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HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Spotting the Stars

April 17, 12:33 p.m.

There was much buzz in town last year when A-listers such as Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck came to shoot “State of Play,” the new political thriller that opens today.

Heard on the Hill: Top Dog No More

April 16, 1:20 p.m.

With all the hype surrounding celebu-dog Bo Obama, one might forget Washington’s original favorite Portugese water dog, Splash Kennedy.

Heard on the Hill: Play Ball

April 13, 12 a.m.

House and Senate staffers trapped at their desks while their friends trot off to Nationals Park for the home opener are in for a little consolation. They can at least take a break from C-SPAN and watch their beloved home team from their offices, thanks to the recent addition of MASN, the network that exclusively carries the Nats, to the cable system available in the Capitol complex.

Heard on the Hill: Let Them Eat Lobster

April 6, 12 a.m.

Republicans spent much of Thursday crowing about the need for back-to-basics frugality. But just a few steps off the Senate floor, GOP Senators were indulging in a posh lobster lunch, HOH hears.

Heard on the Hill: We’re Dye-ing to Know

April 2, 12 a.m.

Sen. Tom Carper (D) might be the new senior Senator from Delaware, but it doesn’t seem that he wants to look the part.

Heard on the Hill: Flying Blind

April 1, 12 a.m.

Oh, the joy of a mass e-mail sent to important people, the kind where the sender forgets to hide the recipients, revealing often-closely guarded VIP e-mail addresses.

Heard on the Hill: Moore to Love?

March 31, 12 a.m.

The economic crisis will be televised. Or at least turned into a documentary — and by “Fahrenheit 9/11” rabble-rouser Michael Moore, no less.

Heard on the Hill: A Colbert-NASA Truce?

March 30, 12 a.m.

Leave it to the Senate to find a compromise, and one that involves an acronym, no less. A peace-brokering Senate staffer has devised a clever solution to the showdown brewing between NASA and comedian Stephen Colbert.

Heard on the Hill: Star Wars

March 26, 12 a.m.

Funnyman Stephen Colbert might have one Congressional ally in his bid to have NASA name an area of a space station for him, but it appears he has even more powerful opposition.

Heard on the Hill: Gohmert Won’t Dish

March 25, 12 a.m.

Rep. Louie Gohmert doesn’t grill and tell. HOH hears the Texas Republican was the guest chef at a dinner Monday night held by the Minority Whip’s office, and that diners chowed down on Gohmert’s famous ribs.

Heard on the Hill: O, Captain

March 24, 12 a.m.

Congressional b-ballers will take to the court for their annual throw down against members of the Georgetown Law faculty, but members of Team Congress will be without their beloved coach, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

Heard on the Hill: A Members-Only Fight Club?

March 23, 12 a.m.

Members of Congress are thick-skinned, sure — but would they ever dare to enter the Octagon?

At 21, HOH Is Legal, but Not Too Old to Dish

March 19, 12 a.m.

Twenty-first birthdays are a time for revelry (and usually for drinking unadvised amounts of low-quality alcohol), a time to mark a transition into adulthood.

Heard on the Hill: Kucinich’s Last Tango in Cleveland

March 18, 12 a.m.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) might have put the kibosh on his wife, Cindy, appearing as a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars,” but it seems the wife of another former presidential candidate has a more supportive spouse.

Heard on the Hill: Do You Know Who I Am, Part II

March 17, 12 a.m.

There’s something in the air these days — or at least in the airports. On Monday, Rep. Peter DeFazio lost his temper in the Portland International Airport while going through security for a flight back to Washington, D.C.

Heard on the Hill: Steele’s Measuring the Drapes

March 16, 12 a.m.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is supposed to be remaking the GOP’s battered public image — but it’s another kind of makeover that’s getting the new party leader in trouble.

Heard on the Hill: The Silent Senator

March 12, 12 a.m.

After weeks of being a publicity magnet with a pack of photographers permanently attached to his hip, Sen. Roland Burris is attempting to fly way under the radar. But his efforts to go incognito only seem to be garnering the scandal-battered Illinois Democrat even more attention.

Heard on the Hill: Vitter Goes From Hookergate to Gate-Crashing

March 11, 12 a.m.

Among Members of Congress, there’s a long-standing, proud tradition of the Airport Freakout. Add to the list of those who’ve indulged in meltdowns and temper tantrums while traveling one Sen. David Vitter, who on Thursday joined what we’ve dubbed the “Mile-Low Club” by going ballistic on an airline worker after missing a flight from Washington’s Dulles airport to New Orleans.

Heard on the Hill: Three Mikes and a Little Lawmaking

March 10, 12 a.m.

It’s the height of annoyance to wear a dress to a special party, only to have two other women arrive wearing the exact same thing. Even more irritating might be getting elected to Congress and then having two guys with the same name show up, too.

Heard on the Hill: Dorisgate, the Sequel

March 9, 12 a.m.

Hungry staffers visiting the Longworth House Office Building cafeteria over the past few weeks might have noticed there’s a friendly face missing at the cashier stand — and that’s led some patrons to fear history is repeating itself.

Heard on the Hill: Going for the Gold

March 5, 12 a.m.

Freshman Senators often vie to be the first in their class to collect the prized “Golden Gavel,” the award given to Senators who log 100 hours presiding over the chamber.

Heard on the Hill: Inter-Branch Friction?

March 4, 12 a.m.

This might not bode well for smooth relations between the White House and Congress: Sen. Claire McCaskill has a beef with Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), the nominee to be secretary of Health and Human Services.

Heard on the Hill: Norton’s No Meter Maid

March 3, 12 a.m.

Washingtonians often gripe about Members using their privileges in ways that inconvenience residents — speeding through red lights (without punishment) to get to a vote, for example.

Heard on the Hill: ‘Black History’ Menu Steams Patrons

March 2, 12 a.m.

House cafeteria officials stirred a pot they didn’t mean to last week when a sign promoting a special Black History Month menu drew the ire of some of their customers.

Heard on the Hill: Michelle’s Right to Bare Arms

Feb. 26, 12 a.m.

Michelle Obama’s exposed arms were all the talk of the faux State of the Union on Tuesday night, with cable news and fashion blogs abuzz over the first lady’s controversial choice to go sleeveless. But the trendsetting Obama had a few defenders in the chamber.

Heard on the Hill: Red-Jacket Rage

Feb. 25, 12 a.m.

Behind the cheery facade of those courteous, red-jacketed Capitol tour guides lurks some serious wrath.

Heard on the Hill: Pressing Monkey Business

Feb. 24, 12 a.m.

It would be easy to poke fun at the House for taking up legislation on the hot topic of ... uh, biting monkeys, amid headlines about war and gloomy economic news. But monkeys truly are a hot topic du jour: The story of the Connecticut pet chimp who last week mauled a woman has been on constant rotation on cable news, and then there’s the matter of that controversial simian-themed New York Post cartoon.

Heard on the Hill: Usher: Yeah! It’s Still On

Feb. 23, 12 a.m.

Usher isn’t letting his wife’s botched-liposuction medical drama keep him from what’s really important: testifying on Capitol Hill. The R&B crooner is expected to appear before the House Education and Labor Committee at a Wednesday hearing on national service and volunteerism.

Heard on the Hill: Token Smokin’

Feb. 17, 12 a.m.

An HOH tipster reported seeing Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) smoking in the Rayburn House Office Building cafeteria, shortly after the House vote on the stimulus bill Friday afternoon.

Heard on the Hill: Obama Drops the N-Word

Feb. 12, 12 a.m.

We all knew he was a smoker. But there’s another reason President Barack Obama’s mouth might need a good washing out.

Heard on the Hill: Hello, Dolly!

Feb. 11, 12 a.m.

Country singer extraordinaire Dolly Parton on Tuesday was a welcome departure from the typical lineup of speakers at the National Press Club — after all, we’re guessing Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, the club’s next luncheon guest, won’t wear four-inch heels and lead the audience in a singalong.

Heard on the Hill: More HGTV, Less C-SPAN

Feb. 10, 12 a.m.

While former Vice President Al Gore was waxing lengthy about the devastating effects of global warming in his most recent Capitol Hill appearance, one of the Senators before whom he was testifying had some more pressing matters to attend to.

Heard on the Hill: Clinton Nixes Curvy Comic

Feb. 9, 12 a.m.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has undergone more makeovers than Madonna.

Heard on the Hill: Our Favorite Filing, Ever

Feb. 5, 12 a.m.

Former Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) has maintained a low profile since losing his re-election bid last year, but he recently filed a legal motion to force the government to return his seized property, including a T-shirt picturing fellow embattled former Rep. James Traficant (Ohio).

Heard on the Hill: Taxi, Please

Feb. 4, 12 a.m.

In this age of anti-ostentation, it’s all about rolling in a humble ride.

Heard on the Hill: Candidate’s Chances Take a Dive

Feb. 3, 12 a.m.

Charlie Wheelan recently plunged into the race to replace former Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D) in Congress.

Heard on the Hill: Senator in Train-ing

Feb. 2, 12 a.m.

Vice President Joseph Biden made riding the rails cool — he famously took the train home to Delaware each night during his 30-plus years in the Senate.

Heard on the Hill: We’re On to You

Jan. 29, 12 a.m.

Senators, beware: The walls have ears. Two unsuspecting Senators on Tuesday shared their tricks for avoiding reporters — not realizing that one of the very scribes they were trying to dodge was under their noses.

Heard on the Hill: Burr Uses Prickly Language

Jan. 28, 12 a.m.

No need to check your hearing — you got it right. That was, in fact, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) dropping a bit of profanity on the Senate floor on Tuesday. Nothing too R-rated, or anything that would make the likes of former Vice President Dick Cheney and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) bat an eyelash, just a little H-E-double-hockey-sticks.

Heard on the Hill: Another Mulligan for Justice Roberts

Jan. 27, 12 a.m.

The scene on Monday was familiar: Chief Justice John Roberts presiding over a swearing-in ceremony of an important public official. Pomp and circumstance. An expectant crowd.

Heard on the Hill: Lady in Red

Jan. 26, 12 a.m.

First lady Michelle Obama went relatively edgy for her inaugural ball gown, choosing a frock designed by under-the-radar newbie Jason Wu. But Speaker Nancy Pelosi kept her inaugural fashion choices tried-and-true.

Heard on the Hill: Stone’s Monologue Rolls On ... and On

Jan. 22, 12 a.m.

We’re used to filibusters in this town — but they’re usually delivered by Senators, not actresses. At the Pennsylvania State Society Inaugural Gala on Tuesday night, “Basic Instinct” villainess Sharon Stone took to the stage and, instead of making the expected brief remarks, launched into a lecture.

Heard on the Hill: Inauguration Party Update

Jan. 21, 11:17 a.m.

At the Creative Coalition’s bash Tuesday night, A-listers worked the red carpet before disappearing into the Harman Center for the Arts, where Sting and Elvis Costello were the musical headliners.

Heard on the Hill: Welcome to the Boys’ Club

Jan. 21, 12 a.m.

The newest Senators are getting settled into their gigs, but two female Members in the freshman class are finding that life in the boys’ club chamber takes a bit of getting used to.

Heard on the Hill: Inauguration 2009 Party Download

Jan. 20, 10:47 a.m.

At the Green Ball on Monday night at the National Portrait Gallery hosted by former Vice President Al Gore, there were more than a few green gowns and bow ties — not to mention a swarm of eco-minded celebrities.

Heard on the Hill: The Candy Men Can

Jan. 20, 12 a.m.

he Candy Men Can. Upheaval in the Republican Party is widespread — and its effects are reaching deep into the very fabric of life on Capitol Hill. It’s even affecting ... the candy drawer.

Heard on the Hill: Behind the Scenes of the Cat Cam

Jan. 15, 12 a.m.

The adorable cats that star in the video that Speaker Nancy Pelosi posted Tuesday on the new House YouTube destination have become overnight Internet sensations.

Heard on the Hill: ‘A’ for Effort

Jan. 14, 12 a.m.

Looks like the new guy’s an overachiever. HOH spies have noticed Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) spending a lot of time on the chamber’s floor, apparently toiling away at his desk.

Heard on the Hill: Kohl Won’t Stimulate Economy

Jan. 13, 12 a.m.

Sen. Herb Kohl is one of the wealthiest Members of Congress, with more than $200 million in assets, including the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. One wouldn’t think a guy with that many zeros on his bank statement would need to borrow a staffer’s coat to wear to the presidential inauguration — but that’s just what the Wisconsin Democrat is hoping to do.

Heard on the Hill: Better Know What He’s Getting Into

Jan. 12, 12 a.m.

Wrestling matches typically are left to muscle-bound guys sporting bright, fancy tights, but one suit-wearing Member of Congress apparently is ready to rumble — and with comedian Stephen Colbert, no less.