>> you're watching c-span. you are unfiltered view of government. c-span was created by america's cable television companies in 1979. today, we're brought to you by these television companies who provide c-span to viewers as a public service. the washington ta write up of -- saying it was the u.s. capitol ramping up security after officials discovered a quote, possible plot by a militia group to break into the capital on thursday, nearly two months after a riot inside of the building that left five people dead. the story adding the militia group was not identified. some say the threat stems from supporters of the far-right conspiracy group qanon.

supporters believe former president donald trump will be sworn in on march 4 which had been designated as inauguration day until 1933. that was the reaction. when it comes to the capitol police themselves, they put out a statement about information they received, saying the department is prepared for any potential threats toward members of congress or the capital complex. we obtained intelligence that shows a plot to breach the capital by an unidentified group. we already made security upgrades and increasing manpower to ensure the protection of congress. the public and our police officers. the statement saying the department is working with local, state and federal partners and they take the intelligence seriously. due to the sensitive nature of this information, they cannot provide additional details. we will show you more in a little bit, not only on this new information, but discussions

yesterday on capitol hill about events on january 6 and capital security. you are invited to call in. (202)-748-8000 for democrats. republicans, (202)-748-8001. independents, (202)-748-8002. text us at (202)-748-8003. twitter and facebook available. the capital complex is still surrounded by a fence and razor wire. these out of the events of january 6, even before this new event, this new information took place. joining us to give us some context of the last 24 hours is chris marquette. he is with cq roll call and reports on congressional ethics and accountability. thank you for joining us this morning. guest: i appreciate you having me. host: talk about the uptick in tempo as far as security is concerned. we saw the statement from police, but what will happen on the ground today?

guest: basically today, the house is not voting. they moved up police reform legislation which was planned for today, and they voted on it and passed it yesterday, last night. right now, a lot of members are cautious and wary of the security threat the capitol police has flagged. yesterday at a legislative branch appropriations committee meeting, they talked about the intelligence and described it as concerning, and noted that they enhanced their security posture and took immediate steps to get the national guard as well as their workforce to know exec the what to expect tomorrow and going forward, concerning this potential militia plot to breach the capital. the target dates are march 4 through march 6. you can expect everybody,

including the members, the staff and the capitol police, the people charged with protecting the capital, to be on high alert the next couple of days. host: what is the decision in -- the biz -- the senate still meeting for business today? guest: we will see what happens. the senate seems like they will conduct business as usual, but things are subject to change, moment to moment. host: as far as the capitol police is concerned, you talked a little bit about the reaction, but how are they responding to this, and will there be a different type of presence today and the next day's going forward? guest: yesterday, the office of the sergeant at arm's sent out

an email to members of congress and congressional staffers, and they noted the sergeant at arms is working closely with capitol police to monitor march 4, fifth and sixth, what they describe as potential protests and demonstration activities around what have some described as the quote, true inauguration day. that is a reference to the conspiracy. hearing groups -- these groups thought president -- former president donald trump's true inauguration would happen today. the sergeant at arms sent out an email and they warned -- the capitol police said it was new and concerning information. a militia group -- it is thought that qanon is involved in this.

they noted that the police forces will have additional personnel posted throughout the grounds, capitol police has enhanced their security posture. i have heard that staffing levels are up among the officers, in preparation for this. the national guard continues to maintain a presence on the capitol grounds as we have seen, that huge fence around the capital complex. national guard soldiers, it is easy to see. it is clear if you walk around the campus. you can see the huge fence and the national guard presence. host: what kind of reaction did you get from members themselves about this decision? guest: tim ryan put out a statement, after the legislative branch appropriations hearing

yesterday about the concerning information about the possible threat to breach the capital today. tim ryan, chair of the appropriations subcommittee, and some other members got briefed by acting capitol police chief to pittman on security threats, regarding march 4 through the sixth. tim ryan noted that it is heartbreaking that in the united states capital, it continues to be a target, not by foreign adversaries but by our fellow americans. he thanked the chief and the police officers for briefing him. i think a lot of members are confident that the capitol police is going to keep them safe and is properly preparing right now. that being said, there is a huge barbed wire fence around the capital complex. it would be hard to imagine any groups breaching that fortification.

host: any republican reaction? guest: regarding republicans, i think republicans in the house are getting out of town, as democrats are doing, in preparation for this. i think everyone is taking it seriously. host: chris marquette of cq roll call, joining us to give us an update in light of this information that came down yesterday. you can find his reporting on the rollcall website. thank you very much. guest: thank you. host: for the remainder of this hour, we will take your calls on this new information, plus the reaction from capitol hill, particularly on the house side of this. you can call or post on our facebook and twitter feed and you can text us at (202)-748-8003. some additional social media input. bernie saying this risk comes with the job. they will use any excuse not to do anything. sandy from facebook saying it is

better to be safe than sorry. from twitter, at this point, it is the house's choice not to be in session today. check from facebook, the republican party asked for this by their words and actions. you can post there and call on the lines. robert in pennsylvania, starting us off, democrats line. what do you think of the latest news and the reaction by the house? caller: i think it is much ado about nothing. i am a registered democrat but i don't believe in what the democrat party stands for anymore. do you honestly think this so-called militia would turn out for an obsolete date like march 4? i think you have more to worry about with what is coming down the line, with the democrat efforts to enact gun control

legislation. host: but as far as the events of january 6, do you think it abundance of caution is necessary, for this type of information the capitol police received? caller: i don't think the fence is going to keep anybody out. a fence can be torn down pretty easily. we heard out here in flyover country that the national guardsmen don't even have ammunition in their clips, and their rifles. -- in their rifles. pass out the amer -- pass out the ammo first. host: next on the republican line, we will hear from matt. caller: i was looking at the news today, and the democrats early talking about safety and all that. -- are really talking about safety and all that. i went on fox and msnbc, and

migrants are coming across the border wearing joe biden t-shirts i the hundreds, so if you are catching and releasing them, and then they are going out and they have covid, because that is what is on the news -- host: pushing for removing of the fencing around the capitol. he said in light of the new information, the barriers and increased police presence,

quote, may have to be there right now. and she said she was encouraged to see some fencing had been reduced earlier in the week and that she will continue to advocate, quote, return the people's house to the people. boston, massachusetts, mary is up next on our independent line. caller: -- host: boston, massachusetts. are you mary? caller: yes, i am. host: ok. go ahead. caller: i understand what happened january 6, but the thing is to me, it looks ridiculous, it looks like they're so afraid. i don't know. when i watched that woman yesterday. i don't remember who she was. she was talking about january 6 that nobody, i guess at this point, they found any guns or anything. so is it going to be a situation every time that a little thing

on the internet or rumor or whatever that they're going to lock down washington, that they're going to run away from washington? yet, the senate is still there. it doesn't make sense. i mean, i don't understand it. why would somebody attack washington when they know what they got there? they have all these wires and fences and national guard. why would you attack? it doesn't make sense to me. host: ok. mary there in boston, massachusetts. when it comes to information about this threat received by the capitol police, it was at the house appropriations subcommittee yesterday that acting u.s. capitol police chief yag pittman asked if they were going to respond but here it is

from yesterday. chief pittman: i want to tell you that the u.s. c.p. is working with everyone in the capital region to make sure that all of the intelligence we have and threats to the campus, we are prepared to respond appropriately. we do have some concerning intelligence. that intelligence is law enforcement sensitive. it wouldn't be prudent of me to share in a public hearing, a public format. but i would love to come over. i'm available at any time to provide an additional brief to everyone on the call. but we enhanced our security posture. we've taken steps to let the national guard as well as our workforce know what to expect tomorrow and going forward. other than that, i'll be more than happy to come over and provide you a brief. host: if you go to the website

of the capitol police under their fast facts section, they will also let you know when it comes to the personnel available on the capitol complex is it's surprised of more than 2,300 officers and civilian employees. according to their website, their annual budget has approximately $460 million. leroy from laplata, maryland. democrats' line. caller: yes, good morning. good morning. if the republican senate did their job, you wouldn't have this problem. you wouldn't have the waste of our money. but it is what it is. trump said it is what it is. host: what do you mean by that in light of the information yesterday? caller: this information from yesterday, it would -- [indiscernible] strategical attack on our democracy.

[indiscernible] it has been building up for four years. host: so do you think this new information warranted cancellations of activities by the house today? caller: no, no. the house is going to do what they're going to do. the house didn't do what they should have did when he was in office. >> we're considering the nominations of ms. shalanda young to be the deputy director of office of management and budget, o.m.b. and jason miller to be deputy director for management. certainly welcome both of you. i know you have your family with you and look forward to having you introduce them shortly. i want to first off congratulate you on your nominations and thank you for your willingness to serve our nation in this -- in these very critical roles. our country is facing a historic public health and economic