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The Framework That’s Not Really a Framework

September 23, 2021 at 3:08 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Punchbowl News says what Democrats have called a framework for taxes in the budget reconciliation bill isn’t much more than a list of options.

“The main story here, as far as we can tell, is that Democrats are now trying to change the conversation from ‘The party is a mess’ to ‘We’re making progress.'”

“We know nothing about this framework — and it doesn’t seem like anyone else does either. We just know that Democrats say they have come to a decision on a group of pay fors — which essentially means that they haven’t decided on what pays that they want to use.”

Trump Is Losing the Culture Wars

September 23, 2021 at 3:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Leonard Steinhorn: “This does not mean that a path to a more liberal America is inevitable or will be friction-free. Trump’s damage to our democratic institutions could be massive especially if he and his supporters in Republican-run states continue to interfere with elections and voting rights. And his impact on the courts and fights over manufactured issues such as critical race theory and transgender athletes may delay changes, or make them more difficult to enact.”

“Yet, the ‘age of Reagan’ taught us that those who shout the loudest about a world that’s passing them by may not be the ones wielding the most influence when it comes to the social and cultural metamorphosis that will reshape our lives and country in the years and decades ahead.”

Show Me the Nominee In Missouri

September 23, 2021 at 2:30 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Just for members: The latest edition of Inside Elections.

Today’s issue includes a deep dive into the Missouri Senate race, where all eyes are on the GOP primary to see if Republicans nominated a damaged candidate who could jeopardize their hold on the seat and complicate their path to the majority.

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Germany Ends Quarantine Subsidies for Unvaccinated

September 23, 2021 at 2:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

German health authorities announced the government would no longer help companies pay for the salaries of unvaccinated workers who have to quarantine, the New York Times reports.

Trump Pushes Abbott to Launch Election ‘Audit’

September 23, 2021 at 1:15 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former President Trump is pressuring Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to launch an “election audit” in the Lone Star State, The Hill reports.

Said Trump: “Texas needs you to act now. Your Third Special Session is the perfect, and maybe last, opportunity to pass this audit bill. Texans know voting fraud occurred in some of their counties. Let’s get to the bottom of the 2020 Presidential Election Scam!”

Trump Admits He’s Not President In New Lawsuit

September 23, 2021 at 1:13 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A lawsuit filed on behalf of Donald Trump contains what some people might interpret as a statement that Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, in that he is identified as now being a private citizen rather than the president, the Westchester Business Journal reports.

The complaint states that Trump “is, as of the commencement of this action, a private citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of Florida in the County of Palm Beach.”

‘Yang Gang’ Would Have Been Better

September 23, 2021 at 1:04 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Andrew Yang unveiled the name of his new third party in his forthcoming book and it will be called “The Forward Party,” Insider reports.

Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy

Amazon Kindle Edition
Yang, Andrew (Author)
English (Publication Language)
332 Pages - 10/05/2021 (Publication Date) - Crown (Publisher)

Michael Cohen Thinks Trump Is Bluffing About 2024

September 23, 2021 at 1:03 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Michael Cohen told Insider he thinks Donald Trump is bluffing about possibly launching another bid for the White House.

Said Cohen: “His insatiable need for attention is one reason he continues to flaunt this disingenuous 2024 run.”

He added: “The other is he’s making more money doing that than anything he has ever done before.”

Trump Flies South for Winter

September 23, 2021 at 1:02 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Fox News: “A top adviser to the former president says that with the onset of autumn, Trump’s moved his residence and political operation back to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.”

Tears In the Oval Office

September 23, 2021 at 12:58 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

During an intense meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) broke into tears while arguing her case to President Biden that the reconciliation bill should include a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, essential workers and farm workers, Politico reports.

A source in the room interpreted the tears as a sign that Jayapal was overwhelmed by the situation and “feeling the pressure.”

McConaughey Confirms He’s Mulling Bid for Governor

September 23, 2021 at 12:54 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Actor Matthew McConaughey really is considering a run for Texas governor, CBS Dallas-Fort Worth reports.

Said McConaughey: “Well, thank you, man. I’m measuring it. Look, it’s going to be in some capacity… I’m more of a folksy and philosopher poet statesman than I am a, per se, definitive politician.”

He added: “So I go, well, that’s a reason not to, but then I go, no, that’s exactly why you should, because politics needs redefinition, but I’m measuring, you know, what is my category? What’s my embassy?”

McConaughey still has not stated his political party affiliation, if any.

Billionaires Paid Just 8.2% In Taxes

September 23, 2021 at 12:49 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The wealthiest 400 families in the United States are paying an average income tax rate of just 8.2%, according to a new analysis from the Biden administration,” CBS News reports.

Democrats Decline to Release Details on Tax Framework

September 23, 2021 at 12:47 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Speaker Nancy Pelosi declined to give details on the tax “framework” reached with the Senate and White House but called it “a giant step forward.”

When a Roll Call reporter noted how it’s hard to understand how it’s a giant step forward without details, Pelosi said: “That’s your problem, not mine.”

Politico: Democrats hatch secret pay-for-it plan in bid for unity on spending dreams.

White House Tells Agencies to Prepare for Shutdown

September 23, 2021 at 12:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The White House budget office will tell federal agencies on Thursday to begin preparations for the first shutdown of the U.S. government since the pandemic began, as lawmakers on Capitol Hill struggle to reach a funding agreement,” the Washington Post reports.

Phil Murphy Leads By Double-Digits In New Jersey

September 23, 2021 at 12:15 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Monmouth poll in New Jersey finds Gov. Phil Murphy (D) leading challenger Jack Ciattarelli (R) in the race for governor, 51% to 38%.

Biden Will Likely Release Trump Info on January 6 Attack

September 23, 2021 at 11:59 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The White House is leaning toward releasing information to Congress about what Donald Trump and his aides were doing during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol despite the former president’s objections — a decision that could have significant political and legal ramifications,” the Washington Post reports.

“Trump has said he will cite ‘executive privilege’ to block information requests from the House select committee investigating the events of that day, banking on a legal theory that has successfully allowed presidents and their aides to avoid or delay congressional scrutiny for decades, including during the Trump administration.”

“But President Biden’s White House plans to err on the side of disclosure given the gravity of the events of Jan. 6.”

Florida Democrat Falsely Claims to Be Hispanic

September 23, 2021 at 11:57 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Speaking before a group of Democratic leaders, Miami Beach city commission candidate Kristen Rosen Gonzalez (D) called herself “the most high-profile Hispanic Democrat in the city of Miami Beach,” the Washington Post reports.

However, Rosen Gonzalez is not Hispanic. The 48-year-old picked up the latter name after she married her ex-husband, Emilio Gonzalez. They divorced in 2009.

Senate and House Reach ‘Framework’ Deal on Taxes

September 23, 2021 at 11:52 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced that the Senate, House and White House have reached a deal on a “framework” to pay for the massive human infrastructure spending package they hope to pass this fall under budget reconciliation, The Hill reports.

Said Schumer: “The White House, the House and the Senate have reached an agreement on a framework that will pay for any final negotiated agreement. So the revenue side of this, we have an agreement on.”