Bob Cusack
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Former EIC @thehill. Husband, father of 3, tennis player and avid Jets/Mets fan. Cameos in “Veep” and “Wonder Woman 1984” bobcusack22030@gmail.com
Articles by Bob Cusack
Trump says he’s OK with Vance’s pivot. Can it last?
Vice President JD Vance has created distance between himself and President Donald Trump ahead of a likely 2028 presidential bid. Trump doesn’t seem to mind. At least not yet. Through leaks and public comments, Vance has made it clear that he opposed the Iran war. Unlike Trump, Vance didn’t endorse Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his recent election. Print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account Digital subscriber? Click here to login/register your account.
Winners and losers of the 2026 elections
The 2026 midterm elections were a historic thumping of the Republican Party, though they yielded winners and losers from both the Left and the Right. The reverberations from Democrats easily winning the House and Senate will be felt in the 2028 presidential race and beyond. While it remains to be seen if Democrats can carry over their massive win on Tuesday night into the next election, Republicans clearly have a lot of soul-searching to do as they try to pick up the pieces.
Here’s what Democrats will do with their new majorities
Democratic leaders have been vague about what their legislative agenda would be if they won Congress, but they do have a long wish list that includes ending the Iran war and thwarting President Donald Trump’s tariffs. It’s unclear what Democrats will make their signature bill. But it’s likely to be an anti-corruption or affordability measure. The last time Democrats controlled Congress, during the Biden administration, their first bill was a sweeping voting rights bill that died in the Senate.
Who and what Democrats will go after if they win Original
Congressional Democrats are already planning a long list of their targets if they win control of Congress next week. While they have been vague about their legislative agenda, Democrats are relishing putting a slew of Trump administration officials under the oversight microscope. But the universe of their scrutiny will go well beyond the executive branch and extend into the business community. Here is a list of Democratic targets in 2027 if they win the House and/or the Senate.
Who and what Democrats will go after if they win
Nearly 160 House Democrats want to impeach Noem but won’t bite on... Hegseth clears first Senate hurdle despite Democrats’ efforts to tank Pentagon nominee Trump appoints Katie Bailey as new chief White House liaison to Congress Tillis faces a challenging reelection bid House committee passes War Department renaming in NDAA overnight
Who will survive? The high 2026 stakes for top leaders in Congress
The political futures of the top leaders in Congress will be determined by what happens on Nov. 3. Each of the four leaders in the House and Senate is in a precarious position as they await the verdict of voters and feverishly work to increase or retain the power of their respective caucuses in the next Congress. Stay informed.Stay ahead. Join Washington Examiner for unlimited access to the news, analysis, and commentary that matter most. See Options › Already a member? Log in Print subscriber?
Trump Red Meat, Vance Courts Independents in Campaign
Washington Examinerupdated 12m agofirst covered Sep 11, 2:15 PM ET Read the original ↗ Trump and Vance are executing a strategic two-pronged campaign approach: Trump energizes the conservative base with bold, direct messaging while Vance reaches out to independent voters and swing states. This tactical division of labor shows sophisticated political strategy - giving the base what they want while simultaneously expanding the coalition.
The World Trade Center terrorist who got away
A man born in Indiana who admitted playing a significant role in the first World Trade Center attack remains at large more than three decades after the 1993 bombing. The story of Abdul Rahman Yasin is remarkable and baffling in a number of ways, most notably in how the Iraqi-American got away. Stay informed.Stay ahead. Join Washington Examiner for unlimited access to the news, analysis, and commentary that matter most. See Options › Already a member? Log in Already a print subscriber?
AOC’s pivot for 2028 has begun. Will it work?
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is jockeying for position ahead of her possible 2028 presidential bid and zeroing in on what is her biggest weakness: electability. If she enters what is expected to be a crowded Democratic primary, Ocasio-Cortez would be the most well-known liberal in the field and would attract much of the support that backed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic primaries.
AOC’s pivot for 2028 has begun. Will it work?
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is jockeying for position ahead of her possible 2028 presidential bid and zeroing in on what is her biggest weakness: electability. If she enters what is expected to be a crowded Democratic primary, Ocasio-Cortez would be the most well-known liberal in the field and would attract much of the support that backed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic primaries. AOC’s pivot for 2028 has begun. Will it work?
How the Big Beautiful Bill became law: Republicans plot a midterm rebrand
Republicans knew they had a messaging problem on their hands months before the tax bill reached President Donald Trump’s desk. At the president’s request, the legislation was going to be formally named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a nod to Republicans getting behind what leaders were hailing as a decade’s worth of legislating.
How the Big Beautiful Bill became law: Making the tax cuts permanent
This time, Republicans said, it was going to be permanent. Republicans had passed massive tax packages under Presidents George W. Bush in 2001 and Donald Trump in 2017, but most of the provisions were temporary. After Trump won a second term, GOP leaders had a more controversial idea.
How the Big Beautiful Bill became law: Trump the closer
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent smiled when recalling how President Donald Trump convinced a slew of congressional Republicans to vote yes on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “It’s the president at his best” when he has to deal with lawmakers who want something for their yes votes, Bessent said. George Santos says Max Miller should ‘step aside’ amid domestic violence allegations Minnesota Republicans urge DOJ to ‘stamp out’ state’s Somali gang problem Texas Rep.
How the Big Beautiful Bill became law: Bannon, Vance push back on GOP tax norms
Steve Bannon sounded very confident. Appearing on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher in April of 2025, Bannon boldly predicted President Donald Trump was going to “raise taxes on the wealthy.” Fellow panelist and journalist Josh Rogin immediately pushed back with a healthy dose of skepticism that the GOP was poised to raise taxes on many of its donors.
Late-night drama in the Senate
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How the Big Beautiful Bill became law: Late-night drama in the Senate
Senate Majority Leader John Thune was on the clock. It was in the middle of the night, less than 72 hours before President Donald Trump’s July 4 deadline to sign the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. And Thune didn’t have the votes.
Scott Bessent says there is ‘no chance’ he will run for Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat
EXCLUSIVE — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ruled out running to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Tuesday. “There’s going to be a primary in South Carolina, and I will not be in it,” Bessent said in an interview with the Washington Examiner.
Inside the room: Terror at the White House correspondents’ dinner
Also, many were looking forward to Oz Pearlman’s performance. He is the so-called Mentalist who was featured recently on CBS’s 60 Minutes. The mood was festive. Entering the massive ballroom, I chatted briefly with former New York Yankee and congressional candidate Mark Teixeira and planned to give a little crap to David Rubinstein, a huge figure in politics and the majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles lost Saturday to the Boston Red Sox 17-1 and he was 5 feet away from me.
The Future of Freight Rail in America
Overview Join Washington Examiner for a panel discussion on the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. The Washington Examiner’s Bob Cusack, Executive Editor, will lead a panel discussion on the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger and what it could mean for supply chains, competition, and U.S. economic growth. Lunch will be provided! This event is designed to comply with Congressional ethics rules for widely-attended events.
You’ve arrived! Congratulations on your 2024 win - and welcome to Capitol Hill
Welcome to Capitol Hill. And welcome to The Hill. The Hill is a nonpartisan news operation that reports on all things political. It’s an indispensable read to find out what’s going on in the White House, Congress, in committees, in the courts and on K Street. It’s available anywhere — in print, on your computer and on your mobile devices. We invite you to make The Hill part of your daily routine. The Hill is far more than just a newspaper.
The Hill, a nonpartisan ‘powerhouse’ in politics news, celebrates 30 years
It’s The Hill’s 30th birthday and I couldn’t be prouder of what we have become since the fall of 1994. When The Hill first started, it had a small staff that was solely focused on a print newspaper that came out once a week. I was told the staff of about seven reporters would file their stories on Tuesdays for publication the next day. And every Wednesday, The Hill’s reporters would see a movie. Why would they spend a good part of the workday watching a matinee?
Five takeaways from President Biden's trip to Ukraine
President Biden made a covert journey to Kyiv on Monday, breaking cover to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the nation's capital. It was a huge moment, just days before the anniversary of Russia's invasion. It also came at a time when American public support for Ukraine appears to be eroding, at least in some...
Five takeaways from President Biden’s trip to Ukraine Original
President Biden made a covert journey to Kyiv on Monday, breaking cover to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the nation’s capital. It was a huge moment, just days before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion. It also came at a time when American public support for Ukraine appears to be eroding, at least in some polls.
Join The Hill’s ‘group text chat’ with Editor Bob Cusack
When I came to the nation's capital, I didn't have a clue about politics. I (barely) knew how a bill became law (Schoolhouse Rock, anyone?), but that was about it. Still, I quickly got Potomac fever, and more than 25 years later, I am privileged to be editor-in-chief at The Hill working with a great team of journalists. Over the years, I've seen it get harder and harder to find unbiased stories with meaningful context.
Voters' motivations come into focus ahead of midterms
(NewsNation) — With midterm elections a little over two months away, voters’ motivations are beginning to come into focus. A new poll by NewsNation and Decision Desk HQ found 94% of Americans are very or somewhat concerned with inflation, while a majority approve of the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s home in Florida.
Trump declines to answer questions in NY attorney general probe, following FBI search Original
Greg Nash Former President Trump points to supporters after giving a keynote address during the America First Policy Institute Summit in Washington, D.C., on July 26, 2022. Former President Trump on Wednesday said he declined to answer questions in the New York attorney general’s probe into his business and finances. “I once asked, ‘If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?’ Now I know the answer to that question,” Trump wrote in a statement on his 45office.com website.
Watch live: Biden delivers remarks, signs burn pits bill Original
President Biden will deliver remarks Wednesday morning and sign into law the PACT Act of 2022. The event is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. ET.
The Hill launches The Hill TV, the nation’s newest streaming channel Original
At The Hill, our objective is to ensure that our trusted, nonpartisan news and reporting remains free and accessible to you whenever and wherever you want it. With that in mind, we are pleased to announce that we have launched The Hill TV, a new streaming channel for the growing number of Americans who are digitally streaming television programming.
Trump: I am not using campaign funds for new plane
(The Hill) — Former President Donald Trump on Monday said he is not using any campaign funding to construct a new plane. In a phone interview, Trump took issue with an article by The Hill over the weekend that cited a fundraising email his political action committee recently sent out. “The story was incorrect,” Trump told The Hill. “I already have a plane, the same one I used on the 2016 campaign.” Trump said his plane is being serviced in Louisiana and should be back in the air in 90 days.
Trump: I am not using campaign funds for new plane
US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before departing Harlingen, Texas on January 12, 2021. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) (The Hill) — Former President Donald Trump on Monday said he is not using any campaign funding to construct a new plane. In a phone interview, Trump took issue with an article by The Hill over the weekend that cited a fundraising email his political action committee recently sent out.
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