Heard on the Hill
What we're hearing from people we trust on and around the Hill
FTC ON ANTITRUST: Andrew Ferguson, the new chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), will sit down with the Washington Reporter for a discussion on antitrust policies on February 24th from 12-2. RSVP immediately, because spots are limited and this will sell out very quickly.
DOGE WALKING: DOGE is at the IRS today and will be at the CFPB tomorrow.
CLEANING HOUSE: HUD announced on Thursday that the department is launching a DOGE task force.
TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME: Minnesota Democrat Senator Tina Smith announced her retirement from the Senate. She has been serving since 2018. Rep. Tom Emmer (R., Minn.) already announced he will not run. On the Democratic side, both Tim Walz and his lieutenant governor are potential candidates, as is Rep. Angie Craig (D., Minn.).
SECRETARY KENNEDY: RFK. Jr. was confirmed to helm HHS on Thursday with a 52-48 vote. Kentucky GOP Senator Mitch McConnell broke rank as a “nay” vote.
AN APPLE A DAY: Rep. Virginia Foxx (R., N.C.) was honored by Parents Defending Education this week for her work as chairwoman of the House’s Education and Workforce Committee last Congress, which led to the ousting of multiple university presidents. During the event, PDE’s Nicki Neily praised Foxx for her “unwavering commitment to justice for all, from female athletes whose private spaces were threatened to Jewish college students attacked for the mere sin of their religion.” Spotted at the event were Reps. Mark Harris (R., N.C.), Mark Messmer (R., Ind.), Kevin Kiley (R., Calif.), Burgess Owens (R., Utah), Tim Walberg (R., Mich.), GT Thompson (R., Pa.), Michael Baumgartner (R., Wash.), and Addison McDowell (R., N.C.), alongside several new Department of Education staffers and other supporters.
PODCAST PARTY: The Republican Study Committee (RSC), chaired by Rep. August Pfluger (R., Texas) kicked off its Right to the Point podcast with a launch party with members and staff this week; those in attendance included Reps. Pfluger, Ben Cline (R., Va.), Bob Latta (R., Ohio), John McGuire (R., Va.), Beth Van Duyne (R., Texas), Troy Balderson (R., Ohio), Greg Murphy (R., N.C.), Chuck Edwards (R., N.C.), Morgan Luttrell (R., Texas), Mark Alford (R., Mo.), and Rudy Yakym (R., Ind.). The podcast will feature RSC members discussing the issues in their communities, and is designed to cut through the mainstream media’s bias on issues facing Congress.