The Archive
Every issue of the Punchbowl News newsletter, including our special editions, right here at your fingertips.
Join the community, and get the morning edition delivered straight to your inbox.
Presented by Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance
Big Pharma hikes up drug prices every year, most recently on over 800 prescription drugs. But did you know these price hikes are often unjustified? For too long, Big Pharma has profited on the backs of hardworking Americans. Enough is enough.
PRESENTED BY

THE TOP
Milton, Middle East crises roil Washington, set Hill’s fall agenda

Happy Wednesday morning. There are 27 days until Election Day.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that, when Congress returns after the election, it will be dealing with both a multi-billion dollar disaster in the Southeast and a potential major war in the Middle East.
With just weeks before the next Congress starts, and with a new president taking office on Jan. 20, this will make for a very full plate for the House and Senate.
Latest on Milton: Milton is currently a Category 5 mega-storm — the most serious for this part of the Gulf Coast in decades — although it’s expected to weaken slightly as it churns toward landfall tonight. A storm surge of up to 12 feet is expected, as well as six to 18 inches of rain and winds in excess of 160 mph. Milton could also spawn tornadoes in the area.
Hundreds of thousands of Floridians are fleeing the Tampa area, with 11 counties under a mandatory evacuation. Orlando is also in the storm’s path. Milton has led to one of the largest evacuations in state history. Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis warned residents Tuesday to “use today as your day to finalize and execute the plan that is going to protect you and your family.” Lots of Florida gas stations are already running out of gas as residents hit the road.
DeSantis has activated thousands of National Guard troops to respond to the looming disaster, probably the largest in the state’s history. FEMA — which has already sent hundreds of personnel to Florida to deal with Hurricane Helene two weeks ago — is sending even more. President Joe Biden has declared Florida a disaster area before Milton’s landfall.
Biden — who canceled an overseas trip in response to Milton — praised DeSantis’ handling of the situation so far. Of course, former President Donald Trump and his allies have slammed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris over the federal response to Helene, helping lead to a wave of online disinformation and misinformation about what’s happening in North Carolina and elsewhere. That spurred a huge pushback from the White House. Things have gotten so bad that GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards (N.C.) — who represents the Asheville area — released an extraordinary statement Tuesday night in a bid to knock down some of the online rumors, many of which come from members of his own party.
We’ll have lots more on Milton today and in the coming days.
In the Middle East. Biden is set to talk to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today. By some accounts, it’s the first time they’ve spoken since Aug. 21. Biden and Netanyahu are slated to discuss a potential Israeli attack on Iran.
Israeli Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant was scheduled to fly to Washington today to discuss what the Pentagon described as “ongoing Middle East security developments.” But Netanyahu put a hold on Gallant’s travel until he spoke to Biden and until the Israeli security cabinet approved any military moves against Iran. Axios’ Barak Ravid scooped much of this storyline.
There are a number of dynamics to review here about the U.S. stance on Israel’s security posture right now. These are all dynamics that will be hotly debated on Capitol Hill when Congress returns.
The State Department turned a lot of heads when on Tuesday spokesman Matt Miller said that the United States supports Israel’s incursions into southern Lebanon. We wrote about this in the PM edition. Here’s what Miller said:
“Yes, we do support Israel launching these incursions to degrade Hezbollah’s infrastructure so ultimately we can get a diplomatic resolution that allows 1701 to finally be fully implemented.”
United Nations Resolution 1701 effectively calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah and establishes a demilitarized zone in Lebanon 18 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israel has sent four divisions into Lebanon. Each division has between 10,000 and 15,000 troops, according to the New York Times. There are also thousands of troops that support ground combat units.
Ravid also reported in Axios that Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, told Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer that the United States expects “clarity and transparency” about Israel’s possible strike on Iran. Biden has suggested that he does not believe Israel should strike Iran’s nuclear facilities in the wake of Iran launching more than 180 ballistic missiles at the Jewish State.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the call between Netanyahu and Biden today could go a long way in setting the future parameters of this conflict.
Also, for your situational awareness: If you are a Premium subscriber, this won’t be news to you. But check out the Midday edition Tuesday for a rundown on what went on behind closed doors at the House Republican staff director retreat. They talked about legislative priorities for the upcoming lame-duck session.
— John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman
Want to make sure your whole office has the full Punchbowl News experience? We have team plans available for companies, organizations, classes, Capitol Hill offices and more. Fill out this form and find out if your team is eligible for a discount.
PRESENTED BY CONSTELLATION
Constellation is America’s #1 producer of nothing. Zero pollution. Zero emissions. In fact, Constellation produces 50% more clean, emissions-free energy than any other company in America. Thanks to decades of innovation, we are leading the clean energy transition and securing America’s energy independence through wind, solar, hydro, and the nation’s largest nuclear fleet.
Learn more about our commitment and see how together, we can achieve nothing.
GOP LEADERSHIP
Inside Stefanik’s effort to boost GOP early voting in New York
House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik is spearheading an effort to get Republicans to embrace early voting in her home state of New York even as former President Donald Trump has given mixed messages on the issue.
At the start of this cycle, Stefanik launched the New York Battleground Fund, a joint fundraising agreement between her and the New York GOP dedicated to boosting Republican incumbents and candidates in the Empire State. New York is a key battleground in the contest for the House majority, and Stefanik has taken a leading role in the fight there.
A key part of Stefanik’s strategy has centered on encouraging Republicans to cast their votes before Election Day. Republican Party leaders widely recognize that they need to take better advantage of early voting methods. But that hasn’t always been the view publicly expressed by Trump, who has often vilified early voting and mail-in ballots.
Stefanik dismissed the idea that Trump has been unhelpful to their mission in this space. Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally, noted she worked with the campaign to get Trump to cut a digital ad calling on Republicans to “use every appropriate tool available… whether you vote early, absentee, by mail, or in person.” The ad recently began running in vulnerable House Republican districts.
Stefanik told us it’s “super important” for Republicans to hear that message coming directly from Trump. “There is no political figure in modern history who has turned out votes more effectively than Trump,” she said.
The early voting push has also relied on mail, text messages and phone calls to reach voters. Stefanik described it as a “layered approach.” If a voter didn’t answer the phone, they’d get a text. If someone indicated they were going to request an absentee ballot but didn’t do so within 48 hours, they’d receive a follow-up message.
The money: Stefanik, who has built a robust grassroots fundraising operation, took her small-dollar donor list and did a data transfer with the New York GOP to help raise money for the effort. She has also directed some of her high-dollar donors to contribute to the fund as well, including Paul Singer, Marc Rowan and David Kelsey.
“We wanted to harness that for investments in New York,” Stefanik said. “Because New York is not a traditional presidential or Senate state, we’re on our own as the House.”
The New York Battleground Fund has raised $2.7 million as of June 30, which is the most recent FEC data available. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced at a fundraiser in New York City last week that he was giving $100,000 directly to Stefanik’s effort, according to a source familiar.
– Melanie Zanona

The Vault: Liang’s case for federal payments reform
First in The Vault: A senior Treasury Department official will call on policymakers to weigh significant changes to the national regulation of payments this afternoon, saying the current system has “not kept pace with the growth in new kinds of money and payments.”
Nellie Liang, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for domestic finance, will pitch an audience at the Chicago Federal Reserve with a speech that’s directed as much to Congress as the private sector.
“The existing regulatory patchwork is burdensome and inefficient, and at the same time does not adequately address risks to consumers and the financial system or promote competition,” Liang will say, according to a draft copy of her remarks we reviewed.
{if (profile.vars.Memberful_punchbowlnews_Plan_Premium_Policy_The_Vault_I_103061 == true || profile.vars.Memberful_punchbowlnews_Plan_Premium_Policy_The_Vault_II_103417 == true || profile.vars.Memberful_punchbowlnews_Plan_Premium_Policy_The_Vault_III_103418 == true || profile.vars.Memberful_punchbowlnews_Plan_Premium_Policy_The_Vault_14_Day_Trial_103643 == true || profile.vars.Memberful_punchbowlnews_All_Access_Pass == true)}
{else}
continue reading The Vault
{/if}
THE CAMPAIGN
How Dems are going after the pro-Israel vote
The Democratic Party’s internal fissures on Israel have been on full display in the year since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas and the brutal war in Gaza. Amid the increasing visibility of outspoken Israel critics, some Democrats are making a concerted effort to target pro-Israel voters in swing states.
In Pennsylvania, the Democratic Majority for Israel PAC is running newspaper ads in Jewish media outlets touting both Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) as allies of Israel.
– An ad boosting Casey in the Jewish Exponent — a Philadelphia-area Jewish newspaper — says the veteran Democratic senator will support fully funding security assistance for Israel “without additional conditions” unlike a growing number of Senate Democrats.
– A pro-Harris ad from DMFI PAC in the same newspaper hails the presidential candidate for “her steadfast commitment to Israel’s security and to combatting the alarming rise in antisemitism.”
The newspaper ads are the first step in a multi-pronged messaging investment from DMFI PAC to persuade pro-Israel voters in competitive states to vote Democratic. The group is planning to launch a set of digital ads shortly.
Surrogate watch: Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) traveled to Georgia Tuesday to rally Jewish supporters for Harris in Atlanta.
The Harris campaign invited Torres to the crucial swing state after the Atlanta Jewish community requested him as their top choice. This is Torres’ first surrogate travel for the Harris campaign this cycle.
The New York Democrat spoke at a campaign launch in Fayetteville, Ga., on Tuesday afternoon before addressing a Jewish community event in Atlanta in the evening. Ilan Goldenberg, the Harris campaign’s Jewish liaison, was also present.
Torres is one of the Democratic Party’s most vocal supporters of Israel and has become a celebrity in Jewish circles for his advocacy.
— Max Cohen
THE CAMPAIGN
Emmer raises $7 million in Q3
First in Punchbowl News: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer raised $7 million in the third quarter of this year, bringing his total haul this cycle to $32 million.
Emmer has transferred more than $12 million to the NRCC, candidates and members so far this cycle. The Minnesota Republican will spend the final days of the campaign barnstorming the country for GOP House candidates and members, with stops in 21 states planned before Election Day.
Also first in Punchbowl News: Democrat Amish Shah, who’s challenging Arizona GOP Rep. David Schweikert in the 1st District, raised $3.45 million in Q3. That’s a huge number for a House challenger.
More news: Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), who’s locked in a tight race with Democrat Derek Tran in the 45th District, brought in $2.6 million in Q3 and has $3.7 million on hand. Steel is one of the few House Republicans reporting a third-quarter haul early.
Exclusive ad: The DCCC is up with its first independent expenditure ad attacking Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.). The ad features former President Donald Trump’s praise of Lawler and attacks Lawler on abortion.
Also: Speaker Mike Johnson will campaign for Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) in Mechanicsburg, Pa., on Friday. We’ll have more on this race later this week.
– Melanie Zanona, Max Cohen and Mica Soellner
MOMENTS
ALL TIMES EASTERN
10 a.m.
President Joe Biden will get his daily intelligence briefing.
Noon
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will get a briefing on the administration’s preparations for Hurricane Milton. Biden and Harris will also receive an update on the ongoing response to Hurricane Helene.
1:30 p.m.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will brief.
2 p.m.
Harris will depart New York en route to Las Vegas, arriving at 7 p.m.
2:15 p.m.
Biden will hold a call with rabbis to commemorate the Jewish High Holidays.
3:15 p.m.
Biden will greet Taoiseach Simon Harris of Ireland in the Oval Office.
5:30 p.m.
Biden will deliver remarks on Hurricane Milton from the Roosevelt Room.
CLIPS
NYT
“U.S. Outlines Google Search Changes It’s Weighing in Antitrust Case”
– David McCabe
WSJ
“U.S. Frustrated by Israel’s Reluctance to Share Iran Retaliation Plans”
– Nancy A. Youssef in D.C. and Carrie Keller-Lynn in Tel Aviv, Israel
Bloomberg
“Chinese Stocks Tumble Most Since 2020 on Stimulus Skepticism”
– Charlotte Yang
PRESENTED BY CONSTELLATION
When it comes to producing clean energy, nothing really matters. While others just talk about clean, zero-emission energy, Constellation is actually producing it. The emissions saved every year by our fleet is equivalent to taking 26 million cars off the road. We’re generating 90 percent carbon-free power with hydro, wind, solar and the nation’s largest nuclear fleet – that’s 50% more than any other U.S. company. Constellation is America’s #1 producer of emission-free energy and is uniquely positioned to lead the clean energy transition and help secure America’s energy independence.
Learn more about our commitment and see how together, we can achieve nothing.
Editorial photos provided by Getty Images. Political ads courtesy of AdImpact.

Crucial Capitol Hill news AM, Midday, and PM—5 times a week
Join a community of some of the most powerful people in Washington and beyond. Exclusive newsmaker events, parties, in-person and virtual briefings and more.
Subscribe to Premium
The Canvass Year-End Report
And what senior aides and downtown figures believe will happen in 2023.
Check it outEvery single issue of Punchbowl News published, all in one place
Visit the archive
Presented by Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance
Americans know who to blame for rising drug prices: Big Pharma. A majority of Republicans, Democrats, & Independents all believe Big Pharma’s focus on profits keeps drug prices high. Let’s hold Big Pharma accountable – it’s an issue we’re united on.