Republicans

Mediaite reports: Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) went after Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, in which Paul accused Fauci of “using his salary to attack scientists” who disagree with him. The two continued to battle back and forth with Fauci eventually accusing Paul of a continued campaign of personal attacks against him as a tool for fundraising. …

NBC News reports: The Spotsylvania County School Board wasted no time Monday making its mark in the at-times contentious first meeting of the year, which included fiery jabs at the new chairman and squabbles between members. It began with a vote to name Livingston district member Kirk Twigg the new chair. Twigg supported banning and even burning some “sexually explicit” …

Fox News reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reelection campaign is now selling new “Escape to Florida/The Lockdown Libs tour” T-shirts after some top Democratic politicians from states with stricter coronavirus restrictions were seen vacationing in the Sunshine State over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday. News of the T-shirts, which are being sold online on the Republican governor’s “Official Ron DeSantis Store” …

The Associated Press reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Republicans are stepping up a personal campaign to persuade Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to run for the Senate and help the party’s chances of regaining control of the chamber. The recruitment effort has included McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, who held Cabinet positions in the Trump and George W. …

The Hill reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday night blocked an attempt by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to set up simple majority votes on a sweeping elections bill and legislation to bolster the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which would have allowed Democrats to pass the two bills without GOP support. Schumer, on the Senate, floor …

NY1 reports: City Council member Vickie Paladino told NY1 she’ll never disclose if she’s vaccinated against COVID-19. “It’s just nobody’s business whether I am or not. See, it’s called medical freedom,” she said, stressing that she’s anti-mandate, not anti-vaccine. “I don’t need to show you my papers. This is not Nazi Germany,” the newly elected Queens Republican said. That staunch …

Fox News reports: Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said it was his “intention” to complete his second term in the Senate and return home to Wisconsin, but told Fox News in an exclusive interview Monday that Democrats are governing in a “very divisive and destructive manner” and he “can’t walk away” when he feels he can “make a real difference.” Johnson, …

Mediaite reports: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has vowed that if he becomes House Speaker, were the GOP to retake the lower congressional chamber in November, that Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) would be stripped of committee assignments. “The Democrats have been creating a new thing where they’re picking and choosing who can be …

The Hill reports: Arizona Republican Senate candidate Jim Lamon invoked the anti-Biden phrase “Let’s go, Brandon” in a campaign ad released on Monday. The ad, which kicks off a six-figure ad campaign throughout Arizona, will air tonight during the College Football Playoff championship game. The Hill was the first outlet to view the ad, which is the first national campaign …

Fox News reports: The Republican National Committee (RNC) is suing New York City Mayor Eric Adams over the city law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. The RNC announced the lawsuit on Monday, with chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeting out the organization’s official statement. “American elections should be decided by American citizens,” McDaniel said in the release. “If Democrats can …

“Their political agenda is, they want these kids to hate this country. They want to them to reject our founding, our institutions, and they want to replace that with their leftist ideology which would obviously be disastrous for this country’s future. “So the stakes are very high on that. But there’s a problem when – you say you can’t do …

The New York Post reports: American Airlines went viral after responding to a Twitter user Saturday who complained about a pilot because he had a “Let’s Go Brandon” sticker on his luggage. A Twitter user who has since made her Twitter account private took a picture of the sticker and sent it to the airline, asking if they accept “cowardly …

The Charlotte Observer reports: A group of North Carolina voters told state officials on Monday they want U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn disqualified as a congressional candidate, citing his involvement in last January’s rally in Washington questioning the presidential election outcome before a Capitol riot later that day. Lawyers filed a candidacy challenge of the Republican on behalf of 11 voters …

The Hill reports: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to review a defamation lawsuit brought by former Trump campaign official Carter Page against the Democratic National Committee and others linked to the controversial Steele dossier. The court’s order was issued without comment or noted dissent, in keeping with common practice. Page had appealed to the Supreme Court after his lawsuit …

ABC News reports: Sen. Mike Rounds on Sunday rejected former President Donald Trump’s debunked election claims, expressing confidence that the 2020 election was “as fair as we’ve seen.” The South Dakota Republican — who was easily reelected to a second term in the Senate in 2020 — said during an interview on ABC’s “This Week” that the dozens of investigations …

The Hill reports: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) on Sunday said large businesses should not comply with the Biden administration’s “oppressive” vaccine or testing mandate. “This mandate of [the Occupational safety and Health Administration], the federal government, needs to be struck down. And that’s why we’re fighting against it. And I expect the Supreme Court, hopefully, to rule against the …

Newsweek reports: Ohio congressman Jim Jordan has said he won’t voluntarily cooperate with the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol, describing the “Democrat obsession” as the latest of the “partisan witch hunts.” The Republican, who represents Ohio’s 4th congressional district, wrote in a letter to committee chair rep. Bennie Thompson that the inquiry into the …

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports: Doug Mastriano, the state senator from Franklin County who parlayed anger over coronavirus pandemic rules and no-holds-barred support for former President Donald Trump into an extended political moment, opened his candidacy for Pennsylvania governor on Saturday. Mr. Mastriano, who has developed a sizeable following over the last two years, joins a still-evolving Republican field. That field …

CNN’s Daniel Dale reports: J.D. Vance, a Republican candidate for a US Senate seat in Ohio, is a law school graduate. But Vance made a significant false claim about legal proceedings against people who allegedly participated in the Capitol insurrection last year. On the first anniversary of the January 6, 2021 riot, Vance tweeted out a link to a website …

The Hill reports: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced Sunday he will run for reelection this November, setting up a high-stakes Senate battle in a key swing state. Johnson’s decision to run for a third term breaks a vow he made in his 2016 campaign that he’d only seek two six-year stints in the Senate. Johnson is anticipated to cruise to …