Good morning. I'm Anna Palmer and welcome to The Daily Punch, brought to you by Punchable News. It's

Friday, February 23rd, 2024. Let's get into the mix. Here are your Washington headlines of the day.

Number one, we've got some news. Chuck Schumer is in Ukraine. Number two, tensions are hot between the CHC and the White House. And number three, the punch up. Outside groups are struggling as funding for the affordable connectivity program dries up. All right, let's get to it.

T.J.A. Frived on this recess Friday.

We've had a week of just AM newsletters with both chambers out.

And we have some news here this morning by Andrew Desiderio.

Came in to your phone of your premium subscriber on text overnight. Some news. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer arrived in Ukraine Friday morning, making him the highest-ranking

congressional leader to visit the war-torn nation since then-speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip

nearly two years ago. Schumer and his delegation arrived in the western part of

Ukraine. He plans to hold meetings with President Vladimir Zelensky and Ukrainian military leaders.

Of course, if you zoom out, Schumer's visit comes at a very critical time for Ukraine,

the Western Coalition and Congress. The Senate passed a foreign aid package

recently that includes $60 billion in military and economic assistance for Ukraine. But there's

no clear path for that legislation in the House, where opposition to make more money for the

embattled U.S. ally has been growing. This uncertainty-dominated lawmakers meeting with

foreign leaders at the Munich Security Conference last weekend, where Andrew was reporting from.

Schumer's trip, which was in the works for several weeks, coincides with the two-year anniversary of

Russia's full-scale invasion into the country.

The Senate's approval of new Ukraine funding undoubtedly gives Schumer a boost,

especially as he looks to put pressure on the House.

Andrew sat down with Schumer ahead of the visit, and he said his goal is twofold.

Schumer wants to reassure the Ukrainians that America has not given up on them and also try to persuade his colleagues back home, particularly Speaker Mike Johnson, to move swiftly

...