Republicans

The Washington Post reports: In January 2017, Tulsi Gabbard, then a Democrat representing Hawaii’s 2nd District in the House of Representatives, took a trip to Syria on a “fact-finding mission” that perhaps raised more questions than it answered. And, she divulged, she met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime is backed by Iran and Russia and stands accused of …

“There are rumors that have come up to the Hill of a secretive project within the Department of Defense involving the manipulation of human genetics with what is described as non-human genetic material for the enhancement of human capabilities, hybrids. “Are any of you familiar with that? Yes, or no?  Are there any accounts of UAPs emerging from or submerging …

The Hill reports: “I don’t think either she [Tulsi Gabbard] or Matt Gaetz ought to have a confirmation hearing until they have both had full field FBI investigations,” John Bolton told NewsNation anchor Blake Burman. “And then I think the Chinese would say, ‘Maybe they are serious.’” When Burman clarified, asking whether Bolton was calling for Gabbard to be investigated, …

“You’re finding all the swamp creatures coming out right now. Everybody’s got an opinion up here. But at the end of the day, President Trump was elected by an enormous vote, and he deserves a team around him that he wants. It’s not up to us to determine that. “We’ve got 53 votes in the Senate. We can confirm with …

Florida Politics reports: Florida’s Governor hasn’t always rushed to set up Special Elections, but on Thursday, he is saying two Congressional seats will be filled with all possible speed. The seats in question in Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts were held by Matt Gaetz, who will need Senate confirmation to become Attorney General, and Mike Waltz, who will advise …

The New York Times reports: The House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, was prepared to vote to release a highly critical report about Mr. Gaetz on Friday. Mr. Gaetz, a Florida Republican, abruptly resigned from his House seat late Wednesday, effectively ending the ethics investigation that …

Politico reports: GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz resigned from the House Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson announced, the same day that Donald Trump announced that he had tapped the Florida firebrand to be his attorney general. Republican senators have already expressed doubts that Gaetz could get confirmed to that powerful Cabinet spot, as the pick gets fierce pushback across the party. The …

Semafor reports: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul was detained by police at Dulles International Airport earlier this month in an incident that he described as “the result of a poor decision” to mix Ambien and alcohol. A McCaul spokesperson confirmed the recent incident, describing the congressman as “a nervous flyer” who took the popular sleep aid Ambien and …

NPR reports: Entering the Senate chamber during votes, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, reacted to the news that President-elect Trump will nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to be attorney general. “Obviously the president has the right to nominate whomever he wishes,” Collins said. “But this is why the Senate’s advise and consent process is so important.” “I’m sure that there will …

The Washington Examiner reports: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) won his party’s nomination for a second term as speaker, teeing him up for a vote early next year even as rumors swirled earlier this week that some GOP lawmakers might prop up a challenger to his bid. Despite those efforts, no lawmaker publicly challenged Johnson for the position, allowing him …

USA Today reports: Republicans have won both the House and the Senate, giving the GOP total control over Congress for at least the next two years and creating a friendly path for President-elect Donald Trump’s priorities. The GOP will have a majority in the 435-member House after defending enough key seats in New York, California and other swing districts that …

The Hill reports: Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has been elected Senate majority leader, setting the stage for him to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has held the top Senate GOP leadership job for the past 18 years. Thune has served as Senate Republican whip, the No. 2-ranking position in the Senate GOP leadership, since 2019, and largely managed …

NBC News reports: Senate Republicans will meet behind closed doors Wednesday to elect a new leader, capping a battle that has divided the party and pitted a candidate backed by vocal MAGA allies of President-elect Donald Trump against two long-serving senators with institutional knowledge and deep relationships in the body. The three-way race features Sens. John Thune of South Dakota, …

The Daily Beast reports: Republican senators, some of whom will have to vote for Hegseth for him to be confirmed, were surprised when asked about the news Tuesday. “Wow,” Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said, per NBC reporter Frank Thorp. “I’m just surprised because the names that I’ve heard for Secretary of Defense have not included him.” Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville reportedly …

Politico reports: House conservatives are planning to force an internal vote on Mike Johnson’s speakership during Wednesday’s leadership election instead of throwing in an alternate candidate, two people familiar with the discussions told POLITICO. Johnson’s critics in the House Freedom Caucus have been deliberating for days over how to push back against proposed internal rules changes and send a message …

Mediaite reports: Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) publicly called on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to nominate President-elect Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump as the replacement for Marco Rubio’s soon-to-be-vacant Florida Senate seat, Tuesday. After it was announced that Trump intended to pick Rubio to serve as secretary of State in the second Trump administration, speculation …

The Hill reports: Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde questioned the Wisconsin election results that reflect his loss to incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) in a Tuesday video posted on the social platform X. Hovde said he went from receiving “congratulations” calls to doubting a shocking loss after over 100,000 new absentee ballots were reported. Decision Desk HQ/The Hill declared Baldwin the …

Politico reports: House GOP leadership is urging  Trump to refrain from tapping any more Republican members for his administration — at least for now. Republicans have not officially clinched the House majority yet, though they’re expected to do so with a narrow margin, likely just a handful of seats more than Democrats. Meanwhile, Trump has already named two House Republicans, …

“At the end of the day, I’ll always believe that, by God’s grace, we did our duty [on January 6] to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. I don’t think the president should pardon anyone who assaulted a police officer at the United States Capitol on January 6. “Karen and I are literally praying that …

Axios reports: Incoming Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) was told he could not bring his bulldog “Babydog” onto the Senate floor on Tuesday during orientation, three sources in the room tell Axios. Babydog is a political celebrity, often accompanying Justice to events and famously taking the stage at the Republican National Convention. But she apparently won’t be at his side during …