>> washington journal continues. host: we welcome farnoush amiri to the washington journal. she is a journalist with the -- reporter with the as >> as a congressional reporter with the apes with us this half hour to talk about the week ahead which is a short week for congress. the house and senate are coming in today so what are the highlights you are looking at this week quick. >> it is a shorter week because of the house retreat for the house stems beginning on wednesday but this is the first week after a two-week recess and the house and senate are catching up like the ohio train derailment is

an area of focus. members of both parties and chambers look into it with had different lands and angles but that is one thing we will see play out. host: last week the headline was the house gop cast a wide net in the probes with oversight. which of those hearings will be see this week? >> it would mostly be china. obviously this started in a bipartisan fashion. but we need the test of that bipartisanship to have former trump administration officials testify from the chinese dissidents but this will be the first time we see congress

adjust democrats and republicans can see if they have a unified message. host: so those two weeks they have been off the chinese spy balloon from the beginning of february, then the recent efforts to call for acs fire in russia. >> that will beng a challenge. and has wide geopolitical influence. so they will focused on domestically t you were showing clips of mike gallagher. and one of those focus areas will be how china cracks down for people on us soil. these policed outposts like new york city. you will see some of that but to see more of unified method but it is unclear.

>> you touched on this momentarily they launch a probe into the train to moment response with the house over tight on —- oversight and accountability with the administration's handling of that. so what are you picking up from social media that members are concerned about? >> it depends on who you are talking to if you're talking oversight chairman the transportation secretary buttigieg he wants to understand when the department was notified, how they responded, communication. people's similarly to the chinese spy balloon many believe the biden administration and buttigieg did not respond adequately. host: covering congress for

the ap. we welcome calls and comments about the week ahead and the hearings coming up. additional hearings this week include the attorney general coming before congress on tuesday or wednesday is this a regular schedule or an issue? >> one of the regularly scheduled appearances that starts in the judiciary committee but this is the first time and a lot has happened in that time period specificallybe and democrats and republicans have been itching what then from trump and now

biden. so you will see some of that. >> why didn't he testified before congress in 2020? >> every session and merrick garland are the attorney general comes before congress. just so happens in this period there have been several that involves and so we will see that play out. >> is also the committee hearing this week is there consideration of the homeland security secretary mayorkas? >> it is a very small but growing faction and thosen republicans and went to impeach mayorkas. speaking to leadership that is something they are treading carefully on too make sure if they do go that route there is

an investigation. >> and that meeting with the homeland security this week as you mentioned at the start it is a short week because with the policy conference what is that all about. >> biden announced he would be announcing housese democrats that this is different from when he came to philadelphia last year and now looking at a divided congress that's the same one of optimism about legislative achievements but how we can get back to the house we're all awaiting the announcement. host: last are there were other policy conferences are they planning to do a similar thing this year?

>> they will be in orlando the end of march. they have regained control of the house and in 2024 of the interesting announced anyone yet kevin mccarthy avoided inviting trump and instead went to speakers like newt gingrich and condoleezza rice but we'll see what happens. >> what can you tell us about theor agenda for the house in particular west legislation are significant legislation should we be on the lookout for quick. >> in his later legislative week we will see some resolutionss and report to help out communities in turkey and syria suffering from the devastating earthquake that mostly you will see the select committee with the biggest offering and how that plays

out. and we welcome your text messages what is the effect in congress this week quick. >> this is the first time since kevin mccarthy release those documents with those questions of the security of how much access and spending the last two weeks on the hill and through a terminal capital

police have to set up so it is previewed. >> this what the january 6 committee would already go through? he sent had access to 41000 but those investigators have what they have gone through. >> the sergeant of arms the speakeras asked new have to give them through other media outlets. >> but there has been a lot of pushback one specific network is getting access to the speaker has constitutional power so that remains to be seen.

>> and on the independent line go ahead. >> are there any hearings on the snap insurance cancellation and those objects that they shot down nobody is claiming responsibility is very are there have any information on that. >> i was not aware of any hearings this week with the spy balloons i expect they would touch on that topic but i think we will see that play out to garner outside partisan support to really rain and

china's power. >> we have the democratic policy conference this week it's a short week and a full legislative week which allied of members will be speaking at so what is the next big wave of legislation expected to come to the house floor? and then in terms of legislation? >> we're all holding our breath. secretary janet yellen talks about the timeline when the government can pay its bills. we will see that play out and the budget negotiations and we will same republicans take aim. host: when we expected to get

the presidents budget quick. >> i believe by the end of this month. host: when will they finally address the george santos expulsion? how can we move forward with anything until the liars are gone? maybe he's not the only one. that hes has confessed it seems open and shut. >> that is what is difficult with those ethics investigations are done behind closed doors. there is littlehi information that the house ethics committee finishes their investigation and report and findings. we are all waiting to see what that looks like. so it is unclear his feature in the house. we have to wait and see. host: doesn't make it difficult? or has he been given any

committee assignments yet? and hasn't made it difficult for him to function just with his constituents originally he wasit giving sba committee and science. hee. step back and had a meeting with speaker mccarthy so he took a step back. so that took off the pressure because right after that house republicans voted to remove omar from house foreign affairs. but he is followed around by a group of reporters on the hill. he doesn't have any committee so it's not clear what his role is. >> it seems more likely a holding pattern not really one

place or the other. >> talking about the house the senate comes in they will startco their day is a traditionally do after presidents' day reading george washington's farewell address and senator lankford from oklahoma will be that. >> and then to have biden attend a caucus for the plans to talk about running for reelection and the senate will be catching up there is an expectation of a briefing on the spy balloons. that also classified documents similar to the house.

>> what is mental health evaluation and treatment? >> saying they will take some time off after that focusing on mental health and obviously we saw republicans and democrats talking about the importance of mental health and that stigma and people in high-powered positions to stay quiet and not open up so it is interesting to see what hisn goal will continue to be in the house and senate but got the smaller but larger

majority so now any sort of innomination is on hold. >> i was going to ask about the political consequences senator schumer has to be very aware of the absence of john fetterman. obviously she said she would caucus with democrats and what is the practicality of that and to. stay on the democratic agenda. >> another democrat to be concerned about and senator mentioned the kind to describe

himself as a democrat that i identify as an american when asked repeatedly during a fox news appearance consider it just considered himself a democrat but i'm an american through and through and up for reelection. >> and he recently announced he took himself out of the running for president. some peopleto were wondering. it is interesting those that the democrats were holding their breath for was senator tester of montana republicans are looking to get that seat. and west virginia is interesting to see if he runs for reelection or if humans as a democrat. host: the difference of the 118.

and the key vote that the majority leader has ana extra vote full senate and not just the spotlight. >> but as intended he comes back to become the joe mentioned the 118th congress. >> i am just wondering on all of these cases since 9/11 with these pfizer courts with that legality of the constitution and what about tony? he seems to be the most credible with with a high-level navy the same

security clearance as tony. it is theea cream of the crop. top-notch guys and i was enamored and the best of the best and then willing to step forward. the fisa court is unconstitutional and specifically have you heard anything on tony? >> on theth fisa court. it isup it that she is jurisdictional judiciary. and to come up with the topic specifically of the new weaponization committee in the house. republicans are looking to investigate against americans citizens and obviously the fisa court has been a controversial topic.

host: that weaponization committee had the first hearing before the break. i'm not sure if you cover that are got to see that but what does that to you about the future workings of the committee? >> and then it's different. so it's interesting to see a of senators ron johnson who are on their own in the senate investigating what they see as a weaponization and the doj is going after americans citizens specifically during the time of their the evenings of the pandemic. it's an interesting committee, democrats are pushing back on this narrative. they think the opposite but it started off in a partisan manner. host: new jersey democratic

line. >>caller: my question is can you bring somebody to talk about the trial lawyers who make millions of dollars and who pays for it? we had a customer. we pay for it $1 million then they win. they win because they raise our rate. host: trial lawyers? that is another topic that thank y for the suggestion. we touched on this earlier. are the republicans going to raise the debt limit? >> that's one of the things we will see play out in the next few weeks. with the last update we got from biden and kevin mccarthy they were continuing between the two men.

and there hasas been a consensus that medicare and social security is off the table. and want to enrich and continue funding. host: this is expected to come to a head by june for that june is when. >> you talk about the challenges the democrats have today i'm announcing my run to the michigan's next us senator.

>> michigan is a interesting state and he saw in the midterm elections and more specifically in 2022 and was considered a battleground state and still is but democrats do exponentially well in michigan biden started and startedta the trend so there is this effect to see what that looks like and what that would be if she would when but it is that rain over. >> and w speaking to the policy conference of house democrats what iss that message.

>> in the series of legislative achievements without bipartisan infrastructure deal. that goes on to be the inflation reduction act and that momentum of governing because democrats have the senate and facing republican control in the house so how do we gain back the house and how do we hold tight hold tight quick. >> is there a meaning between the president speaker mccarthy particular in the 119th? >> they met early on to talk about theim debt limit we have not heard of a meeting between them since then. >> any different than it was in the past quick.

>> we saw different tone from mccarthy after that there is a different personality and persona with a minority leader when you are the speaker of the house is interesting to see mccarthy transition with that partisan rhetoric. >> iin was looking at that jim jordan committee they were definitely weaponize being against us all the phones that were stolen and they should be

more transparent because china is running our country and i would like to know your opinion thank you so much for your time. >> what you are talking about every aspect ofth the federal government to see what they think is weaponization against the first amendment rights and with a series of different rates. >> the hearings on the oversight committee hearing. >> and talking publicly with a

hearing to conclude large parts is still sending out subpoenas and letters to the various agencies and individuals that began when he was drinking member. >> spending the last two years in the minority preparing to send subpoenas. collecting these documents and now to fulfill some of that. >> the only bill i will pick with you today and is the

press. may be with the pit bulls going into an investigation now we have a lot of new people with the story of the day to the next hot story we're arguing the truth versus ally. and it seems like the reporters thatt something is totally ridiculous that the press cannot just say that's a lie. >> this is a conversation the newsroom has and the public has had with the media and journalists and i can only

speak for myself to take in strides to call out the lies with the nuance in the context of what lawmakers say but it is ad lifelong challenge. >> thank you so much for being on. >> thank you for having me.