Crash Course subscribers can now join the conversation — click the speech bubble icon to leave a comment or click the heart to like this post.

That’s me in the corner…

On almost any other day, a member of Congress sharing a blown-up image of their naked body would be the biggest story out of Capitol Hill. On a day of testy hearings and behind-the-scenes pressure campaigns, however, Rep. Nancy Mace should count herself lucky if she lands on the front page.

The South Carolina Republican has made a bit of a name for herself by caring way too much about what’s under her fellow legislators’ clothes. Prior to a House Oversight Committee hearing on surveillance, Mace shared a post on X promising to “show [her] naked body.” Mace shared a black-and-white image she claimed was of herself naked and accused her ex-fiancé, Patrick Bryant, and several other men of surreptitiously recording her and other women.

Elsewhere in the halls of Congress, President Donald Trump pressed GOP legislators to pass his “One Big Beautiful Bill” and warned them not to “f**k with Medicaid.” Though reports about the meeting noted that it was tense, Trump called it a “meeting of love” when speaking to reporters.

In other hearings, legislators tore into Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem. Rubio came in for a dressing down from his former coworkers as many Democrats expressed regret over their votes to confirm him to the Cabinet. Senators tongue-lashed Rubio over DOGE’s dismantling of USAID and Trump’s mishandling of the Russia-Ukraine war.

“I have to tell you directly and personally that I regret voting for you for Secretary of State,” said Sen. Chris Van Holland, D-Md.

Who do you think came out the worst in a day full of dressings-down? Be sure to let us know in the comments.

A deeper dive…

MAGA loves a tantrum: How public meltdowns became the preferred method of GOP communication

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also had a bad day in Congress on Tuesday, throwing a bit of a hissy fit under questioning. In any other administration his conduct would be unbecoming, but Team Trump loves to make a scene. Read more. 

They said what?

• "She saw something I did not"

  Jake Tapper, admitting that he was wrong to berate Lara Trump when she questioned Joe Biden’s mental acuity in 2020. The CNN host released a book on Tuesday alleging a cover-up of the former president’s declining health.

• “I wouldn’t want that guy to babysit my kids”

  Elon Musk, attacking fellow billionaire Bill Gates after the Microsoft founder criticized Musk’s crusade against USAID. Both Gates and Musk have been linked to late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

• "It's the right to remove people"

  Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem, trying unsuccessfully to define the legal principle of habeas corpus.

Support our bold journalism: Become a Salon member today.

Before you go…

The next stage of our democracy crisis: competitive authoritarianism

America’s democracy is rapidly collapsing. Examining its present state offers clues to prevent catastrophe. Read more.