House Republicans’ late night, closed-door effort to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics gave Democrats a winning messaging tool, says CQ Roll Call’s Money and Politics reporter Kate Ackley. The public relations debacle also could result in keeping the spotlight on President-elect Donald Trump’s perceived conflicts of interest, adds Editor Catalina Camia. Also, did you know that the ‘drain the swamp’ phrase popularized by Trump was first used by a leading Democrat?

Show Notes:

• House GOP Moves to Curb Independent Ethics Office
• Trump Criticizes House GOP on Ethics Office Overhaul 
• Trump’s Business Tangles Rankle Democrats, Watchdog Groups 
• Ethics Panel Investigates Stutzman Family Trip

With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2017

Trump questions House Republicans’ attempt to dismantle an independent ethics watchdog. https://t.co/uPUUtbfsEs pic.twitter.com/KbTCDLg6Xw

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) January 4, 2017

First victory! House switchboard jammed with calls from citizens opposed to Republicans killing its Ethics Office. Repubs & Trump back off.

— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 3, 2017

We beat back Republican attacks on the Ethics Office by organizing. We can beat the attacks on our healthcare the same way.

Stand together.

— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) January 4, 2017