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In our latest edition, we have an interview with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, campaign moves of Sen. John Thune and Rep. Burgess Owens, op-eds from Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Richard Hudson, and much more!
By: Matthew Foldi
Boris Johnson, a self-described “militant cyclist” and “technological optimist” had no plans to serve as Prime Minister, or to steer the United Kingdom through riots, the Olympics, and a pandemic.
Between his trademark hairstyle and his unique ability to harness the UK’s populist energy, Johnson is in many ways the Donald Trump of the UK: a well-known media figure who successfully parlayed a long career in journalism into the mayoralty of London during the 2012 Olympics and ultimately into the highest level of British politics.
In contrast with other Tory politicians, like Michael Heseltine — who famously sketched out his life’s ambitions on an envelope — Johnson has benefitted from a next man up mentality. “There were a couple of times when the Tory Party was really stuck, it was stuck for a mayoral candidate, and it was stuck on how to do Brexit, and in desperation, they turned to me,” he said during an extensive interview about his career and his latest book, Unleashed, which he described as leaping from his frame “like Athena from the head of Zeus, or like the alien from John Hurt’s movie.”
Despite the United Kingdom’s historic vote for Brexit, Johnson found that many people at home and abroad tried to stymie the will of the voters — but he persisted. “I just had this sense of superhuman invincibility, because I knew all the time, I was like those Kenyan warriors who coated in peanut butter and who charged the machine guns, because I just knew that we had the law on our side,” he said. “I knew that we were right. They had been defeated in the argument and they couldn’t get over it.”
Click HERE to read more from our interview with Boris Johnson where we discuss his new book Unleashed, Brexit, China, and how much Black Mirror he’s watched.
Prime Minister Johnson, you’ve written several books. Why this one? And why now?
Matthew Foldi
Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Reporter
Unleashed was uncontrollable, it was uncontainable, it was ungovernable. Unleashed leapt from my frame, it exploded, like Athena from the head of Zeus, or like the alien from John Hurt’s movie, it just erupted. It was uncontainable. It’s a fifteen year story about a project to unite and level up the country. It’s about the belief in Britain. It’s about why our country is great, and why our country can do things independently. The core of the story is an idea about political independence, which miraculously came good during the most appalling pandemic we’ve had in 100 years, and in a sense that we suddenly were able to do things that no other European country could do as fast, because we were outside the European Union.
Boris Johnson
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
What is your favorite insult that you’ve levied at an opponent of yours?
Matthew Foldi
Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Reporter
I think the one that really got underneath the skin of the current prime minister was when I called him ‘Captain Crasheroonie Snoozefest.’ He’s very slow on the turn, and I call him the ‘human bollard’ and various other things. There’s something rather stolid and surprised, he has a look of ever so slight moral designation. And I think I said he looks like ‘a bullock having a thermometer unexpectedly shoved in its rectum.’ He has that faint air of lefty, finger wagging, moralizing coupled with a slight bovine imbecility.
Boris Johnson
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
There was no better place in Washington, D.C. to watch this week’s election night festivities than the watch party hosted by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) and the Washington Reporter, sources on and off the Hill gushed to the Reporter.
Hundreds of people came to ATR’s headquarters, for the company, for the open bar, and for the seemingly endless amount of chicken sandwiches, pizza, and desserts.
“If there’s one word I would use to describe the atmosphere of the crowd of conservatives gathered, it would be joy,” Mike Palicz, ATR’s Director of Tax Policy, told the Reporter. “We had people from across the center-right movement there; everyone was celebrating because they knew what this victory meant. Just unified joy for conservatives.”
Brian Colas, the CEO of the Reporter, agreed. “Not only has Matthew Foldi established the Washington Reporter as the most influential center-right newsletter in D.C., this wunderkind patriot threw the best election night rager. God Bless Matthew Foldi and God Bless the voters,” he said.
Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.) wants a promotion later this month, from serving as Senate minority whip to serving as Senate GOP Leader — and he spent 2024 campaigning for the upcoming moment.
Thune raised over $33 million in hard dollars this cycle for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and for GOP Senate candidates — in one instance, Thune made a historic $4 million transfer to the NRSC, which went directly to GOP candidates.
Thune’s sizable totals are second only to those raised by NRSC chairman, Sen. Steve Daines (R., Mont.), a source familiar told the Washington Reporter. Daines is reportedly backing Thune in his GOP Leader bid. Both senators are from neighboring states and are avid outdoorsmen.
During the final month of the 2024 elections, Thune campaigned in eight states with candidates, including in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Montana, and Indiana. All four of those will be sending new Republican senators to Washington, D.C.
Earlier this year, Thune laid out his vision for serving as GOP Leader in an extensive interview with the Reporter. “If nothing else, just open this place up and let the talent shine,” he said.
Top Democrats who called for the abolition of the filibuster have fallen silent following the 2024 election, in which Republicans claimed a larger-than-expected majority in the Senate.
Abolishing the filibuster, or calling for its “reform,” has become a popular rallying cry for Democratic politicians. Some, like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), make minimal effort to appear moderate. Others who oppose the filibuster, such as Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D., Wis.), closed out the election cycle by running ads touting their work with President Donald Trump.
The Reporter reached out to several top Senate Democrats, including Sanders and Baldwin, after Election Day, to see if their support for abolishing the filibuster remains. None, however, responded.
Rep. Burgess Owens (R., Utah) helped to elect more than 40 candidates this cycle via either in-person campaign events or donations, his campaign told the Washington Reporter.
Owens, who is running to chair the House’s Education and Workforce Committee, campaigned for incumbents, in potentially tough districts, such as Rep. Michelle Steel (R., Calif.), John James (R., Mich.), Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa), and Monica de la Cruz (R., Texas).
Owens also campaigned for successful GOP challengers, like Rob Bresnahan, who ousted Rep. Matt Cartwright (D., Penn.). Owens also donated tens of thousands of dollars to dozens of GOP candidates who were part of Speaker Mike Johnson’s Slate and Patriot Programs, including to returning Reps. Don Bacon (R., Neb.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.), and Tom Kean (R., N.J.), and to his future colleagues, like Tom Barrett, who flipped a House seat in Michigan.
The Reporter spoke last month with Owens about his vision for chairing the Education and Workforce Committee, and transforming it from a “pass through” committee to a standout one.
