Happy Tuesday, this is Congress Editor David Sivak welcoming you to Capitol Tea, your inside guide to Capitol Hill intrigue and all of Washington’s biggest personalities. Miss our last edition? Catch up here.
In this edition …
– Thomas Massie’s “glow-up.” The House rabble-rouser gave us a window into how he trimmed down.
– “Golden gavel” rivalry. Jim Banks is poised to place third in a friendly competition for the most hours spent presiding over the Senate.
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CAMERA READY
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is drawing attention for more than his Epstein-fueled fight with President Donald Trump. In recent months, he’s ditched the glasses and grown a beard for a makeover that has earned him a dose of teasing from colleagues.
“He’s got a tan, he’s got the silky hair now,” Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) said the other week as reporters gathered around Massie outside the House chamber.
“This guy’s like the sexiest man in Congress now,” McCormick added.
Massie hasn’t changed completely – he’s still the libertarian fiscal hawk who wears an LED debt clock on his lapel. And, much to the frustration of leadership, he’s still trying to force the full release of documents shedding light on the late Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking.
But Massie did acknowledge the new look, estimating that he’s shed around 25 pounds by cutting out carbs and sporadically exercising. The change follows the loss of his wife, Rhonda, more than a year ago.
“I will say, I’m not on Ozempic,” Massie said.
“I just quit eating the rice and the bread and the potatoes. So, if people like the glow-up and they’re looking for a tip, ditch the carbs, that’s all you need,” he added.
Massie said he eats a steady diet of raw milk, red meat, and fresh vegetables. Raw milk has been popularized, in part, by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement, though it’s not considered safe for consumption.
BANKING HOURS
Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) is next in line to earn a prized “golden gavel,” awarded to any senator who spends at least 100 hours presiding over the Senate floor in a single session of Congress.
In an interview, Banks estimated that he’s “one or two hours” away from a third-place finish in what he jokingly called the “award that none of us want to win.”
The gavels, which are actually made of brass, sparked a friendly rivalry between Sens. John Curtis (R-UT) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), with Curtis flashing a big “L” at Moreno after he placed first in early August. Moreno was so close that he reached 100 hours later that same evening.
Despite the competition, there is a certain tedium to the job of presiding officer, which requires senators to manage floor proceedings from the dais of the Senate. The task falls to all members of the majority party, with freshmen required to sign up for set weekly shifts.
“For me, it’s a lot of time to read, but it’s also interesting to hear the speeches. You get to know your colleagues,” Banks said.
“It’s a time suck. I wish I had that time back in my day, but I’ve gained a lot from it too,” he added.
Banks was slated to reach the benchmark this past week, he said, but some of his scheduled time was cancelled on Wednesday. I’m also told Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), another Republican freshman, is “closing in” on 100 hours but currently trails Banks.
The first of the gavels was doled out last week to Curtis and Moreno, and Curtis is thoroughly enjoying the sweet satisfaction of placing first. Here’s a picture of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) handing him the prize at their conference lunch.
“It was all about beating Bernie,” Curtis told me with a grin, adding that he would be displaying the gavel prominently.
Of the other senators nearing 100 hours, he said, “Yeah, but they can only aspire to this great honor, and until they get there, they’re not there, as far as I’m concerned.”
All of the freshmen have gotten ample opportunity to rack up hours with the repeated vote-a-ramas this year, and Curtis’s milestone came as the Senate spent a rare Saturday session confirming nominees shortly before the August recess.
“It just shows you how long we’ve been in session,” Curtis said.
As for Moreno, he’s taking second place in stride. He offered Curtis a back-slapping hug as he reached the 100-hour mark in August, and on Thursday, Moreno thanked the “Academy” when I asked about his gavel.
“Oh, my God, the honor of my life,” Moreno said.
We did clip the footage of Curtis gloating over his win, courtesy of C-SPAN – at the 0:42 second mark, he teasingly flashes an “L” over his forehead as Moreno enters the Senate chamber to take over presiding duties.
In the name of fair and balanced journalism, I also asked Moreno for his comment on the taunt.
“You know, he has to win at something,” Moreno replied.
