Benjamin S. Weiss
@benjaminweiss.bsky.social
Covering Congress for Courthouse News Service in Washington, D.C. | “Mustache” - Sen. Chuck Schumer | Fmr nukes journo & unofficial Cap Hill motorsport correspondent 🏎️
bweiss@courthousenews.com
@benjaminsweiss on the other sites
bweiss@courthousenews.com
@benjaminsweiss on the other sites
In the midst of budget negotiations, here’s the president posting an AI-altered clip of Leader Jeffries & Leader Schumer in which an AI clone of Schumer refers to Dems as “just a bunch of woke pieces of shit” & claims Dems will give “all these illegal aliens free health care.”
September 30, 2025 at 12:39 AM
In the midst of budget negotiations, here’s the president posting an AI-altered clip of Leader Jeffries & Leader Schumer in which an AI clone of Schumer refers to Dems as “just a bunch of woke pieces of shit” & claims Dems will give “all these illegal aliens free health care.”
If you missed today's stream you missed Sen. Dick Durbin's X notifs summoning an energy sword battle:
September 12, 2025 at 11:10 PM
If you missed today's stream you missed Sen. Dick Durbin's X notifs summoning an energy sword battle:
Mike Johnson’s message to cities under threat of military intervention by the White House: “Yield, man!”
“Let the troops come into your city and show how crime could be reduced.”
“Let the troops come into your city and show how crime could be reduced.”
September 9, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Mike Johnson’s message to cities under threat of military intervention by the White House: “Yield, man!”
“Let the troops come into your city and show how crime could be reduced.”
“Let the troops come into your city and show how crime could be reduced.”
Mike Johnson’s message to cities under threat of military intervention by the White House: “Yield, man!”
“Let the troops come into your city and show how crime could be reduced.”
“Let the troops come into your city and show how crime could be reduced.”
September 9, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Mike Johnson’s message to cities under threat of military intervention by the White House: “Yield, man!”
“Let the troops come into your city and show how crime could be reduced.”
“Let the troops come into your city and show how crime could be reduced.”
Saturday night blue slip hate post from the president — again, at the moment there’s basically zero political will from Republicans in the Senate to end blue slips … though Trump’s said he could sue them to try (still unclear on what grounds).
www.courthousenews.com/trump-eyes-s...
www.courthousenews.com/trump-eyes-s...
August 31, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Saturday night blue slip hate post from the president — again, at the moment there’s basically zero political will from Republicans in the Senate to end blue slips … though Trump’s said he could sue them to try (still unclear on what grounds).
www.courthousenews.com/trump-eyes-s...
www.courthousenews.com/trump-eyes-s...
Trump says he’ll file a lawsuit challenging blue slips … but also acknowledges that it’s not a practice enshrined in law.
“This is based on an old custom, it’s not based on law, and I think it’s unconstitutional and I’ll probably be filing a suit on that pretty soon.”
“This is based on an old custom, it’s not based on law, and I think it’s unconstitutional and I’ll probably be filing a suit on that pretty soon.”
August 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Trump says he’ll file a lawsuit challenging blue slips … but also acknowledges that it’s not a practice enshrined in law.
“This is based on an old custom, it’s not based on law, and I think it’s unconstitutional and I’ll probably be filing a suit on that pretty soon.”
“This is based on an old custom, it’s not based on law, and I think it’s unconstitutional and I’ll probably be filing a suit on that pretty soon.”
14th & U St NW, Washington DC 08/21/2025
August 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
14th & U St NW, Washington DC 08/21/2025
The scene just before 5pm at the corner of 14th and U St NW, where the “Defend the District” event is about to kick off.
Pretty sizeable MPD presence on both sides of the street — Pres. Trump is expected to travel around DC neighborhoods this evening to meet with police.
Pretty sizeable MPD presence on both sides of the street — Pres. Trump is expected to travel around DC neighborhoods this evening to meet with police.
August 21, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The scene just before 5pm at the corner of 14th and U St NW, where the “Defend the District” event is about to kick off.
Pretty sizeable MPD presence on both sides of the street — Pres. Trump is expected to travel around DC neighborhoods this evening to meet with police.
Pretty sizeable MPD presence on both sides of the street — Pres. Trump is expected to travel around DC neighborhoods this evening to meet with police.
From the other site: AG Pam Bondi is touting the 86 illegal gun seizures fed law enforcement has made in the two weeks they've been active in D.C. - but local police data shows that rate is more or less on pace with the city's firearm recoveries in 2024.
August 21, 2025 at 1:57 PM
From the other site: AG Pam Bondi is touting the 86 illegal gun seizures fed law enforcement has made in the two weeks they've been active in D.C. - but local police data shows that rate is more or less on pace with the city's firearm recoveries in 2024.
NEW: In a statement, Fed Governor Lisa Cook says she learned about FHFA director Bill Pulte DOJ referral from media reports & responds to Trump’s call for her resignation.
“I have no intention of being bullied to step down from my position because of some questions raised in a tweet,” she said.
“I have no intention of being bullied to step down from my position because of some questions raised in a tweet,” she said.
August 20, 2025 at 9:51 PM
NEW: In a statement, Fed Governor Lisa Cook says she learned about FHFA director Bill Pulte DOJ referral from media reports & responds to Trump’s call for her resignation.
“I have no intention of being bullied to step down from my position because of some questions raised in a tweet,” she said.
“I have no intention of being bullied to step down from my position because of some questions raised in a tweet,” she said.
Relatively quiet on my 5 mile PM walkabout from Adams Morgan ➡️ U St ➡️ the White House, save for some National Guard by McPherson Metro & a few MPD.
Did have a nice chat tho with the guy who sells custom hats on 14th St who was interested in the upside down Ilabb logo on mine
Did have a nice chat tho with the guy who sells custom hats on 14th St who was interested in the upside down Ilabb logo on mine
August 20, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Relatively quiet on my 5 mile PM walkabout from Adams Morgan ➡️ U St ➡️ the White House, save for some National Guard by McPherson Metro & a few MPD.
Did have a nice chat tho with the guy who sells custom hats on 14th St who was interested in the upside down Ilabb logo on mine
Did have a nice chat tho with the guy who sells custom hats on 14th St who was interested in the upside down Ilabb logo on mine
Trump says museums in Washington and all over the country are “the last remaining segment of ‘WOKE.’”
August 19, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Trump says museums in Washington and all over the country are “the last remaining segment of ‘WOKE.’”
ICE has not responded to my multiple requests for comment on whether the Ford Raptors and GMC Yukons featured in a recruiting video last week violate DHS guidelines for political speech on agency fleet vehicles - the trucks have Pres. Trump's name emblazoned on them.
August 19, 2025 at 1:24 PM
ICE has not responded to my multiple requests for comment on whether the Ford Raptors and GMC Yukons featured in a recruiting video last week violate DHS guidelines for political speech on agency fleet vehicles - the trucks have Pres. Trump's name emblazoned on them.
It took DC police 90 minutes to arrive at the scene of a car crash on I-295 Saturday night.
August 18, 2025 at 1:28 PM
It took DC police 90 minutes to arrive at the scene of a car crash on I-295 Saturday night.
Whoa, MPD chief Pamela Smith says in court filing that DC police were “unaware” of Trump’s plan to place them under federal control until he announced it at Monday’s news conference.
August 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Whoa, MPD chief Pamela Smith says in court filing that DC police were “unaware” of Trump’s plan to place them under federal control until he announced it at Monday’s news conference.
Jk they just added more cars
August 9, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Jk they just added more cars
Oop, DHS appears to have DELETED its IndyCar inspired “Speedway Slammer” post despite the agency doubling down on its marketing for the planned detention facility — after IndyCar itself asked DHS to stop using its intellectual property to promote the project.
August 8, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Oop, DHS appears to have DELETED its IndyCar inspired “Speedway Slammer” post despite the agency doubling down on its marketing for the planned detention facility — after IndyCar itself asked DHS to stop using its intellectual property to promote the project.
Whoa — DHS spokesperson on this: “An AI generated image of a car with ‘ICE’ on the side does not violate anyone’s intellectual property rights. Any suggestion to the contrary is absurd.”
Says DHS will continue promoting “Speedway Slammer” detention facility.
Says DHS will continue promoting “Speedway Slammer” detention facility.
August 6, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Whoa — DHS spokesperson on this: “An AI generated image of a car with ‘ICE’ on the side does not violate anyone’s intellectual property rights. Any suggestion to the contrary is absurd.”
Says DHS will continue promoting “Speedway Slammer” detention facility.
Says DHS will continue promoting “Speedway Slammer” detention facility.
DHS yesterday evening posting an AI pic of an Indycar chassis car with an ICE livery.
In real life, the 5 car is driven by Pato O’Ward — who is from Mexico.
In real life, the 5 car is driven by Pato O’Ward — who is from Mexico.
August 6, 2025 at 11:59 AM
DHS yesterday evening posting an AI pic of an Indycar chassis car with an ICE livery.
In real life, the 5 car is driven by Pato O’Ward — who is from Mexico.
In real life, the 5 car is driven by Pato O’Ward — who is from Mexico.
He forgot the additional Taylor Swift hate down at the bottom:
August 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
He forgot the additional Taylor Swift hate down at the bottom:
Trump says “Sidney” Sweeney’s American Eagle ad spot is the “HOTTEST ad out there.”
August 4, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Trump says “Sidney” Sweeney’s American Eagle ad spot is the “HOTTEST ad out there.”
In a statement, Sen. Durbin, top Dem on Judiciary, says he's "disappointed but not surprised" with Trump's call to end the blue slip.
In Judiciary just now he thanks Grassley for standing by the practice & says he hopes "that continues to be the case."
"Yes," Grassley replies.
In Judiciary just now he thanks Grassley for standing by the practice & says he hopes "that continues to be the case."
"Yes," Grassley replies.
July 30, 2025 at 2:27 PM
In a statement, Sen. Durbin, top Dem on Judiciary, says he's "disappointed but not surprised" with Trump's call to end the blue slip.
In Judiciary just now he thanks Grassley for standing by the practice & says he hopes "that continues to be the case."
"Yes," Grassley replies.
In Judiciary just now he thanks Grassley for standing by the practice & says he hopes "that continues to be the case."
"Yes," Grassley replies.
Statement from Grassley spox doesn't signal to me that he's ready to walk away from blue slips - spox points out that Grassley/Judiciary have already moved US atty noms with Dem blue slip approval and that "all 100 senators have a say" on noms once they clear Judiciary.
July 30, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Statement from Grassley spox doesn't signal to me that he's ready to walk away from blue slips - spox points out that Grassley/Judiciary have already moved US atty noms with Dem blue slip approval and that "all 100 senators have a say" on noms once they clear Judiciary.