covering Congress for @nytimes. ex-New Yorker but trying to talk about it less. i'm the rhoda. 🏳️🌈.
DC
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Michael Gold retweeted
New story:
In 2024, sitting inside the U.S. attorney's office in Honolulu, the former CEO of a defense contractor made a stunning confession to two FBI agents.
He alleged that was the ringleader of a massive pay-to-play operation, bribing senators with campaign contributions in exchange for government contracts.
He said his most important patron was Maine Senator Susan Collins.
propublica.org/article/fbi-s…
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Michael Gold retweeted
Byron Donalds' campaign updated his website this week stripping away numerous references to Trump's endorsement, removing his photo with the president and taking "enact the Trump agenda" off his issues page
miamiherald.com/news/politic…
ALT A screenshot of Donalds' previous homepage featuring Trump's endorsement
ALT A screenshot of Donalds' updated homepage featuring his plans for Florida
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Michael Gold retweeted
C-SPAN says it relies on the TV network pool for coverage of the president: "Without a pool feed, we will not be showing the 1:45pm White House event."
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movie critics in 2013
.@SenJohnKennedy (R-LA): "I love Nebraska better than sex. Not really, but I love Nebraska."
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Michael Gold retweeted
Reporting is so much more than standing at the White House & going on television. It’s endless calls, messages & meetings with people in power to figure out what is actually happening behind the scenes in our government.
Whether inside or outside of the building, that reporting will continue.
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Was able to the access to the White House grounds today, even as President Trump suggested he might ban access to NYT.
MS NOW and CNN have set up live shots across the street and continue to report.
A free and independent press is crucial to our democracy.
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A few thoughts this morning on the situation at the White House.
I'm sure plenty of people don't see the big deal in denying a few outlets access to the grounds. But it is a big deal.
* Press freedom is a bedrock principle.
* Less journalism = more opportunities for corruption.
* Banning reporters has a chilling effect for those reporters not banned
* There is nothing to indicate Trump will stop with these three.
* Less appreciated: adversarial press helps presidents. We should welcome checks and transparency. It's good governance.
I'm disheartened by the absence of real meaningful public pushback as these outlets have their credentials pulled this morning.
There should be collective action. The WHCA should be explaining more openly what they're doing. After all, this is an institution founded on open publication of information
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MS NOW says its journalists were denied access to the White House this morning.
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Michael Gold retweeted
🚨EXCLUSIVE @MSNOWNews >>> Top @TheJusticeDept leader warned prosecutors would be fired to refusing to pursue election fraud cases. It has folks fearing WH will push bogus election cases to cast doubt on midterms w @KDilanianMSNOW
ms.now/news/top-doj-official…
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perhaps the one issue Kamala Harris and Derrick Van Orden agree on
The First Gay President will be a Republican coz black people ain’t down with that - @RepVanOrden
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The authorities in Turkey have arrested dozens of people this week as part of a broad crackdown on the LGBT community.
On Sunday, security forces in Turkish cities raided gay bars and the offices of gay rights organizations.
nytimes.com/2026/09/16/world…
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Michael Gold retweeted
NEW: House Democrats’ top three have led the caucus as a unified team. But as they prepare for the prospect of taking the majority, their distinct personalities and leadership styles are coming into focus.
washingtonsun.com/congress/j…
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The House just unanimously agreed to hold Leon Black in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with subpoenas in Epstein investigation
Oversight Committee issued subpoenas demanding Black show up for a deposition and produce NDAs
Black didn’t and sued committee.
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Thomas Massie is on the floor railing against Mike Johnson for canceling votes. He’s talking about Epstein, Hegseth, other things.
Massie’s using Johnson’s comments blasting him as “someone who is not participating as a full member of the Congress” to get an hour of floor time.
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House GOP had to be bailed out by Dems on 2 rules
Massie’s Epstein petition is gaining steam
his Hegseth impeachment puts them in tough spot
Dream Act discharge petition is v close
they lost votes on War Powers
it’s becoming clear why they canceled the last 2 weeks of votes
News: House GOP leadership is considering cancelling tomorrow's votes and going home today until after the election, sources tell me.
No final decision has been made yet but there's a lot of discussion about it.
Some in leadership want to avoid a vote on the Hegseth impeachment set to come up tomorrow since its privileged, but its unclear if procedurally that's possible.
Lots of moving parts at the moment
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Michael Gold retweeted
New detail on today's floor drama...
MGP notified Katherine Clark about her plan to vote for the rule by email shortly before the vote, per a source.
MGP had already given Hakeem Jeffries a heads up. Jared Golden notified Clark that he would vote for the rule after she called to check in.
politico.com/news/2026/09/15…
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Michael Gold retweeted
NEWS: A new NYT national poll shows Dems up 51-43% on congressional ballot.
Voters losing faith in Trump and economy.
72% of Rs said in January that the economy was better than a year ago; only 29% of Rs said so now.
nytimes.com/2026/09/15/us/po…
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Michael Gold retweeted
New: Sen. Mitch McConnell was just seen leaving his home in Washington, DC, for the first time after a three-month absence from the Senate due to health issues
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