Because Chuck has forgot more about politics than everyone reading this ever knew. The Hotline was essential. His MTP didn’t work in the Trump era — which we discuss. But he knows his shit and i like talking to smart people not just people who tell me what i want to hear. 🍻

Senate Democrats (and a few Republicans) are reviving efforts to ban stock trading by members of Congress—a surprisingly complex issue with bad actors on both sides of the aisle. @abbyliv.bsky.social has the story:

The behind-the-scenes lead up to AOC’s decision to withdraw from the Oversight race: puck.news/aoc-is-out-o...

What’s behind Democrats’ surprisingly laissez-faire primary strategy as the party eyes multiple open-seat Senate races for the first time in years? @abbyliv.bsky.social explores:

The animosity rippling through the Democratic Party isn’t along the familiar personal or ideological lines, but over a tactical dispute on how to fight Republicans. And the first signs of a revolt are manifesting on the campaign trail… From @abbyliv.bsky.social

From Monday: puck.news/trump-might-...

As responsibility for funding the government falls on the Senate, Democrats are growing nervous that Chuck Schumer hasn’t offered them a strategy to navigate what Republicans are already framing as a possible “Schumer shutdown.” From @lacaldwelldc.bsky.social

Mike Johnson is betting that Trump can strong-arm nearly every House Republican into voting for his spending bill—taking the air out of Democratic hopes to extract some political pain, and turning up the pressure on the Senate. From @abbyliv.bsky.social

👀 👀 from @abbyliv.bsky.social: "My impression is that if it weren't for their party's micro-margin in the House, some Republican reps would be considering resignation." puck.news/newsletter_c...

I ❤️ LA.

The Kay Granger situation in Congress was a great deal more complicated than all of the knee-jerk commentary around it: puck.news/the-mysterio...

“This round of chaos has been on a scale even Democrats didn’t see coming.” Puck’s @abbyliv.bsky.social chronicles Capitol Hill on the verge of a nervous breakdown:

House Dems, guided by the long arm of Nancy Pelosi, may have moved to block A.O.C.’s ascent on Oversight, but the left’s millennial icon is playing a much longer game… @abbyliv.bsky.social digs in:

House Democrats, guided by the long arm of Nancy Pelosi, moved to block Ocasio-Cortez’s ascent on Oversight—a job that would have put her front and center on C-SPAN. But the left’s millennial icon is playing a much longer game: puck.news/aoc-wont-lea...

TONIGHT at 8pm ET: @ericswalwell.bsky.social, @anthonycoley.bsky.social, & @abbyliv.bsky.social

Trump’s unusually early cabinet appointment timeline has given his nominees time to wear down reluctant G.O.P. senators. It’s also given Democrats a chance to shut up, sit back, and watch the Republican infighting… @abbyliv.bsky.social sizes up this approach:

Trump’s unusually early cabinet appointment timeline has given his nominees time to wear down reluctant G.O.P. senators. It’s also given Democrats a chance to shut up, sit back, and watch the Republican infighting. puck.news/why-democrat...

The fate of Trump’s most crucial cabinet confirmations will be decided by a handful of Republican Senators, all of whom are playing a game of political Jenga. How much each has to lose, if anything, could be the deciding factor... From @abbyliv.bsky.social

I wrote tonight about the early Congressional aftermath of the Kash Patel nomination, and why this sudden effort to oust aging Democratic House chairmen seems to be serious: puck.news/newsletter_c...

The Pentagon’s most expensive program has a powerful new enemy in Elon Musk. But the electric-car, social-media, and rocket tycoon faces two major obstacles in his quest for efficiency: Congress, and his buddy in the White House. From Puck's Abby Livingston.

I wrote about how if Elon Musk is serious about taking the F-35 down, he’ll encounter a different kind of the fighter plane’s stealth capability: entrenched political power on the Hill. puck.news/doge-ball-el...

Another special Saturday edition of Puck’s The Powers That Be” podcast where executive editor Ben Landy and I talk politics and Trump’s coming impact on Capitol Hill: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Elissa Slotkin has worked for the C.I.A., the Pentagon, and the Department of Defense—and she’s seen enough to have some legitimate fears about the woman Trump wants to oversee U.S. intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. Read her conversation with Puck's Abby Livingston:

SALT Wars: Why the coming tax cuts push is going to be much more complicated vs. 2017 tax cuts: puck.news/the-gop-reco...

Joining us on The Downballot podcast this week is one of our favorite reporters, @abbyliv.bsky.social of @pucknews.bsky.social, who helps us answer a major question: Why did so many Republicans run behind Trump this year? Listen here!

Sen.-elect Elissa Slotkin engaged in a lengthy interview with me, and the most interesting response was her answer to my question on if she worries the Trump executive branch will engage in personal retribution towards her. (Read the entire interview here: puck.news/what-we-talk...)

@peterhamby.bsky.social and I talked Senate confirmations on the Puck “Powers That Be” podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

So this is where you all went.