Congressional negotiations over Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” had stretched deep into the night. At 3 a.m., congressional correspondent Lisa Mascaro did what many seasoned reporters might do during a lull—she took a walk through the halls of the Capitol to get a sense of the mood.
The building was quiet and still. As she made her way back toward the chamber, House Speaker Mike Johnson and his entourage appeared. “Good evening, Mr. Speaker,” she said.
To her surprise, he invited her into the House prayer room. There, in the calm of the early morning, they talked about faith. He allowed her to take a few photos on her phone. The conversation lasted about 15 minutes but yielded a rare and intimate look at a key figure navigating the pressures of a major legislative showdown.
Mascaro was ready. She and Congress News Editor Dustin Weaver had already discussed the idea of a reflective end-of-week “walk-off” piece on the speaker, and faith was one of the themes they had considered. When the moment came, she had the right questions in mind.
“It’s a reminder,” Mascaro said afterward. “Always have some thoughts and questions ready for if and when.”
The story she produced was one of AP’s most-read pieces online that week. It was quiet, close-up reporting that offered a humanizing portrait of a political figure at a pivotal moment—an example of how preparation, presence and instinct can come together to meet the moment.
The judges lauded Mascaro’s ability to capture the moment and the beautiful writing. For seeing opportunity and reporting on the human side of Congress, Mascaro wins this week’s 2nd best of the week.
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