Republicans

CBS News reports: The Beehive State became the first to prohibit flying the LGBTQ pride flag at schools and all government buildings after its Republican governor said he was allowing a ban on unsanctioned flag displays to become law without his signature. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on Thursday he has serious concerns with the policy but chose not to …

404 Media reports: A newly introduced bill in Texas would require online sellers to show a photo ID before buying a dildo. SB 3003, introduced by Senator Angela Paxton (wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton), would criminally charge online retailers for selling “an obscene device” without verifying the buyers’ age. Sellers would have to require customers to submit their government-issued …

The Associated Press reports: Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, over opposition from dentists and national health organizations who warn the move will lead to medical problems and disproportionately affect low-income communities. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed legislation Thursday that bars cities and communities from deciding whether to add the mineral to their …

Axios reports: President Trump’s dramatic rug pull of Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-N.Y.) UN ambassador nomination has given House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) a new series of headaches. Johnson has to reassure GOP lawmakers after their president said he’s nervous about a Trump +20 district. He also must reintegrate Stefanik, who was planning to bolt town next week, into a leadership …

The Daily Beast reports: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Thursday bashed her progressive rival, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for never being married—despite the far-right Georgia firebrand’s own messy divorce and the fact that her adversary is currently engaged. Greene launched her verbal attack on “The Eric Bolling Show” Tuesday, not mentioning her own relationship history during the diatribe. The congresswoman and …

Politico reports: Rep. Cory Mills, a Florida Republican, allegedly held weapons contracts with the federal government while serving in Congress, according to a report from the Office of Congressional Conduct, the nonpartisan entity tasked with receiving and reviewing ethics complaints against sitting House members. The Office of Congressional Conduct — up until recently known as the Office of Congressional Ethics …

“I hope America has some guts to follow through with this, I mean, I hope Congress does. In Congress, we’re about one flu season from being out of the majority but dadgum President Trump was elected overwhelmingly. And I think we need to honor and remember the wishes of this country. “The truth is, the DOGE stuff is written in …

“Out of nowhere, Tom Cotton, the chief warmonger on Capitol Hill, the head of the Senate intel committee, tweets out this morning, a defense of Alex Wong. Remember, Tom Cotton has been behind trying to stop Elbridge Colby. Tom Cotton was the one that was pushing against Tulsi Gabbard. And they’re back for revenge. “The military-industrial complex via the neoconservatives …

Axios reports: The Trump administration will leave Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) in the House, just days before the Senate was finally ready to move on her nomination as UN ambassador. Stefanik has waited for months on her nomination due to the House GOP’s tiny margin. The Florida special elections are Tuesday, but the administration has gotten cold feet about its margin …

The Austin Statesman reports: A state lawmaker is calling on the Legislature to “completely” defund the University of Texas if it doesn’t shutter its Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department and LGBTQ studies program, which he has decried as liberal indoctrination that taxpayers should not fund. The demand by Rep. Brian Harrison on Wednesday comes after a barrage of posts …

The Texas Tribune reports: Three weeks after U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death and just over a month before the state’s next uniform election, Gov. Greg Abbott has not yet called a special election to fill the seat representing parts of Houston, a Democratic stronghold, in Congress. Turner, who previously served in the Texas House for nearly three decades before becoming …

The North Dakota Monitor reports: A former North Dakota lawmaker was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Ray Holmberg, 81, was a Grand Forks state senator for 45 years, and received a sentence that is longer than federal sentencing guidelines. U.S. District Judge Daniel …

Little Rock’s ABC affiliate reports: Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has officially signed Senate Bill 189 into law, granting approval for the sale and purchase of ivermectin for human use without a prescription. The new legislation, signed into law on Tuesday, allows ivermectin suitable for human consumption to be sold over-the-counter in Arkansas, making it accessible to individuals without the need …

Bloomberg News reports: Senate Majority Leader John Thune pitched a full repeal of the estate tax Wednesday, setting as a priority the elimination of the levy on the fortunes of some of the wealthiest Americans as Republicans draft a massive economic package. “I continue to advocate for eliminating the death tax once and for all, so no farmer or rancher …

Courthouse News reports: A federal judge on Tuesday blocked enforcement of Iowa’s state law that removes books that have LGBTQ themes with references to sexual acts from school libraries. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher, a Joe Biden appointee, took back the case after an Eighth Circuit panel reversed a preliminary injunction he issued in December 2023. The earlier injunction blocked …

Louisville’s NPR affiliate reports: More than 90 faith leaders are asking Governor Beshear to veto a House joint resolution that would move a 10 Commandments monument from a Fraternal Order of Eagles post in Hopkinsville to the grounds of the state capitol. Zina Merkin is with Interfaith Alliance of the Bluegrass, which has members from nearly a dozen religious faiths …

MARTHA KELNER: Should the Defense Secretary — MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: What country are you from? KELNER: The UK. GREENE: Okay, we don’t give a crap about your opinion and your reporting. Why don’t you go back to your country where you have a major migrant problem? KELNER: Do you— GREENE: No, no, no, you should care about your own borders. …

“They’re jacked up. When I see them in the hall here in Washington, they’re hostile. Their eyes are bugged out of their head. And I’m sure when you take Trump, you can multiply that times ten with their hostility.  “So it is a dangerous situation, and we are concerned about that because President Trump is very accessible to the media.  …

“I would caution my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to refrain from making fun of the Gulf of America because next up may end up being the District of America that we are working on. So just, you know, keep the jokes at bay, and maybe we’ll just stick with the Gulf of America for now.” – …

Fox News reports: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott hit back at a Democratic lawmaker Tuesday who appeared to mock him for being in a wheelchair, saying such remarks will only leave the party “in the dust” come future elections. “It’s another day and another disaster by the Democrats. The reality is they have no vision, no policy. They have nothing to …