🧔🏻‍♂️ speaking of Beard Alerts: Pete Buttigieg’s beard coming in strong at his stop in Florida (he’s going to LA and MS next)

I asked him how soon he’d announce what he’s doing in 2028 and he said, “I don’t have any news to make on that front”

as @daveweigel would say, folks…

"Why you gotta fight with me at Cheesecake, you know I love to go there..."

Where exactly is there? @andrewvandam ran the numbers. Home values in ZIP codes within 3 miles of a Cheesecake Factory are ~27% higher than comparable areas w/o one.

washingtonsun.com/policy/cheesec…

Is there a reason Alaska has so many Dans Sullivan?

@andrewvandam approached the data systematically to find out.
washingtonsun.com/national/dan-s…

Introducing “The Stakeout,” a new afternoon newsletter helmed by Sun congressional reporters @igorbobic and @ReporterOriana.
Subscribe today: washingtonsun.com/congress-newsl…

A post-election treat to look forward to? A NEW newsletter from @washingtonsun called "the Stakeout" with @igorbobic and @ReporterOriana at the helm on all things Congress!
Sign up now! will be fun and scoopy washingtonsun.com/congress-newsl…

Subscribe!

New: White House attorneys are evaluating whether to issue mass pardons to junior staffers.
washingtonsun.com/whitehouse/whi…

@washingtonsun obtained Kimberly Guilfoyle's 2026 financial disclosure from the State Department.

No credit card debt was reported in the unpublished document.

By me: washingtonsun.com/influence/kimb…

Democrats, sizing up a House (Senate?) majority, fight the balance between affordability and anti-corruption in first 100 days agenda

Rep. Debbie Dingell told @washingtonsun the party is planning a 100 hour and 100 day agenda, saying it plans to reverse cuts to Medicaid and other social programs that were sliced by GOP.

"But at the same time, we’re going to hold corrupt officials accountable, because what they’ve been doing is significantly contributing to increased costs," Dingell said

Reversing those cuts and finding potential pay-for's, though, could take more time to negotiate than some corruption-related legislation

more w/ @igorbobic 🐐

washingtonsun.com/campaigns/demo…

After mistakenly saying Election Day was on Nov. 13, Casey Askar (Republican candidate in #FL22) made a second tweet with the wrong date again

Election Day is on Nov. 3

Askar is running against Democrat Pia Dandiya and the Cook Political Report considers the race a toss-up

NEW: How independent are independent candidates?

'26 is the year of indies in a handful of Senate races and one House race in AK. But even as they gain traction, many are having to defend themselves against criticism they're just Democrats in disguise

washingtonsun.com/campaigns/inde…

In a year when Democratic candidates arguing for new generation of progressives to take the reins two older Democrats in Ohio argue for "fighting blood" not "new blood" from @pkcapitol washingtonsun.com/campaigns/in-o…

Democrats ramping up messaging criticizing Republicans on broken promise to pursue accountability for those responsible for Epstein victims in red states now in play from @avanidkalra washingtonsun.com/campaigns/demo…

@statedeptspoxd our story.

Prior to publishing, we asked the State Department, in writing, to respond to allegations that “employees are being directly asked who they voted for in 2016, 2020 and 2024 before they receive promotions, and are told directly that if they have any history of donating to Democrats that they will not be eligible for the role.” The State Department did not in any way deny that those incidents occurred. Instead, it said that the department values “fidelity,” that it “will not tolerate . . . people using their positions to actively undermine the duly elected President’s objectives,” and that it prioritizes “merit and reward[s] demonstrated performance on behalf of Administration priorities.”

After the story was published – and after members of Congress raised concerns based on the story – the State Department gave additional comment denying the “premise” of our reporting. We published this after-the-fact statement in full. And since publishing, we have heard from additional sources familiar with top State officials asking foreign service officers about their voting and political contribution histories.

Rep De La Cruz's reelection bid is testing the Trump coalition in South Texas - via @DaniellaMicaela washingtonsun.com/campaigns/moni…

SCOOP: The State Dept has started asking career diplomats up for promotion if they voted for Trump in 16, 20, 24.

Federal law prohibits politically based hiring for career staff.

State tells @washingtonsun it's screening for "fidelity" and execution of the president's vision👇

Some Republicans want to go big in the lame-duck but one GOP aide cautions “I think our appetite’s definitely going to be bigger than what our stomach can hold on this one,”washingtonsun.com/congress/repub… via @alweaver22 and @kadiagoba

New: The State Dept is pushing out its most veteran diplomats by freezing/downgrading jobs + asking them to retire. It's replacing them with more junior staff deemed loyal to the admin.

Staff say this is weakening relationships abroad + creating worse policy outcomes. Details👇

James Talarico posted a "red-boxing" message on his campaign website.

A supportive super PAC just ran with it.

The practice is legal. But many government watchdogs hate it.

Via @Kyle_Chouinard of @washingtonsun: washingtonsun.com/influence/jame…

Inflation has come for Trump's merch.

The official MAGA hat cost $25 in 2015, $30 in 2021, and $55 today at the Official Trump Store. That's a 120% increase in 11 years.

washingtonsun.com/influence/dona…