Politics

In reaction to swelling discussion about the oversized influence small states have on national politics due to their mandated two US Senators, many suggested “fixes” are being floated. Here’s one from Wharton professor Eric Orts: Let’s allocate one seat to each state automatically to preserve federalism, but apportion the rest based on population. Start with the total U.S. population, then …

The Hill reports:  Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory ruled out a possible run in the state’s 9th District on Wednesday, saying that Republican Mark Harris deserves a chance to “get the facts out” about alleged fraud in the disputed race. But McCrory also opened the door to a potential gubernatorial bid in 2020 or a Senate run in 2022, …

“I think it sounds like a lot of people are running. The main issue for the Democrats is not going to be the articulation of the negative, it is going to be the articulation of the positive, and credibility. Of all the names that are out there, I think Joe Biden has the best case because he brings the most …

From the right wing Washington Examiner: Washington is already taking sides in the battle between President Trump and incoming Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, with Trump ally Sen. Rand Paul slamming the 2012 GOP presidential nominee. Paul tweeted that Romney is a “Big Government Republican” and faux conservative. In reacting to Romney’s attack in the Washington Post on Trump, Paul also …

Politico reports: House Democrats are “absolutely” united behind presumed incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Tim Ryan said Wednesday, putting the caucus in line behind the longtime Democratic leader as she prepares to face off against President Donald Trump on ending an ongoing government shutdown. Ryan (D-Ohio) has been among Pelosi’s most prominent critics, mounting a bid to unseat her as …

From the right wing Washington Examiner: Mitt Romney’s scorching critique of President Trump in a New Year’s Day op-ed has sparked a call from within the Republican National Committee to change party rules to protect Trump from any long-shot primary challenge in 2020. “Look, the political history is clear. No Republican president opposed for re-nomination has ever won re-election,” RNC …

Mike Allen reports at Axios: A wave of announcements, like the one Sen. Elizabeth Warren made on New Year’s Eve morning, is planned for the next few weeks. The hopefuls need to raise money, and need an organization for housing the aides they want to hire to take them off the hot 2020 job market. Look for announcements this month …

Reuters reports: Brazil’s newly inaugurated President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday his election had freed the country from “socialism and political correctness,” and he vowed to tackle corruption, crime and economic mismanagement in Latin America’s largest nation. Bolsonaro, a former army captain turned lawmaker who openly admires Brazil’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship, promised in his first remarks as president to adhere …

The Daily Beast reports: Harry Reid, the former Senate Majority Leader who is suffering from pancreatic cancer, has given a rare interview in which he compares a “weird” President Trump unfavorably to mafia bosses who “are really good with what they do.” He told The New York Times: “Trump is an interesting person. He is not immoral but is amoral. …

From Romney’s op-ed in the Washington Post: The Trump presidency made a deep descent in December. The departures of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, the appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the president’s thoughtless claim that America has long been a “sucker” in …

Politico reports: Former President Obama took to Twitter on Tuesday to share his New Year’s message, saying “we’ve got a lot of work to do.” Over the weekend, the former president also shared a few stories about some of the young leaders he said inspired him in 2018. Obama ended his weekend series of tweets with the hope that his …

“Everybody is compared to Hitler. Everybody is compared to the Holocaust. Israel defending itself against Gaza rockets — oh, they’re Nazis. Anybody who compares Trump or anybody else to Hitler essentially is a Holocaust denier, because what they’re saying is, ‘Well, there were no gas chambers, there was no Auschwitz, there was no plan to kill six million Jews.’ They …

Via press release from the Pentagon: Under the direction of President Trump, the Department of Defense remains focused on safeguarding our nation. We have deep respect for Secretary Mattis’ lifetime of service, and it has been a privilege to serve as his deputy secretary. As acting secretary of defense, I now look forward to working with President Trump to carry …

The Independent reports: Hillary Clinton has branded 2018 a “dark time” for America in a New Year’s Instagram post. The Democrat former presidential candidate said she was “grateful to everyone who brought light into it” – including activists, journalists, election organisers, candidates and protesters. The former secretary of state called for more light in the coming year and a shared …

The Independent reports: President Donald Trump is wasting little time mocking the White House bid of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). “She did very badly in proving that she was of Indian heritage,” Trump told Fox News host Pete Hegseth. “That didn’t work out too well. I think you have more than she does and maybe I do, too. And I …

The Arizona Daily Star reports: State Rep. Mark Finchem wants to ban public and charter school teachers from spreading “controversial” political, racial and religious messages in their classrooms. The Oro Valley Republican introduced House Bill 2002 in the Legislature last week. If it passes, teachers could face consequences as severe as losing their jobs for engaging in any “political, ideological …

Reuters reports: The Republican National Committee (RNC) on Monday quickly criticized Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as a “far-left obstructionist” in the wake of her announcement that she intends to explore a presidential bid in 2020. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel called Warren “out of touch” and seized on Warren’s claim to Native American ancestry, deeming it a “phony claim to minority …

The Associated Press reports: House Democrats are unveiling legislation to reopen the government without money for President Donald Trump’s border wall. The House is preparing to vote on the package Thursday when the new Congress convenes. This is according to an aide who was not authorized to discuss the plan publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. It will include …

“Our Department’s leadership, civilian and military, remains in the best possible hands. I am confident that each of you remains undistracted from our sworn mission to support and defend the Constitution while protecting our way of life. Our Department is proven to be at its best when the times are most difficult. So keep the faith in our country and …

ABC News reports: Despite calls for refunds, new campaign filings show Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith kept $50,000 in donations from major companies like Walmart and Facebook in the wake of her controversial special election victory in November. The latest Federal Election Commission filing — released amid the government shutdown at the end of last week — showed that Republican Hyde-Smith …