Politics

Putin Meets With Leader Of Mercenary Wagner Group

The Associated Press reports: Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin days after a short-lived rebellion by the mercenary chief and his private army, the Kremlin’s spokesman said Monday. The three-hour meeting took place at the Kremlin on June 29 and also involved commanders from the military company Prigozhin founded, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Wagner mercenaries …

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Ramaswamy Offers 10% Commission For New Donors

Politico reports: It now pays to be a supporter of Vivek Ramaswamy’s presidential bid — at least for those who can convince their friends to click a link and donate. The 37-year-old Republican is launching the “Vivek Kitchen Cabinet,” a scheme that promises to pay participants 10 percent of any money they raise for his campaign. It’s the latest attention-grabbing …

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MI Republican “Kicked In The Balls” During GOP Brawl

The Huffington Post reports: A Republican meeting in Michigan turned into fight night on Saturday when two local GOP figures got into a physical brawl over access to the event. James Chapman, a Republican from Wayne County, told the Detroit News he was outside the meeting at the Doherty Hotel in Clare. He was hoping to get inside and jigged …

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Iowa Mailer Hails Trump As “Transgender Trailblazer”

Bleeding Heartland reports: July seems early for Iowa caucus dirty tricks, but desperate times call for desperate measures. As most polls show former President Donald Trump with a comfortable lead among Republicans in Iowa and nationwide, a mailing sent to some Iowa households this weekend purports to thank Trump “for standing up for LGBTQ+ rights!” The front side notes that …

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Doug Burgum: Abortion Should Be “Left To The States”

The Hill reports: GOP presidential candidate and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) said Sunday that he would not sign a federal abortion ban if he was elected to the White House. “Well, my position is that I support the Dobbs decision, and this is the decision that should be left to the states,” Burgum told NBC’s Chuck Todd on …

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Miami Paper: Canceled Conventions In Florida’s Blue Counties Are Part Of DeSantis’ “Own The Libs” Strategy

From the Miami Herald editorial board: Gov. Ron DeSantis has made no secret that his approach to governing is “You’re either with me or get the heck out.” He has signed laws and used state power against: teachers; transgender people; African Americans; women’s bodies; teachers and unions; university professors and academic freedom; universities that want to diversify their student body; …

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South FL Tourism Officials Report Canceled Conventions

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports: Broward County has lost more than a half-dozen conventions as their organizers cite the divisive political climate as their reason to stay out of Florida. The list was compiled by Visit Lauderdale, formerly known as the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Broward’s tourism arm said the lost conventions could have brought hotel stays …

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Trump Sticks Ernst With The Bill For Iowa Charity Event

The New York Times reports: Last month, Mr. Trump skipped the signature “Roast and Ride” event organized by Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa. His campaign had expressed interest in sending videotaped remarks, and Ms. Ernst’s operation then rented large screens for the purpose of showing them, but he never sent a video — leaving Ms. Ernst’s team without a recording, …

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Iowa GOP Schedules Nation’s First Caucus For Jan 15

The Des Moines Register reports: The Republican Party of Iowa will hold its first-in-the-nation presidential caucus on Jan. 15, the party announced Saturday. “We remain committed to maintaining Iowa’s cherished first-in-the-nation caucuses and look forward to holding a historic caucus in the coming months and defeating Joe Biden come November 2024,” Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said in …

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Raskin Opts For Reelection Instead Of US Senate Bid

The Hill reports: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) announced Friday that he would not run for outgoing Sen. Ben Cardin’s (D-Md.) open seat in 2024, instead opting to run for reelection. “At this moment, I believe the best way for me to make the greatest difference in American politics in 2024 and beyond is this: to run for reelection to the …

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Jimmy And Rosalynn Carter Celebrate 77th Anniversary

The Associated Press reports: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter are marking their 77th wedding anniversary with a quiet Friday at their south Georgia home, extending their record as the longest-married first couple ever as both nonagenarians face significant health challenges. The 39th president is 98 and has been in home hospice care since February. The former first lady is 95 and …

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Thin Ice: McCarthy Hasn’t Officially Endorsed Trump

Politico reports: Kevin McCarthy is risking Donald Trump’s wrath by not officially endorsing his third White House bid, but the speaker is also fulfilling an important mission: sparing the House GOP a civil war over 2024. While scores of McCarthy’s members have already backed Trump, plenty of other Republicans are steering clear of the polarizing former president in the GOP …

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DeSantis Blames Media And Mexico For Lousy Polls

Florida Politics reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to explain away disappointing polling numbers, blaming the “corporate media” and Mexico’s President Andrés López Obrador this time. During a Thursday night interview on Fox News Tonight, host Will Cain confronted the 2024 presidential candidate with polling that has seen DeSantis “between 10 and 20%,” “numbers that have stayed there for two months.” …

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Major Newspaper Chain Deletes All Comments Sections

Axios reports: MediaNews Group, the local newspaper company owned by Alden Global Capital, has shut down all of its comment sections as of July 1st, due to difficulties in moderating them, executives told Axios. MediaNews Group, also known as Digital First Media, is home to hundreds of weekly newspapers and dozens of daily newspapers, including major regional outlets such as …

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PAC For Miami Mayor Launches Campaign AI Chatbot

The Associated Press reports: A super PAC supporting Miami Mayor Francis Suarez ‘s run for the Republican presidential nomination has launched an artificial intelligence chatbot to answer questions about him, marking yet another example of how generative AI tools are being used in 2024 presidential campaigns. The bot unveiled Wednesday by SOS America PAC listens to a user’s questions and …

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Pence: I’d Consider Pardoning Trump If Found Guilty

USA Today reports: Former Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday it would only be appropriate to consider pardoning former President Donald Trump if Trump is found guilty of a crime. Pence, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, was asked by an Iowan at a Wednesday evening campaign stop in Sioux City whether he would consider pardoning Trump “like …

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Pence: The Wealthy Do “Pay Their Fair Share” [VIDEO]

The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports: Former Vice President Mike Pence told Iowa voters Wednesday that he “doesn’t buy” the argument that the wealthiest Americans do not pay their fair share of taxes. Pence addressed income taxes after one attendee asked about billionaires like Elon Musk’s and Jeff Bezos’ ability to avoid taxes, but everyday people are “stuck footing the bill.” …

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Florida GOP Will Require Trump And DeSantis To Sign Loyalty Pledge In Order To Appear On Primary Ballot

Politico reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump are finding that the price to make the 2024 Florida primary ballot is going up. All GOP candidates will have to pledge their loyalty to the eventual Republican nominee to make the March 19 primary, a contest that could tip the balance of the crowded race since Florida’s contest is …

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Iowa Gov Calls Special Session In Push To Ban Abortion

Via press release from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds: Today, Governor Reynolds announced she will convene the General Assembly of Iowa on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. for a special session with the sole purpose of enacting legislation that addresses abortion and protects unborn lives. “Iowans have elected representatives willing to stand up for the rights of the unborn …

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REPORT: Mercenary Leader Has Returned To Russia

The Associated Press reports: Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is in St. Petersburg and his Wagner troops have remained at the camps where they had stayed before a short-lived mutiny against Moscow, the president of Belarus said Thursday. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko helped broker a deal for Prigozhin to end his rebellion on June 24 in exchange for amnesty and …

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