Matthew Choi
@matthewichoi
@WashingtonPost Early Brief | alum @TexasTribune, @politico | not the runner.
NEW: Gov. Greg Abbott told members of Congress he was skeptical about calling a special session to redraw Texas’ congressional maps. Most Texas Republicans were not a fan, either. Then Trump called. How the redistricting effort came to be: @TexasTribune texastribune.org/2025/07/22/tex…
New, exclusive Washington Post analysis shows 1 in 5 senior Trump appointees held cryptocurrency or related assets, a milestone as the administration seeks to advance the crypto industry. @ccemorse @Cat_Zakrzewski @arfamomin washingtonpost.com/politics/inter…
Trump, responding to question about possibly trying to fire Jerome Powell: “He’s doing a lousy job, but no, I’m not talking about that. Fortunately we get to make a change in the next, what, eight months and we’ll pick somebody that’s good."
More Texas content! Got to write about the fight over redistricting in Texas for today's Early Brief. washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/…
Hispanic voters in Texas have rapidly shifted in favor of the GOP, in large part thanks @realdonaldtrump, so a mid decade redistricting will mean significant gains for Texas Republicans. #txlege
NEWS: PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP told Texas Republicans on a call this morning that the GOP will seek to get 5 new red seats in the mid-decade redistricting effort in Texas. Big change in Texas that will have massive impact on the 2026 midterms. First on @PunchbowlNews text…
John Cornyn raised $3.9M in Q2 and has $8.9M on hand, per his campaign. The fundraising was across his campaign and joint fundraising committee. Ken Paxton’s campaign announced Friday he raised $2.9M in Q2 after launching in early April. #TXSEN
Must read
“The river house broke. We rushed in the river.” On July 4, the Guadalupe River pulled senior editor Aaron Parsley and six members of his family into its waters. Read his firsthand account: texasmonthly.com/news-politics/…
“I’m dealing with my own issues with the law, and now I have to be a victim of this garbage,” a frustrated Santos told @kadiagoba washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/…
Redistricting is among the special session agenda items that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott just announced: gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/…
NEW: Sen. Lisa Murkowski stares me down for more than 10 secs after I ask her to respond to Sen. Rand Paul’s critique of the deal she struck to get her to a YES and pass the OBBB. “Do I like this bill? No. But I tried to take care of Alaska’s interests.” w/ @frankthorp
"Nobody likes being in a lonely position.” It's a really good time to read this @lizcgoodwin profile of @lisamurkowski following last week's release of "Far From Home." That's the senator's book about Alaska & her journey inside the Trump-driven GOP. washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/…
State of play: @lisamurkowski or bust. Almost 24 hours after 1st roll call - more than 40 votes later - Rs are 1 vote short. Rs are currently huddling with Murk in back of chamber, reviewing paperwork. Alaska Medicaid situation will be decisive. washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/…
New: The House Oversight Committee has scheduled five additional voluntary, transcribed interviews for it's investigation into Biden's admin, per an Oversight Committee aide. July 24 - Ronald Klain, former Chief of Staff July 30 - Steve Ricchetti, former Counselor to the…
Sen. Murkowski vote yes, but wants the House will rework Trump's agenda. She's urged the WH to slow the process down. "My hope is that the House is going to look at this and recognize that we're not there yet," she said. "I would like to see a better outcome for people."
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Senator Tillis did the right thing yesterday by calling out how devastating this bill will be for his constituents. @JohnCornyn it’s not too late for you to do the same. You can stop this bill and the devastation it will lead to for Texans’ healthcare.
Got to cover Texas again for today’s Early Brief. Colin Allred plans to announce another Senate bid, expected in early July, two people with direct knowledge of his plans told me washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/…
President Trump on Israel and Iran: "We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing."