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Leigh Ann Caldwell, Peter Hamby, Julia Ioffe, Marianna Sotomayor, John Heilemann, & Abby Livingston
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Sunday through Thursday
Puck’s daily political newsletter from Washington—featuring Leigh Ann Caldwell, Peter Hamby, Marianna Sotomayor, Julia Ioffe, John Heilemann, and Abby Livingston—on what’s really happening in this town, from the White House to the Pentagon to Capitol Hill, K Street, the campaign trail, and beyond.
THE LATEST ARTICLES
Leigh Ann Caldwell
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January 7, 2026
Trump’s Mile-High Revenge Tour
The president’s bizarre decision to wage a retaliatory political war on Colorado—including the MAGA stronghold that elected Lauren Boebert—could wind up costing him the House.
Leigh Ann Caldwell
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January 4, 2026
The Four Horsemen of Capitol Hill’s Apocalypse
A close look at the challenges, opportunities, and curveballs awaiting the Big Four congressional leaders in the new year: the M.T.G. mutiny, G.O.P. majority shrinkage, another shutdown, A.C.A. headaches, and Trump.
Leigh Ann Caldwell
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December 28, 2025
The G.O.P.’s Midterm Polling Paradox
A few months ago, Republicans thought they had the country on autopilot. Now the party is stuck with a souring economy, beholden to Trump for turnout—whether they like it or not—and staring down an increasingly unpredictable midterm map.
Leigh Ann Caldwell
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December 22, 2025
Jeffries’s Triumph & Stefanik’s Holiday Blues
This could have been the week the House minority leader secured his future speakership. Also, one more MAGA member learns that blind loyalty to Trump is a one-way street.
Leigh Ann Caldwell
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December 21, 2025
Lame Duck Soup
Trump’s pronouncement that he’s “done” with legislation for the next three years has rattled and confounded House Republicans, who desperately need some kind of agenda to have any hope of retaining their majority. Good luck in ’26…
Leigh Ann Caldwell
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December 16, 2025
Midterms in the Garden of Good and Evil
With an election cycle looming, immense power has been invested in the congressional campaign committee chairs responsible for delivering the House: Suzan DelBene and Richard Hudson. I sat down with both of them to hear their dueling plans for ’26 and why they’re more bullish than ever.
Leigh Ann Caldwell
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December 14, 2025
Chuck & Mike’s Freaky Friday
In a sudden inversion of political fortunes, the Senate minority leader is no longer in the party’s doghouse, while the House speaker is facing revolts within his own caucus.
Leigh Ann Caldwell
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December 10, 2025
The G.O.P.’s Healthcare Groundhog Day
Once again, Republicans are trying to repeal Obamacare—and once again, leadership doesn’t appear to have any clear plan for what should replace it. Democrats, already anticipating an election year with the wind at their backs, couldn’t be more pleased.
Leigh Ann Caldwell
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December 7, 2025
Johnson’s Career Crisis & The House G.O.P. Exodus
Serving in the House—even when your party controls that chamber, the Senate, and the Oval Office—just ain’t what it used to be. The 119th Congress has been divided and demoralized, and is on track to be the least productive in recent memory. Now, frustrated G.O.P. members are running for the exits before things get worse.
Leigh Ann Caldwell
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December 3, 2025
Bleak House
Republicans are increasingly resigned to losing their House majority, a fate they ascribe to Speaker Mike Johnson’s mismanagement, and to the redistricting crusade prosecuted by the White House itself.