SEARCH: Advanced Search

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.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: You Got (Senatorially) Punk’d

Oct. 8, 12:03 p.m.

The Hart Senate Office Building might as well be a freshman dorm. The rolling prank war between hallmates Sens. Claire McCaskill and Ben Nelson is back on, with McCaskill pulling a stunt this morning to taunt her colleague ahead of tonight’s football game between the University of Nebraska and the University of Missouri.

Heard on the Hill: Second City Regrets

Oct. 8, 12 a.m.

Chicago might have lost its bid to host the 2016 Olympics, but hey, the city is used to losing, says Rep. Mike Quigley. The Illinois Democrat took to the House floor on Tuesday to make the case that the Windy City is the “greatest city in the world” even if it isn’t the future site of the Olympic games.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: British Invasion

Oct. 7, 11:52 a.m.

It’s always all about the Beatles for Rep. Thaddeus McCotter. The Michigan Republican, who is fond of working bits of Fab Four arcana into policy discussions, likened the White House photo op with doctors to one of the band’s famous (well, maybe among Beatles geeks) rejected album covers.

Heard on the Hill: Hot-Button E-Mail

Oct. 7, 12 a.m.

nd now, HOH brings you another tale of e-mail forwarding gone wrong, this time involving a Senate candidate, a Senate staffer, a reporter and the insult “nimrod.”

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Byrd-Watching

Oct. 6, 11:48 a.m.

If naming just about everything in West Virginia after Sen. Robert Byrd isn’t enough of a tribute, a Web site has cropped up allowing people to express their appreciation for the Mountain State Democrat.

Heard on the Hill: Congressional Colon Cleanse?

Oct. 6, 12 a.m.

Congressional Colon Cleanse? Rep. José Serrano wants all his friends — on Facebook and elsewhere — to know that he does not, in fact, endorse a colon cleanse as a way to lose weight.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: The Doctor Is in

Oct. 5, 11:57 a.m.

There are a lot of hazards that staffers face as they work on Capitol Hill.

Heard on the Hill: Ruff Business

Oct. 5, 12 a.m.

Real men can have tiny, fluffy dogs — as long as they don’t have wimpy names, apparently.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Pelosi’s Recruitment Bust

Oct. 2, 11:42 a.m.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent attempt to expand the Democratic ranks was a no-go, despite having a powerful ally. The California Democrat told reporters Thursday that she hoped her Republican son-in-law would be so impressed by having his favorite band, U2, wish him a happy birthday during their Tuesday night concert that he would change his political stripes in gratitude.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Congressional Chuckles

Oct. 1, 12:16 p.m.

The funniest celebrity in Washington doesn’t hail from Congress (at least according to the charity competition last night at the DC Improv), but the legislative branch did put in a respectable effort.

Heard on the Hill: What Happens in the RSC Stays in the RSC

Oct. 1, 12 a.m.

Draw the velvet ropes — the Republican Study Committee meetings just got a little more exclusive. The GOP group introduced a new ID policy in which members plan to check the identities of those entering the meetings to ensure there aren’t any nosy interlopers.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: One Love

Sept. 30, 11:46 a.m.

U2 frontman Bono hearts Congress — and the feeling is clearly mutual. Members turned out for the rock band’s show Tuesday night at FedEx Field, and Bono returned the compliment by dedicating songs to them and giving them shout-outs from the spotlight.

Heard on the Hill: Funny Business

Sept. 30, 12 a.m.

The show will go on — the “Funniest Celebrity in Washington” contest doesn’t seem to have lost any of its boldface participants, even though the event took a hit when the Washington Post’s Reliable Source reported on Tuesday that the purported fundraiser doesn’t contribute to the charities to which it promises money.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Bright Lights, Big Love

Sept. 29, 11:45 a.m.

Polygamy has come to D.C.: The HBO drama “Big Love” is filming in the District, according to DCist.

Heard on the Hill: Like Prank-Calling the Police

Sept. 29, 12 a.m.

Not to sound like a fear-mongering local TV news outlet (toxic mold or razor blades in Halloween candy, anyone?), but everyone — even a Congressional staffer — is at risk of identity theft. Would-be scammers picked an unlikely target last week, when they called one of the top staffers working to prevent just such schemes.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Star Power

Sept. 28, 11:45 a.m.

Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is depicted as a rapidly rising Republican star in a New York Times profile piece out today. But despite her famous upbringing and own conservative creds, the 43-year-old’s star power apparently still lags behind a certain right-wing celebrity on the last of his 15 minutes of fame.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Tripped Up

Sept. 25, 11:33 a.m.

Much has been written about Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s gritty New York upbringing, but it turns out that she had even an rougher road to her spot on the Supreme Court than anybody realized.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Dancing With Another Congressional Star

Sept. 24, 12:07 p.m.

Move over, Tom DeLay — you’re not the only politician with moves. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) is following the cha-cha-cha-ing footsteps of the former Majority Leader by entering a ballroom dance competition.

Heard on the Hill: The Celebrity Stack-Up

Sept. 24, 12 a.m.

As Hollywood types such as Will Ferrell, Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde, Moby, Jessica Alba and even one of the guys from “M*A*S*H” lend their starpower in support of President Barack Obama’s health care plan, HOH wondered whether anyone among the celebrity set might actually — gasp! — side with the GOP on the issue.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Almost Famous

Sept. 23, 12:10 p.m.

Call it the “Week of the Quasi-Celebrity.” Look for an influx of almost-famous faces around the Hill — if you can spot them.

Heard on the Hill: Sleeping Beauty

Sept. 23, 12 a.m.

Hill denizens might refer to a boring committee meeting as a “snooze,” but Sen. Jim Bunning seemed to be taking the billing literally, drifting off during Tuesday’s high-profile markup of health care reform legislation.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: DeLay Is Odds Man Out

Sept. 22, 12 p.m.

Tom DeLay might be Washington’s sentimental favorite to win “Dancing With the Stars” (Republicans for obvious reasons; Democrats simply for the chance to watch more of his cringe-inducing performances), but professional oddsmakers aren’t so kind.

Heard on the Hill: Civics, Not Civility

Sept. 22, 12 a.m.

A Capitol tour is always more exciting when a Member of Congress conducts it, or even just stops by — aside from the whole quasi-celebrity aspect, Members can share insider tidbits that your typical guide (or fresh-faced intern) might not know.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Hammer-tinis, Anyone?

Sept. 21, 12 p.m.

Grab the popcorn: Monday night, former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) makes his “Dancing With the Stars” debut. And if you want to watch it among a crowd sure to jeer his every shimmy, don’t forget the growling watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which will host a watch party at House-side bar Top of the Hill.

Heard on the Hill: Flushed Away

Sept. 21, 12 a.m.

It’s time for a little bathroom humor — although some employees over at the Library of Congress aren’t laughing.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Are You Ready for Some Football?

Sept. 18, 12:02 p.m.

While Washingtonians might be hoping and praying (and, well, dreaming) that this could be a big year for their hometown Washington Redskins, some Members of Congress are using the team’s home games as an opportunity to raise some campaign cash.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Double-Entendre

Sept. 17, 12 p.m.

Rep. Maxine Waters has had a (rather naughty) a-ha moment about the recent tea party protests — which she felt the need to share Thursday afternoon at a Democratic Caucus meeting.

Heard on the Hill: Star-Struck

Sept. 17, 12 a.m.

Actress Jennifer Lopez didn’t do much to quash that whole diva image (at least among the Congressional press corps) when she and her also-famous husband came to Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: America’s Next Top Model?

Sept. 16, 12 p.m.

What’s a young lady to do after getting caught as the call girl whose relations with a governor cost him his political career? Work it on the runway!

Heard on the Hill: Schock, a GQ Man

Sept. 16, 12 a.m.

Rep. Aaron Schock might have gained fame for that shot of him in a red bathing suit (subsequently posted by gossip Web site TMZ), but it turns out the Illinois Republican looks pretty darn good in a three-piece suit, too.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Deep Thoughts With Dubya

Sept. 15, 12 p.m.

Former President George W. Bush pretty much kept his personal thoughts about the 2008 presidential election to himself, backing Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) publicly while mostly staying out of the election limelight. But fortunately for gossip-hounds such as HOH, a new book reveals some juicy insight into Bush’s views of the nominees, including now President Barack Obama.

Heard on the Hill: Work of Art

Sept. 15, 12 a.m.

Just a few weeks after being sprung from the pokey, former Rep. Jim Traficant (D-Ohio) has re-entered the spotlight, making the rounds on the cable news shows and even announcing that he’s thinking about running for Congress.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Congressional Crib

Sept. 14, 12 p.m.

Rep. Aaron Schock might be known as Capitol Hill’s resident hottie, but apparently the Illinois Republican also is hip to where the hot new neighborhoods are located, too.

Heard on the Hill: Favor for a Frenemy

Sept. 14, 12 a.m.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) has had her run-ins with talk-show host Stephen Colbert: The two have blasted each other on “The Colbert Report” multiple times over everything from whether D.C. is actually part of the United States to the correct pronunciation of the comedian’s last name.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: He Came, He Shouted, He Got the T-Shirt

Sept. 11, 12 p.m.

Rep. Joe Wilson might oppose the White House’s health care plan, but he’s all for stimulating the economy. A cottage industry has sprung up hawking goods inspired by the South Carolina Republican’s outburst (the “You lie!” heard ’round the world) during President Barack Obama’s address to Congress Wednesday night.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: The Floor Report

Sept. 10, 12:20 p.m.

Health care and hecklers might have been the headlines from the president’s joint address to Congress Wednesday night, but HOH was on the lookout for the quirkier details.

Heard on the Hill: The Newest Fad Diet

Sept. 10, 12 a.m.

Forget Atkins, South Beach or any of those crazy cleanses — the new way to drop those extra pounds is the town hall diet. Here’s how it works: Spend almost all of August wrangling angry constituents at town hall meetings (while skipping meals) and quickly drop 10 pounds.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Health Care on the Rocks?

Sept. 9, 12:30 p.m.

Another presidential speech, another drinking game. Provided you don’t have to work during President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday night (or, heck, even if you do — HOH isn’t going to judge), you can make it a little more interesting with this game.

Heard on the Hill: Error Message

Sept. 9, 12 a.m.

It’s been more than nine months since it opened, but the $620 million-plus Capitol Visitor Center still has some glitches — some of them quite embarrassing.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Guilty Pleasure

Sept. 8, 12 p.m.

First lady Michelle Obama might be known for being fabulously fit (especially for her super-toned arms!), but she admits she has a soft spot for something that isn’t considered the healthiest of choices: french fries.

Heard on the Hill: A Laughing Matter

Sept. 8, 12 a.m.

Rep. Jackie Speier faced down some tough crowds at town halls over recess, but later this month, she’ll get to throw her own jabs while facing another audience with rotten tomatoes at the ready.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Post-Recess Jolt

Sept. 4, 12 p.m.

If your drug of choice hails from Colombia (uh, we’re talking about coffee here, people), you’re in luck.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: The (Fictional) Army Doctor Is In

Sept. 3, 12 p.m.

Well, looks like the debate over that public option thing is over. “M*A*S*H” actor Mike Farrell — who isn’t a doctor, but played one on TV — weighs in on the health care battle in new television advertisements, arguing that “real health care reform ... will not happen without the public option.”

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: The William Jefferson-Sandra Bullock Nexus

Sept. 2, 12 p.m.

She’s a wholesome, beloved star of feel-good romantic comedies. He’s a disgraced ex-Congressman likely heading to jail for bribery. Despite their dissimilarities, actress Sandra Bullock and former Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) have a connection.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Play That Patriotic Music

Sept. 1, 12:02 p.m.

Without Congressional complaints, Aug. 11 might have gone down in history as the day the patriotic music died.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Bug Off

Aug. 31, 12:01 p.m.

August has been a tough month for many Members of Congress, as angry town hall-goers have pretty much equated many of the elected officials to vermin. But when the battered Congressmen return to Washington next week, they can at least take comfort in knowing that the actual creepy crawlers around them will be kept in check.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Laugh Factory

Aug. 28, 12:23 p.m.

The business of the Senate can be pretty darn serious (and at times a little, um, dull), but two staffers are out to prove that the chamber has a funny bone.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Beam Him Back!

Aug. 27, 11:59 a.m.

Former Rep. Jim Traficant, whose penchant for denim suits, outrageous toupees and, OK, corruption made him an HOH favorite, is set to be released from prison Sept. 3.

HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Remembering Teddy, in Song

Aug. 26, 12:05 p.m.

One of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s closest — and perhaps most unlikely — friends on Capitol Hill was conservative Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who came together with the Massachusetts Democrat on a number of legislative issues despite the pair’s ideological differences.