Politics

“At this point, an inquiry is different from an impeachment vote and is another tool in the toolbox. But I will tell you, every time we walk the plank, we are putting moderate members, members that won Biden districts, we are putting those seats at risk for 2024. We are putting the majority at risk. “And it’s not just impeachment …

“First of all, I mean, I think a lot of this stuff when he hits me with it with juvenile insults, I think that helps me. I don’t think voters like that. I think they look at it and they realize, like, you know what, that’s not effective. And so I don’t think it’s effective. So I actually don’t mind …

“We have to move forward. We’ve got to quit living in the past, and I don’t want there to be all of this division over the fact that we have a president serving years in jail over a documents trial. “None of us want to be talking about indictments. I don’t even know if it’s the third, fourth, or fifth …

The Hill reports: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Sunday predicted that by the time the GOP primary candidates are standing on the debate stage in late August, former President Trump would be “out on bail in four different jurisdictions.” Christie, a GOP presidential rival to Trump, was asked to respond to Trump’s latest comments during a rally …

Congress Minutes reports: An eclectic group of House lawmakers is asking Speaker Kevin McCarthy to establish a special committee with subpoena power to investigate “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena” or UAPs, commonly known as UFOs. The bipartisan group includes Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.). “No governmental program, no matter how sensitive, can …

NPR reports: “I understand that late last night a member of the House majority thought it appropriate to curse at some of these young people,” Schumer said Thursday on the Senate floor. “I was shocked when I heard about it. I am further shocked at his refusal to apologize.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed with Schumer, adding “everybody …

“We can embrace our role as leader of the free world to confront Russian aggression and Chinese provocations with a new military fitted to the challenges in the 21st century. And we can end the political correctness at the Pentagon, including reinstituting a ban on transgender personnel in the United States military.” – Mike Pence, to the cheers of the …

The Associated Press reports: A federal judge in Montana temporarily blocked a new law that restricts drag performances just days before thousands of people are expected to attend Montana Pride’s 30th anniversary celebration in Helena. The way the law is written “will disproportionally harm not only drag performers, but any person who falls outside traditional gender and identity norms,” including …

Florida Politics reports: Ron DeSantis isn’t ready to tap Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after all. Instead, the Florida Governor and 2024 presidential candidate envisions the Democrat anti-vaxxer as part of a “bipartisan task force” to “hold them accountable.” “He wouldn’t be the head …

The Associated Press reports: Justice Samuel Alito says Congress lacks the power to impose a code of ethics on the Supreme Court, making him the first member of the court to take a public stand against proposals in Congress to toughen ethics rules for justices in response to increased scrutiny of their activities beyond the bench. “I know this is …

Politico reports: Rep. Abigail Spanberger , a centrist Democrat from Virginia who sits in a must-win seat for her party in 2024, has told multiple people she will run for governor in 2025. Spanberger, a powerhouse fundraiser who recently earned a spot at House Democrats’ leadership table, has been laying the groundwork for a statewide run for months — even …

NewsNation reports: Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the Biden administration has denied his request for Secret Service protection. In a statement posted on Twitter, Kennedy said the denial came after a lengthy delay. “Typical turnaround time for pro forma protection requests from presidential candidates is 14-days,” Kennedy wrote. “After 88-days of no response and after several follow-ups …

Florida Politics reports: Citing a historical precedent, Ron DeSantis is saying that if elected President, he’d likely pardon Donald Trump for any convictions the former President may suffer in ongoing federal criminal cases. The Governor pointed to President Gerald Ford offering Richard Nixon clemency after Nixon resigned his office in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the subsequent cover-up. …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: If it hadn’t been for a fender bender on Interstate 75 near Chattanooga, Tennessee, Tuesday morning, most folks wouldn’t know that Gov. Ron DeSantis was using state government vehicles for his 2024 run for president. Tuesday’s four-vehicle collision on the way to a campaign fundraiser draws a curtain back on the campaign’s use of state resources. …

CNN reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to serve the rest of the 118th Congress as the GOP leader, the Kentucky Republican’s office said in a statement Friday. Questions about the future of McConnell, 81, were swiftly raised this week after he froze for 30 seconds during a news conference. The statement doesn’t address his plans in the next …

“This guy has been a one-man crime wave. Look, he’s earned every one of them. If you look at it, every one of these is self-inflicted. And that’s why, you know, do I think that prosecutors exercise prosecutorial judgment in discretion in some respects that are questionable? Yeah – and they always have. But what I say to people all …

Florida Politics reports: The Florida Legislature could be getting its first openly performing drag queen. Michael Elgin Travis, who performs as “Erika Rose” in Key West, has filed to challenge Republican incumbent, Rep. Jim Mooney in Monroe County’s House District 120. He said the inspiration to run for state office hit while he went to Tallahassee with friends to testify …

NBC News reports: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., appeared confused during a vote on a defense appropriations bill Thursday, prompting a fellow Democratic senator to step in. During a Senate Appropriations Committee markup of bills Thursday morning, Feinstein seemed to stumble on a vote. Instead of saying the expected response of “aye” or “nay,” she began to deliver a speech expressing …

Reuters reports: The U.S. State Department on Thursday ordered non-emergency government personnel and family members to leave Haiti as soon as possible, citing “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure.” The State Department said U.S. citizens not working for the government should also leave Haiti as soon as possible “by commercial or other privately available transportation options.” “Kidnapping …

The Hill reports: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) slammed the new charges brought against former President Trump in the case over his handling of classified documents Thursday, arguing that “we cannot allow this to stand.” “It’s so brazen right now, what they’re doing,” Hawley said on Fox News. “It is really a subversion of the rule of law. I mean, they’re …