Washington Reporter Thune brings Cassidy campaign cash, why Trump is right on
biotech, House GOP gives Trump an A+, and more!

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January 21st, 2026

In this edition


[1] INTERVIEW: Eight lawmakers support PBM reform and other health care
priorities
[2] INTERVIEW: Eight GOP lawmakers on an AI deal with KOSA and how to lower
energy costs
[3] Heard on the Hill
[4] EDITORIAL: President Donald Trump is right: beating China in biotech is a
national security imperative
[5] EXCLUSIVE: Senate Republicans unveil legislation to restrict visa issuance
to perpetrators of religious-based violence
[6] EXCLUSIVE: Thune fundraiser for Sen. Cassidy hauls in $652,000 in Baton
Rouge, contributing to $26 million that pro-Cassidy forces will roll out
[7] EXCLUSIVE: Kristi Noem announces latest historic border control win under
Trump
[8] EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans roll out legislation that would grant
bounties to Americans who turn in violent anti-ICE protesters
[9] SCOOP: House Republicans praise Trump's policy wins: "never seen a
president hit the ground running with as much energy as what he's done"
[10] SCOOP: EU attempts to undermine President Trump's pro-growth policies on
tech
[11] SCOOP: GOP AGs take center stage in fight to protect women's sports
[12] SCOOP: Sec. Duffy, Sen. Moreno, Rep. Latta cite "affordability wins" at
OhioFord plant
[13] OPINIONATED: Rep. Mike Simpson on why it's important to stand with ICE
against the radicals,Nathan Creech on how to fix America's trillion dollar
pothole, andMarc Cadin on rebuilding America's culture of saving
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[1] INTERVIEW: Eight lawmakers support PBM reform and other health care
priorities
By: Matthew Foldi

House Republicans are planning their legislative strategy to complement
President Donald Trump's focus on lowering costs for Americans on health care,
energy, and housing, as the president enters his second year.

This week, Speaker Mike Johnson's (R., La.) "minibus" included substantial
pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) reform that the administration and Republicans
have long called for, including restrictions on rebates for drugs purchased
through Medicare, more transparency requirements, and enforcement mechanisms to
lower drug prices. These provisions will likely be well-received by
Republicans, Democrats, and the administration, as PBM reform has been a
consensus priority for decades.

Several House Republicans interviewed by the Washington Reporter said that a
second reconciliation bill is the best vehicle to secure wins for Americans;
the Reporter conducted the interviews at the latest House GOP media row hosted
by Rep. Lisa McClain (R., Mich.), the House GOP's Conference Chairwoman.

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[2]
INTERVIEW: Eight GOP lawmakers on an AI deal with KOSA and how to lower energy
costs
By: Matthew Foldi

Republicans are heading into 2026 with plans to lower the cost of living for
Americans, including lowering energy costs, which many lawmakers told the
Washington Reporter will be key for unleashing America's artificial
intelligence (AI) and lowering the cost of housing.

The Reporter also asked lawmakers about a potential deal to pass legislation
that preempts state AI laws with the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Lawmakers
were largely supportive, with multiple members expressing support for a package
that protects kids while ensuring America's dominance in the AI race against
China.

One House Republican focusing on affordability issues is Rep. Mariannette
Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa), who told the Reporter in an interview at a media row
organized by House GOP Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R., Mich.) that "we have to
embrace all energy; we know nuclear is a part of that."

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[3] Heard on the Hill

* INTERVIEW INCOMING: Our editor-in-chief Matthew Foldi scored another
interview with President Donald Trump — we're going to roll out a special
edition of theWashington Reporter featuring a series of articles Foldi wrote
about his latest conversation with the 47th president.
* HISTORY MADE: President Donald Trump celebrated one year back in the White
House following his historic 2024 comeback earlier this week. Rep. Lisa McClain
(R., Mich.), the House GOP's Conference Chair, hosted another media row that the
Washington Reporter was on-site for. Stay tuned for coverage of that!
* 2026 WATCH: Austin Rogers, the general counsel to Sen. Rick Scott (R.,
Fla.), is seriously considering a congressional campaign in Florida's now-open
2nd District. Rogers could announce as soon as next week for the seat held by
Rep. Neal Dunn (R., Fla.). A source familiar with the campaign told the
Washington Reporter that "Rogers is a principled conservative, brilliant legal
mind, and honest public servant, running to be a strong ally to Trump's America
First agenda, and Sen. Scott's Florida First priorities."
* THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT: At Run Gen Z's annual conference last week, young
elected officials and future candidates seemed to agree on one thing: Marco
Rubio is the future of the GOP. Gen Z'ers named JD Vance and Pete Hegseth as
potential contenders, but it wasn't much of a competition.
* CONGRATS: Hannah Hagen, the Staff Director of House Homeland's Maritime
Subcommittee and Erik Shaw, auditor at KPMG, got engaged on a ski trip to Vail.
The power couple met in college, at SMU.
* RIGHT FROM POTUS: During our latest interview with President Donald Trump,
the President of the United States wished one of his schedulers, Grace Newton,
a happy birthday. He called her "a young woman with a great future" in his
interview with Matthew Foldi.
* THANKS FOR READING: The White House shared
<[link removed]> another one of our
articles — this time it was one about Kristi Noem's historic work with
President Donald Trump in securing America's borders.

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[4]
EDITORIAL: President Donald Trump is right: beating China in biotech is a
national security imperative
By: Washington Reporter Editors

For too long, Washington, D.C talked about "competition" with China while
China treated biotechnology as a strategic battlefield. President Donald Trump
is right to reject that complacency and to recognize that America's
technological dominance is something that must be a top priority.

As advisor to CEOs and author of a forthcoming book on China's economic model
Ram Charan recently argued in the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. should stop
treating China as a routine trade dispute and start approaching the country as
though we're at economic and technological war. China has spent hundreds of
billions of dollars to challenge American leadership in the biotech space.

Unfortunately, China is having some success.

The April 2025 report from the National Security Commission on Emerging
Biotechnology warned that China has rapidly closed the innovation gap with the
United States, surpassing America in the number of clinical trials and
licensing of new drugs. A Hill source sent us a December update to the report
that has even more alarming news, that China now sponsors more oncology trials
than the U.S. and has made massive advancements in AI.

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[5] EXCLUSIVE: Senate Republicans unveil legislation to restrict visa issuance
to perpetrators of religious-based violence
By: Matthew Foldi

A group of Republican senators, led by Sen. Ted Budd (R., N.C.) is
introducing legislation to ban foreign nationals who persecute religious
minorities from entering the United States.

Budd's legislation, obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter, the
Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act, is cosponsored by Sens. Ted
Cruz (R., Texas), Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), Jim Banks (R., Ind.), James Lankford
(R., Okla.), John Kennedy (R., La.), Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.), and Ashley
Moody (R., Fla.). The move amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA),
restricting visa issuance to individuals who have directed, authorized,
significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of
religious freedom.

"Nigeria is just one of many examples where non-state actors and terrorist
groups are carrying out kidnappings and killings of Christians and other
religious minorities," Budd told the Reporter. "It is entirely unacceptable for
the U.S., a nation founded on the principle of religious freedom, to allow such
foreign nationals into our country. By codifying the Trump administration's
directive to bar these malign actors from obtaining U.S. visas, we are
establishing robust consequences for violators and sending a loud and clear
message to the rest of the world that America will not tolerate any attack on
religious freedom."

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A message from our sponsor.

<[link removed]>
In America, parents—not the government—should decide what's best for their
kids.

The App Store "Accountability" Act strips away your choice, forcing app
stores to share your child's personal information with apps.

Tell Congress to keep parents in control of their families online.

Learn more at netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe
<[link removed]>


[6] EXCLUSIVE: Thune fundraiser for Sen. Cassidy hauls in $652,000 in Baton
Rouge, contributing to $26 million that pro-Cassidy forces will roll out
By: Matthew Foldi

The top Senate Republican is headed to Louisiana to help his colleague out
ahead of a contentious primary race. According to figures obtained by the
Washington Reporter, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) helped Sen.
Bill Cassidy (R., La.) raise over half a million dollars during a swing through
the Bayou State.

The duo hauled in $652,000 at a Baton Rouge fundraiser, the Reporter can
exclusively confirm. They were joined by a slew of VIPs, including state Reps.
Dixon McMakin, Peter Egan, and Lauren Ventrella, along with Louisiana Senate
President Cameron Henry, Gary Bennett, the assistant executive director of the
Louisiana Sheriff's Association, Central Mayor Wade Evans, Lane Grigsby, Gordon
McKernon, Beckett Bechnel, John Condos, Jonathan Bruser, David Gaines, Kristy
Nichols, Rodney Alexander, Tyron Picard, Joe Genderon, Bill Goldring, Gordon
LeBlanc, Amanda Martin, Teddy Ray Price, Eddie Rispone, Chuck Stenbeck, Joe
Spell, Bob Whelan, and Mike Wampold.

The two also traveled the state to pitch the agenda that they worked on
alongside President Donald Trump — specifically the Working Families Tax Cuts
Act, which they discussed at Phil's Oyster Bar and Grill. That bill's
provisions, including its ban on taxes on tips, were at the forefront of the
discussion. Thune, who endorsed Cassidy months ago, emphasized that the Senate
GOP leadership is fully behind the pro-life Louisiana lawmaker.

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[7] EXCLUSIVE: Kristi Noem announces latest historic border control win under
Trump
By: Matthew Foldi

The Trump administration notched its latest historic milestone when it comes
to border security: for the eighth consecutive month, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) recorded zero parole releases.

Figures from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obtained exclusively
by theWashington Reporter show the difference between the Trump and Biden
administrations. In one instance, DHS pointed to "209 USBP apprehensions per
day on the southwest border in December — 96% lower than the daily average
under the Biden administration, and less than the number apprehended every 1.5
hours under the Biden administration."

That complements the zero parole releases from December 2025, "compared to
7,041 released by the Border Patrol under the Biden administration along the
southwest border in December 2024," DHS noted.


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[8]
EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans roll out legislation that would grant bounties
to Americans who turn in violent anti-ICE protesters
By: Matthew Foldi

Rep. Tim Moore (R., N.C.) is introducing legislation obtained exclusively by
theWashington Reporter that incentivizes Americans to turn in individuals who
harm or kill federal law enforcement officers.

Moore's legislation, the No Bounties on Badges Act, authorizes rewards for
information leading to the arrest, conviction, or prevention of people who
offer bounties to harm or kill law enforcement officers.

"As law enforcement officers across services are increasingly targeted by
radicals, Congress has to do something to stand up for them," Moore told the
Reporter. "I'm disgusted by the dangerous rhetoric likening police officers to
Nazis — and now some are going even further, literally putting a price tag on
their lives. That's why I introduced the No Bounties on Badges Act in the House
to send a clear message that if you put a bounty on our officers, we'll put a
bounty on you."

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[9] SCOOP: House Republicans praise Trump's policy wins: "never seen a
president hit the ground running with as much energy as what he's done"
By: Matthew Foldi

President Donald Trump deserves no less than an "A" to an "A+" for what eight
House Republicans told theWashington Reporter has been a historic first year,
singling out the administration's wins on everything from border security to
foreign policy.

"To give him an A+ or a 5.0 on a 4.0 scale might sound ridiculous, but I've
been here for a long time and I've never seen a president hit the ground
running with as much energy as what he's done," Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.)
told the Reporter in an interview.

Multiple lawmakers cited Trump's success in keeping his promises. "He's a man
who means what he says and says what he means," Rep. John McGuire (R., Va.)
said. "Every president in my lifetime said they want peace in the Middle East,
he got two deals done. He moved our embassy to Jerusalem. Biden said we need
legislation to secure the border, but that was wrong; we just needed a new
president. Americans are safer, murder rates are down, we're recovering from
the damage of NAFTA, hope for the future is up, and we're creating peace. I
give him a high grade."

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[10]
SCOOP: EU attempts to undermine President Trump's pro-growth policies on tech
By: Matthew Foldi

The European Commission and European Parliament may be trying to undermine
President Donald Trump's trade agenda before the president arrives for his
much-anticipated trip to Davos, Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum
(WEF).

According to a leaked document reviewed by the Washington Reporter, some in
the EU are trying to change the already controversial Digital Networks Act
(DNA) to include "network usage fees," which have been long-opposed by many in
the Trump administration; the Trump administration has crafted frameworks for
EU trade deals that specifically ban the EU from implementing network usage
fees.

Should the EU finalize these changes, they would likely violate the landmark
trade deal struck by the U.S. and EU in August, the framework of which
obligated both sides to "commit to address unjustified digital trade barriers.
In that respect, The European Union confirms that it will not adopt or maintain
network usage fees."

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[11] SCOOP: GOP AGs take center stage in fight to protect women's sports
By: Matthew Foldi

A slew of Republican Attorneys General came to Washington, D.C. to defend
women's sports last week as the Supreme Court deliberated cases that could save
— or destroy — women's-only sports teams.

West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey's state is at the center of one of
the cases. He predicted that the Supreme Court will unanimously side with
female athletes in West Virginia and allow the state to ban men from playing on
women's sports. Should the Supreme Court rule against the girls, McCuskey
cautioned that "every women's sports team in the entire United States would be
illegal."

Not every Republican attorney general was as optimistic as McCuskey about the
final decision. Idaho's Raúl Labrador predicted victory, but noted that he is
"not as optimistic as JB" about the final outcome.

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[12]
SCOOP: Sec. Duffy, Sen. Moreno, Rep. Latta cite "affordability wins" at Ohio
Ford plant
By: Matthew Foldi

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R., Ohio) joined House Republicans and Secretary of
Transportation Sean Duffy at a Ford assembly plant in Ohio to celebrate
regulatory rollbacks that have driven down costs for families while boosting
American manufacturing.

At the event at Avon Lake's Ford facility, Moreno and Rep. Bob Latta (R.,
Ohio) praised the administration's work to end costly electric vehicle mandates
that have burdened U.S. automakers and raised costs for families. Their remarks
echoed the themes President Donald Trump emphasized last week during a
high-profile visit to a Ford plant in Michigan, where he showcased his economic
agenda and its benefit to working families.

Secretary Duffy said, "if you're going to sell your cars in America, you
should make them in America with great American workers. Our effort has been to
make cars more affordable."

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[13]
OPINIONATED


Op-Ed: Rep. Mike Simpson: Republicans stand with ICE officers who protect our
communities, not with the agitators who defend convicted criminals
By: Rep. Mike Simpson

President Donald Trump has been in office for a little over a year, and our
nation is experiencing record-low border crossings, violent crime is down, and
the flow of deadly drugs into our communities is slowing. These statistics are
primarily due to effective policies that have led to the most secure border in
United States history, and are a direct result of the deportation of the
worst-of-the-worst criminal illegal aliens.

Within one year, the Trump administration has wasted no time getting the job
done after the mess left behind by the Biden-Harris administration. More than
10 million illegal aliens crossed the southern border, and countless gotaways
evaded Customs and Border Protection under the previous administration — all
the while telling us that the border was secure. This surge followed President
Joe Biden's decision to undo major border security executive orders issued
during President Donald Trump's first term, effectively ringing the dinner bell
and signaling a green light for illegal aliens.

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Op-Ed: Nathan Creech: Fixing America's trillion dollar pothole
By: Nathan Creech

The American reindustrialization boom is well underway. After decades of
outsourcing, hollowed-out communities, and supply chains stretched across
oceans, America is making things at home again.

From semiconductor plants in Arizona to data centers in Virginia, a
construction, manufacturing, and technological renaissance is reshaping the
U.S., with the potential to drive economic prosperity and independence for
decades.

But as the number of projects being built continues to rise, our roads,
bridges, and critical infrastructure are cracking under the increased load.
Decades of underinvestment have finally caught up with us, and it's time to pay
the bill.

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Op-Ed: Marc Cadin: How to rebuild America's culture of saving
By: Marc Cadin

America's economy is the envy of the world. We're creating jobs, inflation
has cooled, and the stock market is at record highs.

Yet for millions of families, financial security feels as fragile as ever.
They are earning, but not saving. They are working hard, but still one
emergency away from falling behind.

That gap between growth on paper and stability in the bank account speaks to
a structural issue that has plagued our nation for nearly two decades. We've
built an economy that rewards spending but does little to incentivize saving
and long-term planning. And that imbalance — along with the sluggish recovery
from 2008 and the rampant inflation following the COVID-19 pandemic — has
utterly degraded the ability of ordinary families to prepare for the future.

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