Elana Schor

Ken Paxton PAC buying more Mar-a-Lago TV time to lobby Trump/attack Cornyn semafor.com/article/03/20/…

@daveweigel @DemFromCT *Judiciary hearing (Your editor is lurking everywhere)

Dow average down 11% since Bondi cited it during her Oversight hearing

Senate Democrats are in *disarray* in four key Senate races: Michigan, Maine, Minnesota and Iowa - Totally new dynamic for Dems, who stage-managed primaries effectively for 15 or so years. Schumer + DSCC have their views, but lots of senators squaring off in opposite sides of primaries. Plenty not following leaders' direction - Schatz (who is neutral!): “It’s because we haven't had the spicy primaries." Says he'd need a Google Doc to keep track of the senator endorsements - This week, Cortez Masto and Hassan backed Turek in Iowa, then Warren came in for Wahls. She also backed McMorrow and Platner - CCM came in for Stevens today in Michigan. That puts CCM and Warren on opposite sides in four states - Minnesota is most active contest. 8 Dems for Flanagan, 5 for Craig - Baldwin, who is backing Craig, told me senators are "getting behind the people that we think can win" - Murphy said candidates are "very aggressively" courting endorsements from senators. He's backed Flanagan and McMorrow so far: "I think we need senators that are going to be as pugilistic as possible"

Very helpful interactive from @CNN that's tracking security lines at major U.S. airports: cnn.com/us/airport-tsa…

News: Sen. Collins doesn't want to use reconciliation to do an Iran war supplemental: "That would not be my preference. I understand the need to get this through, but it seems to me that it would be best to go through the appropriations process" She also has questions about whether it will include money for intelligence community, Pell Grants and aid for farmers

Lots of headlines about the Dem walkout last night... but where do the 5 aisle-crossing Republicans now stand on forcing Bondi to answer the subpoena? 2 of the 5 sound less interested, per Nick.

News: Joe Kent is under FBI investigation for allegedly leaking classified information, three sources tell me. I’m told the investigation pre-dates his departure.

Tillis: “There’s only one way out of a box canyon” Kennedy: “I don’t know what evidence she has. It’s hard for me to imagine that she has any” Rounds: “I think it’s time to resolve the issue and move on” Inside the building GOP irritation with Pirro’s call Friday to pursue her Fed investigation while Warsh’s nom stalls: semafor.com/article/03/18/…

Dolores Huerta's story. Shocking and horrifying this happened to her and so many others. @dolores_huerta/march-18-2026-e74c20430555" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@dolores_huert…

NEWS: Tillis tells me this AM he's still planning to stop Warsh's Fed nomination from advancing after Pirro said she'd appeal Friday's decision to throw out her subpoenas. "Miran can still remain there in the expired term of Kugler and life will go on until 292 days expires or the investigation does." "There's only one way out of a box canyon; only one way out. And I think that they just need to recognize that all they're doing is delaying the confirmation of a good nominee. And I told Mr. Wash, when he was sitting in this chair, my position is as important for him as it is for the current Fed chair." Story TK.

It's primary day in ILLINOIS! Here's my run-up of the big story, the deluge of super PAC $. I'll use this thread today to mark What to Watch and clock the results. semafor.com/article/03/16/…

Big schisms developing between House and Senate Republicans on SAVE America Act that threatens bipartisan housing bill and maybe FISA. Rep. Luna says the Senate is having “a show debate. They’re literally tap-dancing … I think they’re going to get primaried.” But as some House Rs threaten to block all legislation until the Senate passes SAVE, senators don’t think about them at all: “I’m not sure who those guys even are. I listen to what the speaker says, otherwise, I don’t pay much attention,”says Sen. Marshall

"There’s an old saying in the House that the other party isn’t the enemy — it’s the Senate. Senators, for their parts, view House members like the Mad Men meme: They don’t think about them at all."

“President Trump has sincere beliefs that he doesn’t want to have more war, doesn’t want to have more troops on the ground, doesn’t want the ‘forever wars,’” Rand Paul told Semafor. "I wish there were more Joe Kents around, and less of the people who seem to be influencing foreign policy.” @ShelbyTalcott semafor.com/article/03/17/…

DOJ spox says Comer’s subpoena is “completely unnecessary” and argues that Bondi “has always made herself available to speak directly with members of Congress.” Adds: “She continues to have calls and meetings with members of Congress on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which is why the Department offered to brief the committee tomorrow.  As always, we look forward to continuing to provide policymakers with the facts.”

lol. Embarrassing per usual. “One TV insider called the breathless Trump phone exclusives “shameless.” Another said they thought it was “silly and doesn’t add much value.” Another said the interviews were “useless.” Of course, all 3 acknowledged that they had … called Trump.”

New - Oversight Chair Comer tells me the committee subpoena for AG Pam Bondi is going out “probably today”

Room for Disagreement: He should keep the mustache.

Read @daveweigel on the mindbending new landscape of money and politics semafor.com/article/03/16/…

👀 scoop from @ShelbyTalcott: “Israel informed the US this week that it is running critically low on ballistic missile interceptors as the conflict with Iran rages on, US officials told Semafor.” semafor.com/article/03/14/…