“Pro-Israel megadonor Miriam Adelson gave $40 million to the Republicans’ House and Senate super political action committees, boosting the party’s war chest as it fights to maintain control of both chambers,” Bloomberg reports.
Kristi Noem Has Nearly $1.1 Million Left in Old Committee
“Kristi Noem, the former secretary of homeland security, holds nearly $1.1 million in her old leadership PAC, according to a new disclosure filed with the Federal Election Commission,” NOTUS reports.
“This is significant because Noem, whom President Donald Trump ousted last month, still faces congressional and legal scrutiny for her management of Department of Homeland Security funds, with some Democrats accusing her of committing fraud.”
Graham Platner Once Praised Hamas
“Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner repeatedly praised the tactics used by Hamas terrorists in comments made about a graphic video of a Hamas raid into Israel in 2014, in which terrorists killed at least five Israeli soldiers,” Jewish Insider reports.
Said Platner: “Pragmatically I have little problem with killing an enemy combatant who you attempt to capture but for whatever reason cannot. From a strictly professional standpoint, this was a damn fine looking and successful raid against a superior opponent, I dig it.”
Trump Wants Auto Companies to Make Weapons
“The Trump administration wants automakers and other American manufacturers to play a larger role in weapons production, reminiscent of a practice used during World War II,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Sotomayor Issues Public Apology to Kavanaugh
“Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor publicly apologized to Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Wednesday after suggesting last week that he didn’t know any blue-collar workers because he had a privileged upbringing,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
RFK Jr. Once Cut Off Dead Raccoon’s Penis
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an avid animal genitalia researcher in his spare time, once pulled the family sedan to the side of the road after spying a dead raccoon and swiftly cut off its sex organs so he could ‘study them later,’” the New York Post reports.
Quote of the Day
“Why should we keep the majority? We’ve gotten one bill passed, and that was President Trump pushing and pushing and pushing, and it took us 18 hours to get Republicans to vote for it — 18 hours straight on the Senate floor. And it’s embarrassing that we’re up here raising money to continue with the same people being up here. It’s just nonsense.”
— Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), on Benny Johnson’s podcast.
Republican Plans Go Awry Amid Party Divides
New York Times: “Members of the House of Representatives came back from their two-week break on Tuesday night as planned, and cast votes to name no fewer than 14 post offices.”
“After accomplishing that, majority Republicans’ plans went awry.”
“By Wednesday morning, their efforts to renew a warrantless surveillance program that is set to expire next week had run into trouble, and a Democratic bid to force a vote to restore deportation protections that President Trump is trying to end for Haitians living in the United States was on track to succeed.”
“The one-two punch reflected divisions in the G.O.P. ranks that are on display at the least opportune time, with midterm elections only months away. It also showed how the party’s minuscule vote margin and the political headwinds it is facing have conspired to snarl its agenda.”
Trump’s ‘Triumphal Arch’ Draws Backlash
New York Times: “The Commission of Fine Arts, which is filled with Mr. Trump’s appointees, is scheduled on Thursday to consider Mr. Trump’s plan to build a 250-foot arch on the other side of the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial.”
“But Mr. Trump’s push to build the giant arch — more than quadrupling its size from original plans — has alienated early proponents of the project, classical architects and veterans groups who say it will diminish nearby Arlington Cemetery.”
Bessent Is Preparing Banks to Collect Citizenship Data
“Banks in the U.S. may not like the idea of being forced to collect citizenship data on customers, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says they better be prepared for the task,” CNBC reports.
Said Bessent: “If Treasury and the banking regulators say it’s their job, it’s their job.”
The Talented Mr. Swalwell
Peter Hamby: “Even before the misconduct allegations that precipitated his downfall, Eric Swalwell was an attention-seeking social climber whose professed progressivism may have been his greatest lie of all.”
Live Nation and Ticketmaster Operated as a Monopoly
CNN: “A jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated as a monopoly in its dominance of the live events and ticketing industry, validating complaints that the industry giant was stifling competition and driving up fees for fans.”
Republicans Block Bid to Limit Trump’s Iran War Powers
New York Times: “Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked the latest Democratic-led effort to curb President Trump’s authority to wage war on Iran, as a fragile cease-fire frays, dueling blockades choke traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and failed talks leave the next phase of the conflict uncertain.”
“The move to take up the measure failed on a vote of 52 to 47. It fell largely along party lines, with Republicans and a single Democrat, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, opposed and Democrats joined by a lone Republican, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, in favor.”
Dark Money Fuels Questions Ahead of Midterms
CBS News: “In 2024, ultra-wealthy donors poured more than $3 billion into elections, led by the world’s richest man — Elon Musk. He spent more than $290 million supporting President Trump and other Republicans, a record sum. And overall, that $3 billion was spent overwhelmingly to benefit the GOP — these donors gave five times as much to Republicans and groups aligned with them as they did to Democrats.”
“That trend appears to be continuing: Republican Party committees, super PACs, MAGA Inc. and other Trump-related groups had over $600 million in cash on hand in early February, while Democratic Party committees and congressional super PACs were short of $200 million.”
Trump’s $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Raises Eyebrows
“Some House Republicans pushed back on President Donald Trump’s request to supercharge the military’s annual budget at a meeting with Pentagon officials, spelling trouble for a cornerstone of his fiscal policy,” Bloomberg reports.
“Trump’s most recent budget request called for $1.5 trillion in base funding for the Pentagon. The Office of Management and Budget called for most of that funding to be enacted in bipartisan appropriations legislation while moving another $350 billion with just Republican votes through the budget reconciliation process.”
How Swalwell Rumors Broke Through
Former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s downfall “was swift,” CNN reports.
“In a remarkable 100 hours, he went from the front-runner in a race to lead the nation’s most populous state to abandoning his House seat in disgrace. His resignation, effective Tuesday, capped a 13-year congressional career, in which he held coveted party positions and was seen by some as part of a new generation of Democratic leadership.”
NPR: “Before allegations against Eric Swalwell surfaced in the media, they gained momentum online after a network of accusers came together to share stories of alleged assault by the California Democrat.”
Your Fellow Americans
Coming soon: Your Fellow Americans: Dispatches from Across the Country We Call Home by Peter Santenello.
“What began as curiosity became—one story at a time—an intimate, revealing portrait of America today.”
New Poll Finds Steyer and Hilton Leading in California
A new SurveyUSA poll finds Tom Steyer (D) leading the California gubernatorial race with 21% of likely voters and Steve Hilton (R) second at 18% in the jungle primary.
Eric Swalwell (D), who resigned after bombshell sexual assault allegations, polled at third with 9% of voters. Former Rep. Katie Porter (D) is also at 9%.
For members: Who Will Benefit from Eric Swalwell’s Departure?
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