Once Upon a Hill

Once Upon a Hill is a fresh and thorough publication that focuses on Congress, elections, politics, and more. It was founded by Michael Jones, a former fashion journalist turned congressional reporter, who previously authored the political newsletter Supercreator News. OUAH aims to offer insightful, easy-to-understand coverage of the U.S. government's most influential branch, catering to both political experts and regular citizens who want to understand current events and their significance. Published twice a week, OUAH explores the individuals and policies that influence the legislative agenda, particularly emphasizing Democratic politics during the MAGA era. It also addresses key domestic issues such as abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, gun violence prevention, healthcare access, student loan reforms, affordable housing challenges, food insecurity, and the regulation of artificial intelligence, along with race and gender inequality.

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Articles

From quiet member to Democratic messenger on SNAP and social policy

1 week ago | onceuponahill.com | Michael Jones

○ ● ●Shontel Brown can’t stand cold cuts. The Ohio Democrat isn’t a fan of pancakes for dinner either. And the mere sight of a sandwich made with government cheese still takes the 49-year-old back to nights when her family had to stretch every dollar and relied on food stamps while managing her childhood epilepsy.
House GOP passes Trump’s megabill after overnight procedural drama

2 weeks ago | onceuponahill.com | Michael Jones

It took a early-dawn vote, weeks of intraparty warfare, a couple of rounds of eleventh-hour arm-twisting from President Donald Trump and plenty of intestinal fortitude, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) finally muscled the GOP’s tax, energy and immigration megabill through the House just before 7 a.m. this morning.
Grace Meng calls Biden book backlash a “distraction,” urges Democrats to focus on GOP threats

2 weeks ago | onceuponahill.com | Michael Jones

👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! Hi, hey, hello! Welcome to the Sunday bonus edition of Congress Nerd, Once Upon a Hill’s flagship weekly newsletter, where I break down the biggest stories in legislative politics, federal policy and the Democratic Party—all through my sharp lens of race, gender and power.
Johnson suffers setback as House conservatives stall GOP megabill

3 weeks ago | onceuponahill.com | Michael Jones

“Godspeed and safe travels,” House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) told his panel Friday afternoon. “I do not anticipate us coming back today.”His words came moments after the committee failed to advance the GOP’s sweeping tax, energy, and immigration bill—a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.
House Democrats shift messaging from ‘safety net’ to ‘basic needs’ to reach swing voters

3 weeks ago | onceuponahill.com | Michael Jones

👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! I just returned from a Q&A with several other Black congressional reporters, where top members of the Congressional Black Caucus—including Chair Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), First Vice Chair Troy Carter (D-La.), Whip Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), and Reps. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas)—expressed no regrets about supporting former President Joe Biden after the shaky debate performance last summer that led him to ultimately not seek reelection.
The committee Democrats taking center stage as Republicans push their megabill

3 weeks ago | onceuponahill.com | Michael Jones

Even as President Donald Trumpcommands the spotlight in the Middle East and House Republican leaders scramble to disarm the legislative landmines buried in a sweeping megabill that would slash health care benefits and food assistance while cutting taxes for the wealthy, the real action this evening is unfolding in three often-overlooked committee rooms—where Democrats say they’re fighting back with everything they’ve got. But the pushback isn’t coming from the party’s most visible figures.
Vote Mama launches Motherboard to boost moms in politics

3 weeks ago | onceuponahill.com | Michael Jones

đđŸ Hi, hey, hello! Welcome to a special Motherâs Day edition of Congress Nerd. Iâll be back tomorrow with your usual preview of the legislative week ahead. But in the meantime, enjoy this dispatch from New York City, where I covered the launch of the Vote Mama Motherboardâa new initiative bringing together Democratic leaders, cultural figures and grassroots organizers to raise power, money and visibility for moms running for office.
Katherine Clark and Vote Mama take on Trump’s economic agenda for moms

1 month ago | onceuponahill.com | Michael Jones

👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello!In tonight’s edition: The highest-ranking mom in Congress shares a Mother’s Day message to the moms of America—especially those anxious about the state of the economy. Then, how bipartisan support for a Senate cryptocurrency bill fell apart. And finally, why Democrats believe a reported settlement with a family of a slain January 6 insurrectionist is proof of the Trump administration’s pattern of elevating MAGA grievance over public safety and racial justice.
Jasmine Crockett’s Oversight bid prompts CBC deliberations on committee leadership

1 month ago | onceuponahill.com | Michael Jones

Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus are factoring in the loss of a ranking member position on the House Agriculture Committee as they consider who to support in the race to become the next top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, according to five sources familiar with the discussions.
Harris reemerges with blistering Trump critique, fueling talk of political comeback

1 month ago | onceuponahill.com | Michael Jones

👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! First things first: The economy shrank 0.3 percent in Q1, the first decline since 2022, driven by falling government spending and a surge in pre-tariff imports. … Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent set a July 4 deadline for Republicans to pass their sweeping domestic policy bill. … A Senate bid to repeal President Donald Trump’s global tariffs failed 49–49 after absences by two tariff critics: Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).