Republicans

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 …

The conservative Washington Examiner reports: During a podcast interview with the Bulwark’s Charlie Sykes, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard Carly Fiorina, who competed against Trump for the Republican nomination for president in 2016, sounded off on the president for his lack of “leadership” during the coronavirus pandemic. “I cannot vote for Donald Trump in 2020,” Fiorina told Sykes, later saying she …

Baton Rouge’s Fox News affiliate reports: A tense battle is brewing at the capitol, where the Republican majority in the House of Representatives is looking at a way to overturn the governor’s current stay-at-home order, which expires on May 15. “We’re trying to advocate a balanced approach to safely open that protects both lives and livelihoods,” said Rep. Blake Miguez, …

The Washington Post reports: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) attended Tuesday’s Senate session without wearing a face mask, declaring that he has immunity from the coronavirus — even though experts remain uncertain as to whether recovered covid-19 patients are actually immune to the disease. Asked earlier Tuesday why he was not wearing a mask, Paul cited the fact that he had …

“DC will never be a state. You mean District of Columbia, a state? Why? So we can have two more Democratic — Democrat senators and five more congressmen? No thank you. That’ll never happen. “They want to do that so they pick up two automatic Democrat — you know it’s a 100 percent Democrat, basically — so why would the …

Axios reports: Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), President’s Trump nominee for director of national intelligence (DNI), said at his confirmation hearing Tuesday that every government whistleblower should receive “every protection under the law.” As one of Trump’s fiercest defenders during the impeachment inquiry, Ratcliffe repeatedly sought to undermine the credibility of the Ukraine whistleblower, claiming without evidence that the complaint was …

The Des Moines Register reports: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest business lobbying group in the country, is endorsing state Sen. Randy Feenstra for the Republican congressional primary nomination against U.S. Rep. Steve King. Feenstra, of Hull, is one of four Republicans challenging King in Iowa’s June 2 primary. King, of Kiron, has represented northwest Iowa in Congress since …

The New Jersey Advance reports: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, saying that “there are going to be deaths no matter what,” called for leaders to allow people to get back to work before we “destroy American way of life” by shutting down during the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking on The Daily DC Podcast hosted by CNN’s Dana Bash on Monday, …

Courthouse News reports: A Michigan congressman claims in a suit filed Monday that Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home orders overstep the boundaries of executive authority and deprive Michigan residents of a republican form of government. U.S. Representative Paul Mitchell III, a Republican who represents the state’s 10th Congressional District, says in the suit filed in the U.S. District Court for …

Hemant Mehta reports at The Friendly Atheist: It’s one thing for random people to complain, but for a government official to reject them sets an awful precedent. It’s why Mike Pence received criticism last week after photos showed him without one at a hospital. At least he’s since apologized. That’s not the case with Ohio State Rep. Nino Vitale, who …

The Washington Post reports: The state of Maryland on Saturday terminated a $12.5 million contract for personal protective equipment with a firm started this spring by two well-connected Republican operatives. State officials said the company, Blue Flame Medical, failed to deliver masks and ventilators as promised and that the matter has been referred to Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh …

The Arizona Republic reports: Sen. Martha McSally has a new campaign ad featuring a cancer survivor who talks about how her “path collided” with McSally, whom she describes as a champion for protecting those with pre-existing medical conditions. The emotional television ad, which started Thursday, doesn’t disclose that the woman worked for McSally’s congressional office and as a campaign staffer …

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: State health officials have confirmed an additional 1,000 cases of the new coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing Georgia’s total infections above 27,000. As of noon Thursday, the Georgia Department of Public Health was reporting just over 26,000 confirmed cases. That number now stands at 27,134, according to data released at 12:25 p.m. Friday. At …

NBC News reports: While Americans across the country are canceling weddings, sporting events and music festivals, Trump has insisted to aides that the Republican National Convention — specifically his nationally televised prime-time address — go forward in August, according to five people familiar with the discussions. One plan under consideration is to have only delegates and alternate delegates attend, and …

The Charleston Post & Courier reports: A former top South Carolina business executive and supporter of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has decided to back the Republican incumbent’s Democratic challenger in his 2020 re-election race. Richard Wilkerson, the former chairman and president of Michelin’s Greenville-based North America operations, said he chose to endorse Democrat Jaime Harrison because of his experience working …