Morgan Chalfant

Washington, D.C.

Principals Editor at Semafor

@semafor Principals editor. Previously @thehill. Retweets are not endorsements. Reach me at [email protected] or DM for Signal

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Articles

🟡 Semafor Principals: Bitter fights | Semafor

5 days ago | semafor.com | Morgan Chalfant

Dem poll shows outrage at ‘elites’Most voters blame elites in government and business for rising costs, according to new polling from a Democratic-aligned organization obtained exclusively by Semafor. Of the 11,773 respondents, 72% of Kamala Harris voters, 67% of swing voters, and 61% of Trump voters say elites “don’t understand the pain” of their economic struggles.
Debatable: US government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

5 days ago | semafor.com | Morgan Chalfant |Eleanor Mueller

Donald Trump’s return to the White House could mean an end to government control of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Trump recently floated taking public Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored enterprises that together process most US mortgages. The mortgage giants went under government conservatorship during the 2008 financial crisis, and Republicans want them released.
🟡 Semafor Principals: Trump’s tariff trouble | Semafor

1 week ago | semafor.com | Morgan Chalfant

The outlook for permitting reformAs Republicans press forward with their tax and spending package, some lawmakers are already looking ahead to the next big energy fight: Permitting reform. Bipartisan discussions “are being seeded now” on the scope of a bill that could speed up approvals for new grid lines and pipelines, and restrict the use of litigation to block such projects, Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., said.
🟡 Semafor Principals: Whiplash | Semafor

1 week ago | semafor.com | Morgan Chalfant

Uncommon bonds: Tougher Russia sanctions US lawmakers are increasingly calling for more sanctions on Russia as Trump’s efforts to broker an end to its invasion of Ukraine remain unsuccessful, arguing that more pressure is necessary to force Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hand. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is leading a bipartisan charge in the Senate for secondary sanctions on countries that do business with Russia.
Uncommon bonds: Tougher Russia sanctions

1 week ago | semafor.com | Morgan Chalfant

US lawmakers from both parties are increasingly calling for more sanctions on Russia as President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker an end to its invasion of Ukraine remain unsuccessful. Russian President Vladimir Putin has resisted Trump’s demands for a ceasefire and skipped face-to-face negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv earlier this month despite a challenge from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to join.
Uncommon bonds: Tougher Russia sanctions

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Morgan Chalfant

the issueUS lawmakers from both parties are increasingly calling for more sanctions on Russia as President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker an end to its invasion of Ukraine remain unsuccessful. Russian President Vladimir Putin has resisted Trump’s demands for a ceasefire and skipped face-to-face negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv earlier this month despite a challenge from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to join.
Senate Russia hawks sick of waiting on sanctions

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Burgess Everett |Morgan Chalfant

Senate Republican leaders are waiting on President Donald Trump to greenlight an aggressive bid to sanction Russia. Some of their own members aren’t interested in delay. “I’m not waiting for anything. I think we should bring it to the floor and put the hurt on Putin,” Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., told Semafor. “I’m not looking to anyone else for guidance on this. I’ve waited long enough,” Young added.
Senate Russia hawks sick of waiting on sanctions

2 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Burgess Everett |Morgan Chalfant

2 hours agoWatch moment Trump confronts South Africa's president with videoIn an extraordinary Oval Office meeting, Trump pressed Cyril Ramaphosa on widely discredited claims of a white genocide in South Africa. In an extraordinary Oval Office meeting, Trump pressed Cyril Ramaphosa on widely discredited claims of a white genocide in South Africa. 11 hours agoDiseases are spreading.
🟡 Semafor Principals: ‘A very forceful presentation’ | Semafor

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Morgan Chalfant

Remittance tax proposal spooks financial sectorA new proposal tucked into the GOP’s massive tax and spending bill that would impose a 5% tax on the payments many migrants send to their family abroad has rattled the financial services industry, Semafor’s Eleanor Mueller reports.
Debatable: Is removing sanctions on Syria a good idea?

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Morgan Chalfant

US President Donald Trump made headlines in the Middle Eastlast week as he announced plans to ease sanctions on Syria and move to normalize bilateral relations. The decision won the president rare praise from Democrats, who see it as a logical step after rebels toppled the regime of autocrat Bashar al-Assad last year. Syria’s new president Ahmed al-Sharaa, who met with Trump last week, has promised to usher in a freer and more stable Syria.