Stef Kight

Scoop: Stephen Miller, Noem tell ICE to supercharge immigrant arrests Trump's top immigration officials are full-steam ahead in pushing for mass deportations.

"In a tense meeting last week, Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem demanded that immigration agents seek to arrest 3,000 people a day"

www.axios.com/2025/05/28/i...

From @stefkight.bsky.social

Welcome to Wednesday with @waytooearly.bsky.social — halfway mark to the week!
☀️ Sabrina Singh
☕️ @stefkight.bsky.social
🌞 Rep. @pramilajayapal.bsky.social
🌅 @tylerpager.bsky.social

If you’re up with us, say why here or email waytooearly@msnbc.com. #WayTooEarly

Pretty surprising interaction @stefkight.bsky.social and I had with John Thune:

Stef asked about the resolution on U.N. Ukraine:
Thune: "I don't know what's all behind that, my assumption it's part of the negotiation right now."

1/

White House blesses Senate backup plan on Mike Johnson's budget "We are moving forward with reconciliation tomorrow, foot on the gas," Barrasso told reporters.

“Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) raised the issue of Medicaid cuts during lunch — and received applause after telling Vance such cuts should be on the table, sources in the room told us.”
www.axios.com/2025/02/19/t... via @stefkight.bsky.social for @axios.com #txlege

Scoop: Trump team sweats McConnell's vote on Tulsi Gabbard Gabbard's team isn't banking on McConnell's vote, sources tell Axios.

NEW: Former leader Mitch McConnell's conspicuous silence is starting to spook Tulsi Gabbard's team

www.axios.com/2025/01/17/m...

Scoop: Sen. Marsha Blackburn eyeing run for Tennessee governor Blackburn would be a formidable contender in the 2026 gubernatorial race.

Scoop: Sen. Marsha Blackburn has been making calls and telling people she is likely to make a bid for governor www.axios.com/2025/01/14/m...

Scoop: Trump previews 100 executive orders, including immigration crackdown Senators were given previews of some of what they were told would be 100 executive orders

Scoop: Trump & Stephen Miller previewed ambitious plans for 100 executive orders during a meeting with Senate Rs last night, per sources in the room

-Title 42
-Using an authority allowing state and local law enforcement to assist ICE (287g)
-Border wall

www.axios.com/2025/01/09/t...

Inside Trump's closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans Trump keeps making it clear: He really doesn't care about the process.

NEW: Inside Trump's meeting w/ Senate Rs:

-Previewed early EO plans
-Stephen Miller walked through the Day 1 immigration EOs in detail
-Graham most passionate about 2-bill strategy
-Trump invited Sens + spouses to Mar-a-lago

(via multiple sources in room)
www.axios.com/2025/01/09/t...

Scoop: Alex Latcham joins Cory Gardner to run Senate Leadership Fund "I look forward to working with him as we lead SLF and build upon last cycle's historic success."

SCOOP: Alex Latcham joins Cory Gardner to run Senate Leadership Fund www.axios.com/2025/01/09/s...

Scoop: Senate Dems delay Tulsi Gabbard nomination Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is balking at GOP requests to hold a hearing for Gabbard early next week.

Scoop w/ @stephenneukam.bsky.social

Senate Dems are forcing a delay in Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation hearing next week, claiming she hasn't provided required vetting materials — Republicans accuse them of playing games www.axios.com/2025/01/07/t...

Trump meeting with Senate Republicans on mega-MAGA moonshot The new GOP trifecta needs to get on the same page before the much harder decisions come due.

New: Trump is set to visit Senate Republicans on Wednesday evening — after publicly siding with House Speaker Mike Johnson over how to pass major policy wins through reconciliation

Capito, as policy chair, has made it clear Trump is welcome whenever he wants to join www.axios.com/2025/01/07/t...

Congress launches early immigration crackdown ahead of Trump inauguration Both chambers will vote on the Laken Riley Act as soon as this week.

New: Thune & Johnson are setting up the first votes of the 119th Congress — starting with the Laken Riley Act

Both chambers are expected to vote on the bill, which cracks down on undocumented immigrants, likely this week. Some Dems expected to vote yes www.axios.com/2025/01/07/t...

The Capitol building with security fencing and a blanketing of snow

Jan. 6, 2025

I’ll be joining CSPAN shortly to talk all things Congress — catch me at 8am!

Some Senate Rs are frustrated by the turn toward a single bill, I’m told

A big concern is that one bill would take too long: Some worry they won't be able to move fast enough to secure the border, opening them up to criticism

Trump's mega-MAGA moonshot Washington will soon witness a furious, multitrillion-dollar legislative and lobbying fight that likely will dominate politics.

Speaker Mike Johnson — with backing from Trump — is pushing for a single, massive bill that could include:

- Unprecedented $$ to tighten borders & deport people
- Huge tax cuts
- Energy deregulation
- + likely some hefty spending cuts to help pay for it

www.axios.com/2025/01/05/t...

Trump backs Mike Johnson to stay as House speaker The president-elect's backing could help Johnson put down a nascent right-wing revolt.

Trump gave Speaker Johnson his “Complete & Total Endorsement” to keep the gavel ahead of Friday’s House speaker election

It’s a big boost for Johnson who faces another potential conservative rebellion that could block his leadership path

www.axios.com/2024/12/30/d...

Scoop: Jeffries' plan to kill the debt ceiling forever Jeffries has privately expressed openness to embracing Trump's demand to abolish the debt ceiling.

SCOOP: Hakeem Jeffries has privately floated embracing the wholesale elimination of the debt limit next year rather than simply raising it.

The limits of the MAGA-verse "I think the big loser in all this is probably Johnson — but also Trump," said one GOP senator

Three times now, the influential voices surrounding Trump — often organizing on X — have failed to get exactly what they want

- Senate leadership
- Matt Gaetz for AG
- debt ceiling with CR

www.axios.com/2024/12/21/d...

👀For the first time in modern history, the House majority will rest on thinner margins than the Senate's in the 119th Congress

A "wild" stat according to Thune (and me)

www.axios.com/2024/12/20/t...

Scoop: GOP senator Josh Hawley pushes huge increase to child tax credit Hawley is proposing to let parents claim a credit for the tax year of the pregnancy.

Scoop: Hawley is making a big opening bid in the 2025 tax battle, calling for the child tax credit to increase from a max of $2,000 to $5,000 per kid

After a child is born, Hawley also wants to let parents claim a credit for the year of the pregnancy
www.axios.com/2024/12/17/j...

AOC loses key vote in race for Oversight Committee leader to Gerry Connolly It's a huge blow to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) hopes of leading the high-profile panel.

NEW: AOC loses House Democratic Steering Committee vote for Oversight ranking member to Gerry Connolly, sources tell @axios.com
www.axios.com/2024/12/16/a...

Rand Paul balks at Trump GOP's big-dollar border agenda "I think it's a terrible way to start," Paul said.

Rand Paul balks at Trump GOP's big-dollar border agenda

www.axios.com/2024/12/13/r...

Exclusive: RFK Jr.'s secret push to prove CIA killed uncle "RFK believes that and wants to get to the bottom of it," a source told Axios.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: RFK Jr. believes the CIA had a role in assassinating JFK and wants to get his daughter-in-law near the top of the agency to help prove it.

Exclusive: RFK Jr.'s secret push to prove CIA killed uncle "RFK believes that and wants to get to the bottom of it," a source told Axios.

SCOOP w/ @axios.com Mike Allen

RFK Jr. believes the CIA had a role in assassinating his uncle JFK — its part of his motivation for pushing Amaryllis Fox Kennedy for deputy CIA director

RKF Jr. has told people his daughter-in-law would help get to the bottom of it

www.axios.com/2024/12/11/r...

Scoop: RFK Jr. pushes his daughter-in-law for CIA deputy director Fox Kennedy spent nearly a decade at the CIA in her early career.

Scoop: RFK Jr.'s campaign manager and daughter-in-law Amaryllis Fox Kennedy is making a push to serve as deputy director at the CIA next year — and RFK Jr. is making calls on her behalf, @axios.com has learned

W/ @erindoherty.bsky.social

www.axios.com/2024/12/10/r...

McConnell "fine" after falling outside Senate GOP meeting McConnell is "fine," incoming Senate GOP leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Tuesday.

"Leader McConnell tripped following lunch. He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist. He has been cleared to resume his schedule," a spox said in a statement

www.axios.com/2024/12/10/m...

Senate Republicans give border crackdown top priority in 2025 Thune is trying to keep the package deficit-neutral.

Thune is actively seeking ways to make next year's border and defense package deficit-neutral, if not deficit-negative.

Despite pushback from House Republicans, Thune is full steam ahead on his two-part reconciliation plan for next year, sources tell me

www.axios.com/2024/12/10/j...

Sen. Bill Cassidy in the crosshairs over RFK Jr. nomination "He's a very independent-minded guy," Mitt Romney told Axios.

Cassidy’s politically tricky position:

-A doctor + HELP chair + Finance member. He’ll be key for RFK Jr.’s confirmation which will be controversial for a few reasons

-Up in 2026 — and already has one primary challenger citing his past vote to impeach Trump www.axios.com/2024/12/06/b...

Senate is about to WORK

- 179 working days (!)
- Fridays mostly in session
- No break for MLK/Inauguration weekend in January
- Senators have also been warned to prepare to work weekends in January, source tells me