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September 12th, 2025
The Washington Reporter mourns the assassination of the irreplaceable Charlie Kirk. He was a giant in the movement, he made America a better place, and he will be dearly missed.
We are committed to covering the investigations of the groups and institutions that fueled the radicalization of Kirk’s assassin, part of an alarming pattern of left-wing violence.
- Washington Reporter Leadership
Let’s dive in.
INTERVIEW: Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer on her 50 state tour, how to grow the "American pie," and the GOP's evolving relationship with labor unions
INTERVIEW: Rep. Mark Harris on why he wants a long term continuing resolution, the North Carolina Senate race, and why Israel needs to destroy Hamas
Heard on the Hill
EDITORIAL: Secretary Howard Lutnick’s deals are delivering a more prosperous and secure America
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Darrell Issa will use NDAA to expand Gold Star family access to military bases
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Stephanie Bice rolling out legislation to enhance penalties for illegally entering America
EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Tommy Tuberville rolls out legislation to help veterans' mental health
SCOOP: Derek Dooley announces longtime Trump, Kemp donor as his campaign chair
SCOOP: "Live, Laugh, Gaslight": Failed Democratic candidate tries to recycle 2024 photo in latest campaign
OPINIONATED: Adam Pennings on Charlie Kirk's exceptional legacy, and Joe Mitchell remembers friend and mentor, Charlie Kirk
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INTERVIEW: Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer on her 50 state tour, how to grow the "American pie," and the GOP's evolving relationship with labor unions
by Matthew Foldi
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the Secretary of Labor, is on a mission: visit all 50 states in her first year as secretary.
In her latest role, Chavez-DeRemer — a former small business owner, mayor, and congresswoman — is using all of her previous skills to pitch the Trump administration’s vision for an expanded American workforce.
“We want to grow the American pie so that everybody has a job and can work towards the American Dream, everybody has their role, and we’re all going to keep each other accountable and transparent, and I think that’s what’s important in this administration,” she told the Washington Reporter in an interview after her 33rd state visit. “The president is going to continue to deliver on the promises that he made, and one of those was transparency, so we’re going to keep up the hard work.”
Chavez-DeRemer’s countrywide tour has taken her to factories, fisheries, apprenticeship programs, and everything in between.
During her latest visit — to Newport News in Virginia, she visited an apprenticeship school during their first week of class. This visit was a continuation of what she saw and learned firsthand from her Connecticut trip, where she visited a shipyard that builds submarines; a key priority of the Trump administration is restoring America’s ship-building primacy, and several of Chavez-DeRemer’s stops have that in mind.
As Chavez-DeRemer meets with businesses and unions across America, a trend emerged of support for President Donald Trump’s move to crack down on crime in D.C.
INTERVIEW: Rep. Mark Harris on why he wants a long term continuing resolution, the North Carolina Senate race, and why Israel needs to destroy Hamas
by Matthew Foldi
As Republicans deliberate how to approach an oncoming government funding deadline, Rep. Mark Harris (R., N.C.) told the Washington Reporter that he is “far more supportive of a long term CR, like a year long CR, than I am a short term CR.”
“They try to sell us on the short term CR, saying, ‘yeah, but we'll get more appropriation bills and we'll be closer to regular order,’” Harris told the Reporter in an interview. “Well, that's just not reality. We're going to still end up with a CR at some point, and we're going to have this fight all over again.”
While Harris knows that the Senate will need at least seven votes from Democrats, he is optimistic that if “as Republicans, if we will just unite like we have done in the past, we could move a clean CR, a one year CR, and get it through the House.” Should that pass, he wants the Democrats in the Senate to “own the shutdown.”
One way that President Donald Trump will have an easier time passing his agenda is if Harris’s friend, Michael Whatley, wins the open Senate race in North Carolina next year. Harris said that his “plan is to do everything I can to turn out the conservative vote in North Carolina.”
Heard on the Hill
MCCORMICK ON PENN: Sen Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) wants the University of Pennsylvania to take “immediate, decisive action” after Michael Mann, a senior administrator at the school, called Charlie Kirk the “head of Trump’s Hitler Youth.” Penn did not respond to a request for comment.
WRIGHT ON CLIMATE: The Wall Street Journal praised [ [link removed] ] Secretary of Energy Chris Wright for his work that is “the first from Washington in years that deviates from the narrative of a climate headed for catastrophe.”
TOM COTTON AL JAZEERA: Senator Tom Cotton (R., AR) was confronted [ [link removed] ] by an Al Jazeera reporter in the Senate and asked about Israel’s war against Hamas. Al Jazeera’s reporter may have intended a “gotcha” interview, but with a smile Senator Cotton dismantled the reporter’s talking points and asked him, “what do you say about working for a terrorist-supporting network?” Mark Levin [ [link removed] ] and others praised Senator Cotton for standing up for the US-Israel relationship.
AMPLIFYING LIGHT: The Washington Reporter attended Angel Studios’ red carpet world premiere of their new film, The Senior, in Bedford, Texas. The film tells the story of Mike Flynt, who at 59 years old walked onto the Sul Ross State University football team in 2007 to play out his final year of NCAA eligibility. Angel Studios co-founder and CEO Neal Harmon told the Reporter Flynt’s story is “fascinating” and that, after the screening, one of the Angel Guild members in the audience called her assistant at work “and asked her to buy 1,000 tickets for every employee” at her company to see the movie opening night. “That’s the kind of impact this movie is having on people,” Harmon added. At a Q&A session after the screening, Flynt and Chiklis received the Gridiron Coaches Foundation’s Stay in the Game Award from the foundation’s Bob Beaudine. Attending the premiere were stars Michael Chiklis and Rob Corddry; director Rod Lurie; Angel Studios Head of Strategic Relationships Bethany Harper; the Reporter’s Houston Keene and his wife Abby Keene; and the man of the hour, college football legend Mike Flynt.
A message from our sponsor.
We must protect American leadership in the life sciences and avoid damaging drug pricing policies. Meanwhile, China is making significant strides in clinical trials, drug approvals and new breakthroughs. Now is the time to strengthen American innovation, not hinder it. Learn more. [ [link removed] ]
EDITORIAL: Secretary Howard Lutnick’s deals are delivering a more prosperous and secure America
by the Washington Reporter Editorial Board
President Donald Trump has a cabinet full of impressive leaders who are delivering for the American people. But even in a cabinet of stars, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has stood out for his dealmaking, his ability to deliver a message, and his work to fulfill President Trump’s promise to reshore American jobs. Sources tell the Washington Reporter that Lutnick’s willingness to think outside the box in delivering deals has won the praise of Republicans on the Hill — including Lutnick’s former skeptics.
Lutnick’s record is remarkable and is worth examining: Lutnick’s renegotiation of CHIPS Act contracts, slashing subsidies to a mere 4 percent of project value, has unlocked massive private investment — for example, TSMC’s $100 billion commitment to U.S. semiconductor production.
Lutnick also found a way to leverage tariff negotiations into better deals for Americans while protecting taxpayer dollars. The result? Factories are receiving record investment nationwide, promising millions of high-wage jobs. And since President Trump came into office, wage growth has exceeded inflation — a welcome change from President Joe Biden’s tenure.
Republican sources tell us that a major area of focus is going to be reshoring manufacturing jobs that have been lost to China and other countries overseas, especially in critical sectors like automotive, healthcare, and energy.
We all remember the major disadvantage that America faced at the start of COVID when we realized that not only did China control essentially all the production of protective equipment like masks and gloves, but countless drugs and antibiotics were made in China and nowhere else.
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Darrell Issa will use NDAA to expand Gold Star family access to military bases
by Matthew Foldi
Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.) wants to ensure that all Gold Star family members are afforded access to U.S. military installations, and he plans to use the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to make it happen.
An Issa-authored amendment to the NDAA, obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter, will allow for individuals who are a widow or widower, unmarried partner, parent, grandparent, child, stepchild, child through adoption, brother, half-brother, sister, half-sister, or step-sibling of a covered member of the Armed Forces, or other family member as the Secretary considers appropriate.
Issa’s provision stems in part from his years of working with Gold Star family members whose loved ones were killed during President Joe Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan. Under current law, the mother-in-law of one of those servicemembers, Sgt. Nicole Gee, would not be afforded full access to bases.
That woman, Christy Shamblin, has grown close with both Issa and his staff in the years since the August 26th, 2021 suicide attack that killed her daughter-in-law and 12 other American servicemembers in Kabul, Afghanistan.
“We are creating a path for the families of the future because we realize that any provision that does not include Christy Shamblin is no expansion at all,” Issa explained to the Reporter. Issa’s advocacy for Gold Star family members goes well beyond his latest measure, which would help Shamblin and others like her.
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Stephanie Bice rolling out legislation to enhance penalties for illegally entering America
by Matthew Foldi
Rep. Stephanie Bice (R., Okla.) is making a legislative push obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter, that would increase penalties on illegal immigrants who attempt to reenter the United States following an initial deportation.
Bice’s legislation, called the Stop Illegal Entry Act, will increase criminal penalties for certain aliens who illegally reenter the United States after removal or exclusion.
The Oklahoma lawmaker noted that her bill comes after unprecedented successes from the White House, but that Congress still has to do its part. “President [Donald] Trump has delivered on his promise to secure the border, but we have more work to do to safeguard and protect our communities,” she said.
For years, Republicans and some Democrats have tried to pass measures like this into law. Earlier versions, named in honor of Kate Steinle, an Iowa student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant, have received over 250 votes.
Now, Bice thinks that the time is right, following four years of an open border under President Joe Biden. “The Biden administration let over 10 million illegal immigrants into the country, and failed to prosecute those who defied U.S. immigration law,” she explained. “These individuals included people from countries designated as state sponsors of terror, with 400 illegal aliens on the Terrorist Watch List being encountered at the border.”
EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Tommy Tuberville rolls out legislation to help veterans' mental health
by Matthew Foldi
As Veteran Suicide Prevention Awareness Month kicks off, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R., Ala.) wants veterans who are suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to be able to access alternate forms of care, like Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Treatment (HBOT) — and he is introducing legislation, obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter, to make that easier.
Tuberville’s bill, the Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Act, which would establish a pilot program for three years at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish HBOT for veterans diagnosed with a TBI or PTSD at two designated Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), designate a general fund at the Department of Treasury for this pilot program funneled through donations received by the VA Secretary, and require the Comptroller General to provide an updated report on HBOT research.
“It is past time we offer our vets alternate forms of care,” Tuberville explained. “These brave men and women often come home with scars from war that we cannot see. For veterans who have exhausted options, access to HBOT treatment could make a life-changing difference. September is Veteran Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and our service men and women facing mental health challenges should have access to alternative forms of treatment. This bill has had great success in the House of Representatives, and I’m proud to introduce it in the Senate where I hope to see my colleagues prioritize evidence-based treatment options for our vets like HBOT.”
SCOOP: Derek Dooley announces longtime Trump, Kemp donor as his campaign chair
by Matthew Foldi
Derek Dooley is building out his Senate campaign team, announcing that a top Trump donor will be joining as his campaign chair as the former college football coach seeks to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff (D., Ga.) next year.
Don Leebern III, who has donated almost one million dollars to President Donald Trump’s campaign efforts and over $1 million to the Republican National Committee (RNC), joins Dooley’s campaign shortly after Georgia’s popular Republican governor, Brian Kemp, threw his full weight behind Dooley.
“Don is a successful businessman and widely respected leader in our state, and I’m deeply honored to have his leadership and strong support,” Dooley said. “Our campaign continues to gain momentum as we earn the support of hardworking Georgians all across this state and build the team that will defeat Jon Ossoff next November.”
Leebern, for his part, added that “Derek Dooley is the only political outsider in this race and the only candidate who can defeat Jon Ossoff next November.”
“I’ve known Derek and his family for many years — Derek is a fighter, a strong leader, and someone who I know will always put the people of Georgia first. I’m proud to join his campaign, and look forward to supporting his mission to win this crucial seat back for our state.”
SCOOP: "Live, Laugh, Gaslight": Failed Democratic candidate tries to recycle 2024 photo in latest campaign
by Matthew Foldi
A failed Democratic House candidate is trying an unusual form of recycling in her third bid against Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa).
Christina Bohannan recently attacked Miller-Meeks for “jumping from fundraisers to photo ops and private events” in a post on X [ [link removed] ], formerly Twitter. However, Bohannan’s post included a photo from her previous failed bid for Congress from 2024, prompting the National Republican Campaign Committee’s (NRCC) Emily Tuttle to declare that Bohannan’s 2026 motto could be “live, laugh, gaslight.”
Miller-Meeks, for her part, fact-checked Bohannan, saying that she has “met thousands of Iowans at 60+ events in all 20 counties in August. Meanwhile, [Bohannan] has to dust off a YEAR OLD photo to prove she's talking to you. Iowans deserve better.”
OPINIONATED
Op-Ed: Adam Pennings: Charlie Kirk's legacy is like no other
by Adam Pennings
There will never be another Charlie Kirk. Charlie’s impact and influence on an entire generation of young people cannot be overstated.
Charlie reached so many, and his death brings indescribable pain to all he touched. Whether you were a personal friend, an acquaintance, or a supporter from afar, I join you in the great comfort that he is now in the arms of his Lord and Savior.
Without Charlie, a lot of young people would never have been interested in politics. If not for Charlie, hundreds of young people would never have run for office. And because of Charlie, our conservative movement will forever be changed.
Charlie didn’t just start an organization; he sparked a national movement. Charlie encouraged lively debate. He championed free speech. He shared his faith proudly. He emboldened young people to be a part of the political process, and he inspired millions of Gen Zers to make a difference.
Those who followed Charlie saw a model of how to live: be strong in your faith, love your family, and honor your country.
Each of us must now continue Charlie’s legacy. In his memory, we must continue what he started. The movement that Charlie created was always meant to outlive him, but no one expected it to be this soon.
Op-Ed: Joe Mitchell: Remembering my friend and mentor, Charlie Kirk
by Joe Mitchell
Exactly six years ago yesterday, I met Charlie Kirk. I knew right away that I’d met a hero, and he turned into a true friend and mentor.
In 2019, Charlie was at the Des Moines Holiday Inn to headline an event called the “Battle for Truth & Freedom.” When we were introduced, Charlie asked me to stick around after the event.
We talked for several hours about how we could get more young conservatives elected to office.
Charlie had already inspired millions of young Americans to stand for freedom and truth, and he asked me to play a small part in his mission.
So a few months later, I came to Charlie with a plan — a new organization that would train, recruit, and mentor the next generation of elected conservative leaders. He loved the idea. And his encouragement was unwavering. He invited me to speak at his conferences and he helped me secure seed-money to start what’s now “Run GenZ.”
With Charlie’s steady, energetic help, we grew Run GenZ ten-fold. Together we recruited young conservatives in all 50 states to run for office. The organization continues to this day recruiting hundreds of GenZ conservative candidates to step up and run for office. Because of Charlie’s early support, Run GenZ will continue its important work for years to come.

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