Some allies of exiting House Speaker Paul Ryan are suggesting that the devoted conservative might have a second life in Washington as head of a right-leaning think tank.
One told us that the American Enterprise Institute would be the best fit since Ryan has ties to the outfit and current President Arthur Brooks is leaving this year.
Another is the Heritage Foundation, which was recently put in the hands of Kay Coles James. She’s 69. Either would be similar to his job of agenda setting and fundraising, minus trying to herd his splintered caucus. …
That was Housing Secretary Ben Carson at the Monocle, the popular Capitol Hill restaurant, on a busy Wednesday. …
Stefan Passantino, the former Trump deputy counsel in charge of compliance and ethics oversight, is the latest White House official to join the law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. Former Trump Chief of Staff Reince Priebus is the firm’s president. …
Immigration hawk Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas revealed for the first time why he’s been a leader on the issue since 1987. Smith, who is not seeking reelection, said that unmarked drug cartel aircraft used to fly over his border ranch and he dedicated his public life to stopping that. In his first act, he got Uncle Sam to put five surveillance balloons on the border, but, he said, “it didn’t end well” when they were easily shot down. …
Prize winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin thinks of all past presidents, Teddy Roosevelt would be the best fit for today. “Without a doubt,” she said in discussing her new book “Leadership.” Not only did his style and “punchy quips” fit today’s social media, but he had a varied background that would prepare him for the modern government. …
