Where in the World Is Darrell Issa During the Shutdown?
On Friday, House Leader Mike Johnson explained that the reason he won’t call House lawmakers back to Washington until the government shutdown ends is that lawmakers need to be at home to help constituents “weather the effects of the shutdown.”
Hmm. The last time Rep. Darrell Issa, the incumbent representative of CA-48, was seen in the district he allegedly represents was August 30, 2025. I know because—crazy enough—my husband and I personally made that sighting. (See TikTok: “Darrell Issa is literally following us.”) That was 43 days ago.
Since the government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, there have been no sightings of Issa in the district of which I’m aware. So if he’s not in Washington D.C. negotiating to reopen the government, and he’s not visiting the district to help us “weather the effects of the shutdown,” where is Issa?
Adding to the mystery, Prop 50 ballots have gone out—and while Issa arguably has the most to lose from Prop 50, he’s not really trying to fight it. The most vocal Prop 50 critic within CA-48, and perhaps the Republican working the hardest in Southern California to defeat it, is California Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (see post). DeMaio even has a ridiculous-looking yellow bus for this. Why isn’t Issa on the yellow bus?
Following Issa’s X feed, we see no clues.
My guess? Issa’s on an exotic vacation abroad. First, the government shutdown doesn’t impact him—as one of the richest members of Congress—so why would he care? Second, we know Issa enjoys international travel, especially when he’s not paying. For example, the Aspen Institute covered the $14,000 cost (trip record) of a trip Issa took with his wife and former press secretary Rebecca Glover to Málaga and Seville, Spain from May 31 to June 2, 2025. Of note, Representative Sara Jacobs, the partner of Ammar Campa-Najjar, was also on that trip (see tweet).
Full disclosure: my husband and I were in Málaga and Seville in August 2022—and it was a great trip, but very hot. Also, no mysterious think tank picked up the bill.
But I digress. I don’t know where Issa is vacationing during the government shutdown, but my gut tells me that’s what he’s doing—and someone out there knows about it. That’s why I’m offering a $200 reward for information regarding Issa’s Shutdown Vacation. Pictures would be great. Pictures on a beach, yacht, or private jet might get you a bonus.
Updates
October 13, 2025 Update: This post was updated to note that Rep. Sara Jacobs accompanied Rep. Issa and his wife on the Spain trip.
October 13, 2025 Update #2: Alexandra Taylor of Newport Beach has posted a picture to Instagram (see post) with her and a very happy Issa on October 12, 2025 — so maybe he’s already back from the trip!