This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Sept. 7, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Two Arkansas agricultural leaders spent part of last week in Washington, D.C., urging the Trump administration and Congress to take action to help farmers in the Natural State.

Joe Mencer and Andrew Grobmyer, officials with the Agricultural Council of Arkansas, participated in multiple meetings regarding possible economic assistance for producers. Mencer and Grobmyer traveled to the nation's capital as farms and other operations continue to struggle with low crop prices and elevated production costs.

The recent Republican tax and spending package made adjustments to federal agricultural programs, but farmers will not notice these changes until the fall of 2026.

STORY: Arkansas farm advocates visit Washington to call for financial aid

We are six months away from Arkansas' primary election, and candidates are already preparing their pitches to voters.

Zack Huffman, of Little Rock, is running as a Democrat in Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District. A former teacher, Huffman said he felt motivated to run for office as the Trump administration began its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.

STORY: Little Rock’s Zack Huffman seeks Democratic nomination to face Rep. French Hill in 2nd District

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of August 31, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

As Republicans and Democrats in other states debate drawing new congressional districts before next year's midterm elections, Arkansas' state lawmakers are not in a position to hold similar discussions.

Following the 2020 census, Republicans drew a congressional map strengthening the GOP's ability to hold the state's four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The recent gerrymandering efforts in Texas and California raised a question for J. Miles Coleman, who works at the University of Virginia Center for Politics: What would it take to give minority parties in states like Arkansas a chance to have some House representation?

Check Tuesday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette for the full story.

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of August 24, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are preparing to resume legislative duties on Capitol Hill after Labor Day.

Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., hopes lawmakers work on passing permitting legislation — including his SPEED Act — later this fall.

Westerman, of Hot Springs, has pushed for overhauling the current permitting system, leading a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on issues affecting energy and public infrastructure projects before the August recess.

STORY: Westerman sees ‘growing bipartisan desire’ to speed infrastructure permits, scale back environmental law

Another Democrat has launched a bid to challenge U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., in next year's Senate contest.

Lewisville Mayor Ethan Dunbar has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for federal office.

Dunbar, who chairs the Arkansas Black Mayors Association, told the Democrat-Gazette that his decision stems in part from the hostile national political climate. He further said, "our political process has experienced some moral decay, and we've got to return respect for humanity first."

STORY: Lewisville mayor seeking Democratic nomination to face GOP’s Cotton for U.S. Senate seat

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of August 17, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

It's been more than a month since President Donald Trump signed Republicans' tax and spending package into law.

Much of the attention surrounding the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act has been focused on its preservation of the first Trump presidency's tax breaks and changes to Medicaid and nutrition assistance, but the law has also delivered a significant update to the agricultural programs.

Farmers and other producers have been pushing for congressional action addressing these programs for multiple years amid a period of low reference prices, high input costs and inflation.

Check Monday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette for the full article.

The previous episode of "Arkies in the Beltway" highlighted the possibility of a government shutdown in September.

Members of Congress have another reason to approve the annual appropriations measures next month: These spending bills will include millions of dollars for projects in their states and districts.

Senators and House members can make these requests for federal funds, also known as earmarks, as part of Congress' annual appropriations process.

STORY: Arkansas lawmakers aim to bring federal funds to Natural State with project requests

Thank you for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of August 10, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., is back in the United States after leading a bipartisan congressional delegation on a trip to Israel.

Crawford, of Jonesboro, and colleagues held multiple discussions with Israeli officials regarding Israel's military efforts against Hamas militants, as well as the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The congressional trip occurred as Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders was in Israel as part of an overseas trade mission.

STORY: Crawford: Israelis doing ‘phenomenal job’ getting aid to Palestinians, but Hamas is in way

The August recess might be in full swing, but many lawmakers are already preparing for what awaits Congress in September.

The Senate and House of Representatives will have four weeks to pass all 12 appropriations measures or some other spending agreement to avert a government shutdown on Oct. 1.

Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., has already expressed his disinterest in considering a continuing resolution to fund the government into the new fiscal year.

STORY: Arkansas lawmakers say they’re tired of short-term spending bills passed under threat of shutdown

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of August 3, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Capitol Hill will be quiet for the foreseeable future as members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives take part in their annual August recess. Members of the House left Washington, D.C., on July 23 as House Republican leaders tried to avoid votes over files concerning financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Senators remained at the Capitol for an additional week for votes and other business, including a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing on the Department of Agriculture's proposed reorganization plan.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee.

STORY: USDA official justifies reorganization strategy; Arkansas' John Boozman weighs in on it

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 27, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The U.S. Senate is in its final week of legislative business before its August recess period. The House of Representatives started its annual break early as House Republican leaders sought to prevent votes over releasing more information about Jeffrey Epstein.

Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., spent the final week renewing his call for permitting reform. The Hot Springs congressman introduced legislation on Friday aimed at changing environmental reviews to streamline the permitting process.

STORY: Westerman pushes for NEPA changes to expedite energy project permitting

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., announced multiple measures last week addressing concerns among young families, including heavy metals in baby formula and hospital policies for providing life-saving care to newborn babies. Cotton, of Little Rock, tied the bills to his own experiences as a parent, as well as stories from friends handling the challenges of parenthood.

Check Monday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette for the full story.

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 20, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed a rescissions package at the end of last week, clawing back $9 billion for international aid and public broadcasting.

All six members of the Arkansas congressional delegation backed the measure, which the White House requested to address funds for items they described as "antithetical to American interests and values."

STORY: State’s federal lawmakers help pass $9B in cuts to foreign aid, public broadcasting

The rescission measure takes $1.1 billion away from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The nonprofit corporation uses federal dollars to support public television and radio stations across the country, including Arkansas PBS and the state's NPR affiliates.

Arkansas public media leaders are assessing their organization's financial health to determine how to best confront this funding gap.

STORY: Funding cuts threaten future of Arkansas public media as Congress considers rescission package

During the rescission discourse, the House celebrated "crypto week" by passing legislation aimed at regulating cryptocurrencies and other digital assets.

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., was one of the leaders of "crypto week." The former Little Rock banker leads the House Financial Services Committee.

STORY: Hill calls passage of digital asset regulations ‘high point’ of his time in Congress

Two Democrats are building their campaigns for federal office.

Hallie Shoffner, a sixth-generation farmer from Jackson County, officially launched her challenge to Republican Sen. Tom Cotton.

Rob Ryerse, a Springdale pastor, is hoping to defeat Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., in next year's midterm elections. Ryerse challenged Womack in the 2018 Republican Primary in Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District, but he has since left the party and joined the Democratic Party.

STORY: Arkansas farmer Hallie Shoffner formally launches bid for U.S. Senate, challenging Cotton

STORY: Robb Ryerse seeks 2018 rematch with ’26 run in 3rd District

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 13, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

This podcast typically focuses on national political issues and the Arkansans influencing the related discussions. This week's episode, however, is putting a spotlight on a more light-hearted subject matter: the Congressional Art Competition.

High school students enter the contest every year with hopes of having their artwork recognized at the U.S. Capitol. Offices in the U.S. House of Representatives host local competitions to determine which art piece should be part of the annual exhibition.

Four Arkansas teenagers — representing institutions in Arkansas' four congressional districts — traveled to Capitol Hill in June to meet other young artists and see their pieces on display.

STORY: Arkansas teens’ artwork among those chosen for annual US Capitol exhibit

Thank you for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 6, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were supposed to be spending the week of July 4 away from Capitol Hill, but lawmakers were instead in Washington, D.C., to consider congressional Republicans' tax and spending package.

The Senate and House passed the "one big, beautiful bill," which President Donald Trump signed into law last Friday.

All six members of the Arkansas congressional delegation supported the measure.

STORY: Boozman, Cotton play active parts in passing ‘big beautiful bill’ in Senate

STORY: Arkansas’ U.S. House members support Senate bill amid GOP chaos

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!