Who?
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) — Senate Banking, House & Urban Affairs Committee*
*Former lead sponsor Sen. Steve Daines exited the Banking Committee to take a slot on the Foreign Relations Committee, which is when he passed the proverbial torch to Moreno who’s now the lead GOP sponsor of the SAFER Banking Act in the US Senate
LISTEN: Laslo & Moreno
Ask a Pol asks:
Any update on the SAFER Banking Act?
Key Moreno:
“That’s a tomorrow thing,” Sen. Bernie Moreno exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “We’re in ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ mode right now.”
ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo first sold this interview through his wire service, The LCB
Caught our ear:
“Hopefully in the fall,” Moreno tells us.
Summer intern fund!!!
Consider chipping in to support our independent journalism — Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Bernie Moreno (6-18-2025)
Scene: Sen. Bernie Moreno and an aide are rushing through the US Capitol’s basement so he can vote on the Senate floor when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo starts pacing with him while conducting this brief — if breaking newsy — interview…
Matt Laslo: “Hey, how are you?”
Bernie Moreno: “What’s going on?”
ML: “Any update on SAFER Banking?”
ICYMI — Most anti-cannabis Congress in years…
Congressional Cannabis Caucus still hasn't met yet this year
Who? Ilhan Omar (D-MN) — Co-chair, Congressional Cannabis Caucus
BM: “That’s gonna be — that’s a tomorrow thing.”
Moreno laughs.
ML: “Yeah?”
Laslo laughs.
BM: “We’re in ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ mode right now.”
ML: “Yeah? So, like, after this [reconciliation], after recessions?”
BM: “Yeah. Exactly, exactly.”
ML: “Have you had conversations…?”
BM: “Hopefully in the fall.”
Moreno’s aide ushers the senator to an open Senators Only elevator.
Aide: “I gotta get him to a vote.”
Laslo looks at his rude aide who looks aghast that a reporter’s talking to her boss.
ML: “Yeah?”
Aide: “Thank you.”
BM: “Hopefully in the fall.”
Aide: “Thank you!”*
*If I were a US Senator, I’d fire any staffer who dared cut me off while I was answering a question. — Political Communications Prof. Laslo
ML: “Yeah. In the fall?”
The senator and his aides hop the elevator up to the Senate floor.
BM: “Yeah, later — a lot going on.”
Laslo heads back down to Senate subway to interview more senators.
Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.
Share this post