海角大神

Dear Reader,

When Rep. Adam Schiff stepped into Washington鈥檚 St. Regis Hotel Thursday for a Monitor Breakfast with reporters, there was no shortage of topics on the table.

Two days earlier, the 11-term Democrat from California had rolled out a package of reforms aimed at curbing presidential power 鈥� a reaction to the Trump presidency called the Protecting Our Democracy Act. Congressman Schiff led with a pitch for the legislation.

But, as I pointed out in聽, Mr. Schiff wears many hats. He鈥檚 chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. He鈥檚 a member of the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. He played a key role in President Donald Trump鈥檚 first impeachment.

So he was peppered with questions on a range of topics 鈥� from the many ways presidential power could be reined in, to the Jan. 6 probe, the U.S. drone strike that killed 10 Afghan civilians, and the Democrats鈥� aggressive policy agenda.

The news coverage afterward reflected the breadth of the discussion. Reuters went with聽聽that multiple congressional committees are investigating the errant drone strike and the intelligence failure that preceded it.聽听补苍诲听聽highlighted his statement that Jan. 6 committee witnesses who refuse to testify could face criminal contempt charges. The Washington Times聽聽on how the Biden family might be affected by the Protecting Our Democracy Act.

But I was also reminded of the old Tip O鈥橬eill saying, 鈥渁ll politics is local.鈥� After the breakfast, I asked Mr. Schiff if he was pleased that the U.S. government had finally, fully recognized the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923. It鈥檚 a topic near to my heart, and I had anticipated President Joe Biden鈥檚 decision in April聽聽about an Armenian-American friend whose surgeon father had escaped the genocide 鈥� and went on to treat former Sen. Bob Dole.

Mr. Schiff represents a district in Los Angeles County, home to the largest Armenian community outside Armenia. He聽聽for 20 years. And yes, he鈥檚 pleased.