Kerry Picket
Articles by Kerry Picket
Lee Zeldin passes on run for RNC chair, urges Ronna McDaniel to step aside for new leadership
Outgoing Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York is not running for chairman of the Republican National Committee despite his name being floated as an alternative to RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel. Published December 7, 2022
McCarthy starts to play hardball with GOP rebels struggling to find opposing House speaker candidate
A small faction of rebel House Republicans is scraping the back bench of the conference, and even looking outside the Capitol, in search of an alternative to GOP leader Kevin McCarthy for speaker. Published December 6, 2022
Former Trump campaign lawyer Harmeet Dhillon running for RNC chair
Harmeet Dhillon, a Republican National Committee member from California, announced Monday night that she is running for RNC chair against three-term party leader Ronna McDaniel. Published December 5, 2022
McCarthy detractor says others ready to challenge him as GOP moderates call for party to unite
Republicans supporting House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to become speaker are calling for his detractors to unite behind him, but one of his main critics says others are ready to challenge the California Republican. Published December 2, 2022
Manchin: DOE official Sam Brinton in ‘big trouble’ but shouldn’t be fired yet for snatching $2K bag
Senior Democrats on the Senate Energy Committee are not ready to call for the dismissal of Sam Brinton, who was heralded as the first gender-fluid person with a high-ranking federal post but now faces felony charges for stealing designer luggage at a Minneapolis airport. Published December 2, 2022
House Democrats’ new leader Hakeem Jeffries boasts he’s ready to tamp down ‘The Squad’
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, whom House Democrats elected to succeed Nancy Pelosi as party leader in January, made clear that he won't let the far-left flank, or any other faction, rule the caucus. Published December 1, 2022
Senate Republicans balk at deal with Democrats to pass a year-end massive spending bill
A group of Senate Republicans is pressuring Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell not to make a deal with Democrats to pass a catch-all spending package to fund the government through September. Published December 1, 2022
House GOP lawmakers vote against proposal to ban earmarks
Republican lawmakers voted Wednesday to keep earmarks in spending bills, despite protests within their conservative flank. Published November 30, 2022
Cicilline moves to knock Clyburn from leadership, shake up House Dems’ smooth shift to new lineup
House Democrats ushered in a new generation of members Wednesday to their top three leadership rungs, but the surprising twist unfolded around who will fill their No. 4 post as assistant Democratic leader. Published November 30, 2022
Democratic-allied groups release oppo research on House GOP investigators ahead of new Congress
Democratic-allied groups have unleashed an aggressive opposition research operation to dig up unflattering accusations against House Republicans investigating President Biden, his family and his administration. Published November 28, 2022
ATF accused of perverting laws in a scheme to shut down gun shops
A Texas gun shop owner is suing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives over a new policy used to revoke firearm dealers' licenses over small clerical errors in paperwork for gun sales, which the lawsuit says is a violation of federal gun laws. Published November 25, 2022
Let’s fight back: GOP activists want more ballot harvesting after Election Day dud
Republican candidates and conservative activists are embracing the long-shunned election strategy of ballot harvesting after the party got defeated again by Democrats who use that game plan. Published November 23, 2022
Democratic targets blame McCarthy purge on GOP ‘crazy caucus’
Democrats expected to lose committee assignments if House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy gets the speaker's gavel in January say the California Republican is just pandering to party extremists -- and worse. Published November 21, 2022
McConnell at 80 defies exodus of Capitol’s oldest leaders while discontent simmers in GOP base
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer are stepping down after decades in top leadership posts, but an octogenarian across the Capitol is pledging to stay in charge. Published November 21, 2022
Rod Rosenstein says he would not have appointed a special counsel to investigate Trump
A former high-ranking Justice Department official under the Trump administration questioned Sunday the attorney general's decision last week to appoint a special counsel to investigate the former president. Published November 20, 2022
Ex-House Speaker Paul Ryan says he’s a ‘never again Trumper’
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan dismissed the idea that he was ever a "Never Trumper" but declared Sunday that he is a "never again Trumper." Published November 20, 2022
Pence: ‘Better choices’ for GOP presidential nomination in 2024 than Trump
Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday there are "better choices" for Republicans in 2024 other than former President Donald Trump, who launched his third bid for the White House last week at his South Florida club. Published November 20, 2022
Mike Pence says he will not testify before Jan. 6 committee
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday shut down any expectation that he would testify in person before the House Jan. 6 committee. Published November 20, 2022
McCarthy set to bounce Democrats Schiff, Omar and Swalwell from House committees
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he will follow through with his pledge to kick Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota off the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the new Congress. Published November 20, 2022
Musk reinstates Trump’s Twitter account
Former President Donald Trump can begin tweeting again following a nearly two-year ban from the social media platform after Twitter's new owner Elon Musk announced his account was reinstated. Published November 19, 2022
