Republicans

The Miami Herald reports: The $10 million that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration diverted to a state-created charity last year consisted of Medicaid dollars owed to state and federal taxpayers, contrary to what the governor and other officials have publicly asserted. Three years ago, lawyers working with the state drew up a settlement agreement that said Florida’s largest Medicaid contractor, Centene, …

Raw Story reports: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) pleaded with Trump to “reconsider” his denial of disaster relief after tornadoes hit Arkansas. Cotton joined the Arkansas delegation in writing a letter directly to Trump to support Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ request for funds. On Friday, Sanders appealed the federal government’s denial in a letter telling Trump that her state was in …

NBC News reports: Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., defended tech billionaire Elon Musk at a town hall Monday night at which he was grilled about DOGe’ss cost-cutting measures and the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives and its approach to the Israel-Hamas war. After a man in the audience shouted that Donalds ought to read a particular book, Donalds fired …

The Mississippi Free Press reports: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has declared April 2025 as Confederate Heritage Month in Mississippi, keeping alive a 32-year-old tradition that began in 1993.  A member of the Rankin Greys, a Sons of Confederate Veterans camp based in Florence, Mississippi, announced the proclamation in a post in the organization’s Facebook group on April 18. The SCV …

“Within these agencies, a lot of them are going to cover their tracks and cover things up and destroy a lot of evidence. It’s gonna be very frustrating for the American public because this is their information. They deserve the truth. It’s been hidden from them way too long. “Start with Building 7. I don’t know if you can find …

“I had concerns from the get-go because Pete Hegseth didn’t have a lot of experience. I like him on Fox. But does he have the experience to lead one of the largest organizations in the world? That’s a concern. “If it’s true that he had another [Signal] chat with his family, about the missions against the Houthis, it’s totally unacceptable. …

Los Angeles’s ABC affiliate reports: A Southern California mayor facing a recall effort is coming under fire after his suggestion to ending his city’s homelessness issue was “giving them all the fentanyl they want.” The comments were made by longtime Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris during a city council meeting on Feb. 25. The comments have surfaced in recent days since …

DANA BASH: “You’re not only a lawmaker, you are an attorney. Do you think the federal government has any legal authority to do that with American citizens?” TOM EMMER: “I think right now what he’s doing is absolutely legal, which is removing those that do not have legal status in this country. That have proven to be the worst of …

Mediaite reports: In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, Sen. John Kennedy called out the president’s proposal to send domestic criminals away. “Do you think the law allows the President of the United States to send US citizens to a foreign prison?” Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker asked Kennedy. “No, ma’am,” Kennedy said. “Nor does it — …

The Associated Press reports: Ryan Kelley [photo] thought he had a good shot at becoming Michigan’s governor in 2022. Three years later, Kelley says, people ask him all the time to run for governor again. In today’s America, where Trump returned to the White House and within hours pardoned some 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters, Kelley’s two-month prison sentence for his …

Axios reports: Another House Republican committee chair said Friday he will not grant Democrats’ request to lead a congressional delegation to El Salvador to check on the status of deportees being held there. Republicans sent their own official delegation to the country this week to visit the notorious maximum security prison housing deportees and express their support for President Trump’s …

The Miami Herald reports: A federal judge on Friday said she was “astounded” that Florida authorities violated her order blocking them from enforcing a new state law that targets undocumented immigrants who enter the state. During a hearing in Miami federal court, it was disclosed that as many as 15 arrests have been made by Florida law enforcement officers over …

Little Rock’s ABC affiliate reports: Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed the bill that would require the display of the national motto and the Ten Commandments in public classrooms across all education levels and in public buildings operated by taxpayer funds. Senate Bill 433 (SB433) requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in a size that is legible to …

The Hill reports: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who finished in second place to President Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, has distinguished himself from MAGA World by declaring his skepticism of long-term tariffs, remaining a hawk on Russia and coming out against proposals to tax the rich. By calling out tariffs as “taxes on American consumers” and sticking to …

The Birmingham News reports: House Bills 67 and 244, both described by supporters as parental rights legislation, would ban drag performances and cross-dressing in schools and would expand Alabama’s current “Don’t Say Gay” law to include older students. Lawmakers approved HB67, the anti-drag bill, on a 76-9 vote with no discussion. HB244, filed by Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, drew some …

NBC News reports: The Supreme Court on Monday is set to hear arguments in a case challenging a provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires private insurers to cover health care screenings, tests and checkups for free. Experts say the court’s ruling in the case, called Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, could have sweeping consequences for patient access to preventive health …

“Casey and I stand in solidarity and are praying for the entire Florida State community. We’re mourning the two individuals who lost their lives in this tragic attack, and we wish well of those who are currently recovering in the hospital. “This killer must and will be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law. I want to …

Florida Politics reports: A Zoom meeting held by First Lady Casey DeSantis’ embattled Hope Florida was interrupted as the public bombarded the Board with a Nazi flag, racial slurs and pornography. The Hope Florida Foundation struggled to control the meeting and apparently didn’t have security measures in place to prevent trolls from sharing inappropriate content. “It looks like some of …

“They’re criminals. They broke our laws. They need to suffer our punishment. Look, I don’t want Donald Trump teaching my daughter’s Sunday school class, but doggone I like him in the White House because he understands the rule of law, I feel like. If it’s a homegrown criminal, I have no problem. Now, we’re studying the laws right now. Pam …

The Texas Tribune reports: The Texas House gave initial approval early Thursday to a bill that would create a $1 billion private school voucher program, crossing a historic milestone and bringing Gov. Greg Abbott’s top legislative priority closer than ever to reaching his desk. The lower chamber signed off on its voucher proposal, Senate Bill 2, on an 85-63 vote. …