@SpeakerJohnson Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris: "I haven't had a chance to talk to Mr. Ogles."
He added that we have gone too far away from September 11th, we've forgotten (radical Islam as a danger).
Jan 7 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
BREAKING: The Trump administration plans to put money raised from seizure of Venezuelan oil into bank accounts *outside* the U.S. Treasury -- they told lawmakers today per multiple sources familiar.
Sources said they understood these as similar or decidedly "off-shore" accounts.
Asking the WH for clarification.
.@nickschifrin and I have now confirmed this with people from both parties and working in both chambers of Congress.
Jul 3, 2025 • 20 tweets • 2 min read
OK FOLKS, thread on this key House Rules vote HERE.
GOP No's so far:
- Self
- Spartz
Jun 28, 2025 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
FOLKS. Senate committees are releasing updated OBBBA text piece by piece ... here is Judiciary.
BREAKING: MN Gov. Tim Walz confirms state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in what he said appears to be politcally motivated assassination.
1/
Officials confirm Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and have not finished surgery. They are optimistic, but both are in difficult situations.
Jun 4, 2025 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
Rescissions - proposed immediate cuts.
Finally have a chance to look through the Trump proposal. Here's what's in it.
Overall: $9.4 billion in approved spending that Trump wants clawed back, or rescinded.
Foreign aid: $8.3 billion
Public broadcasting: $1.1 billion
Foreign aid highlights. Trump would like to cut:
- $203 million from U.S. contribs to UN, World Health Org and other intl orgs.
- $361 million from intl peacekeeping activities
- $900 million from global health, incl. HIV/AIDs treatment
- $1.7 billion from econ. support fund
May 29, 2025 • 14 tweets • 3 min read
New federal rules:
A thread on new directives for federal workers and hiring from OPM ... as Musk exits and the Trump administration enters next phase for federal workforce.
I'll write this as I read...
NEW today. The Trump administration posted its final federal hiring plan.
It is a 30 page memo.
Title: Merit Hiring Plan
To: Agency + department heads and acting heads
NEW. Statement from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which is a @NewsHour funder) on Lawsuit to Block Firing of CPB Board Members:
“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is not a government entity, and its board members are not government officers. …
… Because CPB is not a federal agency subject to the President’s authority, but rather a private corporation, we have filed a lawsuit to block these firings.“
2/
Apr 5, 2025 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
BREAKING here - U.S. team in quake zone told they are fired, per source.
The 3-person disaster assessment team sent to Myanmar for the U.S. received termination notices while staying/sleeping outside — US AID workers were told on an all hands call today, per a source familiar.
I am told these are PSC’s - personal service contractors.
They are still on the ground in Myanmar now. I do not know the date their termination takes effect. But they have been told they are being fired.
I have asked the State Dept for comment.
Feb 23, 2025 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
NEW:
- some 2000 perm. federal workers in US to be laid off - RIF’d - at USAID
- nearly all USAID workers to be placed on administrative leave starting midnight.
- this, per email sent to agency workers in past hour or so shared with me from mult. sources.
1/
USAID shuttering - real time:
- All USAID direct hires to be put on leave tonight, with exceptions of an unknown # designated as necessary for "mission-critical functions"
- Not clear what functions that includes.
- Those RIF'd are to receive notice today, per the email.
2/
Feb 4, 2025 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
NEWS: Funding is shut off for some Head Start programs is Washington State and potentially elsewhere.
Joel Ryan with Washington State Head Start told me "programs are not getting the money. It feels like a rolling blackout".
Ryan said things at one point got better for Head Start following last week's chaotic funding/grant freeze.
But now it has again gotten worse.
"A lot of programs are getting error messages or sorry messages," when trying to access their funding/accounts, he said.
Feb 3, 2025 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
USAID, where things stand.
Sec. of State Rubio has been appointed acting Director of USAID.
This as more workers are reporting to me and @AliRogin they are being shut out of systems or are aware of more groups being shut down/closed off.
Feb 1, 2025 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
Good morning all.
I've been spending days reporting on what is happening within the federal workforce, and will spend the weekend on it.
There is a lot to say.
But I want to start with a few posts about USAID.
Per sources experiencing this, hundreds of contractors have been laid off this week.
Estimates range from 700 to 1000. So far.
We do not know b/c there has been no public notice. This has been done quickly and in the dark.
This is unprecedented, I am told.
Jan 3, 2025 • 13 tweets • 2 min read
HAPPY NEW CONGRESS.
Here's what we know.
Right now, @SpeakerJohnson does not have the votes to secure the speakership, per my reporting. (Others here too echoing that.)
There are 12-18 undecided or wobbly Republicans.
Talks have made some progress, but the votes aren't there yet.
2/
Oct 4, 2024 • 18 tweets • 14 min read
Folks. One of the voters I've been talking with for months lives in a hard-hit area of NC and sent me a great list of how to help the area.
Thread...
Autumn told me that while the Red Cross is wonderful, she wants to raise local mutual aid organizations that are on the ground there too.
So here is the list she sent of possible places if you want to help that area.
2/
Apr 17, 2024 • 13 tweets • 2 min read
What is happening now? Leader Schumer raised a point of order that the impeachment articles themselves are unconstitutional - that they do not rise "high crimes or misdemeanors".
Senate is voting on that. No debate is warranted for this point of order in impeachment court.
Staff and senators are now huddling, seemingly to discuss the procedural mechanics, maybe options here. Note that Leader McConnell's staff is huddling with conservatives as McConnell listens from just outside the circle.
Apr 17, 2024 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
NEWS here. @SpeakerJohnsontext to House members:
"the House Rules Committee will be posting soon today the text of three bills that will fund America’s national security interests and allies in Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and Ukraine, including a loan structure for aid..."
That is a main headline. Here is the full text sent by @speakerjohnson:
"After significant Member feedback and discussion, the House Rules Committee will be posting soon today the text of three bills that will fund America’s national security interests and allies ...
Apr 5, 2024 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
New and newsy letter now out from @SenSchumer. Many bottom lines:
- Baltimore: The WH sent over a authorization request this morning for the bridge and port. That will need bipartisan support to move.
1/
@SenSchumer - Ukraine aid: Waiting on Speaker Johnson. "Speaker Johnson has to ultimately decide for himself whether or not he will do the right thing for Ukraine ... if he’ll allow the extreme MAGA wing of his party to hand Vladimir Putin a victory"
- Israel: Is NOT mentioned.
2/
Mar 1, 2024 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
NEW: House has released another 5,000 hours of footage from J6. The prev. release was what Tucker Carlson got plus some cameras far from central areas.
Not sure yet what is in here - looking. And you can too! Reply with anything interesting.
rumble.com/c/CHASubcommit…
Here is footage of a moment rioters broke through, on the East Front on J6. (The side we have seen less footage from.)
These were the folks I saw violently breaking through the giant brass doors of the Capitol.
This is dense. Still going through it. Many detailed questions and answers.
But as I compile/sort out if anything is new here on Hunter, there are a number of exchanges about Hunter Biden's addiction that stand out.
Rep. Gaetz: Were you on drugs when you served on the Burisma board?
Hunter Biden: Mr Gaetz, look me in the eye. You think that's appropriate to ask me?
Gaetz: Absolutely.
Hunter Biden: Of all the people sitting around the table, you think that is appropriate to ask me?
Dec 5, 2023 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
OK. I have a lot of reporting on the - what is the right word? - unusual, explosive briefing that just happened in the U.S. Senate on Ukraine and border.
1/
First, the room, briefing. TOP officials. Some of the most important military and diplomatic personnel in the world
Sec of State, Antony Blinken
Secof Defense, Lloyd Austin
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General C.Q. Brown
USAID Deputy Administrator, Isobel Coleman
