NEVER FORGET: On the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Rep. Rick Crawford (R., Ark.) noted that for him, as with so many Americans, the attacks struck a deeply personal chord. “On September 11, 2001, I was in the studio producing a television show when news broke that a plane had struck the World Trade Center, a tragedy we initially assumed was a freak accident until the second plane hit and left us in stunned disbelief,” Crawford, the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said. “Miles away, the heroic actions of the 40 passengers and crew members aboard Flight 93 prevented another catastrophic strike on the U.S. Capitol, marking the true beginning of the Global War on Terror with an extraordinary victory won by ordinary Americans in the skies over Pennsylvania. Today, the names of the Flight 93 heroes stand proudly off the Capitol Rotunda as a daily reminder of their sacrifice and a lesson in unwavering vigilance. Similarly, in New York City and Arlington, Virginia, first responders and even average Americans stepped up to show themselves extraordinary as they moved into action, even to the point of sacrificing themselves, to save others. To all the families of the 2,977 heroes who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, we carry their memory in our hearts and reaffirm our promise to never forget their sacrifice. Twenty-five years later, as we face evolving threats from both global terrorism and aggressive nation-state adversaries at home and abroad, we cannot repeat the ‘failure of imagination’ that left us vulnerable in 2001.”
HONORING OUR HEROES: Andy O’Brien, a member of the Glen Echo Fire Department, who serves on the board of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), outlined how FCSN launched an “Initiative for Firefighter Cancer Screening Recommendations, the first serious effort in this country to build screening guidance around the way firefighters get sick. Oncologists, epidemiologists, occupational medicine physicians and fire service leaders are drafting recommendations to publish in 2027” in a Washington Times op-ed.
SHE’S IN IT TO WIN IT: Rep. Laurel Lee (R., Fla.) is running for the top job on the Judiciary Committee. Lee announced her plans after Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) said he will not seek a waiver to remain on top.
UNIONS LIKE MIKE: Jake Altman, a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), explained why he’s now backing former Rep. Mike Rogers (R., Mich.) in Michigan’s pivotal Senate race: “We all need to be supporting candidates who love this country, who want to deliver for Michiganders. We should not be leaning into this sectarian politics.”
SHOTS FIRED: Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.) cautioned that “Turkey is not our friend” as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent continues to crack down on Iranian funding networks around the world. Bessent “had to crack down on them for actively funding Iranian terrorists who are killing our servicemen and women,” Scott explained. “This is about keeping our country and our families safe. We cannot rest until anyone with ties to the evil Iranian regime is held accountable — no matter who they are.”
STATE’S NEWEST HIRE: Britt McHenry, a former ESPN reporter, is joining the State Department as a Press Advisor. Congratulations!
THUNE WIN IN GRANITE STATE: Former Sen. John Sununu’s (R., N.H.) convincing win in the New Hampshire GOP primary was an under-the-radar win for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.). Thune personally recruited the former senator to run, and Republicans view New Hampshire as a “race to watch,” as Ruthless’s Josh Holmes said. Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) noted that both Thune and Sen. Tim Scott (R., S.C.) “played a big role in recruiting Sununu and keeping [GOP Senators] from endorsing Scott Brown before Sununu entered the race.”
MAGA BDAY: The Washington Reporter wants to wish Rep. Mike Simpson (R., Idaho) a happy birthday. Known as MAGA Mike to his friends and foes alike, he has recently taken social media by storm, to the chagrin of outlets like the Idaho Statesman.
NEW ROLE: Emily Fehsenfeld started with the General Services Administration (GSA) as its new Press Secretary. Fehsenfeld was previously the Traveling Press Secretary for the Department of Labor and is an alum of Rep. Jack Bergman’s (R., Mich.) office.
