*Thank you so much for joining us for our AMA! We enjoyed having the chance to engage with you all. We may be able to provide additional responses, so feel free to continue asking your pressing questions on the SOTU and congressional priorities. If you're interested in following our reporting further on SOTU, Congress, and the power, people and politics shaping Washington, sign up for our free weekday morning newsletter.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi r/Politics, we’re Punchbowl News reporters Andrew Desiderio and Laura Weiss. Yesterday, we published a special edition newsletter previewing the State of the Union. This morning, we’re ready to discuss all things SOTU and legislative priorities in Congress. We’ll be answering your questions today, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST.
From the DHS shutdown to clashes over affordability, tariffs, health care and foreign policy, we’ve been laser-focused on covering the issues making waves in the lead up to last night’s address to Congress by President Trump and that voters are taking into consideration heading into the midterm elections.
Some of the topics we’re excited to dig into:
- The DHS shutdown and ongoing debates about reforming the agency and ICE
- The future of the Federal Reserve and nomination fights
- The biggest issues shaping conversations about the midterm elections, from health care to tariffs and national security
- Takeaways from the State of the Union and how Democrats and Republicans are feeling about the road ahead
- Legislative priorities for Congress as we head into a contentious election season
PROOF:
https://imgur.com/a/punchbowl-news-ama-andrew-desiderio-x4qm6YL
We’re Punchbowl News reporters covering the State of the Union and legislative priorities coming out of Washington. Ask us anything.
byu/Punchbowl-News inpolitics
13 Comments
Off the record or privately, how do conservatives rationalize the erosion of norms with this administration? Are they generally supportive of Trump’s methods as a way to fight back against perceived liberal/progressive overreach or do they express concern and the hope that a post-Trump Republican administration will revert to politics as usual?
How are they getting away with such a cover-up related to the Epstein files? It’s clear they implicate Trump in something illegal or unethical or both. What’s the end game here?
From your reporting, what’s the biggest misconception the public has about how legislation actually moves through Congress?
With administration priorities still moving and nearly all CBP employees and most ICE employees being paid during shutdown, how does it end? Is the only pressure point TSA sick outs? Is there an expectation that negotiations will pick up now that everyone is back in town and Trump didn’t say anything in SOTU to derail negotiations?
Eyyyy! Thank you for your work , yall are great.
What is the current momentum on Rose DeLauro’s part funding of DHS, or funding of individual agencies like USCG, TSA, or FEMA?
Is there any historic precedent for funding specific agencies without full appropriations for the relevant department?
Why are you sane-washing the frankly insane speech that was given last night? Do you honestly think the headline “Why Trump’s State of the Union is Different This Time” accurately depicts a speech that called voting a privilege, insisted that a third term was possible, had graphic descriptions of murders, and attacks on pretty much everyone that hasn’t lock-stepped his agenda?
How does it feel to be a journalist in a budding dictatorship, do you worry a lot? What’s your exit plan?
Hey there! What’s for dinner today?
Why do interviewers seem to have a hard time pushing back or asking follow ups when they know guests are lying? Is there a sense that getting known as a tough interviewer leaves you with less people to interview?
Given the Supreme Court’s decision on tariffs, what are the next steps for congress there?
Trump’s speech dwelled extensively on past victories like the economy and border security, but skimmed over concrete future plans beyond vague promises. How does this backward thinking victory lap square on motivating Republican voters to vote in the midterms, if everything’s already “great”.
Also, please be honest, do people bring snacks into SOTU? 2 hours is a long time without snacks.
Thanks for doing this! In terms of AI, what are you anticipating anything in the near term? Technologists like Rahul Powar at Red Sift have been talking more about the weaponization of AI for hacking and brand impersonation so just generally curious whether there’s any appetite for revisiting the topic outside consensus issues
Are you aware of any GOP congress people actually trying to help average Americans? (because I don’t see any evidence of it)