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FBI Warns QAnon Could Turn Violent

June 15, 2021 at 12:49 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The FBI said this month that QAnon adherents could turn to violence as some of the conspiracy theory’s major predictions, including that Democrats would be subject to mass arrest and detention, have not come to pass,” the New York Times reports.

“The conspiracy theory holds that a corrupt cabal of global elites and career government employees who run a Satan-worshiping, child sex-trafficking ring will soon be rounded up and punished for their misdeeds; and that former President Donald Trump will be restored to the presidency.”

Related for members: American Democracy Is Not Safe

U.S. Death Toll from Pandemic Tops 600,000

June 15, 2021 at 12:46 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The confirmed U.S. death toll from the coronavirus pandemic is now more than 600,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Quote of the Day

June 15, 2021 at 12:34 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Essentially we’re all Joe Manchin. With the margins we have, everybody has the ability to tank whatever we’re trying to do… Unity is not only our strength, it is the only chance we have.”

— House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-KY), quoted by CBS News.

White House Tells Democrats to Get Ready to Go It Alone

June 15, 2021 at 12:21 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“White House officials told House Democrats Tuesday to get ready to go it alone on infrastructure, setting the stage for party leaders to tap an obscure budget procedure to move President Biden’s top domestic priority without Republican support,” The Hill reports.

“Huddling in person in the Capitol for the first time since the COVID crisis hit, members of the Democratic Caucus were briefed by Steve Ricchetti, a top adviser to Biden, and Shalanda Young, the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, who said they would give Senate negotiators seven to 10 days to reach a bipartisan agreement.”

Meanwhile, Punchbowl News reports Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) “has turned pretty skeptical on infrastructure.”

Rubio’s Play for Anti-China Vote

June 15, 2021 at 12:10 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is making a play for China hawks in Florida as he braces for a competitive re-election fight next year,” Axios reports.

“Rubio allies have spent the past year quietly building a list of voters motivated by anti-China sentiment. Now his campaign is openly hitting up their inboxes.”

Biden to Nominate 5 More Judges

June 15, 2021 at 12:04 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Biden administration is set to on Tuesday announce a fourth round of judicial nominations, including a New York appeals court nominee with an expertise in voting rights — an issue likely to occupy the courts in coming months,” the New York Times reports.

“The nominations bring the current White House total for judges to 24.”

Team Memberships

June 15, 2021 at 12:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard

I’m pleased to introduce Political Wire Team Memberships for your office or group.

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American Democracy Is Not Safe

June 15, 2021 at 11:53 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

This morning’s reports of email exchanges between the White House and Justice Department on Donald Trump’s baseless claims of voter fraud are more proof of Trump’s frenzied drive to overturn the election.

But despite the “pure insanity” of the “evidence” cited by the White House, Rick Hasen reminds us of how close we came to undoing the American experiment:

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Trump and McConnell Are On a Collision Course In 2022

June 15, 2021 at 11:34 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Chris Cillizza: “While Trump hasn’t set out any sort of guidelines for which candidates he will endorse and why, we have some strong clues. Trump likes people (and politicians) who like him. The more you praise Trump (and adhere to his increasingly-wild conspiracy theories), the more favorably inclined he is toward you.”

“Which, you will notice, has nothing to do whether a candidate has the best chance of winning a seat in next November’s general election. Trump is about Trump — and his endorsements seem very likely to echo that self-focus. McConnell, like him or hate him, has long been focused on the Party, and securing as many seats as possible for the GOP.”

Justice Official Called Meadows Email ‘Pure Insanity’

June 15, 2021 at 10:48 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Wall Street Journal: “The House Oversight Committee released email exchanges on Tuesday that shed new light on former President Donald Trump’s unsuccessful efforts to get the Justice Department to investigate his baseless claims of voter fraud in the weeks before President Biden’s inauguration.”

“Among the communications was one from Mr. Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, who on Jan. 1 forwarded to the Justice Department a YouTube link referencing unsubstantiated allegations that people in Italy had manipulated the U.S. election results. A then-senior Justice Department official, Richard Donoghue, had two words for it: ‘Pure Insanity.'”

It’s Really That Simple

June 15, 2021 at 10:43 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “States with higher vaccination rates now have markedly fewer coronavirus cases, as infections are dropping in places where most residents have been immunized and are rising in many places people have not.”

Mitch McConnell Telegraphs New Principle

June 15, 2021 at 10:37 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Dan Pfeiffer: “It’s easy to get caught up in the calendar implications of McConnell’s statement. It’s understandable to panic about the fact that Justice Stephen Breyer seems so naive about the state of American politics yet is likely to stay on the court past the 2022 election.”

“But we should be crystal clear that McConnell is elucidating an entirely new principle — a Republican Senate will never confirm a Democratic president’s nominee to the Supreme Court. It doesn’t matter when the vacancy occurs or who the president nominates to fill it. If a Republican can prevent that appointment, it is their duty to do so. The blocking of Garland is not the exception; it’s the rule.”

Critical Race Theory Battle Invades School Boards

June 15, 2021 at 10:33 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

NBC News: “Virtually all school districts insist they are not teaching critical race theory, but many activists and parents have begun using it as a catch-all term to refer to what schools often call equity programs, teaching about racism or LGBTQ-inclusive policies.”

“Now, conservative activists are setting their sights on ousting as many school board members as they can, and local Republican Parties have vowed to help, viewing the revolt against critical race theory as akin to the tea party wave from a decade ago.”

Raffensperger Threatens to Take Over County Board

June 15, 2021 at 9:57 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) “left the door wide open to a potential state takeover of Fulton County’s election board when asked about it during a visit to South Georgia,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

“The state’s new election law, Senate Bill 202, paved the way for state officials to intervene and eventually take over county boards that are deemed ‘underperforming.’”

Said Raffensperger: “No one wants to take over a county election board. But when you have a situation that’s gone on for 25 years, at some point, people say enough is enough.”

New Book Publisher Caters to ‘Silenced’ Conservatives

June 15, 2021 at 9:53 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Wall Street Journal: “The company’s launch comes as some conservatives allege that much of the nation’s news media, publishers and mainstream social-media platforms are biased against them. They are looking to set up alternatives that they say better support free speech…”

“All Seasons Press expects to release four books this fall, including works by Mark Meadows, the former Trump administration chief of staff; former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro ; and James Golden, who worked as a producer for years with the late conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. The publisher said it is targeting 10 new titles in 2022.”

Meadows also has a new book coming out this fall with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).

The Coming Arizona Shitstorm

June 15, 2021 at 9:42 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Tim Miller: “Sometime soon the results of the Arizona audit will be brought forth. It seems quite likely, given the participants, that the auditor ninjas will claim that Donald Trump won Arizona. Or probably won Arizona—who can say! Or would have won Arizona, if not for those meddling kids.”

“And if this happens, the former president and his MAGA media echo chamber will once again stoke the flames of insurrection. Q-adherents will convince themselves that one of the seven seals has been revealed. Millions (tens of millions) of Republicans throughout the country will believe it. And some of them will demand action.”

“So when the Arizona audit bell tolls, what exactly is McConnell and McCarthy’s plan?”

July 4th Will Mark Independence from Covid

June 15, 2021 at 9:34 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Joe Biden wants to imbue Independence Day with new meaning this year by encouraging nationwide celebrations to mark the country’s effective return to normalcy after 16 months of coronavirus pandemic disruption,” the Associated Press reports.

“As COVID-19 case rates and deaths drop to levels not seen since the first days of the outbreak, travel picks up and schools and businesses reopen, Biden is proclaiming ‘a summer of freedom’ to celebrate Americans resuming their pre-pandemic lives.”

Fake Election Officials Going Door-to-Door in Arizona

June 15, 2021 at 9:33 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Arizona Republic: “People are knocking on the doors of Yavapai County residents and asking how they voted in the last election, while falsely claiming to represent the county recorder’s office.”

“The mysterious door-to-door survey, which has alarmed local officials, comes after the U.S. Department of Justice warned the Arizona Senate against plans to canvass voters’ homes as part of an unprecedented review of November’s election.”