Rachel Witkowski

Congress editor @PunchbowlNews. Formerly @WSJ @Semafor and @AmerBanker.

[Laura Weiss @LauraEWeiss16]

KEN PAXTON just walked into Senate Majority Leader Thune’s office

The two were set to meet while Paxton is in DC

[Rachel Witkowski @RachelWitkowski]

Rep. Kean no longer missing, but still absent.

[Ally Mutnick @allymutnick]

New statement here from Rep Tom KEAN but doesn't add much clarity on his ~3 month absence >>

He says he "will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition"

[Samantha Handler @sn_handler]

News: The FY2027 CJS funding bill is on thin ice ahead of the markup Thursday.

It’s possible the bill gets pulled. Dems would likely push amendments on the “anti-weaponization” fund if the markup goes on as planned.

Collins told me there will be an announcement on markups later today

[Punchbowl News @PunchbowlNews]

👀 Winning in Iowa could be key to Democrats flipping control of the House, and in the right political environment, maybe even the Senate.

Though Iowa has been getting consistently redder for a generation now, for the first time in years, Democrats may actually have an opening.

@maxpcohen is on the ground in the Hawkeye State breaking down why Iowa could become big for Democrats in 2026.

🔗: https://t.co/WyWvLWrsf9

[Briana Reilly @briana_reilly]

There's tentative signs of movement on the FISA front.

House + Senate intel panels met last week, and the Senate is reviewing the text of the most recent House bill. Talks will continue over recess.

More on the state of play from @AnthonyAdragna + me: https://t.co/hQWG2H1vVw

[Rachel Witkowski @RachelWitkowski]

Amazing. Recon delay continues.

[Andrew Desiderio @AndrewDesiderio]

NEWS — Thune just told Senate Republicans at lunch that they’ll be sent home amid impasse over how to restrict “weaponization” fund in reconciliation bill

Just a complete disaster for Republicans

[Rachel Witkowski @RachelWitkowski]

Apparently lawmakers are ordering too many custom frames, forcing House CAO to increase prices for the first time in 20 years.

[Samantha Handler @sn_handler]

👀Lawmakers, want to frame your bill that just passed? It’s about to get more expensive!

House CAO announces custom framing prices will rise for the first time in decades

[Rachel Witkowski @RachelWitkowski]

Please tune in after 1:30 ET today to hear Alzheimer's Association® CEO Dr. Joanne Pike, and Reps. Vern Buchanan and Paul Tonko, discuss the ASAP Act to help improve detection and treatment for Alzheimer's and dementia. Catch clips from @PunchbowlNews

[Rachel Witkowski @RachelWitkowski]

Trump endorsed Paxton! Big move in Texas.

[Max Cohen @maxpcohen]

Trump on Cornyn

“John Cornyn is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough”

“John was very late in backing me in what turned out to be a Historic Run for the Republican Nomination”

[Andrew Desiderio @AndrewDesiderio]

NEW, from MILLINOCKET, Maine: The Collins-Vance synergy

A day after Vance praised Collins for the very independence Trump has attacked her for, Collins returns the favor for Vance, defending anti-fraud task force & touting close relationship with the VP

This was no accident — both sides need to coexist for political survival

Collins tells me it shows Vance “acknowledges” importance of distancing from Trump to win in Maine

https://t.co/Ky7BHym2Ix

[Laura Weiss @LauraEWeiss16]

NEWS: A group of House Republicans went to the White House on Thursday for a classified briefing on the reconciliation bill's $1B for Secret Service & securing Trump's ballroom project

Secret Service Director CURRAN briefed the group, which included Homeland Security Chair GARBARINO

w/ @JakeSherman

@PunchbowlNews text subscribers got it first

[Brendan Pedersen @BrendanPedersen]

News in PM: Speaker Mike Johnson told Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other senators early Thursday that he was “surprised by” the late-night release of an amended housing affordability bill, saying House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill (R-Ark.) went rogue

[Rachel Witkowski @RachelWitkowski]

For roughly two months, we've been trying to figure out the strange disappearance of NJ #GOP Rep. Tom Kean. He last voted in the #House on March 5. More here: https://t.co/x7SVjKNrOE

[Rachel Witkowski @RachelWitkowski]

Was looking forward to this one 😕 #SCOTUS justices hearing postponed.

[Samantha Handler @sn_handler]

New: Sen. Jack Reed, the top Dem on FSGG, tells me he the appropriations hearing with Supreme Court Justices is getting postponed.

Unclear why. The hearing would be noticed today if it were to happen on May 20 as planned.

[Rachel Witkowski @RachelWitkowski]

Excited to have another American Banker alum!

[Catherine Leffert @ccleffert]

personal news! excited to join the team @PunchbowlNews

[Jake Sherman @JakeSherman]

BIG news here

SCALISE saying house is going to keep working on its own housing bill — even though trump called on the house to pass the senate bill.

[Brendan Pedersen @BrendanPedersen]

First in PBN texts: 🚨 Big bipartisan crypto sitdown incoming. Sens. Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tillis (R-N.C.), Moreno (R-Ohio), Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) will convene Tuesday AM to discuss latest in market structure talks, per multiple sources familiar

[Rachel Witkowski @RachelWitkowski]

Our @AnthonyAdragna breaks down why it’s looking good for Sen. Kelly in the Pentagon case.

[Punchbowl News @PunchbowlNews]

⚖️ A divided federal appeals court panel seemed poised to side with Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) in his ongoing battle with the Pentagon.

Our Congressional Defense Reporter @AnthonyAdragna was in the courtroom and takes you inside everything that unfolded.

👉 Check out his coverage here! https://t.co/Gp35vX5oWt

[PoPville @PoPville]

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO/PHOTOS: Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park Fountains Flowing!! - Glorious: https://t.co/PeaBVKzlZK

[Rachel Witkowski @RachelWitkowski]

Big day!

[Samantha Handler @sn_handler]

NEWS: Supreme Court Justices will appear before Senate appropriators on May 20.

Sitting justices last appeared before senators in 2011, per CRS. It’s unclear which justices will testify on the Court’s FY2027 budget request.

PBN text subscribers had it first.