The Powers That Be: Daily Capitol Hill’s Thin ICE
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Feb 3, 2026 Leigh Ann Caldwell, a Capitol Hill political reporter and analyst, breaks down the intense ICE fight and the procedural maneuvering to reopen the government. She discusses how Trump might be needed to corral GOP votes. She also explores Stephen Miller's outsized influence, why some Republicans worry his deportation strategy could be a midterm liability, and why he likely won’t be removed.
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Slim Majority Makes Stopgap Risky
- House Republicans face a razor-thin margin and empowered holdouts that make passing stopgap DHS funding highly fraught.
- Peter Hamby and Leigh Ann Caldwell say Speaker Mike Johnson will need heavy intervention from Trump to corral votes.
Two-Week Window For ICE Negotiations
- The post-rule two-week window is when ICE policy negotiations will intensify between Trump and Democrats.
- Democrats are demanding basic policing norms like warrants, body cameras, and more training for ICE.
Insist On Concrete ICE Reforms
- Demand specific, measurable reforms when negotiating ICE funding like warrants and body cameras.
- Use those concrete demands as the baseline for any short-term funding compromise.