Republicans

Reuters reports: A federal investigation into whether U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz trafficked a minor for sex will not be derailed by his assertion that a veteran asked his father for money to pay for the release of an American held by Iran, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said. Investigators believe the purported scheme to free Robert Levinson, …

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to visit Pennsylvania and speak to the Allegheny County Republican Party next month, a visit likely to further fuel speculation around a figure already seen as a potential presidential candidate. The May 20 appearance was confirmed by three Pennsylvania Republicans familiar with the plans. Word of DeSantis’ visit spread as …

The Associated Press reports: Gov. Greg Gianforte on Friday signed a bill that prohibits state and local law enforcement in Montana from enforcing federal bans on firearms, ammunition and magazines. Supporters of the law have said it would protect the Second Amendment from stiffer gun control laws that could come from federal legislation or executive orders by President Joe Biden …

The Montgomery Advertiser reports: Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday signed a bill banning transgender youth from playing public school sports of the gender with which they align. The legislation is one of several bills targeting transgender youth in the Alabama Legislature this year. The bills have drawn protests from transgender youth, their families and advocates, and will likely lead to …

CNN reports: Federal authorities are looking into whether a 2018 trip to the Bahamas involving Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz and several young women was part of an orchestrated effort to illegally influence Gaetz in the area of medical marijuana, people briefed on the matter told CNN. Prosecutors with the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section are examining whether Gaetz took gifts, …

“What President Biden has done is immeasurably reckless and foolish. He’s gone full wokerista. He has joined those people who believe that America was wicked in its origins and that the American people are even more wicked today, that we have millions of Americans who are racist and misogynistic and ignorant, especially if they didn’t vote for him. “And the …

Fox News reports: Reality television star Caitlyn Jenner announced plans Friday to run for governor of California. “I’m in! California is worth fighting for,” Jenner tweeted. Jenner, a Republican, has filed paperwork to seek the governorship and has hired several well-known Republican operatives to guide her burgeoning campaign. She’s hoping to unseat Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who faces an all-but-certain …

ABC News reports: In an interview with conservative Wisconsin radio host Vicki McKenna, herself a vocal coronavirus vaccine skeptic, Johnson launched into a condemnation of “vaccine passports,” a credential that would allow businesses to verify vaccination status. But Johnson also went a step further, declaring he sees “no reason to be pushing vaccines on people,” arguing their distribution should be …

People Magazine reports: Days after George W. Bush called Trump-era Republicans “isolationist” and “protectionist” and not “my vision” of the party, the former president walked back some of that criticism in an interview with PEOPLE for next week’s issue. He also freely admitted he did not vote for either incumbent Republican President Donald Trump — of whom he has been …

The Hill reports: Republican Sen. Roger Marshall (Kan.) introduced a bill on Thursday to make Washington, D.C., part of the state of Maryland in response to the House passing a bill to make D.C. the 51st state in the U.S. The issue of D.C. statehood is split between Democrats and Republicans due to the likelihood the District would elect Democrats …

“I received complaints in my office, and rightfully so, about Cardi B and the Grammys. They wonder why we should be paying the FCC if they feel this should be in living rooms across the country. Wake up FCC and begin to do your job! “The moral decline of America is partly due to your utter complacency.” – Rep. Glenn …

Mediaite reports: Washington D.C. student Noah Mitchell ambushed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) at the Capitol, asking if they enjoyed their most controversial trips. Mitchell, a political science student living in D.C., pretended to take a selfie with Cruz on Thursday, quickly asking him, “How was Cancún, Senator? It was good?” Realizing that this was not …

The Miami Herald reports: A high-profile effort to legalize marijuana was all but killed by the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday. In a 5-2 decision, justices ruled a constitutional ballot initiative by Make it Legal Florida to be “misleading.” The ruling came after Attorney General Ashley Moody asked for the Court to advise whether the potential constitutional initiative would be …

The Washington Post reports: With its ill-equipped natural gas systems clocked by the cold, Texas’s exports across the Rio Grande froze up and 4.7 million customers in northern Mexico went without electricity — more than in Texas itself. The spot price of gas jumped 30-fold as far west as Southern California. And all the way up by the Canadian border, …

USA Today reports: The Senate passed with overwhelming bipartisan support an anti-hate crime bill to address a drastic increase of violence and discrimination directed at Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act cleared the chamber in a 94-1 vote. It would expedite the Justice Department’s review of hate crimes and would designate an official at DOJ …

NBC News reports: A coalition of 20 Republican state attorneys general are demanding that President Biden and congressional leadership not expand the Supreme Court, a proposal that has gained increased support among progressives. They responded to Biden’s creation earlier this month of a commission to study potential changes to the high court, as well as a House bill introduced last …

Politico reports: Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told party officials Wednesday that she’s considered stepping down from her post to challenge Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2022. McDaniel’s remarks came during a closed-door meeting on Wednesday with RNC members in Dallas, where she was giving an after-action report on the 2020 election. McDaniel expressed frustration about Whitmer, saying the …

From Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire: A group of black faith leaders in Georgia are targeting Home Depot — which has its headquarters in the state — and calling for a boycott of the company because it refuses to publicly criticize Georgia’s new voting law. The threat to boycott has prompted blowback online, including from prominent attorney Harmeet Dhillon, Fox News …

Click 2 Orlando reports: A social justice group has filed a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others two days after the Republican signed a bill to create tougher penalties for people who participate in violent protests. The nonprofit group Legacy Entertainment & Arts Foundation filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Orlando federal court, according to court records. It argues …

The Oklahoman reports: Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed a controversial bill that would grant immunity to drivers who unintentionally injure or kill protesters while driving away from a riot. Stitt on Wednesday signed House Bill 1674 from Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman. Critics of the HB 1674 say the legislature is cracking down on protests following …