Rep. James Comer on Biden investigations, Trump bringing Gold Star families to inauguration, future of IRS planned direct file expansion, and more…

In our latest edition, we have an interview with Rep. James Comer about the Oversight Committee’s priorities for this Congress, an exclusive on Donald Trump’s Inauguration plans, and much more!

January 9, 2025

In this edition

1. Interview: Rep. James Comer on investigating the Biden family, Biden’s next presidential pardons, football, PBMs, and more

2. Heard on the Hill

3. Exclusive: Donald Trump hosting Abbey Gate Gold Star families at Inauguration

4. Exclusive: Congress pans planned last-second IRS expansion of Direct File: “House Republicans will work with [Trump] to repeal these disastrous and invasive actions”

5. Banning cigarettes and empowering bad actors: the Biden administration's parting gift to the cartels

6. Scoop: “We no longer have a diagnostic tool to test it and the manufacturer has gone bankrupt”: Biden administration’s favorite electric buses are being sold for $5,000 to the public

7. Scoop: Fact Checking Elizabeth Warren's attacks on Pete Hegseth: "Does a former Harvard Law Professor not understand the First Amendment?"

8. WATCH: “She’s got my support, 110 percent”: Sen. Tommy Tuberville backs Tulsi Gabbard for DNI, urges speedy confirmation

9. Op-Eds: Rep. Stephanie Bice on why John Ratcliffe is the best pick to run the CIA, Attorney General Dave Yost on why Joe Biden’s death row commutations are not about justice, Mayor Larry Hushour on why he, as a veteran, supports Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, Rep. Marc Molinaro and David Catalfamo on what Elon and Vivek can learn from Harry S. Truman, Matt Keelen on why Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the right choice for Labor Secretary, and B. Douglas Hoey on how Rep. Brett Guthrie can get PBM reform across the finish line

10. What we’re reading

In our latest edition, we have an interview with Rep. James Comer about the Oversight Committee’s priorities for this Congress, an exclusive on Donald Trump’s Inauguration plans, congressional reactions to our latest Direct File scoop, and much more!

Interview: Rep. James Comer on investigating the Biden family, Biden’s next presidential pardons, football, PBMs, and more

by Matthew Foldi

Rep. James Comer (R., Ky.) spent most of his past four years as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee investigating President Joe Biden for alleged corruption, leading to a bombshell series of criminal referrals for members of the Biden family.

Heading into the “re-revolution” of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, Comer has a different set of priorities in mind, like forcing the federal workforce back into in-person work, passing good government reforms, and bringing the Washington Commanders home to Washington, D.C.

“We think that there's a real once in a lifetime opportunity to pass a lot of good government bills and to do a lot of things in Oversight that will reduce waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in the federal government,” Comer said in an interview with the Washington Reporter.

A bipartisan priority of Comer’s has been reforming pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), a reform he thinks will “be one of the first big bills that passes this Congress.” The Oversight Committee investigated PBMs and found that “they created their own pharmacies, and they're putting pharmacies out of business,” he said. “They're not transparent with fees they charge. They're gouging consumers with expensive drugs. They may make blood pressure medicine cheaper, but then they'll get you on the oncology medicine. That's what our investigation proved, and I think our investigation raised the profile of that issue.”

“Many people, Republicans and Democrats on the Oversight Committee, didn't know what a PBM was when we had our first hearing,” he said. “And now, with the exception of one member of the Oversight Committee, everybody wants to reform PBMs. I think it'll happen.” Trump, along with Republican and Democrat committees, sounds eager to make PBM reform happen.

Heard on the Hill

• Thanks for sharing, Mr. President! President Donald Trump’s transition team shared our exclusive story, Family of murdered ISIS hostage and former al Qaeda hostage back Tulsi Gabbard: “American hostage families know that Tulsi Gabbard has always been on our side.” Read it for yourself here.

• Corporate detente continues: President Donald Trump met with the CEO of Walmart at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night, we are told.

• Fischer-gate explained: Some Democrats and journalists were up in arms about Bruce Fischer, Sen. Deb Fischer’s (R., Neb.) husband, refusing to shake Vice President Kamala Harris’s hand during a swearing-in ceremony. In reality, Mr. Fischer was holding a Bible and a cane.

• Support growing for Linda McMahon: Parents Defending Education Action wrote to Sens. Bill Cassidy (R., La.) and Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) urging a quick confirmation of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education. “As an organization that advocates on behalf of parents’ concerns and the quality of education, we urge you to expedite and prioritize Ms. McMahon’s nomination,” the organization’s Michele Exner wrote. “There is no reason to delay – let’s ensure there is a swift confirmation process, so we can have officials in place to start tackling the education crises the Biden administration left behind.” Nicki Neily, PDE Action’s executive director, previously published an op-ed in the Washington Reporter backing McMahon for Education.

• Incoming bestseller: Rep. James Comer (R., Ky.) is out with a new book, All the President's Money: Investigating the Secret Foreign Schemes That Made the Biden Family Rich. It comes out next week but you can pre-order it here.

Exclusive: Donald Trump bringing Abbey Gate Gold Star families to his Inauguration

by Matthew Foldi

After privately meeting with the Gold Star families whose loved ones died during President Joe Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan, and inviting them to speak at the Republican National Convention (RNC) last year, President-elect Donald Trump has offered the families VIP treatment at his upcoming inauguration.

Families in the Abbey Gate Coalition plan to attend Trump’s second inauguration as VIPs, a source familiar with the planning told the Washington Reporter. Trump will host several of the families at Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony on January 19 before Trump’s final rally at Capital One Arena, where the Gold Star families have VIP seats, as well. Plans for the ceremony have not previously been reported.

During the ceremony, Trump and the families will visit Section 60 of the cemetery, which is largely reserved for those who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They will be joined by incoming First Lady Melania Trump, incoming Vice President JD Vance, and incoming Second Lady Usha Vance.

Gold Star families who will be in attendance are excited, several told the Reporter. In the years since the withdrawal, Trump has been an unwavering champion for the Gold Star families in their fight for government accountability.

Exclusive: Congress pans planned last-second IRS expansion of Direct File: “House Republicans will work with [Trump] to repeal these disastrous and invasive actions”

by Matthew Foldi

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is planning a last-second nationwide expansion of its controversial and heavily criticized Direct File service, multiple sources told the Washington Reporter.

Critics of Direct File note that it is an unauthorized program that allows the unpopular tax collection agency to act as “judge, jury, and Lord High Executioner,” Sen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.) told the Washington Reporter. The IRS is poised to roll out a nationwide version of Direct File as early as Friday — the latest in a series of moves by the Biden administration to put the second Trump administration in a bind. The Reporter is the first to report this development.

Congress’s tax policy experts panned the plan to the Reporter. Rep. Kevin Hern (R., Okla.), the number four House Republican, said that “the Biden administration lost the trust and goodwill of the American people — badly. The best and most impactful thing it could do for this country is sit on its hands for the next 11 days. The American taxpayer is paying $814 for each return filed through the direct file program — there are plenty of free and easy-to-use services available in the private sector that render direct file redundant.”

Banning cigarettes and empowering bad actors: the Biden administration's parting gift to the cartels

by Matthew Foldi

The Biden administration’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is attempting to pass a rule that would essentially ban cigarettes, the Washington Reporter has learned. This comes on the heels of polling showing that President Donald Trump’s support among a critical voting group, nicotine users, skyrocketed in 2024.

Scoop: “We no longer have a diagnostic tool to test it and the manufacturer has gone bankrupt”: Biden administration’s favorite electric buses are being sold for $5,000 to the public

by Matthew Foldi

Proterra, the electric battery bus company promoted by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and other senior Democratic officials, is seeing some of its final products sold for pennies on the dollar at an online auction.

Two electric buses made by Proterra, which filed for bankruptcy in 2023, are set for auction with starting bids of $5,000 and $5,250, respectively. But the auction listings for both, on GovDeals.com, don’t even promise working buses. The cheaper bus doesn’t turn on (“exact problem unknown,” per the listing), is “out of service due to unknown issue,” and has a mileage discrepancy of over 30,000 miles between the odometer and the recorded miles.

“We no longer have a diagnostic tool to test it and the manufacturer has gone bankrupt,” the listing adds. The vehicle also doesn’t move in forward or in reverse, and it is “unknown” if its air conditioning works at all.

Scoop: Fact Checking Elizabeth Warren's attacks on Pete Hegseth: "Does a former Harvard Law Professor not understand the First Amendment?"

by Matthew Foldi

A letter Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) wrote to dissuade members from supporting Pete Hegseth is having the opposite effect, multiple sources have told the Washington Reporter.

In the letter, Warren attacked Hegseth for his stated desire to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from the military, to hold the military and civilian leaders responsible for the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle accountable, and more. Most of Warren’s criticisms have emboldened Hegseth’s supporters.

One of Warren’s criticisms is that Hegseth has a “Deus Vult” tattoo, which led to his removal “from President Biden’s inauguration because of concerns that you were an insider threat,” she wrote. The Latin translates to “God wills it.”

WATCH: “She’s got my support, 110 percent”: Sen. Tommy Tuberville backs Tulsi Gabbard for DNI, urges speedy confirmation

by Matthew Foldi

One of the leading Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee supports Tulsi Gabbard “110 percent” in her bid to take over as President Donald Trump’s Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R., Ala.) praised Gabbard, a longtime Army reservist, after the two met this week.

Momentum is growing for Gabbard’s confirmation as DNI. The Washington Reporter first reported that both the family of an American hostage murdered by ISIS terrorists, and a former hostage held by al Qaeda, backed her for DNI.

“She’s got my support 110 percent,” Tuberville said.

Op-Ed: Rep. Stephanie Bice: As CIA Director, John Ratcliffe will ensure our nation is safe

by Rep. Stephanie Bice

Over the course of the Biden administration, numerous government agencies were weaponized or forced to uphold policies that are at odds with their core responsibilities. John Ratcliffe, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) would quickly reorient the agency back to its mission focus, protecting our country. It is imperative that the Senate quickly confirm President Trump’s cabinet, especially the individuals who oversee the safety and security of our country.

While I did not serve with John in the House, I have always respected and admired his work not only on the Homeland Security Committee, but also on the Judiciary and House Intelligence Committees. Ratcliffe, as Director of National Intelligence (DNI), helped counter and eliminate national security threats across the globe. In addition to working to combat radical terrorism, John accurately identified and took steps to counter one of America’s greatest threats, China.

It is no secret that China, utilizing its Belt and Road initiative, is attempting to expand its influence throughout the world, including in our backyard in South America. However, it goes further than that. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to engage in acts of espionage including the hacking of critical telecommunications infrastructure at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, AT&T, Verizon, and others. America must stand firm against these attacks and send a message to China that this will not continue.

Op-Ed: Attorney General Dave Yost: President Joe Biden's commutations are not about justice

by Attorney General Dave Yost

President Joe Biden thundered about the demands of his conscience as he commuted 37 death sentences on Death Row. "I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level," he said. "In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted."

Here's a problem: there are 40 people on the Federal Death Row, which is more than 37. So he's against the death penalty, we must end it — except for those three guys.

As the Attorney General of Ohio, and a former prosecutor who put a man on our State's Death Row 21 years ago, I support the ultimate penalty for the worst of the worst offenders. But I can understand and respect the arguments on the other side, particularly from my Christian brothers and sisters.

But at least they have coherence in their thinking. President Biden does not.

Op-Ed: Mayor Larry Hushour: Why this veteran supports Pete Hegseth's confirmation

by Mayor Larry Hushour

On November 5, the nation spoke very loudly and without reserve, and that voice resounded in an affirmation of altering course from four years of incompetence at the highest levels of government including the questionable decisions and performance of numerous cabinet members.

On November 5, Donald J. Trump received more than a presidential position. He received a vote of confidence. When I heard he’d selected Pete Hegseth to serve as Secretary of Defense, I scratched my head momentarily as this pick was definitely “out of the box.” But it didn’t take long to do some research and realize how bold this choice is and the opportunities that could be garnered by having a “boots-on-the-ground,” relatively young, combat war veteran leading our Department of Defense.

Op-Ed: Rep. Marc Molinaro and David Catalfamo: What DOGE's Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy can learn from Harry S. Truman

by Rep. Marc Molinaro and David Catalfamo

When Harry Truman famously declared, “the buck stops here,” he couldn’t have envisioned a future where those bucks would be tracked in real time via social media. Yet, 80 years later, the principles of accountability and oversight have taken on a technological twist. With President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the fusion of modern technology with government accountability could herald a transformative new era.

This ambitious initiative should draw inspiration from one of the most impactful oversight initiatives in American history: the Truman Committee of 1941.

Op-Ed: Matt Keelen: Why Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the right choice for Labor Secretary to deliver on President Donald Trump’s vision for the working class

by Matt Keelen

Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the perfect choice for Labor Secretary under President Donald Trump. She brings a unique and powerful combination of experience, relationships, and principles that make her ready to fight for America’s workers while driving economic growth. Lori has strong ties to the unions that power our nation’s workforce, and those relationships mean she understands how to collaborate with both workers and businesses to ensure prosperity for all.

Her resume speaks for itself. Lori is not just a politician — she’s a business owner and an entrepreneur. She and her husband founded an anesthesia management company, and they went on to open several successful medical clinics in the Pacific Northwest. Lori understands firsthand the challenges of running a business, creating jobs, and balancing budgets. That experience makes her uniquely equipped to bridge the gap between labor and management to deliver policies that benefit American workers and employers alike.

Op-Ed: B. Douglas Hoey: Rep. Brett Guthrie and the Energy and Commerce Committee have a chance to push PBM reform over the finish line

by B. Douglas Hoey

The effort to reform pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the divisions of big health insurance companies that decide which drugs consumers’ health plans will cover, stalled at the end of last year as Congress scrambled to fund the government. While it was a terrible disappointment for the country’s community pharmacies that are being forced to close, it was competition and consumer pocketbooks that were collateral damage.

The good news for taxpayers is that Rep. Brett Guthrie (R., Ky.) was elected to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over the country’s health care system. Last October, when members on both sides were trying to include PBM reform in a year-end package, Guthrie said, “if I get to be chair of this committee, we will continue down the path to PBM reform. This is just a bite at the apple.”

Guthrie has a long history of supporting lower prescription drug prices. He’s learned a lot from visiting local community pharmacies and talking with the owners about the challenges they face because of PBMs and their Big Insurance masters.

What we’re reading

• Wall Street Journal: Benjamin Netanyahu: The Inside Story of Israel’s Victory, by Elliot Kaufman.

• Daily Wire: Woke Medical Association Scrubs DEI Info From Website After Brutal Report, by Leif Le Mahieu.

• RealClearEnergy: Chris Wright Poised to Restore U.S. Energy Dominance at DOE, by Cory Gardner.

• Wall Street Journal: How the White House Functioned With a Diminished Biden in Charge, by Annie Linskey.

• Free Press: A Mom Asked for Public School Board Records. They Charged Her $33 Million, by Josh Code.

• National Review: Texas-led Antitrust Lawsuit Poses a Major Threat to the Future of ESG, by Carrie Campbell Severino.

• Independent Women’s Forum: New DOE Study Misinforms Public About LNG Exports, by Gabriella Hoffman.

• Wall Street Journal: Dartmouth’s Bottom-Up Approach to Institutional Neutrality, by Sian Beilock.