Author

Robin Bravender was the States Newsroom Washington Bureau Chief from January 2019 until June 2020. She coordinated the network’s national coverage and reported on states’ congressional delegations, federal agencies, the White House and the federal courts. Prior to that, Robin was an editor and reporter at E&E News, a reporter at Politico, and a freelance producer for Reuters TV.
Dingell’s D.C. compatriots bid farewell to ‘Mr. Michigan’
By: Robin Bravender - February 14, 2019
WASHINGTON — John Dingell would have gotten a good laugh out of his funeral service here on Thursday. His friends and former colleagues — Democrats and Republicans alike — packed the pews at the historic Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown to bid farewell to the longest-serving member of Congress in history, who died last […]
1957 legendary Dingell letter: ‘Please take two running jumps and go to hell’
By: Robin Bravender - February 14, 2019
WASHINGTON — John Dingell was never known as one to hold his tongue. The iconic Michigan lawmaker, who died last week at age 92, was known for his combative style during his more than 59 years in Congress. During his career on Capitol Hill, he was famous for “Dingellgrams,” pointed requests for information from administration […]
Dingell, Levin join effort to snub Trump on climate change policies
By: Robin Bravender - February 10, 2019
WASHINGTON — Two Michigan members of Congress are supporting a symbolic rebuke against President Trump’s international climate change policies. U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) and Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Twp.) are among 59 members of Congress to introduce a resolution opposing Trump’s stated plans to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, an international treaty to reduce […]
Dingell relished role of Trump Twitter heckler
By: Robin Bravender - February 8, 2019
WASHINGTON — John Dingell was among President Trump’s most enthusiastic Twitter foes. Dingell, who died Thursday at age 92, went from being a congressional icon to a social media icon. He had attracted nearly 260,000 Twitter followers, whom he lured with his signature snark about topics ranging from Michigan sports to political news. The longest-serving […]
SOTU: Trump still wants his wall, namechecks Michigan on NAFTA
By: Robin Bravender - February 6, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump implored Congress Tuesday to move past political gridlock in favor of bipartisan cooperation before he dug in on the border security fight that threatens to shut down the government yet again. “We can make our communities safer, our families stronger, our culture richer, our faith deeper, and our middle class bigger […]
Breaking: White House ditches plan to replace DeVos’ in-house watchdog
By: Robin Bravender - February 1, 2019
Updated at 4:40 p.m. with comment from the Education Department inspector general’s office. The Trump administration has walked back a decision to replace the U.S. Education Department’s internal watchdog after lawmakers assailed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for the unusual move. Following reports this week that the U.S. Education Department would replace its acting inspector general […]
Michigan Republican, new chairwoman spar over ‘stinking rules’
By: Robin Bravender - January 30, 2019
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) is off to a rocky start with the new chairwoman of a powerful U.S. House committee. Huizenga, a fifth-term Republican who represents West Michigan’s 2nd District, had a tense exchange with U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chair Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) on Wednesday as the committee held a pro forma organizational […]
Michigan Republicans adjust to life under Speaker Pelosi
By: Robin Bravender and Nick Manes - January 20, 2019
Not long ago, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton ran the powerful U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, whose sweeping jurisdiction has been famously described as “everything that moves, burns or is sold.” Things have changed dramatically since then for the St. Joseph Republican, who’s entering his 17th term on Capitol Hill in the minority. Upton, who […]
Democrats stand ready to grill DeVos
By: Robin Bravender - January 18, 2019
Betsy DeVos could have a tough year ahead. President Trump’s education secretary, who also is a Michigan billionaire, has been a prime target of Democrats and liberal groups since she was nominated for the post in late 2016. DeVos has been under fire for her high-profile policy moves on issues like campus sexual assault, civil […]