Ask a Pol politics

Ask a Pol by Matt Laslo
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Asking your lawmakers your political questions at your US Capitol. www.askapolpolitics.com

  1. “We had the votes for it" — Dems say they forced Speaker Johnson to pull Iran war authorization

    3H AGO

    “We had the votes for it" — Dems say they forced Speaker Johnson to pull Iran war authorization

    Who? Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) Ask a Pol asks: Why did Speaker Johnson pull the AUMF from the floor? Key Scholten: “We had the votes for it today, and I, you know, I’m not one to speculate, but I do believe that’s probably why he pulled it, because I think we could have gotten it done today, and that’s unfortunate,” Rep. Hillary Scholten exclusively told Ask a Pol Politics. “It’s a disservice to the American people.” Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol‘s interview with Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), slightly edited for clarity. TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Hillary Scholten (5-21-2026) Rep. Hillary Scholten: “We had the votes for it today, and I, you know, I’m not one to speculate, but I do believe that’s probably why he pulled it, because I think we could have gotten it done today, and that’s unfortunate. It’s a disservice to the American people.” Consider chipping in to support our independent journalism — Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer! 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

    11 sec

  2. MAY 9

    Sen. Mark Warner: Federal AI preemption ‘makes sense, but only if you’ve got strong guardrails’

    Who? Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) — Vice Chair, Senate Intelligence Committee Ask a Pol asks: Is Anthropic’s new Mythos AI model on your radar? Has full Intelligence Committee had any classified briefing on it? Key Warner: “Preemption makes sense, but only if you’ve got strong guardrails,” Sen. Mark Warner exclusively tells Ask a Pol Politics. “But I mean, we don’t even have a federal law yet.” Find Ask a Pol on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram! Consider chipping in to support our independent journalism —Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer! Caught our ear: “You don’t even have a federal law on — perhaps I don’t know — federal law on social media,” Warner tells us. TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Mark Warner (4-29-2026) SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo corners Sen. Mark Warner about artificial intelligence as he awaits an underground Senate tram. Matt Laslo: “How much is [Anthropic’s new] Mythos AI model on your radar?” Mark Warner: “A lot.” ML: “Have you guys had a hearing on it in Intel?” Warner shakes head. ML: “What’s your biggest fear? Like, are we ready for it?” MW: “Thank goodness there was a, you know, a company that was open. I’m not sure every AI company would have been this responsible in terms of timing of release.” ML: “Yeah?” ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo’s latest AI feature MW: “For me, it raises a huge amount of questions about, you know, who can we rely on before this gets released into the wild? On a number of these issues.” ML: “And yet here on the other side of the aisle, they're still talking preemption of state laws with a federal bill?” MW: “Again, over a long-term basis, I've always said, you know, well, preemption makes sense, but only if you've got strong guardrails.” ML: “Yeah? But I mean, we don’t even have a federal law yet.” MW: “We don’t even have a federal law on privacy!” ML: “I know!” MW: “We don’t even have a federal law on social media!” Warner’s about to enter a tram car. ML: “My data privacy — Section 230 coverage — for WIRED, from like 2019 is quoted in like 30 law reviews: Harvard, Cornell, etc. — just because no one else was f*cking covering it! And they still aren’t.” 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. PSA: Student? Unemployed? Underemployed? Ping us for a free VIP subscription. No questions asked. 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

    1 min

  3. MAY 7

    AOC: Marijuana rescheduling reduces one harm — but “doesn’t quite make all of the wrongs right”

    Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells Ask a Pol Politics founder Matt Laslo that while she supports descheduling marijuana because it reduces harm, it still leaves untouched the deeper injustice of people whose lives were damaged by the war on drugs. Her argument is that legalization should not just enrich the same people who profited before while leaving criminalized communities behind. 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

    1 min

  4. MAY 2

    In face of record low disapproval, Congressional Republicans blame the media

    Podcast Show Notes:Visit Ask a Pol ~ asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol ~ Let us know what to ask next! In our latest episode — Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) fires back at the premise that Republicans need to retool ahead of the midterms, telling Ask a Pol Politics the only thing needing a retool is the “legacy media” that “intentionally reports falsehoods.” He then touts GOP tax bill wins: a $50B rural healthcare bond, 89% of seniors paying zero taxes on Social Security, and a $15M death tax exclusion to protect family farms. Who? Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) — U.S. Army Special Forces veteran Ask a Pol asks: Republicans are at record low approval ratings — should GOP leaders retool the 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,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden exclusively told Ask a Pol Politics. “That’s what needs to be retooled.” TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Derrick Van Orden (4-22-2026) Matt Laslo: “...with record low approval ratings — do you think you guys [should retool]?” Rep. Derrick Van Orden: “Me?” Laslo: “No, just for Congress.” Van Orden: “Oh, I don’t know. But should you guys retool? Should Republican leaders — should we — what? Retool it all ahead of the midterms or—” Laslo: “What’s that mean? Retool your focus. Retool the agenda.” 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.” Laslo: “They’re terrible. Really. Yeah.” Van Orden: “You get money back?” Laslo: “No.” Van Orden: “Guess what? On average, the American public individually and by family got back thousands and thousands of dollars they never got back. You know why? Because they wanted to get rid of the bill.” Laslo: “Yeah. There’s a $50 billion rural healthcare infrastructure bond.” Van Orden: “It’s the greatest expenditure on rural healthcare in the history of the country. 89% of all seniors are going to pay zero taxes on their social security.” Laslo: “Yeah.” Van Orden: “What about the farmers hurting? $15 million per person exclusion for federal taxes for the death tax to save family farms.” Laslo: “Yeah, that’s all there.” Van Orden: “Appreciate you. Stay dry.” 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

    1 min
  5. Jamie Raskin calling Trump out for "unconstitutionally" raking in “hundreds of millions of dollars”

    MAY 1

    Jamie Raskin calling Trump out for "unconstitutionally" raking in “hundreds of millions of dollars”

    Visit Ask a Pol ~ asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol ~ Let us know what to ask next! In this episode, House Judiciary Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin decries Trump’s alleged violations of the emoluments clause from the Capitol steps, telling Ask a Pol Politics that Trump has never sought Congress’s consent for the millions he collected in his first term — and that the number has now grown into the hundreds of millions in his second. 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

    1 min

  6. MAY 1

    Hegseth has ‘thinnest skin,’ mocks veteran and West Point grad, Rep. Pat Ryan

    ‘Knows he’s a joke’: Capitol Hill goes nuclear on Hegseth after mid-war ‘score-settling’ 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

    2 min
  7. Pam Bondi watch: "She needs to show up,” Dems fear former AG will skip out on Congress (again)

    APR 30

    Pam Bondi watch: "She needs to show up,” Dems fear former AG will skip out on Congress (again)

    Who? Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) — Ranking Member, House Oversight Committee Ask a Pol asks: Do you think there’s any chance Pam Bondi actually gets held in contempt? You’re trying to move those charges — but the DOJ is still run by her top deputy. Key Garcia: “We filed civil contempt charges because obviously her own DOJ is not going to probably go after her,” Rep. Robert Garcia exclusively told Ask a Pol Politics. “But we believe through the courts there would be some success.” 45 minutes after you announced the civil charges, Comer announces a date. Interesting timing. “We had heard nothing from the DOJ, nothing from Pam Bondi’s counsel,” Garcia said. “It’s been two weeks since she missed her first actual deposition. So we’re glad there’s finally a date. That’s all we wanted.” Caught our ear: “If she appears, we’re obviously not moving forward with contempt,” Garcia tells us. Do you think she’ll show up? “She didn’t show up for her first one, so we’ll wait and see,” Garcia said. “She needs to show up.” What’s Congress missing? Let us know and we’ll let them know! TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Robert Garcia (4-29-2026) SCENE: Ahead of a vote, House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia makes time for the TV cameras lined up at the base of the Capitol steps. Do you think there’s any chance that former Attorney General Pam Bondi actually gets held in contempt? I mean, you’re trying to move those charges at this point, but the DOJ is still run by her top deputy. Rep. Robert Garcia: “Well, I mean, look — first, I think that we filed civil contempt charges, because obviously her own DOJ is not going to probably go after her. But we believe through the courts there would be some success. Support independent journalism! Find us on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy the team a beer. Garcia: “And look, they’ve actually set the date — 45 minutes after we announced the civil charges, [House Oversight Committee Chair James] Comer announces a date, and so I think that the timing is interesting. “We had heard nothing from the DOJ, nothing from Pam Bondi’s counsel, it’s been two weeks since she missed her first actual deposition and so we’re glad there’s finally a date. That’s all we wanted. And so if she appears, we’re obviously not moving forward with contempt.” Do you think she’ll show up? Garcia: “She didn’t show up for her first one, so we’ll wait and see. She needs to show up.” 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… 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

    1 min
  8. WATCH: Echoing Melania Trump, Rep. Luna’s pushing GOP leaders for Epstein survivor hearing

    APR 24

    WATCH: Echoing Melania Trump, Rep. Luna’s pushing GOP leaders for Epstein survivor hearing

    Who? Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) 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.” Full video of interview & transcript at Ask a Pol Politics on Substack 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

    1 min
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About

Asking your lawmakers your political questions at your US Capitol. www.askapolpolitics.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ask a Pol by Matt Laslo
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    97
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Matt Laslo
  • Show Website
    Ask a Pol politics