INSIDE D.C. WITH JOHN GIZZI NEWSMAX WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT
Bush Comeback • Texas Republicans are once again talking about former State Land Commissioner George P. Bush, speculating about not whether he will make a political comeback, but when. Since George P. (as he is
known) lost a Republican primary for attorney general in 2022, he has remained relatively quiet and confined his activities to practicing law in the Austin area. But recently, the
grandson and nephew of GOP presidents, has begun to campaign for fellow Republicans, and launched a new federal political action committee known as Restore Trust PAC to support like- minded small government candidates. George P. is a strong
Trump supporter, in contrast to his father, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and Uncle George W. He could run for the
open office of attorney general next year, but Bush- watchers say he will wait until his friend and fellow conservative Rep. Chip Roy moves on, and then likely seek his seat.
Ukraine Tensions • One of the worst-kept secrets within the Trump administration is the division among top officials over Ukraine and just how much the U.S. should be doing for the embattled country in its war with Russia.
Sources in neighboring 44 NEWSMAX | SEPTEMBER 2025
countries privately told Newsmax the official they most worry about being present when Ukraine policy is discussed is Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of defense for policy and a self- styled “realist” on foreign affairs. Gen. Keith Kellogg, the president’s special envoy to Ukraine, reportedly stormed out of a recent meeting with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Colby after one of them accused him of wanting to “plunge us into World War III” for his strong support of arms to Ukraine to press back against continued Russian assaults.
Chinese Scrutiny • Watch for Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, to hold investigative hearings on the Committee of 100 later this year. The 35-year- old nonprofit comprised of prominent Chinese business leaders and academics has long advocated closer ties between Beijing and Washington, D.C. Supporters of an investigation believe the Committee of 100 is influenced by and has close ties to the CCP and has been at the forefront to thwart a ban on China purchasing farmlands near U.S. military bases.
Chaired by former Democrat Gov. Gary Locke
of Washington state, the Committee of 100 also opposed the creation of the panel headed by Moolenaar.
Redistricting Wars • The move by the Republican-ruled Texas legislature to enhance the number of GOP House seats from the Lone Star State is being countered by Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature. It is now likely the Legislature (over two thirds of which is in Democrat hands) will redraw the state’s current 52 House
districts to reduce the nine now in GOP hands to three — eliminating, among others, senior House Republicans including Reps. Ken Calvert (34 years), Tom McClintock (18 years), and Darrell Issa (22 years). Corrin Rankin, chair of
the California Republican Party, has responded with a new redistricting committee chaired by Shawn Steel, national committeeman of the California GOP, and a starting budget of $7 million. Litigation over the changing districts is expected to go into eight figures by next year.
More ‘Lawfare’ Pardons
• Firmly believing that politicians of both parties convicted of certain crimes are victims of “lawfare” waged by the Department of Justice, President Donald Trump has fully pardoned several of them — notably, former Govs. Rod Blagojevich (Democrat) of Illinois and John Rowland (Republican) of Connecticut, both of whom had already served prison terms for corruption. U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin is reportedly now preparing a list of recommendations for further presidential pardons of past office- holders that Trump feels were targets of selective prosecution. Among those considered likely to
receive a pardon by year’s end is former GOP Rep. Steve Stockman of Texas, who in 2018 received a 10-year prison sentence (the longest ever for a past or present member of Congress) and $1 million fine for money laundering and misuse of campaign funds. In December 2020, Trump commuted
his sentence and ordered his immediate release from prison but never lifted the conviction and fine. Trump is now reportedly poised to waive both, with a full pardon for Stockman.
ROWLAND
BLAGOJEVICH
BLAGOJEVICH/SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES / ROWLAND/AP IMAGES
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