Welcome back to The Best & The Brightest, our daily politics dispatch covering the real inside conversation in Washington. Tonight, my conversation with the 29-year-old Democratic whiz kid hoping to unseat George Santos and end the “MAGA mishegas.”

But first, postscript on the WHCD-Ashley Biden rift…

But, based on my reporting, that’s splitting hairs, and it unfairly diminishes Hoy’s role and work for the first daughter and her own professional bona fides. When I reached out to the same White House official this morning, that person insisted (on background) that, sure, Hoy and Ashley had done work together, but that she has never represented Biden—a distinction that seems rather pedantic. “Ashley described [Hoy] as someone who was trying to coordinate discrete events and projects,” the official told me.

Indeed, Hoy did coordinate many events for Ashley Biden. Leading up to the weekend, Hoy fielded party requests for her client, including coordinating with the Secret Service, according to emails that I reviewed. Hoy also organized a “care package” for Biden from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that needed to go through the Secret Service to be delivered to her townhouse, according to emails. She wrote her bio for a speech before the Rotary Club. She confirmed her attendance at the Advance Peace Forum, in San Diego. She even made a powerpoint presentation titled, “Brain Aware Neurobiology of the [B]rain” for Biden to submit for fundraising.

Invoices I obtained also demonstrated that Hoy provided services to the first daughter, such as arranging for her to sit front row at New York Fashion Week in February. Indeed, it’s true that the majority of Hoy’s work for Biden was pro bono, according to a February 9 invoice sent from Hoy to Biden, requesting reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. The total reimbursement for the expenses was $1,918.02, which Biden repaid on May 10, 2023.

Politico was probably aware of the relationship between the two: According to an email I obtained, Politico C.E.O. Goli Sheikholeslami asked Hoy if Ashley Biden could be the media company’s honored guest at their White House Correspondents’ table. “Jessica had reached out to Politico with a list of her talent coming to Washington for White House Correspondents’ dinner. Politico would have welcomed the opportunity to have the first daughter sit with us at the dinner, so we extended an invitation,” said the company’s communication’s director Melissa Cooke. Hoy ultimately declined that request on behalf of Biden.

First Lady Jill Biden’s senior advisor Anthony Bernal, who stood behind the first lady at the coronation for King Charles last weekend, consulted Hoy on how to deal with Ashley Biden’s press, according to text messages between the two. Bernal, who has been working for the Bidens for two decades, is perhaps the most powerful person in the White House (including Anita Dunn) and part of his purview is looking after the Biden family. He is also one of the most ferocious. I once heard him scream at a White House official through the phone, as I stood nearby. Alex Thompson reported that staffers used to secretly record him because his language was “so noxious.” A person with knowledge of the inner workings of the White House described him as “the Biden’s Doug Stamper from House of Cards.”

“Anthony is a deeply trusted advisor and well-respected throughout the White House; known for his creativity, intellect, and loyalty,” said White House spokesperson Andrew Bates. “He is a thoughtful and supportive colleague who is generous with his time mentoring staff, encouraging inclusion and collaboration all over the White House.” And since he is all those things, the White House would likely have the wherewithal to know that Jessica Hoy was also Ashley Biden’s publicist.

Zak Malamed: I’ve spent the last four years defeating the most extreme Republicans across America. And I never imagined that the most Republican of them all would be representing me in my home congressional district.

The reality is that when I graduated high school, I had the same school board that my mother had when she graduated from high school. That continuity in local political leadership really worked for a while up and down the ballot in my hometown—and it’s clear that in the last two to three years, it’s not worked, and it’s failed the community and people are looking for a fresh face. The election of George Santos in some ways exemplifies this. I know that people weren’t looking for the lunacy that he brought to the table. They want some normalcy. That’s what I hope to deliver with a track record of defeating extreme Republicans across the country.

If you see your family or your home in trouble, you kind of have two choices to make—you avoid things and run away, or you help and serve. My whole life, I’ve been inspired to help and serve and that’s what I’m choosing to do in this moment.

You may be running in the Democratic primary against the well-connected Democratic committee man and P.R. guru Robert Zimmerman, who lost against George Santos in the last cycle but has vowed to run again. Are you concerned?

The field is going to be busy and eclectic, with folks who run and have served for years. Some of them I consider friends of many years. And I think that the beauty of all this is that, in a democracy, people have the right to run and step up and serve. I just believe that in this field, I have the track record of defeating MAGA extremism that nobody else has. It’s clear that those who were either considering or have stepped up to run have either lost support of the Democratic base in the district, or they’ve lost to Republicans in the last two to three years. If you keep trying something that isn’t working over and over again, it’s probably time to try something new, and I’m excited to provide that fresh face and that fresh leadership for the district.

Will Israel be a big issue for you?

Well, my great grandparents helped found the state of Israel. My grandmother served in the Israel Defense Forces with former President Shimon Peres. I’ve visited Israel 10 times, most recently for the 75th anniversary. Being a supporter of our alliance and friendship with the State of Israel will be among my priorities when I’m elected to Congress. It’s important that we both invest in our relationship, but also invest in peace within the region. And I’m committed to both of those things.

How much money have you raised?

We haven’t announced that yet, but I can tell you that we’re right now in a very healthy financial position that will impress folks.

A source told me that you have $250,000 in commitments right now. Is that fair to say?

We have not announced yet and would prefer to hold off until we’re prepared to share that news. But I can tell you that we’re in a super strong financial position right now.

What have you learned from Zimmerman’s campaign? It was a race that he was expected to win easily.

I think first and foremost, we need to be all over the district. We need to make sure we’re building a campaign that looks like this district.

You know, this district is quite diverse—15 percent Asian, 10 percent Latino, 5 percent Black. We also have a 25 to 30 percent immigrant community, and I think it’s important that we build a campaign, and a coalition of folks to work on this campaign, who represent the district.

On top of that, the reality is that, again, folks are just looking for a fresh and new face, and I want to make sure that people don’t just see a fresh and new face but they see a Democrat who is ready to get things done, who is against all forms of extremism and is committed to making America accessible and affordable to all. Someone who won’t cater to the extremes of the party, but is willing to work across the ideological spectrum on the left and make sure that we can work across the aisle when necessary to get things done.

Are you working any other angles to get Santos out of office before the end of his two year term? Obviously, the feds are hard at work.

You were founder of The Next 50, an organization that helps fund, endorse, and support young candidates under 50, like Ruben Gallego and Elissa Slotkin. What are you going to do with the organization?

I am transitioning into an advisor role at The Next 50. There’s new leadership stepping up that I’m really, really proud of, but it’s important that there’s a firewall between The Next 50 and this campaign. The Next 50 will not be involved in supporting this campaign at all. But I will continue to advise as requested of me by the team on the political side of that operation.

Who is the new team?

Ora Rosenbaum is stepping up into the acting Executive Director role, Lily Patricof is leading our membership program, and Mari Manoogian is the new political director. She’s the former state representative in Michigan who was selected to give the D.N.C. keynote in 2020.

I’m such a political animal. Let’s talk about the issues.

That’s why we get along! In New York’s third congressional district and across the country, especially as a young person who’s looking to make this place home, the cost of living is just way too high. We need to make sure that we bring energy costs down. Those are gonna be priorities of mine in addition to working on issues of gun safety. I went to Albany in 2009 with my former assemblywoman Michelle Schimel to advocate at a New Yorkers Against Violence rally. Fast forward 11 years, I lost a friend to gun violence as you might have seen in the video. And to me, public safety is paramount here.

And then, of course, health care: I’ve had moments in my life where I haven’t had access to health care because of our broken health care system and grew up in a household where my mother was dealing with chronic health issues that crippled our family. Those are going to be issues that power me forward in this campaign that I hope to work on and address. Should I be elected to Congress, I’m hoping to serve on the Education and the Workforce Committee when Democrats retake the House, and the Foreign Affairs Committee. I do think it’s important that we have next generation foreign policy leadership, especially that which is supportive of our allies, like the state of Israel.

Tell me about your district. Do you have nice beaches? Should I come visit?

You know my district is the inspiration for The Great Gatsby.

I’ve never been to the Eggs.

The last thing I’ll say is something I tell everybody, which is that if all else fails in life, I’m so proud of this district; that I’ve become a Great Gatsby tour guide, showing everyone all the Gatsby sites across the district because it’s the history of the city.

Sounds bougie.

No, no, the Gatsby tour goes from the Valley of Ashes and Queens to the west and east where the green light was. So the story of Gatsby covers the socioeconomic spectrum, so to speak.

Which character do you identify with most?

Is this on the record or off the record?

On the record.

Let me get back to you on that. I haven’t given this enough thought to give you a good answer. I’m gonna focus more on the policies here, but I will tell you that I think the spirit of F. Scott Fitzgerald still permeates throughout the district. It’s something that makes people proud, and there’s a real deep, rich history from the Marx Brothers to Fitzgerald to Francis Ford Coppola and many more who lived here. I think we need to rekindle that pride that many of those folks brought upon the district.