Welcome! These are the topics for today’s column: 

• Fox News Retreat
• Booker Grills Kash Patel
• The Great Congressional Escape
• One More Thing

FOX NEWS RETREAT:

In case you missed the news, the Murdoch family ranch in Montana was the site of an exclusive, low-profile Fox News retreat over the weekend of July 11, 2026.  

It was reported that U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) attended the retreat with Montana’s U.S. Senators, Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines, as well as Montana Governor Greg Gianforte. 

The Washington Examiner reported that the event featured a panel on social media that Fetterman headlined with U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), one of his closest GOP colleagues in the Senate.  

I think this closed-door retreat raises troubling questions about transparency and the blurred lines between lawmakers and major media conglomerates. When public servants like Senators Daines, Sheehy, and Fetterman participate in low-profile corporate retreats, it undermines public trust in both the legislative process and journalistic independence. As long as policy discussions on critical issues like social media remain gatekept behind the fences of billionaire-owned ranches, voters are left in the dark about who their representatives are truly serving. 

BOOKER GRILLS KASH PATEL:

The hearings in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate that feature officials from the Trump administration are some of the most must-watch segments in C-SPAN history.

Just the other day, FBI Director Kash Patel testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The segment where U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) questioned Patel is pure gold. Many of the Trump officials know they only have to please one person on this planet, and that is President Donald Trump. 

You can watch the back-and-forth HERE.

THE GREAT CONGRESSIONAL ESCAPE: 

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives announced it would go on recess until after the November midterm election.

On September 16, 2026, House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the remaining floor votes scheduled for Thursday, shortening the congressional workweek. (Source)

By adjourning early, House leadership launched a more than six-week campaign recess, meaning lawmakers will not be back in Washington, D.C., until November 9, 2026, following the November 3 election day.

The Republicans are scared that they will lose the majority in the U.S. House and don’t want to stick around for any controversial votes. Plus, they have about six weeks to campaign. 

ONE MORE THING:  

Did you know that people who are late are often happier than those who have to wait for them? 

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