Republicans

The Associated Press reports: A federal appeals court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit challenging first-in-the-nation law designed to place strict limits on drag shows, reversing a lower court ruling that deemed the statute unconstitutional and blocked its enforcement in part of the state. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Memphis-based LGBTQ+ theater company that filed the …

Florida Politics reports: The anti-recreational pot effort now has a name: Vote No on 3. The new political committee launched this week “with the full support of the Governor,” promising “a vigorous and full-throated campaign” against the ballot measure to legalize marijuana for adults 21 years old and older. Consensus Communications, which has prevailed in 19 ballot amendment campaigns, is …

Former Republican Sen. Ben Sasse posts to his X account: Dear Gator Nation and cherished friends, This isn’t an easy note to write but wanted to give you an update on our family. As many of you know, my wife Melissa suffered an aneurysm and series of strokes in 2007. Back then, the docs prepared us for the worst, but …

Yahoo News reports: Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan fired up an excited crowd with his WWF antics and references at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday. The former reality star called on voters to support Donald Trump, another veteran of reality TV, as he led the crowd in chants of “USA! USA!” and hammed it up for the cameras. …

Politico reports: Ever since Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was passed over to be former President Donald Trump’s running mate, people at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee have been gossiping about what his future might hold. For many, especially from Florida, the idea that he’d make a strong candidate for secretary of State in a future Trump administration is treated …

The Hill reports: Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) took his latest swipe at Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), stating the Florida lawmaker “looks very unhinged” after he taunted the former Speaker on the floor of the Republican National Convention this week. “He looks very unhinged. I mean, a lot of people have concerns about it. And I’m not sure if he …

Miami’s CBS affiliate reports: After Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would severely limit and regulate their industry, hemp executives across the state pledged $5 million in donations to the Republican Party of Florida, according to WhatsApp messages reviewed by CBS News Miami. “We know nothing in life is free and neither was this veto,” explained an introductory post …

Click2Houston reports: “When Biden took 50 acres of Texas border property to illegally process up to 5,000 illegal immigrants a day, I directed the Texas National Guard to take back our land and wire it shut,” Abbott said. He also accused the president of “welcoming into our country rapists, murderers, even terrorists.” Governor Abbott talked about Houston murder victim, Jocelyn …

The Texas Tribune reports: Pennsylvania GOP megadonor Jeff Yass kicked in another $4 million to Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year to boost the governor’s bid to unseat Texas House Republicans who oppose private school vouchers. The April 3 donation, revealed this week in a campaign finance report filed by Abbott, was Yass’ second major contribution to the GOP governor …

“For eight years, the media has been tearing President Trump apart. A good man who everybody loved before he ran. Imagine having a smear campaign going on about you for eight years. Pretty soon everyone wouldn’t like you. “I’m not going to sit here and go through all of the evidence of what happened. Do you believe Joe Biden won …

The Associated Press reports: JD Vance introduced himself to a national audience Wednesday after being chosen as Donald Trump’s running mate, sharing the story of his hardscrabble upbringing and making the case that his party best understands the challenges facing struggling Americans. Speaking to a packed arena at the Republican National Convention, the Ohio senator cast himself as fighter for …

The Guardian reports: Walking out to a standing ovation, Peter Navarro, the former Trump official, delivered a speech of personal grievances at the Republican national convention on Wednesday, hours after he was released from federal prison following his conviction on contempt of Congress charges for obstructing the January 6 committee investigation. The former Trump White House adviser tried – as …

NBC News reports: The U.S. Secret Service said Wednesday that it stood by its female agents and was appalled by some of the criticism they’ve received on conservative social media since Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The Secret Service, in a statement to NBC News, said that the criticism from pundits and influencers was baseless. The agency …

The New York Times reports: Republican senators, including a member of the Senate’s leadership, accosted the director of the Secret Service in a suite at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night, demanding that she resign or provide a full explanation for the security lapses. Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming, the third-ranking Senate Republican, and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee aggressively …

The Poke reports: There’s no shortage of conspiracy theories about what actually happened when Trump was left with a bloody ear, one rallygoer dead and two others critically injured. And while we hesitate to highlight any of them, this one is surely deserving of a moment or two of your time because it’s just so extraordinary (and a terrifying indicator …

Denver’s NBC affiliate reports: A Republican state legislator known for his outlandish and offensive statements is claiming that the FBI was behind the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. State Rep. Scott Bottoms (R-Colorado Springs) did not offer any evidence to support the claim, which he made last Sunday from the pulpit of his Church at Briargate, where he …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Florida spent $60,000 on new highway welcome signs that feature a campaign slogan used by Gov. Ron DeSantis in speeches and on merchandise. Signs welcoming visitors to “The Free State of Florida” now stand at 24 locations along highways and at two welcome centers, said Michael Williams, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation, in …

Newsweek reports: Representative Matt Gaetz’s appearance at the Republican National Convention is sparking a flood of jokes and memes. Gaetz spoke at the convention in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, reaffirming his loyalties to GOP nominee and former President Donald Trump and harshly criticizing President Joe Biden. But spectators seemed more focused on how the congressman looked, questioning his unmoving forehead …

Reuters reports: Russia is ready to work with any U.S. leader willing to engage in “equitable, mutually respectful dialogue,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday, while welcoming the stance on Ukraine of Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance. Vance, chosen this week by Donald Trump as his running mate, wants to cut American military support for Ukraine in its …

Peter Montgomery reports at Right Wing Watch: After a rough year of scandal, electoral defeats, and effective counter-organizing, the anti-LGBTQ, book-banning Moms for Liberty put on a show of force at the Republican National Convention. A Moms for Liberty town hall Tuesday afternoon drew two governors, three members of Congress, and three state attorneys general. The event started with a …