This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 27, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The U.S. Senate is in its final week of legislative business before its August recess period. The House of Representatives started its annual break early as House Republican leaders sought to prevent votes over releasing more information about Jeffrey Epstein.

Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., spent the final week renewing his call for permitting reform. The Hot Springs congressman introduced legislation on Friday aimed at changing environmental reviews to streamline the permitting process.

STORY: Westerman pushes for NEPA changes to expedite energy project permitting

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., announced multiple measures last week addressing concerns among young families, including heavy metals in baby formula and hospital policies for providing life-saving care to newborn babies. Cotton, of Little Rock, tied the bills to his own experiences as a parent, as well as stories from friends handling the challenges of parenthood.

Check Monday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette for the full story.

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 20, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed a rescissions package at the end of last week, clawing back $9 billion for international aid and public broadcasting.

All six members of the Arkansas congressional delegation backed the measure, which the White House requested to address funds for items they described as "antithetical to American interests and values."

STORY: State’s federal lawmakers help pass $9B in cuts to foreign aid, public broadcasting

The rescission measure takes $1.1 billion away from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The nonprofit corporation uses federal dollars to support public television and radio stations across the country, including Arkansas PBS and the state's NPR affiliates.

Arkansas public media leaders are assessing their organization's financial health to determine how to best confront this funding gap.

STORY: Funding cuts threaten future of Arkansas public media as Congress considers rescission package

During the rescission discourse, the House celebrated "crypto week" by passing legislation aimed at regulating cryptocurrencies and other digital assets.

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., was one of the leaders of "crypto week." The former Little Rock banker leads the House Financial Services Committee.

STORY: Hill calls passage of digital asset regulations ‘high point’ of his time in Congress

Two Democrats are building their campaigns for federal office.

Hallie Shoffner, a sixth-generation farmer from Jackson County, officially launched her challenge to Republican Sen. Tom Cotton.

Rob Ryerse, a Springdale pastor, is hoping to defeat Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., in next year's midterm elections. Ryerse challenged Womack in the 2018 Republican Primary in Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District, but he has since left the party and joined the Democratic Party.

STORY: Arkansas farmer Hallie Shoffner formally launches bid for U.S. Senate, challenging Cotton

STORY: Robb Ryerse seeks 2018 rematch with ’26 run in 3rd District

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 13, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

This podcast typically focuses on national political issues and the Arkansans influencing the related discussions. This week's episode, however, is putting a spotlight on a more light-hearted subject matter: the Congressional Art Competition.

High school students enter the contest every year with hopes of having their artwork recognized at the U.S. Capitol. Offices in the U.S. House of Representatives host local competitions to determine which art piece should be part of the annual exhibition.

Four Arkansas teenagers — representing institutions in Arkansas' four congressional districts — traveled to Capitol Hill in June to meet other young artists and see their pieces on display.

STORY: Arkansas teens’ artwork among those chosen for annual US Capitol exhibit

Thank you for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 6, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were supposed to be spending the week of July 4 away from Capitol Hill, but lawmakers were instead in Washington, D.C., to consider congressional Republicans' tax and spending package.

The Senate and House passed the "one big, beautiful bill," which President Donald Trump signed into law last Friday.

All six members of the Arkansas congressional delegation supported the measure.

STORY: Boozman, Cotton play active parts in passing ‘big beautiful bill’ in Senate

STORY: Arkansas’ U.S. House members support Senate bill amid GOP chaos

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of June 29, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Congressional Republicans hope to meet President Donald Trump's July 4 deadline for passing their sweeping tax and spending measure, but trying to reach this goal has not come without challenges.

Senate Republicans had to revise parts of their bill after Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough struck down several provisions, including language affecting Medicaid.

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee — under the leadership of Arkansas Republican John Boozman — resubmitted text affecting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after MacDonough rejected parts of the committee's original proposal.

Meanwhile, congressional Democrats and advocates are pushing back against the effort, warning of the measure's possible impacts to Medicaid and SNAP.

STORY: Arkansans head to Capitol Hill to protest SNAP, Medicaid proposals

STORY: Senate parliamentarian OKs Boozman committee’s revised SNAP proposal

Thank you for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of June 22, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of the Natural State's congressional delegation have voiced support for President Donald Trump and the decision to strike three Iranian sites.

The military action occurred more than a week into the Israel-Iran conflict.

Republican Rep. Rick Crawford — the chair of the House Intelligence Committee — said the United States, Israel and other nations are "making it clear that the world would never accept Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon."

Sen. Tom Cotton — a fellow Republican who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee — said he hopes Iran heeds the president's warning and reconsiders any ideas of retaliatory attacks against Americans.

Meanwhile, the Senate parliamentarian has ruled against several provisions of Senate Republicans' tax and spending proposal, including language from the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and the committee had proposed modifications to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and agriculture programs, but the Senate parliamentarian has determined some changes violate the Senate's rules on considering budgetary measures.

STORY: Senate parliamentarian’s decision sets up roadblock for GOP’s planned SNAP changes

Boozman, of Rogers, and two fellow Arkansans — Cotton, of Little Rock, and Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark. — continue their campaign to protect the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Jefferson County.

Boozman and Cotton pressed defense officials about the U.S Army's organic industrial base last week in separate hearings. Westerman and Army officials toured the Pine Bluff Arsenal; the Hot Springs congressman said he hopes the tour provided insight into the installation's importance in filling white phosphorus munitions.

STORY: Boozman, Cotton, Westerman continue push to protect Pine Bluff Arsenal

Thank you for listening to this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of June 15, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Arkansans joined demonstrators across the country Saturday to protest President Donald Trump and his administration's policies during the first months of his second White House stint.

The No Kings rallies took place on the same day of the Army’s parade in Washington, D.C., commemorating its 250th anniversary. The parade in the nation’s capital also coincided with Trump's 79th birthday.

On Capitol Hill, two committees in the U.S. House of Representatives advanced legislation last week establishing a regulatory framework for digital assets.

The House Financial Services and Agriculture committees considered the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in separate markups last Tuesday. The legislation would clarify the roles of federal agencies in regulating digital assets and people interested in such investments.

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., leads the House Financial Services Committee.

STORY: Two U.S. House committees consider new rules for digital assets

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee has put forward its portion of Senate Republicans' proposal advancing their policy goals.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., announced the legislation last Wednesday as senators continue assembling the legislative package.

The plan has similarities to the House's "one, big beautiful bill" and its language on nutrition assistance, although senators are pushing less strict terms in provisions regarding work requirements and a mandate for states to cover some food benefit costs.

STORY: Boozman, U.S. Senate committee unveil reconciliation bill

Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., is again proposing a constitutional amendment to allow Congress to pass legislation prohibiting actions desecrating the U.S. flag, such as burning the flag.

The Supreme Court has ruled flag burning and similar acts are protected "expressive conduct" under the First Amendment of the Constitution.

STORY: Womack pushes again for constitutional amendment targeting ‘physical desecration’ of American flag

Thank you for listening to this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

Welcome to "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of June 8, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

A federal district court has sided with the state in a legal challenge against Arkansas' congressional map.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas issued a ruling on Friday stating opponents of the current boundaries failed to provide sufficient evidence proving state lawmakers acted with racial discrimination in their decision to split Pulaski County into three districts.

The plaintiffs claimed the division dilutes the strength of Black voters in Central Arkansas.

STORY: Federal court sides with state in congressional map dispute

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wants Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll to invest more in the Pine Bluff Arsenal.

Cotton's push occurs as the Army is undertaking a "transformation initiative," which could result in consolidating military installations across the country.

STORY: Cotton argues for expansion of Pine Bluff Arsenal; Army secretary blames ‘constraints’ for search elsewhere

Disability Rights Arkansas has started accepting new cases again after pausing this service in April.

The independent nonprofit organization had to briefly halt taking new clients because the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education had not delivered necessary grant funding.

Disability Rights Arkansas has credited the state's congressional delegation and lawmaker's push for the funding's release.

STORY: Federal agencies release grants for Disability Rights Arkansas, group resumes accepting new clients

Thank you for listening to this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!