Ahead of the State of the Union, state Democratic Party Chair Marcus Jones: "Tonight, President Trump will desperately try to pull the wool over Arkansans’ eyes and paper over a year’s worth of betrayal and disastrous policies, but Arkansans won’t fall for it."

Arkansas guests at the State of the Union: — Boozman: JB Hunt CEO Shelley Simpson — Crawford: Diamond Pet Foods CEO Mike Kampeter — Womack: Jay Silveria, UA system president — Westerman: Mike Blazier, UA Monticello's College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Rep. Hill on #SCOTUS: "I share in President Trump’s goal of securing fair and reciprocal trade agreements and holding bad actors accountable for their unfair trade policies."

A good thread on the Supreme Court's ruling this morning on tariffs.

The National Cotton Council has named Nathan Reed as its next chairman. Reed, a Marianna farmer, and Newport's Jennifer James testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee last February about updating farm programs. www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/fe...

We are less than a month from Arkansas' primary election — early voting starts Tuesday! — and candidates are finalizing their messages to voters. For the two Democrats running for U.S. Senate, Hallie Shoffner and Ethan Dunbar, they believe their words must extend beyond the political binary.

Really surprised Bad Bunny didn't take any suggestions from the Grateful Dead subreddit for his halftime show. /j

Me when Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s version of the “Peter Gunn” theme shows up

Endorsement news: Former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana has backed Hallie Shoffner's Senate campaign.

Two reactions to the president's racist social media post: Chris Jones, who is challenging Rep. Hill in the 2nd District: "Racist imagery isn’t a joke or a mistake. And Arkansans know it’s disgusting." Later, Hill: "Racism and dehumanizing rhetoric have no place in our country."

House Oversight Committee: "Former President Clinton will appear for a deposition on February 27, 2026 and former Secretary Clinton will appear for a deposition on February 26, 2026."

In December, the Trump administration announced a $12 billion program to help farmers dealing with years of financial losses. At the time, Arkansas agriculture leaders knew it wouldn't be enough. Now, they are sounding the alarm over what could happen if Congress doesn't approve more relief.

Based on filings to the FEC, @hallieshoffner.bsky.social's Senate campaign managed to exceed $1 million in contributions to end last calendar year, ending 2025 with $502,459 cash on hand. I haven't seen new numbers from Cotton, but he had $9.4 million in his reserves at the end of September.

INBOX: "On Saturday, January 31st, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), FBI Director Kash Patel, Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas), and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin will be hosting a law enforcement roundtable in Little Rock. Following the roundtable, they will give brief remarks."

Rep. Hill on the president's decision to nominate Kevin Warsh as Fed chair: "With his service as member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, combined with his decades of academic and financial market experience, Kevin Warsh brings a clear understanding of the responsibilities of the Fed ..."

Both of Arkansas' senators want an investigation following Alex Pretti's death, but there are differences on what such an inquiry should look like. Cotton has faith in Homeland Security's ability to investigate the shooting as Boozman stresses transparency.

BREAKING Greg Bovino has been removed as Border Patrol "commander at large" and will return to El Centro Calif, where he is expected to retire soon. A stunning turnaround after Pretti killing. Bovino's traveling blue city crackdown is over www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Rep. Hill applauds the decision by the House Homeland Security Committee to hold an oversight hearing on the Department of Homeland Security/ICE. "I welcome President Trump dispatching White House Border Czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to provide the president with a personal assessment."

Cotton to Brian Kilmeade: "The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti are tragedies. ... the way they could have been avoided and the way future ones can be avoided is for state and local officials in Minnesota to start cooperating with federal authorities ... ." www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsV7...

Schumer: “Senate Democrats will not allow the current DHS funding bill to move forward. “Senate Republicans have seen the same horrific footage that all Americans have watched of the blatant abuses of Americans by ICE in Minnesota.

Two responses I've seen so far from Arkansas candidates regarding what has happened in Minnesota since Saturday morning: 2nd Congressional District candidate Chris Jones and U.S. Senate candidate Ethan Dunbar.

From Rep. Steve Womack's office: "My wife of 41 years, Terri Womack, went to live in eternity with Jesus. My heart is broken and that space remains without her presence. I take comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering in pain and is at peace evermore."

From me: If U.S. Rep. French Hill feels intimidated by having an opponent in this year's Republican primary in Arkansas' 2nd District, he isn't showing it. More on the Hill-Chase McDowell contest:

The president on Thursday commuted the sentence of James Phillip Womack, the son of U.S. Rep. Steve Womack. The younger Womack had been sentenced in June 2024 to 96 months imprisonment with five years of supervised release and a $1,900 fine after distributing meth.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced the Arkansas National Guard's deployment to Washington, D.C., will last an additional 90 days. The Guard's 100 members arrived in D.C. after Thanksgiving and were originally set to leave the nation's capital in late February.

The Clintons are preparing for lawmakers to hold them in contempt for failing to answer questions on Jeffrey Epstein, accusing the committee's chair of "trying to punish those who you see as your enemies and to protect those you think are your friends."

Sen. Boozman has canceled the Senate Agriculture Committee’s markup of cryptocurrency market structure legislation, saying senators have had “meaningful progress and had constructive discussions” on legislation and lingering details. The markup will now be held during the final week of January.

Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG... www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...

Something personal about Bobby Weir: www.instagram.com/p/DTWnVOFkRa...

Me at Indiana football

Guess what? I'm back on "Arkansas Week" this evening! Tune in at 7:30 p.m. Central as we navigate a new year on Capitol Hill.

Rep. French Hill is leading House Financial Services Republicans on introducing legislation to tailor naming some banking regulations to fit community banks.

As the new congressional session gets underway, Rep. Westerman renews his push for changing permitting for energy projects, calling attention to the SPEED Act, which the House passed before the holidays. “Now it’s time for the Senate to act.”

It may be hard to believe, but we are two months from Arkansas' primary election. In terms of federal races, none is bigger than the Senate contest. Sen. Tom Cotton didn't face a Democratic opponent six years ago, but now, two Democrats hope to pull off what would be nothing short of an upset.

The chairs of Congress' intel committees, both Arkansans, voiced support for the U.S.'s operation in Venezuela, adding the U.S. was right to remove Maduro from power. "We really can't function as the best house in a bad neighborhood. We have to improve the overall neighborhood."

The chairs of Congress' intel committees, both Arkansans, voiced support for the U.S.'s operation in Venezuela, adding the U.S. was right to remove Maduro from power. "We really can't function as the best house in a bad neighborhood. We have to improve the overall neighborhood."

From me: Sitting across the table from the president during last week's farmer roundtable, Crittenden County farmer Charles Williams had a "deer-in-the-headlights" look on his face. The story of one Arkansan and whether the $12 billion farmer relief package will be enough to help farmers like him:

From me: Arkansas farm leaders appreciate the Trump administration's $12 billion farm assistance package, but stress more will need to be done. "It's not going to be enough to keep a lot of producers, especially in the south, in business."

Interested education reporters! Join our Little Rock newsroom and cover a education system that always seems to make headlines.

Happy Thanksgiving from a former AP U.S. History student.

Before we mark the Thanksgiving holiday, here’s one more “Arkies in the Beltway” episode for you! Another busy week on Capitol Hill with plenty to discuss!

From Facebook: Rep. French Hill goes on a duck hunt.

Me, mid-explaining the Olivia Nuzzi ethics debacle to my parents and realizing I should really leave the Beltway more

BREAKING: Trump signs a bill to release files on Jeffrey Epstein, bowing to political pressure after months of resistance.

From me: After 8,823 consecutive votes, Rep. Steve Womack's voting streak is over. Womack missed Monday's votes, ending the longest active streak in the House.

Since Rep. Steve Womack first arrived on Capitol Hill in January 2011, he has never missed a single vote in the House. Until today. “After almost fifteen years with a perfect voting record, I am sad to report that my streak will end today.”

Need catching up on how the federal government shutdown ended? “Arkies in the Beltway” has you covered.

A little pro-tip from Ol’ Alexander: Don’t do anything Olivia did. You will not get a rehabilitation tour and a book deal; your career will instead be over and no one will move heaven and Earth to save it.