“President Joe Biden has won Senate confirmation for more than 80 of his nominees to be federal judges, a breakneck speed that outpaces former President Donald Trump at this juncture of his presidency,” NBC News reports.
Inside the GOP Rivalry Between Abbott and DeSantis
“Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida wanted to irritate a set of wealthy, liberal elites when he flew migrants to Martha’s Vineyard from Texas, delivering them a slice of the humanitarian crisis simmering along the nation’s southern border,” the New York Times reports.
“But Mr. DeSantis’s stunt also annoyed an entirely different group — fellow Republicans in Austin, including some of the allies and aides of Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas.”
“Publicly, Mr. Abbott has not criticized Mr. DeSantis’s migrant flights from his state… But privately, the Florida governor’s gambit stung Mr. Abbott’s team. No one in the Texas governor’s office was given a heads-up that Mr. DeSantis planned to round up migrants in San Antonio, according to people familiar with the matter.”
House GOP Will Try to Impeach Biden If They Win Control
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said that Republicans are thinking about impeaching President Joe Biden if they take over the House chamber following the midterm elections, USA Today reports.
Said Mace: “I believe there’s a lot of pressure on Republicans to have that vote and put that legislation forward.”
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“Everybody is waiting to see what Trump decides. And the reality is he is going to do what he wants to do. I don’t know if he is going to run for president. Nobody else does, either… If he doesn’t run, everybody runs.”
— Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), speaking about the 2024 presidential field.
Christie Says Trump Headed for Self-Inflicted Indictment
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said former President Trump is pushing himself toward a “self-inflicted indictment” with his combative public statements on his legal battle with the Justice Department, The Hill reports.
Said Christie: “The more you absolutely antagonize with nonsense arguments on television that your lawyers won’t make in court — because they’re afraid they’ll be sanctioned if they do because they have no evidence — you’re pushing yourself closer to a self-inflicted indictment.”
He added: “And I don’t want to see that happen just because I don’t think it’s good for our country, but he’s pushing himself in that direction.”
Schiff Says Criminal Referral Should Be Unanimous
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a member of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, said that a criminal referral for former President Trump should be unanimous from the panel, The Hill reports.
Said Schiff: “We operate with a high degree of consensus and unanimity.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“You know why Lindsey kisses my ass? So I’ll endorse his friends.”
— Donald Trump, quoted in an excerpt of Maggie Haberman’s The Confidence Man, on Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
GOP Lawmaker ‘Misspoke’ When She Said She Fired Staffer
Rep. Mayra Flores (R-TX) said that she fired a former staffer after he was accused of sexual harassment, though her campaign later said the congresswoman misspoke, the Texas Tribune reports.
Quote of the Day
“The Old Crow’s a piece of shit.”
— Donald Trump, quoted in an excerpt of Maggie Haberman’s The Confidence Man, on Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
It’s Always Been a Con
The Atlantic runs an excerpt from The Confidence Man by Maggie Haberman.
“I learned in the spring that Trump was repeating a claim from one of his most vocal allies, the self-made pillow-company CEO Mike Lindell, that Trump would be reinstated as president by August 2021. Trump liked the idea, telling aides he did not want to have to sit through another three and a half years of a Biden presidency. He quietly encouraged some conservative writers to publicize the idea in their own voices, telling the National Review editor Rich Lowry as well that he anticipated being reinstated by August 2021. Trump encouraged Lowry to write about it, saying it could help the magazine.”
“When Jenna Ellis, his former adviser, protested on Twitter the notion that Trump could be reinstated to office, Trump told Ellis that her reputation would be damaged. She took that as pressure to reverse her statement. Trump conceded to her that the scenario was ‘almost impossible,’ but that he wanted to keep the idea alive.”
Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America
- Amazon Kindle Edition
The GOP’s Popularity Gap
“A month ago, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said out loud what many Republicans were undoubtedly feeling. Effectively, the message was: We’ve got a shot at a good 2022 midterm election, but some of these Trump candidates could screw it all up for us,” the Washington Post reports.
“At the time, there was evidence of a GOP candidate problem — especially in the lagging poll numbers of some key Senate candidates.”
“Today, there’s considerably more.”
Democrats Warm to Idea of Biden Running Again
“Many Democratic leaders, operatives and officials are cautiously warming to the idea of President Joe Biden running for reelection in 2024,” CNN reports.
“But just like many voters and donors – as poll after poll shows – they’re still not sure he should do it, or that he will.”
Republicans Shift Messaging to Crime
Washington Post: “Republicans are increasingly centering their pitch to voters on crime, casting Democrats as weak and ineffective buffers against violent criminal conduct. As Republicans advance that argument, they are drawing growing accusations from Democrats that they are engaging in a pattern of stoking racial divisions, a charge they reject.”
“At the same time, Democrats worry the attacks could resonate amid the rise in violent crime that has taken place with their party in power at the federal level and in many cities.”
Ex-Staffer’s Book Rankles January 6 Committee
“News that a former adviser to the committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection is publishing a book billed as a ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at the committee’s work came as a shock to most lawmakers and committee staff when it was announced last week,” the Washington Post reports.
“Denver Riggleman, a former Republican congressman, is set to publish The Breach on Tuesday, just one day before the final public hearing of the Jan. 6 panel, which has gone to extraordinary lengths to prevent unauthorized leaks, as well as keep its sources and methods of investigation under wraps.”
The Breach: The Untold Story of the Investigation into January 6th
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Karl Rove Calls Texas Abortion Ban ‘Extremist’
Karl Rove said that Texas’ “extremist” abortion ban was a liability for the Republican party and predicted it would create trouble for Republicans in the state legislature in the upcoming 2023 session.
Biden-Trump Rematch Would Be Close
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that if the 2024 presidential race is again between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, 48% of registered voters say they would support Trump while 46% would support Biden, a difference within the poll’s margin of error.
Voters Divided Amid Intense Fight for Congress
“Heading into the final weeks of the midterm election campaign, Americans are split nationally in their vote for Congress, with Republicans holding sizable advantages on the economy, inflation and crime and Democrats far more trusted to handle the issues of abortion and climate change,” according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.
“At this point, both sides are highly motivated to turn out in November. Among registered Democratic voters, 3 in 4 say they are almost certain to vote compared with about 8 in 10 Republicans. Independents are less motivated.”
“Four years ago, Democrats were about as mobilized as Republicans and had a clear lead in overall support. Eight years ago, when Democrats suffered losses, Republicans were more motivated.”
Biden Postpones South Florida Visit
“President Joe Biden won’t be coming down to South Florida on Tuesday, citing the incoming Tropical Storm Ian as the reason — which is still forecast to hit the state as a hurricane,” the Miami Herald reports.
“Biden was expected to speak on healthcare costs and Medicare in Fort Lauderdale, and then head to Orlando to speak at a Democratic National Committee event. It’s unclear when or if Biden will reschedule the visit.”
