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Samantha Handler

Policy Reporter
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Samantha has covered policy on Capitol Hill since 2021. Samantha authors Punchbowl News’ policy newsletter, The Portal, writing about a broad range of issues from transportation to health care. Before joining Punchbowl News, Samantha covered intellectual property and tax policy at Bloomberg, so she’s no stranger to complex legislation. Samantha is a graduate of Northwestern University,and was born and raised in Los Angeles.

Latest from Samantha Handler

Thune’s next big fight: Governing
Trump and his closest Senate allies are prodding Thune to keep the Senate in session well into August to confirm more of the president’s nominees.
Senate
Senate GOP seeks upper hand in FY2026 funding fight
Senate conservatives are threatening to derail efforts to pass bipartisan government funding bills, stoking new tensions with GOP leaders.
Senate
Susan Collins faces heat from the right
Collins’ comments were interpreted inside the room as a suggestion that Johnson wouldn’t be so critical of Collins if she were a man.
premium Senate
Bill Cassidy eyes Medicare crackdown for health package
Sen. Bill Cassidy is hoping to include a bipartisan bill going after Medicare fraud in any year-end health talks.
premium Health care
Democrats’ uphill IRS fight
Dems are facing yet another bruising battle over IRS funding this fall, pushing back against Republicans who are dug in on slashing the agency’s budget.
The Vault
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