Key Takeaways (Click to Expand)

Before entering politics, Josh Hawley was a constitutional lawyer and a tenured law professor at the University of Missouri.

In his single term as Missouri’s Attorney General, he gained national attention for launching investigations into major tech companies.

Elected in 2018 at age 38, he was the youngest U.S. Senator at the time and is a leading intellectual voice for the “national conservatism” movement.

His primary legislative focuses are on combating the power of Big Tech, confronting the economic and national security threat of China, and promoting pro-family policies.

“A leading intellectual of the modern conservative movement, Josh Hawley has defined his Senate career by waging a two-front war against the power of Big Tech and the influence of China.”

Josh Hawley: The Architect of National Conservatism

Senator Josh Hawley has, in a remarkably short time, become one of the most influential and ideologically defining figures in the Republican party. A constitutional lawyer by training and a populist by conviction, he has worked to reshape the GOP’s priorities, moving the party towards a new philosophy of “national conservatism” that is skeptical of globalism and focused on protecting American workers and families.

Hawley’s background is in academia and law, not business or lifelong politics. After clerking for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, he became a tenured law professor at the University of Missouri. He entered the political arena in 2016, winning a race to become Missouri’s Attorney General. In that role, he quickly made a name for himself by launching antitrust investigations into big tech companies, a fight that would become his signature issue.

In 2018, he ran a successful campaign to unseat a Democratic incumbent, becoming the youngest member of the U.S. Senate. He arrived in Washington with a clear and ambitious agenda: to reorient the Republican party away from what he saw as an outdated focus on free-market globalism and toward a new nationalism.

In the Senate, Hawley has been a relentless critic of large technology companies, introducing legislation to break them up and strip them of liability protections. He is also one of the Senate’s most prominent hawks on China, advocating for a fundamental rethinking of U.S. policy to counter their economic and military power. He uses his position on the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees to advance his agenda, challenging both corporate power and foreign adversaries in a way that has made him a leading voice for the future direction of the conservative movement.

Sources Used

Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/Josh_Hawley

GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/josh_hawley/412840

#Senator #Missouri #Republican #JoshHawley

Key Takeaways

Pablo Hernández is the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, the island’s sole and non-voting member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

He is the grandson of Rafael Hernández Colón, one of the most significant and longest-serving governors in Puerto Rico’s history, representing a new generation of a political dynasty.

Before his election, he worked as a congressional staffer in Washington D.C., giving him deep experience with the legislative process.

His primary focus is on addressing Puerto Rico’s political status, achieving economic parity with the states, and securing federal investments for the island.

“Carrying the weight of a legendary political name, Pablo Hernández steps onto the national stage as a new-generation leader for Puerto Rico, tasked with navigating the island’s complex future.”

Pablo Hernández: A Political Legacy for a New Era

Resident Commissioner Pablo Hernández represents a unique convergence of legacy and a new vision for Puerto Rico’s future. As the grandson of the island’s revered former governor, Rafael Hernández Colón, he brings a historic name to Washington. Still, his focus is squarely on the modern challenges facing the island, from resolving its long-standing political status to achieving economic equality within the American system.

Hernández grew up immersed in Puerto Rican politics. His grandfather was a dominant figure in the Popular Democratic Party, serving as governor for three terms. Instead of immediately entering the political fray, Hernández pursued a law degree and gained invaluable experience from the inside, working as a staffer and legal counsel on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. This time gave him a pragmatic understanding of how Congress operates and how to advocate effectively for the island’s interests before he ever became an elected official himself.

Elected in 2024, Hernández holds the unique position of Resident Commissioner. While he can introduce legislation and vote in committee, he does not have a vote on the final passage of bills on the House floor. His primary role is to be Puerto Rico’s sole advocate and representative, fighting for federal resources, equal treatment under federal programs like Medicare and SSI, and a definitive resolution to the island’s political status.

In Congress, Hernández is a central figure in the debate over Puerto Rico’s future. He advocates for a binding process that allows the people of Puerto Rico to determine their own destiny, whether that be statehood, independence, or a new form of commonwealth. His work is defined by a deep-seated belief in self-determination and a focus on building the economic and political foundations necessary for the island to thrive.

Sources Used

Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/Pablo_Hernández

GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/pablo_hernandez/456958

#Representative #PR #Democrat #PabloJosHernndez

When you list the architects of the United States, names like Washington, Jefferson, and Hamilton come to mind. But what if one of the most essential founders has been hiding in plain sight? John Jay’s resume is almost unmatched: he was a co-author of the Federalist Papers, the nation’s chief diplomat, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and an anti-slavery governor. His steady hand helped build the nation’s bedrock institutions, yet he rarely gets the same recognition.

In this episode of Forgotten Fridays, Stephen and Leah pull John Jay out of the historical footnotes and into the spotlight. We explore why his cautious and principled nature made him a brilliant statesman but not a famous icon. Discover his crucial role in foreign policy, his unpopular but necessary Jay Treaty that prevented a war, and his quiet, foundational work on the Supreme Court. Join us to learn about the indispensable Founding Father whose legacy of quiet competence and steady leadership is more important now than ever.

Research Links

Columbia University | John Jay | https://jay.columbia.edu/

National Archives | John Jay | https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay-01-01-02-0001

Oyez | John Jay | https://www.oyez.org/justices/john_jay

Before his Senate career, Bill Hagerty served as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan under President Donald Trump, a key diplomatic post.

He has an extensive background in business and finance, having co-founded a successful private equity investment firm.

He previously served in state government as the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for Tennessee, overseeing a period of significant job growth.

In the Senate, he holds positions on three powerful committees: Appropriations, Foreign Relations, and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

“From the world of high finance to the high stakes of international diplomacy and now to the U.S. Senate, Bill Hagerty’s career has been defined by his focus on economic policy and America’s role in the world.”

Bill Hagerty: From Ambassador to Senator

Senator Bill Hagerty’s path to the U.S. Senate is a story of success in both the private sector and high-level public service. As a former U.S. Ambassador and a successful businessman, he brings a unique perspective on global economics and foreign policy to his role representing Tennessee, making him a significant conservative voice in Washington.

Hagerty’s career began in the world of finance, where he built a successful career in private equity, eventually co-founding his own investment firm, Hagerty Peterson & Company. He first entered public service when he was appointed by Governor Bill Haslam to serve as the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for Tennessee. In this role, he was the state’s chief economic development officer, credited with helping to bring major companies and thousands of jobs to the state.

His profile rose significantly when President Donald Trump nominated him to be the U.S. Ambassador to Japan in 2017. During his two-year tenure in Tokyo, he was a key figure in strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance, navigating complex trade negotiations, and coordinating strategy on threats from North Korea and China.

In 2020, with the endorsement of President Trump, Hagerty ran for the open Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Lamar Alexander and won a decisive victory. In the Senate, he has secured powerful committee assignments that align perfectly with his background. As a member of the Appropriations, Foreign Relations, and Banking committees, he is deeply involved in shaping the nation’s budget, foreign policy, and financial regulations. He is a staunch fiscal conservative and a foreign policy hawk, focused on promoting economic growth and countering global threats.

Sources Used

Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/Bill_Hagerty

GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/bill_hagerty/456846

#Senator #Tennessee #Republican #BillHagerty

Key Takeaways (Click to Expand)

Before entering politics, Tom Tiffany was a small business owner for over 20 years, operating a tour boat company with his wife in northern Wisconsin.

He served for nearly a decade in the Wisconsin state legislature, in both the Assembly and the Senate, where he was a leading conservative voice on natural resources.

He represents Wisconsin’s 7th District, a vast, rural, and heavily forested district known as the “Northwoods,” making him a key advocate for the timber and tourism industries.

In Congress, he is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, and is known as one of the most conservative members of the House.

“From the helm of a tour boat on the Wisconsin River to the halls of Congress, Tom Tiffany’s career has been defined by his deep roots in the Northwoods and a staunch commitment to conservative principles.”

Tom Tiffany: A Conservative Voice for Wisconsin’s Northwoods

Representative Tom Tiffany’s political identity is inextricably linked to the sprawling, rural landscape of northern Wisconsin. As a longtime small business owner and a veteran of the state legislature, he brings a fiercely conservative and independent perspective to Washington, shaped by the economic and cultural values of his district.

Tiffany’s career before politics was in tourism. For more than two decades, he and his wife owned and operated a wilderness tour boat company, giving him a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing small business owners and the importance of the region’s natural resources to the local economy. This experience inspired him to run for office, and in 2010 he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly. He later won a seat in the State Senate in 2012. During his near-decade in the state legislature, he became a prominent and sometimes controversial conservative leader, known for championing mining, forestry, and property rights.

In 2020, following the resignation of the sitting congressman, Tiffany won a special election to represent Wisconsin’s 7th District. In the U.S. House, he has continued his focus on natural resource issues as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee. He is also a key member of the House Judiciary Committee, where he is involved in debates on immigration, crime, and constitutional issues.

Known as one of the most consistently conservative members of the House, Rep. Tiffany is a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He is a staunch advocate for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and what he terms “economic freedom,” which includes reducing regulations on industries vital to his district, such as timber and mining.

Sources Used

Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/Tom_Tiffany

GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/thomas_tiffany/456853

#Representative #Wisconsin #Republican #ThomasPTiffany

The phrase, You have the right to an attorney, is a cornerstone of American justice, known to millions from TV shows and movies. But where did that right come from? For most of American history, that guarantee only existed for those who could afford it, leaving the poor to fend for themselves in court. That all changed because of a handwritten letter sent from a prison cell.

In this episode of Wednesday Writs, Stephen and Leah tell the incredible story of Clarence Earl Gideon, a drifter with an eighth-grade education who was convicted of a felony after being denied a lawyer. Convinced his trial was unfair, Gideon studied the law from the prison library and petitioned the Supreme Court itself. Join us to learn how this one man’s stubborn belief in his constitutional rights led to the landmark 9-0 decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, a case that fundamentally reshaped the American legal system and affirmed that justice requires a voice for everyone, not just the wealthy.

Oyez | Gideon v. Wainwright | https://www.oyez.org/cases/1962/155

National Constitution Center | Gideon v. Wainwright: The Right to Counsel | https://constitutioncenter.org/education/lessons-and-essays/gideon-v-wainwright

United States Courts | Facts and Case Summary – Gideon v. Wainwright | https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/facts-and-case-summary-gideon-v-wainwright

Jim Baird is a decorated U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, where he earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts and lost his left arm in combat.

After his military service, he earned a Ph.D. in Animal Science and has had a long career as a farmer and small business owner in Indiana.

He serves as the influential Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

He brings his extensive life experience as a veteran, farmer, and scholar to his work on the Agriculture and the Science, Space, and Technology Committees.

“From the battlefields of Vietnam to the family farm and now to the halls of Congress, Jim Baird’s life has been a story of profound service and unwavering resilience.”

Jim Baird: A Life of Service, from the Battlefield to the Farm Bill

Representative Jim Baird’s life has been characterized by extraordinary service and resilience. As a decorated and wounded Vietnam veteran, a Ph.D. scientist, a lifelong farmer, and a small business owner, he brings an incredible depth of real-world experience to his role representing the people of west-central Indiana.

Baird’s commitment to public service began in the U.S. Army. He served in the Vietnam War, where he was awarded a Bronze Star for his meritorious service and two Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in action. During an enemy ambush, he lost his left arm, a sacrifice that has profoundly shaped his perspective and his dedication to fellow veterans. After returning home, he didn’t slow down. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in animal science from the University of Kentucky, managed his family’s farm, and co-owned a home healthcare company with his wife.

His political career began at the local level, where he served as a county commissioner. He was then elected to the Indiana House of Representatives, where he served for eight years, focusing on agricultural and rural issues.

In 2018, Dr. Baird was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In Washington, he has put his unique expertise to work on the House Agriculture Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. As the Chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology, he is a leading voice on the science of modern farming. He plays a key role in shaping the Farm Bill and advocating for the cutting-edge agricultural research conducted at institutions like Purdue University, located in his district. A quiet and serious legislator, his work is defined by a deep, personal understanding of the issues he handles, from veterans’ healthcare to the science that supports America’s farmers.

Sources Used

Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/James_Baird_(Indiana)

GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/james_baird/412776

#Representative #Indiana #Republican #JamesRBaird

Key Takeaways (Click to Expand)

Before entering politics, Jay Obernolte was a successful entrepreneur and video game developer, founding FarSight Studios, a company he still owns and operates.

He holds a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, making him one of the foremost experts on technology and AI within the U.S. Congress.

Prior to his election to the House in 2020, he served in the California State Assembly, where he was a leading Republican voice on fiscal policy.

He is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where he helps oversee the federal budget.

“From designing video games and earning a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence to shaping the nation’s budget, Jay Obernolte brings a rare and valuable technological expertise to the halls of Congress.”

Jay Obernolte: The Video Game Developer in Congress

Representative Jay Obernolte’s background is one of the most unique in all of American politics. As a successful video game developer, an accomplished pilot, and a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, he brings a deep, hands-on understanding of technology and innovation to his work in Washington. His career is a story of applying a problem-solving, entrepreneurial mindset to the complex challenges of public policy.

Obernolte’s story began not in politics, but in technology. In 1990, he founded FarSight Studios, a video game development company that has created dozens of popular games over the last three decades, including titles based on classic pinball machines and major movie franchises. He remains the owner and operator of the company today. Alongside his business career, he pursued his academic interests, earning a master’s degree in computer science and eventually a doctorate in Artificial Intelligence.

His entry into politics started at the local level, where he served as a councilman and Mayor of Big Bear Lake. He was then elected to the California State Assembly, where he quickly became a respected Republican leader on budget and fiscal issues, known for his meticulous, data-driven approach to policy.

In 2020, Obernolte was elected to represent California’s 23rd District, a vast inland district that includes parts of the High Desert. In Congress, he has secured a position on the influential House Appropriations Committee, where he has a direct say in federal spending. Given his background, he is a leading congressional voice on technology policy, particularly on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, where he helps educate his colleagues on the opportunities and risks of this transformative technology.

Sources Used

Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/Jay_Obernolte

GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/jay_obernolte/456804

#Representative #California #Republican #JayObernolte

What does it take to push two of the world's greatest powers to the brink of war? In 1859, the answer wasn't a border skirmish or a diplomatic breakdown, but something far more absurd: a pig. On the beautiful San Juan Island, a territory claimed by both the United States and Great Britain, a simmering border dispute boiled over when an American farmer shot a British-owned pig for repeatedly raiding his potato patch. This single gunshot set off a bizarre and dangerous chain of events that would see two nations deploy soldiers and warships, all centered on a conflict over a dead farm animal.

In this episode of Monday Madness, Stephen and Leah unravel the incredible true story of the Pig War. Discover how a petty argument over compensation escalated into a full-blown military crisis, with a hot-headed American general sending in troops led by a future Confederate icon, George Pickett. Learn about the tense standoff that lasted for months and the one cool-headed British admiral who refused an order that would have certainly started a war. It's a forgotten but fascinating tale of how international madness was narrowly averted, leading to a peaceful resolution where the only casualty was the pig that started it all.

National Park Service | The Pig War 

HistoryLink.org | The Pig War Crisis

Key Takeaways (Click to Expand)

Norma Torres is the only current member of Congress who was born in Central America, having immigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala as a child.

Before her career in politics, she worked for over 17 years as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, an experience that deeply informs her focus on public safety.

She has an extensive background in local and state government, having served as a city councilwoman, Mayor of Pomona, and a California State Legislator.

She is a senior member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where she is an influential voice on funding for foreign aid, transportation, and housing.

“From a 9-1-1 dispatcher’s headset to a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Norma Torres’s career is a testament to a life dedicated to public service at every level.”

Norma Torres: An Immigrant’s Journey to the Halls of Congress

Representative Norma Torres’s life and career represent a uniquely American story. As the only member of Congress to have been born in Central America, she brings a powerful and personal perspective to the nation’s debates on immigration and foreign policy. Her journey from a child immigrant from Guatemala to a respected voice on the influential House Appropriations Committee is one of remarkable perseverance and dedication.

Torres was born in Guatemala and immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of five. Her career in public service began not in a political office, but on the front lines of emergency response. For more than 17 years, she worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the LAPD, a high-pressure job that gave her a ground-level view of the public safety challenges facing communities. This experience inspired her to get more involved in local government.

Her political career began on the Pomona City Council in 2001. She was then elected Mayor of Pomona in 2006, where she focused on balancing the city’s budget and improving public services. Following her success as mayor, she was elected to the California State Assembly and later the State Senate, building a strong record as a pragmatic and effective legislator.

In 2015, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In Congress, she has secured a senior position on the House Appropriations Committee, a powerful role that allows her to help direct federal spending. As chair of the subcommittee that funds the Department of Housing and Urban Development and transportation, she is a key figure in shaping national infrastructure and housing policy. Drawing on her personal history, she is also one of Congress’s most passionate and knowledgeable voices on the root causes of migration from Central America.

Sources Used

Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/Norma_Torres

GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/norma_torres/412616

#Representative #California #Democrat #NormaJTorres