Leigh Ann Caldwell
@lacaldwelldc.bsky.social
Chief Washington Correspondent @Puck. Mostly on the Hill. Frmly Washington Post, NBC News, CNN, etc. LeighAnn@Puck.news
Plus, the party is undergoing its most significant generational shift in years. There are many calls from the left for Schumer to step aside, too, or to be primaried.
But most Dems think he won't run for reelex. The bigger q is if he is leader after 26:
puck.news/how-democrat...
But most Dems think he won't run for reelex. The bigger q is if he is leader after 26:
puck.news/how-democrat...
Can Democrats Become a Big Tent Party?
An analysis of the Democratic Party’s evolving identity post-Pelosi, from Crooked Con tensions to leadership succession questions reshaping the party’s direction.
puck.news
November 10, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Plus, the party is undergoing its most significant generational shift in years. There are many calls from the left for Schumer to step aside, too, or to be primaried.
But most Dems think he won't run for reelex. The bigger q is if he is leader after 26:
puck.news/how-democrat...
But most Dems think he won't run for reelex. The bigger q is if he is leader after 26:
puck.news/how-democrat...
Trump knows he's doing poorly on the economy and he's planning on refocusing on it heading into the new year, a person familiar says. He'll roll out new economic policies focusing on costs and is confident the economy will be better next year.
puck.news/2026-midterm...
puck.news/2026-midterm...
’26-7
Republicans feel confident about 2026 midterms despite Trump’s economic struggles. Analysis of early messaging strategies and generic ballot trends.
puck.news
November 3, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Trump knows he's doing poorly on the economy and he's planning on refocusing on it heading into the new year, a person familiar says. He'll roll out new economic policies focusing on costs and is confident the economy will be better next year.
puck.news/2026-midterm...
puck.news/2026-midterm...
A turning point in how Johnson governed was last December. He nuked a bipartisan health care package Johnson after Trump and Elon Musk said they didn’t like it, turning him from dealmaker to Trump placater. puck.news/mike-johnson...
Johnson & Thune’s Long Surrender
Mike Johnson & John Thune’s Long SurrenderMeta dek: Nine months into Trump’s second term, the House speaker and Senate majority leader are relinquishing many of their powers to the president. “I think...
puck.news
October 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
A turning point in how Johnson governed was last December. He nuked a bipartisan health care package Johnson after Trump and Elon Musk said they didn’t like it, turning him from dealmaker to Trump placater. puck.news/mike-johnson...
Rounds also told me that one problem for Republicans extending ACA subsidies is that it includes the Hyde Amendment (abortion coverage) and Republicans won't to along with that...
puck.news/mike-rounds-...
puck.news/mike-rounds-...
Rounds in the Ring
The South Dakota senator dishes on A.I. policy, as well as the latest on the government shutdown, and whether Pete Hegseth should go.
puck.news
October 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Rounds also told me that one problem for Republicans extending ACA subsidies is that it includes the Hyde Amendment (abortion coverage) and Republicans won't to along with that...
puck.news/mike-rounds-...
puck.news/mike-rounds-...
Thune confirmed those conversations today, telling me "the White House, at least my understanding is, has signaled that as well."
"They're going to have to do some things--have done some things...which I think could be eliminated if the Dems vote to open," Thune said.
"They're going to have to do some things--have done some things...which I think could be eliminated if the Dems vote to open," Thune said.
October 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Thune confirmed those conversations today, telling me "the White House, at least my understanding is, has signaled that as well."
"They're going to have to do some things--have done some things...which I think could be eliminated if the Dems vote to open," Thune said.
"They're going to have to do some things--have done some things...which I think could be eliminated if the Dems vote to open," Thune said.
There are very preliminary conversations--more like musings--happening among a bipartisan group about rolling back some of the actions Trump took/is taking during the shutdown. puck.news/how-trump-is...
Schumer’s Shutdown Prophecy
Back in March, Democrats feared a shutdown would unshackle Trump to run roughshod over what remains of Congress’s funding power. His predictions are now coming true—but Dems feel fine.
puck.news
October 16, 2025 at 3:10 PM
There are very preliminary conversations--more like musings--happening among a bipartisan group about rolling back some of the actions Trump took/is taking during the shutdown. puck.news/how-trump-is...
I'm not arguing with any of that. But I also talk to Republicans, and they are very confident in their position as well.
October 15, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I'm not arguing with any of that. But I also talk to Republicans, and they are very confident in their position as well.
I talk to these people all day. They're pretty dug in. Yes there are one or two outliers, but they're together on this. Same with the Dems. That's why the gov't will be shut for a while.
October 15, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I talk to these people all day. They're pretty dug in. Yes there are one or two outliers, but they're together on this. Same with the Dems. That's why the gov't will be shut for a while.
Some Dems see political risk in Greene’s positioning. One Democratic aide called her a “dangerous Venn diagram” who appeals to a cross-section of people as a “pro-Palestinian, anti-genocide, anti-woke, right-wing woman who can speak to young men and cares about healthcare.” puck.news/why-democrat...
Who’s Down with M.T.G.?
As Marjorie Taylor Greene has publicly broken with Trump and the G.O.P. on issues from Israel to Epstein to Obamacare, her posturing might be about something much bigger than frustration with her part...
puck.news
October 13, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Some Dems see political risk in Greene’s positioning. One Democratic aide called her a “dangerous Venn diagram” who appeals to a cross-section of people as a “pro-Palestinian, anti-genocide, anti-woke, right-wing woman who can speak to young men and cares about healthcare.” puck.news/why-democrat...