Politics

GOP Sen. Tom Cotton says he’s serious about making Dick Cheney the next Speaker of the House. Via Politico: Yep, Sen. Tom Cotton told us in an interview that with all the instability in the House leadership, it’s time to turn to the former vice president. “Look, these are trying times for our nation. It’s important to have a steady …

One day ahead of the first Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton is holding a strong lead in new polls out of South Carolina and Nevada. CNN reports: Clinton has the support of 50% of those who say they are likely to attend the Democratic caucus scheduled for February 20 in Nevada — which plays host to the first debate among the …

Over the weekend a Republican whistleblower earned national headlines with his declaration that the Benghazi investigation is meant to derail Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. This morning the GOP is attempting some damage control with yet another ad which calls Clinton a liar.

Hillary Clinton will be center stage, literally, at tomorrow’s Democratic debate. CNN reports: The position of the five candidates on the stage at the CNN Facebook Democratic Debate in Las Vegas is based on polls since Aug. 1 and was announced on CNN’s “State of the Union.” On either side of Clinton, the highest-polling candidate, are Bernie Sanders (to Clinton’s right) …

With some swipes at Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Via the Hollywood Reporter: Fox & Friends took a look at the Planned Parenthood controversy during Saturday Night Live‘s cold open. In the segment, Steve Doocy (Taran Killam), Elisabeth Hasselbeck (Vanessa Bayer) and Brian Kilmeade (Bobby Moynihan) discussed the opening for the Speaker of the House. “I don’t know why they don’t let them …

At a Georgia press conference today Donald Trump was asked about the secret to his popularity. Trump: “Honestly, it’s my looks. I’m very handsome.”

Andrew Sullivan appeared last night on Real Time With Bill Maher where he declared Hillary Clinton to “unbelievably useless” and a “talent-free hack.” More from Mediaite: Sullivan argued as Clinton’s fiercest critic, and frequently drew disapproving jeers from Bill Maher’s audience. Sullivan tore into Clinton’s time at the State Department, identifying the “disastrous Libya invasion which repeated every mistake that …

This afternoon Breitbart is running a live poll of its readers, asking for their pick to be the next House Speaker. Unsurprisingly the current leader is Tea Party favorite Trey Gowdy. The poll is open to all so if you have any suggestions of your own, here’s the link. Heh.

President Obama reportedly may circumvent Congress and issue an executive order requiring expanded background checks for gun purchases from high-volume dealers. The Washington Post reports: The proposed executive action aims to impose background checks on individuals who buy from dealers who sell a significant number of guns each year. The current federal statute dictates that those who are “engaged in …

The Log Cabin Republicans today salute GOP members of Congress whom they consider to be allies of LGBT movement. Named in the animated “Superfriends” clip: Rep. Mike Coffman, Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, Rep. Charlie Dent, Rep. Bob Dold, Rep. Chris Gibson, Rep. Richard Hanna, Sen. Mark Kirk, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Sen. Rob Portman, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

The Hill reports: Newt Gingrich said he would consider taking up the Speaker’s gavel again if called upon to by House Republicans. The former Speaker initially denied any interest in a return to Congress, but when pressed in an interview with radio show host Sean Hannity on Thursday, admitted he would consider it if he had the votes. “If you …

Mediaite recaps: Maddow suggested that since none of the remaining candidates may be able to get 218 votes and the chances of conservatives compromising is low, she suggested either Nancy Reagan or Ted Cruz or the Duck Dynasty guy or even returning champion Newt Gingrich because apparently that’s a thing now. But then she warned about the “ominous” option: what …

Move over Brian Brown, Donald Trump says that HE is the reason for for Kevin McCarthy’s unexpected withdrawal from the House Speaker race. Because of course. Business Insider reports: Trump, the Republican front-runner, said McCarthy made the right decision because he wasn’t tough enough. “Great, Kevin McCarthy drops out of SPEAKER race. We need a really smart and really tough …

At a hastily organized press conference, Rep. Kevin McCarthy today conceded that he has dropped out of the House Speaker race partially due to his accidentally telling the truth about the Benghazi investigation. In so many words, that is. Rachel Maddow will be tickled that McCarthy had one of his famous mouth-fumbling moments right off the bat. Watch below.

Murdoch’s tweet is not going over well. CNN reports: Murdoch’s use of the word “real” flabbergasted many online onlookers, some of whom concluded that the media mogul was questioning Obama’s race and identity. Obama, the first black president of the United States, has also been dogged by false accusations that he isn’t a U.S. citizen. What did Murdoch mean? “We …

Rep. Alan Grayson has filed a House ethics complaint against Republicans Kevin McCarthy and Trey Gowdy over the never-ending Benghazi investigation. Via The Hill: “The Benghazi Committee has been a political dog-and-pony show for its entire 17-month history,” Grayson said in a statement. “It has been clear even to casual observers that the purpose of the committee was never to …

After Donald Trump launched yet another serious of tweets against Politico, they trolled him right back today with a link to their story titled, “The 199 Most Donald Trump Things Donald Trump Has Ever Said.” As the title indicates, their story is a recounting of verbatim Donald Trump quotes over the last few years. A sample: “I have black guys …

Tomorrow House Republicans will meet behind closed doors to select their nominee to succeed Speaker John Boehner. The full House will vote on October 29th, but observers note that none of the declared candidates, at the moment, likely have the 218 votes needed to win. If no candidate reaches that threshold, Boehner would remain Speaker despite his plan to resign. …

A new TV ad urging Joe Biden to join the 2016 race debuted this morning on The Today Show. The New York Times reports: The group trying to persuade Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to enter the presidential race is set to broadcast an unusual commercial on national television in which Mr. Biden recounts how his life was shaped …

Bill Clinton appeared on the The Late Show last night where Stephen Colbert asked him about Donald Trump. CNN recaps: Regarding Trump, Clinton offered some backhanded praise, complimenting him as a “master brander.” He suggested that the GOP frontrunner’s success has come because “he’s the most interesting character out there.” The former president highlighted the appeal of Trump’s brusque, politically …