Kevin Frey

Republicans define victory in Iran as whatever Trump says it is Trump won’t say what exactly the objective in Iran is. Republicans are just fine with that.

When it comes to defining victory in #Iran, many Republicans on Capitol Hill have a simple answer: Ask President Trump. www.ms.now/news/republi...

Trump says he doesn’t have ‘the yips’ for boots in Iran. Republicans might with a war vote. Republicans in Congress are offering plenty of excuses as to why they don't need a war vote even if Trump puts boots on the ground in Iran.

Trump says he doesn’t have ‘the yips’ for boots in Iran. Republicans might with a war vote.

w/ Mychael Schnell www.ms.now/news/trump-y...

Republicans shrug as gas prices spike from Trump’s Iran war “Gas prices will go up, and then I think they'll start to stabilize and come back down again,” Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said.

More than a week into President Trump’s war with Iran, gas prices — long his preferred metric for touting the state of the economy — are soaring.

Congressional Republicans — much like Trump — are downplaying concerns. www.ms.now/news/republi...

Inside Congress’ classified briefings on Iran: Brief but not so classified Democrats are frustrated by the lack of information the Trump administration is sharing with lawmakers about Iran. Meanwhile, Republicans are just fine.

As the Iran war wages on, Dems in Congress are growing increasingly frustrated with what the Trump admin is sharing with them.

Rep. Morelle, D-N.Y., told me you don't get much more in classified briefings “than you would by watching MS NOW or CNN." www.ms.now/news/congres...

Democrats have a new secret weapon for the 2026 midterms: Pastors Democrats are increasingly turning to faith leaders to take on the GOP's advantage with religious voters.

James Talarico is on the ballot today in Texas, aiming to be the Dem Senate nom.

The seminarian is the highest profile example of Dems leaning into faith this cycle, but he's not alone. Pastors-turned-Dem politicians are running in other key congressional races www.ms.now/news/democra...

Senators prepare to vote on Trump’s military authority in Iran Democrats want to restrain Trump's military authority in Iran. Republicans, mostly, don't.

The pending Senate vote on war powers is expected to be incredibly close, with most Ds voting to restrain Trump’s military authority & nearly all Rs voting to give POTUS wide latitude www.ms.now/news/senator...

The Democratic strategy on Iran: Remind voters of Iraq Democrats in Congress, particularly veterans, have been drawing comparisons between Iran and the conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan.

As Dems escalate their criticism of Trump’s Iran strikes, one message has already crystalized: Americans have seen this movie before.

Leading the charge to deliver that message are Dem veterans in Congress, who are sharing stories from Iraq & Afghanistan www.ms.now/news/democra...

Heckling, ejections and silence: Democrats navigate their State of the Union response on live TV Top Democrats pushed for a strategy of “silent defiance.” Most followed suit. The ones who didn’t largely defined the Democratic response — at least for Republicans.

Heckling, ejections and silence: Democrats navigate their State of the Union response on live TV www.ms.now/news/democra...

Democrats push for tariff refunds, daring vulnerable GOP lawmakers to join them A new Senate bill would require reimbursements to businesses within 180 days. House legislation calls for even quicker action.

NEW: As part of a new Senate bill, rolled out Monday morning and shared early with MS NOW, three top Democrats are proposing a 180 day deadline for CBP to pay refunds for Trump's IEEPA tariffs that were knocked down by the Supreme Court
www.ms.now/news/democra...

Democrats have a new secret weapon for the 2026 midterms: Pastors Democrats are increasingly turning to faith leaders to take on the GOP's advantage with religious voters.

Across the midterm map, Democrats are turning to seminarians & pastors in key races, betting that faith-forward candidates can help chip away at the GOP’s dominance w/ religious voters — & offer an alternative to the right’s Christian nationalist rhetoric www.ms.now/news/democra...

Inside Chuck Schumer’s evolution on government shutdowns The Senate Democratic leader is embracing the resistance playbook during Trump’s second term.

Congress is now in the midst of its 3rd shutdown — and 4th shutdown fight — of Trump’s 2nd term.

Through it all, Sen. Chuck Schumer has stood at the center of the storm, taking heat from both Republicans and Democrats.

A look at his shutdown strategy >> www.ms.now/news/chuck-s...

Ocasio-Cortez took her populism global. Will she take her politics national? Speculation is — once again — stirring about a potential Oval Office bid after the progressive star made her first visit to the Munich Security Conference.

Ocasio-Cortez took her populism global. Will she take her politics national? www.ms.now/news/alexand...

When asked by moderator if she'll impose — "when you run for president" — a wealth tax or billionaire tax, she says:

"I don't think that anyone and that — we don't have to wait for any one president to impose a wealth tax, I think that it needs to be done expeditiously."

Rep. @aoc.bsky.social, speaking at Munich Security Conference:

"We are moving in this direction of increased recognition that we have to have a working class-centered politics if we are going to succeed, and also if we are going to stave off the scourges of authoritarianism."

‘The Epstein class’: How Democrats are using accountability to connect with GOP voters For years, Jeffrey Epstein has been an issue on the right. Now, as voters are increasingly dissatisfied with the Trump administration’s answers, Democrats see an opportunity.

As the midterms approach, Democrats are using 'Epstein class' as a campaign trail shorthand ... that Trump and Republicans are supporting a system for the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of Americans who are struggling.

w/ @alivitali.bsky.social www.ms.now/news/epstein...

New report from Democrats: TrumpRx drugs could cost thousands more than generics Democrats looked at the cost of the name-brand drugs on TrumpRx. Turns out, Americans could save thousands per year on many prescriptions by just purchasing generics.

Story, including Trump White House response >> www.ms.now/news/new-rep...

In a stmt, @senatorhassan.govpeeps.us — the top Dem on the Joint Economic Committee — accused the Trump administration of helping “Big Pharma line its pockets.” She encouraged the White House and Republicans to work with Democrats “to actually lower prescription drug costs.”

First on MS NOW:

In a new report, congressional Democrats have a warning: TrumpRx directs Americans to brand-name drugs rather than generics, meaning consumers are frequently at risk of paying more than they should — in some cases, thousands of dollars annually.

DOJ says Congress can see unredacted Epstein files next week That’s just in time for testimony from Ghislaine Maxwell and Attorney General Pam Bondi, though Maxwell plans to stay silent.

NEW w/ @kevinjfrey.bsky.social: Congress will be able to view unredacted versions of the publicly released Epstein files beginning Monday, according to a letter sent to members from a DOJ official & obtained by @ms.now

More on why the timing's significant below:

Dem Sen. calls for DOJ review of Tom Homan and bribery investigation Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) is calling for an inspector general review of the Department of Justice's now-closed investigation into Tom Homan and an alleged bribe. MS NOW Capitol Hill Reporter Kevin Frey ...

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) is calling for an inspector general review of the Department of Justice's now-closed investigation into Tom Homan and an alleged bribe.

@kevinjfrey.bsky.social joins Chris Jansing with more details.
www.ms.now/chris-jansin...

The letter represents the latest in a string of requests to inspectors general across the federal government — following others to watchdogs at the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security — to review the alleged bribery case. It’s unclear if any have opened inquiries.

Read Rosen’s letter to the Dept of Justice watchdog here >>

“Congress has a responsibility to know that the person currently in charge of directing immigration enforcement — that is allegedly targeting criminals — hasn’t broken the law himself,” she writes

Sen. Jacky Rosen calls for DOJ review of Tom Homan and $50,000 bribe investigation Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., says she wants to ensure Tom Homan’s “fitness for the job” as he takes the leadership of ICE operations in Minnesota.

SCOOP: @senjackyrosen.govpeeps.us is demanding the DOJ IG review the agency’s shuttered probe into White House border czar Tom Homan and his alleged acceptance of $50,000 from undercover FBI agents.

The goal: “ensure Mr. Homan’s fitness for the job.” www.ms.now/news/jacky-r...

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) says that she's under federal investigation by the Department of Justice. MS NOW's @kevinjfrey.bsky.social has the latest.

NOW: Jack Smith testifies to House Judiciary Committee and defends his team’s work investigating Trump. MS NOW's @kevinjfrey.bsky.social has the latest

House Oversight Dems release new photos and videos of 'Epstein Island' Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released never-before-seen videos and images of Jeffrey Epstein's private home in the Caribbean dubbed "Epstein Island". MS NOW Justice and Intelligence Repo...

Dems on the House Oversight Committee released never-before-seen videos and images of Jeffrey Epstein's private home in the Caribbean dubbed "Epstein Island".

@kendilanian-nbc.bsky.social, @lawofruby.bsky.social and @kevinjfrey.bsky.social join Chris Jansing with more.
www.ms.now/chris-jansin...

Marjorie Taylor Green's resignation exposes cracks in MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) announced she will resign from Congress in January after her public feud with President Trump over the Epstein files and extending Obamacare subsidies. MS NOW Capito...

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she will resign from Congress in January after her feud with President Trump over the Epstein files and extending Obamacare subsidies.

@kevinjfrey.bsky.social, @ashleyrparker.bsky.social and John Kasich join @anacabrera.bsky.social.
www.ms.now/ana-cabrera-...

Democrats weigh which pain is greater: A shutdown or skyrocketing Obamacare premiums Republicans are banking on Democrats giving in because of the pain of a shutdown. But Democrats say the pain of increased premiums is far greater.

Dems weigh which pain is greater: A shutdown or skyrocketing Obamacare premiums

“I understand that this is really tough for a lot of people,” a Dem in a district w/ lots of fed workers told me, before adding: “We want to prevent a bad thing from happening” www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/d...

Democrats embrace the shutdown as a necessary tool in ‘ridiculously abnormal times’ GOP leaders are warning Republicans that, if they “acquiesce” to Democratic demands now, shutdowns will become the norm.

“I don’t feel like we can pin this on us normalizing it when these are just not normal times.”

Why Dems are digging in on the #shutdown, despite long priding themselves on being the party that wouldn’t use these types of hardball tactics.

More from me:

www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/d...

Republicans bite their tongues as Trump cancels projects in their districts It wasn’t just Democrats who had energy projects canceled in their districts.

Of the ~20 Republicans MSNBC contacted for reaction to losing the spending, only 3 responded by deadline. And only one directly raised concerns about the cuts, placing the blame more on Democrats than the Trump admin.

More w/ Mychael Schnell www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/r...