Melanie Zanona

Capitol Hill Correspondent for @NBCNews. Chi till I die. My party trick is identifying lawmakers by the back of their heads.

[Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur]

NEW: Maine Democrats jockey to replace Graham Platner as he faces pressure to drop out

This AM, Platner had not decided whether to quit; he'd want a replacement with his vision.

Would-be candidates aren't waiting.

w/ @MZanona @brennanleach @bridgetbhc: https://t.co/aeUlmZHQpx

[Ryan Nobles @ryanobles]

🚨Major defender of Graham Platner.. now says it is time for him to drop out of the race.

[POLITICO @politico]

A woman who dated Graham Platner says he sexually assaulted her.

“I just want the truth out there. I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person," she said of the Maine Dem, who has faced a string of scandals over past offensive online comments and accusations of mistreating women.

Platner responded: "These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue."
https://t.co/oKOjrFYlx2

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

Coming up on @MeetThePress Now:

@GovWesMoore joins me on set to preview his July 4 speech

And I'll also interview @RepKiley for *Independents* Day

tune in: https://t.co/v2oQJPSAch

[Allan Smith @akarl_smith]

"State and federal prosecutors in Alaska are investigating whether the campaign for a Senate candidate who has the same name as the GOP incumbent could be part of a conspiracy to confuse voters, two people w/ knowledge of the investigations told NBC News"

https://t.co/wmWcA7A1Jp

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

In the latest installment of NBC News' Common Ground series, I sat down with Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) to discuss their legislation that bans insider trading by government officials. 

@RepGoodlander talks about the importance of tackling corruption in government and @RepBrianFitz discusses the huge void of trust between the public and government institutions.

Watch the Common Ground interview here:
https://t.co/3LjpGkdwg5

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

New: Sen. Hickenlooper says on @MeetThePress Now Democrats "have to embrace this bigger tent" after democratic socialist candidates notch more wins in Colorado.

I also press @SenatorHick on whether he will support Sen. Chuck Schumer if he runs for leader again

Watch my full interview here: 
https://t.co/G6YOQutAL1

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

Packed show coming up on @MeetThePress Now

Sen. @Hickenlooper joins us to break down CO results

@RepBrianFitz & @RepGoodlander are on set to talk about their bipartisan bill to ban officials from stock trading + betting on prediction markets

tune in! https://t.co/YcR9kZT6F4

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

New: Brad Lander joined me on @MeetThePress Now to talk about his progressive victory in NY

Says he wants to focus on unifying now & would be willing to campaign for mods like Cait Conley & Tom Suozzi

Also wants unity in potential Jeffries speaker vote
https://t.co/NvdMLALBFX

[Allan Smith @akarl_smith]

Notably, Avila Chevalier said “absolutely” when asked if there is room in the party for pro-Israel voters who do not support Netanyahu

“I think if you are somebody who believes in the dignity of human life … then there is space for you in our movement,” she said

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

New: Darializa Avila Chevalier repeatedly declined to say if she'd support Jeffries for Speaker or what conditions she'll have, telling me “that's a conversation that I'll be having with my coalition”

But she did signal a willingness to be a team player when she comes to Congress.. even as some of her future colleagues express concern

our full intvw from yesterday on Meet The Press Now:

https://t.co/uXzuWiUp1Z

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

NEW: Rep. Greg Meeks told me he's worried about Dem divisions after progressives toppled incumbents in NY

"I'm concerned about dividing the Democratic Party and dividing Americans"

Also said loss of Espaillat “hurts the city of New York"

full intvw: https://t.co/sbGxNi3nt3

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

Big show coming up on @MeetThePress Now.

@DarializaforNY joins us after her big victory last night

We'll also interview @RepGregoryMeeks on the NY results & Iran

And of course, we'll be breaking down all the chaos on Capitol Hill

tune in! https://t.co/YcR9kZT6F4

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

NEW: While some Rs cheer Trump's decision to hold up housing bill over SAVE America act, others were angry & dumbfounded

"What a s--- show. ... Crazy crazy crazy,” one House Republican told me. “A once in a generation housing bill falls victim to the nuts.”

Said another House R: "People are pissed off that we are not taking care of business.”

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

And now Trump is cancelling the planned signing of the housing bill until they pass SAVE AMERICA Act

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

Trump diminishes the bipartisan housing bill hours before he's gonna sign it.. as some Republicans were already grumbling about the SAVE act push overshadowing their other key achievements

[Brennan Leach @brennanleach]

GOP Sens raise alarm over US-Iran deal

Cassidy: “Iran is left stronger, we are left weaker”

Cornyn: “everything I've heard about it causes me concern”

Cruz: “giving billions of $ to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea”

Ernst: “there are many of us that just really want to understand what the administration is thinking”

Graham: “some of the criticism of the MOU is valid”

[Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur]

New —> Senate Republicans grow increasingly frustrated with Trump blindsiding them

@MZanona @brennanleach me: https://t.co/6Hw0HnqT0H

[Melanie Zanona @MZanona]

@brennanleach is this a "stepping on rakes" metaphor?

[Brennan Leach @brennanleach]

Senate vibe check