Thursday, September 24, 2026

Kamala Stunned by Trump’s ‘High Velocity’ Governance.

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❓What Happened: Failed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris addressed a gathering of fellow Democrats, expressing her disapproval of changes in America under Donald J. Trump’s presidency.

👥 Who’s Involved: Former Vice President Kamala Harris; Democratic donors, candidates, and elected officials, including California’s lieutenant governor, Eleni Kounalakis.

📍 Where & When: Palace Hotel in San Francisco, during a 15-minute speech on April 30.

💬 Key Quote: Harris criticized the swift implementation of the America First agenda, calling it, “A narrow, self-serving vision of America where they punish truth-tellers, favor loyalists, cash in on their power, and leave everyone to fend for themselves.”

⚠️ Impact: Her speech highlighted ongoing distress within Democratic ranks over Trump’s energetic presidency.

IN FULL:

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has bemoaned President Donald J. Trump’s whirlwind implementation of his agenda in his first 100 days. Speaking at an exclusive event at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, California, she delivered her first major public address post-election.

“What we are, in fact, witnessing is a high velocity event, where a vessel is being used for the swift implementation of an agenda that has been decades in the making,” Harris said, complaining that, among other things, President Trump is looking to downsize the government.

Her remarks were made in front of an audience that included prominent Democratic figures such as California’s lieutenant governor, Eleni Kounalakis. Like Harris, Kounalakis is a potential gubernatorial candidate, and part of a broader group within the Democratic Party reassessing why Harris faced widespread rejection at the polls.

Harris remarked on what she viewed as a “narrow, self-serving vision of America” under President Trump, which she claimed penalizes those speaking against it.

Speculation that Harris may consider a bid for California’s governorship in 2026 comes alongside speculation she may have hopes for another presidential run in 2028. Polls suggest that while Harris leads other potential gubernatorial candidates in polls, many voters are actually split on whether she should run at all. Just 50 percent of California voters think Harris should enter the race for state governor.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Hakeem Jeffries Declines to Back Democrats Visiting El Salvador to Support Deported Illegals.

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❓What Happened: Reports suggest that Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries showed little support for Democrats who have traveled to El Salvador advocating for deported illegal immigrants.

👥 Who’s Involved: House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Representatives Robert Garcia, Yassamin Ansari, Maxwell Frost, Maxine Dexter, President Donald J. Trump, and deported illegals such as accused MS-13 gangster and wife-beater Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

📍 Where & When: The reported events and discussions have taken place in the United States, with trips organized to El Salvador’s CECOT prison.

💬 Key Quote: Jeffries stated, “Our reaction [to the trips] is that Donald Trump has the lowest approval rating of any president in modern American history,” deflecting from addressing the actions of his fellow Democrats directly.

⚠️ Impact: The disagreement exemplifies the ongoing internal conflicts within the Democratic Party.

IN FULL:

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is reportedly advising restraint to Democrats traveling to El Salvador to advocate for deported illegal aliens. Reports suggest Jeffries seemed to sidestep support for Democrats who have embarked on missions to the country.

When probed about fellow party members’ travels and their objectives, Jeffries veered the discussion towards President Donald J. Trump‘s approval ratings. Jeffries has reportedly cautioned against escalating actions with respect to the deportations to El Salvador. This comes after visits to the country involving figures like Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Robert Garcia, among others.

There appears to be some division within the Democratic Party over this approach. While leaders like Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer maintain a more reserved stance, others within the party are pushing for proactive measures on behalf of deported migrants.

A spokesman for Jeffries refuted claims that his office actively discourages the trips. They asserted that the minority leader will persist in advocating for those like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported illegal linked to MS-13 who was once arrested on suspicion of human trafficking and accused of violent abuse by his wife. The Democrats insist he is a “Maryland man” deported unlawfully.

The situation highlights the ongoing strife within the Democratic Party. Others, such as Democratic National Committee vice chair and anti-gun rights activist David Hogg, are pushing to purge candidates who are not deemed woke or progressive enough.

Hogg’s statements have drawn ire from Democrat stalwarts like James Carville, who referred to Hogg as a “contemptible little twerp.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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President Trump Shifts White House Focus to Tax Cuts for Americans as Ukraine Peace Remains Elusive.

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump is urging Congress to pass a comprehensive bill aimed at implementing major tax cuts. The move comes as the America First leader appears to be refocusing his White House on critical domestic and economic issues, having expressed frustration with the lack of progress in U.S. mediation of the Russia-Ukraine war.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Congress.

📍 Where & When: President Trump ramped up pressure on Congress to finalize and pass a reconciliation bill providing tax relief Tuesday night at a rally in Michigan.

💬 Key Quote: “In the coming weeks and months, we will pass the largest tax cuts in American History—and that will include No Tax on Tips, NO Tax on Social Security, and No Tax on Overtime. It’s called the one big beautiful bill,” President Trump said.

⚠️ Impact: The proposal could increase real wages by up to $3,300 annually, boost take-home pay for median-income households by up to $5,000 per year, elevate short-run GDP by 3.3-3.8 percent and long-term GDP by 2.6-3.2 percent, and preserve 4.1 million jobs.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump appears to be refocusing his administration to tackle key domestic policy issues, as a solution to end the Russia-Ukraine war continues to be elusive. The America First leader, speaking at a rally Tuesday night in Michigan, called on lawmakers on Capitol Hill to work to pass a reconciliation bill that will implement his proposed overhaul of the U.S. tax code and make the 2017 Trump tax cuts—the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)—permanent.

“In the coming weeks and months, we will pass the largest tax cuts in American History—and that will include No Tax on Tips, NO Tax on Social Security, and No Tax on Overtime. It’s called the one big beautiful bill,” President Trump declared. The proposal aims to provide substantial tax reductions, touted as the largest in history, for the American populace.

The tax overhaul includes noteworthy provisions to exempt tips, overtime, and Social Security for seniors from taxation. Additionally, the Trump White House contends the proposal will increase real wages by as much as $3,300 per year, with median-income households potentially seeing up to $5,000 more in take-home pay annually.

Meanwhile, President Trump’s economic team argues that the tax cuts will have an extensive impact on the U.S. economy. According to the White House’s Council of Economic Advisors (CEA), the permanence of the 2017 tax cuts could result in an uptick in short-run real GDP between 3.3 and 3.8 percent. The long-run effects are anticipated to boost GDP by 2.6 to 3.2 percent. The CEA analysis also projects that the tax plan could save a total of 4.1 million jobs, offering a substantial economic safety net.

Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate adopted respective budget resolutions, kick-starting the budget reconciliation process. This bill will serve as the vehicle for President Trump’s tax overhaul. Notably, reconciliation bills cannot be filibustered in the Senate, meaning Congressional Democrats have few procedural tools to delay or stop the legislation.

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Mark Zuckerberg Closes Schools Aimed at Minority Communities.

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❓What Happened: The Primary School, established by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, will permanently shut down at the end of the 2025–26 academic year, citing funding problems.

👥 Who’s Involved: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, The Primary School, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).

📍 Where & When: Schools located in East Palo Alto and the East Bay, to close by 2025–26.

💬 Key Quote: “After much deliberation, our schools in East Palo Alto and the East Bay will be closing at the end of the 2025–26 school year,” school officials announced.

⚠️ Impact: The closure affects families who relied on the school for education and support services. CZI will invest $50 million to assist communities in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and East Bay with transition aid.

IN FULL:

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan‘s educational initiative, The Primary School, is set to close by the end of the 2025–26 school year due to financial constraints. Launched in 2016, the private school aimed to provide tuition-free education and supportive services to “underserved” communities in Palo Alto and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

“After much deliberation, our schools in East Palo Alto and the East Bay will be closing at the end of the 2025–26 school year,” school officials said in a statement, adding: “This was a very difficult decision, and we are committed to ensuring a thoughtful and supportive transition for students and families over the next year. To sustain The Primary School’s legacy, [the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative] will make a $50M investment over the next few years in the East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and East Bay communities.”

The anticipated closure will affect local California families who have depended on The Primary School for educational resources and social services, especially healthcare and community welfare. The school’s founding principle emphasized collaborative child-rearing, involving educational professionals and healthcare providers.

“Though The Primary School as it exists today will be coming to an end, we sincerely hope that what we have learned and shown to be possible will live on,” the closure announcement states, continuing: “We will entrust our partners in this work—both our direct collaborators and our compatriots across the education and health fields—to carry the torch for all families, but especially the most vulnerable. Our belief in our guiding principle has not wavered, and we know that it will take all of us to work toward a future where our children and families can grow, learn, and thrive no matter the circumstances.”

The closure of the Zuckerberg-funded school comes amidst a broader fight between the Trump administration and far-left activists in academia who have pushed radical diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and introduced sexually inappropriate content in the K-12 curriculum across the country. A number of academic institutions have ended their DEI programs, along with enacting policy changes barring biological males from competing in women’s sports, in order to comply with directives issued by President Donald J. Trump.

Earlier this year, Meta announced it would suspend its DEI programs.

Image by Anthony Quintano.

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Trump Chief of Staff Gives Rare Interview Signaling Frustration With Ukraine, Russia.

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❓What Happened: White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles evaluated President Donald J. Trump’s first 100 days in office, highlighting various achievements and acknowledging areas needing improvement. Wiles specifically expressed frustration with Russian and Ukrainian resistance to peace talks, stating, “If peace is not achieved, it will be because it can’t be achieved. It just cannot.”

👥 Who’s Involved: Susie Wiles, President Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and members of Trump’s administration.

📍 Where & When: The White House in Washington, D.C., during an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, April 29.

💬 Key Quote: Wiles stated, “The president has devoted 100 days and his very top people to Russia and Ukraine, and if peace is not achieved, it will be because it can’t be achieved. It just cannot.”

⚠️ Impact: Wiles outlined ongoing initiatives and future goals for Trump’s administration, including potential trade deals, legislative objectives, and the prospects of the U.S. government’s ongoing mediation of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

IN FULL:

Susie Wiles, the White House Chief of Staff, says President Donald J. Trump‘s first 100 days in office have been notably productive. Speaking to the New York Post on Tuesday, Wiles noted the America First leader has signed 142 executive orders since January 20 and mentioned the administration’s focus on trade agreements and curbing illegal immigration.

However, the first-ever female White House Chief of Staff did express consternation regarding the lack of progress in reaching a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting peace may not be achievable in the time frame President Trump wants. “The President has devoted 100 days and his very top people to Russia and Ukraine, and if peace is not achieved, it will be because it can’t be achieved. It just cannot,” Wiles said. She continued: “I don’t know whether that will be the case or not. I mean, it may well be that we can make some headway in the next couple of weeks, but nobody would have tried it but Donald Trump.”

“Nobody would have gotten these people to the table but Donald Trump. And if they want to continue to kill people, while it’s abhorrent, you know, he can’t stop that,” she added.

Despite the setbacks in ending the Russia-Ukraine war, Wiles still praised the administration’s productivity and credited President Trump’s decisive actions for the speed at which the White House agenda has been implemented. However, Wiles did acknowledge that the Trump White House has faced more resistance than anticipated in rolling back the expanded federal government left by former President Joe Biden.

“Where I would say there was not just sort of great, amazing success is perhaps our underestimation of the size and scope of the government that Joe Biden left us,” Wiles acknowledged, adding: “The economy, the war between Russia and Ukraine, the budget, the taxes writ large, which I consider to be different than the budget, the sort of institutional resistance to even recognizing that we’ve been ripped off by foreign nations that require us to do tariffs.”

The National Pulse reported on Tuesday that President Trump is “increasingly growing frustrated” with the Russian and Ukrainian governments’ resistance to peace talks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The National Pulse that Trump is increasingly concerned about “the amount of time” the administration is spending on Ukraine, implicitly at the cost of domestic priorities including federal government reforms, economic revival, and mass deportations.

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Kamala Harris Charges for Speech Targeting Trump.

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❓What Happened: Former Vice President Kamala Harris (D) will make her first significant public remarks since leaving the White House following President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration in January. Harris will address attendees at the Emerge gala in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday.

👥 Who’s Involved: Kamala Harris, the Emerge organization, former Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D), New Mexico state Sen. Cindy Nava (D), and former Biden government Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

📍 Where & When: The Emerge gala is being held in San Francisco on Wednesday, April 30, marking the organization’s 20th anniversary.

💬 Key Quote: The former Democratic Vice President is expected to attack President Trump during her speech, framing his policies as “ongoing threats to American institutions and global leadership.”

⚠️ Impact: Harris is considering a gubernatorial bid for California in 2026, with a decision anticipated by the end of the summer.

IN FULL:

San Francisco is set to host former Vice President Kamala Harris as she delivers her first major speech post-White House departure at the Emerge organization’s 20th anniversary gala later on Wednesday. Harris, who was defeated in a landslide by President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 presidential election, is expected to use the address to attack the America First leader and his administration as “ongoing threats to American institutions and global leadership.”

The Emerge organization—a political non-profit that recruits and promotes Democratic women as candidates for office—is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Harris will headline the event along with several other Democratic women, including former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), the 2025 Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Virginia. Additionally, the gala will feature remarks from Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D), New Mexico state Sen. Cindy Nava (D), and former Biden government Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

While Harris’s attendance and speech are likely to fuel speculation regarding her political future, those wishing to livestream the address will have to pay a $25 fee to Emerge. The group has declined to provide a free video feed of the gala and Harris’s remarks. Democratic Party insiders believe that the former Vice President is contemplating a run for California governor in 2026, with a decision on her potential candidacy anticipated by the end of the summer.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Kamala Harris catered to the Democratic Party’s far-left progressive faction, adopting its extreme rhetoric to attack President Trump and his supporters. The decision to embrace more radical, progressive rhetoric and policies, despite downplaying her even more radical past, is widely considered to have played a significant role in Harris’s presidential election loss.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Failed VP Candidate Expresses Deep Pessimism Over Dems’ Senate Prospects.

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❓What Happened: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) says he is not optimistic about the Democrats winning the Senate next year.

👥 Who’s Involved: Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic Party, the U.S. Senate.

📍 Where & When: Walz made his remarks at Harvard University on April 27.

💬 Key Quote: “I am very pessimistic about the Senate, just to be honest with you.” — Tim Walz

⚠️ Impact: The statement from a top Democrat reveals the ongoing disunity in the party, which is suffering internal clashes.

IN FULL:

Kamala Harris’s former running mate and current Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) is pessimistic about the Democrats’ chances of winning the U.S. Senate in 2026. In front of an audience at Harvard‘s Kennedy School Institute of Politics, Walz explained his pessimism about next year’s Senate elections.

“I think we will take back the House,” Walz said, but added, “I am very pessimistic about the Senate, just to be honest with you.” He stated that the Democratic national brand image could play a factor in state-level elections as well. “The thing was, is being associated with national parties and things on these state races, we’re going to have to figure that piece out of, how do we reimagine,” he said.

Last month, Walz teased his own presidential bid for 2028, saying he was open to running for the presidency if there was enough interest. However, he remarked, “If, nationally, people are like, ‘Dude, we tried you and look how that worked out,’ I’m good with that.”

Earlier in the year, Walz backed anti-gun rights activist David Hogg for Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chair, a position Hogg now holds. An ultra-progressive, Hogg stated earlier this month that he was going to launch a civil war within the Democratic party to root out those not sufficiently woke and progressive enough.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Foreign-Born Dem Rep Files Impeachment Articles Against Trump for Deporting Foreign Criminals.

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❓What Happened: Foreign-born Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) filed seven articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump on April 28, 2025, citing the deportation of alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia as a key grievance.

👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. Shri Thanedar, President Donald J. Trump, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported Salvadoran illegal alien.

📍 Where & When: U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., with the filing announced on April 28, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Rep. Thanedar alleges President Trump has “ignored the Constitution.”

⚠️ Impact: Thanedar’s impeachment push is unlikely to advance in a GOP-controlled House, but highlights Democratic opposition to Trump’s immigration and trade policies and preference for migrants and foreign exporters.

IN FULL:

Foreign-born Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI) has filed articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump, prompted by his deportation of alleged MS-13 gang member, accused domestic abuser, and suspected human trafficker Kilmar Abrego Garcia without “due process.”

Speaking in a thick Indian accent, Rep. Thanedar said Trump’s deportation of Salvadoran illegal alien Abrego Garcia under the Alien Enemies Act and not returning him “ignored the Constitution,” and forms part of a “dangerous, deliberate pattern.”

The 70-year-old has filed seven articles of impeachment in total, with the first being for supposed obstruction of justice and abuse of executive power, with respect to “unlawful deportations” and having “defied” court orders related to them.

Another article alleges “abuse of trade powers” by imposing “damaging tariffs” on foreign countries—including Thanedar’s native India.

Thanedar’s impeachment articles are highly unlikely to make any progress in the GOP-controlled House, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is downplaying their significance, saying, “I haven’t evaluated the articles. I haven’t even had an opportunity to talk with him about it.”

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Dem Governor Urges Mass, Extreme Protests Against Trump and GOP.

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❓What Happened: Far-left Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) is calling for mass demonstrations and mobilization with the intention to “punish” Republicans. The extreme language is being seen by some as a return to the violent political rhetoric that resulted in two assassination attempts on President Donald J. Trump last year.

👥 Who’s Involved: Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

📍 Where & When: Sunday, April 27, in New Hampshire.

💬 Key Quote: “These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace,” said Gov. Pritzker.

⚠️ Impact: Last year, extreme rhetoric deployed by former President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Democratic Party alienated voters and resulted in two attempts on Donald Trump’s life. Pritzker, himself potentially weighing a 2028 presidential run, is seen by some as having returned to that violent and dangerous rhetoric.

IN FULL:

Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) appears to be laying the groundwork for a potential 2028 presidential run, looking to monopolize the progressive left-wing lane in the Democratic primary contest. On Sunday, during an event in New Hampshire, Pritzker—a billionaire member of the Pritzker family, which owns the Hyatt hotel chain—pushed for his fellow Democrats to ramp up aggressive demonstrations and protests against President Donald J. Trump.

“Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now,” the billionaire Democrat said, adding: “These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace.”

Pritzker continued: “They have to understand that we will fight their cruelty with every megaphone and microphone that we have.”

During the 2024 presidential campaign, the Democratic Party, including then-President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, received intense criticism from voters and the Republican Party for their over-the-top and extreme political rhetoric. The Democrats attempted to portray President Trump and his supports as fascists, Nazis, and racists. They routinely warned that Trump would declare himself a dictator and that the MAGA movement wished to end democracy.

The violent political rhetoric espoused by Democrats culminated in two assassination attempts against President Trump, with a supporter of the America First leader being killed at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The Illinois governor emphasized on Sunday that he wished to see Republicans “punished” while couching the rhetoric by adding “at the ballot box.”

Pritzker has staked out a position on his party’s left flank, calling Democratic lawmakers and activists who blamed the Biden government’s pro-transgender and open-borders policies for Trump’s reelection as “do-nothing Democrats.”

Image by World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.

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Dem Rep. Gerry Connolly to Retire Following Cancer Return.

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❓What Happened: Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) announced that his cancer has returned, leading him to decide against seeking reelection. In addition, Connolly announced on Monday that he would be stepping down as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.

👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia, who was the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.

📍 Where & When: Connolly’s announcement came via social media on Monday, April 28.

💬 Key Quote: Connolly stated, “After grueling treatments, we’ve learned that the cancer, while initially beaten back, has now returned. I’ll do everything possible to continue to represent you and thank you for your grace.”

⚠️ Impact: Connolly will step away from his position as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee and will not run for office again, ending his 15-year congressional tenure.

IN FULL:

Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) announced he will be stepping down as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee and will not seek re-election. The Virginia Democrat who has served for 15 years in Congress revealed in a social media post on Monday that his esophageal cancer has returned.

“After grueling treatments, we’ve learned that the cancer, while initially beaten back, has now returned,” Connolly wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The Democratic Congressman continued: “I’ll do everything possible to continue to represent you and thank you for your grace.”

“The sun is setting on my time in public service, and this will be my last term in Congress,” Connolly said, adding: “With no rancor and a full heart, I move into this final chapter full of pride in what we’ve accomplished together over 30 years.”

Connolly had initially revealed his battle with esophageal cancer in November 2024, undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The Virginia Democrat’s national political journey began with his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008, serving the 11th district of Virginia for nine terms. Before his federal career, Connolly spent 14 years on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors.

Rep. Connolly is a noted foe of President Donald J. Trump and one of the more vocally partisan Democrats in the House of Representatives. During former President Joe Biden’s lawfare campaign against Trump, the Virginia Congressman pushed a proposal to rename a federal prison after Trump—a subtle reference to Democratic Party efforts to see the America First leader imprisoned.

In December 2024, Connolly defeated the far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) for the ranking member seat on the House Oversight Committee. Now that he is stepping aside, the self-described New York “democratic socialist” may once again pursue the coveted committee seat.

Image by April Brady/Project on Middle East Democracy.

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