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Prosecutor Probing Trump Taps Racketeering Attorney

March 7, 2021 at 3:23 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Reuters: “Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has enlisted the help of Atlanta lawyer John Floyd, who wrote a national guide on prosecuting state racketeering cases. Floyd was hired recently to ‘provide help as needed’ on matters involving racketeering, including the Trump investigation and other cases…”

“If she pursues racketeering charges, Willis will need to prove a pattern of corruption by Trump, alone or with his allies, aimed at overturning the election results to stay in power. While racketeering is typically pursued by prosecutors in cases involving such crimes as murder, kidnapping, and bribery, the Georgia statute defines racketeering more broadly to include false statements made to state officials.”

Biden Staff Told There’s No Room for Complacency

March 7, 2021 at 3:20 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

CNN: “A two-page memo, drafted by White House senior adviser Anita Dunn and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese … hails the work that has been done… But it also makes clear that between the implementation of its sweeping provisions and Biden’s ambitious agenda ahead, Biden has no plans of resting on any laurels.”

Cuomo Says There’s ‘No Way’ He’ll Resign

March 7, 2021 at 3:15 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) defiantly rebuffed calls for his resignation as more women have come forward with sexual harassment allegations against him, saying Sunday “there is no way” he will step down, CBS News reports.

Said Cuomo: “I was elected by the people of the state, not by politicians. I’m not going to resign because of allegations. The premise of resigning because of allegations is actually anti-democratic.”

How Republicans Misunderstand the 2020 Turnout Story

March 7, 2021 at 3:13 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Harry Enten: “Numerous Republican state legislatures are trying to pass new voter restriction legislation (e.g. limiting absentee and early voting). Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress are trying to pass laws that expand access to the ballot box.”

“The moves from both camps come after an election with record turnout in which there were multiple false charges of fraud by prominent Republicans like former President Donald Trump.”

“But we should be clear: high turnout had little to do with why Trump ended up being a one-term president. Trump lost because he was an unusually unpopular president, and he likely would have been defeated if turnout looked like it did in 2016.”

Biden’s Relief Bill Gets Warm Reception

March 7, 2021 at 12:01 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “The disparity between the reception to President Barack Obama’s 2009 stimulus plan and President Biden’s is the result of several seismic shifts in American politics — the most dramatic of which may be the apparent impact of the pandemic on attitudes about the role of government in helping the economy.”

“The shift is also the result of a reorientation on economic policy — both on the left and on the right — that has transformed the political landscape.”

Manchin Open to Making Filibuster ‘More Painful’

March 7, 2021 at 10:54 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Joe Manchin told NBC News “that he won’t bend in his support for the filibuster, a Senate rule that forces most legislation to require bipartisan support to pass.”

“But he added that he would be open to Democrats passing more important legislation like voting reforms by a party-line vote — if senators are given ample space for bipartisan negotiation first.”

He also said that he was “willing to look at” ideas to make the filibuster “a little bit more painful,” like requiring lawmakers to take to the floor for marathon speeches if they wanted to use the procedure.

Russia Aims to Undermine Confidence in Vaccine

March 7, 2021 at 10:50 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Russian intelligence agencies have mounted a campaign to undermine confidence in Pfizer Inc.’s and other Western vaccines, using online publications that in recent months have questioned the vaccines’ development and safety,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The websites played up the vaccines’ risk of side effects, questioned their efficacy, and said the U.S. had rushed the Pfizer vaccine through the approval process, among other false or misleading claims.”

GOP Quiet as Donor Accused of Biggest Tax Fraud Scheme

March 7, 2021 at 8:05 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The billionaire accused of running the biggest tax fraud scheme in U.S. history was a prolific donor to Republican groups and causes. The leaders of those organizations have kept quiet on the federal charges against him,” CNBC reports.

“Robert Brockman, former CEO of Ohio-based software company Reynolds & Reynolds, was charged in October with running a $2 billion tax fraud scheme.”

Some In GOP Have Change of Heart on Economics

March 7, 2021 at 8:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Republican Party is showing signs of softening its trademark fiscal conservative brand in favor of a new populist approach, a potentially seminal shift as the party becomes more reliant on blue-collar white voters after Donald Trump’s presidency,” NBC News reports.

“The last time Republicans were thrown out of power, in 2009, they embraced an unabashed tax-cutting and spending-cutting vision to find their way out of the wilderness. Now, the party is taking a different path as ambitious figures seek to curry favor with voters by pushing a larger government safety-net that includes cash to families and a minimum wage hike.”

Minimum-Wage Setback Could Kick-Start Bipartisan Talks

March 7, 2021 at 7:44 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Democrats’ failure to pass a minimum-wage increase could spur bipartisan negotiations to bridge the big gap between the party’s progressive wing, its centrists and Republican senators on raising workers’ pay,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

Biden to Sign Order Meant to Make Voting Easier

March 7, 2021 at 7:42 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Biden is expected to sign an executive order on Sunday that directs the government to take steps to make voting easier, marking the 56th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday march in Selma, Ala., which swiftly turned voting rights into a national cause,” the New York Times reports.

“The multipart order is aimed at using the far-flung reach of federal agencies to help people register to vote and to encourage Americans to go to the polls on Election Day.”

Axios: “The executive order comes as Democrats face an uphill battle to pass a sweeping election bill meant, in part, to combat a growing number of proposals introduced by Republicans at the state level that would restrict voter access.”

Third Ex-Cuomo Aide Details Inappropriate Treatment

March 6, 2021 at 10:03 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A former aide of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he asked her if she had a boyfriend, called her sweetheart, touched her on her lower back at a reception and once kissed her hand when she rose from her desk,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Ana Liss, now 35 years old, served as a policy and operations aide to Mr. Cuomo between 2013 and 2015. She said the actions by Mr. Cuomo were unsolicited and occurred in the first year while she sat at her desk, which was near his office in the Executive Chamber of the New York State Capitol in Albany.”

Liss is the third former Cuomo aide to describe inappropriate workplace treatment by the Governor.

Susan Rice Asserts Herself In New Role

March 6, 2021 at 10:00 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Times: “Ms. Rice occupies the West Wing office that was previously inhabited by Stephen Miller, President Donald J. Trump’s top policy adviser. Aware of the symbolism of a Black woman who has been vilified by conservatives occupying the space where Mr. Trump’s most hard-line immigration adviser used to dictate policy, Ms. Rice has decorated it with Haitian art and scented it with sage.

“From there, she now convenes regular Zoom meetings about topics central to Mr. Biden’s agenda — she hinted at actions to come on voting rights, community violence and gun safety — and she has reorganized the way the council works. Instead of having a principal deputy serving under the director, she has appointed four senior deputies who are experts in their fields.”

Cuomo Created ‘Hostile, Toxic’ Workplace Culture

March 6, 2021 at 8:42 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “The newest accounts of Cuomo’s workplace behavior by former aides in interviews with The Washington Post come after several women have publicly accused the New York governor of inappropriate personal comments or unwelcome physical contact. The allegations have engulfed one of the country’s top Democratic officials in crisis and put a sharp focus on the workplace culture he has fostered during his three decades in public office.”

“What Cuomo has touted as an ‘aggressive’ style goes far beyond that behind the scenes, according to more than 20 people who have worked with him from the 1990s to the present. Many former aides and advisers described to The Post a toxic culture in which the governor unleashes searing verbal attacks on subordinates. Some said he seemed to delight in humiliating his employees, particularly in group meetings, and would mock male aides for not being tough enough.”

Biden Hesitates on Shalanda Young as Budget Chief

March 6, 2021 at 8:30 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “People close to the White House say some aides have been turned off by the overt campaigning on Young’s behalf, which began before the White House formally withdrew the nomination of Neera Tanden earlier this week.”

Biden Finds Unlikely Allies In Massive State Rescue

March 6, 2021 at 8:00 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “Republicans in Congress attacking President Joe Biden’s plan to pour hundreds of billions of dollars in pandemic relief aid into local governments are facing resistance — from GOP-run states and cities.”

“Republican mayors in Texas, Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma are among those backing Biden’s state and local government funding plan as part of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid bill that’s before the Senate, defying GOP lawmakers in Washington, who are broadly resisting the spending.”

U.S. Could Reach Herd Immunity by Summer

March 6, 2021 at 7:30 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

CNN: “At the current pace of about 2 million shots per day — the latest seven-day average of doses administered reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — the US could reach herd immunity by summer through vaccinations alone. It will likely be even sooner, if factoring in individuals who may have some natural immunity due to prior infection.”

“Herd immunity thresholds for Covid-19 are only estimates at this point. But experts generally agree that somewhere between 70% and 85% of the population must be protected to suppress the spread.”

New York’s Capital Newspaper Tells Cuomo to Resign

March 6, 2021 at 7:06 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Albany Times Union called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to resign, but not for the sexual harassment allegations lodged against him:

“First Gov. Andrew Cuomo hid the truth about deaths of nursing home residents from the public. Then his administration lied about why. Then, pretending to come clean, it lied about why it lied.”

“Enough. Mr. Cuomo has squandered the public’s trust at a time when it’s needed more than ever. Amid an enduring pandemic, it is vital that people can believe what their governor and their government are telling them, and that the rules they’re asked to follow and the sacrifices they’re asked to make are truly in the interest of public health. It is time for Mr. Cuomo to resign, and for those who helped him deceive the public to go, too.”