Senate shakeup scoop 1: Senate Democrats are changing up their committee leadership for the next Congress. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) is remaining atop the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) is taking over Agriculture and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.) is taking over the Budget Committee.
Senate shakeup scoop 2: Sen. Roger Marshall (R., Kansas) is likely to join the Finance Committee if Republicans add another seat to it.
Dick Durbin and Hamas: Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) surprised his colleagues and Senate staff by voting on Wednesday night to restrict weapons deliveries to Israel for fighting against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. One Senate aide told us, “this two-faced fraud pretends to be bipartisan, but when push comes to shove, he votes to allow terrorists to destroy Israel.”
Future of KOSA: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) predicted that the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) will pass during the lame duck Congress. Rep. Brett Guthrie (R., Ky.) predicted this in a Washington Reporter interview several months ago as well.
Credit card hearing and the Wall Street Journal: After the Senate Judiciary Committee held one of its last hearings of the year on credit card fees, the Wall Street Journalweighed into the debate, calling the Credit Card Competition Act, “crony capitalism masquerading as consumer benefit.”
Money men: President Donald Trump met with financiers Scott Bessent and Marc Rowan this week; both are in the running to helm the Treasury Department.
The future liberals want: The left’s worldview was decisively rejected in the 2024 elections, but Alliance for Consumers is out with a new campaign warning about the vision that liberals have for the year 2035. Warning: it’s not pretty.
The future conservatives want: Coign, America’s first credit card for conservatives, honored charities including Rescue 22, Young America’s Foundation, Turning Point USA Foundation, and Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center at an event on Capitol Hill this week. Coign will donate a quarter of a million dollars to conservative charities this year because their cardholders are choosing to align their spending with their values instead of supporting companies that fund the progressive agenda. Spotted at the event: Sens. Tim Scott (R., S.C.) and John Barrasso (R., Wyo.) and Rep. Darin LaHood (R., Ill.), along with Luke Thompson, Nate Brand, Matt Whitlock, Cassie Smedile Docksey, Steve Guest, and some adorable and heroic service dogs.
DOGE, Elizabeth Warren, and the IRS: Biden’s economic team, which includes an alum of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), was delighted by reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) commission is considering an “app” for filing taxes. Creating an IRS run “direct-file” system has been a top priority of Warren and the Biden administration. However, Republican Hill aides cast cold water on the idea: “a Musk DOGE tax app would be great. But Liz Warren’s IRS ‘direct file’ power grab that would cost taxpayers billions is DOA.”
Release the dogs of WarRoom: Steve Bannon took Capitol Hill by storm this week, swinging by Butterworth’s on Capitol Hill for a party for the new book, Rebels, Rogues, and Outlaws, which spotlights members of the Bannon wing of the GOP. Attendees included Raheem Kassam, Matt McDonald, Bonnie Glick, Caroline Glick, Paul Dans, Lianna Farnesi, Rep. Andy Ogles (R., Tenn.), incoming Rep. Abe Hamadeh, and former Rep. George Santos (R., N.Y.)
G-men: President Donald Trump met with both Mike Rogers and Kash Patel, who are finalists to helm the FBI.
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