Matt Laslo
As seen in:
The LCB,
Medium,
MSN,
MSN Australia,
MSN Canada,
MSN India,
MSN UK,
Daily Mail,
Reuters,
The Guardian,
USA Today
and
Covers:
AI, tech, crypto, data privacy, guns (40+ mass shootings), Indian Country, artificial intelligence, criminal justice, opioids, marijuana (moderated Aspen Ideas Fest’s first-ever cannabis panel), etc.
Journalist, prof. & public speaker. My wire service: www.thelcb.com/ My startup: askapolpolitics.com
Articles by Matt Laslo
Dem colleague warns writing's on wall for senator
Matt Laslo WASHINGTON — It's a new day in Washington for the AIPAC — American Israel Public Affairs Committee — faithful like Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA). Even before Fetterman infuriated Democrats for cutting a video that aired during President Donald Trump's midterm GOP convention in Texas, Pennsylvania's senior senator frustrated his party colleagues for his numerous appearances on Fox News, where he regularly defends Israel and rips progressive Democrats.
Top Dems squirm as furious voters clamor to impeach Trump
Matt Laslo WASHINGTON — Where President Donald Trump goes, impeachment follows. At the start of 2025, two weeks before Trump's second inauguration, then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced measures to expunge Trump's two historic first-term impeachments. Republicans didn't stop there. With federal courts routinely ruling against the president in the last two years, 10 House Republicans dropped 15 impeachment measures against 12 federal judges.
'Do the right thing': Top Dems squirm as furious voters clamor to impeach Trump
WASHINGTON — Where President Donald Trump goes, impeachment follows. At the start of 2025, two weeks before Trump’s second inauguration, then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced measures to expunge Trump’s two historic first-term impeachments. Republicans didn’t stop there. With federal courts routinely ruling against the president in the last two years, 10 House Republicans dropped 15 impeachment measures against 12 federal judges.
Capitol Hill demand targets Musk as misinformation floods midterms
Matt Laslo WASHINGTON — With the midterm elections just around the corner, misinformation and disinformation are flying in key battleground states. While a lot of attention has gone to combating election interference efforts from President Donald Trump and his allies, not enough attention has been paid to the powerful misinformation campaigns already underway from MAGA faithful like Elon Musk.
'Should be arrested': Capitol Hill demand targets Musk as misinformation floods midterms
WASHINGTON — With the midterm elections just around the corner, misinformation and disinformation are flying in key battleground states. While a lot of attention has gone to combating election interference efforts from President Donald Trump and his allies, not enough attention has been paid to the powerful misinformation campaigns already underway from MAGA faithful like Elon Musk.
Dems name wild card they fear will let Trump trample midterms
Matt Laslo WASHINGTON — Recent Supreme Court victories have renewed many Democratic officials' faith in the nation's Trump-stacked justices ahead of this year's midterm elections — but justices are still feared as Trump's wild card. “I do trust the courts,” seven-term Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL) told Raw Story as she entered the Capitol this fall. “You know, we're really getting prepared for all kinds of scenarios.
Battle plans drawn for 150 ways Trump could hijack midterms — but one still scares Dems
Matt Laslo WASHINGTON — Democrats have spent months researching arcane election law, preparing legal briefings and even role-playing ahead of this fall's midterms so they're ready, in real time, to combat as many as 150 potential threats President Donald Trump might throw at them. But, even with all that meticulous preparation, the Democratic Party doesn't seem to have a solid plan if Trump declares a national emergency ahead of Election Day. “We talked about this today.
Battle plans drawn for 150 ways Trump could hijack midterms — but one still scares Dems
WASHINGTON — Democrats have spent months researching arcane election law, preparing legal briefings and even role-playing ahead of this fall’s midterms so they’re ready, in real time, to combat as many as 150 potential threats President Donald Trump might throw at them. But, even with all that meticulous preparation, the Democratic Party doesn’t seem to have a solid plan if Trump declares a national emergency ahead of Election Day. “We talked about this today. It's a little frightening,” Rep.
Senator Warner: “Chinese drones” shuttered Langley AFB — on US soil! — for 17 days in 2023, not UAP
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) Ranking Member Sen. Mark Warner answers reporters’ questions in US Capitol. Photo: Matt Laslo Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) — Ranking Member, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Did you ever get answers from the Pentagon on the UAP incursions that effectively shuttered Langley Air Force Base for 17 days in 2023? “Mostly ended up being Chinese drones,” Sen.
Eric Schmitt's bad Jack Smith intel likely came directly from White House: Top GOP senator
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A top Republican senator suspects Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) was handed his bad intel directly by the White House before his possibly career-ending Jack Smith slam dunk. Schmitt was massively humiliated as his gotcha moment — unveiling proof that Donald Trump's prosecutor Smith had secretly traveled to Atlanta is 2024 to collude with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to snare Trump — dramatically fell apart on the Senate floor Tuesday.
MAGA senator throws tantrum after epic gaffe in Jack Smith hearing: ‘Quote me on it!'
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) was hounded by reporters Tuesday after his “gotcha” moment targeting former special counsel Jack Smith fell apart in a Senate hearing — and responded by accusing Smith of being a liar.
'It's absurd!' Trump's latest security 'lies' blasted as effort to trick Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, D.C. — How do you fight a fictional threat? Democrats are learning on the job. With President Donald Trump now promising to militarize his proposed 250-foot-tall arch — with tools ranging from drones to sniper nests — near Arlington Cemetery, many Democrats on Capitol Hill fear the president's plot is shaping up to be a severe public safety risk. “Snipers who shoot people visiting their loved ones in the cemetery?” Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) told Raw Story.
EXCLUSIVE: Close Trump ally admits he doesn't read — as only his opinion matters
WASHINGTON — The Republican candidate to be Alabama’s next governor admitted Thursday he actively avoids reading anything — because only his opinion matters to him. "No, I read very little," Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) told Raw Story.
Bible verse trips up Tommy Tuberville — as he compares himself to America's poorest
A central Bible verse left Alabama congressman Tommy Tuberville puzzled Wednesday — as he compared himself to America’s poorest people. Tuberville, a member of the conservative Churches of Christ denomination who frequently espouses his beliefs, including posting on his Facebook page, “As a man of Christian Faith, it’s horrifying to witness this decline of morals in America,” was tripped up by the words of Jesus.
Collins decries Trump admin's 'problematic' Obamacare move as colleague says 'good start'
WASHINGTON — Embattled Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins isn’t happy that Vice President JD Vance announced the Trump administration is booting close to 760,000 Americans off Obamacare exchanges about 40 days before this fall’s midterm elections. “Are you annoyed with the administration for taking 750,000 people off Obamacare right ahead of the election?” Raw Story asked Senator Collins (R-ME).
I'm not buying it: Republicans scoff at apocalyptic AI warnings as blatant money grab
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Move over AI doomsday scenarios. Republicans seem to innately trust rapidly evolving artificial intelligence technology — even as they distrust the largest AI companies so much they've started spinning new conspiracies on Capitol Hill.
Trump's 'gala for a communist' is ripping apart his own red state base: lawmakers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ronald Reagan’s vision of America as a “shining city upon a hill” is being torn apart as President Donald Trump attacks America’s free press — while giving a communist leader the red carpet treatment, critics warned. “It's just such a hot mess of chaos and corruption,” Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) told Raw Story Tuesday — the same day Department of Justice lawyers argued allowing CNN, MS NOW and Politico to cover Trump’s White House poses a national security risk.
'I'm not buying it': Republicans scoff at apocalyptic AI warnings as blatant money grab
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Move over AI doomsday scenarios. Republicans seem to innately trust rapidly evolving artificial intelligence technology — even as they distrust the largest AI companies so much they’ve started spinning new conspiracies on Capitol Hill.
Beaten-down reps make futile Trump admission as they flee DC
WASHINGTON — Will President Donald Trump be more empowered now that Speaker Mike Johnson gaveled the U.S. House of Representatives out of session until after November's elections? Not necessarily, according to congressional Democrats who are bracing for what they expect to be the most corrupt election of their lifetimes. “Do you worry, with the House out of session, that Trump might feel emboldened?” Raw Story asked Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM).
Beaten-down reps make futile Trump admission as they flee DC
WASHINGTON — Will President Donald Trump be more empowered now that Speaker Mike Johnson gaveled the U.S. House of Representatives out of session until after November’s elections? Not necessarily, according to congressional Democrats who are bracing for what they expect to be the most corrupt election of their lifetimes. “Do you worry, with the House out of session, that Trump might feel emboldened?” Raw Story asked Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM).
Republican goes berserk over Hegseth impeachment move
Matt Laslo WASHINGTON — An embattled GOP congressman says he's eager to brawl on Pete Hegseth's behalf in the wake of his fellow Republican, Rep Thomas Massie (KY) dropping impeachment articles against the embattled defense secretary this week. “I will f------ punch someone in the face for talking about Hegseth,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) told Raw Story just outside the U.S. Capitol.
Republican goes berserk over Hegseth impeachment move
WASHINGTON — An embattled GOP congressman says he's eager to brawl on Pete Hegseth's behalf in the wake of his fellow Republican, Rep Thomas Massie (KY) dropping impeachment articles against the embattled defense secretary this week. “I will f------ punch someone in the face for talking about Hegseth,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) told Raw Story just outside the U.S. Capitol.
'I will punch someone in the face!' Republican goes berserk over Hegseth impeachment move
WASHINGTON — An embattled GOP congressman says he’s eager to brawl on Pete Hegseth’s behalf in the wake of his fellow Republican, Rep Thomas Massie (KY) dropping impeachment articles against the embattled defense secretary this week. “I will f------ punch someone in the face for talking about Hegseth,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) told Raw Story just outside the U.S. Capitol.
Shock Hegseth attack kept top secret amid fear of drastic GOP move to kill it
WASHINGTON — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) hid his effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from his fellow Republicans until he unveiled it on the House floor Tuesday, fearing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) would gavel the House out of session to avoid taking up the measure.
Backlash slaps Mike Johnson as he rushes to shut down House
WASHINGTON — After taking their annual monthlong August break, members of the U.S. House of Representatives worked three and a half days this week. That was enough for Speaker Mike Johnson. Once the House passed a measure funding the government through December, he decided to give Congress an extra two weeks off, canceling the last two weeks of September. After that, the chamber won't reconvene until mid-November.
Snowballing crisis rocks GOP as Trump lambasted by his own allies
President Donald Trump got a stern warning from members of his own party as he was lambasted for shrugging off an issue fast snowballing into a major crisis. Trump’s refusal to admit Americans are hurting economically — in fact, calling affordability worries a “hoax” and claiming they’d been fixed — is going to clatter him, key Republicans warned as they returned from meeting with constituents. “I think he knows different,” vice chairman of the conservative Freedom Caucus Rep.
Dog-walking Nancy Mace drops F-bomb as she learns of Netanyahu's brag about Trump
MAGA Rep. Nancy Mace hurled an expletive Tuesday as she learned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bragged on live TV that he manipulated Donald Trump into attacking Iran. Viewers were left gasping as Netanyahu revealed he ran an "influence" campaign he claimed helped drag America into the widely unpopular war — that has now been going on for six months, has killed an estimated 18 Americans and left Trump's popularity ratings plummeting.
DHS head accused of sounding brazen 'dog whistle' in scramble to save job
WASHINGTON — As President Donald Trump and his administration turned their focus to “election security” in recent months, alumni of the Select Jan. 6, 2021 Committee have been left scratching their heads, wondering if anyone around the president has even a cursory understanding of the American Constitution. "It's really not a security push. It's a voter suppression effort, and I think it's going to fail," Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) — a lawyer by trade — told Raw Story.
GOP giddy as Trump official brags 5M booted off food stamps: 'Listen, we're very generous'
WASHINGTON — It’s not just President Donald Trump’s cabinet; Congressional Republicans are also giddy about booting roughly 5 million Americans off of what used to be called food stamps. "Have you heard from constituents on these SNAP cuts?" Raw Story asked Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS). "None," Marshall, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, told Raw Story at the Capitol.
Elon Musk's latest vow bashed as pie in the sky by senators of both parties
; ; ; Continue reading More for You ; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You
'Delusional': Elon Musk's latest vow bashed as pie in the sky by senators of both parties
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators from both parties are dismissing Elon Musk’s prediction that artificial intelligence will soon do away with the need for retirement accounts — a controversial view echoed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this week. “I don't think that's right,” OpenAI founder Sam Altman told Raw Story in between meetings with senators at the Capitol this week.
'Republican on Republican violence': GOP civil war threat after Todd Blanche vote derailed
WASHINGTON — A Republican civil war is emerging over President Donald Trump’s stalled attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche. President Donald Trump is now threatening to pull Blanche’s nomination until next year after retiring Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) continue to demand to see in writing Blanche’s promise that the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion weaponization fund is dead.
Republican drops bizarre remark minutes after Fauci barrage: 'Intentionally got measles'
WASHINGTON — America's in the midst of its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, but you wouldn't know that from watching Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee rip into Dr. Anthony Fauci Wednesday over America's COVID response. “You lied to hundreds of millions of people amid the worst public health crisis in a century,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) told Fauci.
'Intentionally got measles': Republican drops bizarre remark minutes after Fauci barrage
WASHINGTON — America’s in the midst of its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, but you wouldn’t know that from watching Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee rip into Dr. Anthony Fauci Wednesday over America’s COVID response. “You lied to hundreds of millions of people amid the worst public health crisis in a century,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) told Fauci.
Even senior Dems are now apologists for Mitch McConnell's disappearance: 'Makes sense'
WASHINGTON — It's now been more than 40 days since Sen. Mitch McConnell's given any legislative signs of life — at least believable enough ones to satiate his online critics, many of his Kentucky constituents and governor — but that's par for the course in the senior-friendly confines of the U.S. Senate. “What do you make of his extended absence?” Raw Story asked the second most powerful Democrat in the Senate. “He explained it,” Sen.
Teen's mysterious death spurs Mississippi's lone Black rep to seek help from Trump's FBI
WASHINGTON — In the wake of an inconclusive independent autopsy, Mississippi’s only Black U.S. Congressman says the FBI should get involved in the investigation into 18-year-old Nolan Wells’ mysterious death on the Fourth of July. “Given Mississippi's history, it's very suspicious,” Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) told Raw Story.
Mike Johnson battered in Dem victory speech
Matt Laslo Washington, D.C. — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) came out swinging at Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as Republican leaders were embarrassingly forced to pull a bipartisan veterans bill from the floor Thursday after another revolt from Johnson's rightward flank. “Yet again, another reckless Republican bill went down to defeat on the floor of the House of Representatives.
GOP fans flames as Dems shoot down Trump's primetime address
Matt Laslo WASHINGTON — The 2020 election just won't go away, and not just because of President Donald Trump and his primetime address Thursday evening. Some of the president's prominent allies on Capitol Hill are eagerly fanning the flames ahead of this year's midterm elections. “Who won the 2020 election?” Raw Story asked Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) at the Capitol this week. “Donald Trump,” the Alabama gubernatorial candidate told Raw Story. Want more breaking political news?
'He knows he's a loser': GOP fans flames as Dems shoot down Trump's primetime address
WASHINGTON — The 2020 election just won’t go away, and not just because of President Donald Trump and his primetime address Thursday evening. Some of the president’s prominent allies on Capitol Hill are eagerly fanning the flames ahead of this year’s midterm elections. “Who won the 2020 election?” Raw Story asked Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) at the Capitol this week. “Donald Trump,” the Alabama gubernatorial candidate told Raw Story. “Are you joking?” Raw Story pressed.
'Leave us the hell alone!' Dem bigwigs warned of catastrophe if they swarm into Maine
WASHINGTON — Progressives in Maine may be feeling duped as the state’s Democratic Party scrambles to replace former U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, but nine-term Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree says that doesn’t mean the state party needs help from the political class. "Now they all want to weigh in on the next round of candidates, and I'm just sort of like, 'Leave us the hell alone!'" Pingree told Raw Story.
Scorching heat and empty baptism pools: Inside Trump's deserted American State Fair
Visitors watch an empty ferris wheel. (Matt Laslo/Raw Story) WASHINGTON — Ever throw a party only to have no one show up? Awkward. Lonely. Embarrassing. Welcome to President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair, where even the baptism pool was empty in Friday’s 100-degree heat as two men waved large flags to a crowd of two and a half — a little boy danced to soulless piano playing to the massive “revival” tent’s eight rows of empty chairs.
Trump ally floats dubious immigration scheme after major Supreme Court rebuke
After being dealt another defeat by the conservative Supreme Court, President Donald Trump called on Congress to end birthright citizenship, but one of his biggest supporters on Capitol Hill is going a step further and is now calling for a ten-year moratorium on all immigration. "We need to put a bed sheet over the Statue of Liberty for ten years," Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) exclusively told Raw Story at the Capitol. "Moratorium. Ten years.
A five word pledge is splitting Democrats
WASHINGTON — Capitalist or (democratic) socialist? That’s the question starting to drive a wedge between the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party. Democratic Party leaders say there’s nothing to see here, even after the three progressives New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed won their primaries earlier this week, which has the party’s leftward flank all but dancing in the streets.
James Comer admits he's spent 'zero amount of minutes' on Trump's Reflecting Pool
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) made clear Thursday that the alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a subject President Donald Trump has fixated on for days, is nowhere on his list of priorities. Asked whether his committee would hold hearings into the "reflecting pool vandals," Comer said no. "We're going after billions of dollars in fraud," he said, explaining that the panel is focused on Medicare and Medicaid fraud and the Epstein investigation.
'The Senate sucks': Freedom Caucus joins Trump’s tantrum as GOP infighting deepens
WASHINGTON — Work in the U.S. House of Representatives has, once again, been ground to a halt by the far right wing of the Republican Party, as the Freedom Caucus joined President Donald Trump’s demand that no legislation moves until Senate Republicans pass his sweeping election reform measure, the SAVE America Act. “The Senate sucks,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) told congressional reporters at a Thursday morning press conference.
'Lost my temper': Republican spills on his blowup with Trump
WASHINGTON — White House aides tend to shield President Donald Trump from opinions that diverge from his own worldview, but this afternoon, he got chewed out by one of his fellow Republicans at the U.S. Capitol. After four Senate Republicans bucked the president last night and voted to limit his ability to wage war against Iran without congressional approval, the president aired his frustration with members of his own party at today’s Senate Republican Party lunch at the Capitol. But Sen.
I haven't filed a story from the Capitol since Jan 6 - forget rioters, I'm scared of TV Networks
The nation’s TV Networks are blocking me from training a summer intern for the first time since 2012. And they still won’t credential my 7 veteran team members. I’ve now sent a personal letter to the Speaker, Minority Leader, Senate Leaders and each member of the Senate Rules Committee, begging them to intervene. Message me if you’re curious about the other letters; eager to share! My Bureau, The LCB, has provided clips, W-9s, proof of payments, etc.
I haven't filed a story from the Capitol since Jan 6 - forget rioters, I'm scared of TV Networks
The nation’s TV Networks are blocking me from training a summer intern for the first time since 2012. And they still won’t credential my 7 veteran team members. I’ve now sent a personal letter to the Speaker, Minority Leader, Senate Leaders and each member of the Senate Rules Committee, begging them to intervene. Message me if you’re curious about the other letters; eager to share! My Bureau, The LCB, has provided clips, W-9s, proof of payments, etc.
Capitol Hill's lone MMA fighter delivers Trump a bruising snub
; ; ; Continue reading More for You Continue reading More for You
Capitol Hill's lone MMA fighter delivers Trump a bruising snub
WASHINGTON — While President Donald Trump plans to make history this weekend when he hosts the UFC at the White House, Mixed Martial Arts history has already been made in Washington in recent years. At the start of this 119th Congress, there were two former MMA fighters in Congress before one, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), became Department of Homeland Security Secretary in March. Now, Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) holds the title of MMA champion of Capitol Hill.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Matt
Contact Matt, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack