Katherine Clark’s message for moms
Plus: A crypto bill failed in the Senate and Democrats slammed Trump’s reported settlement with the family of a slain Jan. 6 insurrectionist.
👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! In tonight’s edition: The highest-ranking mom in Congress shares a Mother’s Day message to the moms of America—especially those anxious about the state of the economy. Then, how bipartisan support for a Senate cryptocurrency bill fell apart. And finally, why Democrats believe a reported settlement with a family of a slain January 6 insurrectionist is proof of the Trump administration’s pattern of elevating MAGA grievance over public safety and racial justice.
But first things first: The Fed held interest rates steady at 4.25%–4.5% and warned of rising risks for both inflation and unemployment, signaling a murkier economic outlook. … House Republicans rescheduled markups for the three committees crafting their $4.5 trillion reconciliation bill after a weeklong delay. I broke down why megabills like this one are so hard to pass in my latest COURIER column. … Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi launched Senate bids in Illinois to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, the number-two Senate Democrat. … Democrats asked CBO how states would handle GOP Medicaid cuts—most would replace half the funds, forcing coverage, benefit or payment cuts. … House Democrats filed a discharge petition to force a vote on exempting Medicaid and SNAP from reconciliation cuts, just like Social Security. … The Senate confirmed Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration over Democratic opposition. I previewed the fight in Sunday’s Congress Nerd. … The House passed a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, a symbolic nod to Trump’s nationalist agenda. I previewed the vote for paid subscribers in Sunday’s Congress Nerd. … CBC members are quietly strategizing how to reclaim a top seat on House Ag as Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) openly campaigns to lead House Oversight. I broke it down in a recent Politics & Policy post. … A Republican judge on the North Carolina state Court of Appeals conceded the 2024 state Supreme Court election to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs after contesting his narrow defeat for six months. … Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) teamed up with Run for Something to recruit young progressives for state and local office, drawing interest from over 5,000 potential candidates. The initiative taps Sanders’ grassroots list and offers training and one-on-one support. … Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced a bill to safeguard the Veterans Crisis Line and increase transparency and strengthen congressional oversight of it. … Duckworth also unveiled legislation to restore collective bargaining rights and protect workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs who speak about service disruptions and advocate for the veterans they serve. … More than two dozen lawmakers launched the new Build America Caucus, Congress’s first formal push to advance a pro-growth abundance agenda. … A bipartisan group of House members launched a new Mental Health Caucus to promote awareness and expand access to affordable behavioral health care. … The Vatican elected a Robert Prevost, the first American pope and a Francis ally expected to extend his predecessor’s legacy while avoiding major doctrinal shifts. Keep reading for what else is worth knowing from the Hill this week—straight from my notebook to your inbox.
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Clark calls out care economy crisis
This Mother’s Day, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) has a message for anxious moms: You’re not imagining it. The cost of raising a family is out of control—and Republican policies could make it worse.
Allow me to explain: President Trump’s tariffs and revived trade war have driven up prices on everyday goods, deepening the economic squeeze on working families.
At the same time, House Republicans are proposing sweeping cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and child care—while continuing to block guaranteed paid leave.
In her own words: “We hear your frustration and anxiety about your place in this economy and how you’re going to provide for your families. Democrats see you,” Clark, the highest-ranking mom in Congress, told me this week. “We’re fighting for you—and we’re going to make sure you and your children have a real shot at the American dream.”
In the know: Vote Mama PAC recently endorsed nearly 70 Democratic moms for the 2026 cycle—ranging from school board to U.S. Senate.
The slate includes former Rep. Katie Porter (Calif.), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (N.J.), Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (Va.), along with congressional hopefuls like Arizona veteran JoAnna Mendoza.
“Politics isn’t rocket science—it’s personal,” founder Liuba Grechen Shirley said. “If you’re a pissed-off mom who wants to change policy, run. Or support a mom who is.”
How we got here: Trump has framed his agenda as “pro-family,” but Democrats say GOP proposals tell a different story: cuts to Medicaid—which covers 40 percent of U.S. births—and safety net programs like WIC and SNAP, with no new funding for paid leave or child care.
Meanwhile, his administration is floating vague pronatalist incentives, despite soaring costs and ongoing attacks on reproductive rights.
“The question from the White House is, Why are women having fewer children? The answer is clear,” Clark said. “Because they can’t afford to.”
Not so fast: Republicans argue that expanding programs like paid leave and Medicaid would strain public resources and discourage work. Some propose cultural solutions, like promoting traditional family structures and higher birth rates.
Looking ahead: But with a growing slate of veterans, public servants, and working parents, Vote Mama is betting that lived experience—not political pedigree—will drive the next wave of Democratic leadership.
“If you’re fed up with the direction of the country, run for office or back a mom who is,” Shirley said. “That’s how we fix this system—together.”
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Crypto bill fails in Senate vote
The Senate on Thursday failed to advance the GENIUS Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at regulating stablecoins, as a bloc of Democrats pulled their support over concerns it could benefit President Trump’s family.
Allow me to explain: The bill fell short in a 48-49 vote, well below the 60 needed to advance.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) changed his vote to no so he could bring the bill back later.
The setback underscores the challenges in crafting cryptocurrency legislation amid partisan divisions and ethical controversies.
In the know: The GENIUS Act initially drew bipartisan interest, but Democratic concerns intensified after reports tied Trump’s family to a new stablecoin venture—backed by $2 billion in foreign investment.
In response, Senate Democrats introduced the “End Crypto Corruption Act,” which would bar top elected officials and their families from issuing or promoting digital assets.
How we got here: Trump was once a crypto skeptic but by 2024 had rebranded digital currency as part of the “freedom economy.”
First Lady Melania Trump promoted NFTs, while Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump amplified pro-crypto messaging aligned with anti-regulation, anti-central bank rhetoric.
On the trail, Trump promised to end the “crypto crackdown,” block a digital dollar, and boost decentralized innovation.
A closer look: The vote followed a flare-up in the House two days earlier when Financial Services Committee Democrats—led by Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)—refused to grant unanimous consent for a joint crypto hearing, effectively blocking it from taking place.
Instead, they convened their forum to scrutinize Trump’s financial ties to the crypto industry.
Republicans accused them of politicizing the issue, but Democratic leaders argue that any serious regulatory effort must start with basic guardrails to prevent presidential profiteering.
In his own words: “What often muddies the waters—especially in this case—is the President and his family looking to enrich themselves through meme coins, stablecoins, and other ventures in the crypto world,” House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) told me this week. “Democrats are open to fair, transparent regulation of this industry. What we won’t support is turning it into a new line of business for the Trump family to profit off of while they’re in office.”
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Dems slam Trump’s Babbitt settlement
House Democrats who helped investigate the January 6 attack are sharply criticizing the Trump administration’s reported settlement with Ashli Babbitt’s family—casting it as political appeasement that undermines law enforcement and warps public memory of the insurrection.
Allow me to explain: The Trump DOJ’s decision to settle comes as the administration punishes FBI agents who knelt during Black Lives Matter protests, rescinds a Biden-era executive order on accountable policing, and leans further into rewriting the Jan. 6 narrative—starting with a Day One clemency proclamation for over 1,500 people convicted of Capitol-related offenses.
What they’re saying: Democrats who investigated the attack or represent communities targeted by Trump’s law-and-order rollback say the settlement reflects a dangerous double standard—and reveals a broader pattern of elevating MAGA grievance over public safety and racial justice.
“We had people who died defending the institution, and some of [their families] have yet to get disability benefits,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), former chair of the January 6 Select Committee. “But somebody who tried to break in gets a settlement, which is kind of the inconsistency of this administration.”
“It’s not surprising, particularly given his affinity for and his charge to January 6 insurrectionists, that he would… be sympathetic and empathetic and see them as allies,” Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, told me.
The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.
How we got here: Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, embraced far-right conspiracy theories, fiercely supported President Trump, and became increasingly radicalized online in the months leading up to the Capitol attack.
On January 6, 2021, she was fatally shot by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd as she attempted to climb through a shattered window into the Speaker’s Lobby during the final breach of the House chamber.
Byrd was later cleared by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Capitol Police, which found he acted in self-defense and defense of lawmakers.
Trump has repeatedly called Babbitt a “patriot” and signaled interest in revisiting her case.
In January 2024, Babbitt’s family filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit.
The Trump DOJ disclosed a preliminary settlement during a court hearing last Friday, reversing the Biden administration’s defense of Byrd.
Looking ahead: The settlement is pending final approval, with formal agreements expected in the coming weeks.
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