2/25: The Takeout: North Carolina Congressman Patrick McHenry

In 2025, Louisiana, Missouri, and Virginia reported their first measles cases linked to international travel, with a Virginia child and an unvaccinated adult in Louisiana being confirmed cases. Virginia health officials are tracing contacts after identifying potential exposure at two medical centers, while Missouri's case involves a child who has recently traveled, though details on vaccination status remain unclear. This outbreak marks the largest in the U.S. in six years, with Texas reporting 481 confirmed...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed details about U.S. airstrikes in Yemen to a private Signal group that included his wife, brother, and personal attorney, raising concerns about handling sensitive military information. The messages contained flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets and were sent on March 15, coinciding with another chat that mistakenly included The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. In response, a Defense Department spokesperson asserted that no classified information was shared, criticizing media outlets for relying...

New York City's $9 congestion toll for drivers in Manhattan's busiest areas will continue despite a federal government's deadline for its termination. Governor Kathy Hochul stated the program is effective, reducing traffic and boosting business, while federal officials indicated they will fight for working-class drivers affected by the toll. A federal judge has upheld the legality of the toll, and both Hochul and Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials assert that unless directed otherwise by the court,...

In Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series, the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Memphis Grizzlies with a 131-80 victory, marking the fifth-largest margin in NBA playoff history. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 20 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's scoring champion, scoring only 15. The Grizzlies struggled offensively, with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. combining for just 21 points, as Memphis...

Pastor Andrew Edwards of Northwest Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio, is recovering after a "freak accident" involving a falling tree that killed his passenger, Richard Miller, 35, as they returned from Bible study. Edwards sustained critical injuries, including fractures and a small brain bleed, but has since stabilized and expressed a desire to resume his pastoral duties. The church expressed gratitude for the support and prayers received during this challenging time, while updates indicated that...

A homeless man in California became an instant millionaire after winning $1 million from a scratch-off lottery ticket purchased at Sandy's Liquor in San Luis Obispo. The store owner, Wilson Samaan, expressed his excitement for the winner, who is a longtime customer and plans to buy a house and a car with his winnings. The win is pending verification by the California Lottery, and Samaan will receive a $5,000 commission for selling the winning ticket....