The Archive

IN THIS EDITION

The Innovators: ushering in WHCA weekend

Tran’s takes on Democratic primaries

Young Democrats taking on the old guard

The GOP’s Medicaid mess

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The Innovators: ushering in WHCA weekend

Welcome to The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the best of Punchbowl News this week – a quick roundup of all our scoops, analysis and Capitol Hill insight you won’t find anywhere else. We’ve also included a few of our favorite outside reads from the week.

We know this weekend is a slog of work events for the D.C. social set thanks to the White House Correspondents’ Association’s annual dinner and all the side events that pop up around it.

Here at Punchbowl News, we’re coming off of The Innovators — our kickoff event for the WHCA weekend at the St. Regis in downtown D.C.

I love being a full-time Hill reporter, but there’s something so fun about stepping away from the tunnels and subways of the Capitol to hang out with the rest of Washington.

Truly, getting my shindig on at a garden party this time of year, right when the tender green of spring is everywhere, is irreplaceable. I get why everyone told me The Innovators is their favorite gathering of the weekend, even if I’m sure they tell that to all their hosts.

I now also remember why people insist boring old Washington can actually have a little bit of flair.

Sure, on the Hill, we wear black or navy suits or dark gray ones. More often than I should admit, I just put on a shirt I have despite the small ink blotch on the pocket that I can never wash out somehow. (When asked, I say it’s an homage to being “an ink-stained wretch.”)

What I’m saying is that usually Washington, D.C., lives up to its own reputation as formal but staid, if not downright funereal. And that’s only sometimes. Even senators wear sneakers now.

Not so at our WHCA party. The fashion sunglasses were out. So were the pastel dresses, the paisley pocket squares, the floral ties, the blazers in “Miami Vice” pink.

I donned a light blue suit, plus a vintage clip on my tie, and I adorned my pocket with a fountain pen. That last accessory prompted a shocking number of people to reveal that pens are their hobby.

I’m not qualified to be a fashion correspondent, but I know the value of breaking up the routine and letting some actual real fun into the vibe.

And after a long winter, at the end of a long recess, in the leadup to a chaotic few weeks of lawmaking, I also know it’s very much needed.

What I’m watching: a ton of pasta-making videos on Reels. I’ve gotten reasonably good over the aforementioned long winter at making pasta dough and running it through the machine that cuts it into fettuccine. I suspect I won’t be able to resist aiming for much trickier shapes this weekend and, honestly, that it probably won’t go that well.

— Ben Brody

You can find The Readback in your inbox every Saturday at 8 a.m. And don’t hesitate to reach out to readback@punchbowl.news with feedback. Enjoy The Readback.

Tran’s takes on Democratic primaries

Back in May 2024, I reported from Southern California on the competitive House races in a region that was critical to the House battleground. One of my favorite stories came from Orange County, where then-Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) faced a spirited challenge from Democrat Derek Tran.

At the time, Tran had just advanced from the primary and was the outsider in the race. But the first-time political candidate ended up unseating Steel, overcoming the incumbent’s financial and ground game advantages to win by just under 700 votes.

I sat down with Tran recently as he marked his first months as a House member. Toward the end of our conversation, the freshman lawmaker made some timely comments on the primary process, a topic dominating Democratic circles at the moment.

Tran advanced to the general election in 2024 by just 367 votes, defeating fellow Democrat Kim Nguyen-Penaloza to claim the second spot in California’s top-two primary system. Tran felt that if he had received more support from party leaders earlier in his primary, he could have used his resources to fully target Steel in the general election.

Here are some insights that couldn’t make it into my story this week. They include Tran’s reflections on his conversations with party higher-ups about intervening in primaries:

Tran’s thoughts are more relevant, in my mind, than many of the discussions happening among Democrats about primary challenges in safe blue seats. While DNC Vice Chair David Hogg’s vow to knock off aging incumbents in left-wing districts is still notable, members like Tran are in districts that determine control of the majority.

With Democrats facing a number of contested primaries in swing seats this cycle, as I reported, it will be interesting to see if party leaders heed Tran’s advice and get involved early.

What I’m watching: I just started watching “Breaking Bad” and it’s spectacular. I’m very late to the game, I know.

– Max Cohen

Young Democrats taking on the old guard

The 2026 midterms may be well over a year away, but primary elections are already starting to get crowded…at least for Democrats.

A number of Democratic newcomers have announced campaigns against senior incumbents, calling for generational change and stronger pushback against the Trump administration.

It’s a story our intern Lillian Juarez and I were keeping an eye on this week as lawmakers wrapped up their second week of recess. Though our story didn’t make it to the newsletter as we had AMs only this week, we wanted to share what we found.

Lillian and I spoke with several of these young contenders about their political ambitions. While each district is unique, one message was clear among all those we talked to: that status quo is not enough.

Everton Blair, a 35-year-old candidate challenging Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), said he’s disappointed in the party leadership in Washington and that’s what inspired him to step up.

“I feel like we’re not meeting the moment in both the resistance to Trump, but also in reckoning with the clear results of the 2024 November election, where it doesn’t feel like Democrats have done some of the internal mirror work,” Blair said.

Jake Rakov, a former staffer for Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), is seeking to unseat his former boss. Rakov criticized Sherman’s leadership and said the congressman had become disconnected from his constituents. He also noted that Sherman hadn’t hosted a town hall in the last five years.

Rakov, 37, said Democrats need a new wave of energy. The candidate has touted his age as an advantage against the 70-year-old representative. Rakov contends that younger Democrats in Congress would offer a fresh legislative perspective.

Also in the crowded California primary is 39-year-old Saikat Chakrabarti, who is looking to challenge veteran Democratic leader and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Chakrabarti said he was surprised with Democratic leadership’s response to a new Trump era, as well as Pelosi insisting the party didn’t need change during an interview with the New York Times. He said the party’s leadership is out of date.

“Democrats need to dare to dream again — but to do it with a real plan and vision for how to actually deliver a better life,” Chakrabarti told us.

Some of the other challengers, like Kat Abughazaleh and George Hornedo, have also been critical of Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer. Abughazaleh is running in Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s (D-Ill.) seat and Hornedo is taking on Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.).

Some leadership sources called the criticism an unwise tactic if the young candidates want a shot at winning. Still, it shows the greater level of frustration these contenders are directing at the status quo.

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), a progressive member who is no stranger to criticizing leadership, said the primaries are a warning sign that people are angry. She anticipates more challengers will announce races soon.

“We saw this in 2017 and we’re seeing it now. People want to do something about what’s happening,” Ramirez told us. “If you’re pissed off about what Congress is not doing, in your opinion, pick up a clipboard and run. I will never denounce someone for daring to run.”

What I’m watching/reading/listening to: Mica just started watching the show “Vice Principals” on Max. Lillian just started watching season 7 of “Black Mirror” on Netflix.

– Mica Soellner and Lillian Juarez

The GOP’s Medicaid mess

Republicans can’t punt the Medicaid fight anymore.

Lawmakers return from a two-week recess on Monday. That’s also when Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans will meet and continue to hash out reconciliation policies, as we scooped this week.

Energy and Commerce is running out of time to figure out the biggest challenge of this reconciliation bill: Medicaid. The panel is targeting May 7 for a markup, which we also scooped.

The panel needs to find $880 billion in cuts, most of which has to come from Medicaid. And there’s still no agreement on what to do. No matter what the committee chooses, it risks upsetting either moderates or the hardliners.

The problem here is figuring out what will get 218 votes. This week, we heard Republicans starting to discuss what some Medicaid cuts may look like but these proposals aren’t going to get that magic number to pass the House.

Reps. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) and Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) both talked about lowering the federal match rate for states. Neither of them are on Energy and Commerce, but it’s interesting to hear these members talk Medicaid specifics.

Lowering that rate is a hard “no” for GOP moderates, however. Rep. Mike Lawler said as much on Fox Business. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) has also said she wouldn’t support those cuts for the traditional Medicaid population.

Lawler said he’s open to citizenship verification, work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependent children and more frequent eligibility checks.

“Beyond that, I’m not going to consider any changes that cut benefits to anyone, period,” Lawler said.

But there’s few other policies that will get Energy and Commerce close to $880 billion. Another proposal on the table is lowering the District of Columbia’s federal reimbursement for Medicaid, which would only raise about $8 billion.

So we expect Medicaid cuts to be the biggest challenge for Republicans over the next few weeks.

What I’m watching: I just started watching “The Studio” on Apple TV. As a Los Angeles native, I particularly like seeing the great views of LA.

– Samantha Handler