Mica Soellner

Took a break from politics to write about myself --- and my journey of reconnecting with my Japanese heritage after several years. Thank you to the @thelilynews and @washingtonpost for letting me tell my story: thelily.com/when-i-left-ho…

NEWS >> Garbarino is new Homeland chair

Rep. MICHAEL GUEST (R-Miss.) was eliminated on the first ballot of the race to be House Homeland Security chair. Guest is chair of Ethics and has an appropriations seat. Race is now between CLAY HIGGINS, ANDREW GARBARINO and CARLOS GIMENEZ

HOUSE GOP STEERING UPDATE: The first ballot of the race for House Homeland Security chair has begun

News: Rep. Mike Flood was unanimously elected as next chair of Main Street Caucus tonight at their internal meeting, per a source familiar.

Massie on Johnson’s handling of this issue: “He’s terrified. 80% of MAGA, want these files released, they were promised this, they expected this, and it's not happening. but at the same time, he feels an allegiance to President Trump whose gone against the MAGA base on this.”

Massie says he will bring up Epstein Files resolution after August recess and believes momentum will build stronger when members are out:

Andy Harris, chair of the HFC, said he doesn’t believe that @SpeakerJohnson won’t put the Epstein resolution on the floor this week. I told him Johnson said it on camera. “Alright. This is Monday”

US House now 219R, 212D after Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) resignation last night. 4 vacancies: #VA11 (D/Connolly) - Sept. 9 special #AZ07 (D/Grijalva) - Sept. 23 #TX18 (D/Turner) - Nov. 4 all-party election (runoff TBD) #TN07 (R/Green) - probably Dec. 2 special

Just caught up with Hakeem Jeffries and asked the Dem leader how realistic it was for House Dems to gain more seats in redistricting, as he previewed on CNN recently. “I will have more to say about this in the next few days,” Jeffries said

Essentially a Senate campaign ad for Collins before the Georgia Republican has officially entered the race:

The House Republican Steering Committee will meet tonight to pick the next Homeland Security Committee chair to succeed Rep. Mark Green, who announced his resignation earlier this month. @MicaSoellnerDC and @JakeSherman break down the crowded contest: punchbowl.news/article/house/…

Update on Collins who is expected to launch Senate run likely this month:

NEW: House Republicans want to bring back hardline border bill H.R.2 as they seek to codify Trump's immigration and border security policies. But some vulnerable members aren't excited about this and are seeking more forgiving solutions on immigration and amnesty. More:

Emmer says “there will be a rescissions vote today” — but doesn’t specify when @liz_elkind asks if that means a *rules* vote or a vote on the final bill

“We’re getting that done,” Johnson said on the rescissions Rules hearing.

Rules committee member Michelle Fischbach just went into a side room off the floor with Speaker Mike Johnson

20 House Republicans in the Texas legislature have endorsed Crenshaw’s primary challenger:

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