Republicans

NBC News reports: “Do you disagree with Trump saying he’s going to free those who have been charged?” NBC News’ “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker asked. “I do not think people who committed violent acts on Jan. 6 should be free,” McDaniel responded. “It doesn’t represent our country,” McDaniel said. McDaniel added that “the violence that happened on Jan. …

CNN reports: Sen. Lisa Murkowski, aghast at Donald Trump’s candidacy and the direction of her party, won’t rule out bolting from the GOP. The veteran Alaska Republican, one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial, is done with the former president and said she “absolutely” would not vote for him. Asked if she would …

“Thanks, Mike [Gallagher]. Hope future Speaker Hakeem Jeffries sent you a nice fruit basket today. Now, how else are people supposed to interpret this move except a spiteful and maybe some kind of revenge play? And they think Trump is the problem? At least he stays in the arena despite what they’re doing to him. “While Trump is the party’s …

The Wrap reports: MSNBC president Rashida Jones told employees that the liberal-leaning news network has no plans to put new NBC News contributor Ronna McDaniel on the cable outlet, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing an internal memo. The news comes after NBC News hired former Republican National Committee chair McDaniel as an on-air contributor, leading to rage among members …

“If you’re wondering why you’re trying to negotiate against Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden, it’s because Republicans can’t pick the right candidate and they can’t win elections. And now the margin is, what, razor thin in the House. They’re on the verge of losing the House. “You want to see a bad budget bill? Let the Democrats control the House, …

Axios reports: House Republicans have skipped town for Easter recess with their base enraged, their majority in tatters — and their speaker facing the prospect of a humiliating ouster at the hands of his own MAGA allies. Dysfunction doesn’t even begin to cover it. Republicans were left fuming over the early resignations of Gallagher and Buck, with some suggesting it’s …

The Daily Beast reports: Multimillionaire banker and Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde has made health care, namely his beef with Obamacare, one of four central issues on his campaign website. The Republican challenger to Democrat Tammy Baldwin, who also unsuccessfully ran in 2012, has long opposed the Affordable Care Act. Video shows that Hovde proposed enacting an especially cruel …

Politico reports: A federal judge on Friday cleared the way for Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene to sue two California cities that canceled their political events in 2021. But the judge excoriated the two pro-Trump firebrands for attempting to blame the cancellation on a slew of liberal advocacy groups — from the NAACP to the League of Women …

“If you step back and look, we are in divided government and we have some individuals that just don’t seem to get it. You know, I have a great relationship with Marjorie Taylor Greene. Her office is right next to mine. But you know, we can’t get 100% of what we want. “Also, just sadly enough, I just got a …

“George Santos’ expulsion from Congress was good for the nation and his resignation from the Republican Party is good for commonsense conservatives. Santos can watch me defend this important swing district and the November election results from his prison cell as he’s being held accountable for stealing an election and ripping off donors.” – GOP Rep. Nick LaLota, responding to …

“We shouldn’t underestimate how bad what Matt Gaetz did was for the whole system. He unleashed the demons. He went after somebody who had raised $480 million dollars and gained seats for three elections in a row. He drove Kevin McCarthy out of office. And from that point on, it has been a disaster. “Speaker Johnson has a hand that’s …

Rolling Stone reports: Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, who led the charge on a bill that could effectively ban TikTok within the country — on the basis that China can “surveil its users” — plans to take up a post with the American surveillance company and defense contractor Palantir. Gallagher, who currently chairs the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, …

The Florida Phoenix reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Friday authorizing 16- and 17-year-olds to work more than 30 hours per week with their parent’s approval. The governor’s signing of HB 49, which had garnered criticism from workers’ advocacy groups early in the session, came without fanfare. In fact, his office announced the approval in a press release …

The Austin American-Statesman reports: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is nearing a resolution to nine-year-old securities fraud charges that have dogged his tenure as the state’s top attorney through a special agreement with prosecutors, the American-Statesman has learned. Under a draft agreement, prosecutors would dismiss felony charges against Paxton if he successfully completes the terms of the deal, according to …

The Daily Beast reports: George Santos is taking on yet another identity. On Friday, the deposed congressman, serial liar and alleged fraudster announced that he would run for Congress again not as a Republican, but as an independent. “I will take my Ultra MAGA/Trump supporting values to the ballot in November as an Independent,” Santos boasted. Earlier in March, Santos …

“What a terrible idea. If Republicans want to be in the minority party forever, then go ahead and endorse that. Republicans are so stupid. If they want to go to working people and say, ‘Congratulations, you have paid into this your whole life — your payroll taxes — and now we’re going to take part of it away from you. …

CNN reports: GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin will resign from Congress early, handing another blow to Speaker Mike Johnson and his razor thin Republican majority. In a statement, Gallagher confirmed he will resign effective April 19. Gallagher did not include a reason for stepping down but said he came to the decision after “conversations with my family.” The House …

“If we vacated this speaker, we’d end up with a Democrat. When I vacated the last one, I made a promise to the country that we would not end up with the Democrat speaker. And I was right. I couldn’t make that promise again. “We’d have Republicans cross over. I worry that we’ve got Republicans who would vote for Hakeem …

The Hill reports: House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) suggested the impeachment vote against President Biden may not be the “best path” and said he instead thinks criminal referrals will be the way to go. “I believe that the best path to accountability is criminal referrals,” Comer told Newsmax hosts Thursday. Comer argued in the interview that “real …

The Washington Examiner reports: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is set to face his own possible ouster after expediting a bipartisan spending package through the lower chamber on Friday just hours before a scheduled government shutdown. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed a motion to vacate against the speaker on Friday, accusing the speaker of failing to do more to …