Heard on the Hill – 7/15/24
What we’re hearing from people we trust on and around the Hill – please send us more tips!
Anti-crypto banking nominees under fire: Two Banking Committee nominees — Caroline Crenshaw up for another Securities and Exchange Commission term, and Christy Goldsmith Romero, nominated for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation — are facing increasing skepticism from Hill Republicans for their hostility to digital currency. A source close to Trump world told the Washington Reporter: “Considering President Trump’s pro-crypto stance, there’s no way Senate Republicans should rush these anti-crypto noms through.”
Window into Wisconsin: Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) is addressing tonight’s RNC; during his speech, we’re told, he’ll “focus on unity and Republicans being the party of the working class.”
APRA watch: During a Senate Commerce hearing on privacy and AI, Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) reiterated his concerns with the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA), saying that “our goal shouldn’t be to pass any uniform national standard, but rather the right standard that protects privacy without preventing U.S. technological innovation.” We covered the latest with APRA last week.
Wisconsin’s Wied numbers: In Wisconsin, Trump-endorsed Republican Tony Wied raised nearly $1 million in his first fundraising quarter — $919,000 between his campaign, victory committee and leadership PAC. Wied is running in Wisconsin’s 8th District to replace Rep. Mike Gallagher (R., Wis.).
Serbian-Americans for Trump: During this week’s RNC, Illinois’s former Democratic governor, Rod Blagojevich, plans to spearhead a rally for Serbian-Americans for Trump. Joining him will be Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) and former Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell. Blagojevich, a self-proclaimed “Trumpocrat,” told the Reporter that while Serbian-Americans are a “small group” electorally, “Serbs can play a role” in several of the swing states that will decide this election like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona. Blagojevich, who was at one point, the most prominent Serbian-American election official in America, said: “I don’t know of a single Serb who is not for Trump.”
RJC rollout: The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) rolled out its first round of GOP challenger endorsements. The influential group is backing Gabe Evans, Austin Theriault, Yvette Herrell, Laurie Buckhout, Derek Merrin, Kevin Coughlin, Ryan Mackenzie, and Rob Bresnahan in their congressional campaigns. The RJC’s CEO, Matt Brooks, is addressing the RNC later this week.
