Heard on the Hill
What we're hearing from people we trust on and around the Hill
MAGMA HOT RSVP: On March 4, the Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Forum and Project InnerSpace are hosting a conference on MAGMA, which stands for (Making America Geothermal: Modern Advances). “Geothermal House is a unique, immersive educational experience, featuring live programming, a ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ virtual reality experience, geothermal themed food and drinks, spotlights on the movers and shakers building and funding the future of geothermal energy, and a few surprises in between,” they note. RSVP here.
340B PROGRAM ON LIFE SUPPORT: Senate Republicans are looking at legislation and investigations to address the fentanyl and opioid crisis, specifically whether oxycodone prescriptions are being improperly filled by hospitals through the 340B program. Expect public inquiries in the coming weeks.
BLACKROCK DEI DROP: Blackrock recently dropped its highly-criticized “workforce representation goals” that Republicans attacked as inappropriate DEI. A Senate Republican source told the Washington Reporter that “it’s another good sign that DEI is recognized as bad policy and bad politics.”
VIVEK CLEANING UP: Vivek Ramaswamy has already been endorsed by Donald Trump and Elon Musk in his campaign for Governor of Ohio. Now, an invitee flagged for the Washington Reporter that GOP financier Omeed Malik is hosting Ramaswamy and Donald Trump Jr. for a Palm Beach fundraiser on Sunday. The suggested contribution is $15,499.69. Read Malik’s recent interview with the Reporter here.
TRIPLE LOYALTY? Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Ohio) is in hot water for questioning Elon Musk’s loyalty to America. “When push comes to shove, who is he going to be loyal to?” she asked at a poorly-attended press conference. “South Africa, Canada, or the United States? Remember, he’s only been a citizen for 22 years.” Remember that Kaptur has been in Congress for 42 years.
WOKE ON NOTICE: Donald Trump Jr. just flagged “a new account [that] just launched to call out woke corporations and politicians still pushing DEI policies. Be sure to follow: @WokeWarRoom.” Follow Woke War Room here.
EGYPTIAN CONNECTION : The next round of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas will be held in Egypt.
INSIDE TITLE IX DEFENSE: President Donald Trump hosted Republican attorneys general from around the country this week for a discussion about the importance of protecting women’s sports. Doug Quezada, an entrepreneur and advisor to various government leaders including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, was in the room, and he told the Washington Reporter that “President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership in defending female sports is a marked contrast from what we saw from four years under Joe Biden; they refuse to bow to social pressures that seek to undermine their efforts to protect women. It’s a return to common sense policies.” Quezada added that “established leaders like Texas AG General Paxton who have led in this fight, and new colleagues like Utah AG Derek Brown, left this meeting more inspired than ever to continue their work on this essential issue, charging forward to preserve fairness and integrity in athletics and our communities.” We’ve got pictures from the meeting here.
COACH ON OFFENSE: Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R., Ala.), a college football coaching legend, will be putting vulnerable Senate Democrats on defense with a series of Title IX-related votes on Monday. Tuberville is already putting Sen. Jon Ossoff (D., Ga.) on notice by tweeting a poll showing that “73% of voters in my neighboring state of Georgia do NOT want men competing in women’s sports.” Tuberville helpfully added “I hope my Georgia Senate colleagues will join me in voting for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on Monday to protect Title IX and SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS.”