Stay ahead of the curve as a political insider with deep policy analysis, daily briefings and policy-shaping tools.
Request a DemoPOTUS CHATTER: Would anyone from Louisiana be selected for another Trump administration? Additionally, will the presidential race end up being a “blowout,” or another close election?
— GETTING CALLED UP: Will anyone from Louisiana be tapped to serve in another Donald Trump administration, should the former president win next month? According to Politico, both former Gov. Bobby Jindal and Congressman Garret Graves, who is not seeking re-election, are both in the mix. Jindal, who is buying ads on social media for his messaging, is among five personalities mentioned for health and human services secretary. “What Trump seeks in an HHS secretary varies — and is at times contradictory — according to officials from his first administration,” writes Politico staff in the piece. “Trump might want an HHS leader who has significant leadership experience, executive presence and a strong will to bring one of the largest federal agencies to heel. But he might also opt for a secretary with deep institutional knowledge of the agency itself and the ability to effectively move policy and fly under the radar for the Senate confirmation process.” Graves, meanwhile, is on the potential list for transportation secretary. The speculative piece added this about the gig: “A Trump pick this time around is likely to have a mandate to cut spending and claw back some of the $1.2 trillion handed out by Biden under the 2021 infrastructure law — especially for climate-focused initiatives like EV charging and equity initiatives like tearing down highways that have divided poor, often minority, communities. Trump’s next potential transportation chief will be expected to focus taxpayer money on “hard” infrastructure like roads and highways instead of equity programs or transit.”
— HOW CLOSE WILL IT BE?: The Louisiana-based Vantage Data House released data and an analysis this morning about the “blowout no one sees coming.” Here’s the nut graph: “Pollsters are expected to be fortune tellers. We’re often asked, ‘What’s going to happen in the election?’ Credible pollsters’ predictions are grounded in reliable data and an understanding of voting behavior, not wishful thinking or reinforcing currently held perceptions. The current prevailing narrative about the U.S. Presidential race is that it’s tight–too close to call. The reality is this race is breaking for the Harris-Walz ticket.” Vantage pollsters say they’ve been tracking seven swing states daily since August and, until recently, the race consistently appeared as a toss-up. The report also compares Vantage’s nightly tracking data (1,200 interviews per state) against what FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics are publishing as part of their averages.
Know the most important news affecting Louisiana
Get our free weekly newsletter that covers government, policy and politics that impact your everyday life—in 5 minutes or less.
Delegation Roundup (10.23.24)
— SCALISE ON THE WALL: Via Punchbowl: “House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said that the GOP would seek to fund construction of the border wall in a budget reconciliation package if Republicans keep their House majority, take the Senate and former President Donald Trump returns to the White House. Of course, all of this depends …
DUVALL: New farm bill crucial for all Americans, not just farmers
The farm bill is critical to the success of America’s farmers. It must be renewed every five years, and it provides farmers with a safety net to survive difficult times. Despite its importance, the farm bill expired in September 2023. Congress passed a one-year extension, but that too has now expired. You don’t need to …
Our History: Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita, the fourth-strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, made landfall in the early-morning hours of Sept. 24, 2005. Rita reached a peak Category 5 intensity, with sustained winds of more than 180 miles per hour. It came ashore as a Category 3 in Cameron Parish just east of the Louisiana/Texas border, and was the strongest …
What you may have missed in LaPolitics Weekly
Here’s what you may have missed in the latest issue of LaPolitics Weekly, published last week… — ROAD TO REFORM: Gov. Jeff Landry’s ambitious tax overhaul would hinge in part on voter approval of a constitutional amendment in a sleepy March election when turnout might not reach 20 percent… — TOURISM PROS SWEAT THE DETAILS: …