Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 2h

Cohen told @axios.com he left the Progressive Caucus due to a rule requiring members to vote with the group a certain amount of the time.

"I'm not a person who likes to be confined by somebody else's rules for membership," he said.

Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 2h

NEW: Justin Pearson of the "Tennessee 3" is challenging Rep. Steve Cohen.

There's an age dynamic: Cohen is 76, Pearson is 30.

And an ideological one: Cohen left CPC last year + is pro-Israel. Pearson says war in Gaza is a "genocide."

@axios.com www.axios.com/2025/10/08/j...

"Tennessee Three" member Justin Pearson runs to oust Rep. Steve Cohen

Pearson is one of the most high-profile primary challengers to an older House Democrat.

www.axios.com

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 2h

NEW: Justin Pearson of the "Tennessee 3" is challenging Rep. Steve Cohen.

There's an age dynamic: Cohen is 76, Pearson is 30.

And an ideological one: Cohen left CPC last year + is pro-Israel. Pearson says war in Gaza is a "genocide."

@axios.com www.axios.com/2025/10/08/j...

"Tennessee Three" member Justin Pearson runs to oust Rep. Steve Cohen

Pearson is one of the most high-profile primary challengers to an older House Democrat.

www.axios.com

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: Luke Bronin, the former Hartford mayor trying to primary 77-year-old Rep. John Larson, raised $1.2 million in the two months since launching his bid, @axios.com has learned.

Larson's campaign said he's raised over $1 million in all of 2025. www.axios.com/2025/10/06/j...

Scoop: Ex-mayor raises $1.2M to oust 77-year-old Democratic Rep. John Larson in primary

Bronin is one of the most well-funded Democrats trying to take out a congressional incumbent.

www.axios.com

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Reposted by Andrew Solender

Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · 6d

New: The Supreme Court tentatively green-lit Trump's pocket rescissions, which will make ending a shutdown hard — and the *entire* approps process harder

"What’s the point of passing a bill if they just do whatever the hell they want to do anyway?," one Senate Dem said
www.notus.org/courts/scotu...

Bipartisan Funding Deals Are Hard to Do. The Supreme Court Might Have Made Them Impossible.

“What’s the point of passing a bill if they just do whatever the hell they want to do anyway?” one Senate Democrat said.

www.notus.org

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 6d

Democratic Rep. Jared Golden: “This government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump.”

Big break w/ Dems (from the one House Dem who supported the GOP CR).

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Reposted by Andrew Solender

Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · 7d

Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva hasn't been sworn in, so she has to roam Congress with an escort

I saw her this morning going through security along visitors — something lawmakers don't need to do when walking into the Capitol

More on her limbo status here:
www.notus.org/congress/ade...

Voters Elected Her to Congress. Mike Johnson Is Making Her Wait.

“At this point, I can’t hire staff. We don’t have an office. I can’t get around without being escorted,” Arizona’s incoming House Democrat, Adelita Grijalva, said Tuesday.

www.notus.org

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 8d

Schumer says Trump "seemed to, for the first time, understand the magnitude of this crisis. And we hope he'll talk to the Republican leaders and tell them we need bipartisan input on health care, on rescissions, into their bill."

Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 8d

Schumer says he and Jeffries "laid out to the president some of the consequences of what is happening in health care," such as the closing of hospitals and clinics and rising premiums.

"By his face and by the way he looked, I think he heard about them for the first time."

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 8d

Schumer says he and Jeffries "laid out to the president some of the consequences of what is happening in health care," such as the closing of hospitals and clinics and rising premiums.

"By his face and by the way he looked, I think he heard about them for the first time."

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 8d

NEW: House Dem Whip Clark sends Speaker Johnson a letter railing against the cancellation of votes today & tmrw.

Says the resultant delay in Adelita Grijalva's swearing in "calls into question if the motive behind the delay is to further avoid the release of the Epstein files."

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 9d

Some Democrats are going so far as to scour their own personal finances to ensure there isn’t anything the Trump administration could use to try to prosecute them.

“Many are ... going through mortgages, tax returns, etc.," one senior House Dem told @axios.com t.co/LIrNaBGOHY

https://www.axios.com/2025/09/29/trump-democrats-comey-indictment-mciver

t.co

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 9d

so then what's your confusion about me covering a member of congress and not other politicians who don't serve in congress

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 9d

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 9d

More here: www.axios.com/2025/09/28/e...

Jeffries praises Eric Adams for "courageously" serving NYC after mayor ends campaign

The House Democratic leader said he will weigh in on the NYC mayoral race "well before" the start of early voting on Oct. 25.

www.axios.com

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 9d

NEW: Jeffries praises Eric Adams in a statement, saying he has "served courageously and authentically for decades" and that "meaningful progress has been made" during his mayoralty.

Says he will "publicly weigh in" on the mayoral race "well before the start of early voting.”

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Reposted by Andrew Solender

Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · 19d

SCOOP: Pam Bondi called @ericswalwell.bsky.social after he said DOJ refused to prosecute death threats against him

“Hopefully there’s some action,” he said

But other House Dems claim DOJ hasn’t prosecuted threats against them — and they don’t trust Bondi to do it now
www.notus.org/congress/bon...

House Democrats Doubt the Trump Administration Takes Threats Against Them Seriously

“Every single person in the caucus,” one House Democrat said, “is scared right now.”

www.notus.org

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Reposted by Andrew Solender

Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · 19d

SCOOP: Some House Democrats have a new worry as member security concerns continue: That they can't rely on their local law enforcement for protection

"Coordinating with local enforcement is one option, but we don’t all have that option," Rep. Steven Horsford told me
www.notus.org/democrats/me...

Democrats' New Fear: They Can’t Rely on Local Law Enforcement for Protection

“They called the local sheriff, they showed up and were going to arrest me,” said Rep. Steven Horsford.

www.notus.org

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 19d

NEW: House Dems had an intense discussion this AM on the vote to honor Charlie Kirk.

“That was the ugliest meeting I’ve ever seen," a senior House Dem told @axios.com

One fear that was raised: "If everybody's not a 'yes', the 'no's' will get targeted." www.axios.com/2025/09/18/c...

Democrats voice fears of violence over Charlie Kirk vote: "Ugliest meeting I've ever seen"

One member "point blank" expressed the view that there could be violent repercussions "because of our not being together."

www.axios.com

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 20d

NEW: Expect some drama in House Dems’ meeting this AM over a vote to honor Charlie Kirk.

Some members undecided. Others voting no or “present.” But some in the party fear anything but a unanimous vote for it will be a messaging coup for the GOP.

@Axios.com
www.axios.com/2025/09/18/c...

House Democrats fume about vote to honor Charlie Kirk: "We're being totally set up"

The vote has been the topic of frenzied discussions in Democrats' closed-door meeting this week.

www.axios.com

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 20d

Some incentive for Republicans to vote against the Ilhan Omar censure resolution:

If it is tabled or referred to the Ethics Committee tonight, CPC Chair Greg Casar is expected to withdraw his resolution to censure GOP Rep. Cory Mills, sources tell @axios.com www.axios.com/2025/09/17/i...

"They move one, we move one": Inside Dems' game plan on the Ilhan Omar censure

Rep. Greg Casar is expected to withdraw his censure resolution against Rep. Cory Mills if the Omar censure fails.

www.axios.com

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Reposted by Andrew Solender

Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · 21d

New: As Republicans added $58M for security of the federal judiciary in the CR, nearly 50 fmr judges wrote a letter warning against threats to judicial independence

These threats, they said, are largely fueled by anti-judge rhetoric coming from the GOP and the WH
www.notus.org/courts/judge...

Former Judges Warn Against ‘Fiery Rhetoric’ as Republicans Propose Security Funding Boost for the Judiciary

Criticism against the judiciary “is not new to this administration,” a former federal judge said. “What is new is the volume and also the rhetoric that’s attendant to it.”

www.notus.org

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 21d

Jeffries responds to this at his presser: "I haven't had a conversation with any member of Congress who's expressed frustration to me as it relates to the New York City mayoral race."

Asked about Chris Van Hollen's criticism, he says: "I think we had a response to that."

Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 21d

NEW: Jeffries facing growing frustration from his progressive members for not yet endorsing Mamdani.

“It makes some of us ... wonder: Is this a leader that truly represents me, or will this leader discard me when people think I'm too progressive?"

@axios.com www.axios.com/2025/09/16/z...

Scoop: "Inconsistent and hypocritical": Democratic leaders face internal rage over Mamdani

"It makes some of us wonder: Is this a leader that truly represents me?" said one House progressive.

www.axios.com

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 21d

News in here: Mamdani was at the CPC PAC retreat this past weekend, per four members.

He was "extremely well-received," said one.

Another said he spoke about "how we need to, as Democrats, push our own party."

Anger w/ Jeffries came up "multiple times" at the retreat as well.

Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 21d

NEW: Jeffries facing growing frustration from his progressive members for not yet endorsing Mamdani.

“It makes some of us ... wonder: Is this a leader that truly represents me, or will this leader discard me when people think I'm too progressive?"

@axios.com www.axios.com/2025/09/16/z...

Scoop: "Inconsistent and hypocritical": Democratic leaders face internal rage over Mamdani

"It makes some of us wonder: Is this a leader that truly represents me?" said one House progressive.

www.axios.com

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 21d

NEW: Jeffries facing growing frustration from his progressive members for not yet endorsing Mamdani.

“It makes some of us ... wonder: Is this a leader that truly represents me, or will this leader discard me when people think I'm too progressive?"

@axios.com www.axios.com/2025/09/16/z...

Scoop: "Inconsistent and hypocritical": Democratic leaders face internal rage over Mamdani

"It makes some of us wonder: Is this a leader that truly represents me?" said one House progressive.

www.axios.com

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 22d

At least six Democrats spotted at the Charlie Kirk vigil: Tom Suozzi, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, John Larson, Debbie Dingell, Don Davis and Chris Pappas

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Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 25d

Not every Democrat thinks the party should be pushing for gun control legislation in response to the Charlie Kirk shooting.

“Calling for policy responses that are probably the opposite of his politics is just not right," Rep. Jared Golden told @axios.com www.axios.com/2025/09/12/c...

Not every Democrat thinks the party should push gun control after Charlie Kirk shooting

"Calling for policy responses that are probably the opposite of his politics is just not right," said Rep. Jared Golden.

www.axios.com

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