Who?

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)

LISTEN: Laslo & Van Orden

Ask a Pol asks:

According to a new Gallup survey, the 119th Congress is now tied for the lowest disapproval rating in history — should Republican Party leaders retool the GOP agenda ahead of the midterms?

Key Van Orden:

“The only thing that needs to be retooled is the legacy media that consistently and intentionally reports falsehoods about the Republican Party or ignores our wins. That’s what needs to be retooled,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics. “They’re terrible. Really.”

WATCH: Ask a Pol’s on YouTube, TikTok & Instagram!

Caught our ear:

“On average, the American public — individually and by family — got back thousands and thousands of dollars they never got back,” Van Orden tells us, defending the Republican tax bill. “You know why? Because of the One Big Beautiful Bill.”

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ICYMI — Matt Laslo’s feature for wire service client

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TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Derrick Van Orden (4-22-2026)

SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo walks with Rep. Derrick Van Orden down the steps of the US Capitol before the Congressman rides off on his Harley.

Matt Laslo: “With record low approval ratings — do you think you guys…?”

Derrick Van Orden: “Me?”

Laslo: “No. Just for Congress.”

Van Orden: “Oh, I don’t know.”

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Who?

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) — US Army veteran; West Point graduate

LISTEN: Laslo & Ryan

Ask a Pol asks:

What do you make of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest firing of Secretary of the Navy John Phelan?

Key Ryan:

“It’s more Hegseth score-settling,” Rep. Pat Ryan exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics. “The Hegseth revenge tour — in the middle of a war; in the middle of a naval blockade.”

Like, Hegseth’s kinda a lil b****, like the way he berates the press and stuff.*

“Hegseth, who pretends to be tough, has the thinnest skin and is weak sauce,” Ryan says.

*Prof. Laslo’s fine getting berated by public officials, but he’s protective of the next generation of journalists, especially when lectured and lied to by made-for-TV-men…

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ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo 1st used this interview for his LCB wire service client, Raw Story

Caught our ear:

“I’m not just saying this, like every military officer and senior leader knows he’s a joke,” Ryan tells us. “He’s a performance artist. So they all do not take him seriously.

“A lot of it is his insecurity, but basically he felt like [the Navy Secretary] had too direct a line to the president, so he fired him.”

What should we ask Congress next?

TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Pat Ryan (4-23-2026)

SCENE: After voting on the floor of the House of Representatives, US Army veteran and West Point grad, Rep. Pat Ryan, is walking back to his office across the street when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo catches catches up to him for a candid conversation about recent upheaval at the Pentagon.

Matt Laslo: “Hey, Mr. Ryan. How are you?”

Rep. Pat Ryan: “Hey, what’s up?”

Laslo: “What do you make of this firing of the Secretary of the Navy?”

Ryan: “It’s more Hegseth score-settling.”

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Who?

Joe Rogan — Oval Office, White House

ICYMI — Find the full Executive Order here

Key Rogan:

“We have a gigantic opiate problem in this country, obviously. In 2024, more than 80,000 people died of overdoses. It’s a horrible number. And there’s more than 5 million people that are addicted to opiates right now in this country,” Rogan said at the White House. “With one dose of ibogaine, more than 80% of people are free of that addiction. With two doses, it’s more than 90%.”

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WATCH: Rogan in the Oval Office

Caught our ear:

“These drugs are illegal not because they’re harmful — they’re illegal because of the 1970 Controlled Substances Act that was passed by the Richard Nixon administration,” Rogan tells us. “They did it to target the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement. It’s not because these drugs harm people.”

What should we ask federal policymakers next?

TRANSCRIPT: Joe Rogan at the White House (4-18-2026)

SCENE: On Saturday, Joe Rogan joined President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. in the Oval Office to unveil the new, Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness Executive Order, which encourages research into federally-illegal psychedelics.

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Joe Rogan: “I’ll tell everybody how this happened. I sent President Trump some information. We have a gigantic opiate problem in this country, obviously. In 2024, more than 80,000 people died of overdoses. It’s a horrible number. And there’s more than 5 million people that are addicted to opiates right now in this country.

Rogan cont’d: “With one dose of ibogaine, more than 80% of people are free of that addiction. With two doses, it’s more than 90%. I sent him that information. The text message that came back: ‘Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it.’ Literally that quick.

Rogan cont’d: “These drugs are illegal not because they’re harmful — they’re illegal because of the 1970 Controlled Substances Act that was passed by the Richard Nixon administration. They did it to target the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement. It’s not because these drugs harm people.”

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)

LISTEN: Laslo & AOC

Ask a Pol asks:

What do you make of this push to finally close Rikers?

Key AOC:

“We’ve been pushing to close Rikers for quite some time now,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics founder Matt Laslo.

“We’ve been leading also not just about closing Rikers, but what we turn it into. The community has long been drafting a renewable Rikers plan to make sure that we not just address the toxic injustice — criminal injustice and the environmental injustice on the island — but also turn it into a fountain of real change.”

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Caught our ear:

“We got a lot of things to work on as a city,” Ocasio-Cortez tells us. “But I know [NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s] on the right side.”

What should we ask Congress next?

TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (4-16-2026)

SCENE: As the last few minutes of a vote tick down on the floor of the US House of Representatives, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo spots Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and two aides walking up to the US Capitol.

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Laslo snags this exclusive before the rest of the congressional press corps notices AOC and pounces on Laslo’s exclusive.

Matt Laslo: “What do you make of this push to finally close Rikers?”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “I mean, we’ve been pushing to close Rikers for quite some time now.”

Laslo: “Yeah.”

AOC: “And, you know, we’ve been leading also not just about closing Rikers, but what we turn it into.”

Laslo: “Yeah.”

AOC: “The community has long been drafting a renewable Rikers plan to make sure that we not just address the toxic injustice — criminal injustice and the environmental injustice on the island — but also turn it into a fountain of real change.”

Laslo: “Does the mayor get that?”

AOC: “Pardon?”

Laslo: “Is this high up on his agenda list?”

AOC: “Oh yeah. We got a lot of things to work on as a city.”

Laslo: “Fair.”

Laslo laughs.

AOC: “But I know he’s on the right…”

Fox News producer: “Miss Ocasio, what do you…?”

AOC: “…side.”

Laslo: “Thank you.”

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Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL)

LISTEN: Laslo & Luna

Ask a Pol asks:

What do you make of the first lady’s call to have public hearings with the Epstein survivors — and how do you broach that with GOP leaders?

Key Luna:

“I actually had been encouraging that,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna tells Ask a Pol Politics.

But there are obstacles?

“The Department of Justice gave plea deals to people that they knew were trafficking people, and so there is no justice for the victims,” Luna says. “Ghislaine Maxwell should not be the only one sitting in prison.”

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Caught our ear:

“We have to do what we’ve promised to do. Sometimes that means calling out your own party,” Luna tells us. “I knew that when I brought the expulsion of [now-former Rep. Eric] Swalwell that it would set up a chain reaction event, and I frankly don’t care.”

What should we ask Congress next?

TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (4-16-2026)

SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo waits in the wings as the TV networks pepper Rep. Anna Paulina Luna with questions about all these competing sexual assault allegations hovering over Washington.

Once there’s a break, Laslo breaks in to Ask the Congresswoman’s thoughts on First Lady Melania Trump’s call for the House Oversight Committee to hold public hearings with the Epstein survivors…

Matt Laslo: “What do you make of the First Lady [Melanie Trump']’s call to have public hearings with the survivors? Have you broached that with GOP leaders?”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: “Yeah, I actually had been encouraging that. I mean, the fact is right now though is I think again a lot of people are scared about coming forward and naming people and there’s this also aspect of — you had settlements potentially being reached. So again, if you know there’s a settlement, people are then sometimes asked to sign NDAs and so they don’t talk.”

Luna: “But I do want to be really clear about something — the Department of Justice gave plea deals to people that they knew were trafficking people, and so there is no justice for the victims that were basically, you know, seeing these people get off. And Ghislaine Maxwell should not be the only one sitting in prison.”

Luna: “But going back to this whole climate — we have to do what we’ve promised to do, sometimes that means calling out your own party. I appreciate the members on both sides that have been doing that. And I knew that when I brought the expulsion of [now-former Rep. Eric] Swalwell that it would set up a chain reaction event and I, frankly, don’t care.”

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Who?

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) — Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee

LISTEN: Laslo & Raskin

Ask a Pol asks:

What do you make of your Republican colleagues standing by Trump’s mental acuity and saying you should have proposed a mental health presidential commission for Joe Biden?

Key Raskin:

“I’d say they are in a distinct minority in the country. Look, I am for the body called for by the 25th Amendment as a standing permanent body for every president — Democrat, Republican, independent,” Rep. Jamie Raskin exclusively tells Ask a Pol.

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Caught our ear:

“Republicans refuse to deal with this as a serious constitutional question, and that’s sad,” Raskin tells us.

TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Jamie Raskin (4-15-2026)

SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo catches Rep. Jamie Raskin as he’s walking up the steps of the Capitol to vote on the floor of the US House of Representatives.

Matt Laslo: “What do you make of your Republican colleagues standing by Trump’s mental acuity and saying you should have done this commission for Biden?”

Jamie Raskin: “I’d say they are in a distinct minority in the country in standing…

“Look, I am for the body called for by the 25th Amendment as a standing permanent body for every president — Democrat, Republican, Independent — the Republicans refuse to deal with this as a serious constitutional question. And that’s sad.”

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Who?

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) — Member, AOC’s “Squad”

LISTEN: Laslo & Pressley

Ask a Pol asks:

Isn’t it curious how congressional Republicans are falling in line behind President Donald Trump even as he’s taking 10% of Intel, taking 15% of profits from American chip makers and rolling out TrumpRX, which many on the right hypocritically fear is dangerously close to “socialized” medicine?

Key Pressley:

“No, it’s not curious why they are,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics. “They are because he’s unleashed a politic of retribution and grievance, and they’re more concerned with keeping their jobs. They’re not focused on future generations or being on the right side of history; they’re just trying to keep a seat.”

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Caught our ear:

“They don’t want to be on the sideline and retire,” Pressley tells us. “History repeats itself.”

TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (3-26-2026)

SCENE: Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo catches up with Squad member Rep. Ayanna Pressley as she’s about to enter the US Capitol to cast her vote on the floor of the US House of Representatives.

Their brief conversation started off-mic.

Matt Laslo: Isn’t it curious how congressional Republicans are falling in line behind Trump even as he’s taking 10% of Intel, taking 15% of profits from American chip makers and rolling out TrumpRX, which many on the right hypocritically fear is dangerously close to “socialized” medicine?

Rep. Ayanna Pressley: No, it’s not curious why they are.

Laslo’s head perks up.

ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo’s wire service, The LCB, sold a feature that used this exclusive & 11 others

Pressley: They are because he’s unleashed a politic of retribution and grievance, and they’re more concerned with keeping their jobs.

Laslo: Yeah?

Pressley: They’re not concerned future generations or being on the right side of history, they’re just trying to keep a seat.

Laslo: Yeah?

Pressley: They don’t want to be on the sideline and retire, you know?

Laslo: So it’s just pathetic?

Pressley: History repeats itself.

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Who?

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) — Obstetrician & gynecologist by trade*

*one of four doctors in the US Senate

LISTEN: Laslo Marshall

Ask a Pol asks:

Is TrumpRX working?

Key Marshall:

“Indeed it is working, and it’s not perfect. It doesn’t cover every drug, but people are seeing some significant savings, maybe 50%, 70%, 80% in some instances,” Sen. Roger Marshall exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics.

Any fear a future Democratic President could expand it into socialized medicine?

“Yeah,” Marshall says. “There’s a downside to everything that the government does to get involved.”

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ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo’s wire service, The LCB, sold a feature that used this exclusive & 11 others

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Caught our ear:

“The real problem is the pharmacy benefit managers. Three of them are controlling 80% of the industry. They’re taking at least 58 cents on every dollar,” Marshall tells us. “That’s the real riddle that we need to solve up here.”

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TRANSCRIPT Sen. Roger Marshall (3-26-2026)

SCENE: During a vote in the US Senate, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo sees Sen. Roger Marshall hurrying through the basement of the Capitol, so he quickens his pace and proceeds to hop the Senator’s elevator up to the Senate floor.

Matt Laslo: Have you been able to look at TrumpRX?

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Laslo: Or do you get any feedback from constituents? Do you think it’s working?

Sen. Roger Marshall: I do. I’ve actually visited multiple community pharmacists across the state of Kansas.

Laslo: Nice.

Marshall: And indeed it is working, and — it’s not perfect…

Laslo: Yeah?

Marshall: It doesn’t cover every drug, but people are seeing some significant savings, maybe, 50%, 70%, 80% in some instances.

Laslo: Do you think…?

They approach a Senators Only elevator.

Senate attendant: I’ll get out. I’m in your way here.

Laslo: Are you worried…?

Laslo sees a closer elevator.

Laslo to the Senator: Want this one?

The Senator keeps walking to the further elevator.

Laslo: Are you worried at all that if a Dem takes over the White House that they could expand that and this becomes socialized medicine or…?

Marshall: Yeah. I think there’s a downside to everything that the government does to get involved. But certainly, the cost of prescription drugs is a huge concern for folks back home. The real problem is the pharmacy benefit managers. Three of them are controlling 80% of the industry. They’re taking at least 58 cents on every dollar. That’s the real riddle that we need to solve up here.

Laslo: Yep. Thank you, sir.

The Senator walks towards the Senate floor to vote.

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Who?

Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) — Vice Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee

LISTEN: Laslo & Balint

Ask a Pol asks:

Are Republicans hypocrites for hammering Democrats on socialism while the Trump administration takes equity stakes in private companies like Intel?

Key Balint:

“He’s using the words, you know, “socialism,” “communism,” “leftist” as rhetoric against us — and yet there are so many things happening in this administration that to any, like, sober outside observer would be like, that actually smacks of socialism,” Rep. Becca Balint exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics. “It’s an interesting paradox.”

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Caught our ear:

“Especially when I sit in Budget or Judiciary [Committees], and the biggest way that they go after us all the time is on socialism,” Balint tells us. “And then you’re just like, but when your great leader does it…”

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ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo’s wire service, The LCB, sold a feature that used this exclusive & 11 others

TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Becca Balint (3-26-2026)

SCENE: As Rep. Becca Balint’s heading to the floor of the House of Representatives to cast one of her last votes before Congress’s two-week Easter recess, she stops to chat with Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo just outside the US Capitol.

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Rep. Becca Balint: He’s using the words, you know, “socialism,” “communism,” “leftist” as rhetoric against us, and yet there are so many things happening in this administration that to any, like, sober, outside observer would be like, that actually smacks of socialism. And it’s an interesting paradox.

Matt Laslo: Yeah?

Balint: Especially when I sit in Budget or Judiciary [committees] and the biggest, like, way that they go after us all the time is on socialism.

ML: Right?

Balint: You know?

ML: Yeah.

Balint: And then you’re just like, but when your great leader does it…

ML: Yeah?

Balint: Right?

ML: They just roll over.

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Who?

Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) — Chair, House Freedom Caucus

LISTEN: Laslo & Harris

Ask a Pol asks:

What do you make of President Donald Trump taking a 10% stake in Intel and grabbing 15% of profits from chip manufacturers? Not to mention TrumpRX and all these pots of money he controls, like Venezuela oil profits. At some point is this just socialism on the Right?

Key Harris:

“I haven’t put much thought into it, to be honest with you,” Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Andy Harris exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics. “We’ve got other issues.”

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Caught our ear:

“Generally, I’m not supportive, but I don’t know enough about the specifics to make a comment,” Harris tells us.

ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo’s wire service, The LCB, sold a feature that used this exclusive & 11 others

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TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Andy Harris (3-27-2026)

SCENE: Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo catches up with House Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Andy Harris as he’s making his way from the US Capitol to the House Office Buildings across the street.

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Matt Laslo: Any worries about the Trump administration taking a 10% stake in Intel and getting 15% of profits from a couple of these chip manufacturers?

Rep. Andy Harris: You know, I haven’t put much thought into it, to be honest with you. We’ve got, you know, we’ve got other issues.

ML: Yeah?

Harris: And I’m no expert in that, so I’ll leave that to other people.

ML: Isn’t it a little bit like socialism from the right, though?

Harris: Again, you know, I don’t — I don’t know the specifics of the deal. Generally, I’m not supportive, but I don’t know enough about the specifics to make a comment.

ML: Yeah?

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Who?

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) — Chair, House Judiciary Committee

LISTEN: Laslo & Jordan

Background:

Ask a Pol caught up with the Chairman outside of a heated hearing where Attorney General Pam Bondi attacked members of both parties who demanded answers to how the Justice Department bungled the long-awaited release of the Epstein files, including the administration’s release of victims’ names, even as DOJ officials redacted the names of alleged abusers.

Ask a Pol asks:

How’d it go in there, Mr. Chair?

Key Jordan:

“Just look at the District of Columbia — every category of crime is down because of the good work of the Attorney General and the Trump administration. And that’s the big contrast between this administration and the previous one,” Rep. Jim Jordan told Ask a Pol Politics. “The previous one was focused on going after moms and dads and pro-life Catholics and President Trump and lawfare and on and on. This one’s focused on making sure there’s less robberies, less murder, less carjackings, particularly here in the nation’s capital.”

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* flashback *

Historically childish, needlessly combative hearing

Caught our ear:

“Attorney General Bondi’s doing the best she can to comply with the law and adhere to what the court said had to happen,” Jordan told us in February.

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TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Jim Jordan (2-11-2026)

SCENE: After Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee in February, Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo caught up with the panel’s fast-paced Chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan, as he scurried from the Rayburn House Office Building to the US Capitol via an underground tunnel.

Matt Laslo: “How’d it go, Mr. Chair?”

Rep. Jim Jordan: “Pardon?”

ML: “How’d it go in there?”

Jordan: “I think, the clear message is, just look at the District of Columbia every category of crime is down because of the good work of the Attorney General and the Trump administration. And that’s the big contrast between this administration and the previous one. The previous one, they were focused on going after moms and dads and pro-life Catholics and President Trump and lawfare and on and on.”

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Jordan cont’d: “This one’s focused on making sure there’s less robberies, less murder, less carjackings, particularly here in the nation’s capital, so I think that was a clear message. Democrats want to talk about everything but that, but I think the American people care about that first and foremost.”

ML: “What about the survivors saying that they still need a lot more from the government?”

Jordan: “Attorney General Bondi’s doing the best she can to comply with the law and adhere to what the court said had to happen.”

Reporter II: “Do you agree with the Attorney General that [Republican Congressman] Thomas Massie is a hypocrite?”

Jordan and his aides shuffle onto a Members Only elevator.

ML: “Thank you, sir.”

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Who?

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) — US Senate Armed Services Committee

LISTEN: Laslo & Kaine

Ask a Pol asks:

What do you make of President Donald Trump calling out America’s NATO allies — including threatening to withhold military support in future conflicts — after European countries refused to send naval support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?

Key Kaine:

“[President Trump’s] been non-stop screwing around with NATO allies during his whole time in office. Imposing tariffs on them, threatening to invade a NATO ally* and, you know, it is Human Relations 101 that after you’ve kicked people around, when you suddenly ask them to help you out, they’re not going to be that interested,” Sen. Tim Kaine exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics. “So he should stop kicking them around, and then he might get more cooperation.”

*ie, Greenland

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Caught our ear:

“If the President was full-throated in his support of Ukraine, that might be a more powerful argument,” Kaine tells us. “Instead, the Europeans are looking and going, ‘But wait a minute…’”

Let us know what to ask your Representatives!

TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Tim Kaine

SCENE: As Sen. Tim Kaine was making his way to the Senate floor to vote via the US Capitol’s basement, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo started walking with him before hopping a Senators Only elevator with the senior member of the powerful and largely bipartisan Senate Armed Services Committee.

Matt Laslo: What do you make of President Donald Trump threatening to ditch America’s NATO allies in future conflicts because they have refused to help provide the naval support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?

Sen. Tim Kaine: “He’s been non-stop screwing around with NATO allies during his whole time in office.”

ML: “Yeah?”

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Kaine: “Imposing tariffs on them, threatening to invade a NATO ally* and, you know, it is Human Relations 101 that after you’ve kicked people around, when you suddenly ask them to help you out, they’re not going to be that interested.”

*ie, Greenland

ML: “Yeah?”

Kaine: “So he should stop kicking them around, and then he might get more cooperation.”

ML: “And the comparison between Ukraine and Iran — just the conflicts themselves?”

Kaine: “Well then, if the President was full-throated in his support of Ukraine, that might be a more powerful argument.”

ML: “Yeah?”

Kaine: “Instead, the Europeans are looking and going, ‘But wait a minute, you know, this was going on…’”

ML: “Yup.”

Kaine: “Biden was really supportive of Ukraine. What have you done but been equivocal about it from the very beginning?”

ML: “Yeah?”

Kaine: “So it’s not an argument where the President is standing on really solid ground to make an argument.”

ML: “Yeah.”

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Who?

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) — Ranking Member, Appropriations Defense Subcommittee

LISTEN: Laslo & Coons

Ask a Pol asks:

What do you make of NATO allies being reluctant to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump and Israel attacked Iran?

Key Coons:

“That the President keeps disrespecting our NATO allies this way leads to the unsurprising result that when he didn’t consult with them before launching a war of choice with Iran, they don’t feel bought into opening the Strait of Hormuz,” Sen. Chris Coons exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics.

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Caught our ear:

“The only time NATO has actually invoked Article 5 and deployed to war was in defense of us to Afghanistan,” Coons tells us.

TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Chris Coons

SCENE: Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo sidles up to Sen. Chris Coons as he’s walking to the US Capitol via an underground tunnel along with a couple staffers ahead of a Senate vote.

ICYMI — Coons, McConnell Statement on NATO (4-1-2026)

Once the Senator stops addressing his team, Laslo slides in…

Matt Laslo: What do you make of President Donald Trump threatening to ditch America’s NATO allies in future conflicts because they have refused to help provide the naval support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?

Sen. Chris Coons: “The only time NATO has actually invoked Article 5 and deployed to war was in defense of us to Afghanistan.”

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ML: “Huh.”

Coons: “A third of the combat deaths in Afghanistan were NATO troops. I led a bipartisan delegation to Denmark, and Sen. [Thom] Tillis and I laid a memorial wreath at the site that remembers the 52 Danes who died in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

ML: “Yeah?”

Coons: “That the President keeps disrespecting our NATO allies this way leads to the unsurprising result that when he didn’t consult with them before launching a war of choice with Iran, they don’t feel bought into opening the Strait of Hormuz.”

ML: “Thank you, sir.”

With Coons moving away from his mic, Laslo repeats the last thing the Senator said.

ML: “Strait of Hormuz.”

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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. Mark Warner (D-VA) — Vice Chair, Senate Intelligence Committee

LISTEN: Laslo & Warner

Ask a Pol asks:

In President Donald Trump’s cabinet meeting this week, it seemed the administration was totally blindsided by Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz — were they?

Key Warner:

“No. If they had read any intelligence, it’s obvious they would close the Strait,” Senate Intel Vice Chair Mark Warner tells Ask a Pol Politics. “Somebody didn’t read the intelligence or some of the intelligence community’s leadership is totally inept.”

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Caught our ear:

“If you’re spending $2.4 million per missile to take down a $50,000 drone, if you’re going to do a war of choice, why in the hell wouldn’t you have had the Trump White House accept the Ukrainian drone capability that they can knock down Ukrainian or Iranian drones for under five grand a pop,” Warner tells us.

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TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Mark Warner

SCENE: Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo catches Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner in the basement of the US Capitol as he’s on his way to a vote on the Senate floor.

Matt Laslo: “Were they totally blindsided by the Strait of Hormuz?”

Sen. Mark Warner: “No.”

ML: “So, how does this…”

MW: “No. If they had read any intelligence that Iran, this is one of the reasons the Iranian regime has been awful for 47 years. Why do you think somebody else hasn’t done this before, including Trump 1.0? Because it’s obvious they would close the Strait, obvious they would hit all the Gulf nations adjacent.”

ML: “Yeah?”

MW: “And if you were planning this, this is the part that I’m terrified about right now is that we are exhausting our number of interceptors. And when you keep, it doesn’t take a lot of rocket science to realize if you’re spending $2.4 million per missile to take down a $50,000 drone, if you’re going to do a war of choice, why in the hell wouldn’t you have had the Trump White House accept the Ukrainian drone capability that they can knock down Ukrainian or Iranian drones for under five grand a pop.”

ML: “Trump said he was surprised that US allies in the region were hit. What do you make of that?”

MW: “Somebody didn’t read the intelligence or some of the intelligence community’s leadership is totally inept.”

ML: “Yeah?”

MW: “You know, the absurdity of what was said by some of the witnesses — maybe it was [DNI Tulsi] Gabbard last week — that the President of the United States, one of them said, ‘the President of the United States is the only person that can determine what’s an imminent threat.’”

ML: “Yeah?”

MW: “That is totally bonkers. The role of the intelligence community is to speak truth to power and provide them with their most honest assessment of how close the bad guys are to being a real threat. It’s not the President of the United States’ responsibility to do that.”

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…

Who?

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

LISTEN: Laslo & Scalise

Ask a Pol asks:

How worried are you by these special election returns? And this time in the president’s own backyard?

Key Scalise:

“Special elections are always unique because they’re very low turnout,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics. “The big election is going to be the November midterm and we’re laser focused on that — not only holding the House, but the opportunity to grow our majority.”

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Caught our ear:

“We’ve got some real opportunities in a number of districts to actually flip more seats from Democrats to Republican,” Scalise tells Ask a Pol Politics.

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TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Steve Scalise (3-25-2026)

SCENE: Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo gets the last question in to the House Majority Leader after his weekly press conference with other House Republican leaders wrapped at the US Capitol.

Matt Laslo: How worried are you by these special election returns — and this time in the president’s own backyard?

Rep. Steve Scalise: Yeah, special elections are always unique, because they’re very low turnout. You know, surely you look at those and see, are there things we can learn and improve upon when the big election comes? And obviously November is the election that we are focused on. We’ve still got primaries to go through in a lot of states — there’s runoffs in Texas. There’s, you know, there’s always going to be elections — but the big election is going to be the November midterm, and we’re laser-focused on that. Not only holding the House, but the opportunity to grow our majority. And we’ve got some real opportunities in a number of districts to actually flip more seats from Democrats to Republican. And that’s our focus.

Reporter II: Is there any chance you’re going to stay in session next week if DHS is still shut down?

ML: Good question.

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.

Who?

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) — Speaker of the US House of Representatives

LISTEN: Speaker Johnson

Presser:

Hours before President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order “instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation,” Speaker Mike Johnson was irate after House Democrats opposed another bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without any reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

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Key Johnson:

“I think it puts an exclamation point on what they try to do here. It’s shameful,” Speaker Mike Johnson told congressional reporters. “So many people have been through so many hardships because of this nonsense, and what we’re concerned about is people may actually be hurt.”

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Caught our ear:

“We’re sick of it,” Johnson told the congressional press corps.

TRANSCRIPT: Speaker Mike Johnson (3-26-2026)

SCENE: A couple hours before President Donald Trump signed legislation to fund the TSA and avert a government shutdown, a fired-up Speaker Johnson holds a press conference to blast Democratic opposition to the DHS funding package.

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Speaker Mike Johnson:

“I think it puts an exclamation point on what they try to do here. It’s shameful.

“So many people have been through so many hardships because of this nonsense, and what we’re concerned about is people may actually be hurt.

“More people harmed by criminal illegal aliens and are being protected by the Democrat Party.

“And we’re sick of it.”

Reporter I: “Speaker Johnson…”

Reporter I: “Are you supportive of the…”

AI Disclaimer:

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.

Who?

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) — Alabama gubenatorial candidate

LISTEN: Laslo & Tuberville

Ask a Pol asks:

Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo was asking the Senator about President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, the SAVE Act, when the Senator interjects…

Key Tuberville:

“I’m ready to get rid of the Muslims,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics. “They’re trying to tear our country down.”

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Caught our ear:

“What do you want?” Tuberville asks, once again changing the subject.

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ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo sold this Tuberville interview to his LCB wire service client Raw Story

TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Tommy Tuberville (3-18-2026)

SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo is interviewing Sen. Tommy Tuberville as they walk alongside the underground Senate tram tracks at the US Capitol.

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Who?

Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) — Member, Senate Indian Affairs Commitee

LISTEN: Laslo & Luján

Ask a Pol asks:

Are you going to be supporting Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as the next Homeland Security Secretary?

Key Luján:

“Let’s see what we chat about. I mean, he has a big responsibility. His predecessor over there, I think, created a lot of problems. Problems that he’s going to have responsibilities unraveling, shedding light on as well,” Sen. Ben Ray Luján exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics.

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Cont’d:

“I’m open to having a conversation, but I have a lot of concerns because when Homeland [Security Department] was envisioned after 9/11, the ICE agents were not told to go bust into Americans’ homes or bust American windows open or do those things. They’re supposed to be going after violent criminals. Felons, not families. Criminals, not children. And that’s what’s been happening.”

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ICYMI: Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo used this exclusive for his LCB wireservice client National Native News

Caught our ear:

“While I may have some policy disagreements with Senator Mullin, Mark’s Mark,” Luján tells us. “Mark’s the guy that, you know — he’s a rancher, that’s who he is. I don’t know that there’s anything out of sorts there. It’s just that’s just who he is.”

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TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Ben Ray Luján (March 2026)

SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo sees Sen. Ben Ray Luján and an aide walking through the basement of the US Senate.

As they hop an elevator up to the Senate floor, Laslo chats up the Senator about his longtime colleague Sen. Markwayne Mullin who President Donald Trump nominated to replace embattled DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

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Matt Laslo: “Remember one of my clients is National Native News?”

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: “Yeah.”

Laslo: “Curious how it’s been working with Mullin on Indian Affairs Committee?”

Luján: “Look, Senator Mullin has been good to work with on issues where we’ve been able to find agreement to provide support to Native American communities, to First Nations in numerous areas. Markwayne and I have worked on legislation together. I’ve supported bills that he’s led.”

Laslo: “Huh?”

Luján: “And you know, the tradition of another Oklahoman that has always been a leader in Tom Cole...”*

*Like Mullin, Cole’s an enrolled member of the Cherokeee Nation.

Laslo: “Yeah.”

Luján: “...who I worked with in the House when I was there and still reach out to. Mark has been one of those members — not just, you know, Democrat, Republican — he’s been a member that tribal leaders have sought out to support different efforts.”

Laslo: “And he’s gotten a little bit of trouble — not just with the union boss, but remember over the Lumbee? He kind of offended some within the audience, ‘look at these faces.’ What do you make of his temperament at Homeland Security?”

ICYMI — Sen. Mullin was accused of racially stereotyping his fellow Native Americans in 2025

Luján: “Look, while I may have some policy disagreements with Senator Mullin, Mark’s Mark.”

Laslo: “Yeah?”

Luján: “Mark’s the guy that, you know, he’s a rancher. That’s who he is, you know?”

Laslo: “Yeah?”

Luján: “So, yeah, I don’t know that there’s anything out of sorts there. It’s just, that’s just who he is.”

Laslo: “Are you going to be supporting him or too early to tell?”

Luján: “Let’s see what we chat about. I mean, he has a big responsibility. His predecessor over there I think created a lot of problems. Problems that he’s going to have responsibilities unraveling, shedding light on as well. And so I’m open to having a conversation, but I have a lot of concerns because when Homeland [Security Department] was envisioned after 9/11, the ICE agents were not told to go bust into Americans’ homes or bust American windows open or do those things. They’re supposed to be going after violent criminals. Felons, not families. Criminals, not children. And that’s what’s been happening, so I have a lot of questions over that way. But, you know, I’ve served with Mark in the House and now in the Senate as well, and you know, Mark’s always been true to who he is.”

Laslo: “Yeah?”

Luján: “Yeah.”

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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…

Who?

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS)

Ask a Pol asks:

What have you made of the pushback from NATO allies — like forbidding US troops from accessing their military bases — on President Donald Trump’s and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war with Iran?

Key Marshall:

“World War II is over with. The Marshall Plan is over with,” Sen. Roger Marshall says. “It’s time for Europe to put some jeans on, take their skirts off, maybe put some boots on and help the rest of the world out.”

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Caught Our Ear:

“I’ve given up on Europe helping us years ago,” Marshall tells us.

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TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Roger Marshall (3-12-2026)

SCENE: Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo and a small gaggle of congressional reporters interview Sen. Roger Marshall as he’s walking back to his office after voting on the US Senate floor.

Sen. Roger Marshall: “I’ve given up on Europe helping us years ago.

“They’re all talk, you know. They told us they would get to 2% of GDP and they never did — half of them never did — now they’re promising 5%. They’re all talk.

“You know, the — World War II is over with. The Marshall Plan is over with. It’s time for Europe to put some jeans on, take their skirts off, maybe put some boots on and help the rest of the world out.”

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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…

Who?

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

LISTEN: Laslo & Cruz

Ask a Pol asks:

Now that the Republican primary for the Texas US Senate seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn is headed to a runoff — after Cornyn and his GOP allies spent upwards of $70 million ahead of this week’s primary election day — are you prepared to back your colleague Cornyn or his challenger, Attorney General Ken Paxton?

Key Cruz:

“I’m continuing to stay out of it,” Sen. Ted Cruz exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics.

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TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Ted Cruz (3-5-2026)

SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo catches Sen. Ted Cruz as he’s hopping in a waiting car outside the US Capitol.

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Matt Laslo: Any thoughts on Cornyn v. Paxton?

Sen. Ted Cruz : I’m continuing to stay out of it.

ML: Wise man. Have a good one.

Ask a Pol AI Disclosure

Ask a Pol’s playing around with as many new AI tools as we can, so thissmall, unfunded startup can compete in today’s new media landscape. Generative AI isn’ttomorrow’s tech—it’s yesterday’s.