SIGN UP NOW: Join us, Electronic Payments Coalition (EPC), and Rep. Andy Barr (R., Ky.) for our latest premier event on September 22. Over 100 of you have already RSVPed, so please sign up quickly — it’s free! — and join us!
SESSION IS OUT: Rep. Tom Emmer (R., Minn.) announced that two upcoming weeks of session are now canceled. “Members are advised that votes are not expected in the House during the weeks of September 21st and September 28th,” Emmer wrote. “Pending Senate adoption of H. Con. Res. 113, votes are possible in the House during the weeks of September 21st and 28th, and Members will be given at least 48 hours’ notice prior to any votes. This is a change from the previously announced schedule.”
TALKERS ARE OUT: The Washington Reporter received the talking points that House Republicans received about the unexpected vote cancelation. They read, in part: “This has been the most aggressive, successful, and productive House in American history since 1949. We’ve delivered small government with big results. We’ve returned government to the people. Now we’re excited to get back to our districts and continue our work for the American people. We’re ready to return to work within 48 hours should the Senate pass legislation such as reconciliation 3.0 or the Save America Act.”
CAUGHT ON TAPE: Lindsay James, the Democrat running against Joe Mitchell in Iowa’s open 2nd District, was confronted this week following our reporting that she allegedly tried to bribe Dave Bushaw, an independent candidate in the race, to drop out. James is caught on video being confronted over the allegations. Watch that here.
“TOO EXTREME FOR MICHIGAN”: William Lawrence, the DSA-aligned nominee for Democrats in the race against Rep. Tom Barrett (R., Mich.) had even more of his left-wing past exposed by CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski. Lawrence wanted then-Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) to “hurry up and die.” Beyond that, the Republican National Committee’s Hunter Lovell recapped Lawrence’s online history: “No police, No prisons, No borders, No Senate, No fossil fuels, The nuclear family is ‘violent,’ Socialism is the answer.” Lovell added that “Will Lawrence makes AOC look like a moderate. Too dangerous, too extreme for Michigan.”
ANDERSON FOR ARMY SECRETARY?: Derrick Anderson, the current Assistant Secretary of War for SOL/IC, the top civilian Special Forces leader, and former Green Beret with multiple Middle East tours, is one of the top contenders to replace Dan Driscoll as Secretary of the Army. Others rumored to be in the running are Rep. Brian Mast (R., Fla.), Sean Parnell, and Anthony Tata.
DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME: In his latest campaign ad, Michael Bouchard — a decorated Army veteran — jumps out of a plane. “I fought extremists abroad,” Bouchard, who is running for Michigan’s open 10th District, explained. “I came home on a mission to make our community safer and deliver lower costs for the hardworking families in our district. I’m ready to deliver results on day 1.”
CLOONEY PROBLEMS: Allen Covert, the legendary Hollywood actor, took aim at George Clooney for Clooney’s wife’s ties to Islamic extremists. “George Clooney’s wife is associated with the Muslim Brotherhood,” Covert noted. “He is on camera bragging about it. She’s a virulent anti-Semite.” Covert’s remarks came after Paramount accused actor Mark Ruffalo of anti-Semitism.
NDO REFORM PROGRESS: Microsoft’s vice chairman, Brad Smith, praised members of both parties in the House following the unanimous passage of the NDO Fairness Act . “I want to thank Speaker [Mike] Johnson and Majority Leader [Steve] Scalise as well as Representatives [Scott] Fitzgerald and [Jerry] Nadler for scheduling a vote and sponsoring this legislation,” Smith wrote after the passage. “House Judiciary Committee Chairman [Jim] Jordan and Ranking Member [Jamie] Raskin also deserve our appreciation for championing this legislation through the House committee process. As consideration moves to the Senate, we look forward to working with Senators Lee and Coons and supporting their leadership and efforts to enact this bill into law.” Fred Humphries, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of government affairs, added that “Microsoft has long advocated for reforms that bring greater transparency and judicial oversight to government requests for data stored in the cloud, helping protect customers and preserve trust in digital services.”
GSA BDAY: Krista Perkins and her friends took over Scarlet Oak for a Wine Wednesday birthday extravaganza this week. Among those spotted were Grace Newton, Angela Ryan, Tabby Rosenthal, Jeff Naft, Will Lane, Grant Gorke, Kaleigh DeGeldere, Peyton Harvey, Sheridan Metternick, Charlie Roth, Payne Hill, David DeAntonio, Mac Malloy, Anthony Cruz, Brandon Smith, Tanner Brown, Jinnie Christensen, Emily Fehsenfeld, Carlos Manuel, Matthew Foldi, Jerome Vainisi, Matthew Fontenot, Logan Dobbins, Joey Gollinger, Grant Lawler, Mason Greenwald, Sean Murphy, Hunter Lovell, Maggie Thrakill, Lucy Herrington, Olivia Fahrmann, Jack Vaughn, and Trenton Hoekstra.
EXPOSED: Tayte Christensen, one of our contributors, published a thorough takedown of Hallie Shoffner, Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R., Ark.) opponent in deep-red Arkansas. Read her piece, titled Hallie Shoffner Is Running As an Arkansas Farmer. Before That, She Was an AOC Donor and Dem Insider, here in Townhall.
STAFFING UP: Andy Baker, former Deputy National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump and National Security Advisor to Vice President JD Vance, joined Robert O’Brien’s firm, American Global Strategies, as managing director. Congrats Andy!
NEW ROLE: Preston McGee is now Rep. Buddy Carter’s (R., Ga.) Press Secretary. Congratulations, Preston!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: The Washington Reporter wants to wish a happy birthday to Rosemarie Ramirez, Tabby Rosenthal, and to Jerry Dunleavy!
