Who?
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) — Ranking Member, US House Oversight Committee
LISTEN: Laslo & Garcia
Ask a Pol asks:
Any update on bipartisan whistleblower protection bill — are we going to see that move at all?
Key Garcia:
“I think we will, actually,” Rep. Robert Garcia exclusively tells Ask a Pol UAP. “That’s something that’s actually going to have some bipartisan support, and so, yeah, we’re working on that too.
“So actually, stay tuned on that. We’ve done a lot of work. [House Oversight Chair James] Comer has been supportive, obviously, and so we’re excited that we can get something done on that bill sooner than later.”
ICYMI — Ask a Pol’s on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Spotify, etc.
Caught our ear:
Do you think we’ll see more UAP whistleblowers if that passes?
“I do,” Garcia tells us. “Right now, we have a pretty active whistleblower protection line that the [Oversight Committee] website runs. And we’ve gotten people that reach out to us on the Epstein issue, on DOGE and a variety of topics. And so we encourage folks to contact us through the whistleblower protection line.
“But I think that that will actually help and strengthen it, because right now the administration is trying to actually tear down a lot of the protections.”
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Robert Garcia (2-3-2026)
SCENE: After voting on the House floor, Garcia stops on the steps of the US Capitol to answer questions from network camera crews. Once he’s finished, the congressman and his team walk back to his office across the street with Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo in tow…
Matt Laslo: “Any update on your whistleblower protection bill — are we going to see that move at all?”
Rep. Robert Garcia: “I think we will, actually. That’s something that’s actually going to have some bipartisan support, and so, yeah, we’re working on that too. So actually, stay tuned on that. We’ve done a lot of work. [House Oversight Chair James] Comer has been, like, supportive, obviously.”
Matt Laslo: “Yeah.”
Rep. Robert Garcia: “And so we’re excited that we can get something done on that bill sooner than later.”
Matt Laslo: “Do you think we’ll see more UAP whistleblowers if that passes?”
Rep. Robert Garcia: “I do. And I think, like, right now we have a pretty active whistleblower protection line that the [Oversight] website runs.”
Matt Laslo: “Yeah?”
Rep. Robert Garcia: “And we’ve gotten people that reach out to us on the Epstein issue, on DOGE and a variety of topics. And so we encourage folks to contact us through the whistleblower protection line.”
Matt Laslo: “Yeah.”
Rep. Robert Garcia: “But I think that that will actually help and strengthen it, because right now the administration is trying to actually tear down a lot of the protections.”
Matt Laslo: “Yeah?”
Rep. Robert Garcia: “You know, whether you talk about the Inspectors Generals, the, you know, anything — any sort of auditing or protection of workers or, for a lot of people, the freedom to complain. They keep destroying all the systems.”
Matt Laslo: “Yeah?”
Rep. Robert Garcia: “So I think strengthening whistleblower protection is important…”
They arrive at an entrance to the Cannon House Office Building, and Congressman’s rushing to get to a meeting.
Rep. Robert Garcia: “Alright.”
Matt Laslo: “Alright. I’ll be watching.”
Rep. Robert Garcia: “Okay. Thanks, man.”
Aide: “Thanks, Matt.”
Matt Laslo: “Appreciate y’all. Have a good one.”
What should we ask lawmakers this week?
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