Abraham Hamadeh, a Republican congressman from Arizona, has reportedly been living with one of his male staffers, according to Juliegrace Brufke’s Sources Say News. The staffer, Will Hannen, now runs Hamadeh’s campaign.
In recent weeks, Hamadeh’s team posted glamour shots of his office on Instagram where staffers sit and stand in staggered formation, like the cast of The West Wing, if they were House Republicans. At least one “looksmaxxing”-inspired video was posted featuring Hamadeh and his team titled: “Professional looksmaxxing office!”
On the subject of Hannen being a live-in staffer, Hamadeh spokeswoman Lori Hunnicutt “denied the relationship was romantic, telling Sources Say News: ‘The Congressman and Mr. Hannen have been ONLY good friends for years, and at times have been roommates. At no time has Congressman Hamadeh ‘cohabitated’ with Mr. Hannen or anyone else for that matter.” Lori Hunnicutt did not answer Brufke when they asked for clarification on the difference between roommates and cohabitation.
Hamadeh is rumored to have played favorites as a boss and used his office as an opportunity to give favors to friends, which is not uncommon on the Hill. Most staffers get their jobs through connections… but most staffers do not live with their members.
This story arrives amid a swirl of allegations on the Hill surrounding member-staffer misconduct. “What in the actual fuck. There is something wrong with that office,” one GOP lawmaker said, in response to Hamadeh and Hannen’s unconventional relationship.
On our radar
LATE CHECK-IN President Trump speaks today at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Conference. It will be the first time Trump has been to the Washington Hilton since the botched assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
JOHNNY ON THE SPOT John Bolton pled guilty to mishandling classified documents today and will pay a fine of $2.25 million. Prosecutors recommend he be sentenced to no more than five years in prison.
MILK TOAST Trump branded Shannon Bream “Milk Toast” [sic] in a Truth Social post for not putting up a fight when Fox News guests compare his immigration numbers to Barack Obama’s.
Usha’s dress sense
Everyone loves a good bargain – and the Second Lady is no exception. Usha Vance took to X yesterday to share details about one of her most recent maternity looks – a coral maxi dress she nabbed at Old Navy for $8.75.
The New York Times published a piece Wednesday about “The Politics and Power of the Pregnancy Image,” suggesting that Vance’s maternity fashion choices are a broader expression of MAGA’s emphasis on “idealized womanhood” (juxtaposed against the extreme masculinity of events like the White House UFC fight).
Usha responded on X: “Now that we know the political significance of my $8.75 coral maternity dress from Old Navy, can’t wait to hear what the New York Times has to say about my elastic-waistband pants and compression socks!” In the replies, she shared a screenshot of her Old Navy order, in which she stacked promos to bring the originally $50 dress down to $8.75. “And here’s the receipt!” she said.
Husband J.D. was impressed – the VP reposted the thread and joked: “She bought a $50 dress for $8.75. America: meet your next director of the federal budget!”
There were a few naysayers who couldn’t find joy in the thrift. “This dude is bragging on his wife having to scrounge for clothes?” read one comment. Others pointed out that Old Navy does not produce clothes in the US, instead relying on factories in Vietnam, China, Bangladesh and India, and lacks some labor standard certifications to ensure ethical work practices. “I feel like American politicians should at least try to wear Made In America clothing,” another comment read.
But most responses were positive: “I’m delighted to learn you can look chic in pregnancy with a brand that is attainable for every American,” said one commenter. “Talk about relatable!”
Nixon 2028?
Times have changed. At an event at the Nixon Library on Wednesday, J.D. Vance quipped, with a smile on his face, “I think Nixon’s historical legacy is enjoying a bit of a renaissance, and deservedly so. I joked that if Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour news story. The idea that it took down a presidency is crazy.” It was an off-kilter, if not shocking, endorsement of a notoriously dishonest president from the current VP.
J.D. wasn’t wrong about the renaissance. The Nixon Foundation has been pulling out all the stops. In the fall, it was selling tote bags that read “pretty girls for Nixon.” In recent months, young influencers have done unboxing videos with various Nixon paraphernalia, such as hats and shirts, given by the foundation. The Spectator had its role to play in the Nixon boom this year, with our cover: The Redemption of Nixon.
Cockburn is nostalgic for the Nixon era because paranoid politicians make great gossip and he’d love a hat. Given the many accusations of corruption being lobbed at Trump’s administration – by J.D.’s potential future Democratic rival, Jon Ossoff, for example – Vance might have more robust motivations.
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