Republicans

The New York Post reports: House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul said Tuesday that he believes that some unidentified drones spotted above New Jersey and New York are “spy drones” from China — after Biden administration officials insisted many of the aircraft are innocent commercial aircraft. “We want answers but the response I’m getting is we don’t know whose …

The Huffington Post reports: The lawmaker leading Republicans’ counter-investigation into the House Jan. 6 committee said former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) should face a criminal investigation over her committee work. In a report published Tuesday, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), chairman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight, said Cheney may have illegally tampered with a witness and encouraged that witness …

NewsNation reports: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is threatening to hold up a short-term funding package that needs to pass by the end of the day Friday to avoid a government shutdown unless leaders in Congress agree to vote on amendments to offset the cost of new spending in the proposal. Paul has significant leverage to force colleagues to vote on …

The Hill reports: “To all the idiots who claimed the shooter was trans with no information whatsoever to believe that, f**k off. Your ignorance speaks volumes. Your hate is consuming your brains (or what’s left of them),” Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis) wrote early Tuesday on the social platform X, responding to a post by former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) that …

The Assembly reports: When Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson greeted his fellow members of the Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies over Google Meet last week, his screen name raised some eyebrows—and a few giggles. There at the bottom of his window was the online handle heard ‘round the world: minisoldr. Earlier this year, Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign came apart after an Assembly report …

Newsweek reports: Outrage ensued after Satanists were allowed to set up a holiday display at the Minnesota State Capitol this year. The Minnesota Satanists shared in a Facebook post over the weekend that they have their first-ever holiday display at the Capitol building in St. Paul, sparking a wave of criticism from Republicans toward Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat. Representative …

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports: U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, who was reelected to a second term by Florida 7th District voters in November, is under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee. On Monday the committee stated it had “extended the matter regarding” Mills that had been provided by the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent, non-partisan entity charged with receiving …

“It is inconceivable that the federal government has no answers nor has taken any action to get to the bottom of the unidentified drones. “The fecklessness of this administration was on display last year when a Chinese surveillance balloon was allowed to fly over the entire continental United States before being shot down. Such should be viewed as a threat …

Politico reports: Rep. Victoria Spartz announced Monday that she is opting out from serving on committees next year and will boycott the House GOP conference meetings, a rare move given she also stated her intention to remain a Republican. “I will stay as a registered Republican but will not sit on committees or participate in the caucus until I see …

Axios reports: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is making a big opening bid in the 2025 tax battle, calling for the child tax credit to increase from a maximum of $2,000 to $5,000 per kid, Axios has learned. Such a plan could cost $2 trillion to $3 trillion over 10 years. That complicates the math for incoming Senate Majority Leader John …

“I’m going to tell you right now that if they try to tell us all to stay inside, stay home, shelter in place ‘FOR OUR SAFETY’ from the drones, there is no way in hell I will comply with that absolute bullshit.  Not doing it. No way. I’ll shoot the drones down myself along with every other red blooded freedom …

Cleveland’s ABC affiliate reports: Ohio advocates are warning against a bill that would require schools to notify parents if the child identifies as LGBTQ+ as well as allow parents to opt out of so-called “sexuality” content. The GOP denies it is homophobic, saying it’s just a way for parents to stay informed. During the last expected week of lame duck …

Politico reports: Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a brewing rebellion from farm district Republicans after congressional leaders failed to secure an agreement to add economic aid for farmers to the next stop-gap spending bill. The threat of a new wave of GOP defections among farm district Republicans presents a fresh challenge for Johnson, who is already navigating a narrow majority …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Republican firebrand Randy Fine has filed a bill in the Florida Senate to ban local governments, public schools and state universities from displaying flags promoting a “fictional” Palestine, “pro-violence” Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ rights and other “woke” topics. Fine, who lives in Melbourne Beach, has resigned from the Florida Legislature effective March 31 to run for …

The Hill reports: A former FBI informant on Monday entered a guilty plea on four federal charges related to falsifying statements that in part spurred a GOP congressional investigation into the Biden family. Alexander Smirnov pleaded guilty on those charges and unrelated tax evasion charges after concealing millions in income. Smirnov had relayed to the FBI that the head of …

The Texas Tribune reports: In an already heated race for Texas House Speaker, state GOP officials are hoping to wield new powers that would ensure their preferred candidate wins — and give them unprecedented control over who can run in Republican primaries. Last week, the Republican Party of Texas implied it would censure any GOP Texas House member who does …

The Associated Press reports: Before the November presidential election, Ohio’s secretary of state and attorney general announced investigations into potential voter fraud that included people suspected of casting ballots even though they were not U.S. citizens. “The right to vote is sacred,” Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, said in a statement at the time. “If you’re not a U.S. …

Politico reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is taking aim at his party’s isolationist wing — including Donald Trump — faulting them for undermining tough-on-Russia policies and sending mixed signals to allies. The Kentucky Republican delivered a rare critique of the president-elect in a Foreign Affairs essay on Monday, warning against the “right-wing flirtation with isolation and decline.” McConnell urged …

Mediaite reports: In a post to X late Saturday, the Georgia Republican declared without explanation, “The government is in control of the drones and refuses to tell the American people what is going on. It really is that bad.” Sunday morning, Greene also shared a video that went viral on X after it was shared by Joe Rogan of a …

“I’ve been pretty clean throughout my life. I’m not particularly worried about criminal investigations and I don’t know how much of what the president says is hyperbole, because there was a lot of this person ought to be jailed and that person ought to be jailed. That was said during the last two campaigns. “But I think President Trump is …