The Point: Uncertainty clouds Congress' 2020 start

View this email in your browser   January 3, 2020  | by Lauren Dezenski Uncertainty clouds Congress' 2020 start The end of the week brings the start of a new decade, and an uncertain sense of what's next after reports broke Thursday night that the US had killed Iran's top general by drone in Iraq.   "As President, I will never hesitate to defend the safety of the American people, you," Trump told supporters Friday at a church in Miami. "So let this be a warning to terrorists, if you value your own life, you will not threaten the lives of our citizens."   Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the act saved American lives in the face of an "imminent attack." Meanwhile, Iran has vowed revenge.   Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made his return to Washington on Friday, back from the two week-long holiday recess. He praised the military's efforts: "No man alive was more directly responsible for the deaths of more American service members than Qasem Soleimani."   McConnell also addressed the major issue looming domestically: Impeachment.   All the questions that remained at the end of 2019 about the Senate's impeachment trial are still lingering in the new year. McConnell again made it clear he would not proceed by the House's preferences, calling it "fantasy" that Speaker Nancy Pelosi would be able to dictate the Senate's impeachment process.   We'll (hopefully) know more in the coming week. House members (including Pelosi) return from their own recess on Tuesday.   The Point: Congress is heading back to town, and will have to contend with problems both old and new.   -- Lauren   And now, the week in 13 headlines:   Monday: Putin again invites Trump to visit Moscow in Christmas and New Year message New York Times: White House predicted congressional pushback for holding Ukraine aid Tuesday: Kim Jong Un warns hostile US policy means there will never be denuclearization on Korean Peninsula Chief Justice John Roberts says Americans may 'take democracy for granted' US sending additional forces to protect embassy threatened by protesters in Iraq Trump says China trade deal will be signed in January Wednesday: White House official says Trump expected to go to Davos after skipping during 2019 shutdown Pompeo postpones Ukraine trip due to situation in Iraq Thursday: All eyes on McConnell as Senate returns Friday White House budget official told Pentagon that order to hold Ukraine aid came from Trump, national security site reports Bill Taylor departs post as top US diplomat in Ukraine Friday: Pompeo: Strike on Soleimani disrupted an 'imminent attack' and 'saved American lives' McConnell defends communication with White House on impeachment and says it's a 'fantasy that the speaker of the House will get to hand design' trial QUOTE OF THE DAY "They are not nearly as saddened as the leaders will let the outside world believe." -- President Donald Trump tweeting about Iranians' response to the death of Qasem Soleimani, adding: "While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country." THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST Iran's top general Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike near the Baghdad Airport early Friday morning. President Donald Trump ordered the attack.    Soleimani was one of the most powerful men in Iran, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the airstrikes disrupted an "imminent attack" in the region that put American lives at risk.   Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed "harsh revenge." Follow CNN's live updates:   -- US to deploy thousands of additional troops to Middle East following Soleimani killing -- Police departments around the US are taking extra security measures LAUREN'S GOOD READS How every Democrat could win Iowa   2020? Tired. 2024? WIRED.   Australia's "Pyrocene"   Oslo's vision zero   An international love for basketball   Meet Segway's new self-balancing wheelchair     MUSICAL INTERLUDE He's a Coachella 2020 headliner and a listen for this Friday: Frank Ocean.  LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL SCHEDULER     Coming over the next week: With exactly one month until the Iowa caucuses, Iowa and New Hampshire draw crowds, Andrew Yang goes bowling and Donald Trump holds his first campaign rally of 2020.   Saturday, January 4 Elizabeth Warren: Holds town halls in Dubuque and Manchester, Iowa  Joe Biden: Hosts three events while campaigning in Iowa Bernie Sanders: Campaigns in Iowa, including a rally in Mason City with Rep. Nina Turner Andrew Yang: Goes bowling in Oskaloosa, Iowa, plus holds multiple meet-and-greets throughout the day Tom Steyer: Hosts a meet-and-greet and a town hall in Iowa Deval Patrick: Returns to New Hampshire. He plans to spend more time there than any other candidate before the primary Pete Buttigieg: Holds two town halls in New Hampshire Sunday, January 5 Bernie Sanders: Hosts a brunch in Boone, Iowa John Delaney: Visits Sheldon, Iowa, in his "Send a Message" tour Tulsi Gabbard: Holds her second of two weekend town halls in New Hampshire Michael Bennet: Speaks at the 2020 New Hampshire College Convention  Monday, January 6 Andrew Yang: Hosts another bowling meet-and-greet -- one of four in Iowa on Monday. He finishes the day with a town hall in Monticello Tulsi Gabbard: Holds a town hall in New Hampshire Tuesday, January 7 Tulsi Gabbard: Holds another town hall in New Hampshire Wednesday, January 8 Tulsi Gabbard: Holds a town hall in New Hampshire, this time in Concord Thursday, January 9 Donald Trump: Holds his first campaign rally of 2020 in Toledo, Ohio Tulsi Gabbard: Speaks at the New Hampshire College Convention Deval Patrick: Speaks at Milford Democrats' potluck supper in New Hampshire Friday, January 10 John Delaney: Returns to Iowa Deval Patrick: Holds a forum with the New Hampshire community college system   ONE BIG COUNT 26 The number of House Republicans who've announced retirements this term. The latest is Tennessee Rep. Phil Roe, who announced Friday he won't seek reelection. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. 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