Samantha-Jo Roth

Washington, D.C., United States

Congress and Campaigns Reporter at Washington Examiner

Covering Congress & Campaigns for @dcexaminer. @UArizona alum. PHX ➡️DSM➡️DC 📩 [email protected]

Articles

Michigan Senate primary set to reopen Democratic wounds over Israel

1 day ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Samantha-Jo Roth

Israel is poised to take center stage for Democrats once again in Michigan’s high-stakes Senate primary, reviving deep divisions within the party over U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Nowhere are the simmering tensions over the war in Gaza among Democrats more pronounced than in the Wolverine State, where a once-reliable coalition has splintered.
Senate GOP prepare for intraparty battles following 2024 reprieve

2 days ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Samantha-Jo Roth

Senate Republicans are heading into the next midterm cycle bracing for contentious primaries that could hit both incumbents and favored candidates — a sharp break from 2024, when party leaders closely coordinated with President Donald Trump to keep spoilers at bay. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), the former chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, signaled early that he was willing to box out GOP candidates in the 2024 primaries who were perceived as weaker.
Warnock faces ethics complaint over rent-free stay in $1 million residence

3 days ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Samantha-Jo Roth

An ethics watchdog is calling for an investigation into Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) after he failed to disclose in his financial disclosures free housing he has allegedly been provided in Georgia.
Schumer’s leadership becomes an issue in 2026 Democratic Senate primaries

3 days ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Samantha-Jo Roth

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) found himself under intense scrutiny amid questions about whether he was strong enough to counter a more assertive second Trump administration. While the spotlight has since faded a bit, the angst is now being felt in the Democrats’ 2026 primary elections.
Consumer watchdog agency begins sweeping layoffs and changes in operations

1 week ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Samantha-Jo Roth

The top U.S. watchdog agency for consumer finance began widespread job cuts on Thursday as the Trump administration is looking to restructure the agency’s work. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sent out a reduction-in-force notice to more than 1,500 workers on Thursday, according to reporting from Fox Business. The figure is about 88% of the agency’s staff, along with a 50 percent reduction in its financial inspection operations.
Schumer urges DOJ to investigate Shapiro arson attack as federal hate crime

1 week ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Samantha-Jo Roth

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to open an investigation into whether the arson attack on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D-PA) residence constitutes a federal hate crime after the suspect apparently told officials he targeted Shapiro over his perceived stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Senate incumbents haul in millions ahead of marquee 2026 races

1 week ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Samantha-Jo Roth

Democrats are off to an early fundraising advantage in major Senate battlegrounds, with progressive members in safe seats also pulling in substantial sums. Meanwhile, several Republican incumbents are ramping up for possibly tough primary fights. The 2026 midterm elections are already in full swing as fundraising reports filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission offer an early snapshot of the political landscape just a few months into President Donald Trump’s second term.
Grassley jeered at over deportation of Maryland man to El Salvador

1 week ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Samantha-Jo Roth

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was heckled by some Iowa constituents at a town hall on Tuesday after he sidestepped a question about whether the United States should facilitate the return of a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador. “El Salvador is an independent country. The president of that country is not subject to the U.S. Supreme Court,” Grassley said as the crowd began yelling in response. Sen. @ChuckGrassley (R-IA) exchange with constituents on immigration & border security. Sen.
IRS shake-up causes ‘absolute chaos’ amid agency’s busiest time of year

1 week ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Samantha-Jo Roth

The IRS is undergoing a major upheaval as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency rapidly expands its influence within the agency, with leadership changes and looming staff reductions in the months leading up to the individual income tax filing deadline on Tuesday. A mass exodus of senior IRS officials is underway, with Chief Information Officer Rajiv Uppaul expected to depart the agency after two years, according to an internal email reviewed by the Washington Examiner on Monday.
Bipartisan senators push bill to assert Congress's power over tariffs

3 weeks ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Samantha-Jo Roth

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is partnering with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to introduce legislation to enhance Congress’s authority over U.S. tariffs, one day after President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on U.S. imports. The bill would mandate that the president inform Congress within 48 hours of implementing any new tariffs.