Alex Ossola

Lindsay Wise covers Congress for the journal and is here to tell us more about Mullen, a former MMA fighter known for being a Trump whisperer.

Lindsay, what do we know about Mullen?

What is he like?

He was first elected to the House in 2012 and the Senate in 2022.

So he's been around Washington for a while.

What kind of impression does he leave around the Hill?

Right.

So Noem was pushed out after this big criticism of how DHS handled the administration's immigration crackdown.

Mullen has defended ICE agents and pushed back against many changes Democrats want to see in return for restoring funds to DHS, as he said on CNBC last month.

What else do we know about where Mullen stands on the administration's immigration policy?

That was WSJ reporter Lindsay Wise.

Thanks, Lindsay.

Thank you.

Elsewhere in Washington, Texas Representative Tony Gonzalez said he wouldn't seek re-election.

The announcement late yesterday came shortly after top Republican House leaders asked him to drop his re-election bid, and a day after he admitted to having an affair with an aide who later killed herself.

U.S.

Customs and Border Protection said today that a system for tariff refunds will be operational in 45 days.

A trade court ruling earlier this week required the agency to begin refunding tariff payments collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down last month.

CBP has collected about $166 billion worth of those payments as of Wednesday.

In media news, the Journal has learned that a group of states is preparing to challenge Nextar's planned $6.2 billion acquisition of rival broadcaster Tegna.