States and China.
  
  
• Harvard is moving ahead with reinstated mandatory SAT or ACT scores after a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former President Trump dodged every debate with his Republican rivals during the primary cycle, but he’s increasingly stepping up his efforts to face President Biden on the stage this fall.

Trump’s campaign wrote Thursday to the Commission on Presidential Debates, urging the nonpartisan organization to move up the debate timeline and increase the number of debates before Election Day.

The Trump campaign cited the start of early voting in many states as the reason to move things up.

“The Commission must move up the timetable of its proposed 2024 debates to ensure more Americans have a full chance to see the candidates before they start voting, and we would argue for adding more debates in addition to those on the currently proposed schedule,” top Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita wrote in their letter.

“We have already indicated President Trump is willing to debate anytime, anyplace, and anywhere — and the time to start these debates is now,” the duo added.

Biden’s campaign has not committed to any debates, thus far.

“It depends on his behavior,” Biden told reporters when asked last month whether he will debate the former president. (The Hill)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has seized more than 1,500 firearms at U.S. airports during the first quarter of this year, according to new data from the federal agency. 

An average of about 16.5 firearms per day have been intercepted — down slightly from 16.8 firearms per day at this point last year.

TSA has implemented more passenger screenings compared to the first quarter of 2023. 

More than 93 percent of firearms were loaded during both time periods. 

“While it is certainly promising that the rate of passengers bringing firearms to the checkpoint has decreased, one firearm at the checkpoint is too many,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement.  (The Hill)

© Allison Robbert / The Hill

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, speaking to a joint session of Congress on Thursday, urged Republicans to prioritize America’s role as a leader on the world stage, as some GOP members have stonewalled additional aid for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.

Kishida accused some U.S. lawmakers of suffering from “self-doubt” at a time when U.S. leadership is needed. 

“You believed that freedom is the oxygen of humanity. The world needs the United States to continue playing this pivotal role in the affairs of nations,” Kishida said. “And yet, as we meet here today, I detect an undercurrent of self-doubt among some Americans about what your role in the world should be.”

“As I often say, Ukraine of today may be East Asia of tomorrow,” he added, drawing applause from Vice President Harris, while House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) remained seated.

Former President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) are reportedly teaming up to promote a bill to keep noncitizens from voting in federal elections.

The news, first reported by USA Today, comes ahead of Johnson’s planned visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday.

The legislation is targeting an issue that is rare and already illegal, but one that Trump has bolstered to highlight his unfounded concerns about the 2020 election being “stolen” from him. (The Hill)

A majority of Floridians say they think a six-week abortion ban is too strict, according to a new poll.

The Emerson College poll of Florida voters released Thursday found 57 percent think the six-week abortion ban that will become law next month is “too strict.” The poll didn’t include a breakdown by party.

The six-week ban will take effect May 1, after a state Supreme Court ruling upheld the current 15-week ban last week.

Fifteen percent of voters surveyed said they think the six-week ban is not strict enough, while 28 percent said they think it is about right. (The Hill) 

Related coverage: 

“Trump’s hush money case seems like small potatoes. It’s not,” writes Jason Steinbaum, president of the Chesterbrook Group and adjunct professor at American University. 

“School absenteeism has soared, Congress must act on plans to address the issue,” writes Phelton Moss, education policy professor at American University.

95 days until the Republican National Convention. 

130 days until the Democratic National Convention.  

208 days until the 2024 general election.

FRIDAY: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is set to travel to Florida to meet with former President Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

The Masters golf tournament is underway in Augusta, Ga., and will continue through the weekend. Details