Republicans

The Tampa Bay Times reports: Matt Gaetz, the former U.S. representative turned conservative cable host, may not be done with politics. Weeks after the release of a congressional report on sexual misconduct allegations against Gaetz, the former U.S. representative told the Tampa Bay Times he’s “starting to think about running for governor” in 2026. Chief among Gaetz’s stated policy concerns? …

Atlanta’s Fox affiliate reports: The Georgia Republican Party’s State Executive Committee has unanimously voted to expel former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan from any future involvement with the party. “Geoff Duncan is hereby expelled from the Georgia Republican Party,” the resolution states, adding that he is “banned from all property owned or leased by the Georgia Republican Party and all …

First, there’s this from yesterday: Former GOP Representative Adam Kinzinger has mocked Republican lawmakers who changed their tune on the January 6 Capitol attack by reposting statements they made four years ago. Kinzinger hit out at Republicans who have backpedaled on their criticism of Trump and the violent events of that day in 2021. Among the senators Kinzinger roasted was …

Florida Politics reports: At least 15 civilian review boards across Florida, which review investigations of potential law enforcement misconduct after they’re completed, have dissolved or temporarily ceased operations after a new law targeting the panels took effect. The law assures that only law enforcement agencies will investigate reports of misconduct by law enforcement officers. Backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the …

“The peaceful transfer of power is the hallmark of our democracy and today, members of both parties in the House and Senate along with the vice president certified the election of our new president and vice president without controversy or objection. “I welcome the return of order and civility to these historic proceedings and offer my most sincere congratulations and …

“On #ThisDayInHistory in 2021, thousands of peaceful grandmothers gathered in Washington, D.C., to take a self-guided, albeit unauthorized, tour of the U.S. Capitol building. Earlier that day, President Trump held a rally, where supporters walked to the Capitol to peacefully protest the certification of the 2020 election. During this time, some individuals entered the Capitol, took photos, and explored the …

Washington DC’s NBC affiliate reports: A major winter storm will envelop the DC region on Monday bringing heavy snow that could pile up to a foot in some areas. As the snow is falling outside, members of Congress are expected to be inside the U.S. Capitol certifying Donald Trump as winner of the 2024 presidential election. House Speaker Mike Johnson …

CBS News reports: A Republican official who oversees Nassau County on New York’s Long Island has done an about face after seemingly refusing to lower flags to half-staff in memory of the late Democratic President Jimmy Carter, who died last weekend at the age of 100. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, released a statement Sunday saying flags will …

“What I’ve promised them is a fair process. And so, these nominees are going to go through a committee where they’re going to have to answer questions. There will be some hard questions posed. We have a lot of our senators who take that role very seriously. |And so, we will make sure that these nominees have a process, a …

The Washington Examiner reports: Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley blasted President Joe Biden on Saturday for giving Democratic megadonor George Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Haley called the move to give the award to Soros “another slap in the face of America” after Biden  pardoned his son Hunter and commuted …

CBS News reports: A Republican official who oversees Nassau County on New York’s Long Island has seemingly refused to lower flags to half-staff in memory of the late Democratic President Jimmy Carter, who died last weekend at the age of 100. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, has not publicly explained his reason for not lowering flags at Nassau …

Just in via press release: This Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. CT, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a Louisiana resident and former state representative, will hold a one-hour broadcast “Pray for the Nation” in response to the terrorist attack in New Orleans. Christian leaders including Pastor Carter Conlon, Pastor Jack Hibbs, Michele Bachmann, Dr. …

The Baptist-led site Word & Way reports: Mike Johnson of Louisiana was reelected today (Jan. 3) to lead the U.S. House of Representatives. During his acceptance remarks a bit later, he read what he called a prayer from Thomas Jefferson. But Monticello and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation call it a “spurious quotation,” adding it’s unlikely Jefferson actually wrote or delivered …

Axios reports: The House voted mostly along party lines Friday to adopt a rules package that protects newly reelected Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) from a potential ouster. The new rules make it so that a vote on removing the speaker can only be brought if at least nine Republicans support what is called a “motion to vacate.” That is a …

Fox News reports: Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., is receiving medical attention after suffering a fall at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, Fox News has learned. Foxx, who chairs the House Education Committee, reportedly fell on the grand staircases on the GOP side of the Capitol, shortly after the House voted to re-elect Rep. Mike Johnson as Speaker of the …

The Daily Beast reports: Sen. Chuck Grassley, 91, was sworn in as Senate president pro tempore on Friday, making him third in line to the presidency. The position goes to the longest-serving senator of the majority party. The Iowa Republican previously served as president pro tempore from 2019 to 2021, before Democrats took control of the Senate. Even after months …

“I think for them to undermine this on the opening day is almost suicidally stupid. And I can’t explain it except that over the years and Karl watched all this and lived with it in the Bush White House over the years has been a group in the party who have grown more and more hostile, more and more self-righteous. …

The New Republic reports: House Speaker Mike Johnson lost the first floor vote Friday to retain the gavel. A handful of aimless Republican votes for other candidates (who weren’t running for the House’s most prized position) made it mathematically impossible for Johnson to win. Johnson had faced near-impossible margins from the jump: With a full House floor and a unified …

Politico reports: Mike Johnson came up short in his bid to remain speaker on the first ballot. Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Keith Self (R-Texas) voted against Johnson in the alphabetical roll call vote. Johnson can only afford to lose one GOP vote and still reclaim the gavel, meaning he needs to flip at least two of …

The New York Times reports: As Speaker Mike Johnson labors to lock down enough support to be re-elected to his post, every vote is critical. That has prompted speculation that former Representative Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican who engineered the ouster of Mr. Johnson’s predecessor, could play a role in the outcome this time as well. Mr. Gaetz resigned his …