The Senate dresses down

If DC wants to eschew its reputation as being “Hollywood for ugly people,” politicos could start by dressing better.

While the Senate has been in a marathon session that’s included several late-night votes, the breakdown in dress code has been remarkable in recent days — and the problem goes beyond Senator John Fetterman’s reluctance to wear a collared shirt if civilization depended on it.

Much of the blame can be laid at the feet of “Derek Guy” — a pseudonymous self-styled menswear expert who is more reply guy than Louis Vuitton reincarnate. In his latest missive, Guy rated the best-dressed members of Congress… and named Senator Bernie Sanders as one of the most fashionable in the upper house. Cockburn must have missed the “New England college professor in mittens” line that Valentino introduced in Paris last week.

In a valiant attempt to earn his spot on the next Politico listicle, Senator Markwayne Mullin donned a large cowboy hat while presiding over the Senate earlier this week. In true parliamentarian fashion, Mullin brought with him a copy of the Senate rules, which do not explicitly prohibit hats.

Other members who tried to push the limits weren’t so lucky. Senator Jim Banks was outright denied entry to the Senate floor this week over his decision to wear tennis shoes. You could say he was “court” short…

With the government avoiding a last-minute shutdown once more, perhaps America’s electeds can go home and hit the local Gap or Old Navy; for most, the sale section at discount retailers would be an improvement…

On our radar

RUSSIAN ROULETTE President Donald Trump posted that he had “very good and productive discussions” with Vladimir Putin yesterday. He then highlighted that “THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY” (his caps) and said he had “strongly requested… that their lives be spared.”

AOC-YOU LATER Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez savaged Senator Chuck Schumer for backing the Republicans’ continuing resolution to fund the government, branding his move “as dangerous as it is reckless.”

I’VE SEEN WHAT MAKES YOU CHEER Vice President J.D. Vance was roundly booed by the audience when he went to a Kennedy Center classical music concert last night.

So much for the luck of the Irish

Friendly Taoiseach White House visit ends in mooted Jameson tariffs

Cockburn jigged down to the White House this week to attend President Trump’s reception hosted in honor of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, the leader of Ireland, in a pre-St. Patrick’s Day tradition.

He dodged green-clad press aides on his way, before being shepherded into a cordoned-off media area right at the back of the East Room with other hacks… and no alcohol. They do love a contentious border. There was decent Irish representation in his section, with Collinses, Olohans and McCreeshes dotted around, as well as the visiting Irish contingent, whose names Cockburn attempted to take down before losing count of the vowels. On the other side of the ribbon, your correspondent spotted the UK’s Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

President Trump began his prepared remarks by pointing out all the cabinet members present who were of Irish descent: Kennedy, Sean Duffy, Chris Wright and Pam Bondi. His gaze then fell on his Housing and Urban Development Secretary. “Scott Turner… you’re not Irish, Scott,” he joked. Among the other esteemed guests was the Lord of the Dance himself, Michael Flatley. “Do you still dance like that, or has Father Time caught up?” Trump asked. The President also praised Martin: “He’s a very popular guy, which is not easy in Ireland.” The Taoiseach was gracious in his response: “Irish Americans have lived the American dream.”

The mission for visiting foreign leaders to Trump’s Oval Office appears to be a simple one: just stay intact. Martin’s jaunt was a success, more in the line of his European neighbors Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer than the less prosperous Volodymyr Zelensky. But a day after the Taoiseach’s visit, Trump was threatening a “200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES.” This, according to the Irish Whiskey Association, “has the potential to be devastating.” Thank goodness they brew some Guinness in Maryland…

Petering out

Mark Halperin’s brutal analysis of Buttigieg’s presidential prospects

Pete Buttigieg won’t run for Senate (or governor) of Michigan next year, the former South Bend mayor confirmed Thursday.

His announcement means that he moved to Michigan for nothing — and strangely appears to acknowledge that Biden’s secretary of transportation knows he can’t win a statewide election in Michigan, but thinks that he can be elected president in 2028. Buttigieg is likely forgoing a run next year to lay further groundwork for another White House bid.

But political analyst Mark Halperin points out that Buttigieg may face some obstacles in a general election, if he even makes it through his party’s nomination. Halperin noted that Buttigieg is “short and gay,” adding that those factors are “just a risk” in an election where the Democrats are set to be focused on making compromises in order to win.

“The Republican nominee in 2028 will be taller than Pete Buttigieg,” Halperin stressed.

Buttigieg famously struggled to win over black voters — who are far more socially conservative than his core constituency of America’s wine moms, during his 2020 campaign. He even earned the derisive monicker “Mayo Pete.”