Heard on the Hill
What we're hearing from people we trust on and around the Hill
Rumor mill: Sources tell us that President-elect Donald Trump is considering nominating Brian Quintenz to run the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Quintenz is a former CFTC commissioner.
FDA update: Lowell Zeta, one of the top food and drug attorneys in Washington, D.C., is leading the FDA landing team for Trump.
Last-ditch KOSA push: Amid the chaos in the House over the continuing resolution, our sources tell us that Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) is making one last push to pressure House GOP Leaders to include the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in the CR. Blackburn is pointing to support from Elon Musk, who just blew up the House GOP’s current CR, sources tell us.
Party time: We know you want to go to President Trump’s inauguration. Here are the donation levels needed to get you there.
Meetings on meetings: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Lee Zeldin, Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Howard Lutnick, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Kelly Loeffler, all had Senate meetings this week.
RFK schedule: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a busy week on the Hill this week; he met with Sens. Bill Hagerty (R., Tenn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith, (R, Miss.), James Lankford (R., Okla.), John Barrasso (R., Wyo.), John Thune (R., S.D.), Josh Hawley (R., Mo.), Katie Britt (R., Ala.), Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), Markwayne Mullin (R., Okla.), Mike Crapo (R., Idaho), Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.), Rand Paul (R., Ky.), Rick Scott (R., Fla.), Roger Marshall (R., Kansas), Ron Johnson (R., Wis.), Shelley Moore Capito (R., W. Va.), Steve Daines (R., Mont.), Ted Budd (R., N.C.), Ted Cruz (R., Texas), Thom Tillis (R., N.C.), Tim Scott (R., S.C.), Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), Tommy Tuberville (R., Ala.), and Dan Sullivan (R., Alaska).
Coal for Christmas! The American Energy Institute is rolling out a series of mini documentaries called Energy 101; the latest video spotlights the importance of traditional energy resources like coal, oil, and natural gas. Watch here.
Read up: The Heritage Foundation hosted a book launch Tuesday evening for Victoria Coates’s new book, The Battle For The Jewish State: How Israel — And America — Can Win. Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) spoke with Coates and Heritage’s President Kevin Roberts about the importance of Israel to America as it fights a seven-front war against barbarism. Rep. Chip Roy (R., Texas) spoke as well. Spotted: Joel Rayburn, Bonnie Glick, Omri Ceren, Erin Walsh, UAE ambassador Yousef al Otaiba, Israel’s Deputy Chief of Mission Eliav Benjamin, Azerbaijan’s ambassador Khazar Ibrahim, and Nathan Sales.
Congratulations! The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) rolled out its senior staff for the 2026 campaign: Jennifer DeCasper will be executive director; Stephen DeMaura will be deputy executive director; Nate Brand will be a senior advisor; Cara Mason will be finance director; Joanna Rodriguez will be communications director, Brennen Britton will be director of external affairs; and Brittney Godoy will be the committee's senior finance advisor.