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HOH’s One-Minute Recess: No Rep. Edward Cullen Here

Nov. 20, 11:43 a.m.

“New Moon” madness is everywhere. But don’t be tempted to liken Congress to the undead — at least that’s what one Member is insisting.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Markey Is Chairman of the Board

Nov. 19, 11:47 a.m.

Is Rep. Ed Markey looking for a new line of work?

Heard on the Hill: State of the Art

Nov. 19, 12 a.m.

Sen. Al Franken’s unique skill of drawing an accurate map of the United States from memory is pretty darn impressive, but it looks like the Minnesota Democrat has some emerging competition on the artistic front.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Pass the Stuffing

Nov. 18, 11:47 a.m.

It’s not too early for Thanksgiving turkey: Capitol Hill denizens should look out for Butterbill, a six-foot talking bird who will be strutting on the East Front of the Capitol today.

Heard on the Hill: He’s Good for This One

Nov. 18, 12 a.m.

Rep. Robert Brady took a lot of heat for backing out of his World Series bet with Rep. John Hall — the New York Democrat wanted Brady to shave his hair into a mohawk, something the Pennsylvania Democrat apparently isn’t prepared to do. But Brady came through on another baseball wager Tuesday afternoon, begrudgingly delivering famed Philadelphia cheesesteaks to New York Rep. José Serrano (D).

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Elsewhere in Literary News

Nov. 17, 11:47 a.m.

With the book by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) creating the Washington version of “Harry Potter” madness, it’s easy to forget that there are political authors with tomes to hawk who don’t hail from Wasilla.

Heard on the Hill: Foul Play?

Nov. 17, 12 a.m.

It’s not that the Senate doesn’t love sports. The chamber hasn’t passed a sports-related resolution in several months, but don’t think Senators have suddenly sworn off their favorite athletes and taken up museum-hopping instead — the measures are simply caught up in playground politics that might make a Little League team blush.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: You Can’t Keep a Good Bobblehead Down

Nov. 16, 11:46 a.m.

Vive Congressional bobbleheads! After initially rejecting an iPhone app that portrayed every Member of Congress as an animated bobblehead, Apple has done an about-face and made the program available.

Heard on the Hill: Cowboy Up

Nov. 16, 12 a.m.

HOH wouldn’t guess that a guy from the shores of Maryland and another from the Land of Lincoln were among the biggest country music fans in Congress.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Congressional Trekkie

Nov. 13, 11:43 a.m.

Another Member of Congress has jumped on the mini-me Internet bandwagon, posting a digitized, itty-bitty version of himself to his official Web site — but this Congressman gets bonus points for throwing a “Star Trek” reference into the mix.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: There’s an App for That?

Nov. 12, 11:46 a.m.

Here’s an iPhone app we’d love: a database of every Member of Congress and their contact info with an accompanying bobblehead cartoon likeness. Only it looks like Apple isn’t biting and thinks the idea is defamatory toward Congress.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: You Know You Love Congress

Nov. 10, 11:45 a.m.

OMG, HOH is a little obsessed with “Gossip Girl” these days. The teen soap dropped another Congressional reference in Monday night’s episode, marking the second mention of a Member of Congress on the show in as many weeks.

Heard on the Hill: Father of the Groom

Nov. 10, 12 a.m.

Just about anyone in the Capitol during the weekend health care marathon could gripe about something they missed, whether it was chores left undone or sleep forgone.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Shave and a Call-Out, Two Bits

Nov. 9, 11:42 a.m.

Reps. John Hall and Joe Crowley are calling out Rep. Robert Brady (D-Pa.). While they didn’t call him a bald-faced liar, the two New York Democrats taunted Brady, who they say isn’t living up to a hair-raising wager that he made (and lost, of course) on the outcome of the World Series.

Heard on the Hill: Wait Just a New York Minute

Nov. 9, 12 a.m.

It would seem that congratulating the New York Yankees on their World Series win would be a fairly straightforward thing. But faster than you could say “Brooklyn Bridge,” things got a bit complicated.

Heard on the Hill: It’s Whose Party?

Nov. 6, 5:15 p.m.

It was a business-as-usual reception for Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) marking a year since his election, until a surprise party-crasher turned the gathering into a bizarre-o scene.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Cleopatra of the Potomac

Nov. 6, 11:47 a.m.

What’s it like to be a Senator’s wife? If you’re the glamorous movie star Elizabeth Taylor, it’s not all about chichi parties and schmoozing.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Winning Combination

Nov. 5, 11:45 a.m.

Some things just go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Bert and Ernie. Beer and ... firearms?

Heard on the Hill: Bar Brawl

Nov. 5, 12 a.m.

While HOH is sure plenty of Capitol Hill spokesmen have wanted to punch loudmouth reporters every once in a while, we wouldn’t recommend any of them actually slug somebody in real life.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: No Lost Cause

Nov. 4, 11:45 a.m.

Most politicians don’t think losing is good, but Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) apparently are A-OK with it. The Democrats appeared in the Tuesday night episode of the NBC hit reality show “The Biggest Loser” when the cast members came to Washington in their quest to shed pounds.

Heard on the Hill: Chuck and Chuck and Blair

Nov. 4, 12 a.m.

“Gossip Girl” has a crush on Sen. Charles Schumer. The teeny-bopper show, which follows the tumultuous lives and loves of Manhattan’s elite teens, dropped a reference to the New York Democrat in Monday night’s episode — marking at least the second time the Big Apple-set show has mentioned the home-state Senator.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Menendez’s New Recruit?

Nov. 3, 11:58 a.m.

As if New Jersey gubernatorial politics wasn’t already precarious enough, Sen. Bob Menendez has injected just a little more chaos into the scene. The Garden State Democrat on Monday night tried to recruit a new candidate: “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart (who did, in fact, grow up in New Jersey).

Heard on the Hill: Social Mediation

Nov. 3, 12 a.m.

Forget procrastinating on Facebook or even posting embarrassing party pictures — Capitol Hill staffers may face a bigger peril when it comes to social networking.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: A Sure Thing

Nov. 2, 1:05 p.m.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg hasn’t yet won his third term in office, but one leading bookmaker is already paying out bets that he’ll claim victory in Tuesday’s election.

Heard on the Hill: Not Your Average Celeb Spotting

Nov. 2, 12 a.m.

Most Congressional staffers can name at least one Hollywood celebrity they’ve seen on Capitol Hill — but we’re guessing very few can say they were nearly rescued from imminent danger by one.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Tears and Jeers

Oct. 30, 12:03 p.m.

Rep. Alan Grayson can’t get a break this week. First, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) says the Florida Democrat is “one fry short of a Happy Meal,” and then Grayson breaks down into tears on the House floor — and now a group has launched a Web site targeting the beleaguered legislator called My Congressman Is Nuts.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Dead Chef Walking

Oct. 29, 11:56 a.m.

After infuriating viewers by claiming women aren’t as good at cooking as he is, D.C.’s own Michael Isabella was booted from the beloved foodie show “Top Chef” on Wednesday night, our friends at Hot Plate report.

Heard on the Hill: Capitol Thriller

Oct. 29, 12 a.m.

Don’t have plans for Halloween yet? Hang around the Capitol long enough and you might feel a few chills that have nothing to do with the temperature.

HOH's One-Minute Recess: Insult Arsenal

Oct. 28, 12:05 p.m.

HOH has to applaud Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) for his colorful phraseology in calling Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) “one fry short of a Happy Meal.”

Heard on the Hill: Bring in the Translator

Oct. 28, 12 a.m.

Forget the inability of Republicans and Democrats to communicate (one man’s public option is another’s government takeover), or even the whole men-are-from-Mars bit. For conversational breakdowns, you can’t top that old-fashioned North-South divide.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Settle Down, Sen. Specter

Oct. 27, 12:09 p.m.

As if the Pennsylvania Senate race wasn’t interesting enough as it is, things looked like they might get even more complicated when a press release went out today announcing that “State Senator Pat Doyle (D-PA)” was gunning for a Senate seat. And on Monday, a press release contended that one “Congressman Bob Sanders” was throwing his hat into the Senatorial-race ring.

Heard on the Hill: Off to the Races

Oct. 27, 12 a.m.

Among the Members of Congress pounding the pavement for Sunday’s Marine Corps Marathon were a pro and a couple of first-timers.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Monkeying Around

Oct. 26, 11:40 a.m.

Psychedelic rocker Grace Slick has found somebody for Members of Congress to love: chimpanzees.

Heard on the Hill: One of These Things Is Not Like the Other

Oct. 26, 12 a.m.

Senate Democratic leaders are seeking every vote possible as they look to lock in 60 votes for health care reform. So it’s likely they would have welcomed the GOP Senators who attempted to break into a Democrats-only lunch on Thursday.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Health Care = Kryptonite?

Oct. 23, 11:50 a.m.

It’s a bird ... it’s a plane ... it’s “Barack the Barbarian?” Devil’s Due Publishing is advertising its ”Barack the Barbarian” comic series, which features President Barack Obama as a superhero, depicted with a reasonable facsimile of his head atop a rippling, he-man body.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Political Aftershock

Oct. 22, 12:10 p.m.

Move over Barack Obama, here comes ... Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.)?

Heard on the Hill: A-Salt-ing Sen. Snowe

Oct. 22, 12 a.m.

The protesters who sent bags of rock salt to the Maine office of Sen. Olympia Snowe in protest against the Republican’s “aye” vote on health care reform legislation might not have achieved their goal: “melting” the steely Snowe.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Chase the Blues Away

Oct. 21, 11:40 a.m.

Several Members of Congress will be singing the blues tonight, but not over health care reform or climate change legislation.

Heard on the Hill: Mini-Trend — the Mini-Me

Oct. 21, 12 a.m.

Politicians might be so busy, they wish they could clone themselves. A few of them are doing just that, virtually, creating itty-bitty versions of themselves on their Web sites.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Say My Name

Oct. 20, 12:01 p.m.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) now has some company in the inappropriate-pronunciation-of-one’s-last-name department, courtesy of Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).

Heard on the Hill: A Cash Cow for Schmidt?

Oct. 20, 12 a.m.

Contrary to what records suggest, Rep. Jean Schmidt isn’t using campaign cash to stock her freezer with sides of beef.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Adjust Your Sets

Oct. 19, 12:11 p.m.

Move over, C-SPAN — Congress is quickly becoming the new big thing on network TV.

Heard on the Hill: Let the Chips Fall

Oct. 19, 12 a.m.

Poker all-star Phil Ivey thinks poker players and politicians have something in common.
According to Ivey, both have “got to be able to B.S. a little.”

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Peterson Plays Guitar Hero

Oct. 16, 12:16 p.m.

Rep. Collin Peterson was living a rock ’n’ roll dream last night, playing guitar alongside legendary Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: RNC’s Online Gaming

Oct. 15, 11:42 a.m.

The Republican National Committee’s redesigned Web site is proving to be an endless source of amusement.

Heard on the Hill: Congressional Cool Points

Oct. 15, 12 a.m.

Rep. Mike Quigley might be near the bottom of the seniority list in the House, but the Illinois Democrat can list one accomplishment that most of his colleagues lack: He’s going to be on MTV.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: ‘What Up’ With That?

Oct. 14, 12:04 p.m.

Talk about changing the game — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele’s blog on the RNC’s redesigned Web page has undergone a makeover, even though it’s only a day old.

Heard on the Hill: Glowing Review

Oct. 14, 12 a.m.

Along with praise from former President Bill Clinton and other prominent people, it turns out Sen. Bob Menendez’s new book has received a favorable review from one leading (and muy caliente) Hollywood star.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Poker Faces

Oct. 13, 11:51 a.m.

Members of Congress will go all in for charity Wednesday night, placing their bets alongside poker star Phil Ivey at the annual Congressional Award Charity Poker Tournament.

Heard on the Hill: Don’t Mess With Miller

Oct. 13, 12 a.m.

Forget health care — the biggest legislative battle in the House these days centers on the men’s volleyball team at the University of California at Irvine. Seems the Anteaters are the innocent victims of a bitter partisan battle.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Star Spotting

Oct. 9, 11:59 a.m.

Just days after the Dalai Lama’s visit to Capitol Hill, that other famous Buddhist is coming to town.