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Category: Politics
October 25, 2023
William Upton
Analysis
Politics

Who Is Mike Johnson, The Current Republican Nominee for Speaker of the House?

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has emerged as the latest Speaker-designate from the House Republican Conference. Previously, attempts to nominate Reps. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Tom Emmer (R-MN) all failed to gain the necessary 217 votes to win the Speakership on the House floor.

Johnson was first elected in 2016, on the back of Donald Trump’s historic presidential victory. The Louisiana Republican later became a key ally to President Trump when Congressional Republicans made efforts to reject the certification of the 2020 presidential election after allegations of fraud and vote rigging were made.

Along with 125 other House Republicans, Johnson was a signer of an amicus brief in Texas v. Pennsylvania. The case, brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, argued that states which changed election procedure during the 2020 presidential contest without legislative approval were in violation of the U.S. Constitution – specifically the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia. The aim of the lawsuit was to temporarily halt the election certification. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case, arguing that Texas lacked standing to bring the lawsuit.

The Louisiana Republican sits on the powerful Judiciary and Armed Services Committee and maintains close ties with both the House Freedom Caucus and a key group of Defense appropriators. Entering his sixth term in Congress, Johnson was a reliable vote for much of former President Trump’s agenda. Johnson has voted against additional aid for Ukraine, against codifying same-sex marriage, against certifying the 2020 election, and against the 47-day continuing resolution to fund the government. He did, however, vote in support of lifting the debt limit through January of 2025.

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Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has emerged as the latest Speaker-designate from the House Republican Conference. Previously, attempts to nominate Reps. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Tom Emmer (R-MN) all failed to gain the necessary 217 votes to win the Speakership on the House floor. show more
mark meadows
October 24, 2023
William Upton
Breaking
Politics

Disputed ABC Report Claims Ex-Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows Granted Immunity, Cooperating With Jack Smith.

ABC News reported Monday evening that Mark Meadows, former Chief of Staff to President Donald Trump, has been granted immunity by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in exchange for testimony given to special counsel Jack Smith.

The claim, however, has been disputed by Meadows’s lawyer, George Terwilliger, who told CBS: “I told ABC that their story was largely inaccurate. People will have to judge for themselves the decision to run it anyway.”

According to ABC reports, Meadows has spoken with Smith and his team of DOJ prosecutors on at least three occasions this year. Meadows has reportedly told DOJ prosecutors that Trump was being “dishonest” when he initially claimed to have won the 2020 election. “Obviously we didn’t win,” Meadows is alleged to have told Smith and his team.

DOJ special counsel Jack Smith’s team is said to be especially interested in claims made by Meadows in a book he published and whether he still believes, or ever believed, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. ABC News reports Meadows told Smith that despite what he wrote in his book, he does not believe there was any fraud in 2020. Meadows claims he privately informed Trump the allegations of fraud made by Rudy Giuliani were unfounded and untrue.

While the news of Meadows’s testimony appears to come as a blow to former President Donald Trump’s defense in his federal prosecution in Washington, D.C., Meadows has thus far not corroborated a key accusations made by Smith and the DOJ. Meadows is said to have been specifically asked by investigators if Trump ever acknowledged to him that he lost the election. Meadows replied he had never heard Trump say he had lost.

The accusation that former President Trump sought to knowingly defraud the United States – i.e. that he knew he lost the election but said otherwise – is one of the most critical pieces of Smith’s prosecution. So far, Smith has been unable to produce any evidence that Trump believed anything other than that he had won the 2020 presidential election.

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ABC News reported Monday evening that Mark Meadows, former Chief of Staff to President Donald Trump, has been granted immunity by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in exchange for testimony given to special counsel Jack Smith. show more
October 24, 2023
William Upton
Politics

DeSantis Spox Accuses Pro-Trump Jewish GOP Rep of ‘Theatrics’ Over Anti-Semitism.

Bryan Griffin, spokesman for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign, slammed Florida’s only Jewish Republican on Tuesday after his endorsement of former President Donald Trump. The DeSantis camp blasted State Representative Randy Fine’s comments about Trump’s Middle East peace achievements as “…nothing more than shameful political theater”.

Fine said he believes DeSantis hasn’t done enough to combat anti-Semitism in the state, especially in light of the barbaric Hamas terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7th. His op-ed in the Washington Times contains a litany of failures by DeSantis, who Fine accuses of often talking the talk, but scarcely following through on his promises.

“I love his words. His actions have broken my heart,” Fine explained, adding: “We can vote for the Governor who says all the right things, or we can vote for the President who actually does them. When it comes to action, Donald Trump has never let us down.”

Besides dismissing Fine, Griffin argued that it was the Florida Governor who deserved credit for moving the Israeli embassy to Jerusalem – omitting that it was then-President Donald Trump and his administration that actually facilitated, secured, and enacted the embassy move. Griffin in a statement said: “From working to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, to combatting antisemitism throughout Florida and its schools, to securing funding for security at Jewish schools and synagogues, there’s never been a more pro-Israel governor.”

The excessive response from the DeSantis campaign harkens back to the campaign’s early days when the DeSantis communications staff attempted to launder a ‘meme’ video featuring a Neo-Nazi symbol through a campaign supporter in an effort to gain traction among social media users.

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Bryan Griffin, spokesman for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign, slammed Florida's only Jewish Republican on Tuesday after his endorsement of former President Donald Trump. The DeSantis camp blasted State Representative Randy Fine's comments about Trump's Middle East peace achievements as "...nothing more than shameful political theater". show more
Biden
October 24, 2023
Immigration
Politics

64% of New Yorkers Say Biden Caused Migrant Crisis.

A large majority of New York voters blame Joe Biden for the escalating migrant crisis, with 84 percent of respondents characterizing the situation as a serious problem, and 57 percent declaring it as a “very” serious issue. Only 12 percent of those surveyed believe the issue is not severe. The study further unveils that Biden’s handling of the migrant surge is disapproved by 64 percent of voters, while only 29 percent gave their approval.

New York has seen an influx of tens of thousands of migrants, hurting Biden’s popularity in the traditionally Democrat-leaning state. Siena College pollster Steve Greenberg stressed Democrats, Republicans, independents, men, women, upstaters, downstaters, black people, white people, Latinos, Catholics, Jews, and Protestants all regard the crisis as a serious issue.

Sixty-four percent of voters agree that New York should work to “slow the flow” of migrants from the border, as opposed to the 29 percent who believe the state should welcome and help assimilate them. Additionally, 54 percent of voters surveyed regarded migration as more of a burden than a benefit.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who used to push “sanctuary” policies and celebrated when Biden halted border wall construction, now says the migrant crisis “will destroy” the Big Apple if it continues.

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A large majority of New York voters blame Joe Biden for the escalating migrant crisis, with 84 percent of respondents characterizing the situation as a serious problem, and 57 percent declaring it as a “very” serious issue. Only 12 percent of those surveyed believe the issue is not severe. The study further unveils that Biden's handling of the migrant surge is disapproved by 64 percent of voters, while only 29 percent gave their approval. show more
tom emmer
October 24, 2023
William Upton
Breaking
Politics

Anti-MAGA, Soros-Linked Tom Emmer Emerges as New GOP Speaker Designate.

Republican Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) has won the House Republican Conference nomination for Speaker after five rounds of voting by secret ballot. Emmer faced-off against six other Republicans at the start of voting earlier this morning. His opposition included Reps. Mike Johnson (R-LA), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Austin Scott (R-GA), Jack Bergman (R-MI), and Pete Sessions (R-TX).

Emmer is perhaps best known for his anti-Trump positions, as well as his refusal to assist MAGA candidates during the 2022 mid term elections, when he controlled the purse strings at the powerful National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). As a result, Emmer condemned the GOP to its wafer-thin majority that has led to the current Capitol Hill mess.

Prior to serving in Congress, Emmer worked as a spokesman for the National Popular Vote initiative – an effort funded by George Soros and backed by former President Barack Obama to essentially end the Electoral College and elect the President via a nationwide popular vote.

The field of candidates narrowed quickly, both Hern and Donalds dropped out after the fourth ballot in an effort to swing their voters to Mike Johnson and prevent Emmer from winning outright. Despite the attempt to rally behind Johnson, Emmer was able to secure a majority of the Conference on the fifth ballot with 117 votes.

It is unclear if Emmer will be able to reach the 217 votes needed to actually win the Speaker’s gavel. The prior two Republican Speaker-designates, Reps. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) fell well short of the threshold on the House floor.

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Republican Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) has won the House Republican Conference nomination for Speaker after five rounds of voting by secret ballot. Emmer faced-off against six other Republicans at the start of voting earlier this morning. His opposition included Reps. Mike Johnson (R-LA), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Austin Scott (R-GA), Jack Bergman (R-MI), and Pete Sessions (R-TX). show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
From 2019 to 2023, Emmer served as the chairman of the House Republicans’ campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) – and oversaw the 2022 mid-term efforts in which Republicans only retook the House by a narrow majority, far underperforming expectations
for exclusive members-only insights
From 2019 to 2023, Emmer served as the chairman of the House Republicans’ campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) – and oversaw the 2022 mid-term efforts in which Republicans only retook the House by a narrow majority, far underperforming expectations show more
for exclusive members-only insights
October 24, 2023
William Upton
Politics

Perry Johnson Drops from Prez Race, Endorses Trump.

Michigan businessman, and former Republican presidential candidate, Perry Johnson has announced he is backing former President Donald Trump’s bid to retake the White House in 2024. “After suspending my campaign for President on Friday, there is now only one candidate in this race who can provide a solution to our nation’s economic, foreign policy and social crises, and most importantly, beat Joe Biden at the ballot box,” Johnson said in a statement. “That person is Donald Trump.”

Despite achieving a degree of notoriety on social media, Johnson failed to meet Republican National Committee (RNC) dictated criteria for making either of the two Republican presidential debates held so far. Prior to the debates, the RNC set minimum requirements for fundraising and donor numbers – as well as polling – for candidates to meet in order to be allowed to participate. Despite claims from his campaign to the contrary, Johnson did not meet both the fundraising and polling sets of criteria.

Johnson was previously a Republican candidate in the 2022 Michigan gubernatorial race, but fell short after he failed to meet the necessary 15,000 signatory threshold to appear on the ballot. Officials at Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers discarded 6,983 of Johnson’s signatures under the suspicion that they were “fraudulent” – an action that Johnson claims violated his rights. He was one of five GOP candidates removed from the ballot that year.

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Michigan businessman, and former Republican presidential candidate, Perry Johnson has announced he is backing former President Donald Trump's bid to retake the White House in 2024. "After suspending my campaign for President on Friday, there is now only one candidate in this race who can provide a solution to our nation's economic, foreign policy and social crises, and most importantly, beat Joe Biden at the ballot box," Johnson said in a statement. "That person is Donald Trump." show more
October 24, 2023
William Upton
Analysis
Politics

Speaker of the House Election Preview: Kevin Hern Edition.

Oklahoma Congressman Kevin Hern, the chairman of the powerful Republican Study Committee, is one of the favorites among House conservatives for Speaker. Hern first won Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District in 2018, replacing outgoing Rep. Jim Bridenstine who President Donald Trump had appointed as NASA Administrator. In 2023, Hern took over as chairman of the conservative policy group, the Republican Study Committee – former chairs include Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Steve Scalise (R-LA), the two initial candidates for House Speaker to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy.

Prior to running for Congress, Hern was a successful Arkansas and Oklahoma McDonalds franchise owner, purchasing his first franchise hamburger joint in 1997. By 1999, Hern had moved from Arkansas to Tulsa Oklahoma where he proceeded to expand his franchise operation, eventually owning 18 McDonalds fast-food restaurants in the Tulsa metropolitan area. Hern is one of the wealthier members of Congress with his total assets being valued somewhere around $93 million.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hern’s KTAK Corporation – which operates his McDonalds franchises – received between $1 million and $2 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans. According to Hern’s company, the federally-backed small business loans, would allow them to retain 220 jobs through the pandemic.

On recent issues important to conservative voters, Hern has been nothing short of a stalwart. The Oklahoma Congressman opposed certifying the 2020 election, citing voting irregularities. He remains opposed to same-sex marriage and giving further financial and military aid to Ukraine. Additionally, Hern voted against suspending the debt ceiling through January 1, 2025 and the 47-day government funding continuing resolution.

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Oklahoma Congressman Kevin Hern, the chairman of the powerful Republican Study Committee, is one of the favorites among House conservatives for Speaker. Hern first won Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District in 2018, replacing outgoing Rep. Jim Bridenstine who President Donald Trump had appointed as NASA Administrator. In 2023, Hern took over as chairman of the conservative policy group, the Republican Study Committee – former chairs include Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Steve Scalise (R-LA), the two initial candidates for House Speaker to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy. show more
October 24, 2023
William Upton
Breaking
Politics

WATCH: Crying Jenna Ellis Cops Plea Deal in Trump Georgia RICO Case.

Jenna Ellis, a DeSantis-backing lawyer who was indicted as a part of Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis’s RICO case against former President Donald Trump, has pleaded out to a single felony charge that she made false statements to Georgia legislators regarding election fraud during the aftermath of the 2020 election.

As a part of the plea deal Ellis will receive five years probation, pay $5,000 in restitution, participate in 100 hours of community service, and will co-operate with prosecutors. Additionally, Ellis is barred from speaking with the media and co-defendants as part of the plea deal.

Ellis, in a tearful statement read before the court, insisted that when she took the Trump cases she had no idea what she was doing, and claims she was lied to by more senior lawyers who she did not name. Ellis also raised over $216,000 from the public, claiming she was going to “fight back and stand for the truth!” Instead, she took a plea deal.

Two other attorneys who served on former President Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign and tackled accusations of election fraud have also pled out in the Georgia RICO case. Last week, Sydney Powell agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges in Georgia related to efforts to resolve the 2020 election. Powell was charged with violating the state’s anti-racketeering law alongside Trump and 17 others, and entered the plea one day before jury selection was set to begin.

Powell was sentenced to six years probation, fined $6,000 and agreed to pay $2,700 restitution to the State of Georgia, as well as write an apology letter “to the citizens of the state of Georgia.” Chesboro similarly received probation, a fine, community service, and agreed to write a letter of apology.

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Jenna Ellis, a DeSantis-backing lawyer who was indicted as a part of Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis's RICO case against former President Donald Trump, has pleaded out to a single felony charge that she made false statements to Georgia legislators regarding election fraud during the aftermath of the 2020 election.

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Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
Perpetual grifter Jenna Ellis opened her statement to the court by claiming “to be a person of sound moral and ethical character in all of my dealings
for exclusive members-only insights
Perpetual grifter Jenna Ellis opened her statement to the court by claiming “to be a person of sound moral and ethical character in all of my dealings show more
for exclusive members-only insights
October 23, 2023
Politics
War

Biden State Dept Appoints Muslim Mayor Who Called for Israel Eradication to Leadership Program.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud has been appointed to the State Department’s Assembly of Local Leaders program – a first of its kind initiative ostensibly positioned to identify “key issues” impacting local communities. Hammoud, known for his staunch anti-Israel positions, excused the Hamas terror attack on the Jewish state “inevitable” just weeks ago.

In a previous social media statement, the Democratic leader called for the eradication of the Jewish state, supporting Hamas’s incursion on Israel which took place on October 7, 2021. Contravening facts, Hammoud accused Israel of the tragic bombing of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, that instead came from the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s rocket, as per the Biden government’s own announcement.

Concerns have also been raised about the Biden government’s previous associations with groups supportive of Hamas, including the appointment of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on its “National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism”. CAIR, linked to Hamas, has backed various anti-Israel actions, with CAIR president Nihad Awad recently derogatorily referring to President Biden as a “Zionist”. The State Department has reportedly funneled millions in support to certain organizations in Gaza and the West Bank, some of which with a history of supporting Hamas. State Department official Nina Hachigian, known to have previously advocated for stronger U.S.-China ties, is leading the Assembly of Local Leaders program.

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Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud has been appointed to the State Department's Assembly of Local Leaders program - a first of its kind initiative ostensibly positioned to identify "key issues" impacting local communities. Hammoud, known for his staunch anti-Israel positions, excused the Hamas terror attack on the Jewish state "inevitable" just weeks ago. show more
October 23, 2023
William Upton
Analysis
Politics

Tom Emmer Wants to Be House Speaker. Here’s Why That Would Suck.

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) has emerged as the Republican establishment’s standard-bearer to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. First elected during the 2014 mid-term elections in a seat formerly held by arch-conservative Michele Bachmann, Rep. Emmer has risen quickly through the leadership ranks and was elected Majority Whip at the start of this Congress.

From 2019 to 2023, Emmer served as the chairman of the House Republicans’ campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) – and oversaw the 2022 mid-term efforts in which Republicans only retook the House by a narrow majority, far underperforming expectations. Some 2022 Republican congressional candidates put the blame squarely with Emmer and the House Republican establishment who decided to actively intervene in open Republican primaries. Some mid-term candidates said that Emmer advised that they distance themselves from former President Donald Trump, a move that may have actually cost Republicans additional House seats.

The controversial tenure at the NRCC isn’t the only objection being raised to a prospective Speaker Emmer. The Minnesota Congressman’s voting record has been less than stellar in the eyes of House conservatives. Emmer voted in favor of codifying same-sex marriage and he voted to certify the 2020 presidential election despite reports of voting irregularities. In addition, Emmer has been a staunch proponent of giving additional financial and military aid to Ukraine, a position that has become well out of step among a number of House Republicans. Finally, Emmer also backed Joe Biden’s deal to lift the U.S. debt ceiling through January 1, 2025 and backed the 47-day continuing resolution to fund the government.

Prior to serving in Congress, Emmer worked as a spokesman for the National Popular Vote initiative – an effort funded by George Soros and backed by former President Barack Obama to essentially end the Electoral College and elect the President via a nationwide popular vote.

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Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) has emerged as the Republican establishment's standard-bearer to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. First elected during the 2014 mid-term elections in a seat formerly held by arch-conservative Michele Bachmann, Rep. Emmer has risen quickly through the leadership ranks and was elected Majority Whip at the start of this Congress. show more