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Michael McAuliff

@mcauliff.bsky.social
2.7K followers 427 following 1.4K posts

Deputy congress editor at The Washington Sun. Priors include Crain's Modern Healthcare, HuffPost, New York Daily News, ABC News. Signal @mcauliff.06

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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 9h
Senate Dems got their vote today to put Rs on record backing White House efforts that they say will further weaken Affordable Care Act insurance. It was a vote to roll back CMS rules creating health plans that don't meet ACA requirements, among other steps. Rs didn't bother to debate it.
washingtonsun.com
Senate Democrats Force an Uncomfortable Vote on Health Care Costs
Republicans blocked the measure, which would have terminated Trump administration changes to the ACA marketplace.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 11h
Do people watch hearings still? They can be amazing, like with a senator and former Mo. prosecutor suggests Jack Smith is committing perjury by not admitting to going to Atlanta for a Hawks game. Smith was so confused. Turned out, he went to Maryland, for a Hawkeyes game. @josepagliery.bsky.social
washingtonsun.com
Hawks or Hawkeyes? Senator Flubs His Jack Smith Gotcha Moment
The posterboard was prepared, the questions were asked, but the game was wrong.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Susan Collins says lawsuits — or maybe Congress, this time — will curb Trump's latest cuts of spending passed by Congress, per reporting from Avani Kalra and Al Weaver
washingtonsun.com
Susan Collins Says Challenges to Trump’s Latest Spending Cuts Are Coming
The Appropriations chair is also looking to work with Democrats to put guardrails prohibiting the White House from nixing funds approved by Congress
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Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Dario Amodei of Anthropic just had a meeting in John Thune’s office. Made no comments and wouldn’t answer questions afterward. He left the Capitol.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 28/09/2026
🇮🇱 Voters turning on Netanyahu? 🇺🇸 Does Trump have any plan for Iran? 🗳️ Can Republicans salvage the 2026 midterms? My conversation on @wbai.org w/ @jflannys.bsky.social @egbertowillies.com and @paulinepark.bsky.social. 🔊 Listen: www.wbai.org/archive/prog...
wbai.org
WBAI Radio Archives
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Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Russell Brand, who's awaiting trial in London next month on rape and sexual assault charges, will moderate a panel at DC's MAHA summit tomorrow on reforming a U.S. health agency
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Schrödinger's Sneetch Belly @rtodkelly.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Please know that this is one of my few legitimate areas of actual, high-level professional expertise: Kicking the healthiest people off of a health insurance program will bankrupt it. Not 'could;' not 'might,' not 'probably," but absolutely will, with mathematical certainty.
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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
This whole thing is weird but worth noting that SCOTUS already issued a stay in this very case that doesn't expire until a cert. petition is either denied or granted/decided, which in a normal situation wouldn't happen for months.
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Reuters Legal @legal.reuters.com · 21/09/2026
British Columbia sued OpenAI in California on Monday, saying a mass shooting at a school in the province could have been prevented if the company had warned local law enforcement that the shooter had used ChatGPT to plan the massacre.
reut.rs
British Columbia sues OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge school shooting
British Columbia sued OpenAI in California on Monday, saying ​a mass shooting at a school in the province could have been prevented if the company had warned local law ‌enforcement that the shooter had used ChatGPT to plan the massacre.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
good lunchtime read
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Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Morning! ☕️ ICYMI from the weekend: I spent a few days talking to dozens of Alaskans about who they're gonna support in their state's competitive Senate race, and why. Indie voters have huge sway in this state. Most I spoke to like Mary Peltola. 👀 www.huffpost.com/entry/alaska...
huffpost.com
Alaska’s Independent Streak Rears Its Head At The Wrong Moment For GOP
Voters say they’re tired of political division and greed. They’re worried about their fish. And one Senate candidate seems to be winning them over.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Dems are not pleased with Jared Golden endorsing a swing-district Republican, as you would imagine. But some have his back, via @oriana.bsky.social and @kadiagoba.bsky.social
washingtonsun.com
Democrats Fume After Jared Golden Endorses a Republican in a Key Race
In an op-ed, Golden backed GOP Rep. Mike Lawler in one of the most competitive House races in the country.
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Matthew Eadie @mattheweadie.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Evanston police chief Schenita Stewart tells me that EPD contacted the agents involved, including one who had blood on their hands The agent "told the officer that agents had attempted to identify an individual who resembled a person they were seeking."
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Matthew Eadie @mattheweadie.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
BREAKING: Evanston police confirm a U.S. citizen was briefly detained by federal agents Sunday morning near Howard and Dodge before being released The man was taken to the hospital for injuries to his head, neck and teeth after agents drove off
evanstonnow.com
Federal agents detained U.S. citizen Sunday morning - Evanston Now
Police chief says officers responded to a man with injuries to head, neck and teeth on Howard and made contact with agents involved.
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Even more details here. bsky.app/profile/clan...
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Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Averages of Senate polls at least partially sampled in Sept. w/no internals NC: D+8.76 GA : D+5.5 NH: D+4 OH: D+4 TX: D+3.7 AK: D+2.5 ME: D+2.3 MI: D+1.8 MN: D+1.75 IA: D+0.5 NE: Tie KS: R+2 SC: R+2 FL: R+3.5 MT: R+13.5 No polls in SD/MS/ID (not counting that ATR poll)
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Out with the old... A cadre of newer members is forcing the House Dem caucus to weigh term limits for committee leaders. It's very "touchy." @oriana.bsky.social and @stephenneukam.bsky.social have the scoop Inside House Democrats' Push to Kick Old People Out of Leadership
washingtonsun.com
Inside House Democrats' Push to Kick Old People Out of Leadership
Some newer members say they don’t want to wait decades before they get to lead major committees.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
If you follow politics, you kinda know this, but dig into the data and seeing how few members of Congress really get elected in the general election is remarkable. And sobering. @pkcapitol.bsky.social did the digging.
washingtonsun.com
Most Primaries Didn't Matter This Year
Despite a series of high-profile losses, most incumbents coasted to easy wins.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
@reesegorman.bsky.social reports: House GOP leaders considering cancelling votes tomorrow, going home today until after the election. No final decision yet but there's a lot of discussion. They want to avoid a vote tomorrow on the Hegseth impeachment, which is privileged,
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

If they do cancel tomorrow's vote series they would just move most of tomorrow's votes to today.
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Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
NYT/Siena poll, fav-unfav Mamdani 38-33 Ocasio-Cortez 30-41 Socialism 31-51 www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Cross-Tabs: September 2026 Times/Siena Poll of the Likely Electorate
Results of a New York Times/Siena poll conducted among 1,503 voters from Sept. 8 to 13, 2026.
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Steven T. Dennis @steventdennis.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
10-year Treasury interest rates rose to a nearly 20-year high today, amid pressures from the Iran war and ~$2T annual US deficits. Diesel hit a new all-time high: $6.27 a gallon, per AAA.
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
NEW: DHS's Inspector General releases a scathing report about the Everglades detention camp known as "Alligator Alcatraz." The OIG finds that the now-closed camp, violated multiple ICE standards. The OIG also confirms detainees were punished with placement in a metal cage in the Florida heat.🧵
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Staff also reported that time spent in the small metal enclosures is closely monitored, and
detainees are not locked in, even though we observed locking mechanisms on the enclosures.
Figures 11 and 12. Small Metal Enclosures; Observed January 21, 2026

Underneath is a picture of a metal cage that is 4 feet 3 inches wide by 4 feet 3 inches long, and 7 feet 9 inches high. The cage itself is placed on a tiny spot of fake turf, and then surrounded by another chainlink fence with razor wire on top. The cage is covered by a roof, but it's entirely exposed to the outside otherwise, meaning mosquitos and no air conditioning.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
@kadiagoba.bsky.social and @oriana.bsky.social draw out the stark split screen of endangered Republicans staying the hell away while Trump put on his Dallas circus. With nuance. Republicans Kept Their Distance From Trump’s Midterm Convention washingtonsun.com/swing-distri...
washingtonsun.com
Why Swing District Republicans Kept Their Distance From Trump’s Midterm Convention
The GOP midterm convention in Dallas was a Trump-fest, and some imperiled Republicans thought it wasn’t worth the time.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Trump's Qatar-gifted Air Force One is getting a new flight simulator. It will cost taxpayers $45 million according to a contract doc reviewed by @markalfred.bsky.social of @washingtonsun.bsky.social
washingtonsun.com
Trump Administration Awards $45 Million Contract for New Air Force One Simulator
The flight simulator for the Qatari-gifted plane is publicly funded and may not be ready for “24-36 months.”
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Yesterday’s AI doom scenarios seem to have lit a fire for Dems, and they went to @igorbobic.bsky.social and @oriana.bsky.social with the news, vowing Oversight investigations of AI firms if they win, and seeking a select committee.
washingtonsun.com
Democrats in Congress Plan to Investigate AI Companies
Top House Oversight Democrat vows investigations while others seek the creation of a select committee.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Long way from the small-town mayor who launched a free store. I mean, even Mamdani is charging money for food. Fetterman Bashes ‘Socialism’ in Surprise GOP Convention Appearance washingtonsun.com/2026-electio...
washingtonsun.com
Fetterman Bashes ‘Socialism’ in Surprise GOP Convention Appearance
The Pennsylvania Democrat spoke to the convention via video in a move that adds more wrinkles to his relationship with his party.
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NBC News @nbcnews.com · 09/09/2026
The White House removes a MAGA-themed game called Build the Wall from its website this week after the Tetris Company issues a statement online alluding to copyright infringement.
nbcnews.to
White House removes ‘Build the Wall’ game from website after Tetris posts warning
The White House unveiled a series of MAGA-themed video games last week that mirror popular games.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Grantmaking has leveled off, so it looks like NSF will make around 6,200 new grants—down from an average of ~11,000. That's a historic low, not seen since the 1980s, when NSF was a far smaller organization. Left was our projection three weeks ago, right is the current data.
Previous plot of NSF new grants projected FY26 would be ~6100Current data for total new grants at NSF
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The Washington Sun @washingtonsun.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Welcome to The Washington Sun. washingtonsun.com
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Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Mistrust of US government information is rising across major issues, new poll shows apnews.com/article/poll...
apnews.com
Mistrust of US government information is rising across major issues, new poll shows
A new AP-NORC/USA Facts poll finds that Americans are more skeptical of government information than they were a few years ago, with majorities now saying they have little or no trust in federal govern...
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Ob/gyn collections in Kansas also account for a part, apparently.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Tough couple of days for Dr. Marshall
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Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to Natalie Harp and two other close aides, per financial disclosures. Washington Post exclusive from @aaronschaffer.com and Cat Zakrzewski
washingtonpost.com
Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to Natalie Harp, two other close aides
Financial disclosures show the sums were equivalent to nearly one-third of each of their salaries. Experts say the gifts are without precedent and may violate the law.
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
So, today was my first day at NOTUS, and also my last. A new day dawns with the Washington Sun. May it shine for all. (Cc NYers of an older age and any people who have ever looked up at the clock on Chambers and Broadway)
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Happy new season! I get to jump into mine by starting today as the deputy Congress editor at @NOTUSreports Gonna be a blast.
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Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
SCOOP: Republicans in House Foreign Affairs are asking the Trump admin to brief the committee about its Venezuelan oil deal Some House Republicans worry that working with Delcy Rodríguez could ruin the chances of democratic elections in Venezuela www.notus.org/us-news/repu...
notus.org
Republicans Worry Trump's Oil Meddling Could Stall Venezuela's Elections
Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee want a briefing from the Trump administration on the details.
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The Intercept @theintercept.com · 02/09/2026
Trump’s Justice Department filed a brief on behalf of OpenAI in a landmark copyright lawsuit by The Intercept and other media companies.
buff.ly
Trump Admin Tells Court: Let OpenAI Rip Off The Intercept’s Articles
Trump’s Justice Department filed a brief on behalf of OpenAI in a landmark copyright lawsuit by The Intercept and other media companies.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
President Trump's deals with drugmakers are hard to evaluate since they're not public, but he has made a very public push on drug prices. That said, the current drop in drug prices likely has as much if not more to do with the law passed by Democrats for Medicare drug price negotiation.
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Matt Fisher @healthlawmatt.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
In attempt to boost #primarycare, #Medicare introduced new code 2 years ago about relationship with #patient. Analysis shows specialists outpacing PCPs in use. FFS drives ways to maximize billing. www.statnews.com/2026/08/28/m...
statnews.com
A billing code was supposed to incentivize relationship-based primary care for Medicare patients. It may not be working as hoped
Primary care is much more than what happens during an office visit, writes physician Ishani Ganguli.
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Capital Weather @capitalweather.com · 28/08/2026
Awesome photos of the lunar eclipse! Clouds parted just in time to catch views of the almost total lunar eclipse Thursday night. Capital Weather readers shared some amazing photos with us. Here is a sample. Photos by Dave Lyons, Scott Jacobson and Lena Osipova-Stocker
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Reuters Legal @legal.reuters.com · 27/08/2026
Anthropic is planning to unveil its IPO prospectus after Labor Day, with a potential listing in late September or early October, The Information reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the process.
reut.rs
Anthropic plans to publicly unveil IPO prospectus after Labor Day, the Information reports
Anthropic is planning to unveil its IPO prospectus after Labor Day, with a potential listing in late September ​or early October, The Information reported on Thursday, ‌citing people familiar with the process.
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
"the money, which was supposed to be used to provide health insurance for poor children, was instead hastily passed through multiple organizations before eventually landing in the bank accounts of two political action committees and the Republican Party of Florida." www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/g...
cbsnews.com
Grand jury finds DeSantis administration "misappropriated" $10 million in taxpayer money to Hope Florida
A Florida grand jury found the DeSantis administration misappropriated $10 million in taxpayer money for political purposes.
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Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 26/08/2026
Nature honors Dolly Parton's scientific legacy. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Dolly Parton dies aged 80 – researchers celebrate her contributions to science
The country singer was an advocate for vaccines, public health, literacy and marginalized communities.
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Michael Schulman @michaelschulman.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Well, shit. RIP Tim Curry. I got to have this long talk with him last year for the publication of his memoir, and, while he was physically weak, he was still darkly and deliciously witty. No one will ever be sexier than him as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
newyorker.com
Tim Curry Does the Time Warp
The actor and singer discusses the origins of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” his relationship with David Bowie, and the joy of working with Miss Piggy.
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Brad Johnson @climatebrad.hillheat.com · 26/08/2026
lol DCCC (@electdemocrats.bsky.social) lists #MI07 on its "Districts in Play" but is not accepting contributions to beat Tom Barrett (R) any more now that @wewill2026.bsky.social is the Democratic nominee secure.actblue.com/donate/dcccm...
"This fundraiser is not currently accepting any donations."DCCC Defeat Tom Barrett in MI-07 Chip in to win MI-07
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Reuters Legal @legal.reuters.com · 26/08/2026
Meta will pay up to $18 billion to resolve claims by U.S. states that Facebook and Instagram are designed to keep young users hooked, ending one of the highest-profile tests of allegations that social media companies harm children.
reut.rs
What Meta agreed to in US teen safety settlement
Meta will pay up to $18 billion to resolve claims by U.S. states that Facebook and Instagram are designed to keep young users hooked, ending one of the ​highest-profile tests of allegations that social media companies harm children.
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Lauren Kirchner @lkirchner.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Consumer Reports tested 13 e-scooters to rate and review. But because of the frequency of injuries being reported - including injuries sustained by the CR testers themselves in this process - CR is not recommending ANY. www.consumerreports.org/cars/electri...
consumerreports.org
We Tested 13 Electric Scooters. We Don’t Recommend Any. - Consumer Reports
CR doesn't recommend e-scooters because of their high speeds and rising injury rates. Two of CR's testers sustained injuries while evaluating e-scooters, too.
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Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I would like to know how this clearly unresearched question ended up on the final list. bsky.app/profile/bgru...
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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
This is pretty big: Cook Political Report just shifted the Texas *and* Iowa Senate races from Lean Republican to Toss Up:
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Michael McAuliff @mcauliff.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Interesting. Protecting wild horses was a cause of Republicans including Lindsey Graham, Vern Buchanan, Ciscomani and Schweikert
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