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Ask a Pol politics

Ask a Pol politics

Von: Ask a Pol by Matt Laslo
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 Asking your lawmakers your political questions at your US Capitol.

www.askapolpolitics.comMatt Laslo Politik & Regierungen
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  • Rep. Ilhan Omar: ICE agents responsible for bringing “pure terror” to Minnesota

    Rep. Ilhan Omar: ICE agents responsible for bringing “pure terror” to Minnesota
    Jan 26 2026

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

    Who?

    Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

    Ask a Pol asks:

    Is ICE escalating tactics in Minnesota?

    Key Omar:

    “They are. They are. I mean, “occupation,” I think, is a light word. It’s terror at this point,” Rep. Ilhan Omar exclusively told Ask a Pol Politics.

    Do you think it’s because of fmr. VP candidate, Gov. Tim Walz or is it the Somali community? Or both?

    “They have a desperate need to show that they are able to do something there,” Omar said. “Obviously, the Somalis are not in the crossfire of this, because nearly 60% of Somalis in Minnesota are US-born. Almost 99% of us are citizens, so when they couldn’t find Somalis, I think, they’re taking their anger out on the Latino and Asian community. And it is, like I said, it’s pure terror…”

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

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    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapolpolitics.com/subscribe
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    6 Min.
  • "Contempt of the judge" — Republican dares Trump's DOJ to keep Epstein files secret

    "Contempt of the judge" — Republican dares Trump's DOJ to keep Epstein files secret
    Jan 18 2026
    Who?Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) — lead Republican sponsor of Epstein file measure President Donald Trump signed into law**Massie and his Democratic partner, Ro Khanna, authored the “Epstein files“ discharge petition, which forced Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders to bring the Epstein measure to the House floor for a vote.LISTEN: Laslo & MassieThe measure sailed through after overcoming a fierce lobbying effort by President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and others who fought the documents’ release, and who, according to Massie and Khanna, have now failed to abide by the law by refusing to release all the Epstein files Congress overwhelmingly mandated be released publicly.Ask a Pol asks:Any update on the Epstein files the Justice Department has refused to release?Key Massie:“No,” Massie exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics. “There’s a court angle now. I think there’s a path. We asked for a special master, and the judge says, ‘Alright, tell us what you’re thinking.’ And he asked the DOJ to tell them — to send something…”Caught our ear:Do you want to see a Contempt of Congress or is going through the courts better to get the outcome you want?“This is quicker and has more precedent,” Massie tells us.And you think they’ll listen to a judge a little more than Congress?“I think so,” Massie says. “That’s just the world they live in — courtrooms.”TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Thomas Massie (1-15-2026)SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo is showing the managing editor of one of his wire service clients around the Capitol during a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.Rep. Thomas Massie leaves the House floor and starts peeking around the Speaker’s Lobby — a rare Members and Press Only area — so Laslo ditches his British guest in the hall to get this update on the Department of Justice slow-walking the release of the Epstein files, a rare successful legislative effort spearheaded by Massie and California Rep. Ro Khanna.Matt Laslo: “Mr. Massie.”**Laslo covered Congress for Kentucky Public Radio for years, so the two know each other.Rep. Thomas Massie: “Hey, how are you?”Massie’s on the Democratic side of the Speaker’s Lobby looking for someone…Laslo: “Any update on Epstein [files]?”Massie: “On the..?”Laslo: “Epstein and DOJ?”Massie: “No.”Massie stops looking around corners…Massie: “We’re working with the — there’s a court angle now.”Laslo: “Do you think — do you feel good about that or…?”Massie: “I think there’s a path.”Laslo: “Even with this DOJ?”Massie: “Well — no, with the court…”Laslo: “Yeah?”Massie: “…with the judges. We asked for a special master, and the judge says, ‘Alright, tell us what you’re thinking.’ And he asked the DOJ to tell them — to send something.”Laslo: “But in the end, if the judge rules in your guys’ favor, it would still be up to [Attorney General Pam] Bondi and the Trump administration to implement it. Do you think they would?”Massie: “Well, then she’s in contempt of the judge.”Laslo: “Yeah?”Massie: “Which is a little more clear-cut than…”Laslo: “…Contempt of Congress.”Massie: “…Contempt of Congress.”Laslo: “Yeah?”Massie: “Yes.”Laslo: “Interesting. Do you…?”Massie: “Judges, hit people every day for being in contempt.”Laslo: “Yeah?”Massie: “We haven’t done it 85 years.”Laslo: “Do you want to see a Contempt of Congress or this is better — to get the outcome you want?”Massie: “This is quicker and has more precedent.”Laslo: “And you think they’ll listen to a judge a little more than you all?”Massie: “I think so.”Laslo: “Yeah.”Massie: “I mean they’ve all — that’s just the world they live in…”Laslo: “Yeah?”Massie: “…courtrooms.”If you support our work, support our work! We’re on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, etc.Or just buy the team a beer!Laslo: “Yeah. Interesting. We’ll see.”Massie: “We’ll see. Yup.”Massie turns away from Laslo’s mic as he starts looking around the Speaker’s Lobby again.Massie: “I’m looking for Ro Khanna.”Massie heads south and Laslo peeks around a north corner closer to the House floor.Laslo: “There he is.”Laslo politely rushes and catches up to Massie.Laslo: “Mr. Massie — he’s over here.”Massie: “Oh, is he?”While Laslo escorts Massie to Khanna, a throng of congressional reporters crowd around the Kentucky Republican.Laslo: “He’s sitting down…”Massie chats briefly with Khanna before doing an impromptu press conference with a dozen or so journalists in the Speaker’s Lobby.As the other reporters pepper Massie with questions, Laslo slides next to Khanna for an exclusive with the California Democrat on the Epstein files.What should we ask Congress next?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 ...
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    3 Min.
  • Sen. Lummis admits "war on drugs" failed but still backs drug boat strikes

    Sen. Lummis admits "war on drugs" failed but still backs drug boat strikes
    Dec 22 2025

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

    Who?

    Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) — Member, Senate Banking Committee

    Caught our ear:

    “I myself have a nephew, I mean this kid was salt to the earth and now he tried meth just once and now he’s in prison. And it turned him into a totally different person,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis tells us. “He was the neatest kid. Yeah. And he’s gone. Yeah. That person is gone. And so I’m pretty hardcore about keeping it away from people, but I don’t know how to do it.”

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

    Find us on social media:

    Substack

    X

    Spotify

    Apple

    Don’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites!

    Ask a Pol politics.

    Ask a Pol crypto.

    Ask a Pol drugs.

    Ask a Pol ai.

    Ask a Pol uaps.

    Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media.



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