Politics

The Wall Street Journal reports: Donald Trump has gained command of the GOP presidential-nomination race over Ron DeSantis, a new Wall Street Journal poll finds, with the former president building support across most parts of the primary electorate as the Florida governor has struggled on the national stage. Mr. DeSantis’s 14-point advantage in December has fallen to a 13-point deficit, …

Florida Politics reports: A controversial defamation bill is dead in the Legislature. Sources in both the House and Senate confirm they have ceased negotiations on the measure. The legislation, which drew criticism from media voices across the political spectrum, would have lowered the threshold to sue media outlets and others. The bill would have lowered the thresholds for suing journalists …

CNBC reports: The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday invited Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to testify next month before the panel about ethics reform of the court. The invitation to Roberts by Sen. Dick Dubin, D-Ill., for the May 2 appearance came in the wake of a series of revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas that have …

Just in from Republican US Rep. Michael Waltz: Today I am proud to endorse Donald J. Trump for President. Under his leadership, President Trump secured our southern border, created seven million jobs with record-low unemployment, brought manufacturing back to the U.S., made America energy independent and affordable, brokered historic Middle East peace deals, destroyed the ISIS caliphate, launched the Space …

“What’s happening right now in Miami and Fort Lauderdale with gasoline is crazy. You can’t find gasoline anywhere. This has been going on since Sunday. And they’re blaming it on the floods that impacted the port, and I know that was a factor. “But it’s been four days. This should’ve been figured out by now, and they’re blaming it on …

Congress Minutes reports: Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted to confirm Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk. And boy, does she regret it. Sure, she disagrees with his decision to try and block access to abortion medication. But a Washington Post report that he switched out his name on an article not disclosed during his confirmation process criticizing Obama administration policies on abortion and transgender …

Politico reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ iron-clad grip on the Republican-controlled Legislature may be slipping amid growing frustration among GOP legislators. Republican lawmakers are stalling a handful of his key remaining legislative priorities with just weeks left in the annual session. And what started out as whispers in private about unhappiness over the governor are starting to become louder even …

The New York Times reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and his allies are expanding his political footprint in key states that will begin the 2024 presidential nominating contest, with the main super PAC backing his bid making hires in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The Iowa strategist, Sophie Crowell, managed the successful re-election campaign of Representative Ashley Hinson, …

The Hill reports: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton trolled Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) with a family photo from Disney, saying “I know whose side I’m on.” Clinton posted the photo as DeSantis’ ongoing feud with Disney was heightened after he said Monday that the stat might consider building a prison or another park near the land owned by …

NPR reports: Senate Republicans blocked an effort by Democrats to replace ailing California Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee temporarily as she recovers from shingles at home. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., asked to move a resolution replacing her, at her request, until she can return, with Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. The top Republican on the Judiciary …

Florida Politics reports: U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee is the first member of Florida’s congressional delegation to endorse Gov. Ron DeSantis for President. The Thonotosassa Republican issued a statement of support months after leaving the Governor’s administration to run for Congress. “As Ron DeSantis’s Secretary of State, I had the honor of witnessing firsthand his unparalleled leadership under pressure, his character …

NBC News reports: Key Senate Democrats are eyeing a hearing about Supreme Court ethics in the wake of revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas receiving previously undisclosed gifts and luxury travel from billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the majority whip and Judiciary Committee chair, said the “20 years of gift travel on yachts and chartered planes was …

The Des Moines Register reports: Iowa children would be allowed to work longer hours, including in jobs that are currently prohibited such as serving alcohol, under a bill passed by the Iowa Senate early Tuesday morning after a marathon session. The Senate voted 32-17 just before 5 a.m. Tuesday to pass Senate File 542. Two Republicans, Sens. Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett, …

The Associated Press reports: Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was back at work in the U.S. Capitol on Monday, almost six weeks after a fall at a Washington-area hotel and extended treatment for a concussion. The longtime Kentucky senator, 81, has been recovering at home since he was released from a rehabilitation facility March 25. McConnell arrived at the Capitol …

The Daily Beast reports: The House of Mouse seemingly fired a shot across the bow at Ron DeSantis on Monday afternoon, promoting Disneyland’s first-ever “Pride Nite” event in a tweet just hours after the Florida governor outlined new legislation seeking to wrangle the company. The California theme park’s after-hours LGBTQ+ celebration, which will be held in June, was unveiled last …

NBC News reports: Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman returned to work on Monday at the U.S. Senate. His vehicle pulled up to the Capitol at 2:30 p.m., and he got out wearing his familiar attire of a hoodie, gym shorts and sneakers. He didn’t take any questions from reporters, only saying, “It’s great to be back.” Fetterman has been away from …

The Dallas Morning News reports: “I think it’s a political hit job,” Crow said. “I don’t think the media cares really much about Harlan Crow, and I think they’re right. They shouldn’t care much about Harlan Crow.” “But I think that the media, and this ProPublica group in particular, funded by leftists, has an agenda to destabilize the [Supreme] Court. …

CNN reports: Justice Clarence Thomas intends to amend his financial disclosure forms to reflect a 2014 real estate deal he made with a GOP megadonor – an acknowledgment that the transaction should have been disclosed almost a decade ago, a source close to Thomas tells CNN. The deal between Thomas and Harlan Crow, a Dallas real estate magnate and long-time …

Axios reports: In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said the state “secured an emergency stockpile” of up to 2 million doses of misoprostol. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) requested the University of Massachusetts purchase around 15,000 doses of mifepristone which the state says will “ensure sufficient coverage for more than a year.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) stockpiled 150,000 …

Axios reports: The super PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis today debuts its first TV ad, charging straight at former President Trump with the loaded question: “What happened to Donald Trump?” Never Back Down, the pro-DeSantis group, launches the ad, “Fight Democrats, Not Republicans,” on “Fox News Sunday.” The ad is the starting shot for a vicious fight between the …