Benjamin S. Weiss

There has always been a strong Indian-American contingent of Republican voters in Texas. But Republicans are becoming so damn racist that it might cost them Indian-American votes. Good @benjaminweiss.bsky.social piece. www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-in...

NEWS: At tonight’s Michigan Senate debate, Mike Rogers rolled out the oldest trick in the book against Abdul El-Sayed — bringing his mom into the argument. But the Democrat was largely unfazed by those attacks. More from the debate ⤵️ www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-r...

New: Democrats are torn over how ambitious the party can afford to be as it looks at its best political environment in two decades. "At what point do you play for a wave versus just playing for a majority?," asks one leading party strategist. www.huffpost.com/entry/democr...

👀 NEW: The attorney representing Jane Doe in the Cornell 7 case told me today right-wing attacks against her were "tragic." "As usual, any efforts at a unifying positivity are being drowned out by the misogynistic noise of a minority of unhappy cranks." More ⤵️ www.huffpost.com/entry/right-...

✈️ As top Trump officials publicly toy with killing the H-1B visa program, one vulnerable Senate Republican is still backing those "legal immigration pathways" for skilled foreign workers. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) went to bat for H-1Bs at an event in June. More ⤵️ www.huffpost.com/entry/vulner...

NEWS: I spent the weekend on the campaign trail with Abdul El-Sayed, where I saw firsthand the confidence of a campaign that's managed to secure the support of national Democrats. But some MI Dems are still worried about his support among key demographics. More ⤵️ www.huffpost.com/entry/fight-...

NEWS: I spoke w/ the director of a food bank in Livingston, MT, across the street from where the Daily Wire is filming a pro-ICE movie dramatizing the Renee Good killing. She told me set closures & security have blocked people from getting crucial food aid. More ⤵️ www.huffpost.com/entry/ben-sh...

Good morning from Flint, Mich., where @abdulelsayed.bsky.social is holding the latest in a series of town halls as he makes his closing argument ahead of the midterms. Sen. Elissa Slotkin joining him in Macomb Co. later today. I’m covering both for @huffpost.com so follow along.

👀 SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A CHANCE: Republicans leaving town to campaign this week told me & @jbendery.bsky.social they were optimistic about their chances at keeping the Senate in Nov - and were looking forward to seeing Trump on the trail. More on @huffpost.com ⤵️ www.huffpost.com/entry/republ...

On the one hand, Trump's approval ratings are at an all-time low, voters everywhere are furious about high costs + Dems have the edge in key battleground races. On the other hand: “I think we hold the majority of both chambers,” said Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio). www.huffpost.com/entry/republ...

✈️ H-1BEGONE: VP Vance told right-wing commentator Jack Posobiec in an Air Force Two interview he'd love to see the H-1B visa program eliminated completely, putting the 2028 hopeful firmly on one side of a contentious debate within the right. More on @huffpost.com ⤵️ www.huffpost.com/entry/vance-...

Back posting again on Bluesky because I’m in my first week covering the conservative movement for @huffpost.com. Already done a fair bit of reporting so drop me a follow as I keep unpacking the modern right! www.huffpost.com/author/benja...

While we wait for SCOTUS opinions, get caught up on what's happened in the year since the Trump admin allowed Park Police to engage in high-speed chases In DC alone the policy led to dozens of extended pursuits. via @benjaminweiss.bsky.social courthousenews.com/another-high...

🚽NEWS YOU CAN USE: I sat down with "Drain the Swamp Toilets," the congressional staffer whose self-described "obsession" with well-appointed bathrooms has led her on a quest to find the best (and worst) lavatories on Capitol Hill. More @courthousenews.bsky.social: courthousenews.com/political-po...

My report from this week on ICE smart glasses & congressional response below:

A $7.5 million funding request from DHS to develop high-tech “smart glasses” for immigration agents landed with a thud on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/dhs-startles...

The House Ethics Committee on Monday published a complete list of members of Congress it has investigated for sexual misconduct and defended its process for addressing — and publicizing — reports of such behavior. @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/house-ethics...

The celebrity news organization unveiled its new Capitol Hill team this week to much online fanfare — but aides to members of Congress say they have mixed feelings about TMZ’s entry into the Washington political media landscape. @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/tmz-in-dc-ho...

Though Pam Bondi was supposed to appear for a closed-door meeting with lawmakers, the Justice Department argues a congressional subpoena does not bind her because she is no longer attorney general. @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/democrats-bl...

NEW: Dems and Rs on the House Oversight Committee sparred Tuesday after fmr AG Pam Bondi failed to appear for an Epstein files deposition set by a March subpoena. Dems threatening to hold Bondi in contempt, but DOJ says she is no longer bound by subpoena. www.courthousenews.com/democrats-bl...

#BREAKING: Swalwell to resign from Congress amid sex abuse scandal @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/swalwell-to-...

‘I thought it was me as a doctor:’ Trump downplays controversial post depicting himself as Jesus Christ @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/i-thought-it...

New: Facing intense backlash from his own supporters over a social media post depicting himself as Jesus Christ, President Donald Trump told reporters Monday he thought the highly controversial image merely showed him “as a doctor.” More: www.courthousenews.com/i-thought-it...

Trump vs the Pope 🧐 on Truth Social. The president writes that the first American Pope is “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.” “I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States,” said Trump.

NEW: Trump has nominated Matthew Schwartz, who worked on the president’s legal team appealing his criminal conviction in the New York hush money case, to fill a key appellate judicial vacancy on the Second Circuit.

Senate GOP forging ahead with Homeland Security funding, leaving Democrats aside @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/senate-gop-f...

The Justice Department has informed the House Oversight Committee that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not comply with a congressional subpoena to appear for an April 14 deposition on her handling of the Epstein files. More: @courthousenews.bsky.social: courthousenews.com/articles/bon...

Lawmakers balk at Trump threat against ‘whole civilization’ in Iran war @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/lawmakers-ba...

New: As Trump threatened “a whole civilization” in Iran war, members of Congress — out of Washington for another week — could do little more than chime in on the president’s rhetoric online and on television. No sign yet of pols returning to DC this week. www.courthousenews.com/lawmakers-ba...

Trump on Truth Social as his Iran negotiation timeline set to expire: “A whole civilization will die tonight.”

New: SCOTUS confirms report that Justice Samuel Alito was treated for symptoms of dehydration after feeling ill at a FedSoc event in PA last month. He returned home as scheduled & came to work the following Monday, per spox. More: www.courthousenews.com/alito-suffer...