Home Blog

Michael Cohen Makes Plea To Trump For A Pardon

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
0
Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

On Tuesday, Michael Cohen, once President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and later one of his fiercest critics, appeared on Dan Abrams’ SiriusXM show to discuss a wide range of topics—from his treatment in prison to a plea for pardons.

During the interview, Cohen revealed that he has written letters to both President Joe Biden and Donald Trump urging sweeping clemency for Americans with criminal records who have paid their debt to society. Reading from the letter he sent to Trump, Cohen said:

“It is urged clearly, unequivocally, and without delay that the president issue an executive order granting a full and unconditional pardon to all non-violent felons who have completed their sentences. This act would be more than a gesture of compassion.”

He continued:

“It would be a defining stroke of moral leadership. Over 70 million Americans carry the lifelong burden of a criminal record, despite having fulfilled their legal debt to society. They are our neighbors, coworkers, parents, veterans, and citizens who live under silent exile, denied employment, housing, education, and the right to fully participate in the country they call home. With a single act, the burden can be lifted.”

Cohen even coined a name for the plan: “TEPO, the Trump Emancipation Proclamation Order.” He argued that such a move could be “the single most important act of kindness that any president can bestow on 70 million Americans and their families.”

While this appeal may surprise some given their adversarial past, it comes amid a historically expansive use of Trump’s clemency powers in his second presidential term. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Trump has issued thousands of pardons and commutations, including blanket clemency for roughly 1,500 individuals connected to the January 6, 2021, Capitol events and a number of high-profile figures such as Ross Ulbricht and others.

Trump’s defenders argue these pardons are part of his ongoing fight against what he describes as a politicized justice system, correcting overreach and restoring fairness where the courts or prosecutors exceeded their bounds. Opponents often frame the clemency spree as politically motivated, though Trump’s supporters see it as a restoration of constitutional pardon authority to benefit everyday Americans and loyal citizens alike.

Cohen’s Prison Treatment and Claims About Bill Barr

Cohen also recounted his own prison experience after being sentenced in 2018 to three years for tax evasion, bank fraud, and lying to Congress. He described harsh conditions and claimed that then-Attorney General Bill Barr had him sent back to prison under what he characterized as “draconian conditions,” with extreme cold and heat in holding areas that made his time there especially difficult.

Break with MeidasTouch and Media Fallout

Cohen addressed his recent departure from the MeidasTouch Network, a left-leaning media company that cut ties with him after a Substack post in which he suggested prosecutors coerced him into testifying against Trump. Cohen insisted:

“It is true, not personal. … I specifically state that I am not here to defend Donald Trump. That is not the intention of this statement which I wrote or my Substack article.”

He described the split as a misunderstanding driven by headlines rather than the full context of his words.

The Trump–Cohen History

The rift between Trump and Cohen runs deep. Once a loyal lawyer who said he would “take a bullet” for Trump, Cohen later turned on his former boss, cooperating with prosecutors and ultimately testifying in Trump’s New York criminal case—where Trump was convicted on business-record charges related to reimbursements made to Cohen during the 2016 campaign.

At the time Cohen was seeking a pardon from Trump, that relief never materialized. Trump publicly brushed off questions about pardoning Cohen, reportedly saying, “most people will flip if the Government lets them out of trouble.”

Watch the full interview below:

DON’T LET MAGA FREEZE: Will you help LIGHT THE FIRE, so we can melt away the Dems’ hopes of sweeping through the midterms? Things are heating up! [Donate HERE]

Trump Signs Bill To End Partial Government Shutdown

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
0
By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54325633746/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159707159

Just in…

President Trump has signed a bill to end a partial government shutdown after the funding legislation was held up by lawmakers over the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) immigration recent enforcement efforts.

The bill funds DHS for the next 10 days, with a new deadline set for that agency’s funding to expire on Feb. 13 as Democrats demand for increased oversight of Trump’s Immigration Customs Enforcement and Border Protection.

Surrounded by a swath of Senate and House Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Trump lauded the bill’s passage, which also includes funding until Sept. 30 for the departments of Energy, Defense, Treasury, State, Labor, Transportation, Heath and Human Services, Education and funding to the judicial branch and independent agencies.

Watch:

This story is breaking news. Check back for updates.

URGENT MISSION: We just launched a 50k goal that EXPIRES tonight at midnight. Will you step up and RUSH a donation NOW to save our Majority? One donation helps 29 districts! WIN THEM ALL [Rush Donation HERE]

GOP Congressman Issues Warning To Trump Admin Official: ‘Come And Take It’

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
2
By Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America - Jeanine Pirro, CC BY-SA 2.0,

Republican Florida Rep. Greg Steube issued a forceful response to comments from Jeanine Pirro, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, after she warned that anyone carrying a firearm in Washington, D.C., should expect to be arrested.

During a Monday night interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum, Pirro took a hard line on guns in the nation’s capital while discussing efforts to remove repeat offenders and illegal firearms from the streets.

“You bring a gun into the District, you mark my words, you’re going to jail. I don’t care if you have a license in another district and I don’t care if you’re a law abiding gun owner somewhere else. You bring a gun into this District, count on going to jail, and hope you get the gun back! And that makes all the difference,” Pirro warned.

Her remarks immediately drew criticism from gun-rights advocates and several Republican lawmakers, including Steube, who pointed out that lawful concealed carry is permitted in Washington, D.C., including for non-residents.

“I bring a gun into the district every week, @USAttyPirro. I have a license in Florida and DC to carry. And I will continue to carry to protect myself and others,” Steube wrote on X. “Come and Take it!”

MacCallum defended Pirro’s position during the interview, arguing that tougher enforcement changes behavior. “It’s amazing how accountability works, and people think if they actually get arrested they might have to do time and they might get taken off the street, it sorta puts a little bit of a different message in people’s heads.”

Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie also pushed back, noting that D.C. law allows permitted carry and has done so for years.

“The District of Columbia has been ‘shall issue’ since 2017 when the requirement that you must have a ‘good reason’ to carry a handgun was struck down. Non-residents can obtain a permit in DC — don’t ask me how I know,” Massie said in a post on X.

In a separate post, Massie questioned Pirro’s rhetoric more broadly, writing, “Why is a ‘conservative’ judge threatening to arrest gun owners?”

The National Rifle Association clapped back at Pirro on Tuesday, writing on social media, “Now is the time for Congress to pass HR 38, the National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. Your right to self-defense should not end simply because you crossed a state line or into Washington, D.C.”

The backlash surprised many conservatives, given the Trump administration’s long-standing and vocal support for Second Amendment rights.

Facing growing criticism, Pirro addressed the controversy in a video posted Tuesday to X, emphasizing her support for gun ownership and constitutional rights.

She said she is a “proud supporter of the 2nd amendment” and a gun owner herself, noting that she previously keynoted a National Rifle Association convention. Pirro stressed that her comments were aimed at criminals, not law-abiding citizens.

“However, you need to be responsible. And every responsible gun owner that I know makes sure they understand the laws where they are going and understand whatever registration requirements there might be,” Pirro said. “President Trump’s goal here, and my goal as well, is to make sure we take guns out of the hands of criminals.”

She added, “There is a reason that we have the lowest homicide rate in reported history. We’re taking guns off the street — illegal guns — in the hands of criminals, who want to use those guns to victimize law-abiding citizens. There is a big difference here. If you are responsible, you follow the laws, you are not going to have a problem with me.”

Pirro’s clarification appeared aimed at reassuring conservatives that her tough-on-crime stance is focused on illegal firearms and repeat offenders—not Americans lawfully exercising their Second Amendment rights.

Tuesday morning, Pirro attempted to quell the outrage with a post on X.

The House GOP HQ is pledging 35X IMPACT that could completely turn the tides for our House majority and bring the radical left to their knees. But time is running out! We’d hate for you to miss this critical opportunity. [Donate HERE]

Russian Military Plane Lands In Cuba As Trump Declares National Emergency

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
0
Kremlin.ru, via Wikimedia Commons

A sanctioned Russian military cargo plane landed Sunday night at a Cuban military airfield outside Havana, raising fresh concerns in Washington as President Donald Trump sharply escalates pressure on the communist government in Cuba.

The aircraft — an Ilyushin Il-76 heavy transport jet operated by Russian state-linked airline Aviacon Zitotrans — touched down at San Antonio de los Baños Airfield, a Cuban military installation roughly 30 miles south of the capital, according to public flight-tracking data. The Il-76 is commonly used to move military equipment and personnel and has been scrutinized by U.S. officials in past operations.

Flight records show the plane traveled through St. Petersburg and Sochi in Russia, Mauritania, and the Dominican Republic before arriving in Cuba. Each stop would have required authorization from host governments, highlighting which countries continue to permit Russian military-linked aircraft to operate despite Western sanctions.

The same aircraft conducted multiple flights to Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba in late October 2025, during a period of heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas. Those movements preceded U.S. military action in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of longtime strongman Nicolás Maduro, an operation U.S. officials and analysts have since cited as a warning sign when assessing similar Russian aviation activity in the region.

Now, attention has turned to Cuba — and to President Trump’s increasingly aggressive posture toward Havana.

On Thursday, Trump declared a national emergency related to Cuba, stating that the Cuban government poses an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The administration also announced it would impose penalties on any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba without U.S. authorization, a move aimed at further isolating the regime.

Trump confirmed Sunday that the United States is engaged in direct talks with Cuban officials.

“Cuba is a failing nation. It has been for a long time, but now it doesn’t have Venezuela to prop it up,” Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago. “So we’re talking to the people from Cuba, the highest people in Cuba, to see what happens. I think we’re going to make a deal with Cuba.”

Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both signaled support for political change in Havana, though the administration has not said whether it would pursue that goal through military action.

Russian military ties to Cuba have long alarmed U.S. officials. While Moscow’s presence on the island diminished after the Cold War, Russia has steadily rebuilt defense and intelligence cooperation with Havana over the past decade — a development Washington views as a potential security risk just 90 miles from the U.S. mainland.

The Il-76’s capabilities only heighten those concerns. The aircraft can carry roughly 50 tons of cargo or up to 200 personnel, and its operator, Aviacon Zitotrans, has a well-documented history of supporting Russia’s defense sector. The airline has been sanctioned by the United States, Canada, and Ukraine.

“Aviacon Zitotrans has shipped military equipment such as rockets, warheads, and helicopter parts all over the world,” the U.S. Treasury Department said when it sanctioned the company in January 2023.

It remains unclear what the aircraft carried on its most recent flight. During earlier operations tied to Venezuela, Russian state media and a Russian lawmaker said the same plane delivered Pantsir-S1 short-range and Buk-M2E medium-range air defense systems to Caracas.

With the Trump administration pressing Cuba economically and diplomatically — and with Russian military activity once again surfacing in the Caribbean — U.S. officials are watching closely

Donate to Turning Point TODAY. Your urgent support helps us win one precinct at a time. Give $100 or more and receive Charlie’s book How We Win as our thank-you gift. Donate NOW to help save America.

Blue City Prosecutor Vows To Pursue Federal Agents Criminally After Trump Term Ends

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
1
By U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - https://www.ice.gov/about-ice/ero, Public Domain,

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Soros-backed progressive prosecutor, is facing mounting bipartisan criticism after making fiery remarks comparing federal immigration agents to Nazis and suggesting they should be “hunted down.”

Speaking last week, Krasner denounced Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as “a small bunch of wannabe Nazis,” adding, “If we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities.”

The comments prompted swift backlash from Republicans, with Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) a member of the House Intelligence Committee, urging the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation.

Steube cited federal statutes that make threatening a federal law enforcement officer a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

“The DOJ should absolutely arrest and convict this guy,” Steube said.

Krasner has a history of antagonism toward federal immigration enforcement. He previously claimed he would seek to arrest and prosecute federal agents who “come to Philly to commit crimes,” an apparent reference to controversial law enforcement actions during a Minnesota operation in which a woman was shot after allegedly attempting to ram officers with her vehicle.

In the speech that drew Steube’s condemnation, Krasner boasted that the 350 million Americans living in the United States vastly outnumber ICE agents, and he floated the idea of coordinating with prosecutors in other states to pursue them criminally after President Donald Trump’s term ends.

Even prominent Democrats distanced themselves from Krasner’s rhetoric. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called the remarks “unacceptable… abhorrent and it is wrong; period; hard-stop; end of sentence.”

Republicans were far less restrained.

“We have a psychopath with a badge,” Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa) said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Meuser blasted Krasner for what he described as chronic failures to prosecute violent crime, pointing to reports that the district attorney’s office prosecutes only about 30% of violent crime arrests.

“Every responsible Democrat must condemn this behavior,” Meuser said. “Failure to do so only increases the temperature in an already volatile situation, endangering federal law enforcement and communities alike.”

Meuser also accused Senate Democrats of borrowing Krasner’s “reckless political playbook” by using Department of Homeland Security funding as leverage in government shutdown negotiations.

Critics have long dubbed Krasner “Let ’Em Go Larry” for his lenient prosecution policies—an approach Meuser contrasted sharply with Krasner’s aggressive posture toward federal immigration officers.

Meuser has authored the Holding Prosecutors Accountable Act, legislation that would strip Justice Department grant eligibility from district attorney offices that fail to prosecute at least two-thirds of arrests.

The Department of Homeland Security weighed in as well. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called Krasner’s comments “vile,” accusing him of encouraging violence and doxing of law enforcement officers.

“He is intentionally stoking the flames of hatred and division in this country for political gain,” McLaughlin said, citing a reported 1,300% increase in assaults against ICE agents. “The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop.”

McLaughlin argued that Krasner should instead be thanking ICE for removing dangerous criminals from the Philadelphia region, including Yehi Badawi of Egypt, convicted of aggravated assault and robbery; Cuban national Alan De Armas-Tundidor, a convicted drug trafficker; and Thanh Long Huynh of Vietnam, convicted of rape and cocaine distribution.

Other Pennsylvania Republicans emphasized that Krasner’s threats are legally hollow.

State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Gettysburg) who taught constitutional law at the U.S. Army War College, noted that the federal supremacy clause would override any attempt by Philadelphia officials to interfere with lawful federal immigration enforcement.

“The Constitution is not optional,” Mastriano said bluntly.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-Allentown) chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee, echoed that warning, calling claims that city officials can block ICE “empty threats.”

“If they do obstruct federal law enforcement efforts, the Pennsylvania Senate will be the least of their worries,” Coleman said, adding that if Krasner focused more on prosecuting violent offenders, “Philadelphia wouldn’t be such a s—hole.”

As criticism intensifies, Krasner’s remarks have reignited a broader debate over progressive prosecutors, public safety, and the limits of local resistance to federal law enforcement—one that now may draw scrutiny from the Justice Department itself.

Donald Trump Jr. just endorsed Byron Donalds for Governor! But he needs all the help he can get to keep Florida red. Grassroots supporters like YOU can make a HUGE impact! [Help Byron Donalds TODAY]

Marjorie Taylor Greene Bluntly Declares MAGA ‘Was All A Lie’

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
2

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken allies on Capitol Hill, has escalated her public break with the former president—this time taking direct aim at the Make America Great Again movement itself.

In a lengthy interview with independent political commentator Kim Iversen published on YouTube Thursday, Greene accused Trump of abandoning the grassroots voters who fueled his rise, branding MAGA a betrayal of the very people it promised to serve.

“MAGA is — I think people are realizing it was all a lie. It was a big lie for the people,” Greene said.

The Georgia Republican, who resigned from Congress last fall, argued that Trump has shifted his focus away from everyday Americans and toward wealthy donors and entrenched interests. According to Greene, political loyalty is now driven by money rather than principle.

“He’s more worried about serving the big big donors,” she said, referring to donors who contribute to Trump-aligned PACs and high-dollar projects, including his newly announced ballroom. “Those are the people that get the special favors, the government contracts, they get the pardons.”

Greene went on to argue that foreign governments and multinational corporations now wield disproportionate influence over U.S. policy.

“And it’s the foreign countries that are running the show here,” she added. “It’s the major big corporations and what is best for the world. That’s really what MAGA is.”

Her criticism extended to foreign policy, particularly Trump’s focus on Iran and the Middle East. Greene suggested domestic unrest is being ignored in favor of overseas conflicts.

“I’m sorry, we’ve got civil war practically breaking out in Minnesota, can we not care about that?” she said.

Greene reserved her sharpest criticism for U.S. involvement in Israel and Gaza, accusing Trump of prioritizing foreign interests over American lives and values.

“We’re seeing war on behalf of Israel,” Greene said. “We’re seeing the people in Gaza — innocent people in Gaza, hundreds of thousands of them completely murdered, so that they can build some new real estate development and money can pour in and everyone can get rich there in New Gaza.”

The remarks mark a dramatic evolution for Greene, who was once considered among Trump’s most reliable defenders in Congress. Her relationship with the former president began to fracture publicly after she accused him of dragging his feet on releasing government files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—an issue popular among the GOP base skeptical of elite accountability.

Following those comments, Trump publicly distanced himself from Greene, dubbing her “Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Greene” and claiming she had “some sort of act going on.” Their feud intensified in the months that followed, culminating in Greene’s decision to leave Congress altogether.

While Greene has framed her resignation as a rejection of Washington politics, speculation has continued to swirl within conservative circles that she may be positioning herself for a future national run. Allies and critics alike have noted that her recent media appearances, broader ideological critiques, and willingness to challenge Trump directly resemble the early stages of a potential presidential or third-party campaign.

Greene has not formally announced any plans to run for president, but she has also declined to rule it out—fueling rumors that her break with Trump may be less about stepping away from politics and more about redefining the post-Trump conservative movement on her own terms.

According to a November report from Notus, Greene has privately expressed interest in following in Donald Trump’s footsteps to the White House. The outlet cites four sources familiar with her thinking, saying Greene believes she represents the “real MAGA” faction — the core conservative movement that has reshaped the GOP since 2016 — and that many Republican leaders have drifted away from those grassroots values. (RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene Reportedly Prepping For 2028 Presidential Run)

One source told Notus that Greene feels confident she has built the national donor network and grassroots support needed to mount a serious primary campaign, especially as the GOP’s base remains loyal to Trump’s populist agenda.

Watch the full interview:

Hold the House. Protect Trump. Stop the next impeachment threat — chip in today!

Trump Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Over IRS Tax Return Leak

By
admin
-
0

President Donald Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization filed a federal lawsuit Thursday night seeking at least $10 billion in damages from the U.S. Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, according to Bloomberg Tax.

The suit alleges that Trump’s tax returns from 2017 through 2021 were unlawfully disclosed in violation of federal privacy laws, including protections under 26 U.S.C. § 6103.

The disclosures were traced to Charles Littlejohn, a former IRS contractor working for Booz Allen Hamilton, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to leaking the returns to The New York Times and ProPublica. Littlejohn was sentenced to five years in prison.

The Treasury Department recently severed contracts with Booz Allen earlier this month following the incident.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the cancellations were due to insufficient protection of sensitive taxpayer data. The contracts totaled about $21 million in obligations and roughly $4.8 million annually. Bessent added that canceling the contracts was part of broader efforts to restore trust in data security after the leak.

Legal analysts say the lawsuit’s demand for punitive damages at this level is rare and could raise new questions about IRS accountability. No immediate response was reported from the defendants.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

READ NEXT: Collins Reveals Game-Changing News Following Confrontation With Noem

Hold the House. Protect Trump. Stop the next impeachment threat — chip in today!

House Panel Uncovers ‘Substantial Evidence’ In Fraud Probe Into Florida Democrat

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
1

The House Ethics Committee has found “substantial reason to believe” that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) violated multiple federal laws, House rules, and ethical standards, according to a report released Thursday.

The bipartisan panel said its investigative subcommittee is formally “bringing the charges” against Cherfilus-McCormick, citing potential violations of campaign finance laws and regulations, criminal statutes tied to campaign finance misconduct, the Ethics in Government Act, the Code of Ethics for Government Service, and several House rules.

The findings come as Cherfilus-McCormick already faces serious legal trouble. In November, a federal grand jury indicted the congresswoman on charges that she stole $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds and used a portion of that money to bankroll her political campaign.

Prosecutors allege that in July 2021, Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother received a $5 million overpayment from FEMA while their health care company was working under a FEMA-funded staffing contract related to COVID-19 vaccinations. At the time, Cherfilus-McCormick was serving as the company’s CEO.

Rather than returning the money, federal authorities claim the congresswoman and her brother conspired to keep it, routing the funds through multiple bank accounts in an effort to “disguise” their source.

According to the Ethics Committee report, investigators uncovered evidence that aligns closely with the criminal indictment—and, in some cases, points to broader misconduct.

“The ISC’s [Investigative Subcommittee] investigation has revealed substantial evidence of conduct consistent with the allegations in the indictment, as well as more extensive misconduct as laid out in the following Statement of Facts in Support of Alleged Violations related to violations of federal laws and regulations, as well as ethical standards,” the report said.

Cherfilus-McCormick forcefully denied wrongdoing and criticized the committee’s process.

“Today’s action was taken without giving me a fair opportunity to rebut or defend myself due to the constraints of an ongoing legal process,” she said. “I reject these allegations and remain confident the full facts will make clear I did nothing wrong. Until then, my focus remains where it belongs: delivering for my constituents and continuing the work they sent me to Washington to do.”

The investigative subcommittee detailed the scope of its work, noting it reviewed more than 33,000 documents, conducted 28 witness interviews, sent 30 requests for information, issued 59 subpoenas, and met 12 times across the 118th and 119th Congresses.

The report also highlighted Cherfilus-McCormick’s lack of cooperation in the later stages of the investigation. While she initially produced some records, the congresswoman ultimately invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination after being subpoenaed for documents and testimony.

Donate to Turning Point TODAY. Your urgent support helps us win one precinct at a time. Give $100 or more and receive Charlie’s book How We Win as our thank-you gift. Donate NOW to help save America.

Walz Says He’d ‘Beat the S—‘ Out of JD Vance in Debate, Admits He Was Outmatched in 2024 Showdown

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
1

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 election, said this week that he now believes he mishandled his vice-presidential debate with Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) — and resorted to profane bravado while attempting to explain why.

Appearing Tuesday on The Bulwark podcast with host Tim Miller, Walz was asked whether he gave Vance “too much benefit of the doubt” during their widely watched debate and whether assuming good faith was a mistake.

“Look, I’ll own it,” Walz said. “But you’ve been around this long enough. When you’re on a ticket, you take your orders. Look, I have agency on that, meaning I could have done this, but I am a good team player. And I will say this: I never kidded anybody about debates.”

Walz went on to express frustration that he failed to more aggressively challenge Vance, who emerged from the debate with bipartisan praise for his composure, clarity, and command of the issues.

Though Walz claimed he does not “get joy out of beating someone,” he added, “Yes, I would beat the s— out of him now if I could, and I would call that out. I mean, that’s just different. In verbally going at it, my argument is much better.”

Walz specifically objected to Vance’s arguments on housing and immigration — positions that align closely with mainstream Republican policy priorities and resonate strongly with working-class voters.

“Making the case that housing prices are up because of immigration and that we should build on federal lands — it was such a crazy thing,” Walz said. “But then when I watched him, I got sucked into that.”

Walz admitted he veered off message during the debate, particularly when reacting to controversial media narratives circulating at the time.

“If you remember, this was right in that moment of eating dogs and cats,” Walz said. “I took that bait and thought that that was the argument of how outrageous it was. That was not the argument.”

A Debate That Elevated Vance

The October 2024 vice-presidential debate was widely viewed as a breakout moment for Vance, who surprised many observers with a calm, confident, and policy-focused performance. While Democrats had expected an aggressive partisan clash, Vance struck a cordial tone while forcefully defending conservative positions on immigration enforcement, housing affordability, energy independence, and federal overreach.

Polling afterward showed Vance’s favorability rising, particularly among independents and blue-collar voters — a key reason many Republicans now see him as the natural heir to the post-Trump GOP coalition.

Since the election, Vance has continued to build his national profile, maintaining close ties to President Donald Trump while also positioning himself as a next-generation conservative leader capable of winning Rust Belt states and expanding the Republican map. Many party insiders already consider him the likely Republican presidential nominee in 2028, if not sooner.

Harris Privately Criticized Walz Performance

Former Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed Walz’s shaky debate showing in her post-campaign memoir, 107 Days, revealing that she was deeply disappointed by his performance.

“When Tim fell for it and started nodding and smiling at J.D.’s fake bipartisanship, I moaned to Doug, ‘What is happening?’” Harris wrote, referring to her husband, Doug Emhoff.

Harris acknowledged that the debate ultimately had little impact on polling but suggested Walz should have been better prepared.

“I reassured him that the election would not be won or lost on account of that debate, and in fact it had a negligible effect on our polling,” she wrote. “In choosing Tim, I thought that as a second-term governor and twelve-year congressman he would know what he was getting into. In hindsight, how could anyone?”

A Telling Contrast

For many Republicans, Walz’s comments highlight a broader contrast between the two men: Vance’s disciplined, message-driven approach versus Democrats’ increasing reliance on emotional rhetoric and post-hoc excuses.

While Walz now says he wishes he had been more combative, Republican voters saw something different in 2024 — a Republican candidate who didn’t need theatrics to win the argument, and who looked every bit like a future president.

Hold the House. Protect Trump. Stop the next impeachment threat — chip in today!

Ex-NATO Commander Warns Trump Is ‘Greater Threat’ to Alliance Than Putin

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
4
Kremlin.ru, via Wikimedia Commons

A former senior NATO commander is drawing headlines after claiming President Donald Trump poses a greater threat to the Western alliance than Russian President Vladimir Putin—a charge the White House has forcefully rejected and that many U.S. conservatives say ignores key facts about NATO’s recent history.

In an interview with The Independent, General Sir Richard Shirreff, NATO’s former deputy supreme allied commander for Europe, criticized Trump’s blunt rhetoric toward U.S. allies, particularly comments about Greenland and European defense commitments.

“We have to take him literally,” Shirreff told the newspaper. “We have to assume with Trump, as with Putin, that the worst case will happen. Trump is the greater threat [to NATO] if you want to make the comparison. It’s Trump who gets the prize.”

Shirreff’s remarks come despite Trump’s repeated insistence that he would not use force to take Greenland, a territory controlled by NATO member Denmark. Trump has framed the issue primarily in terms of U.S. national security and Arctic defense, arguing that America bears disproportionate responsibility for protecting the region.

During his first term—and again since returning to office—Trump has consistently pressed NATO allies to meet their long-standing commitment to spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense, a goal many European countries ignored for decades. Supporters argue that Trump’s tough approach helped reverse years of complacency and forced allies to take their own security more seriously.

Shirreff nevertheless went further, claiming Trump had “destroyed the international order” during the first year of his second term and was undermining NATO itself.

“The lead nation of the alliance has threatened the territorial integrity of another member,” Shirreff said. “How do you move on and rebuild trust? Nobody will trust Trump again.”

Many Republicans counter that this view overlooks Trump’s record of strengthening NATO militarily rather than rhetorically. U.S. defense spending rose during Trump’s presidency, and several NATO countries increased their own military budgets after sustained pressure from Washington—something previous administrations had failed to achieve.

Shirreff acknowledged that Russia remains an “existential threat” to Europe, but argued that Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine initially unified NATO, while Trump has allegedly “decoupled America from European security” and left the alliance “below the waterline.”

“Clearly, Putin threatened it massively but Trump has attacked the one alliance which grants our security,” Shirreff said, adding that the rules-based global system was now “a dead duck.”

The White House sharply disputed that assessment. In a statement to The Independent, officials dismissed Shirreff’s comments and said Trump “has done more for NATO than anyone,” pointing to U.S. military contributions and increased allied defense spending under his leadership.

On Greenland, the White House added: “The United States is the only NATO partner who can protect Greenland, and the President is advancing NATO interests in doing so.”

Donald Trump Jr. just endorsed Byron Donalds for Governor! But he needs all the help he can get to keep Florida red. Grassroots supporters like YOU can make a HUGE impact! [Help Byron Donalds TODAY]
123...299Page 1 of 299
© Great America News Desk 2022