Heard on the Hill

When Colorado Republican Rep. Jeff Crank introduced legislation last week aiming to crack down on members of Congress dating staff, not everyone was happy. “If you talked to the women who are working on this, maybe you’d get it right,” the Democratic Women’s Caucus posted in response, accusing him of “trying to get a headline.” […]

Brian Jack wanted to snag Newt Gingrich’s old House office during the 119th Congress’ freshman room lottery. But as the 28th pick, he lost his first choice and pivoted to another historic room: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s office in Longworth, which the Democrat occupied from 1939 to 1942. A Republican from Georgia, Jack served as […]

It wasn’t Sean Astin’s first time in Washington. “As a C-SPAN junkie and a guy who loved ‘West Wing,’ I’ve always just felt a reverence for this place,” the actor says. Between roles in “The Goonies,” “Rudy” and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, he managed to fit in a stint as civilian aide to […]

A man was arrested Monday after driving up to the North Barricade of the Capitol in a rented Ford Bronco with a handgun in his lap, Capitol Police said.  He asked an officer for directions to the Supreme Court, which is across from the Capitol’s East Front. The officer ordered the suspect to put his […]

Sweeping moves to address sexual misconduct at the Capitol may not be coming anytime soon, given the slow pace of change in Congress. But even “low-hanging fruit” could make a difference, some staffers say. The Congressional Progressive Staff Association laid out some ideas in a letter sent to lawmakers on Tuesday. “Staff safety is crucial,” […]

As America gets ready to celebrate its 250th birthday, Congress is taking a road trip back to the place where it all began — Independence Hall in Philadelphia.  Led by Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Brendan F. Boyle, members will gather for a ceremonial event Thursday in his hometown, an effort Boyle said was two years in […]

Donald Trump may have taken over events in Washington around the nation’s 250th birthday, but the president is far removed from most activities in the states that have been part of America from the beginning — the 13 original colonies stretching from New Hampshire to Georgia. Among the thousands of events planned in those states […]

As political battles raged elsewhere around the Capitol, lawmakers temporarily buried their differences Wednesday in order to get ready to bury a time capsule marking America’s semiquincentennial anniversary. The project is the result of bipartisan legislation signed into law in February 2026 directing the Architect of the Capitol to create and prepare a congressional time […]

Jeff Crank points to a framed photo hanging in his office, signed by his boss at the time. “Great baby! Great name! Great family!” wrote then-Rep. Joel Hefley in silver ink. In the photo, Hefley is holding Crank’s son — also named Joel — in front of the Capitol. He wasn’t named entirely after the […]

When John Leganski walked into Kevin McCarthy’s office as an intern in 2012, he’d barely heard of the man who would come to define his political career.  But now, Leganski’s something of an expert — so much so that he could write a book about the former speaker.  Which is exactly what he did.  “Glory, […]