Ben Jacobs
@Bencjacobs
Reporter at Politico. [email protected]
NEW: House GOP’s Epstein crisis isn’t going away — it’s getting worse Some Rs are now so terrified of taking Epstein-related votes that leaders have lost full control of the House floor + are scrapping votes on key agenda items Other Rs want action politico.com/live-updates/2…
🚨 I led Republicans in a serious resolution — that protects victims — to expose the truth about the Epstein files, just like President Trump promised. But leadership is stalling. The American people deserve action, not excuses. Let’s vote on it before August recess and get it…
Speaker Mike Johnson: "I don't understand Thomas Massie's motivation" re: Epstein
Thompson has been the only top Democrat on the committee since it became a standing committee!
Fun fact: Andrew Garbarino has been in the House for 5.5 years, now picked to become Homeland Security chairman. Previous GOP chair Mark Green was in the House for 4 years before taking this gavel. Meanwhile, panel’s top Democrat Bennie Thompson has held his post for 20 years.
🚨BREAKING -- ANDREW GARBARINO of New York is the next chair of the House Homeland Security Committee. House Republican Steering Committee tapped the 40-year-old New Yorker for the slot. Garbarino's predecessor, PETE KING, previously chaired the panel.
So if the last walkoff catchers interference was in 1971, we know no Zombie Runners scored on that one! Meaning there couldn’t possibly have ever been any game that ended on an inning like that one. Baseball! It makes no sense.
Phillies-Red Sox just ended on the Strangest But Truest inning I’ve ever seen. Zombie runner 4-pitch walk Wild pitch Intentional walk Walkoff catchers interference. Whaaaaat? Baseball!
Big day for @3YearLetterman
Rep THOMAS MASSIE carrying around an “Epstein Files: Phase 2” binder in the style of the “Epstein Files: Phase 1” binders given by AG Pam Bondi to MAGA influencers earlier this year Thinks momentum will build for his push with Khanna over August recess “This is not going away”
For those not on Capitol Hill, this is a House GOP debacle. They are so scared of votes re: Epstein that they will punt most of this week's legislative schedule and start their summer break early.
Two GOP members of the House Rules Committee told us no rule will be produced for bills this week, all because the GOP can't figure out a path forward on Epstein
Thomas Massie on Johnson not putting an Epstein resolution on the floor: “I think this is the referendum on his leadership. who's he going to pick? Is he going to pick the pedophiles and the underage sex traffickers, or is he going to pick the American people and justice for the…
NEWS - House Rules Committee isn’t returning AT ALL tonight and likely not AT ALL THIS week amid Epstein + other issues, per sources Scalise confirms to me it’s “not likely” Rules return - meaning House would leave without advancing immigration and several other bills
House Republicans have discussed several possible options for Epstein-related measures in Rules tonight - but haven’t landed on anything so far, per sources Rules has recessed until likely 9:30/10pm with some members attending 7pm GOP steering mtg on Homeland chair race Rs…
NEWS — RALPH NORMAN, hardline conservative on the House Rules Committee, says the panel will not report a rule this week for bills, effectively shutting down the house floor. Why? He doesn’t want to vote on Democrats’ Epstein amendments. He says it’s grandstanding.
Maybe the Democrats Joe Rogan-like podcaster been hiding in plain sight? x.com/joma_gc/status…
In a span of three hours, Hunter Biden: - gave step-by-step instructions on how to cook crack - trashed Nancy Pelosi and claimed she secretly hates Kamala - told Nancy Pelosi’s daughter to f*ck herself - said Joe Biden was strung out on Ambien during the Trump debate -…
Rep. Derrick Van Orden talking on the radio today about Tulsi Gabbard's memo on 2016 election says: “So if Barack Obama is guilty of these things, he needs to be arrested just like they arrested President Trump. I’m sorry to say it, but these people set the precedent."
“Saying Trump posts random stuff to distract is like saying the sun rises to mess with your sleep schedule,” a former Trump adviser said. “It’s just what it does.” w/ @ryanjreilly on Trump's pivot to some of MAGA's other rallying causes. nbcnews.com/politics/trump…
HFC Chairman Andy Harris says a vote on Epstein resolution will happen before recess: “Oh we’ll vote on something. … It’s still a long way before recess. … I think one’s gonna happen before August recess.”
Another Hunter item here: “I was opposed to the debate. I didn’t understand why we were rushing into a debate with someone who had just been convicted on 34 felony counts.”
"We watched Joe Biden turn 80, and then 81, and then 82. We watched him get old in front of our eyes. And that does not mean he was incapacitated."
Still need to hold the Ames Podcast Straw Poll to clear the field a bit
Khanna winning the 2028 podcast primary, no question
If the Commanders/Football Team/Redskins etc etc want to pay rent to the Maryland Stadium Authority, I'm all for it
"I've always wanted a stadium in the state of Maryland that the Ravens and the Washington Commanders could share" - Stephen A. Smith
... x.com/daveweigel/sta…
"If I became president," says Hunter Biden, "I would call up the fucking president of El Salvador and say: You either fucking send them back or I'm gonna fucking invade." Folks... youtu.be/XBbkt2vYC4M?si…
House Dems to force another committee vote on Epstein ow.ly/QBQl106gtkV