Who?

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) — Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Senate Judiciary Committee

Ask a Pol asks:

Is there still a bipartisan path to getting crypto regulation done — or did the Trump family derail it?

Key Booker:

“I think there’s still a very good bipartisan pathway to get something done,” Sen. Cory Booker exclusively tells Ask a Pol Crypto.

Caught our ear:

“The wild west basically on regulating it invites all kind of not just corruption, but also really dark, sinister activities that we have a chance to curtail and stop,” Booker tells us.

TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Cory Booker

SCENE: (NEED! — Matt Laslo will fill in from his notes)

Matt Laslo: “What did you do to crypto?”

Sen. Cory Booker: “I swear I didn’t break it.”

Laslo: “I hear you all derailed it.”

CB: “No.”

Laslo: “Am I getting talking to too many Republicans over here?”

CB: “I think there’s still a very good bipartisan pathway to get something done.”

Laslo: “Did what derailed it at the end? Was it the Trump family?”

CB: “I wouldn’t say it’s derailed. I mean, clearly there’s going to have to be ethics rules there. I think the Wall Street Journal’s story about the crypto chic is an obvious example of why — it is so unethical not to have any kind of ethics. But I hear from the other side that they’re willing to work with us on that. So I still think this has a bipartisan pathway to getting done and I’m going to be relentless in working to get it done.”

Laslo: “Are you guys hearing more from like the Coinbases of the world or the regulators themselves?”

CB: “I hear from every interested party. From the regulators to consumer advocates, to industry, to consumers themselves. This is obviously something that there’s a chorus of people that want it done and done right. And so that’s one of the reasons why it takes a lot of my time and energy, folks.”

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Laslo: “So you don’t think any of these entities are now like, we’re better off if we wait till after the election?”

CB: “I think the wild west basically on regulating it invites all kind of not just corruption, but also really dark, sinister activities that we have a chance to curtail and stop. There’s a lot of illicit activity in this space that we should be working really hard for national security purposes to stop. In addition to that, for me, the consumer protections are urgent. But I wanted to work in this space because of the democratizing forces of blockchain. We really are seeing a lot of opportunities being created for people that have been screwed over by the large finance industries in the first place.”

Ask a Pol AI Disclosure:

Ask a Pol’s playing around with as many new AI tools as we can, so this small, unfunded startup can compete in today’s new media landscape. (generative) AI isn’t tomorrow’s tech — it’s yesterday’s…

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Who?

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) — Chair, Senate Banking Committee Subcommittee on Digital Assets

Ask a Pol asks:

How are you feeling on crypto after the bill stalled in the Banking Committee?

Key Lummis:

“I’m going to be okay. Yeah. We’ll get back to it, but it’s going to take a while to develop a plan on how to take another…"

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe

Ask a Pol ~ interactive political journalism

Who?

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) — Chair, Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets

Ask a Pol asks:

How’s your attempted crypto compromise looking?

Key Lummis:

“We’re still negotiating and trying to keep the ball moving,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis exclusively tells Ask a Pol Crypto.

Are you optimistic because it’s so bipartisan does it have a chance during the midterms?

“I think it does have a chance, and we’re trying to keep it bipartisan,” Lummis says. “If it doesn’t happen before things go uber-partisan in 2026, it won’t be for lack of trying on my part.”

Caught our ear:

“I’m sad,” Lummis tells us.

About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. 

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Ask a Pol ~ interactive political journalism ~ what should we ask Congress next?

Who?

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Ask a Pol asks:

Any crypto update?

Key Gillibrand:

“I’ll just tell you we had a very positive bipartisan meeting,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand exclusively tells Ask a Pol Crypto. “I’m very optimistic things will continue to move forward.”

Before the winter holidays?

“I don’t have any thoughts on timing,” Gillibrand tells us.

Caught our ear:

Lobbyist (speaking over US Senator): “I’m sorry, we can’t do this right now,” as the US Senator speaks over his misinformation….

About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. 

Find us on social media:

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AppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites! Ask a Pol politics.

Ask a Pol crypto. 

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Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media. 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe

Ask a Pol ~ interactive political journalism ~ what should we ask Congress next?

Who?

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) — Ranking Member, House Financial Services Committee

Ask a Pol asks:

What do you make of what’s happened to the crypto measures — over in the Senate, seems they’re getting closer to a deal?

Key Waters:

“We’ve done just about all that’s going to be done, certainly this year,” Rep. Maxine Waters exclusively tells Ask a Pol Crypto. “We’ve got a long way to go.”

Caught our ear:

“It has growing bipartisanship, but you don’t know how that’s going to play out during the campaigns,” Waters tells us of her outlook for the New Year.

About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. 

Find us on social media:

SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites! Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media. 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe

Visit Ask a Pol ~ interactive political journalism ~ what should we ask Congress next? Let us know!

Ask a Pol asks:

Any update on crypto negotiations in the Senate?

Key Gillibrand:

“Great bipartisan meetings. We’re doing really good work,” Gillibrand exclusively tells Ask a Pol Crypto. “I’m very optimistic.”

About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. 

Find us on social media:

SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites! Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media. 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe

Visit Ask a Pol ~ interactive political journalism ~ what should we ask Congress next? Let us know!

Who?

Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) — Ranking Republican, Senate Agriculture Committee

Ask a Pol asks:

How was your call with White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks this week — any update?

Key Boozman:

“We’re making progress,” Sen. John Boozman exclusively tells Ask a Pol Crypto. “This is one of those things that everybody wants to protect the consumer. They’d like to make it such that the industry’s regulated.”

About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. 

Find us on social media:

SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites!Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe

Visit Ask a Pol ~ asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol ~ Let us know what to ask next!

In our latest episode:

Who?

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) — Original sponsor, GENIUS Act

Ask a Pol asks:

Any update on crypto reform — still in limbo?

Key Gillibrand:

“We’re still working on a bipartisan basis,” Gillibrand exclusively tells Ask a Pol.

That’s not what I’ve been reading.

“No. It’s absolutely true,” Gillibrand says. “No, no, that was last week. This week we’re back on track.”

About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. 

Find us on social media:

Substack

X

Spotify

Apple

Don’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites!

Ask a Pol politics.

Ask a Pol crypto.

Ask a Pol drugs.

Ask a Pol ai.

Ask a Pol uaps.

Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media. 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe

Visit Ask a Pol ~ interactive political journalism ~ what should we ask Congress next? Let us know!

Who?

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) — Chair, Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs

In our latest episode, Ask a Pol asks:

Are we hearing that crypto reform is now on life support?

Key Scott: 

“No,” Banking Chair Tim Scott exclusively told Ask a Pol.* “Not at all.”

*Chair Scott has a rule that he doesn’t do impromptu hallway interviews in the Capitol — a self-imposed rule veteran congressional reporter Matt Laslo bypasses by merely talking to Scott on a human level.

About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. 

Find us on social media:

SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites!Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe

Visit Ask a Pol ~ asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol ~What should we ask Congress next? Let us know!

Who?

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) — Member, Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs and Commerce Committees

In our latest episode, Ask a Pol asks:

With the House of Representative out as the government shutdown lingers, do you worry the stalemate is going to take away some of the bipartisan momentum on crypto in the 119th Congress?

Key Lummis:

“We’re still talking among ourselves — meaning the Democrats’ working group and the Republicans’ — to try to get a date for a markup,” Lummis exclusively tells Ask a Pol Crypto.

“If we don’t have significant moves forward by the end of next week, I’ll be very unhappy. I think we’ve only got another week to do this delicate dance we’re doing, and then we’ve got to have a markup date and we’ve got to start.”

About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest. 

Find us on social media:

SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites!Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe