Niels Lesniewski
@nielslesniewski.bsky.social
Author of CQ Senate, contributor to Roll Call's At the Races.
Chief correspondent at CQ & Roll Call.
Currently working while you should be asleep.
Chief correspondent at CQ & Roll Call.
Currently working while you should be asleep.
Just have to say, if you read my week ahead story a week ago ... rollcall.com/2025/11/03/t...
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Just have to say, if you read my week ahead story a week ago ... rollcall.com/2025/11/03/t...
It's actually cloture on the motion to proceed.
November 10, 2025 at 3:48 AM
It's actually cloture on the motion to proceed.
Reposted by Niels Lesniewski
I don't usually ask this directly, but if you're a reader of my Monday CQ Senate newsletter, please reach out. Would be great to hear from you all with the Senate being in session every week!
October 23, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I don't usually ask this directly, but if you're a reader of my Monday CQ Senate newsletter, please reach out. Would be great to hear from you all with the Senate being in session every week!
I don't usually ask this directly, but if you're a reader of my Monday CQ Senate newsletter, please reach out. Would be great to hear from you all with the Senate being in session every week!
October 23, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I don't usually ask this directly, but if you're a reader of my Monday CQ Senate newsletter, please reach out. Would be great to hear from you all with the Senate being in session every week!
Live look at my desk. Yes, the Senate's still in session.
October 22, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Live look at my desk. Yes, the Senate's still in session.
Shutdown continues, so I'm back on the front page.
October 21, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Shutdown continues, so I'm back on the front page.
So I needed to start using this platform again now, too?
October 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
So I needed to start using this platform again now, too?
My father was one of those small town New England characters that everybody knew, and we were reminded of that when people got together to remember him this weekend.
July 2, 2025 at 1:31 AM
My father was one of those small town New England characters that everybody knew, and we were reminded of that when people got together to remember him this weekend.
Ironically, if FBOP were to reopen Alcatraz as a working prison, who's to say it wouldn't be a minimum security camp for white collar/Silicon Valley fraud offenders.
May 6, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Ironically, if FBOP were to reopen Alcatraz as a working prison, who's to say it wouldn't be a minimum security camp for white collar/Silicon Valley fraud offenders.
Peering into the future: senators may get to vote on terminating an international film production national emergency.
May 5, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Peering into the future: senators may get to vote on terminating an international film production national emergency.
Yes, I am a member of the WHCA. No, I don't have strong views on the dinner.
As I have said publicly, privately, everywhere: I do think there should be more transparency about the costs associated with covering the White House (and how that may vary between types of outlets).
As I have said publicly, privately, everywhere: I do think there should be more transparency about the costs associated with covering the White House (and how that may vary between types of outlets).
April 27, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Yes, I am a member of the WHCA. No, I don't have strong views on the dinner.
As I have said publicly, privately, everywhere: I do think there should be more transparency about the costs associated with covering the White House (and how that may vary between types of outlets).
As I have said publicly, privately, everywhere: I do think there should be more transparency about the costs associated with covering the White House (and how that may vary between types of outlets).
Happy Easter!
April 20, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Happy Easter!
I just now got around to watching Sen. Warren on Squawk on the Street. Yeah, Congress could stop those national emergencies. May be not likely, would need a big majority. But ... they could.
April 18, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I just now got around to watching Sen. Warren on Squawk on the Street. Yeah, Congress could stop those national emergencies. May be not likely, would need a big majority. But ... they could.
Folks, at 9:20 pm ET on Sunday, it is way way too early to know what the White House guidance will be regarding tariffs as of the opening bell on Monday.
(And yes, that might be part of the problem)
(And yes, that might be part of the problem)
April 14, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Folks, at 9:20 pm ET on Sunday, it is way way too early to know what the White House guidance will be regarding tariffs as of the opening bell on Monday.
(And yes, that might be part of the problem)
(And yes, that might be part of the problem)
Meanwhile, on Facebook ...
April 4, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Meanwhile, on Facebook ...
Fun week for the expedited procedures crowd*
rollcall.com/2025/03/31/t...
*I use the term "crowd" loosely
rollcall.com/2025/03/31/t...
*I use the term "crowd" loosely
This week: Senate to vote on tariff ‘emergency’ ahead of possible budget vote-a-rama - Roll Call
Senators are expected to take a vote this week designed to stop tariffs on imports from Canada, before the focus turns to the budget.
rollcall.com
March 31, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Fun week for the expedited procedures crowd*
rollcall.com/2025/03/31/t...
*I use the term "crowd" loosely
rollcall.com/2025/03/31/t...
*I use the term "crowd" loosely
The situations are completely different, but that's two administrations in a row with rather wild "wait, what?" SecDef stories.
March 26, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The situations are completely different, but that's two administrations in a row with rather wild "wait, what?" SecDef stories.
After midnight ET, the President of the United States is purporting to void the pardons of his predecessor.
March 17, 2025 at 4:55 AM
After midnight ET, the President of the United States is purporting to void the pardons of his predecessor.
I'm old enough to remember when one approach on votes like this one might be just to not filibuster.
Is there any further debate? Hearing none, then the question occurs on passage of the bill.
Is there any further debate? Hearing none, then the question occurs on passage of the bill.
March 14, 2025 at 2:29 AM
I'm old enough to remember when one approach on votes like this one might be just to not filibuster.
Is there any further debate? Hearing none, then the question occurs on passage of the bill.
Is there any further debate? Hearing none, then the question occurs on passage of the bill.
Education Secretary McMahon is not hiding what she's trying to do.
rollcall.com/2025/03/12/e...
rollcall.com/2025/03/12/e...
With mass layoffs, McMahon and Trump begin mission to end Education Department - Roll Call
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Tuesday that large-scale staffing cuts at her department are a step toward ending its operations.
rollcall.com
March 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Education Secretary McMahon is not hiding what she's trying to do.
rollcall.com/2025/03/12/e...
rollcall.com/2025/03/12/e...
Fox's Peter Doocy's question today at the White House about whether folks are shorting the Dow, reminds me of the old Kodak Pharmaceuticals story.
rollcall.com/2020/08/04/w...
rollcall.com/2020/08/04/w...
Warren asks SEC about insider trading in Trump’s Kodak pharmaceuticals announcement - Roll Call
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is asking the SEC to look into possible insider trading related to the recent pharmaceutical move by Kodak.
rollcall.com
March 12, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Fox's Peter Doocy's question today at the White House about whether folks are shorting the Dow, reminds me of the old Kodak Pharmaceuticals story.
rollcall.com/2020/08/04/w...
rollcall.com/2020/08/04/w...
President Trump, in a late night Truth post, says "I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American."
March 11, 2025 at 4:44 AM
President Trump, in a late night Truth post, says "I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American."
Our transcript of President Trump's speech tonight is here:
rollcall.com/factbase/tru...
rollcall.com/factbase/tru...
Roll Call Factba.se - Speech: Donald Trump Addresses a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol - March 4, 2025
Full transcript of Donald J. Trump: Speech: Donald Trump Addresses a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol - March 4, 2025
rollcall.com
March 5, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Our transcript of President Trump's speech tonight is here:
rollcall.com/factbase/tru...
rollcall.com/factbase/tru...
Been a long week or so, but I wanted to share father's obituary
www.legacy.com/us/obituarie...
www.legacy.com/us/obituarie...
Paul Lesniewski Obituary (2025) - Westerly, RI - Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home - Westerly
View Paul Lesniewski's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.
www.legacy.com
February 28, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Been a long week or so, but I wanted to share father's obituary
www.legacy.com/us/obituarie...
www.legacy.com/us/obituarie...
Anyway, a budget resolution is still not a bill.
And it still doesn't actually "do" the things that the eventual reconciliation bill might do.
And it still doesn't actually "do" the things that the eventual reconciliation bill might do.
February 27, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Anyway, a budget resolution is still not a bill.
And it still doesn't actually "do" the things that the eventual reconciliation bill might do.
And it still doesn't actually "do" the things that the eventual reconciliation bill might do.