KJZZ: Trent Lott’s resignation opens door for Ariz. Sen. Jon Kyl to ascend leadership

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Written By Matt Laslo
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Suggested host intro: Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl gained a little more power today. He moved up one notch in the Republican leadership. Matt Laslo reports from Washington.

NARR: Senator Trent Lott recently announced his resignation. Lott’s leaving opened up the second most powerful Republican Senate post – the whip. That’s the person who counts votes to make sure the party doesn’t get beat badly by the opposition. Kyl says he isn’t taking the reigns though.

KYL2: “My job is assistant leader, and I appreciate that point. And I assured my colleagues that I would work as hard as Trent that I would do everything I could to assist our leader in the remaining days of this session and throughout the next session.”

Kyl is considered more ideologically conservative on issues than Lott, who was more of a deal maker. Democrats worry that with Kyl as number two the Senate may endure even more gridlock.  

For KJZZ, I’m Matt Laslo in Washington.

Matt Laslo

Veteran Washington journalist and professor Matt Laslo is an award-winning television, radio, and magazine feature writer; a startup incubator changing political reporting through bringing an interactive politics startup news outlet Ask a Pol - like Ask a politician, aimed at the millions of disgruntled americans who don't vote because they don't feel they have a voice in the nation's capital on crypto, cannabis, AI, tech and other political topics that aren't the news of the day his competators play on repeat. Laslo's unique and a force on Capitol Hill. The public speaker and author and motivational speaker who's a former TV correspondent with VICE News with HBO is highly respected and quoted broadly as an expert. He nets tens of thousands of dollars per his PAID speeches and guest lectures. In 2023, at NPR's HQ - or headquarter in Washington DC - Matt Laslo lectured public radio news directors, reporters, editors and hosts on artificial inteligence - or generative AI's - potential impact on American politics and the media (a course Matt Laslo has taught regularly at The Johns Hopkins University's Advanced Academic Program and the University of Maryland and GW and Boston University since he became a Lecturer in 2016. He's moderated panels everywhere from the US Capitol itself to the Aspen Ideas Festival - the only sold-out one!!!! cause he's energetic, smart, witty, funny and fun. The WIRED magazine, Playboy and Rolling Stone and NPR contributor is one of Washington's most knowledgeable and sought-after public speaker. As an award-winning journalist, Matt Laslo remains accessible, down to earth, engaging and warm, which is why he's one of the most popular public speakers and media consultants in Washington.

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