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Nikki Haley Already Scouting 2024 Running Mates

April 20, 2021 at 9:46 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Nikki Haley met with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez yesterday, Politico reports.

“The sitdown was arranged with the explicit goal of allowing Haley to gauge the 43-year-old Republican as a potential running mate in 2024.”

“Suarez, a rising star in Florida politics, is Cuban American and an influential voice with the largest bloc of conservative Hispanic voters in the battleground state. Along with voters with roots in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Colombia, Cuban Americans shifted hard right during the Trump era as Democrats struggled with the embrace of ‘socialism’ by the left wing of their party.”

“Another source told us that while a joint ticket wasn’t explicitly discussed, it hung over the entire conversation.”

Watchdog Declined to Pursue Secret Service Investigations

April 20, 2021 at 9:43 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The chief federal watchdog for the Secret Service blocked investigations proposed by career staff last year to scrutinize the agency’s handling of the George Floyd protests in Lafayette Square and the spread of the coronavirus in its ranks,” the Washington Post reports.

“Both matters involved decisions by then-President Donald Trump that may have affected actions by the agency.”

Elizabeth Warren Invites Billionaire Critic to Testify

April 20, 2021 at 8:34 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wants one of her biggest critics — billionaire investor Leon Cooperman — to face lawmakers in a Senate Finance subcommittee hearing next week, CNBC reports.

Cooperman slammed Warren during her presidential campaign: “This is the fucking American dream she is shitting on.”

Cooperman might want to re-watch Warren’s take down of Michael Bloomberg in the 2020 debates before agreeing to appear.

Why Democrats Are In Revolt Over SALT Deduction

April 20, 2021 at 7:56 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Bloomberg: “Newly released Internal Revenue Service data show the politically lopsided impact of the $10,000 cap on deducting state and local taxes, or SALT — and why Democrats from the hardest-hit SALT states may be willing to cost Biden the crucial victory of passing his $2.25 trillion infrastructure and social services plan if he continues to insist on keeping Trump’s cap in place.”

“In some New York congressional districts, the average deduction lost because of the SALT cap can be more than $100,000 a year, according to the IRS data. And of the 40 congressional districts with the largest SALT deductions disallowed under the Trump tax law, 39 are represented by Democrats.”

Trump Says Border Crisis ‘Could Destroy Our Country’

April 20, 2021 at 7:37 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former President Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity the situation along the southern border “could destroy our country” during his first on-camera interview since leaving the White House.

Said Trump: “People are pouring in. But you’ll see something as the months go by like you’ve never seen before. Already it’s like you’ve never seen before. There’s never been anything like what’s happened at our border. People are coming in by the tens of thousands. They’re walking in. They — we had — all they had to do was leave it alone.”

Leaked Ukraine Memo Shows Scope of Russia Aggression

April 20, 2021 at 7:30 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Russia has been holding last-minute military exercises near commercial shipping lanes in the Black Sea that threaten to strangle Ukraine’s economy,” according to an internal document from Ukraine’s ministry of defense reviewed by Axios.

“With the eyes of the world on the massive buildup of troops in eastern Ukraine, the leaked memo shows Russian forces escalating their presence on all sides of the Ukrainian border.”

How GOP Hopes to Derail Biden Infrastructure Plan

April 20, 2021 at 7:20 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Republicans say President Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure package will have a tough time getting through the Senate intact because of several key provisions that will open the legislation up to parliamentary challenges under the arcane Byrd Rule,” The Hill reports.

“GOP lawmakers plan to raise numerous procedural objections to the eventual bill, arguing that various elements violate the special budgetary rules Democrats plan to use to pass the measure in the 50-50 Senate with a simple-majority vote.”

Said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “It’s a target rich environment.”

Don Jr. Emerges as Top Adviser Inside Trump Family

April 20, 2021 at 7:15 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Former President Donald Trump has elevated his son Donald Trump Jr. to an unofficial new role inside his orbit as he weighs the idea of a comeback presidential bid in 2024 that would require him to maintain a vice grip on the Republican base for any chance of success,” CNN reports.

“Behind the scenes, Trump’s eldest son has emerged as one of the former president’s chief political advisers, according to multiple sources who are close to Trump or involved with his political operation. Like his brother-in-law Jared Kushner, who spent much of the last four years attempting to steer the Trump show from inside the West Wing, Trump Jr. has been working closely with his father’s team to ensure the next iteration of the 45th President’s political career is running smoothly and that his father is endorsing reliably conservative candidates.”

“But his role extends far beyond operational guidance.”

Mondale Permanently Changed the Vice Presidency

April 20, 2021 at 6:51 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Dan Balz: “It was Mondale’s political misfortune to run against Reagan. After weathering a deep recession, Reagan sought reelection during a time of rising economic growth and personal popularity. As his most famous campaign ad claimed, it was ‘morning in America.’ Mondale suffered the biggest electoral college loss of any candidate in history, losing 49 states and carrying only his home state of Minnesota — and that by only 4,000 votes. It was, as he would later recall, ‘a helluva shellacking.'”

“But that was hardly the summation of a rich life in politics and public service. Mondale’s legacy goes much deeper than that crushing defeat, most notably his contributions to the office of the vice presidency. Every vice president who has served since owes him a debt of gratitude for turning the role into something of value.”

Associated Press: In death, long after loss, Mondale’s liberal legacy stands.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia to Return Home ‘Briefly’

April 20, 2021 at 6:46 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The State Department said Monday that the U.S. ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan, will now be returning to the United States this week before returning to Moscow ‘in the coming weeks,'” Axios reports

“The statement, from a State Department spokesperson, comes just hours after Axios reported that Sullivan had indicated he intended to stand his ground and stay in Russia after the Kremlin ‘advised’ him to return home to talk with his team.”

CNN: Sullivan returning to U.S. this week for “consultations.”

GOP Base Continues to Seethe Over Trump’s Defeat

April 20, 2021 at 6:41 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “In Cobb County, the archetype of the GOP’s suburban erosion, Republican activists over the weekend were still re-litigating former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud while drafting resolutions to rebuke the state’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, and other Republican officials for their unwillingness to overturn Trump’s loss. The Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, has been all but excommunicated.”

“The once dominant Georgia GOP might be in meltdown in the suburbs, but the rank and file remains obsessed with Trump and the perceived wrongs of the last election.”

Republicans will have a tough time winning back the suburbs if they can’t move past the 2020 election.

Republicans Tell Biden No Corporate Tax Hike

April 19, 2021 at 10:44 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT) and John Hoeven (R-ND) told President Biden they are opposed to increasing the corporate tax rate to pay for his proposed $2.25 trillion infrastructure package, Axios reports.

“The opposition from Romney and Hoeven, the only two Republican senators in Monday’s bipartisan Oval Office meeting, suggests Biden is going to have a difficult time finding any Republican support to pay for his road, bridge and health care spending proposals by increasing corporate rates.”

Drawing red lines like this will convince Democrats to abandon bipartisanship pretty quickly.

Trump Again Teases 2024 Presidential Bid

April 19, 2021 at 10:37 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Donald Trump continued Monday to tease another presidential campaign in 2024, saying he is studying the idea but declining to make a commitment one way or another,” USA Today reports.

Said Trump: “I am looking at it very seriously, beyond seriously. From a legal standpoint, I don’t want to really talk about it yet, it’s a little too soon.”

Walter Mondale Dies at 93

April 19, 2021 at 8:59 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Walter Mondale, who transformed the role of U.S. vice president while serving under Jimmy Carter and was the Democratic nominee for president in 1984, died Monday at 93, Axios reports.

Rest in peace, Fritz.

U.S. Ambassador Refuses Kremlin Push to Leave

April 19, 2021 at 8:46 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

United States Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan is refusing to leave the country after the Kremlin “advised” him to return home following new Biden administration sanctions, Axios reports.

Arizona Attorney General Eyes Senate Race

April 19, 2021 at 7:52 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) is leaning toward challenging Sen. Mark Kelly (D) in 2022 after initially moving toward a run for governor, the Washington Examiner reports.

Brnovich has won two statewide elections in Arizona, which means he has survived two Republican primaries — including one since former President Donald Trump came to dominate the party.

Maxine Waters’ Comments May Be Grounds for Appeal

April 19, 2021 at 7:49 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The judge overseeing former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin’s trial in the death of George Floyd said Monday that Rep. Maxine Waters’ comments could be grounds for appealing a verdict in the trial,” CNN reports.

Said Judge Peter Cahill: “I’ll give you that Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned.”

“Waters on Saturday night had called for protesters to ‘stay on the street’ and ‘get more confrontational’ if Chauvin is acquitted in Floyd’s killing.”

Apple to Let Parler Back Into App Store

April 19, 2021 at 6:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Apple will let Parler, a social media app popular with conservatives, back onto the App Store after Parler made attempts to improve its speech detection and moderation,” Axios reports.

“Parler is getting access to Apple’s massive App Store again after being suspended for inadequate hate speech policies following the January 6 Capitol riot.”