A new Morning Consult poll finds the top eleven most-popular governors in the United States are all Republicans, with the top three leading blue states.
Revolt Brews In Michigan GOP
“For Republican supporters of Donald Trump in Michigan, it seemed like a crowning moment: The state party chose two candidates endorsed by the former president, both outspoken preachers of 2020 election falsehoods, as its contenders for the state’s top law enforcement officer and its chief of election administration,” the New York Times reports.
“But instead, that move at a convention last weekend — where Republicans officially endorsed Matthew DePerno for attorney general and Kristina Karamo for secretary of state — have ruptured the Michigan Republican Party. After months of strain, it appears to finally be snapping as what remains of the old guard protests the party’s direction.”
Select Committee Will Hold Eight Public Hearings
House Select Committee chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) told reporters the panel will hold at least eight public hearings on the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capito.
They will be spread out over the month of June with some airing in prime time.
USA Today: Will the hearings affect the 2022 elections?
Quote of the Day
“Rape is a difficult issue… but if a baby is created, it’s human life. Whether that mother ends that pregnancy, the scars won’t go away. It’s a shame it happens, but there’s an opportunity for women no matter how young or old…”
— Ohio state Rep Jean Schmidt (R), explaining her bill to outlaw abortion.
McConnell Miscalculated GOP Impeachment Count
“Mitch McConnell thought the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol would finally vanquish Donald Trump, initially predicting that at least 17 Republican senators would vote to convict him in his impeachment trial, barring the former president from running again,” McClatchy reports.
But he was wrong and didn’t even vote to convict Trump himself.
Said McConnell, as quoted in This Will Not Pass: “I didn’t get to be leader by voting with five people in the conference.”
Roger Stone Says ‘Satanic Portal’ Is Over the White House
Roger Stone claimed to have photographic proof that a “satanic portal” has opened over the White House.
Said Stone: “We who believe, we can close the portal, but we can only close it through prayer. Massive prayer, millions of Christians praying to close the portal.”
He added: “It’s like a swirling cauldron… It’s very, very clear. It doesn’t move, day or night. It’s harder to see during the day, but you see it at night. And I’m absolutely convinced about the inherent evil of what’s going on in the White House, what’s going on in the country.”
Quigley Won’t Run for Chicago Mayor
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) announced he will not run for Chicago mayor in 2023, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Biden Mulls at Least Some Student Debt Forgiveness
President Biden said he’s considering taking action to forgive some student loan debt and plans to make a decision in the coming weeks, NBC News reports.
Said Biden: “I am not considering $50,000 debt reduction… but I’m in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there are there will be additional debt forgiveness.”
For members: Forgiving Student Loan Debt Could Backfire Badly
Germany Drops Opposition to Embargo on Russian Oil
“Germany is now ready to stop buying Russian oil, clearing the way for a European Union ban on crude imports from Russia,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The German shift increases the likelihood that EU countries will agree on a phased-in embargo on Russian oil, with a decision possible as soon as next week… However, how quickly the bloc ends its Russian oil purchases, and whether it also uses measures such as price caps or tariffs, is still being negotiated. The U.S. is pressing its European allies to avoid steps that could lead to a protracted increase in oil prices.”
Pelosi Nixes Gas Tax Holiday
Speaker Nancy Pelosi threw cold water on the idea of a national gas tax holiday, which some vulnerable House Democrats have embraced, Politico reports.
Said Pelosi: “There has been some interest in the holiday. The pros of it are that it’s good PR — you’re asking about it. The cons are that there’s no guarantee that the reduction in the federal tax would be passed on to the consumer. We have no evidence to think that the oil companies would pass that on to the consumer.”
Worse Than QAnon?
When Pennsylvania lieutenant governor candidate Teddy Daniels (R) was asked about his attendance at an event that promoted QAnon, he told the Philadelphia Inquirer: “At least I’m not a communist.”
Is Elon Musk Really That Bad?
Farhad Manjoo: “Elon Musk is hard to love. Elon Musk is hard to like. On his way to becoming the world’s wealthiest person, Musk has emitted so many metric tons of self-indulgent puerility he might have violated the Paris Accords.”
“But one need not find Musk personally or politically appealing to appreciate that his contributions to humanity could end up being profound.”
“Through his endeavors in solar power and electric cars, Musk might do more to combat climate change than just about any lefty environmental activist or politician you can name. Musk looks even better when judged against other globe-straddling billionaires in his orbit. His is not an empire built on inheritance, dumb luck, monopoly or, subsidies notwithstanding, insider access. Indeed, his businesses seek to undermine some of the most harmful and politically entrenched industries on the planet, among them defense contractors, utilities, oil companies and combustion-engine automakers.”
Earlier for members: Some Thoughts on Elon Musk
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Oklahoma Passes Near-Total Abortion Ban
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) “will get to decide on a Texas-style anti-abortion bill that would take effect immediately upon his signature,” the Oklahoman reports.
“The bill would effectively implement a near-total abortion ban by allowing private citizens to sue anyone who ‘aids or abets’ a woman seeking an abortion. Successful plaintiffs could be awarded at least $10,000.”
Whistleblower Found Dead In Los Angeles
A reputed federal informant and whistleblower who went missing after he was reported to have turned over a trove of secret files about Deutsche Bank — which provided insight into the bank’s relationship with Donald Trump — was found dead at a Los Angeles school, NBC News reports.
Retiring Politician Says $30,000 Vanished
The lawmaker tasked with leading the Indiana House’s budget committee and crafting the multi-billion dollar state budget seems to have misplaced about $30,000 from his campaign account, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports.
Alaska Begins Its First-Ever Mail Election
Anchorage Daily News: “In the special primary election, voters will be asked to pick one of 48 candidates vying to temporarily fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat vacated by the March death of Congressman Don Young. The top four vote-getters will advance to the Aug. 16 special general election, which will use ranked-choice voting to determine who will serve out the rest of Young’s term.”
“Ballots for the primary will begin arriving in the mailboxes of Alaska voters this week.”
Trump Says He’d Still Be President If Not for McConnell
Former President Donald Trump said that he would still be in the White House if Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) had bought into his false election claims, Punchbowl News reports.
Said Trump: “Had Mitch stuck with many members of the party who knew the election was rigged, I think we wouldn’t be at Mar-a-Lago. We would be at the White House having this conversation.”