Ask a Pol crypto

~ asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol ~ 

Who?

Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) — Chair, House Agriculture Committee

Ask a Pol asks:

Are you worried this Congress is more partisan when it comes to all things, especially digital assets?

Example I: House Financial Services Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) continuously deriding what she calls President Donald Trump’s “crypto cabinet.”

Example II: Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) perpetually attacking Trump’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair nominee Paul Atkins for what she calls “breathtaking” conflicts of interest.

Key Thompson:

“No. Trust me, it's not. It's perhaps loud voices that are over represented in the media,” Chair Glenn Thompson exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “We all recognize, I think, that this is a growing part of our economy. And we want — just like the United States was the leader of Internet 1.0, which was the Internet of Knowledge, and Internet 2.0, what we're living today, the Internet of Things — America needs to be to lead and dominate Internet 3.0, which is the Internet of Value.”

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More from Ask a Pol:

politics: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWbT1bfG4h_5bAJlEVr6Nxw50bGzKBn08 

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Who?

Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) — Banking, Housing & Urban Development Committee

LISTEN: Laslo & Lummis

Ask a Pol asks:

Curious how you think your digital asset bill is going?

Key Lummis:

“We got it out of committee, the stablecoin bill, this morning,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis exclusively told Ask a Pol*

Does that bode well for when it comes before the full Senate?“I think it does,” Lummis said. “I do think it does.”Do you think we’ll see enough support — 60+ senators out of 100 — to overcome a filibuster?

“I do,” Lummis said. “But I think we’ll also continue to work with a few Democrats on the manager’s amendment.”

*Background: This interview took place last Thursday, right before senators overcame their impasse, avoided a government shutdown and then gave themselves this week off...

An Ask a Pol subscriber sent in this week’s question for Senator Lummis. Sign up — for FREE! — and keep your questions coming!

ICYMI — Stablecoin bill passes Banking Committee

Caught our ear:

“The partisan discussion was, you know, tough. Arduous,” Lummis told us. “But on the final vote we got a pretty clear majority.”

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), slightly edited for clarity.

TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Cynthia Lummis

SCENE: Sen. Cynthia Lummis is leaving a private lunch for Republican senators just off the Senate floor on the 2nd floor of the US Capitol when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo catches her as she heads down a flight of stairs.

Earlier, Laslo spotted a name placard for Lummis in a rare hearing taking place on the 1st floor of the Capitol — in a room directly underneath the Senate chamber — so Ask a Pol proceeds to play escort to the senator while also bouncing crypto questions off her…

Matt Laslo: “Curious — are you’re going down to this meeting?”

CL: “Yeah, I’ve got an EPW [Environment and Public Works Committee] meeting right now.”

ML: “I was curious how you think your digital asset bill is going?”

CL: “Well, we got it out of committee, the stablecoin bill…”

ML: “Yeah.”

CL: “…this morning.”

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CL: “With 18 ‘yes’ votes. So we picked up some Democrats on the final vote.”

ML: “Did that surprise you? Because it was really partisan up until…?”

CL: “Yeah. The partisan discussion was, you know, tough. Arduous.”

ML: “Yeah?”

Lummis aide speaking to himself as he searches for correct room…

Lummis aide: “Capitol 120.”

CL: “But on the final vote we got a pretty clear majority.”

Lummis slightly turns to her aide.

CL: “We’re going this way?”

We run into a committee aide.

EPW aide: “Yes. This room right here.”

EPW aide points senator to correct hearing room.

What should we ask senators next? Let us know!

ML: “And do you — does that bode well for the floor?”CL: “I think it does. I do think it does.”ML: “Do you think we’ll see over 60?”*

*60+ US senators = filibuster-proof majority

CL: “I do, but I think we’ll also continue to work with a few Democrats on the manager’s amendment.”

The door to the EPW meeting — which is underway — is open, so Laslo whispers.

ML: “Thank you ma’am.”

Lummis enters hearing.

Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

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Who?

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) — Member, Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee

LISTEN: Laslo & Hagerty

Shortly after the Senate Banking Committee passed landmark stablecoin legislation Thursday — the GENIUS Act — Ask a Pol caught up with the measure’s author.

Ask a Pol asks:

Parts of the hearing were so partisan, until you got to the final vote — are you still trying to win over a few more votes when your bill comes before the full Senate?

Key Hagerty: 

“I think the momentum is clearly with us,” Sen. Bill Hagerty exclusively told Ask a Pol. “It was clear that the Ranking Member [Sen. Elizabeth Warren] would have liked to derail it. A lot of the things that were said were out of scope and not relevant to the discussion.”

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“As members worked at the actual package and the managers bill that we worked very hard on a bipartisan basis to put together, they realized it was in the nation's interest to vote with us,” Hagerty said. “And we had five Democrats join every Republican to do just that.”

ICYMI — pressure mounting on Congress to catch up

Caught our ear:

Any timeline for floor action?

“Oh, soon I think,” Hagerty tells us. 

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), slightly edited for clarity.

TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Bill Hagerty

SCENE: After voting on the Senate floor, Sen. Bill Hagerty and an aide run into Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo who proceeds to ride an elevator with the pair before leaving them as they hop on one of the underground Senate trams.

Matt Laslo: “Your stablecoin bill — how you feeling?”

Bill Hagerty: “Oh, I feel very good about it. We had a great result in the committee — 18 to 6 coming out.”

ML: "Yeah.”

BH: “I think the momentum is clearly with us.”

ML: "What do you think it's going to look like on the floor? Do you guys still — are you still trying to win over a few more votes? I mean, part of that committee today was so partisan, until you got to the final vote."

They enter the elevator.

BH: “Well, you know, I think it was clear that the Ranking Member [Sen. Elizabeth Warren] would have liked to derail it. A lot of the things that were said were out of scope and not relevant to the discussion.”

They exit the elevator and walk down the basement hall.

ML: "Yeah?”

BH: "I think, as members worked at the actual package and the managers bill that we worked very hard on a bipartisan basis to put together, they realized it was in the nation's interest to vote with us, and we had five Democrats join every Republican to do just that.”

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ML: “What’d you think of some of the — it was interesting when [Sen. Cynthia] Lummis called them out, her ‘Machiavelli’ comment — what do you think about people putting drug policy and all this stuff in there, which some say doesn't belong?”

BH: “I'll be one of those that says it doesn't belong. I mean, this is a very straightforward piece of legislation. It's a landmark piece of legislation in that it actually puts in place a framework to deal with digital assets here in America. It’s at the cutting edge of a very important area of innovation, and those that would like to derail it, it's unfortunate but we will [inaudible].”

ML: “Does leadership — any timeline where you might see floor action or…?”

Hagerty enters tram.

BH: “Oh, soon I think.”

ML: “Soon?”

BH: “Yeah.”

Aide: “What’a your name?”

ML: “Matt Laslo.”

Aide: “Thank you.”

ML: “Preciate ya, sir.”

What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!

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Who?

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) — US House Majority Leader

LISTEN: Laslo & Scalise

Ask a Pol asks:

What are your thoughts on this new Strategic Crypto Reserve?

Key Scalise

“I’ve been very supportive of the crypto industry,” Majority Leader Steve Scalise exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “I want to get more details on this, obviously.”

ICYMI — Hagerty’s new stablecoin bill

Caught our ear:

“Let’s let them follow the same rules, you know, be a part of the same economic success as every other part of the banking industry,” Scalise tells us.

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), slightly edited for clarity.

TRANSCRIPT: Majority Leader Steve Scalise

SCENE: After passing by a handful of congressional reporters staking out Speaker Mike Johnson’s office, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo enters the Old House Chamber where he finds Majority Leader Scalise talking to a group of his constituents.

Laslo waits until Scalise finishes shaking hands and posing for photos and then proceeds to get this exclusive.

Matt Laslo: “Hey, I’ve never asked you…”

Scalise’s security detail is eyeing Laslo hard.

Steve Scalise: “Walk with me?”

ML: “Yeah.”

Scalise, his security detail and Laslo start traversing a crowd of tourists.

ML: “What are your thoughts on the Strategic Crypto Reserve?”

SS: “Yeah, I’m just getting details of it.”

ML: “Yeah?”

SS: “Obviously, I’ve been very supportive of the crypto industry, and, you know, the Biden Administration had some very anti-crypto policies to try to make it harder. I mean this is a new form of…”

Scalise clears his throat as his entourage encounters a large group of Capitol visitors as he makes his way to Speaker Johnson’s office.

What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!

SS: “…of asset allocation...”

ML: “Ah-huh?”

SS: “…that we ought to be open to, and we in Congress have moved a number of bills now to open up the crypto industry and kinda bring it into the mainstream. I want to get more details on this, obviously.”

ML: “Yeah?”

SS: “But President Trump’s been a very strong supportive of the crypto industry as well. So, let’s let them follow the same rules, you know, be a part of the same economic success as every other part of the banking industry.”

Scalise and his security detail jet into the Speaker’s office.

ML: “Preciate ya!”

Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.

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

Who?

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

LISTEN: Laslo & Boozman

Ask a Pol asks:

Been curious since your crypto press conference, what do you see as the path forward — can the White House go digital currency regulations alone?

Key Boozman:

“It’s going to take both working together,” Sen. John Boozman exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “There’s definitely a need for legislation. Right now’s the wild west.”

ICYMI — Feb. Crypto Presser: Sens. Boozman & Tim Scott w/ David Sacks and Reps. French Hill & Glen Thompson

Source: C-SPAN (but their embed code wasn’t working…)

Security or commodity?

With the new SEC — Securities and Exchange Commission — actions, it seems like it’s going more to the securities or is there still a commodities argument?

“Some of it is and some of it isn’t,” Boozman says. “That’s the big thing, establishing the definitions as to what’s a commodity, what’s a security. One would fall under the SEC and the other one would fall under the CTFC [Commodity Futures Trading Commission]. Some of them are actually both. It’s a little bit hard to understand at times.”

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ICYMI — Hagerty: state role key to stablecoin bill success

Caught our ear:

“We, in the near future, will be meeting, just as an informal group,” Boozman tells us.

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), slightly edited for clarity.

TRANSCRIPT: Sen. John Boozman

SCENE: Sen. Boozman and an older aide — possibly his chief of staff — is heading to an early morning meeting of Republican committee chairs via the underground tunnel connecting Senate Office Buildings to the US Capitol when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo grabs him for this quick exclusive crypto chat.

Matt Laslo: “Morning sir.”

John Boozman: “Hey.”

ML: “I was curious, I haven’t talked to you since your press conference last week on crypto. What do you see as the path forward?”

JB: “Well, I think that was a good start…”

Senate tram bell dings.

JB: “…you know, getting us all together and making a commitment that we do get started. We, in the near future, will be meeting, just as an informal group. But Sen. Scott’s moving forward on their [Banking] Committee. And our committee, we restructured so crypto would have a greater influence on one of our subcommittees, and I’ve got people on that subcommittee that are involved — are interested in crypto, so I think the biggest thing that we got to do is just get enough people in government confirmed…”

Another senator rings the bell to call one of the older underground trams, which are still run by humans.

JB: “…that there’s leadership in place that we can work with so we can go forward and eventually.”

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ML: “When the dust settles…”

Boozman whispers to his aide.

ML: “…is it still going to be viewed as a commodity or it seems like it’s going more to the securities?”

JB: “Some of it — some of it is and some of it isn’t. And that’s the big thing, establishing the definitions as to what’s a commodity, what’s a security. One would fall under the SEC and the other one would fall under the CTFC. Some of them are actually both. It’s a little bit hard to understand at times.”

ML: “Yeah?”

JB: “So…”

ML: “And is that why it’s good that you guys are now working kinda in tandem with Senate Banking and the House?”

JB: “Well, and our Democrat colleagues are also interested, and so I think it’s lining up that — people realize on both sides of the aisle, the industry realizes — that the [seamers?] need protection, the industry needs to be regulated, in the sense that will allow it to continue to grow and we won’t loose it overseas.”

ML: “And how much action is needed from Congress — or how much can the administration do without you all? Or is that what you’re figuring out?”

JB: “Yes. It’s going to take — it’s going to take both working together. There’s definitely a need for legislation. Right now it’s the wild west.”

Boozman and his aide look like they have a meeting to attend, so Laslo ushers them to the escalator leading into the Capitol.

ML: “I know you got a day job. ‘Preciate ya!”

Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.

What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!

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

Who?

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) — Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee

What?

Hagerty’s new bipartisan stablecoin measure:

Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act

LISTEN: Laslo & Hagerty

Ask a Pol asks:

Congrats on dropping the first stablecoin bill in this Congress. When it comes to that new measure, how do you see a path forward on this?

Key Hagerty:

“I think it’s pretty simple. We’re building more bipartisan support for the bill right now here in the Senate. I’ve talked with [House Financial Services Committee Chair] French Hill and his team in the House. I think we’re gonna come together. We’re close already” Sen. Hagerty exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “So I feel very good we can get it done within the first 100 days. The White House loves it, [Trump’s AI and Crypto Czar] David Sacks has been very positive on it, so I think we’ve got really good momentum right now.”

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Is your measure’s new state component key?

“I think that’s really helped us get — in terms of industry support, it’s really helped us broaden the support for it,” Hagerty says. “Absolutely. We needed a state component to make it all work.”

ICYMI — America’s first Crypto Congress in full gear

Caught our ear:

“David Sacks and I are friends from before,” Hagerty tells us. “We’re working well together on this, and our staffs are working well together.”

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), slightly edited for clarity.

TRANSCRIPT I: Sen. Hagerty (2-12-2025)

SCENE: Sen. Bill Hagerty’s showing a visitor around the Capitol in the middle of a hectic Senate vote, so Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo gives them space but also slides in for a quick chat.

Matt Laslo: “I wanted to say congrats on dropping the first stablecoin bill in this Congress.”

Hagerty laughs.

Bill Hagerty: “Oh yeah, I feel very good about getting it done.”

ML: “What do you — do you think splitting the difference, or solving the problem between states and feds is key?”

BH: “Yes. Yeah, absolutely. We needed a state component to make it all work.”

ML: “And do you think that’s gonna garner the support you need?”

BH: “Yeah, I do.”

ML: “I’ll be watching. Thank you!”

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TRANSCRIPT II: Sen. Hagerty (2-13-2025)

SCENE: The following day, Laslo sees Sen. Hagerty and an aide heading to a Senate vote when he circles back on their previous mini-interview.

Matt Laslo: “Today you don’t have a guest.”

Laslo laughs.

Bill Hagerty: “How are you doing?”

ML: “I felt bad interrupting you with your guest yesterday. But when it comes to your stablecoin measure, how do you see a path forward on this?”

BH: “I think it’s pretty simple. We’re building more bipartisan support for the bill right now here in the Senate. I’ve talked with French Hill and his team in the House. I think we’re gonna come together. We’re close already. So I feel very good we can get it done within the first 100 days. The White House loves it, David Sacks has been very positive on it so I think we’ve got really good momentum right now.”

ML: “And how essential is it, like…”

Laslo slides into the elevator.

ML: “I’ll go up with you, if you don’t mind…”

ML: “…how essential is it that Congress, because we’ve seen the administration doing a lot and changes at the SEC…?”

BH: “The administration — the administration wants to work with us, and I think that’s a critical piece of it. David Sacks and I are friends from before.”

ML: “Yeah? Nice.”

BH: “We’re working well together on this, and our staffs are working well together.”

ML: “We’re getting that bill passed is still essential?”

BH: “Uh-huh. I think it’s gonna be — what it’s going to do is provide much needed certainty in the market, and I think it sends an important signal to those as well: We’re going to be dealing responsibly with, you know, in the crypto arena.”

ML: “Is that state component the key? Do you think that’s why?”

BH: “I think that’s really helped us get — in terms of industry support, it’s really helped us broaden the support for it.”

ML: “Preciate ya.”

Hagerty enters the Senate chamber to vote.

Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this article.

What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!

Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.

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

Who?

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

LISTEN: Laslo & Waters

Ask a Pol asks:

I was following that crypto, de-banking hearing — what do you make of this new narrative from the GOP?

Key Waters:

“Well, like I said, I wasn’t gonna even deal with it, because they have refused banking to poor people and to working people,” House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters told Ask a Pol.

Ask a Pol’s FREE! Subscribe to get our latest crypto exclusives from the US Capitol first.

Caught our ear:

“Let the big billionaires fight it out,” Waters told us.

ICYMI — the fight for crypto fairness is real…

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), slightly edited for clarity.

TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Maxine Waters

SCENE: After leaving a de-banking hearing, Rep. Maxine Waters is hopping an underground tram from the US House Office Buildings to the Capitol when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo snags this brief exchange with her.

Matt Laslo: “You’re the one I’m looking for!”

Maxine Waters: “How you doing?”

ML: “How are you ma’am?”

MW: “How are you?”

What should we ask lawmakers next? Let us know!

ML: “Living the dream.”

MW: “Living the dream?”

ML: “I was following that crypto hearing. How do you — what do you make of this new narrative?”

MW: “Well, like I said, I wasn’t gonna even deal with it, because they have refused banking to poor people and to working people. Let the big billionaires fight it out.”

Maxine Waters gets enters tram.

ML: “Mind if I get on with you?”

Waters wasn’t interested in a long interview.

MW: “Let the big billionaires fight it out.”

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ML: “Yeah?”

MW: “Not me. I ain’t in it.”

Rep. Kweisi Mfume: “And I’m with Maxine!”

Laslo turns to a smiling Rep. Mfume who was seated in another section of the tram.

ML: “I know, right? You’re a wise man!”

Laslo turns back to Waters.

ML: “Thank you, ma’am.”

Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.

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

Who?

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) — House Financial Services Committee

LISTEN: Laslo & Loudermilk

Ask a Pol asks:

How’d that crypto — de-banking, technically — hearing go?

Key Loudermilk:

“For while I was in there, it was very interesting. I mean, it’s just a different version of Chokepoint that we saw before, but this time it’s geared toward innovation,” Rep. Barry Loudermilk exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “My biggest issue is what should be a partnership type relationship between regulators and businesses has really turned into an adversarial relationship, and that’s the greater concern I think most everyone has.”

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Like many, Loudermilk’s ticked at the SEC

“Regulators were not even staying within their lanes. So SEC — whom the Supreme Court has even said, you don’t have anything to do with crypto unless it’s an exchange — they’re regulating crypto,” Loudermilk says. “We got to give immediate relief, and then we may look at it to put some guardrails legislatively.”

ICYMI — all systems go...in the House, at least…

Caught our ear:

“It’s not only hard to plan,” Loudermilk tells us, “but you don’t know at one point, whether you’re in compliance or not, whether you’re gonna be sued the next day or you’re going to end up in jail.”

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), slightly edited for clarity.

TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Barry Loudermilk

SCENE: Rep. Barry Loudermilk — who just left a House de-banking hearing — is on his way to vote on the floor of the House of Representatives when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo runs into him in the Capitol’s basement before proceeding to hitch a ride on the Members Only elevator with the congressman.

What should we ask lawmakers next? Let us know!

Matt Laslo: “Hey. How are you?”

Barry Loudermilk: “Good. How you been?”

ML: “Not bad. How’d that — how’d that crypto hearing go? Or, I guess de-banking, but…”

BL: “Uhm, yeah. For while I was in there, it was very interesting. I mean, it’s just a different version of Chokepoint that we saw before, but this time it was, it’s geared toward innovation. My biggest issue is what should be a partnership type relationship between regulators and businesses has really turned into an adversarial relationship.”

ML: “Yeah?”

BL: “And that’s the greater concern I think most everyone has.”

Loudermilk and Laslo enter an elevator packed with House members heading to vote.

ML: “Do you think that changes overnight with the new administration? Or do you think legislation might be necessary?”

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BL: “Well, that is — it can change. We may need to look at it legislatively so with the next administration that comes in, you don’t swing the pendulum the other way, and that’s one of the things that really hurts a lot of businesses is these sudden changes.”

The elevator opens and everyone starts flooding out.

BL: “Sudden swings in the regulatory environment they can’t plan for.”

ML: “Yeah?”

BL: “Because, you know, every four years, you free up certain regulations, and what we saw with the Biden administration is, when they came back, they came back on steroids.”

ML: “Yeah?”

BL: “And it was — regulators were not even staying within their lanes. So SEC — whom the Supreme Court has even said, you don’t have anything to do with crypto unless it’s an exchange — they’re regulating crypto. And so that’s, we’ve got to — we got to give immediate relief, and then we may look at it to put some guardrails legislatively.”

ML: “Because if you’re a crypto firm now — like you guys heard in testimony — you’re suffering from whiplash. It’s just night and day.”

BL: “That’s right. Yeah. And it’s difficult. It’s not only hard to plan, but you don’t know at one point, whether you’re in compliance or not, whether you’re gonna be sued the next day or you’re going to end up in jail.”

ML: “Yeah?”

Loudermilk’s now at one of the entrances to the House floor…

BL: “You know., so...”

ML: “Yup. Appreciate ya.”

The congressman’s heading in to vote.

BL: “Alright.”

Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.

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

Who?

Rep. Andy Bar (R-KY) — Chair, Subcommittee on Financial Institutions & Monetary Policy

LISTEN: Laslo & Barr

Ask a Pol asks:

Is your legislation needed because it’s just been a sea change from the last administration to this one? Or is it needed as a buffer in case there’s a future Dem. president?

Key Barr:

“Well, it’s needed for that reason, because we want to make sure that credit worthy borrowers are not discriminated against in broad categories just because of politics. We want non-discrimination,” Barr exclusively tells Ask a Pol.

“Beyond that, now, a lot of the banks are asking for national preemption, because they want uniformity. You’re seeing these efforts in red states to do their own fair access laws, but in blue states, they’re actually actively, you know, they’re contemplating laws that would actually require banks to discriminate against certain industries.”

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Caught our ear:

“We just filed it this week,” Barr tells us.

ICYMI — America’s first Crypto Congress is in full gear

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), slightly edited for clarity.

TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Andy Barr

SCENE: Rep. Andy Barr’s just left the floor of the US House of Representatives during a vote so he can greet some constituents when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo snags him for a quick interview…

Matt Laslo: “You have the bill with [Sen. Kevin] Cramer?”

Andy Barr: “Cramer. We just filed it this week.”

ML: “Oh yeah?”

AB: “And, you know, there was an Oversight [Committee] hearing on it today.”

ML: “Oh, I was listening to it and the one from yesterday.”

AB: “Ah, okay. We filed it…”

ML: “That’s my question: Is your legislation needed because it’s just been a sea change from the last administration to this one? Or is it needed as a buffer in case there’s a future Dem. president?”

AB: “Well, it’s needed for that reason, because we want to make sure that credit worthy borrowers are not discriminated against in broad categories just because of politics or their — you know, we want non-discrimination.”

ML: “Yeah?”

AB: “But, beyond that, now, a lot of the banks are asking for national preemption, because they want uniformity. You’re seeing these efforts in red states to do their own fair access laws, but in blue states, they’re actually actively, you know, they’re contemplating laws that would actually require banks to discriminate against certain industries.”

ML: “Ahuh?”

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AB: “So, you’d have conflicting — especially for a national bank — conflicting rules, so that they actually want one simple, uniform, fair access standard.”

ML: “Interesting. The question is, where’s Cali on that?”

AB: “What California?”

ML: “Because that’s what happened with the children’s privacy act, is that California preemption, they had something real stout.”

AB: “They had that on data privacy.”

ML: “Yeah.”

AB: “Exactly.”

ML: “Yeah?”

AB: “Yeah.”

ML: “When it comes to crypto, do you think this legislation’s needed for the crypto industry…?”

AB: “It is.”

ML: “…or just broadly?”

AB: “It’s definitely — the crypto industry has become disrupted. It used to be fossil energy industry, now — and they’re still interested in it — but now it’s crypto.”

Barr’s standing in the hall outside the room where his staffer’s waiting with his constituents…

ML: “Yeah?”

AB: “Okay.”

ML: “I know you gotta go.”

AB: “See ya.”

ML: “Thank you, sir.”

Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!

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Who?

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) — Senate Banking & Finance Committees

LISTEN: Laslo & Warren

Ask a Pol asks:

What do you think about the incoming Trump administration’s new tone on crypto?

Key Warren:

“I keep wondering when someone's going to explain what crypto rules they plan to put in place to reduce the use of crypto by terrorists and drug traffickers,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “So far, I'm just not hearing anything.”

ICYMI — Crypto regulation has been in motion in 2024

Caught our ear:

“I don't have any problem with people who want to buy and sell crypto,” Warren tells us. “But putting in a handful of rules that suggest to the American people that trading crypto is safe at the same time that defrauding people is still easy, creates a real problem.”

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), slightly edited for clarity.

TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Elizabeth Warren

SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo runs into Sen. Warren in the basement of the US Capitol before proceeding to hop on her elevator as she heads to the Senate floor to vote.

Matt Laslo: “Hey, ma’am.”

Elizabeth Warren: “How you doing?”

ML: “Curious your thoughts on this new tone on crypto from the incoming administration?”

EW: “Well, I keep wondering when someone's going to explain what crypto rules they plan to put in place to reduce the use of crypto by terrorists and drug traffickers.”

ML: “Yeah?”

EW: “So far, I'm just not hearing anything.”

ML: “And are you — I mean, how were you and what can you do to change that conversation? Because it seems like the Trumps are now invested and all-in, seemingly.”

EW: “I don't have any problem with people who want to buy and sell crypto.”

ML: “Yeah?”

EW: “And putting rules in place that give Americans more confidence when they do that can be a good idea, so long as those rules are meaningful. But putting in a handful of rules that suggest to the American people that trading crypto is safe at the same time that defrauding people is still easy, creates a real problem.”

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ML: “You probably missed it, but 60 Minutes had a segment on crypto?”

EW: “No, I didn't. I'll have to look.”

ICYMI — Sen. Lummis begs to differ with Ms. Warren

ML: “Well it’s interesting, it looked back at the election and they were kind of flexing, and now they're like, ‘Hey, we got $100 million going into the midterms’ that they're already kind of holding over lawmakers.

EW: “Yep, I gotta —

ML: “But they had seemed to…”

EW: “I gotta go.”

Warner darts for the Senate floor.

Bloomberg reporter: “Is there anything you want to…”

Warren breezed past him and entered the Senate chamber.

Andrey Beregovskiy contributed to this report.

What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!

Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.

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