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Tag: Donald Trump
November 19, 2024
Jack Montgomery
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

Here Are the Republicans Opposing Gaetz as AG… And How You Contact Them.

A bloc of Republican senators is gearing up to obstruct President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Cabinet nominees, particularly prospective Attorney General Matt Gaetz and prospective Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Despite Trump earning the strongest mandate of any Republican presidential candidate in a generation, winning 312 Electoral College votes, the popular vote, and a governmental trifecta, some establishment Republicans still appear intent on frustrating his America First agenda.

LISA MURKOWSKI.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-K) has strongly signaled she will vote to block Gaetz’s appointment, saying, “I don’t think it’s a serious nomination for Attorney General. We need to have a serious Attorney General.”

Murkowski is among the establishment Republicans least loyal to Trump, voting to convict him during his second impeachment trial in 2021.

Sen. Murkowski can be emailed at email@murkowski.senate.gov, called at 202-224-3004, and faxed at 202-224-1044.

SUSAN COLLINS.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) expressed “shock” at Gaetz’s nomination, adding: “I’m sure that there will be a lot of questions raised at his hearing.”

She has also indicated she finds RFK Jr.’s statements on public health “alarming,” indicating she is laying the groundwork for a negative vote on both nominees.

Sen. Collins can be emailed at senator@collins.senate.gov, called at 202-224-2523, and faxed at 202-224-2693.

JOHN CURTIS.

Senator-elect John Curtis (R-UT) is a politician in the same mold as Mitt Romney, the arch-RINO whom he is replacing. As a House member, he proposed censuring Trump over January 6—although he did not vote for impeachment—and has been a bitter foe of Gaetz, who campaigned against him during his Senate primary.

Curtis has said he believes presidents are owed only “a degree” of deference when it comes to nominations, with his chief of staff stressing “the Senate’s critical role to confirm or reject nominations based on information and insight from confirmation hearings.”

Senator-elect Curtis can be emailed here or at info@johncurtis.org, called at 202-225-7751 or 801-922-5400, and faxed at 202-225-5629.

JONI ERNST.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) has suggested that Gaetz faces an “uphill climb” to be confirmed. She says she wants to see a controversial House Ethics report on trafficking allegations against Gaetz that the Justice Department declined to pursue.

Sen. Ernst can be emailed here, called at 202-224-3254, or faxed at 202-224-9369.

THOM TILLIS.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has said it will be “interesting” to see what sort of “organic base” Gaetz has in the Senate, strongly suggesting he believes the Senate GOP will move against him.

“At the end of the day, Congressman Gaetz, he’ll have a hearing, but I’m all about counting votes, and I would think that he’s probably got some work cut out for him to get a good strong vote,” he suggests.

Tillis has also made insinuations against Pete Hegseth, a decorated veteran, suggesting he will go through an “interesting” vetting process.

Sen. Tillis can be emailed here, called at 202-224-6342, or faxed at 202-228-2563.

JOHN CORNYN.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has been hyping the aforementioned House Ethics report on Gaetz, claiming he is concerned the AG nominee could become “an embarrassment to the President.”

Cornyn has also suggested he has been “liberated” by his failure to secure the GOP leadership—and so has the outgoing leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Sen. Cornyn can be emailed here, called at 202-224-6342, or faxed at 202-228-2563.

MITCH MCCONNELL. 

Sen. Mitch McConnell, 82, may have stepped down from the leadership of the Senate GOP, but years remain on his current term. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has said “his influence is real, and his voice will matter” during the nomination process.

He is no friend of President-elect Trump, reportedly describing the America First leader as “stupid,” “ill-tempered,” and a “despicable human being.” He is said to have “started to sob softly” as he addressed staffers following January 6 and seriously considered voting to convict the then-President in the Senate. He later backed the Biden-Harris lawfare prosecution of the America First leader.

Gaetz has been strongly critical of McConnell, dubbing him “McFailure” and celebrating his retirement from the leadership after an astonishing 18 years in power.

Sen. McConnell can be emailed at senator@mcconnell.senate.gov, called at 202-224-2541, or faxed at 202-224-2499.

TODD YOUNG.

Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) has been a critic of Trump, declining to endorse him in 2024 and chastising him over January 6.

He has not made any firm statements about Gaetz. However, Gaetz has previously said that any Republican supporting gun control legislation pushed by Young was “a traitor to the Constitution,” meaning there is likely some animosity between the pair.

Sen. Young can be emailed here, called at 202-224-5623 or 317-226-6700, and faxed at 202-224-1845.

BILL CASSIDY.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has avoided commenting on Gaetz’s nomination up to the time of publication but is expected to make trouble for America First conservatives generally, having been one of the few Republican senators to vote to convict Trump during his impeachment trial for insurrection. However, the Louisiana Senator could decide to stay out of the fray, given he likely faces a tough Republican primary in the 2026 mid-term election.

Despite many believing Cassidy would be a vocal opponent of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Louisiana Republican has instead opted to praise the nomination—an additional signal he may avoid conflict over other nominations.

Sen. Cassidy can be emailed here, called at 202-224-5824, and faxed at 202-224-6161.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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A bloc of Republican senators is gearing up to obstruct President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Cabinet nominees, particularly prospective Attorney General Matt Gaetz and prospective Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Despite Trump earning the strongest mandate of any Republican presidential candidate in a generation, winning 312 Electoral College votes, the popular vote, and a governmental trifecta, some establishment Republicans still appear intent on frustrating his America First agenda. show more
November 19, 2024
Jack Montgomery
TECH
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

WATCH LIVE: Trump Attends Launch of Musk’s Starship.

President-elect Donald J. Trump is attending the sixth test launch of Starship, which SpaceX owner Elon Musk hopes will become a “fully and rapidly reusable” spacefaring platform. The fifth launch saw Starship’s Super Heavy booster take off and return to its launch site, where it was caught by the gigantic “chopsticks” of the Mechazilla tower.

According to SpaceX, if all goes well, Tuesday’s flight in Brownsville, Texas, will “include the booster once again returning to the launch site for catch, reigniting a ship Raptor engine while in space, and testing a suite of heatshield experiments and maneuvering changes for ship reentry and descent over the Indian Ocean.”

“I’m heading to the Great State of Texas to watch the launch of the largest object ever to be elevated, not only to Space, but simply by lifting off the ground. Good luck to Elon Musk and the Great Patriots involved in this incredible project!” President-elect Trump said of the test flight while en route to the site.

Musk supported the America First leader on the campaign trail and has been included in the incoming administration as the new joint leader of a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Vivek Ramaswamy.

WATCH LIVE:

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President-elect Donald J. Trump is attending the sixth test launch of Starship, which SpaceX owner Elon Musk hopes will become a "fully and rapidly reusable" spacefaring platform. The fifth launch saw Starship's Super Heavy booster take off and return to its launch site, where it was caught by the gigantic "chopsticks" of the Mechazilla tower. show more
November 19, 2024
Immigration

The Haitians are Fleeing Ohio!!!

Following the recent presidential election, Springfield, Ohio, has seen a noticeable departure of Haitian migrants, who fear potential policy changes under President-elect Donald J. Trump’s incoming administration. The town, with a population just shy of 60,000 according to the 2020 census, experienced significant growth over recent years as between 15,000 and 20,000 Haitian migrants moved in under the Biden-Harris government, straining local resources and services.

Many migrants arrived with temporary protected status (TPS), which allowed them to live and work legally in the United States. However, President-elect Trump indicated plans to revoke such permits, raising concerns among migrants about mass deportations. Some have already relocated to other areas within the U.S., such as New Jersey, Boston, and nearby Dayton, while others are considering returning to former host countries like Brazil.

Local residents previously expressed dissatisfaction with the Haitian influx. Complaints include increased pressure on housing leading to higher rents, extended wait times for social services, and road safety concerns due to dangerous drivers.

The Haitian Community Alliance (HCA) reports facilitating travel arrangements for those who choose to leave, given that many lack access to necessary financial and online resources. Margery Koveleski of HCA mentioned their ongoing efforts to assist migrants in transitioning out of Springfield.

The city played a critical role in the national election. During campaign debates, President-elect Trump repeated reports that Haitian migrants in Springfield were involved in killing local animals. This claim garnered widespread attention and arguably refocused the election contest on immigration policy.

Following his landslide win, President-elect Trump announced former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chief Tom Homan would serve as his immigration czar. Homan will oversee Trump’s aggressive deportation program.

Image by Cindy Funk.

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Following the recent presidential election, Springfield, Ohio, has seen a noticeable departure of Haitian migrants, who fear potential policy changes under President-elect Donald J. Trump's incoming administration. The town, with a population just shy of 60,000 according to the 2020 census, experienced significant growth over recent years as between 15,000 and 20,000 Haitian migrants moved in under the Biden-Harris government, straining local resources and services. show more
November 19, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Media

ICYMI: Trump Commits to Collaborating with a ‘Free, Fair, and Open’ Press.

President-elect Donald J. Trump emphasized the importance of an open media to “Make America Great Again” during an interview on Monday. “In order to Make America Great Again, it is very important, if not vital, to have a free, fair and open media or press,” he said.

The America First leader revealed he met with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough and his wife Mika Brzezinski—at their request—because he believes he has “an obligation to the American public, and to our country itself, to be open and available to the press,” but warned: “If not treated fairly, however, that will end.”

Scarborough and Brzezinski, for their part, said, “Trump was cheerful, he was upbeat, he seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats on some of the most divisive issues.” Brzezinski defended their decision to meet with the President-elect, whom they had not seen in seven years, on the grounds that “years of political warfare has deeply divided Washington and the country… Joe and I realized it is time to do something different, and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump but also talking with him.”

Many on the left disagreed with the decision, however, stressing their past insinuations that Trump would usher in fascism. Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann went so far as to describe Scarborough as a “political whore.”

Perhaps disappointing supporters who hoped he would take a firmer line against figures in the media and elsewhere who have persecuted him and his followers, the President-elect insisted he was “not looking for retribution, grandstanding or to destroy people who treated me very unfairly, or even badly beyond comprehension.”

“I am always looking to give a second and even third chance,” he said—while insisting he draws the line at a fourth chance.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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President-elect Donald J. Trump emphasized the importance of an open media to "Make America Great Again" during an interview on Monday. "In order to Make America Great Again, it is very important, if not vital, to have a free, fair and open media or press," he said. show more
November 19, 2024
Jack Montgomery
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

WATCH: Will Upton Explains How Trump Can Appoint Gaetz, RFK Jr. WITHOUT the Senate.

Will Upton, Political Editor of The National Pulse, explained how President-elect Donald J. Trump might appoint contentious Cabinet nominees such as Matt Gaetz to his Cabinet for “almost two years” before full Senate confirmation—or rejection. Speaking to Dinesh D’Souza, Upton explained that the America First leader would “have to resort to recess appointments” to manage this feat.

“There’s a constitutional provision that allows the President to temporarily appoint somebody to a Cabinet position,” Upton said, explaining that the Senate must be recessed for a minimum of ten days for this to occur. “That person serves until the start of the next Congress, which roughly rolls out to about a calendar year.”

At least in theory, this can be extended under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA) for a further 210 calendar days, with the recess appointee becoming an ‘Acting’ office holder.

Senate Majority Leader-elect John Thune has indicated such a workaround could be scuttled by Republican-in-name-only (RINO) senators refusing to approve a recess. Still, Upton notes there is a mechanism for the President to adjourn Congress forcibly—provided the House of Representatives and Senate are in dispute.

WATCH:

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Will Upton, Political Editor of The National Pulse, explained how President-elect Donald J. Trump might appoint contentious Cabinet nominees such as Matt Gaetz to his Cabinet for "almost two years" before full Senate confirmation—or rejection. Speaking to Dinesh D'Souza, Upton explained that the America First leader would "have to resort to recess appointments" to manage this feat. show more
November 19, 2024
William Upton
Data
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

Majority of Voters Approve of Trump Cabinet Picks.

New data shows that most voters approve of President-elect Donald J. Trump‘s cabinet picks so far. According to a survey conducted by Echelon Insights, 53 percent of respondents approve of Trump’s choices for the top roles in his White House. Only 40 percent say they disapprove. This data suggests the President-elect continues to enjoy a strong voter mandate, reflecting his landslide election win.

Individually, almost all of Trump’s nominees are seen positively by voters—though some do have relatively low name recognition overall. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), enjoys a 46 percent approval rating among voters, well clear of the 41 percent who view him negatively. Elon Musk and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance are both also seen as more positive than negative by voters, with numbers similar to Kennedy’s.

Voters indicate they don’t know enough about Trump’s other cabinet picks, giving a window of opportunity for the President-elect and his team to create a positive narrative around them before Democrats and establishment Republicans define them negatively. Despite sparking debate among political insiders and the corporate media, voters mostly indicated they do not know much about Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, and Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

The confirmation process for President-elect Trump’s cabinet could prove perilous for Democrats. The survey found that 51 percent of voters have an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party. Should Congressional Democrats and establishment Republicans try and block Trump’s nominees, they risk increasing their unfavorability among voters further.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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New data shows that most voters approve of President-elect Donald J. Trump's cabinet picks so far. According to a survey conducted by Echelon Insights, 53 percent of respondents approve of Trump's choices for the top roles in his White House. Only 40 percent say they disapprove. This data suggests the President-elect continues to enjoy a strong voter mandate, reflecting his landslide election win. show more
Merchan Bragg
November 19, 2024
William Upton
Breaking
Lawfare

BREAKING: Far-Left NY Judge Indefinitely Postpones Trump’s Sentencing.

Democrat-aligned New York Judge Juan Merchan is moving to adjourn his court without handing down a sentence for President-elect Donald J. Trump over his guilty verdict on 34 courts of business records fraud. However, the verdict and sentencing have been thrown into limbo by the U.S. Supreme Court’s subsequent ruling regarding presidential immunity as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case was in part reliant on documents and testimony from Trump’s White House staff.

Merchan’s decision means that while Trump will not be sentenced in the near future, he could still receive a prison sentence after leaving office in four years. Additionally, adjourning before sentencing means that the President-elect has yet to be convicted of any crimes.

The decision by the New York judge ultimately appears to be an admission that the prosecution and trial were less about justice and more about politics—with the hope of undermining Trump’s bid to retake the White House. Despite the lawfare campaign against him at the federal and state levels, Trump won a landslide victory in the 2024 presidential race. The overwhelming voter support has prompted several top Republican and Democrat legal figures to call on the U.S. Department of Justice and District Attorneys Alvin Bragg and Fani Willis to end the legal proceedings against Trump.

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Democrat-aligned New York Judge Juan Merchan is moving to adjourn his court without handing down a sentence for President-elect Donald J. Trump over his guilty verdict on 34 courts of business records fraud. However, the verdict and sentencing have been thrown into limbo by the U.S. Supreme Court's subsequent ruling regarding presidential immunity as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case was in part reliant on documents and testimony from Trump's White House staff. show more
November 19, 2024
Politics

Introducing Congress’ ‘Three Amigos’ – A Pro-Trump Trio Set to Make Waves.

Brandon Gill, Brian Jack, and Riley Moore, newly elected congressional representatives, have already gained attention among GOP strategists as the “three amigos.” Standing firm on President-elect Donald J. Trump‘s policies, this group of young conservatives is making its presence known on Capitol Hill even before officially taking office.

Riley Moore and Brian Jack emerged victorious in competitive races to secure positions on influential committees. Moore will serve on the Elected Leadership Committee (ELC), while Jack will serve as the freshman class representative on the Steering Committee. Brandon Gill, a former journalist with a conservative background, ran unopposed for the position of freshman class president.

Political analysts note that the trio brings a set of complementary abilities to the table. Riley Moore, a former Capitol Hill staff member and West Virginia’s State Treasurer, possesses extensive experience in policy and legislative procedures. Brian Jack, who has served as an aide to ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former President Trump, offers strong insights into Republican politics and D.C.’s complex political landscape. Brandon Gill, known for his ties to the conservative media, is married to Danielle D’Souza—daughter of conservative intellectual and author Dinesh D’Souza—and founded the D.C. Enquirer before entering politics, positioning him well to advocate for their class in right-leaning media circles.

Their early influence suggests that they are prepared to exert a significant impact in the upcoming Congress. Working together, Gill, Jack, and Moore are set to advance their shared conservative agenda, aligning closely with Trump’s vision. Their presence is expected to be highly visible as they navigate the dynamics of Washington, D.C., and seek to shape policymaking in the House.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Brandon Gill, Brian Jack, and Riley Moore, newly elected congressional representatives, have already gained attention among GOP strategists as the "three amigos." Standing firm on President-elect Donald J. Trump's policies, this group of young conservatives is making its presence known on Capitol Hill even before officially taking office. show more
Speaker
November 19, 2024
Politics

GOP to Extend Govt Funding Battle Into Trump’s 2025 Term.

Republicans in the House of Representatives are looking to push a stop-gap funding bill that would delay the finalization of the government budget until next year. This would give them and President-elect Donald J. Trump a greater say over how tax dollars will be spent during the first half of his second term.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) says that the clock has essentially run out on finishing the budget this year. “We’re running out of clock. December 20 is the deadline. We’re still hopeful that we might be able to get that done but, if not, we’ll have a temporary measure, I think that would go into the first part of next year and allow us the necessary time to get this done,” he said during a televised interview on Sunday. He continued: “That would be, ultimately a good move because the country would benefit from it—because then you’d have Republican control, and we’d have a little more say in what those those spending bills are.”

UNDERMINING TRUMP.

Pushing the finalization of government spending into early next year would give a higher degree of control to not just the Republican House majority but also the new Republican Senate majority and President-elect Trump. However, not all Republicans are on board with delaying the funding legislation.

“I would like to have a situation clear the deck so that we don’t have to deal with this next year,” argues Senator John Boozman (R-AR), contending that pushing the vote on funding to next year would interfere with the confirmation of Trump’s cabinet appointees: “With a new administration coming in… confirmations are going take a lot of time. So we’ll have that to deal with. And then we should be actually working on the next year’s appropriations.”

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are demanding a full-year funding bill be taken up before the December 20 deadline. Should such legislation pass, it could tie President-elect Trump’s hands in terms of federal spending for much of the first half of his second term.

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Republicans in the House of Representatives are looking to push a stop-gap funding bill that would delay the finalization of the government budget until next year. This would give them and President-elect Donald J. Trump a greater say over how tax dollars will be spent during the first half of his second term. show more
November 18, 2024
News

Yes, the Pentagon Has Failed ANOTHER Audit.

The Pentagon has failed its audit for the seventh time in a row, highlighting ongoing challenges in fully accounting for its $824 billion budget. The audit resulted in a disclaimer of opinion as auditors were unable to gather sufficient information to form a comprehensive assessment of the accounts.

Only nine of the DOD’s 28 reporting entities achieved an unmodified audit opinion, while just one received a qualified opinion. Fifteen entities received disclaimers, and three audit opinions are still pending. Despite these mixed results, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Michael McCord expressed confidence in the agency’s forward momentum. He noted the ambition of obtaining a clean audit by 2028, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

McCord remarked that the DOD has made strides in comprehending its financial challenges and that there is a strong commitment within the Department to securing an unmodified audit opinion in the future. “Momentum is on our side, and throughout the Department there is strong commitment—and belief in our ability—to achieve an unmodified audit opinion,” he said in a statement. “So if someone had a report card that is half good and half not good, I don’t know that you call the student or the report card a failure.”

Independent public accountants and the DOD Office of Inspector General closely reviewed the financial statements for the audit. McCord did emphasize that work remains to bring the Pentagon into compliance. Pentagon officials likely feel added pressure from President-elect Donald J. Trump‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, headed by billionaire technology and space mogul Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Image by Asten.

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The Pentagon has failed its audit for the seventh time in a row, highlighting ongoing challenges in fully accounting for its $824 billion budget. The audit resulted in a disclaimer of opinion as auditors were unable to gather sufficient information to form a comprehensive assessment of the accounts. show more