NEWS AND OPINION:
Polite drum roll please: The National Republican Congressional Committee reveals that it raised $7.1 million in the month of December, closing out what the organization deems a noteworthy 2023 that “shattered” its record for money raised prior to a presidential election year.
And the total sum raised in 2023? That amounted to $91.3 million.
“Republicans hold the momentum to grow our House majority with historic fundraising and an incredible class of candidates, allowing us to expand the map and put Democrats on defense,” said Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina — chairman of the aforementioned committee — in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
“With the border crisis, crime surge and the cost of living giving voters every reason to reject extreme House Democrats, Hakeem Jeffries should prepare himself for another long slog in the minority,” Mr. Hudson noted, referring to the House minority leader, a New York Democrat.
POMPEO’S RECOMMENDATION
Mike Pompeo — who served as the 70th secretary of state — offered some thoughts Tuesday about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) before the House Select Committee on the CCP.
“As we contemplate the challenge posed by the CCP, we must focus not on responding, defending or parrying the CCP, but deterring it. The Chinese Communist Party has been at economic war with the United States for decades. We pretended it wasn’t so,” he said.
“The United States and like-minded nations must not simply fight this economic war to a muddled draw, but we must win it. The world and the post-World War II order depend on it. If we do not win it and deter the CCP, the prosperity of our nation and the West is at real risk. This confrontation is not only in the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific — it is here at home,” Mr. Pompeo advised.
“The CCP is inside the gates at our research labs, our government research institutions and our information space. This cannot remain, and I look forward to discussing how to confront each of these challenges today,” he said.
‘CREATING A CULTURE’
And here’s one more mention of Capitol Hill doings: The House Budget Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday with a noteworthy title: “Creating a Culture of Fiscal Responsibility: Assessing the Role of the Congressional Budget Office.”
Those on hand for the weighty discussion include Rep. Jodey Arrington, Texas Republican and the panel chairman, plus Reps. Brendan Boyle, Pennsylvania Democrat, and Jack Bergman, Michigan Republican.
They are set to address how the office itself “can be more helpful to Congress, while also exploring ways to improve their accuracy, transparency, and internal structure to better serve the Congressional budget process,” according to a written advisory from the committee.
Congressional Budget Office Director Philip Swagel will also be on hand. Things appear cordial.
“The Committee looks forward to receiving director Swagel and having a productive and informative hearing,” the organizers noted in their advisory.
WHAT KENNEDY SAW
Meanwhile, independent presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently visited the southern U.S. border, and here’s his reaction:
“I can’t explain the rationale and I’ve been down to the border. I spent three days in Yuma watching this. And I was astonished. You know, between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. in the morning, I watched 300 people just walk across the border,” Mr. Kennedy told Fox News on Tuesday.
“There were buses that were bringing them up to the border that were owned by the Mexican drug cartel, 100 or 55 people in a bus. And I watched the first 110 people that came over were from West Africa, and I wasn’t able to interview them. But then the second bus came in. I was able to interview all the people. And only two of them had asylum claims. Most of them were from Asia,” the candidate said.
“Last month we hit a record of 247,000 migrants arrested, which means many more were coming across. It’s not sustainable. Our country — we’ve already absorbed 7 million people in the last three years,” he continued.
“You don’t need a wall from Brownsville, Texas, 2,200 miles to San Diego. But you need the physical barrier in those highly populated zones where migrants can disappear very quickly,” Mr. Kennedy advised.
FOXIFIED
Fox News has made some news of its own. The cable news channel is now marking its 22nd consecutive year as the top cable news network during primetime hours and throughout the day, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Fox News closed out January by airing 98 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the month, with an average of 1.3 million viewers throughout the day. In contrast, CNN drew 463,000 and MSNBC 761,000 during the time period. In the primetime hours, Fox News enjoyed an average daily audience of 1.9 million viewers; CNN attracted 612,000 and MSNBC 1.1 million.
The network also dominated political coverage with 2.9 million viewers tuning in for the Iowa caucuses and 3.9 million for the New Hampshire primary. Additionally, a Fox News town hall with former President Donald Trump co-moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 10 attracted 4.4 million viewers.
“Marking another historic feat is a true reflection of the unwavering dedication and outstanding talent that we have throughout the entire organization of Fox News Channel,” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway,
POLL DU JOUR
• 72% of U.S. adults say they are “very concerned” about the price of food and consumer goods.
• 64% overall are very concerned about the cost of housing.
• 51% overall are very concerned about the cost of gasoline and energy.
• 31% overall are very concerned that people can’t find jobs.
• 27% overall are very concerned about the stability of banks and other financial institutions in the U.S.
• 18% overall are very concerned about stock market trends.
SOURCE: A Pew Research Center “American Trends” poll of 5,140 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 16-21.
• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.