Republicans

Austin’s ABC News affiliate reports: On Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a letter to Travis County and the city of Austin, warning some requirements in the city and county’s stay-at-home orders are unlawful and must change to meet the state’s most recent order. According to Paxton, those requirements include “strict and unconstitutional demands” on houses of worship, restrictions …

ABC News reports: As the long-term effects of the devastating coronavirus pandemic become more apparent and the country assesses reopening, some vulnerable Senate Republicans appear to be shifting their campaign messaging away from their ties to President Donald Trump. Although Arizona Sen. Martha McSally hosted Trump in his first visit outside of Washington since the country began re-opening, he hasn’t …

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: Gov. Brian Kemp extended some coronavirus restrictions Tuesday as he eased other limits imposed during the pandemic, setting the stage for summer camps to reopen and some state employees to return to offices within a week. The governor ordered bars, nightclubs and live performance venues to remain shuttered through the end of May, which he said …

Madison’s Fox affiliate reports: The Associated Press has declared Minocqua Republican state senator Tom Tiffany the winner in the 7th Congressional District over Tricia Zunker, with the race called around an hour after polls closed. With more than 99% of precincts reporting at 10:30pm, Tiffany took the race by about 14 points with 57% of the vote to Democrat opponent …

USA Today reports: Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said U.S. testing for coronavirus is “nothing to celebrate” because the country “treaded water” during the early stages of the pandemic while other countries such as South Korea tested people aggressively to curb the outbreak. President Donald Trump said Monday the country prevailed in testing for the virus because it has conducted 9 …

The Daily Beast reports: It’s almost certain that Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) did not intend to prohibit the president from steering campaign funds to his own hotels, resorts, and golf clubs. He introduced a bill this month explicitly designed to target campaign spending by a House colleague, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). But the language of his legislation would very likely …

Raw Story reports: Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday slapped down an attempt by Sen. Rand Paul to downplay the potential negative effects of the coronavirus on children. During a Senate hearing on America’s COVID-19 response, Paul pushed Fauci to say that it will be safe to send children back to school in the fall because they are far less likely …

The Daily Beast reports: Days after the Justice Department controversially dropped charges against Mike Flynn, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is set to expand a highly political Justice Department’s surveillance authorities during a vote this week to renew the 2001 PATRIOT Act. Under cover of redressing what President Trump and his allies call the FBI’s “witch hunt” over collusion …

Des Moines’ ABC News affiliate reports: Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday revealed she is adopting a “modified quarantine plan” following a visit last week to the White House where staff have tested positive for COVID-19. Reynolds and Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the state medical director and epidemiologist, visited the the White House Wednesday for an Oval office meeting with President Trump …

The Associated Press reports: Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, who has sought national attention as an anti-abortion and tough-on-crime crusader, will have his law license suspended for 30 days over allegations that he drunkenly groped a state lawmaker and three other women during a party, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday. The unanimous court decision said that the state’s attorney …

The Washington Post reports: The Republican National Committee has asked the federal government to provide personal protective gear for political conventions this summer, underscoring the challenges of staging the quadrennial events during a pandemic that has already caused the deaths of more than 78,000 Americans. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in an interview that the gear was needed for both …

CNN reports: The governor of South Dakota has given an ultimatum to two Sioux tribes: Remove checkpoints on state and US highways within 48 hours or risk legal action. Gov. Kristi Noem sent letters Friday to the leaders of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe demanding that checkpoints designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus on …

Charleston’s The State reports: Gov. Henry McMaster announced on Friday that he will allow indoor dining at restaurants starting Monday, May 11, though each restaurant will determine whether to open its doors to customers in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The S.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association had previously pushed to have indoor dining at restaurants by May 18. The …

The Detroit Free Press reports: Censured Royal Oak City Commissioner Kim Gibbs has found herself in the news again, this time for being caught shoplifting. The embattled elected official issued a statement Wednesday evening on the misdemeanor shoplifting offense. “I would like to apologize to my family, friends and especially my constituents for my substantial lapse in judgement today, Wednesday, …

Via press release from Sen. Tom Cotton: Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) introduced a bill to rename the street outside the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. “Li Wenliang Plaza.” The bill honors the late Dr. Li Wenliang, the Wuhan-based doctor who warned the world about the coronavirus before the Chinese Communist …

Nancy Rommelman reports at Reason: I’d just finished Saturday morning’s second cup of coffee when an email popped through, subject line: “Exposing Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman.” “Hi Nancy, I hope you are having a nice weekend. I feel very bad about lying to you and others about Dr. Fauci. I took it upon myself to call Jacob Wohl and …

CBS News Dallas reports: After supporting the actions of a Dallas salon owner who was jailed for violating executive stay at home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Greg Abbott has now modified his executive orders and eliminated confinement as a punishment for violating the mandates. “Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault …

CNN reports: The Supreme Court threw out fraud convictions on Thursday against two New Jersey officials involved in the “Bridgegate” political scandal, the George Washington Bridge traffic jam that rocked the administration of then-Gov. Chris Christie. Writing for a unanimous court, Justice Elena Kagan said that “for no reason” other than “political payback” the aides “used deception” to cut access …

Politico reports: One post described the Islamic prophet Muhammad as a rapist and a pedophile. Another mocked a survivor of the Parkland high school shooting. A third accused Rep. Maxine Waters of “hitting the crack pipe too hard.” The commentary was among now-deleted social media posts and retweets from the accounts of Ted Howze, a Republican challenging Democratic Rep. Josh …

ProPublica reports: Sen. Richard Burr was not the only member of his family to sell off a significant portion of his stock holdings in February, ahead of the market crash spurred by coronavirus fears. On the same day Burr sold, his brother-in-law also dumped tens of thousands of dollars worth of shares. The market fell by more than 30% in …