November 7, 2024
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Your friends at the Washington Reporter
In this edition
A strong national defense is essential to protecting our American way of life.
Veterans On Duty continues the fight back at home, advocating for military and national security policies that will keep America safe, strong, and free. |
In our latest edition, we have an interview with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, campaign moves of Sen. John Thune and Rep. Burgess Owens, op-eds from Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Richard Hudson, and much more!
| [1] | Interview: “I was like those Kenyan warriors coated in peanut butter who charged the machine guns”: Prime Minister Boris Johnson on bicycles, books, Brexit, and Black Mirror
By: Matthew Foldi
Boris Johnson, a self-described “militant cyclist” and “technological optimist” had no plans to serve as Prime Minister, or to steer the United Kingdom through riots, the Olympics, and a pandemic.
Between his trademark hairstyle and his unique ability to harness the UK’s populist energy, Johnson is in many ways the Donald Trump of the UK: a well-known media figure who successfully parlayed a long career in journalism into the mayoralty of London during the 2012 Olympics and ultimately into the highest level of British politics.
In contrast with other Tory politicians, like Michael Heseltine — who famously sketched out his life’s ambitions on an envelope — Johnson has benefitted from a next man up mentality. “There were a couple of times when the Tory Party was really stuck, it was stuck for a mayoral candidate, and it was stuck on how to do Brexit, and in desperation, they turned to me,” he said during an extensive interview about his career and his latest book, Unleashed, which he described as leaping from his frame “like Athena from the head of Zeus, or like the alien from John Hurt’s movie.”
Despite the United Kingdom’s historic vote for Brexit, Johnson found that many people at home and abroad tried to stymie the will of the voters — but he persisted. “I just had this sense of superhuman invincibility, because I knew all the time, I was like those Kenyan warriors who coated in peanut butter and who charged the machine guns, because I just knew that we had the law on our side,” he said. “I knew that we were right. They had been defeated in the argument and they couldn't get over it.”
Click HERE to read more from our interview with Boris Johnson where we discuss his new book Unleashed, Brexit, China, and how much Black Mirror he’s watched.
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[2] |
Heard on the Hill
What we're hearing from people we trust on and around the Hill – please send us more tips!
- We told you so: Donald Trump’s record-breaking performance with Hispanic voters helped propel him to a historic second term. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R., Fla.) told us on Monday that “this election cycle we are seeing President Trump blow the doors off of the Hispanic vote.”
- Open borders op-ed: Sen. Ron Johnson made one of his final cases for Donald Trump in our pages this week, arguing that “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want an open border [and that] Donald Trump will fix it.”
- It’s still the economy, stupid: Rep. Richard Hudson published an op-ed with us, alongside ClearPath Action’s CEO, Jeremy Harrell, before the election about how “energy prices are on your ballot.” It looks like Americans read it.
- High energy: Industry sources are already floating some possible names to be the next Secretary of Energy: Dan Brouillette, who ran the department during the first Trump term, Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright, and Paul Dabbar, who served as the Under Secretary for Science during the first term.
- Dewey Defeats Truman 2.0: 2024 marked the death knell of the once-vaunted “Iowa Poll” by Ann Selzer, which infamously projected that Kamala Harris would win the Hawkeye State. Selzer’s poll also showed Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks losing by sixteen percent, only for her to win once again. Miller-Meeks posed for a photo with coverage of Selzer’s poll for her own “Dewey Defeats Truman” moment.
- Bullet dodged: A few weeks ago, we warned readers about a North Carolina Democrat so radical that she could decimate all of America’s tobacco supply chain. We are relieved to report that Sarah Taber was the worst performing Democrat statewide in the Tar Heel State, and that the incumbent Republican comfortably won reelection.
| | | [3] | Scoop: Inside “the best election night rager” in Washington, D.C.
By: Matthew Foldi
There was no better place in Washington, D.C. to watch this week’s election night festivities than the watch party hosted by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) and the Washington Reporter, sources on and off the Hill gushed to the Reporter.
Hundreds of people came to ATR’s headquarters, for the company, for the open bar, and for the seemingly endless amount of chicken sandwiches, pizza, and desserts.
“If there’s one word I would use to describe the atmosphere of the crowd of conservatives gathered, it would be joy,” Mike Palicz, ATR’s Director of Tax Policy, told the Reporter. “We had people from across the center-right movement there; everyone was celebrating because they knew what this victory meant. Just unified joy for conservatives.”
Brian Colas, the CEO of the Reporter, agreed. “Not only has Matthew Foldi established the Washington Reporter as the most influential center-right newsletter in D.C., this wunderkind patriot threw the best election night rager. God Bless Matthew Foldi and God Bless the voters,” he said.
Click HERE to read more about the election night party to end all election night parties — everyone on our email list was invited, so if you are upset you missed it you have only yourself to blame.
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[4] |
Sen. John Thune’s blockbuster 2024
By: Matthew Foldi
Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.) wants a promotion later this month, from serving as Senate minority whip to serving as the Senate GOP Leader — and he spent 2024 campaigning for the upcoming moment.
Thune raised over $33 million in hard dollars this cycle for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and for GOP Senate candidates — in one instance, Thune made a historic $4 million transfer to the NRSC, which went directly to GOP candidates.
Thune’s sizable totals are second only to those raised by NRSC chairman, Sen. Steve Daines (R., Mont.), a source familiar told the Washington Reporter. Daines is reportedly backing Thune in his GOP Leader bid. Both senators are from neighboring states and are avid outdoorsmen.
During the final month of the 2024 elections, Thune campaigned in eight states with candidates, including in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Montana, and Indiana. All four of those will be sending new Republican senators to Washington, D.C.
Earlier this year, Thune laid out his vision for serving as GOP Leader in an extensive interview with the Reporter. “If nothing else, just open this place up and let the talent shine,” he said.
Click HERE to share Sen. John Thune’s busy campaign activity.
| | | [5] | Senate Democrats mum on abolishing filibuster
By: Matthew Foldi
Top Democrats who called for the abolition of the filibuster have fallen silent following the 2024 election, in which Republicans claimed a larger-than-expected majority in the Senate.
Abolishing the filibuster, or calling for its “reform,” has become a popular rallying cry for Democratic politicians. Some, like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), make minimal effort to appear moderate. Others who oppose the filibuster, such as Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D., Wis.), closed out the election cycle by running ads touting their work with President Donald Trump.
The Reporter reached out to several top Senate Democrats, including Sanders and Baldwin, after Election Day, to see if their support for abolishing the filibuster remains. None, however, responded.
Click HERE to read more about how Senate Democrats are in a pickle over their previous opposition to the filibuster.
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A strong national defense is essential to protecting our American way of life.
Veterans On Duty continues the fight back at home, advocating for military and national security policies that will keep America safe, strong, and free. |
| [6] | Scoop: Burgess Owens backs over 40 House Republican candidates in 2024
By: Matthew Foldi
Rep. Burgess Owens (R., Utah) helped to elect more than 40 candidates this cycle via either in-person campaign events or donations, his campaign told the Washington Reporter.
Owens, who is running to chair the House’s Education and Workforce Committee, campaigned for incumbents, in potentially tough districts, such as Rep. Michelle Steel (R., Calif.), John James (R., Mich.), Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa), and Monica de la Cruz (R., Texas).
Owens also campaigned for successful GOP challengers, like Rob Bresnahan, who ousted Rep. Matt Cartwright (D., Penn.). Owens also donated tens of thousands of dollars to dozens of GOP candidates who were part of Speaker Mike Johnson’s Slate and Patriot Programs, including to returning Reps. Don Bacon (R., Neb.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.), and Tom Kean (R., N.J.), and to his future colleagues, like Tom Barrett, who flipped a House seat in Michigan.
The Reporter spoke last month with Owens about his vision for chairing the Education and Workforce Committee, and transforming it from a “pass through” committee to a standout one.
Click HERE to share this story about Rep. Burgess Owens’s flurry of campaign trail activity.
| | | | [7] | What we’re reading
The Spectator: Kamala concedes at Howard, by Matt McDonald.
National Review: Trump Campaign Takes the Victory Lap of the Century, by Audrey Fahlberg.
Washington Examiner: Koch-funded super PAC drops record sums in 2024 backing Republicans, by Gabe Kaminsky.
Jewish Insider: Howard Lutnick, the pro-Israel champion leading Trump’s transition team, by Matthew Kassel.
New York Post: Pittsburgh ‘Hamas operative’ allegedly bought explosives, vandalized Jewish buildings — and donated to Squad Democrats, by Ethan Dodd.
Washington Free Beacon: Even in Berkeley, Calif., Climate Measures Suffer Crushing Defeats, by Thomas Catenacci.
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We created the Washington Reporter to give Republicans in Congress an outlet for insights to help you succeed, and to cover the toughest policy fights that don't get the attention they deserve. We hope you'll send us tips, story ideas, and feedback–and please subscribe.
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