Out Rep. Robert Garcia Lands Satirical Award for His 'Thirsty' Antics

Out California Congressman Robert Garcia made the grade as one of our "thirstiest" lawmakers... but it's maybe not the sort of thirst you're thinking it is. Politico awarded the recognition to 10 top attention-seekers trawling the halls of power with meme-ready antics.

"The man loves coverage and knows how to get it," Politico wrote of Garcia. "Just check out his 'exclusive' interview with People, his appearance at Comic-Con where he's now what the Hollywood Reporter called a 'minor celebrity' or the time when the self-described 'Bravo gay' recited a speech from the 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' during a House Oversight Committee hearing."

Politico noted in a scorching intro to this year's class of Congress' most accomplished spotlight chasers that "This is Washington, after all, and it's Washington in the Donald Trump and social media age."

"Building seniority, developing relationships and forging cross-aisle consensus for incremental gains is out. None of that is going to get you a viral link or an invitation to appear on primetime cable television."

The political news site took note of Garcia's shoutouts to pop icons like Beyoncé and "RuPaul's Drag Race" as well as his avowed eagerness to go after MAGA colleagues "with thirstastic relish," but saved special acknowledgement for the way he went after another headline rustler – now-former GOP Rep. George Santos, the gay onetime lawmaker whose brief stint in the House was marked from the first by fabulism so earnest and all-encompassing that only Donald Trump could hope to have outpaced Santos' bizarre claims, wild distortions, alleged criminal conduct, and brazen departures from the truth.

Politico bestowed upon Garcia, a Democrat, the title of "Most Likely to Trumpet His Own Thirsty Award" – and the representative did not disappoint, playfully retweeting an announcement of the dubious honor and including a gif of "RuPaul" drag queen Adore Delano sucking on a straw with the caption "I'm parched" included in the post.

Other lawmakers from both sides of the aisle got their own accolades, with former Democrat (turned Independent) Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona being graced with the "I'm Not Like Other Dems Award," Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman taking the "Excellence in Trolling Award," Florida Republican Matt Gaetz cruising to the "Anything to Distract from My Own Scandal Award."

Santos, for his part, earned the "Gone But Not Forgotten Award," with Politico noting that the relentlessly attention-seeking Santos was "still using his former member privileges to show up on the House floor for the State of the Union, float new runs for Congress, drop his party affiliation and chase six figures, reportedly, in Cameo dollars – all while continuing to bait his fans and haters on X, weighing in on the Starbucks Stanley cup and asking his followers about everything from Shakira's comments about Barbie to whether he should start an OnlyFans."

"Shame, exile and 23 criminal counts are no match for Santos' thirst," Politico marveled.