@Columbiajourn
Master of Arts, Politics student •
@Newsweek
Special Correspondent • 2024
@NatPress
Paul Miller Fellow • DM with tips or restaurant suggestions😁
PERSONAL NEWS: I’ve moved from Washington, D.C. to New York City to begin
@columbiajourn
’s Master of Arts, Politics program.
I will be staying on with
@Newsweek
as a Special Correspondent. Thank you to everyone who made my time in the nation’s capital a worthwhile experience!
Former GOP Attorney for Maricopa County Rick Romley spoke today in support of
@CaptMarkKelly
.
“Masters has never served his county—not a day in his life,” Romley said.
BREAKING: The Pentagon announced it will pay for the travel of servicemembers seeking abortions.
In addition, other new guidelines focus on preserving privacy, protecting health care providers, ensuring access, and improving awareness of resources.
With U.S. officials signaling Kyiv to be on the brink of collapse, Russia could soon install a puppet government.
When it does, Viktor Medvedchuk, whose daughter calls Putin "godfather," could be poised to take charge. My latest:
"This policy looks to be in outright defiance of (America's) environmental goals," Rep
@GerryConnolly
told me. "I do not understand why we are allowing a Trump-selected, unqualified candidate to continue being Postmaster General"
NEW from
@jalensmall3
& I
I asked
@CaptMarkKelly
about this video:
“As a young pilot in the United States Navy, I looked up to John McCain, and I continue to today,” he said. “The divisiveness we see from folks like my opponent Blake Masters and Kari Lake … That is a problem.”
“We don’t have any McCain Republicans here do we? Well, get the the hell out!” - Kari Lake before she called McCain a loser and white nationalist Wendy Rogers a hero.
Many moderate Democrats are standing and applauding as
@netanyahu
thanks former President Donald Trump for the Abraham Accords in his address to Congress.
BREAKING: GOP Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio fails to clinch the speakership after 20 Republicans refused to offer their support
My coverage of the vote for
@Newsweek
:
NEW for
@Newsweek
: Democrats believe they're winning the border war.
Senators tell me the dynamics have changed since Republicans blocked the bipartisan border deal, with Biden's SOTU comments serving as a testament.
Reaction to McCarthy’s ousting from
@SenatorRomney
: “One thing it shows us is that President Trump abandoned Kevin McCarthy. He didn’t come to his support. Had he come down hard, I presume Congressman Gaetz and others would have would have followed suit.”
"With all due respect Madame Secretary, that's utter nonsense,"
@HawleyMO
said in response to Secretary Granholm pinning gas prices on Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
My
@Newsweek
article recapping their debate over the causes of rising gas prices:
The Dow dropped 500 points in wake of the potential collapse of China's second largest property developer Evergrande. Experts remain split on whether Beijing will bail the company out.
Democratic Leader
@hakeemjeffries
spoke-out after Rep. Jim Jordan’s failed Speaker vote, calling on “traditional Republicans” to find a bipartisan solution:
“There are a whole host of other Republicans who are respected on our side of the aisle — Jim Jordan is not one of them.”
I don't tweet about it much, but along with covering Congress, I also cover my employer
@Newsweek
and the entities around it.
A new investigation with
@NaveedAJamali
looks at the violations and probes surrounding the Christian school tied to NW ownership.
"I don't know why I should really care what [Senate Republicans] think about all this when we've got a job here in the House to do with the majority to try to get somewhere,"
@RepChipRoy
told me.
NEW story today for
@newsweek
on GOP divisions over raising the debt ceiling. While Senate Republicans emphasize the need to act, members in the House say they won't "blink" on the issue till Biden does.
Another thing to note about the newly independent
@SenatorSinema
is that she votes in line with President Biden 93% of the time.
There are 5 Senators on the Democratic side who vote in line with the president less often.
The three commanders who sat before the Senate Committee on Armed Services made clear Biden wanted out of Afghanistan. When it came to executing this plan, optimism around the Afghan government's ability to sustain itself came in the way.
Arizona’s two senators took it to Republicans today, accusing them of prioritizing politics after the GOP killed a bipartisan border security deal.
"Yesterday and today are, after January 6, the two worst days I've seen here,”
@SenMarkKelly
told me.
As some 7,000 U.S. citizens have signed up to join Ukraine's foreign fighter unit, the Marine Crops issues a new order barring their members from traveling to the country.
My latest for
@Newsweek
with
@ShaolinTom
&
@NaveedAJamali
:
In 2020, former President Trump issued an executive order that would have made it easier to fire some 50,000 federal employees.
I spoke with Rep.
@GerryConnolly
about his bill to bar such an effort which is set to receive a vote this week.
NEW w/
@NaveedAJamali
: California's U.S. Attorney's Office is investigating a criminal case against Olivet University and could file charges "soon."
Olivet — an evangelical school — faces human trafficking allegations levied by former students.
As President Biden negotiates with Speaker McCarthy on a deal to raise the debt ceiling and lower the national debt, senators on the left, including
@BernieSanders
, tell me that deal should include tax hikes on the rich.
My latest for
@Newsweek
:
Money originally designated for the Trump Wall will now go toward environmental cleanup as well as fixing nonfunctioning gates and small patches in the current wall.
NEW for
@Newsweek
:
NEW:
@SenWarren
tells me Biden's New Hampshire write-in victory shows Democrats are energized around their presumptive 2024 candidate.
"It's pretty remarkable, just from a logistical point of view, what a good night Joe Biden had," Warren said.
Republicans threw in the towel today on Cobgressman Jim Jordan’s speakership today, voting 112-86 to end his candidacy.
"I think it's a high point," Rep.
@MikeKellyPA
told me.
Trump's campaign paid $4.3 million to organizers of the Jan. 6 rallies that proceeded the Insurrection. The campaign's full involvement in the planning process may never be known.
Sharing findings gathered by
@OpenSecretsDC
in my article for
@Newsweek
:
Not only did Trump lie about his finances, but by taking out a foreign-backed loan, he may have violated a Constitutional provision.
NEW for
@Newsweek
:
After Mormon leaders urged churchgoers to get vaccinated last month, vaccination rates jumped in the state of Utah—that lasted one week.
As the current rate continues to fall, some are pointing toward those in the church who perpetuate conspiracies.
ICYMI: I profiled young, conservative intellectual leaders who are pushing the Republican Party away from its hawkish stance on world affairs to focus squarely on countering China.
In this week’s print edition of
@Newsweek
, meet “The Prioritzers.”
BREAKING: The Inflation Reduction Act passes the House, sending the largest climate spending bill in U.S. history to Biden’s desk.
"It's time to usher in a new era of climate action—one that prioritizes our planet and our people,”
@RepRoKhanna
told me.
NEW: A whistleblower who alerted officials to the call that resulted in Trump's first impeachment retires from the Army today.
His supporters believe he deserves an honor that only Biden can deliver, yet so far the White House has declined to answer.
EXCLUSIVE: Democratic Senate candidate
@DebbieforFL
is launching a new Spanish language ad campaign that likens her GOP opponent, Senator Rick Scott, to a dictator.
NEW: I spoke with
@SenatorWicker
and
@RepDonBacon
about a top general's recent prediction that the U.S. could war with China by 2025
"I liked what he had to say," Bacon said. "I wish the guy on Pearl Harbor in 1941 would have said something like that."
ISIS has divided the Taliban before. If it convinces Taliban members on the fringe to carry out acts of terror, the group's international legitimacy could be put in further jeopardy.
My latest for
@Newsweek
:
NEW: Speaker Mike Johnson has opposed Ukraine aid in the past. Nonetheless, GOP Senators are putting up a united front on funding both Ukraine and Israel.
"I think if we put them together, we probably have a better opportunity,"
@SenThomTillis
told me.
NEW: Responding to this month’s decrease in Texas border crossings,
@RepTonyGonzales
told me Cartels could be working to sway the situation ahead of election season.
“I suspect, for the next couple of months, everything will be cleaned up a little bit.”
"We do see countries such as Russia and China building up their infrastructure in the north ... at a very advanced rate."
Reporting on NORAD's air drills in the arctic with
@NaveedAJamali
for
@Newsweek
:
NEW: I spoke to
@katieporteroc
about her campaign for the U.S. Senate and what she'd prioritize should she win.
The California lawmaker warned the cost of housing could be America's next crisis and said she'd focus on protecting U.S. consumers.
Recently elected
@RepPatRyanNY
won a tight NY race campaigning on abortion rights. He's recently acted on his commitments, introducing a bill to ensure access to abortion medication through telehealth providers.
I spoke with Ryan about that bill:
Despite increasing tensions with China and Russia, the United States relies heavily on both powers for the minerals it needs to produce its own weaponry.
I interviewed
@SenJoniErnst
about her work reaching across the political aisle to address this issue:
NEW:
@SenSanders
provided me his reaction to Republicans criticizing Biden's student loan forgiveness plan that's estimated to cost $400 billion over 30 years.
"Republicans felt just fine about massive tax breaks for the rich and large corporations."
Excited to share that after 9 months of working as a staff writer under Newsweek's breaking news unit, I am now joining its National Security & Foreign Policy team as a general assignment reporter.
DCers in the Nat Sec community—My DMs are open 😁
NEW: With the debt default date nearing, lawmakers are urging Biden to consider raising the limit himself under the 14 Amendment.
"My preference is bipartisan action, but I think it is a matter of existential economic survival,"
@SenBlumenthal
told me.
Raising taxes on the wealthy should be part of debt ceiling negotiations,
@SenSherrodBrown
told me.
“Republicans, they're always looking out to give rich people tax cuts—That's who they are.”
BREAKING: Comgressman Jim Jordan loses a second bid for Speaker in a 212-199-22 that saw even more Republican defections than yesterdays.
My coverage for
@Newsweek
:
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to strip funding from schools that required masking. Democrats are calling for a federal investigation into that effort.
"We're pushing back to ensure that he doesn't get away with it,"
@RepDarrenSoto
told me.
NEW: While the nation has been busy debating government vaccine passports, private companies have rolled out ones of their own.
And these passes can share your COVID-19 data.
My latest for
@Newsweek
in collaboration with
@palomagreenn
:
I asked
@SenSanders
about debt limit negotiations:
“Before you cut programs for the elderly, the children, and the poor, you've got to ask the wealthiest people … to start paying their fair share of taxes,” he said. “If revenue is off of the table, that is totally absurd.”
For Vice President
@KamalaHarris
, winning the 2024 election is not only about uniting Democrats at this week’s convention, but it’s also about uniting college- and non-college-educated voters.
My latest on politics of the “diploma divide” for
@Newsweek
:
NEW:
@RepCicilline
condemns
@GOPLeader
McCarthy's suggestion that the FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago was motivated by politics.
"The search was overseen by an FBI director that was appointed by former President Trump," Cicilline told
@Newsweek
.
If Ukraine falls, Russia will aim to dismantle its democratic values and freedoms, placing the country's LGBTQ+ population at severe risk.
I spoke with Congressman
@davidcicilline
about the threats they face and what the U.S. must do to help:
NEW: The Pentagon announced an additional $1.1 billion in security assistance for Ukraine. Funds will go toward rocket systems, armored vehicles, radars, and more.
NEW:
@SenWarren
discusses with me her view on U.S. national security and priorities heading into 2023, stressing that a secure America is one that aims for a higher moral authority.
Read online and in this week's print edition of
@Newsweek
magazine:
Me: Hi
90% of college kids: Omg I was in the library till 4 AM LAST NIGHT!!!! AHHHH, I have so much homework!! I'm so busy! Acknowledge how busy I am!!!!!
Rep. Lauren Underwood has won re-election in Illinois’ 14th district. Check out my piece for
@TheProspect
on how the issue of health care kept this historically Republican district Blue.
Speaking to reporters following today’s meeting between senators and the Biden campaign,
@BernieSanders
says, “Biden will win, and he may win pretty big.”
Six protestors have disrupted the Senate Appropriations hearing on President Biden’s national security aid request for Ukraine and Israel.
More appear poised to follow, screaming for a ceasefire in Gaza.
This family of 13 lost their home after a vicious tropical storm in the eastern of the Congo. With one dollar equivalent to 1,970 Congolese Francs, a small donation would go a long way. Please retweet!
#BlackLivesMatter
Over the Trump administration's four-year rule, it made hundreds of changes to immigration forms. Application processing now takes six-times longer than it did in 2015, and the number of pending cases has grown by 85 percent.
NEW for
@Newsweek
:
News agencies reported that President Biden delayed the evacuation of Afghan refugees due to political concerns.
"This is not true," a senior administration official told me. NEW for
@Newsweek
:
Today marks the third week of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. 19 years ago, Bush launched his own invasion on Iraq—The U.S. won in three weeks.
Comparing and contrasting the two wars for
@Newsweek
:
This morning
@TheOtherMandela
held a farm rally in Glenwood City, WI.
“We won’t win this race based on how bad Ron Johnson is,” he told attendees. “This has to be about our values and our vision.”
[THREAD]: California’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against Amazon alleging the company violates state antitrust laws by penalizing vendors that offer lower prices on other platforms.
I asked CA's two U.S. Senators about their thoughts on the suit (1/3)
This member of congress spent over $100,000 on luxury hotels and resorts in a year, according to a government watchdog.
Read about other luxurious purchases he made with PAC donations in my latest for
@Newsweek
:
NEW: The recent flurry of high-profile Republican retirements has some political observers wondering whether this trend is a silent admission that the GOP will lose its majority come 2024.
"It is like a canary in the coal mine," one expert told me.
For much of the year, the border has served as an object of political division.
@RepTonyGonzales
and
@RepGonzalez
are looking to change that by unifying Congress around border security tech.
My latest for
@Newsweek
:
As the migration surge continues, Border Patrol has relied on local police to keep things under control. But even with this help, the job remains a tough task.
@RepTonyGonzales
told me the answer lies in boosting funding for new hires and technology.
With 50 votes secured, Democrats can now move forward on the Inflation Reduction Act, allowing them to pass the largest climate investments in U.S. history.
I spoke to senators on both sides of the aisle about what this means for the energy economy.
During today's congressional hearings with Big Oil, American companies Chevron and Exxon refused to follow their European counterparts BP and Shell in committing to curb petroleum production.
Breaking down the Big Oil divide for
@Newsweek
:
NEW: Despite facing chatter that House Republicans would empower a temporary Speaker and two lost votes, Jim Jordan pressed on today with his unlikely bid to attain the gavel.
"If you look at his wrestling record, he doesn't lose,"
@MikeKellyPA
told me.
Spent this morning with
@CaptMarkKelly
who rallied canvassers ahead of pre-Election Day door knocking.
“We got about 34 hours to go in this endeavor, and if we continue to work hard, I’m very confident we’ll be successful,” Kelly said.
INBOX: The Pentagon has approved and additional $400 million worth of assistance for Ukraine.
Some top line funding items include, air defense systems, artillery rounds, and grenade launchers.
During today's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing
@SenBlumenthal
urged the Biden Administration to address the nation's dwindling Javelin missile supply by enacting Defense Production Act.
Breaking down this request in my latest for
@Newsweek
:
INBOX:
@SenAlexPadilla
and
@RepDeborahRoss
introduced a bill providing green card opportunities to Dreamers—individuals brought to the U.S. illegally as young children.
“It’s about righting a moral wrong that’s a byproduct of our outdated immigration system,” Padilla says.
As Speaker Johnson pushes an Israel-only aid bill, Republicans face growing pressure to oppose Ukraine aid. Most aren’t backing down:
"The great majority of senators and members of the House support funding for Ukraine and Israel,"
@SenatorRomney
told me.