Political Wire

Alex Mooney Defeats David McKinley in GOP Primary

May 10, 2022 at 9:21 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV) defeated Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) in a primary in West Virginia that again proved both the power of an endorsement by former President Donald Trump and the weight that right-wing ideology holds with Republican primary voters, the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Mooney, a four-term House Republican known more as a conservative warrior than a legislator, used Mr. Trump’s endorsement to overcome a distinct disadvantage: The redrawn district he was running in included far more of Mr. McKinley’s old district than Mr. Mooney’s.”

“The huge margins Mr. Mooney was able to run up in the fast-growing counties from his old district along the Maryland state line proved too great for Mr. McKinley… It was a thorough repudiation of Mr. McKinley’s pragmatism.”

The J.D. Vance I Knew

May 10, 2022 at 5:09 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Ohio U.S. candidate J.D. Vance (R) once wrote for a website run by David Frum, who now offers a personal reflection on the Vance he knew in The Atlantic.

“Vance wrote for FrumForum under a pseudonym. So, even as my former contributor’s career has lurched in disturbing directions, I’ve felt honor-bound to maintain confidentiality about the pieces.”

Rick Scott Claims Biden Is ‘Unwell’ and ‘Incapacitated’

May 10, 2022 at 5:04 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) called on President Biden to resign, alleging that Biden is mentally unfit to carry out his duties as president, Fox News reports.

Said Scott: “Let’s be honest here. Joe Biden is unwell. He’s unfit for office. He’s incoherent, incapacitated and confused. He doesn’t know where he is half the time. He’s incapable of leading and he’s incapable of carrying out his duties.”

Report Concludes Garcetti Knew of Aide’s Misconduct

May 10, 2022 at 5:03 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) investigation into allegations surrounding Mayor Eric Garcetti and his former top aide found it “extremely unlikely” that Garcetti was unaware of the aide’s alleged inappropriate behavior, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 23-page report released Tuesday concluded that Garcetti “likely knew or should have known that Rick Jacobs was sexually harassing multiple individuals and making racist comments towards others.”

Hunter Biden Turns to Hollywood Lawyer

May 10, 2022 at 4:58 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Times: “Faced with financial pressure and a federal investigation into his taxes and foreign consulting work, Hunter Biden has turned for money and strategic advice to an unlikely source: a wealthy Hollywood lawyer and novelist best known for brokering a lucrative licensing deal for the animated series South Park.”

“The lawyer, Kevin Morris, has quietly taken on an expansive role as a financier, confidant and would-be avenger for Mr. Biden, handling sensitive subjects for President Biden’s son that could have acute political ramifications for the White House.”

Trump Thought China Had a ‘Hurricane Gun’

May 10, 2022 at 4:30 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rolling Stone: “Near the beginning of Donald Trump’s time in office, the then-president had a pressing question for his national-security aides and administration officials: Does China have the secret technology — a weapon, even — to create large, man-made hurricanes and then launch them at the United States? And if so, would this constitute an act of war by a foreign power, and could the U.S. retaliate militarily? Then-President Trump repeatedly asked about this.”

Said a former Trump official: “It was almost too stupid for words. I did not get the sense he was joking at all.”

Tom Reed Resigns 7 Months Before End Of Term

May 10, 2022 at 4:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) “is resigning, leaving office more than seven months before the end of his term,” the AP reports.

“Reed said last year that he would not seek reelection after he was accused of sexual misconduct but he announced in a speech on the floor of the U.S. House that he was resigning Tuesday.”

Taking Down Madison Cawthorn

May 10, 2022 at 4:14 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Washington Post is the latest publication to dig into the effort to take down Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC).

One anecdote is when Cawthorn texted Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) about a nasty tweet from the senator’s wife.

CAWTHORN: Why is your wife attacking me on Twitter?

TILLIS: Just spit ballin here, but maybe because you’ve attacked her husband?

McConnell Downplays National Abortion Ban

May 10, 2022 at 3:15 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) downplayed the possibility that a Republican-controlled Senate would pass a federal abortion ban, The Hill reports.

Said McConnell: “Historically there have been abortion votes on the floor of the Senate none of them have achieved 60 votes… I think it’s safe to say there aren’t 60 votes there at the federal level. No matter who happens to be in the majority. No matter who happens to be in the White House.”

Lordy, There Are Tapes

May 10, 2022 at 3:07 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The House Select Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection “doesn’t just have testimony and documents. It also has tapes – and lots of them,” Politico reports.

“It’s quite possible that excerpts of the Jan. 6 select committee’s witness depositions eventually become public.”

Democrats Edge Closer to Giving GOP Border Vote

May 10, 2022 at 1:59 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Two Senate Democratic leaders say they are willing to give Republicans a vote on reversing President Joe Biden’s move to end pandemic-era border restrictions, provided that the GOP then agrees to move a stalled $10 billion coronavirus aid deal,” Politico reports.

“It’s a notable shift in Democratic strategy, weeks after the Covid aid package was sidetracked amid Republican demands for an amendment vote on Biden’s decision to lift the public health-related border restrictions.”

Elon Musk Would Let Trump Back on Twitter

May 10, 2022 at 1:45 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Elon Musk said he would reverse Twitter’s ban on former president Donald Trump,” the Washington Post reports.

Musk told the Financial Times that the ban “was morally wrong and flat out stupid.”

He added: “It alienated a large part of the country and did not ultimately result in Donald Trump not having a voice.”

Biden Says He’s Reviewing Tariffs on China

May 10, 2022 at 1:43 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that his administration is currently evaluating how to best move forward on existing tariffs on China enacted during the Trump administration, but he cautioned that no decision has been made,” CNN reports.

“Some experts and business groups have called on Biden to get rid of the tariffs as a way to combat inflation.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

May 10, 2022 at 1:36 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I never expected the ultra-MAGA Republicans who seemed to control the Republican Party now… I never anticipated that happening.”

— President Biden, quoted by Politico, admitting to being surprised by the state of the Republican Party.

Gun Deaths Surged During the Pandemic

May 10, 2022 at 1:28 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Gun deaths reached the highest level ever recorded in the United States in 2020, the first year of the pandemic,” the New York Times reports.

“Gun-related homicides in particular rose by 35 percent, a surge that exacted an unprecedented toll on Black men.”

Gas Prices Hit New Record

May 10, 2022 at 1:24 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Gasoline prices hit a new record on Tuesday just as Americans are entering peak summer driving season, CBS News reports.

The national average price for a gallon of gas hit $4.37, eclipsing a previous record set in early March.

Casey Will Vote ‘Yes’ on Democrats’ Abortion Bill

May 10, 2022 at 12:39 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA) said that “he would support legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into law, a dramatic shift for one of the few remaining Democrats in Congress with relatively conservative views on abortion rights,” the Washington Post reports.

Said Casey: “The real question of the moment is: do you support a categorical ban on abortion? During my time in public office, I have never voted for — nor do I support — such a ban.”

Biden Vows to Confront Inflation

May 10, 2022 at 12:36 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Biden on Tuesday sought to reassure Americans the administration has a viable plan to fight inflation as gas prices Tuesday surged to a new high despite White House efforts to stabilize them,” the Washington Post reports.

Said Biden: “I know families all across America are hurting because of inflation. I want every American to know that I am taking inflation very seriously.”