This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 13, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

This podcast typically focuses on national political issues and the Arkansans influencing the related discussions. This week's episode, however, is putting a spotlight on a more light-hearted subject matter: the Congressional Art Competition.

High school students enter the contest every year with hopes of having their artwork recognized at the U.S. Capitol. Offices in the U.S. House of Representatives host local competitions to determine which art piece should be part of the annual exhibition.

Four Arkansas teenagers — representing institutions in Arkansas' four congressional districts — traveled to Capitol Hill in June to meet other young artists and see their pieces on display.

STORY: Arkansas teens’ artwork among those chosen for annual US Capitol exhibit

Thank you for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 6, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were supposed to be spending the week of July 4 away from Capitol Hill, but lawmakers were instead in Washington, D.C., to consider congressional Republicans' tax and spending package.

The Senate and House passed the "one big, beautiful bill," which President Donald Trump signed into law last Friday.

All six members of the Arkansas congressional delegation supported the measure.

STORY: Boozman, Cotton play active parts in passing ‘big beautiful bill’ in Senate

STORY: Arkansas’ U.S. House members support Senate bill amid GOP chaos

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of June 29, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Congressional Republicans hope to meet President Donald Trump's July 4 deadline for passing their sweeping tax and spending measure, but trying to reach this goal has not come without challenges.

Senate Republicans had to revise parts of their bill after Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough struck down several provisions, including language affecting Medicaid.

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee — under the leadership of Arkansas Republican John Boozman — resubmitted text affecting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after MacDonough rejected parts of the committee's original proposal.

Meanwhile, congressional Democrats and advocates are pushing back against the effort, warning of the measure's possible impacts to Medicaid and SNAP.

STORY: Arkansans head to Capitol Hill to protest SNAP, Medicaid proposals

STORY: Senate parliamentarian OKs Boozman committee’s revised SNAP proposal

Thank you for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!