Seen, Heard and Whispered
Written by Alex Swoyer, "Seen, Heard & Whispered” is a weekly column taking you inside the conversations happening in Washington’s power corridors, the moves being made and the whispers that explain what’s really going on in the nation’s capital. Email tips to whispered@washingtontimes.com
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Sen. Jim Justice and Babydog skip fancy dining for a strip-mall Outback in Arlington
Babydog's Outback order, how the GOP is saving big on ads after two Supreme Court rulings and why ailing senators turn to Dr. Barrasso.
Georgia’s Ossoff outglams the competition with nearly $3,000 in beauty spending
Sen. Jon Ossoff spends big on hair and makeup, a new study finds 1 in 10 Americans own an AR-15, and a quarter of Ohio voters think Sherrod Brown is still in the Senate.
Why Kennedy and Booker are teaming up to back online influencers nationwide
Democratic Sen. Cory Booker is dubbed "prime minister of cool," climate change "voodoo" litigation and Rep. Riley Moore criticizes "click" culture in D.C.
Bessent likens Carney to a ‘yapping’ Dachshund amid trade spat
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent compares Canada's prime minister to a yappy little dog, universities scramble to distance themselves from Charlie Kirk look-alike contests, and Lara Trump shares why her father-in-law treasured meeting Queen Elizabeth.
Seen, Heard & Whispered: Dems spend big on state races; Trump’s housing hiccups; why November?
Democratic groups are pumping money into state legislative races this year, hoping to turn that into new clout that they can use to pass more favorable congressional maps.
Why Clarence Thomas was ‘scary’ in law school
Justice Clarence Thomas says those who dislike him and the direction he's led the Supreme Court should blame the snobbish law firms that didn't offer him a job when he emerged from Yale Law School in the 1970s.
Fake poll makes real news, Vindman’s premature party planning
A fake L.A. mayoral poll raises market-manipulation questions, Alexander Vindman's premature "victory" fundraiser becomes an awkward punchline after his primary loss, and a Florida congressional district picks the hometown candidate over a crowded field of outsiders.
‘Failed career candidates’ flock to Florida’s open, safe red seat
Ten Republicans -- including felons, a fashion model and career candidates from other states -- are fighting for one Florida seat. Meanwhile, prediction-market platform Kalshi faces new legal trouble, and Turning Point reveals a startling voter-turnout number.
Seen, Heard & Whispered: An ally’s attacks, a fairground fete, and an ‘invasion’ workaround
A political strategist's daily attacks on Trump's Iran strategy have his allies asking questions, Mike Davis takes his Article III party to the Iowa State Fair, and Sen. Jim Banks eyes an "invasion" declaration to get around the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling.
‘I don’t work for the Senate’: Tuberville breaks from GOP talking points on election bill
Tommy Tuberville had enough of his party's spin, tossing the GOP's election-bill talking points straight in the trash. Meanwhile, Scott Presler's volunteers are combing Pennsylvania's voter rolls for noncitizens, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson tells Michelle Obama about the first date with her husband that she nearly walked out on.
Faith under fire: White House sounds alarm on global persecution
Paula White-Cain, director of the White House Faith Office, says 344 million people of faith will be persecuted this year around the globe -- a number she said far outstrips things such as heart attacks and cancer deaths.
Republicans want Jack Smith investigated after new Arctic Frost revelations
Jack Smith, the former special counsel who pursued President Trump in two criminal cases, may find himself on the scales of justice now that Republicans say they've found evidence he lied to Congress.
Justice Scalia defended attacks on his landmark religious-liberty opinion, a new document shows
A newly surfaced Scalia letter defends his landmark religious-liberty ruling, conservatives vow to fight the birthright citizenship decision, and South Florida women warn of illegal immigrants using dating apps to secure green cards.
New audio brings America’s boldest revolutionary women back to life
The Washington Times launches a new audio series, NPR's Nina Totenberg issues a mea culpa over a botched Supreme Court retirement report, and Helios Media adds a new show to its roster.
Lara Trump backs Steve Hilton for California governor, says the state is finally waking up
Lara Trump rallies for a California Republican, Gabbard and Bondi catch up, and The Washington Times hosts a naval power forum.
Seen, Heard & Whispered: Conservative pressure, Biden missteps and GOP power moves
Conservatives push DOJ to prosecute Dobbs-era protesters, the Bidens rehire a controversial spokesman, and GOP operatives make moves in Trump-era Washington.
No plan, no talks, no answers: Senate GOP is unprepared for a birthright citizenship loss
Republican senators apparently have no Plan B if the Supreme Court sides against President Trump's order to end birthright citizenship this month.
