GOP Watch Keeping an Eye on Republicans for You - Page 4“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
Story by Brad ReedAseries of damning emails about the 2020 election were exposed as a result of a lawsuit filed against a local newspaper by Pennsylvania State Sen. Dan Laughlin. As the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, Laughlin filed a lawsuit last year against the Erie Reader alleging that he had been defamed in an opinion column published by the newspaper.The lawsuit opened up Laughlin to discovery -- and wound up churning up several emails related to former President Donald Trump's pressure campaign to get Pennsylvania Republicans to overturn President Joe Biden's win in their state. Among the most notable communications was between Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano and then-One America News anchor Christina Bobb, who has since become part of Trump's legal team.
RNC drops the hammer: you must pledge to back the nominee even if they're a convicted felon
Story by Matthew Chapman
The Republican National Committee oversees a loyalty pledge for GOP presidential candidates to take, whereby they agree to back the eventual nominee even if it's not them. This pledge is required to be able to participate in official primary debates. This week, the committee clarified that this pledge will still apply even if the nominee is convicted of serious crimes, according to POLITICO."In light of Donald Trump’s indictment for his handling of classified documents, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s campaign on Wednesday requested a meeting with RNC officials about amending the loyalty pledge, according to two people with knowledge of the conversation granted anonymity to speak candidly about a private conversation," reported Natalie Allison and Steven Shepard. "Members of RNC leadership arranged a call with Hutchinson on Thursday, but the former governor himself did not take part in the conversation, only a staff member. During the brief call, RNC leaders declined to make any changes to debate requirements and told the staffer the committee is 'not dealing with hypotheticals' on Trump’s legal fate. One of the individuals with knowledge of the call described it as 'contentious.'"
'A challenge with the American right': Columnist reveals how Trump's supporters don't grasp 'basic facts'
Story by Sarah K. Burris
Washington Post columnist Aaron Blake highlighted the evolving thoughts of Republican voters now that Donald Trump has been federally indicted – and the persistence of willing ignorance. Blake began with Newsmax host Greg Kelly claiming that one of the Department of Justice's photos of the spilled box holding classified documents doesn't actually show anything that's top secret.
"There’s not one classified thing in there," the Newsmax host claimed. "It’s just a bunch of newspapers and pictures and stuff!” In the center of the photo that shows dozens of binders and papers is clearly seen a redacted document.Still, Blake pointed out that the polls show Republicans are also more likely to believe that Trump cooperated with law enforcement that wanted the documents back. In fact, recent YouGov polls cite Republicans believe 53-15 that Trump "cooperated in returning documents." That poll also shows that 59 percent of Trump's voters believe he is "honest and trustworthy," with 57 percent of Republicans as a whole thinking the same.
Story by Nikki McCann Ramirez
Ohio Senator J.D. Vance has vowed to “grind [the Justice Department] to a halt” in response to the indictment of Donald Trump on charges related to his treatment of classified documents after leaving office.
Trump was arrested and arraigned in Miami on Tuesday. Vance posted a video from the steps of the Capitol earlier in the day declaring that he “will be holding all Department of Justice nominees … I think that we have to grind this department to a halt until [Attorney General] Merrick Garland promises to do his job and stop going after his political opponents.”In a statement released by his Senate office, Vance carved out an exception to his blockade for “individuals nominated to the U.S. Marshals Service.” The impact of the freeze may also have been overstated by Vance, given that there are currently only two Biden administration nominations to the department awaiting confirmation in the Senate.
Story by Colby HallJoe Scarborough was eager to open Wednesday’s Morning Joe by pointing out that of all the Republicans defending former President Donald Trump, not one is saying he’s innocent.Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 counts stemming from his handling of government documents after he left office at a federal courthouse in Miami Tuesday. The Department of Justice has claimed that some of those documents were classified and that the former president directed his aide to hide them from his lawyer and federal agents, effectively obstructing the government’s efforts to retrieve them.Since the indictment against Trump was unsealed last Friday, many of Trump’s surrogates and political allies of the Republican party have run to his defense, talking about a corrupt DOJ and alleging “two tiers of justice” citing Hillary Clinton’s email server investigation as an example.To illustrate an apparent shifting narrative, Morning Joe producers opened with clips of Senator Marco Rubio warning about how Trump might handle nuclear codes and state secrets when campaigning against Trump in 2016.
Story by By HARM VENHUIZEN, Associated Press/Report for AmericaMADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican state lawmakers were poised Tuesday to cut funding for University of Wisconsin campuses as the GOP-controlled Legislature and school officials continue to clash over efforts to promote diversity and inclusion. The vote comes just days after Republicans refused to fund the university's top building project priority — a new engineering facility on the flagship Madison campus.Tensions between Republicans who control the Legislature and the state's university system are nothing new. But the fight this year centers on issues of free speech and UW's work to advance diversity and racial equity. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the state’s top Republican, said ahead of a meeting of the budget-writing committee on Tuesday that he wants it to cut all funding the university system would use for diversity initiatives. He estimated the cuts would total $32 million.
Story by Tom BoggioniAccording to the author of "Strongmen: Mussolini To The Present," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has revealed himself to be a classic example of someone who attaches himself to an authoritarian leader in an effort to be close to power.Appearing on MSNBC on Sunday morning, with host Ali Velshi, Ruth Ben-Ghiat of New York University dissected the South Carolina Republican's career turn that has led him to be one of Donald Trump's biggest defenders after tweeting back in 2016: "If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it."Speaking with the MSNBC host, Ben-Ghiat was asked about Graham's appearance on S ABC on Sunday morning where he snapped at the host when pressed on the 37-count federal indictment of the former president and ranted about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
GOP stands by 'cult leader' Trump as their 'fever dream' refuses to break: reporter
Story by Matthew Chapman
Don't count on Trump's sprawling federal indictment for removing and compromising highly classified information to turn the tide on Republican support, warned reporter James Risen for The Intercept on Friday — as he is essentially a "cult leader" and his followers are in a "fever dream" of loyalty and grievance.
"The Republican Party has devolved into a cult of personality, where every new piece of evidence of their leader’s criminality becomes another reason for his followers to defend him," wrote Risen. "Donald Trump has now been indicted twice in just over two months, in separate cases involving accusations of unrelated crimes. Both times, Republicans have rallied around him. The group of whiners and weaklings who are running against Trump for next year’s Republican presidential nomination are so intimidated by his hold on the party’s base that they are afraid to publicly tell the truth, which is that Trump is a thug who should be in prison instead of the White House."The problem for Republicans, continued Risen, is that this isn't even where it is likely to end — more indictments could be coming.
GOP Congressman’s ‘scary as hell’ tweet seemingly calls for insurrection after Trump indictment
Story by Graig Graziosi
GOP Representative Clay Higgins appeared to call for an insurrection following the announcement that Donald Trump would face a second set of indictments stemming from his possession of sensitive documents following his presidency. On Thursday evening, Mr Trump announced on Truth Social that he would face indictment a second time — making him the first president ever to face federal charges — in the wake of the Mar-a-Lago raid by the FBI.
After the announcement, Mr Higgins, a GOP congressman from Louisiana and a former law enforcement officer, issued a strange tweet responding to the news. "President Trump said he has 'been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM.' This is a perimeter probe from the oppressors. Hold. rPOTUS has this," he wrote. "Buckle up. 1/50K know your bridges. Rock steady calm. That is all."Mr Higgins has previously referred to Mr Trump as "rPOTUS," and Joe Biden as "iPOTUS." QuacksAnonymous, a researcher on Twitter who follows right-wing extremist spaces, told The Independent that the "rPOTUS" abbreviation was originally used by resistance Democrats when referring to Mr Trump — with "r" standing for Russian — but was later co-opted by conservatives who do not accept the results of the 2020 election, now using the "r" to stand for "real."
Story by Alex Henderson2020 was an incredibly tumultuous year in the United States, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the murder of George Floyd and the unrest that followed to a bitter presidential race. Former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results are the focus of two separate criminal investigations: one by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and special counsel Jack Smith, the other by Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis.Trump's MAGA supporters were willing to go to great lengths to get him reelected in 2020, including — according to CNN's Kara Scannell — possibly trying to "infiltrate" the Democratic National Committee (DNC) "ahead of the election." Federal DOJ prosecutors, Scannell reports, have been investigating those efforts and "have subpoenaed Richard Seddon, a former British intelligence official, and Susan Gore, a Republican donor and heiress to the Gore-Tex fortune" in connection with their probe.
Story by Travis GettysMSNBC's Joe Scarborough ripped "sleazy" Republicans for defending Donald Trump from prosecution before knowing the details of the crimes he allegedly committed. The ex-president confirmed he's been indicted on federal charges related to his mishandling of classified documents, and even his chief GOP presidential rival Ron DeSantis attacked the Department of Justice, which the "Morning Joe" host found "incomprehensible."
Story by Colby HallJoe Scarborough is out of patience with Republican officials and conservative commentators defending former President Donald Trump amid the recent indictment on his handling of classified documents.The Morning Joe host drew on his experience with classified material when he served as a Republican congressman from Florida in the 1990s, and while he has since publicly announced his formal departure from the Grand Old Party, his critiques of current members of his former party still stand out from the sea of predictable political punditry.Scarborough followed guest George Conway who had insisted that this was less of a sad day and more of a notable day in US history as this is how justice is supposed to work. The Morning Joe host proceeded to detail all of what we know about Trump’s alleged duplicity saying:
Story by Matthew ChapmanThe Republicans' investigation of the FBI hit yet another embarrassing snag as NBC News reported on Thursday that Garret O'Boyle, an FBI special agent the GOP billed as a whistleblower, was previously suspended for leaking classified information to the right-wing group Project Veritas."Lawmakers learned about the reason for O'Boyle's suspension, which was previously unreported, in testimony that Jennifer Moore, executive assistant director of the FBI for human resources, provided to the House Judiciary Committee's Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government," reported Ryan Nobles."Portions of her testimony are included in a letter that top Democrats on the Judiciary and Weaponization panels wrote to Garland, alleging that O’Boyle lied to the committee about leaking information prior to his suspension."
The former president made the announcement on his social medial platform Thursday night.By Katherine Doyle, Adam Reiss, Dareh Gregorian and Daniel BarnesWASHINGTON — A federal grand jury has indicted Donald Trump on seven criminal counts in connection with his mishandling of more than 100 classified documents that were discovered last year at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, making the twice-impeached former commander-in-chief the first former president to face federal criminal charges.Trump said Thursday night that his attorneys were informed that he’s been indicted in the special counsel’s investigation into his handling of classified documents. Two sources familiar with the matter confirmed the indictment.In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said: “The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax.”
Story by Sarah K. BurrisAfringe American religious group that initially pushed the so-called "kill the gays" law in Uganda is growing increasingly concerned that their involvement is making them look bad, according to a report.Semafor reported Thursday that groups – including the U.S.-based one – are concerned that the harshness of the law could backfire on them as they continue to press for more anti-LGBTQ legislation at home.The report said that groups initially pushed the country's government to pass the law but, when a death penalty provision was added, they began to back off.The Ugandan law, which was passed last month, allows the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality." Anyone caught "promoting homosexuality" can be sentenced to 20 years in prison, and anyone convicted of "attempted aggravated homosexuality" can be sentenced to 14 years.
Is Tucker Carlson just a useful idiot or something far worse?by Lisandra Gomez-Tate in Daily EditionTucker Carlson evidently kept the blue blazer pressed as he planned his return to the national conversation, this time offering his end of the dialog not on Fox News but on the Musk Channel — otherwise known as Twitter. The much ballyhooed deal between the billionaire Elon Musk and Carlson came to life on June 6 — at an hour slightly earlier than Carlson’s old 8 pm spot at Fox.
Story by Ben BlanchetRep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) didn’t let an interruption from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) phase her as she tore apart Republicans’ voter fraud claims on Wednesday. Crockett went after GOP lawmakers as she talked “about who’s cheating” during a congressional hearing that looked at election integrity in the District of Columbia.“We haven’t had half as many hearings about guns as we’ve had on voting rights, and every time we seemingly have a hearing on voting rights, we’re talking about the fact that people are cheating, so let’s talk about who’s cheating” Crockett said.Crockett, in remarks to Wendy Weiser, vice president of democracy at The Brennan Center for Justice policy institute, questioned Fox News’ $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation case involving 2020 election lies before switching to a Georgia law that reportedly held 87,000 people back from voting in 2018.“I’m running out of time, so I’ma keep going,” she said. “There also was this article because I don’t want us to base anything on Georgia at all. Please, Jesus, not Georgia. Because Georgia purged 87,000 votes.”
Story by MillaA federal judge partly struck down Florida's ban on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors, as he condemns those who claim that “transgender identity is not real, that it is made up." The ruling challenges the law DeSantis’ signed before confirming he was running for POTUS Judge Robert Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction regarding three transgender ...The ruling challenges the law DeSantis’ signed before confirming he was running for POTUSJudge Robert Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction regarding three transgender minors in Florida. The judge wrote, “The elephant in the room should be noted at the outset. Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear.” The judge also shared that despite resect unprecedented attacks on transgender medical treatment for minors, it has been endorsed by medical associations.
Story by Matthew ChapmanAfter years of legal problems, including an indictment, an FBI investigation, and allegations of retaliation against subordinates and improper use of government funds to support a donor, impeached longtime Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is set to face a trial in the state Senate — the first such trial for a statewide Texas official in decades. And the evidence is "ten times worse" than what has been revealed to the public, attorneys who will be arguing the case told The Daily Beast."Famed criminal defense attorney Dick DeGuerin — who has represented clients ranging from former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to convicted murderer and New York City real estate heir Robert Durst to cult leader David Koresh—is now determined to 'save and protect the people of Texas from a crooked attorney general,'" wrote Justin Rohrlich. "'It’s a matter of corruption, a matter of abuse of the public trust, a matter of misuse of public resources, flat-out bribery, perjury,' said DeGuerin, a one-time prosecutor who will help make the case on the House floor for Paxton’s conviction. 'It’s just conduct that convinces anyone that looks at it fairly that the office of attorney general has been abused and used for personal gain.'"
Did Marjorie Taylor Greene forgot Russia attack Ukraine or she supports RussiaStory by Gideon RubinRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Tuesday slammed members of both parties over their support for Ukraine amid the Eastern European country’s ongoing conflict that began with Russia’s unprovoked invasion last year.“I’m going to fight Ukraine funding,” Greene told reporters in an exchange captured on video sheposted on Twitter.“I’m purely disgusted with this town that they are so bloodthirsty for murder and death in Ukraine. Ukrainian civilians are being killed constantly, Russian soldiers are dying, and Ukrainian soldiers are dying, and then other people that go there to fight this war are dying."The congresswoman continued:
Story by MillaDeSantis is piling up legal fees, but Republican lawmakers allegedly approved an additional $16 million for the Governor to “be in a comfortable position to speak his mind, and we're going to support him on those things." DeSantis’ war on Disney is billed hourly Business Insider reported that DeSantis’ team spends nearly $1,300 per hour ...
Story by Matthew ChapmanFormer President Donald Trump was infamous for campaigning on fear of crime — and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, now challenging Trump for the nomination in 2024, is determined to outdo him, telling voters to fear criminal justice reform and progressive cities as morasses of violence and danger. But DeSantis' own state reportedly doesn't prove his point.In reality, wrote Radley Balko for The Daily Beast, DeSantis' panic on crime gets everything wrong — including the fact that it's worse in his own state than in many of the liberal jurisdictions he condemns."We can start with the First Step Act, Trump’s uncharacteristically hopeful and optimistic criminal justice reform bill (which, naturally, he later regretted). DeSantis recently called the law a 'jailbreak bill' that 'allowed dangerous people out of prison who have now re-offended, and really, really hurt a number of people,'" wrote Balko. "There's no evidence for any of this. If a significant number of prisoners released under the FSA have gone on to commit new violent or sex crimes, we'd know their names. Their photos would be on the cover of the New York Post, their names emblazoned in Fox News chyrons."
Matthew ChapmanLast year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced to the nation that he had arrested several people who illegally voted in defiance of re-enfranchisement laws — though the cases mainly fell apart before being dismissed. Now, similar cases have cropped up in a heavily-Republican county — and they're not getting prosecuted, according to The Daily Beast."The office of State Attorney Bill Gladson confirmed in a May 2022 letter obtained by the Orlando Sentinel that the six offenders voted in Lake County — but that they couldn’t be prosecuted because their fraud wasn’t willful after they were 'mistakenly given voter registration cards,'" said the report."The decision not to prosecute the men came mere months before 20 ex-felons living in majority Democrat counties were quickly jailed after being arrested by DeSantis’ new election police force, the Office of Election Crimes and Security. Each of the 20 had also voted, but they too had received voter ID cards.
Story by MillaThe override of Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a transgender student-athlete ban led to more burning questions. Kansas lawmakers, led by Kansas House Speaker Daniel Hawkins, are accused of passing more than an anti-LGBTQ bill. The viral response The bill bans transgender girls from participating in women’s sports from kindergarten through college. Even more disturbingly, ...
Story by Charlie NashA Texas sheriff recommended charges on Monday over a stunt by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in which migrants from the southern border were sent to affluent Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office announced on Monday that it had “officially filed a completed criminal case with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office regarding the incident from September 2022 where 49 migrants were flown to Martha’s Vineyard.”“The charge filed is Unlawful Restraint and several accounts were filed, both misdemeanor and felony. At this time, the case is being reviewed by the DA’s office,” the office of Democratic Sheriff Javier Salazar revealed. Immigration lawyer and former federal prosecutor Michael Wildes praised the decision during an appearance on NewsNation’s Dan Abrams Live, arguing that DeSantis “had no legal authority as a governor” to send the migrants to a different state.
Story by Maya BoddieFlorida Governor and 2024 GOP candidate Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey DeSantis recently visited Iowa for a campaign appearance, and once again, made their intention to wage a "War on Woke" clear.NBC News Correspondent Dasha Burns shared a clip of her interview with the governor via Twitter, writing, "DeSantis and Trump are battling it out in the Governor’s first week as a candidate. A surprising split came on the “woke” issue with Trump stepping back and DeSantis leaning in. I asked DeSantis about it today: 'You've got to be willing to fight the woke' WATCH"In the clip, Burns can be heard saying, "[Trump] said he doesn't like to use the word 'woke’' because people don't know what it means," noting, "That's obviously a big part of your messaging. What do you say to that?"
Story by Brad ReedSome Republicans in the state of Georgia are lamenting the turn their party has taken under former President Donald Trump, as many of them blame him for twice costing them United States Senate elections. In interviews with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, several longtime Republicans in the state expressed concern about how Trump has turned politics into a nonstop spectacle that has alienated swing voters throughout the country.Ed Henderson, an officer with the Rabun County GOP, argued that moderate forces within the Georgia GOP needed to be more forceful in retaking their party from MAGA extremists who keep losing them elections. "You have a complete divorce between what 1,500 activists want and common sense,” he said. “We’re a party now of performance artists. And extremism sells.”
Story by QueertyRon “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis has problem: he’s not very good at talking to people. That’s not ideal for any politician, but especially one who’s running for president. On Thursday, DeSantis held a campaign event in New Hampshire, where he delivered “his stock stump speech,” according to NBC News. But unlike other presidential candidates who barnstorm the Granite State, DeSantis didn’t take any questions from the audience.When a reporter asked DeSantis about his disengagement, the anti-social Florida governor threw a hissy fit. “People are coming up to me, talking to me,” he wailed. “What are you talking about? Are you blind? Are you blind? People are coming up to me, talking to me whatever they want to talk to me about.”
Story by Brad ReedAn extensive new report from NBC News details the ways that Republican canvassing operations in states such as Nevada are riddled with problems that include canvassers "cheating" by lying about the number of local homes they've visited. One particularly prominent example cited in the story involves a Republican canvasser who claimed to have knocked doors all around a Southern Las Vegas neighborhood, even though they actually spent the day lounging in the Caesar's Palace casino.According to data reviewed by local GOP officials, this was not an isolated incident. "A half-dozen Republican-aligned field operators working on various races in Nevada, Georgia and Oregon said they encountered suspicious or fraudulent data — such as entries filed from homes that weren’t visited or falsified surveys — in 2022," the report notes.
Story by Thom HartmannThe first rule of business and marketing is that if you make it easy for folks to buy your product or engage with you, more people will do so. If you don’t want people to buy or use your product or service, on the other hand, just make them jump through hoops to complete the transaction and many won’t bother.Republicans know this and have been applying it to voting for the better part of 50 years; recently they’ve turned it into a science. Polling before the 2020 election in Texas, for example, showed that Joe Biden may beat Trump just as he did in so many other swing states across the country. From Trump failing there, the Republican elders in the state knew, it would be a short jump to flipping the entire state Blue, as happened with Michigan and Wisconsin.
Opinion by Robert ReichRepublican leaders have mastered the art of manufacturing crises to divert the public’s attention from the real crisis of our era – the siphoning of income, wealth and power from most Americans by a small group at the top. Consider the fake fears they’ve been whipping up:1. WokenessFlorida’s governor (and now Republican presidential candidate) Ron DeSantis has declared a “war on woke”. Immediately after the mangled launch of his presidential campaign, DeSantis claimed on Fox News that “the woke mind virus is basically a form of cultural Marxism”.What?What exactly is “woke”? The term gained popularity at the start of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014, following the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, when many Americans – including white Americans who were seeing the extent of the problem for the first time – awoke to the reality of police brutality against the Black community. DeSantis’s own general counsel has defined “woke” as “the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them”. He’s right. We all need to be woke.
Story by Dirk LibbeyEarlier this month when Disney announced that a plan to move 2,000 Cast Member jobs (including most of Walt Disney Imagineering, from California to Florida) would not move forward, it was obviously a financial blow to the state. The move was expected to result in nearly $1 billion in spending in the state that now won’t happen, but it looks like Disney’s decision in its ongoing battle with Florida is already causing repercussions, as it could mean a lot of additional economic activity won’t happen.At this point, it’s unclear what Disney will do with the land it purchased in 2021, but at least in the short term, the answer is “absolutely nothing” and that’s bad news for the Lake Nona area, which was expecting a boom in both residential and commercial projects in response to the move. The Wall Street Journal reports that when Disney first announced the move, construction on new homes and apartments jumped up, many of which are actively being built now, but it appears the people who were expected to live in them aren’t coming.
Story by Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAYFormer congresswoman Liz Cheney called out her Republican colleagues in a commencement speech on Sunday, accusing them of urging her to tell lies following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.Cheney, addressing graduates of Colorado College, said: "After the 2020 election and the attack of January 6th, my fellow Republicans wanted me to lie. They wanted me to say that the 2020 election was stolen, that the attack of January 6th wasn’t a big deal, and that Donald Trump wasn’t dangerous.""I had to choose between lying and losing my position in House leadership," the former Republican lawmaker, who graduated from Colorado College in 1988, said.
Story by Stephen SilverA few months back, Marjorie Taylor Greene said 6 “billion” have crossed the border in the Biden years. In a since-deleted tweet from back in February, the controversial Georgia Congresswoman misstated the number of illegal border crossings in the last two-plus years. Should we be surprised? Well, no.Marjorie Taylor Greene Is At It AgainRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) often tweets wild and outrageous things, and she rarely deletes such messages. And, of course, as one would expect, she did so a few months back yet again, after wildly misstating the number of border crossings since President Joe Biden took office."$113 Billion has been appropriated to Ukraine in just 1 yr,” Greene said in the deleted tweet back in February of this year, per Newsweek. "Trump's wall would have only cost $22 billion, but Congress refused to fund it. 6 Billion people illegally crossed our border since Biden took office, but Ukraine's border is the only border that matters to Washington.”There is a number of issues with Greene's tweet. For starters, the population of the world is a little under 8 billion, so clearly it’s not true that 6 billion people have illegally crossed the U.S. border since 2021.
Beatrice NolanRon DeSantis has signed a bill into law that could potentially shield SpaceX and other private space companies such as Blue Origin from liability over injuries or deaths.The bill, which relates to passengers and crew members, was sent to Governor DeSantis after it passed the Florida Senate and House with little opposition. It was previously adjusted to reflect "the evolution of spaceflight," the bill's sponsor, Republican senator Tom Wright said, per Florida Politics.The bill was one of 27 bills DeSantis signed the day after announcing his presidential campaign during a conversation with Elon Musk via Twitter Spaces. The chaotic announcement was plagued with technical issues, which caused the Twitter app to crash repeatedly. This reportedly left Musk furious.
Story by Associated PressTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — “Don’t say gay.” Regulation of books and classroom discussion. Teachers, parents and school librarians all navigating new and uncertain ground. LGBTQ+ rights under attack. A very public spat between state government and Disney. And at the center of it all is a governor who has emerged as a rival of former President Donald Trump and now has his eyes set on the White House. This is Florida at this moment in history, in mid-2023.For many of those who live in Florida, recent months have brought some changes — many linked to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Here, longtime Florida-based Associated Press journalist Brendan Farrington, who has covered the state’s politics since 1997, refl
The House voted 121-23 to suspend the attorney general and refer him to the Senate for trial on charges of bribery, abuse of office and obstruction. It was the first such impeachment since 1975.by Zach Despart and James BarragánDefying a last-minute appeal by former President Donald Trump, the Texas House voted overwhelmingly Saturday to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton, temporarily removing him from office over allegations of misconduct that included bribery and abuse of office. The vote to adopt the 20 articles of impeachment was 121-23.The stunning vote came two days after an investigative committee unveiled the articles — and two days before the close of a biennial legislative session that saw significant right-wing victories, including a ban on transgender health care for minors and new restrictions on public universities’ diversity efforts.
Story by Will Carless, USA TODAYFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who launched his presidential bid this week, was the subject of a USA TODAY investigation this week revealing he appointed a woman who raided the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 to a state oversight board. Meanwhile, a man with a Nazi flag rammed into barriers outside the White House, while the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the Allen, Texas, shooter's neo-Nazi ideology, warning he is part of a growing trend. And what Target pulling Pride merchandise from its shelves after threats says about extremist far-right's fixation with the LGBTQ community. It's the week in extremism.Appointing an insurrectionist?Sandra Atkinson, a county Republican chair in Florida, can be seen in videos breaking into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, according to a USA TODAY investigation of footage outside and inside the building, and an interview with a Republican Party colleague. Two months after the insurrection, Gov. De Santis appointed her to the Florida Board of Massage Therapy, where she would spend more than a year overseeing the profession in the state, and granting or taking away practitioners' licenses, often based on their own criminal backgrounds.
Story by Aaron JohnsonRon DeSantis recently announced he'll be running for president in the 2024 election, and he's already been accused of election violation, according to NBC News."Officials who work for Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration — not his campaign — have been sending text messages to Florida lobbyists soliciting political contributions for DeSantis' presidential bid, a breach of traditional norms that has raised ethical and legal questions and left many here in the state capital shocked," the report reads.“The bottom line is that the administration appears to be keeping tabs on who is giving, and are doing it using state staff,” one Florida lobbyist said. “You are in a prisoner’s dilemma. They are going to remain in power. We all understand that.”
Story by kvlamis@insider.com (Kelsey Vlamis)The Supreme Court issued a ruling Thursday that will limit the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to protect wetlands and address water pollution, with all but one conservative justice, Brett Kavanaugh, signing off on it.The case concerned a couple in Idaho who wanted to build a home on their property, but the EPA determined the land included wetlands that were protected under the Clean Water Act, subjecting it to the agency's oversight.All nine justices agreed that the couple's land should not have been subject to regulation, but four justices — the liberal wing and Kavanaugh — sharply disagreed with part of the majority ruling, written by Alito, that could impact what exactly counts as protected "waters of the United States."
Report Claims Ron DeSantis' Police Relocation Program Lured Officers with Violent Records to FloridaStory by People StaffAmong the officers who moved to Florida for the program, a new report claims, at least two dozen had previously been subject to complaints, with allegations ranging from excessive force to racial profiling. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proudly championed a $13.5 million police relocation program — and according to a new report, it led to the state hiring a handful of police officers with violent records.The program began in 2021 and was meant to incentivize law enforcement officers outside Florida to move to the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic, offering them bonuses of upwards of $5,000 to do so. In April, DeSantis announced that at least 530 officers had relocated from other states and territories to Florida due to the program. More than 1,750 new recruits, he said, had received bonuses through the program.“I’m proud to announce that more than 1,750 new law enforcement officers have received bonuses through the Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program,” DeSantis said in April, calling Florida "first in the nation in law enforcement recruitment because of our focus on back-the-blue initiatives that make our law enforcement officers feel supported by their communities."
Story by Brian BennettFive months after House Republicans launched an investigation into President Biden’s son Hunter and other members of his family, they have so far failed to identify any business dealings that may have influenced his decisions as Vice President or President.But Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, said on Monday that his committee’s public airing of overseas business transactions by Hunter Biden and other Biden relatives was helping Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. During an interview on Fox News, Comer linked the Republicans’ investigation into Joe Biden’s relatives to Donald Trump’s poll numbers.A Fox News anchor asked Comer, “do you think that because of your investigation, that is what’s moved this needle with the media?”
Story by Thomas KikaSenator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, was asked on Fox News about his party's history of raising the debt ceiling under Donald Trump with no budget cut requirements.Democrats and Republicans in Congress are engaged in a heated back and forth over the United States' debt limit, putting the country at risk of defaulting on its debt and imperiling the world economy as soon as June 1. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has stated that his House majority will not vote in favor of a debt ceiling raise without Democrats and President Joe Biden agreeing to spending cuts.
Story by MillaMichigan is one step closer to living in the XXI century. The punishment for unmarried couples living together was one year of prison time. The state Senate voted to repeal the law 29:9, and all nine were Republicans. Stephanie Chang of Detroit sponsored to repel the bill The bill, written nearly 100 years ago, prohibited ...
Story by Tom BoggioniAppearing on MSNBC with fill-in host Charles Blow, former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele dropped the hammer on House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan's latest FBI "weaponization" hearing and laughed at how poorly his hearings have all gone. As Steele told the host, the Ohio Republican is inadvertently making the case that the real problems lie within the years Donald Trump was president and his own DOJ.Above all, Steele claimed Jordan is running a "dog and pony show" that is not convincing anyone that there was a conspiracy against conservatives and Trump. "Michael, did Jordan's performance during these hearings actually help Democrats prove their point, the only party weaponizing the government is the Republican Party?" host Blow asked.
Story by Christopher RhodesRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is again being dragged across the internet for questionable comments. This time, the congresswoman is getting mocked for her attempts to paint Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., as an aggressive Black man for two recent confrontations the legislators have had.Greene took time during comments to reporters on Thursday as she launched a longshot bid to impeach President Joe Biden to call out Bowman by name for two “aggressive” incidents. She referenced Bowman as one of many angry New Yorkers who heckled Greene in New York City last month when she came to support Donald Trump during the former president’s indictment. Greene also referenced a meeting between herself and Bowman on the steps of Capitol Hill this week, claiming she “felt threatened by him” as they exchanged words.Of course, the “aggressive” Capitol Hill confrontation was captured on camera and posted by numerous sources. Both Bowman and Greene talk loudly and gesticulate during the conversation. Bowman calls for “no more MAGA” and warns Greene the Republicans are “hanging by a thread,” while Greene chants “impeach Biden” and calls Bowman “not very smart” for not believing right-wing talking points. But neither makes any aggressive or violent moves toward the other.“She ain’t worth it, bro,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who approached Bowman at the end of the clip, said.
If republican are tough on crime why do they support killers and attack victims?Story by kbalevic@insider.com (Katie Balevic)Some conservatives love a mascot for vigilante justice, and they seem to have found their newest poster boy in Daniel Penny.Republican 2024 presidential candidates are lining up in support of Penny, a 24-year-old retired Marine who placed Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man, in a chokehold on the New York City subway that ultimately killed him. The Manhattan district attorney's office charged Penny with manslaughter on May 12 after a medical examiner ruled Neely's death a homicide.Lawyers for Penny said he was acting in self-defense and "could not have foreseen" Neely's "untimely death." Witnesses to the incident said while Neely was agitated, he never touched anyone on the train. A former prosecutor called the killing an example of the kind of "vigilante justice" plaguing the United States.
Story by Zachary CohenAn early Biden administration initiative to root out extremism in the military was designed to identify people like Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old Air National Guardsman with a long-history of violent and racist behavior now accused of perpetrating one of the biggest leaks of classified documents in modern history. But more than two years after the Countering Extremism Working Group was formed inside the Pentagon, the effort has vanished virtually without a trace.As the Pentagon grapples with the aftermath of the leak, the working group’s stated objectives look eerily prescient, and, in some cases, tailor-made to zero-in on the sort of anti-government, White supremacist behavior and views espoused by Teixeira.CNN interviews with multiple sources familiar with the working group reveal that the Pentagon largely abandoned the effort to combat extremism in its ranks, as senior officials folded under political pressure from Republicans who lashed out at the initiative as an example of so-called wokeism in the military.Of the six recommendations the working group made at the end of 2021, only one has begun to be implemented across the Defense Department, a Pentagon spokesperson told reporters on May 18.
Story by Candice OrtizRadio host Charlamagne Tha God blasted “bigoted Barbie” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) for comparing the term “white supremacist” to the “n-word” on Thursday during a Capitol Hill press conference. The conversation took place on the Friday edition of The Breakfast Club where Charlamagne discussed Greene’s verbal spat with Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) on Wednesday outside the Capitol building. The exchange occurred after disgraced Rep. George Santos (R-NY) gave an interview on the Capitol steps on Wednesday and Bowman walked by and shouted for Santos to resign, saying, “New Yorkers need better.”Greene rushed to the defense of Santos and engaged with Bowman who she later claimed called had “threatened” her with his “mannerisms.” Greene was asked about the encounter by reporters later in the day, where she also said he had called her a “white supremacist” in the past and then she compared the label to calling someone the n-word. Charlamagne reacted to Greene’s comments on the Friday edition of his show, calling Greene “out of her White devil damn mind” and proudly named her “Donkey of the Day.”
If Trump and the GOP really cared about America why would they crash the American economy?Story by Brad ReedFormer President Donald Trump on Friday piled pressure on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to default on the national debt and wreck the American economy unless Democrats cave and give Republicans "everything they want."In an all-caps Truth Social post, the former president laid out a stark choice for Republicans as they try to negotiate a way to raise the national debt ceiling."REPUBLICANS SHOULD NOT MAKE A DEAL ON THE DEBT CEILING UNLESS THEY GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT (Including the 'kitchen sink')," the former president wrote. "THAT’S THE WAY THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALWAYS DEALT WITH US. DO NOT FOLD!!!"Democratic-led Houses passed clean debt ceiling increases multiple times during Trump's presidency despite the fact that he was racking up record annual budget deficits.
Alex Wagner looks at how Newt Gingrich's encouragement of his Republican colleagues to be more nasty has come to fruition over the years, making the party more difficult for subsequence speakers to lead and more dangerous to the stability of the United States.
The right is banning books and threatening librarians with prison timeStory by Alex HendersonIn the Netherlands and other European democracies, comprehensive sex education starts at an early age. Dutch officials reason that the more youths know about sex, the more likely they are to avoid unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.But in the United States, the Religious Right has a radically different viewpoint. Far-right white evangelical Christians who oppose abortion often oppose any time of sex education.According to the Washington Post's Hannah Natanson, MAGA Republicans in state legislatures have been pushing bills threatening librarians with either heavy fines or prison time if they give minors a book they consider "obscene." And material doesn't have to be explicit to fit the Religious Right's definition of obscenity.
Story by Kimmy YamAnew law in Florida mandates the teaching of Asian American and Pacific Islander history in public schools. But many Asian Americans are not celebrating, pointing to how other marginalized communities are being impacted by the state heavily limiting the instruction of systemic racism and gender identity in the classroom.Asian American academics and civil rights organizations are speaking out after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill last week, requiring that Asian American and Pacific Islander history to be included in the K-12 curriculum. The measure coincides with another bill signed into law on Monday to no longer permit public colleges to spend money on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. It also limits the way race and gender will be taught in the state’s higher education institutions.Gregg Orton, national director of National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, a coalition of 38 AAPI organizations, said the history law is far from a “win” for the Asian American community, adding that “racial justice can’t be a zero-sum game for communities of color.”
Story by Arthur DelaneyWASHINGTON – Two FBI agents Republicans have championed as “whistleblowers” interfered with or refused to participate in investigations related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, the FBI told lawmakers this week.At a hearing on Thursday, Republicans led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) alleged the agents were victims of a broader “weaponization” of the U.S. Justice Department against Catholics, concerned parents, conservatives and former President Donald Trump. “If you’re one of the good employees of our government to talk about the targeting, you become a target, you face retaliation,” Jordan said at the hearing.Christopher Dunham, FBI assistant director, told Jordan in a letter that one of the former agents ― Marcus Allen, a staff operations specialist suspended from his job at the FBI’s field office in Charlotte, North Carolina ― tried to convince his FBI colleagues that the Capitol riot had been orchestrated by the government.
Story by Tatyana TandanpolieHouse Democrats slammed Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who was indicted on 13 felony charges last week, during the Oversight and Reform Committee's hearing about crime in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.The Justice Department criminally charged the freshman congressman with seven counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of public funds, three counts of money laundering and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives last Wednesday, following an investigation prompted by reports that he had fabricated parts of his biography during his 2022 campaign.During Tuesday's hearing, Santos' fellow congressional newcomer, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, admonished House Republicans for failing to take action against Santos even after his indictment."My Republican colleagues want to talk about keeping DC streets crime free. They can't even keep the halls of Congress crime free," she began, adding "My freshman colleague has just been indicted on 13 counts — 13 felony counts — but have they exhibited any courage to say, 'You know what, we will disallow this in our body, we will make sure that we expel this individual.' They have not."
Story by Sarah K. BurrisRep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) began his weaponization committee hearing on Thursday by heralding the FBI whistleblowers who lost their security clearance due to their Jan. 6 sympathies. They have since been helped financially by Republican donors and allies of former President Donald Trump. Jordan praised the men, highlighting their service to the country and in some cases, military service. He called them heroes.Rep. Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) questioned the implication that anyone in military service or public service could do no wrong. She brought up the Air Force member in Massachusetts who was recently arrested for allegedly leaking classified documents and asked if he's still a "hero." "Because someone served our country in the military and that they work from a federal agency does not exempt them immediately from being somebody who could potentially commit espionage," she explained.
Story by Inside the MagicThe Reedy Creek battle between the Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues, and it turns out that Disney’s prime witness is… Ron DeSantis. The DeSantis/Disney feud began when the company spoke out against the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. The Governor then made motions to remove the board in charge of Walt Disney World’s special Reedy Creek Improvement District to ensure he controlled them.Disney responded to the new board by creating a contract with the former board, giving the company control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District until the last living descendent of King Charles III passed away. Currently, said descendent is two years old. This has since been followed by attacks from both sides, with DeSantis threatening to build a prison next to Walt Disney World, Disney suing the Governor and the state of Florida, and the newly named Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board counter-suing Disney.This whole conflict has led to the potential Presidential nominee losing support within his own party. To make matters worse for the Florida Governor, the Walt Disney Company has found an unlikely ally: Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Story by Carron J. PhillipsNever go anywhere you aren’t invited. This week, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis did his best to uninvite anyone that isn’t white to the state’s colleges and universities. It’s time educators of color, Black athletes, and the NCAA boycott baby Trump.“If you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination,” DeSantis said at a news conference earlier in the week. “And that has no place in our public institutions. This bill says the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida.”The state will no longer spend money on DEI initiatives at its public institutes of higher learning. In case you didn’t know, DEI programs help predominantly white institutions (PWIs) increase diversity amongst their faculty and student body. Race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status all fall under the DEI umbrella. Florida is joining 19 other racist states where politicians have aimed at similar programs. The only saving grace is that the new law doesn’t affect schools spending money on DEI programs if they’re federally mandated.
Story by Inside the MagicIf you’ve been following our coverage of the DeSantis versus Disney drama, you’ll already know that Florida’s Governor isn’t exactly Florida’s most popular resident. With many his attempts to take on the Walt Disney Company and a full-fledged vendetta against the Magic Kingdom, many might start to wonder how his voters are feeling about his behavior.The phrase “cut off your nose to spite your face” is certainly one that’s been used to describe the governor’s actions regarding the feud with Disney and Walt Disney World, and many can agree that DeSantis is no longer looking out for his voters’ best interests. So, what do they have to say about it?What Voters Say About DeSantis V. Disney@meetthepress shared a very telling video on TikTok of Florida residents expressing how they feel about the state of Ron DeSantis’ war on Disney. There are the expected responses of “go woke, go broke,” but there are also some speaking up for Disney’s favor. That said, the correct choice isn’t always the most supported.
Story by Gideon RubinA North Carolina Republican lawmaker’s cringeworthy remark sent a state House debate over school choice off the rails.Rep. Jeffrey McNeely during the debate suggested that his Democratic colleague Abe Jones, who is a Black Harvard graduate, wouldn’t have been admitted to the prestigious school if he wasn’t a minority, video posted on Twitter by freelance journalist Bryan Anderson shows.“I understand that you went to public school and that you went to Harvard and Harvard Law, and the question I have is would you have been able to maybe achieve this if you were not an athlete or a minority, or any of these things,” McNeely said.An incredulous Rep. Robert Reives II responded saying: “OK, I’m hoping I’m not the only one who got shocked by that comment that the only reason you went to Harvard is because you were Black and an athlete?”
Story by Disney FanaticOn February 27, after a nearly year-long battle, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement Act, which stripped Disney of its right to self-govern. For years, Disney and the state of Florida had maintained a good relationship, with Disney paying millions in taxes, along with all the jobs Walt Disney World Resort brought to the state. That all changed when former CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against Florida’s controversial Parental Rights in Education Bill.With the dissolution of the Reedy Creek Improvement Act, Governor DeSantis has appointed a board to oversee the area. The board is called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The Board consists of those appointed directly by DeSantis, including some who have donated to his campaign. One of the board members is Ron Peri. With those on the board now coming into the spotlight, some of Peri’s past contentious comments are coming back into the light. Per reporting from CNN:
Story by Disney FanaticAnother day, another dramatic move in the state of Florida involving controversial governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans. According to reports, Florida State Senator Jason Brodeur — a Republican — has proposed a bill that would require bloggers who write about certain politicians to register with the state. Brodeur’s bill also states that those bloggers would have to report how much they are being paid for those posts — positive or negative. Larger corporations, like newspapers, would be exempt from registering with the government.According to the bill, a “blog” is defined as “a website or webpage that hosts any blogger and is frequently updated with opinion, commentary, or business content. The term does not include the website of a newspaper or other similar publication.” Here is more on what the Florida bill would require, per Deadline:
David EdwardsRep. Jim Jordan's (R-OH) hearing on the "weaponization" of government turned chaotic on Thursday after Republicans refused to turn over witness testimony. Following witness statements in a Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) demanded to know why some testimony had not been shared with Democrats."It's my understanding that the minority in this committee under the rules is entitled to the same testimony, information, documents that the majority is entitled to," Wasserman Schultz noted. "So I mean, I'm not aware that you're able to withhold information from the minority." "When it comes to [FBI] whistleblowers, you're not," Jordan shot back. "That's not right," one Democrat complained. "We gave you all the information we had."
Story by Disney FanaticEvery day, new information about the Disney vs. DeSantis dispute comes to light, further complicating an already fraught situation. By this point, Disney Fanatics are well aware of the battle that rages on in the Sunshine state relating to the Central Florida mainstay, the Walt Disney World Resort. Ever since the “Don’t Say Gay” debacle that took hold of the Disney community last year—first for then Disney CEO Bob Chapek not speaking out as many believed he should, to then many criticizing him for getting involved in Florida’s political issues—it has been cropping back up time and again.This situation has developed so much that outlets have even taken to writing satirical articles about what’s going on, raising the valid question of whether this situation has dragged on far too long. However, irrespective of what we do or don’t believe about this current fight Disney has found itself embroiled in with Governor DeSantis and the specially appointed board, the latest is that it will cost a pretty penny for the board to sue the Mouse House as it’s threatened.
Story by Disney DiningIn a bold move on Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced his plans to introduce legislation that will effectively crush Disney’s plans to build a fifth theme park at The Walt Disney World Resort.It might just be the most powerful move made by Gov. Ron DeSantis in the ongoing battle between the Florida legislature and The Walt Disney Company–a move so bold it could stop any plans Disney World has for adding a fifth theme park to the Resort located in Central Florida near Orlando.During a press conference on Monday, Gov. DeSantis said that new legislation aimed at revoking a development agreement passed by the Reedy Creek board before the state of Florida took over the district would be introduced in the legislature and voted upon in a matter of days.
Story by Disney FanaticWhile Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s feud with the Walt Disney Company rages on, many have started calling out the governor for how he has handled the situation. Some fellow politicians have called him “not a conservative” and insisted he hasn’t been able to handle the controversy well. At the same time, some critics have asked the Governor to focus on Florida’s “real needs.” There are also those who believe that Governor DeSantis needs to “just take the loss” and move on, leaving Walt Disney World be.This is especially considering how central the Disney Resort is to Florida’s tourism. In fact, even many locals love the ability to drive to Disney World—Florida’s Turnpike System (while a long drive) does offer easy access from Miami to Orlando and Walt Disney World.Recently, however, this has been up in the air due to the gas shortage currently experienced in South Florida. As reported by CNN, “More than half of gas stations in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area were without gasoline… after flooding from last week’s massive storm caused a wave of panic buying by drivers topping off their gas tanks.”
Story by Matthew ChapmanSupport from right-wing politicians for a former Marine accused of killing New York City homeless man Jordan Neely with a chokehold on the subway is the latest in a surge in celebrations of "vigilante 'justice,'" the Washington Post wrote Tuesday.The backing of Daniel Penny after he was hit with second-degree manslaughter represents "a new low" for GOP extremism, wrote Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman for The Washington Post on Tuesday. A GoFundMe fundraising effort for Penny has raised more than $2 million, with several Republicans publicly donating."When Ron DeSantis defended Daniel Penny, the former Marine accused of killing a man suffering from mental illness on a New York City subway, the Florida governor didn’t just laud Penny as a hero. He also cast the law enforcement apparatus prosecuting Penny as presumptively illegitimate," they wrote."In so doing, DeSantis joined many on the right seeking to transform Penny into a martyr being punished by the 'deep state' for supposedly defending civil order. But this is particularly sobering coming from DeSantis; it suggests the two leading contenders for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination — DeSantis and former president Donald Trump — are open celebrators of vigilante 'justice.'"
Story by MillaWhen a former Marine, Daniel Penny, allegedly killed a New York City homeless man, Jordan Neely, it seemed impossible that someone would want to make him a hero. It turned out it was a portion of the GOP, “The Washington Post” journalists shared. GOP’s extremism Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman reported a tragic insight into ...
Story by David Oliver, USA TODAYActions speak louder than words. But words spouted through literal and figurative megaphones can still be heard for miles – especially in a polarized political climate. Take GOP Sen. John Kennedy's comments about Mexico at a recent hearing."Without the people of America, Mexico, figuratively speaking, would be eating cat food out of a can and living in a tent behind an Outback," the Louisiana congressman said. He was questioning Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram and inquired about fentanyl moving from Mexico to the U.S. while also comparing the countries' economies.The Mexican ambassador to the U.S., Esteban Moctezuma, called Kennedy's words "vulgar and racist." Experts say these comments are a reflection of our current political era – but people need to remember that words have consequences. A small ripple could soar into a tidal wave, especially if speakers have a high-wattage platform.
Story by Travis GettysAwriters group and major publisher have sued a Florida school district over its Ron DeSantis-sanctioned removal of books about race and LGBTQ+ identities.PEN America and Penguin Random House filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the Escambia County School District and its school board alleging a violation of their First Amendment rights for removing 10 books from library shelves, reported the Associated Press.“Books have the capacity to change lives for the better, and students in particular deserve equitable access to a wide range of perspectives. Censorship, in the form of book bans like those enacted by Escambia County, are a direct threat to democracy and our Constitutional rights,” said Nihar Malaviya, CEO of Penguin Random House.
Story by Gideon RubinMarjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday falsely claimed that a Georgia activist killed a state trooper earlier this year in what the far-right congresswoman from claims is part of a growing trend of violent left-wing extremism, The Independent reports. “Being a police officer is a target for antifa,” Greene said Homeland Security Committee meeting titled “Mostly Peaceful’: Countering Left-Wing Organized Violence."“They actually murdered someone there. They actually murdered a police officer. Oh, you don’t know. That’s right, because you don’t study left-wing extremism,” Greene said. Greene falsely claimed that Manuel Teran killed a state trooper during a protest over the construction of a controversial police training facility called “Cop City.” “That was this year, you’re right, not last year, it was this year, so left-wing extremism is definitely on the rise and murder is a big part of it,” Greene said. Actually, it never happened.
How much tax payer money and pension funds has Ron DeSantis Misused?Story by Matthew Cunningham-CookFlorida governor Ron DeSantis has been putting huge sums of state retirement money into underperforming private equity firms that have donated to his campaign efforts. Florida governor and Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis has been crusading against “woke” investments for allegedly threatening his state employees’ retirement funds. But the most imminent threat to Florida public employees’ retirement dollars appears to be the massive state pension investments that have gone to some of the Republican Party’s Wall Street donors under DeSantis’s watch.Despite a federal anti-corruption rule designed to prevent donors from receiving pension investments, private equity executives have donated millions to political groups supporting DeSantis, all while the governor oversaw the transfer of more than $1 billion of Florida public employees’ retirement dollars into these donors’ high-fee, high-risk “alternative investments.”Our review found that had the state pension fund instead been invested in a simple, low-cost index fund, compared to its present mix of holdings, teachers, police officers, and other state employees would have about $10 billion more in their retirement funds.“From a distance, it sure looks like the pensioners are getting hurt here,” Kathleen Clark, an ethics expert and professor at the Washington University in Saint Louis School of Law, told us. “It certainly seems like it raises the distinct possibility that the decisions that the pension board is making may be serving DeSantis’ political interests and not the pensioners’ interest.”
Story by MillaFlorida universities were told to prioritize diversity, but with one signature, Governor DeSantis banned state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the state’s public universities. Ceremony at the New College of Florida DeSantis signed three bills that, he claims, would give students foundational skills and prevent people from imposing orthodoxies at public universities. ...Ceremony at the New College of FloridaDeSantis signed three bills that, he claims, would give students foundational skills and prevent people from imposing orthodoxies at public universities. DeSantis held a ceremony at the New College of Florida while signing the legislation.
Opinion by Michael HiltzikA confession: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is living in my head. For nearly three years now, I've been fascinated by the performance art of this blustering pettifogger. My first column, published in June 2020, covered DeSantis' truculent defense of his management of the COVID-19 pandemic in his state.At the time, he complained that criticism of his record on COVID was nothing but a "partisan narrative." Within days, Florida would see a record surge in cases. To this day, DeSantis has continued to claim success against the virus, never mind that his state has notched one of the worst COVID death rates in the country.
Story by Christian PazThe videos from Florida aren’t hard to find: Dozens of clips of empty fields, abandoned construction sites, and scores of truck drivers calling for boycotts of the state have racked up hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok and Twitter over the last month. The common thread? Fear and frustration over the state’s newest anti-immigrant law, signed a week ago by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, which mandates that businesses with 25 or more employees verify the citizenship status of workers through the federal online portal E-Verify or face stronger penalties, among other new restrictions.The new law, which goes into effect on July 1, is the latest move by DeSantis to capitalize on immigration politics as he prepares for a likely but as-yet-unannounced 2024 presidential campaign. The law, one of the most stringent state immigration measures in the US, seems intended to contrast President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration policy as the controversial pandemic-era health rule Title 42 expired last week. But the impact of the bill, critics say, will amount to a wide-ranging and intrusive crackdown on the state’s large immigrant communities, which stand to face the brunt of the new rules.
Story by Gabriella FerrigineAwoman employed by former New York City mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani alleged in a lawsuit filed on Monday that Giuliani talked about selling pardons and shared plans to flip the 2020 presidential election.Noelle Dunphy in a 70-page complaint stated that Giuliani repeatedly sexually assaulted and harassed her, often engaged in racist and antisemitic language, and did not pay her. Dunphy, who is seeking $10 million in damages, also says Giuliani kept her employment "secret" once she was hired, only paying her around $12,000 and owing her nearly $2 million in unpaid compensation."Mayor Rudy Giuliani unequivocally denies the allegations raised by Ms. Dunphy," a Giuliani spokesperson said. "Mayor Giuliani's lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims."
Story by insider@insider.com (John L. Dorman)Former National Security Advisor John Bolton on Tuesday said that foreign leaders saw former President Donald Trump as a "laughing fool" and rejected his ex-boss's claims that he could have stopped Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine had he still been in office last year.During an interview on CNN's "This Morning," Bolton — an experienced diplomat and defense hawk who served under Trump from April 2018 to September 2019 — pushed back against assertions that the former president made about Ukraine last week as he participated in the network's controversial town hall. While speaking with journalist Kaitlan Collins, Trump said that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine had he been in the Oval Office and also said that he could "settle" the conflict in 24 hours if voters send him back to office — both highly questionable claims for a war the US is not a direct participant in.Bolton, while speaking with Collins and journalist Poppy Harlow, quickly rejected such talk. "Trump has this impression that foreign leaders, especially adversaries, hold him in high regard — that he's got a good relationship with Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un," Bolton said of the leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea, respectively."In fact, the exact opposite is true," he continued. "I have been in those rooms with him when he met with those leaders. I believe they think he's a laughing fool and the idea that somehow his presence in office would have deterred Putin is flatly wrong."
Opinion by Rex Huppke, USA TODAYRon DeSantis, Florida’s governor, did the white thing Monday, signing a bill that pulls all state funding from diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the state’s public universities.For people who have never once had to worry about or value diversity, equity or inclusion, this was definitely the white move. It protects students who don’t want to be told things they don’t want to hear from potentially hearing things they don’t want to learn.Ron DeSantis is merely asking the most diverse generation ever to forget this whole 'diversity' thingThat’s what DeSantis and his supporters would call “progress,” and they’re absolutely white. If there’s one thing we know about the current crop of Generation Z college students, according to the Pew Research Center, it’s that they “are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation.”
Story by MillaFlorida is awaiting Ron DeSantis to sign a bill allowing death sentences on jury votes of 8-4 rather than unanimously. This will put Florida on the map as the most extreme death penalty state, and people are not happy about it. DeSantis has been pushing for this bill since the Parkland shooting In Stoneman Douglas ...DeSantis has been pushing for this bill since the Parkland shootingIn Stoneman Douglas high school shooting in 2018, Nikolas Cruz shot 14 students and three staff members. Cruz, who was 19 then, received 34 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. The case was closed in November 2022, and since then, DeSantis has been pushing for a death sentence without a unanimous jury.
Story by Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats promised this week to pursue stronger ethics rules for the Supreme Court in the wake of reports that Justice Clarence Thomas participated in luxury vacations and a real-estate deal with a top GOP donor. Republicans made clear they oppose that effort strongly. Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said lax ethical standards have created a lack of public confidence in the nation’s highest court.
Story by Matthew ChapmanAnewly-signed bill by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that sharply cracks down on the ability of immigrants to work is setting off alarm bells in the state's agriculture industry which relies heavily on immigrant labor, reported Scripps News West Palm on Monday."From farming to construction, the law is expected to have a wide-ranging impact on a number of industries vital to Florida's economy," said the report. "Some farm workers are already too scared to go to work and are considering leaving the state, which could cause a huge staffing crisis for Florida agriculture."Among other things, the bill institutes new state-level penalties for transporting undocumented immigrants to Florida, imposes new requirements on certain companies to check immigration status, and renders out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants void in the state.It also adds another $12 million to the "migrant relocation" program that DeSantis controversially used to round up migrants in Texas and fly them to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
by Aleks PhillipsClaims that a member of Republican congressman Paul Gosar's staff has "extensive" links to far-right personality Nick Fuentes and his America First movement have raised questions.A report by the independent news outlet Talking Points Memo on Sunday alleged that the digital director of the Arizona representative, Wade Searle, was a "devotee of Fuentes" who had appeared as a supporter at a rally of his.Gosar has previously faced criticism for attending Fuentes' conferences and has been accused of promoting antisemitic content—which his team has denied, arguing the congressman is an ardent supporter of Jews.The latest allegations raise questions as to whether Gosar was aware of any of the alleged links between his staff and Fuentes, the extent to which Searle was or is involved in the America First movement, and how Gosar will respond to the allegations.
Story by Alex HendersonJustice Clarence Thomas has been controversial throughout his 32 years on the U.S. Supreme Court, but he has suffered especially bad publicity in 2022 and 2023 — so bad that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) has even been calling for his impeachment.First came revelations that his wife, far-right GOP activist Ginni Thomas, had tried to help Republicans overturn the 2020 presidential election results despite the fact that President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump by more than 7 million votes. Then came a series of reports from ProPublica focusing on Justice Thomas' relationship with billionaire megadonor Harlan Crow.According to ProPublica, Justice Thomas has, for "over 20 years," been "treated to luxury vacations" by Crow and failed to report them. Nor did the justice report that Crow bought property from him and paid his grandnephew's tuition in a private boarding school.
Story by MillaRon DeSantis, a likely candidate for the president in 2024, appears to be pandering to Trump’s MAGA crowds as Florida’s governor joined the Pro-Russian propaganda.DeSantis declared that US support for Ukraine is not a “vital” national interest, which enraged many Republican senators.Republican Senators Vs. DeSantisSouth Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham spoke to CNN, explaining that if Putin isn’t stopped, this will go further, and adding, “To say this doesn’t matter is to say that war crimes don’t matter,”Sen. John Cornyn from Texas also wanted answers. He stated, “Gov. DeSantis is a veteran. He’s a smart guy. I think he’s a been a very good governor, and I don’t understand him saying that Ukraine isn’t important to the United States.”Sen. Marco Rubio said in a radio interview, “It’s not a territorial dispute in the sense that any more than it would be a territorial dispute if the United States decided that it wanted to invade Canada or take over the Bahamas.”
Story by Steve BenenAs the debt ceiling deadline approaches, and anxieties grow that this might be the time that congressional Republicans push the nation over the default cliff, President Joe Biden routinely tries to remind the American public about the significance of the danger. The Democrat published a tweet on the subject on Saturday morning.“Default would erase millions of jobs, trigger a recession, hit retirement accounts, and increase borrowing costs,” Biden wrote. “It’s not an option.” This didn’t seem especially controversial. In fact, every word of the message was true. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was nevertheless unimpressed, publishing this tweet on Saturday, which read in part:In other words, as the Georgia Republican sees it, Covid lockdowns created the same conditions in 2020 that the president is warning about now: erasing millions of jobs, triggering a recession, etc.
Story by Tom BoggioniGOP lawmakers attempting to dent President Joe Biden's re-election prospects have been increasing their attacks on him by blaming him for an assortment of ills that will inflame their followers, MSNBC political analyst Steve Benen pointed out Monday.The only problem, he said, is that the sins they claim Biden has been committing were actually policies that occurred on Donald Trump's watch.In his column for MSNBC, he noted that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) attacked Biden as she worried about the loss of jobs as the debt crisis worsens, by writing, "You did all of that during your Communist COVID shutdowns. Don’t do it again to the American people Joe.” However, as Benen pointed out, the lockdowns happened during the Trump administration.
Story by Igor DeryshHouse Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., claimed on Sunday that the panel cannot track down a key informant in the Republicans' probe into the Biden family's business dealings. Republicans have repeatedly pushed corruption allegations against the Bidens that have frustrated even Fox News hosts. "You don't have any facts," host Steve Doocy told Comer last week.Fox News host Maria Bartiromo pressed Comer on the evidence on Sunday. "You also spoke with an informant who gave you all of this information," she said. "Where is that informant today? Where are these whistleblowers?" "Well, unfortunately, we can't track down the informant," Comer replied. "We're hopeful that the informant is still there. The whistleblower knows the informant. The whistleblower is very credible."
Story by Sarah K. BurrisLast week, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) fumbled some comments about white supremacy in the military. According to Tuberville, they're nothing more than Americans. Since then, he's tried to explain away the comments. First, he asked how one defines a white nationalist. He then claimed he was just being sarcastic. Finally, he pivoted to another topic, complaining that people call supporters of Donald Trump white nationalists.Speaking to MSNBC on Sunday, the political panel lamented that Republicans have grown increasingly accepting of radical right-wing extremism and extremists themselves. Democratic Strategist Don Calloway explained Tuberville's "entire career has been made on the backs of mostly Black, unpaid labor."
Story by Tom BoggioniAfter watching a clip of House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) admitting on Fox News on Sunday that he has "lost" his key "informant" in his pursuit of President Joe Biden's family to a stunned Maria Bartiromo, the MSNBC "Morning Joe" panel reacted with a mixture of incredulity and laughter at his blundering efforts to date.After sharing the clip, "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough sat and laughed before referencing Tom Clancy's "The Hunt for Red October," and smirking, "So, comrade, you're telling me you lost another submarine?""I mean, come on," he continued. "You lost an informant? You lost the informant! The guy you claimed gave you all this information, that you built this entire charade on?"Conservative Charlie Sykes jumped in with another literary reference, adding, "Yeah, the hunt for the great white whale isn't going well, is it?"
Story by Andrew StantonFox News host Arthel Neville asked Representative Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican, about the difference between Hunter Biden and Ivanka Trump profiting from their businesses while their fathers were in office on Sunday.Republicans, who won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives this past November, have focused their efforts on investigating the Biden administration, including probes into the Biden family's businesses. Specifically, they have emphasized the foreign financial dealings of Hunter Biden, the president's son, raising concerns about corruption.The Republican-led House Oversight Committee on Wednesday released a 36-page memo accusing members of the Biden family of earning millions of dollars from foreign businesses, including those associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during Biden's term as vice president under former President Barack Obama. Democrats, however, have disputed that the report found any evidence of misconduct from the president.
Story by David EdwardsFox News host Arthel Neville asked Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) why Republicans were not investigating the millions of dollars Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner made while Donald Trump was president.Burchett and House Republicans have spent months looking into money paid to the Biden family while now-President Joe Biden was vice president. They claim that the Biden family was paid $10 million by foreign entities while he was vice president."When the Biden family went to mob school, I believe they fell asleep during the money laundering because it is very clear where the money is coming from, the communist Chinese and many of our enemies across this world," Burchett said on Sunday.Neville wondered why the Trump family did not face the same scrutiny from Republicans.
Story by Steve BenenWhile the details of federal budgetary policy, the broad outline of the debt ceiling crisis is relatively straightforward: The narrow House Republican majority has a series of far-right demands they accept Democrats in the Senate and the White House to accept. If President Joe Biden and his allies refuse to pay the ransom, GOP leaders say they’ll use the debt ceiling to crash the economy on purpose.There’s growing chatter, however, about a provocative alternative in which Biden could work around Congress to free the hostage. Circling back to our recent coverage, the 14th Amendment solution is sometimes derided as a “gimmick,” but it’s rooted in a relatively straightforward reading of the constitutional text, which states that “the validity of the public debt of the United States ... shall not be questioned.”
Story by Zoë Richards and Alexandra Bacallao and Ryan Nobles and Kyle StewartAformer prosecutor who once oversaw the Manhattan District Attorney Office’s investigation into former President Donald Trump frustrated House Republicans on Friday by repeatedly saying during a deposition that he would not answer their questions about the DA's probe.Mark Pomerantz spent roughly six hours with members of the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee, which is investigating Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's prosecution of Trump.In a his opening statement, obtained by NBC News, Pomerantz blasted the inquiry as “political theater” and condemned the panel's use of a subpoena to compel his participation.“This deposition is for show,” Pomerantz said. “We are gathered here because Donald Trump’s supporters would like to use these proceedings to attempt to obstruct and undermine the criminal case pending against him, and to harass, intimidate, and discredit anyone who investigates or charges him.”Pomerantz also said it would be improper for him to provide information about an ongoing investigation.
Story by Shanthi RexalineThere was no surprise here as, expectedly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a Senate bill to prohibit the use of a federally-adopted central bank digital currency, or CBDC.What Happened: "The legislation I signed today makes Florida the first state in the nation to protect individuals from government surveillance in their personal finances through a CBDC," said DeSantis on Twitter.The governor clarified that the move was meant to protect consumers against the efforts to impose a CBDC, which would shift purchasing power from consumers to the government. "Florida is siding with individual consumers," he added.
Story by Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — Facing growing pressure to show progress in their investigations, House Republicans on Wednesday detailed what they say are concerning new findings about President Joe Biden’s family members and their finances. Meanwhile, though, in a new report Republicans conceded that no evidence has emerged that the president engaged in misconduct or illegal activity.The smoking gun, according to the GOP, is recently obtained financial records connected to the president’s son Hunter Biden, brother James Biden and a growing number of associates who received millions of dollars in payments from foreign entities in China and Romania. They suggest, without evidence, that the payments were part of a wide-ranging scheme to enrich themselves off the family name.To help them get here, Congressional Republicans relied on more than 150 suspicious-activity reports as a roadmap to follow what they call the Bidens’ complicated money trail.‘Congressman Comer has a history of playing fast and loose with the facts and spreading baseless innuendo while refusing to conduct his so-called “investigations” with legitimacy.’ — Ian Sams, White House
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