Eric Michael Garcia
@ericmgarcia
Washington Bureau chief at The Independent, MSNOW Columnist. Author: We’re Not Broken. Tar Heel. He/Him Eric.garcia@the-independent.com
So I asked AOC what it would take to get the bill across the finish line since Lindsey Graham (who was actually a big supporter of reining in big tech).
Fun time capsule: Dick Durbin just arrived for a Pen and Pad just as the World Cup game ends. He asks what’s going on, we say France vs. Spain and he says “well, watch it for God’s sakes.” Says he is for the Cape Verde Goal Man
AOC on Susan Collins touting the money she got for body cameras and ICE training in the DHS bill. “Senator Collins wrote the blank check to allow these officers to conduct themselves in the way that they have in Maine in the first place, and she's the one who's poured resources into it.”
AOC on ICE halting vehicle stops “They’re just trying to cover for the fact that what they are doing shouldn't be allowable in the first place, and the fact that they're pausing it is to distract from the fact that in many of these instances they shouldn't be allowed to do it in the first place.”
Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, says he hasn’t heard about ICE halting vehicle stops for now.
"Well, Well, Well, Not So Easy To Find A Democratic Nominee for Senate That Doesn’t Suck Shit, Huh?’
DSCC puts out a statement: "The DSCC will work tirelessly to ensure the new Democratic nominee has the infrastructure and resources to immediately turn their focus to the general election, and in November we will defeat Susan Collins and win a Senate majority"
Meanwhile, in Texas, James Talarico announced he raised $30 million in the second quarter of 2026. Curious how much that came after Cornyn lost to Paxton
Andy Beshear puts out a letter to McConnell asking for an update on his health. "As public officeholders, we have made a commitment to do our best to represent them and to always be transparent. I believe this requires clear communication about one's ability to serve."
Morris Katz and the Fight Agency running Mamdani's campaign versus Platner.
Schumer and Gillibrand put out a statement saying Platner needs to drop out. "The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot."
Wow!! Simon Baron-Cohen, the Cambridge Professor who coined the term “extreme male brain theory” now says the term is “unhelpful.” “There’s a kind of myth that autistic people lack empathy.” www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
AOC on the Supreme Court allowing states to prevent trans kids from competing in women’s sports: “there will always be a place for them in New York, and there'll always be a place for them in our community, in our backyard.”
Jamie Raskin on the Supreme Court’s ruling trans kids playing in women’s sports: “Well, I would just say to the kids and the families who feel besieged and scapegoated by the authoritarian politics of mega Republicans, that there are millions of people across the country who stand with you”
AOC on Republicans trying to make the new socialists the face of the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 “It doesn't work, so I think that they can try, they can put as much energy as they like into that.“
AOC on her amendment to withhold offensive and defensive weapons to Israel: “I think after witnessing US-funded weapons help perpetuate genocide of Palestinians. I think that people want to see more accountability into where public taxpayer dollars are going.”
An amendment by Boebert and Tenney would ban "transgender service members by requiring all personnel to serve in accordance with their biological sex, citing military readiness and discipline."
Another Nancy Mace-Tenney Amendment "Prohibits male participation in female sports at DoDEA schools."
Another amendment from Nancy Mace that "Prohibits gender related medical care under TRICARE. Prevents TRICARE from covering certain gender related medical procedures and treatments."