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Jenna Ellis Takes Plea Deal In Georgia Election Case

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis became the fourth defendant to plead guilty in the Georgia election interference case on Tuesday.

According to reports from ABC News, Ellis is pleading guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings.

Recently, defendants Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, and Scott Hall took plea deals in exchange for agreeing to testify against other defendants.

Ellis, who described herself as part of an “elite strike force team” of attorneys combating unfounded claims of election fraud, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings.

“If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post election challenges,” a tearful Ellis told the judge.

“How do you plead to aiding and abetting false statements and writings,” Fulton County prosecutor Daysha Young asked.

“Guilty,” Ellis responded.

She was sentenced to five years of probation, 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and write a letter of apology to Georgia citizens.

In August, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis indicted former President Trump and 18 others for trying to overturn his 2020 defeat in Georgia.

Ted Cruz Tees Up 2028 White House Campaign

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    Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is quietly but unmistakably preparing for a 2028 presidential run — a move that could put him on a direct collision course with Vice President JD Vance in the next Republican primary. According to reporting from Axios’s Alex Isenstadt, Cruz has been meeting with donors, stepping up his presence on the national speaking circuit, and engaging deeply in Republican efforts ahead of next year’s midterm elections, all part of a broader effort to position himself for another bid for the White House.

    Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America,

    A key part of Cruz’s early strategy, Isenstadt notes, involves leaning into his ongoing feud with Tucker Carlson, a prominent conservative voice and close ally of Vance. From the Axios story: “Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential bid by leaning into his feud with Tucker Carlson — and staking out turf as a traditional, pro-interventionist Republican.” The report states that by challenging Carlson’s isolationist foreign-policy views and calling out what he sees as dangerous rhetoric, Cruz is deliberately drawing a contrast with Vance, who many observers — including President Trump — view as one of the early frontrunners for the 2028 GOP nomination. In recent comments, Trump has suggested that both Vance and Senator Marco Rubio are likely to be central contenders in the next Republican race, underscoring how competitive the field may quickly become.

    Axios quotes Cruz as saying: “We have a responsibility to speak out even when it’s uncomfortable. When voices in our own movement push dangerous and misguided ideas, we can’t look the other way. I won’t hesitate to call out those who peddle destructive, vile rhetoric and threaten our principles and our future. Silence in the face of recklessness is not an option.”

    The Texas senator has been explicit about his concern over what he calls a “growing cancer” of anti-Semitism on the Right — an issue he argues is being fueled in part by isolationist arguments gaining traction among younger conservatives. In a speech last month, Cruz warned: “This poison of anti-Semitism on the right, it is spreading with young people. It is gaining traction. But I will tell you, there is a movement among Christians, particularly young Christians. The public polling numbers of support for Israel among young Christians is plummeting. And they’re being spread lies. They’re being spread lies, isolationist lies that we should withdraw from the world because nobody wants to hurt us. But they’re also being spread theological lies.”

    Vance, for his part, has criticized extremist figures like Nick Fuentes but has said nothing publicly about Carlson, who reportedly advocated for Vance during the 2024 vice-presidential selection process. And at a Turning Point USA event last month, Vance appeared to entertain the underlying assumptions of a student’s comments suggesting that Jews support the “prosecution” of Christianity while asking a question about America’s relationship with Israel.

    As both Cruz and Vance work to define themselves in a post-Trump Republican Party — one where debates over foreign policy, Israel, and America’s engagement with the world are increasingly central — the early contours of the 2028 primary are already taking shape.

    Time Magazine Denies Nazi-Era Echo In Trump Cover Image

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    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Photographer’s nod to controversial 1963 portrait fuels speculation.

    WASHINGTON — Time magazine is facing backlash over its latest cover photo of President Donald Trump, after online critics and media outlets pointed out a visual similarity to a portrait the magazine used 60 years ago featuring convicted Nazi industrialist Alfried Krupp.

    The image, shot by photographer Stephen Voss, shows Trump looming over the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, dramatically lit from below. According to a report by The Daily Beast, the composition bears a striking resemblance to a 1963 photo of Krupp taken by the Jewish photographer Arnold Newman — a photograph widely studied for its chilling and deliberate framing of a man convicted of facilitating some of history’s most heinous crimes.

    The Historical Background

    Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach inherited control of the Krupp industrial empire from his father, Gustav Krupp, who had supported Adolf Hitler and helped finance the Nazis’ rise to power. Under Alfried’s leadership during World War II, Krupp factories supplied the Third Reich with armaments and heavy machinery vital to its war efforts, including tanks, submarines, and artillery.

    National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    After Germany’s defeat, Krupp was tried by the U.S. Military Tribunal in the Nuremberg Krupp Trial (officially The United States of America vs. Alfried Krupp, et al.), which took place from 1947 to 1948.

    He was convicted primarily for:

    • Exploitation of Forced Labor: Krupp industries used 100,000 slave laborers and prisoners of war under brutal conditions. Many of these laborers were taken from occupied countries and concentration camps, forced to work long hours in unsafe factories.
    Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-138-1083-20 / Kessler, Rudolf / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE , via Wikimedia Commons
    • Plundering Occupied Territories: Krupp was found guilty of seizing industrial plants and raw materials from conquered nations to boost Nazi Germany’s armament production.
    Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-2005-1017-521 / Gehrmann, Friedrich / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE , via Wikimedia Commons
    • Participation in Crimes Against Humanity: The tribunal held that Krupp’s active role in maintaining and expanding his war production empire made him complicit in Nazi crimes.
    Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1985-100-33 / Unknown authorUnknown author / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE , via Wikimedia Commons

    He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and had his property confiscated.

    Newman’s portrait of Krupp is iconic in photographic circles. In the image, Krupp is seated at a desk under harsh lighting, his posture and setting portraying him as both powerful and ominous, reminiscent of a devil or a fiendish creature. Critics argue that Time’s Trump cover bears such a resemblance to Newman’s portrait that it cannot be a coincidence.

    Photographer Reacts on Social Media

    Voss, the photographer behind the Trump image, has not publicly commented on the comparison. However, he reportedly “liked” social media posts highlighting the resemblance — a move many interpret as a subtle acknowledgment of influence.

    A spokesperson for Time magazine rejected the claims outright, telling The Daily Beast that “any suggestion of an intentional reference is completely untrue.”

    Why This Matters

    The controversy cuts across political and cultural lines:

    • Visual symbolism: Referencing imagery linked to Nazi figures — even inadvertently — risks crossing ethical and historical boundaries.
    • Editorial credibility: Time, known for its iconic covers, faces questions about whether such visual choices are neutral, intentional, or ideologically driven.
    • Trump’s image control: As a media-savvy political figure, Trump is acutely aware of how visuals shape perception. Whether intentional or not, the cover’s tone could affect public interpretation.

    What’s Still Unknown

    • Was the similarity intentional? No direct evidence confirms that Voss or Time deliberately modeled the image after Newman’s Krupp portrait.
    • Does intent matter? Critics argue that even unintentional parallels can carry meaning, especially given the historical weight of the reference.
    • Will this have a lasting impact? It’s unclear, though likely, that the controversy will become another political flashpoint in media criticism.

    A Larger Media Question

    This episode adds fuel to a long-running debate over how the media portrays political leaders — especially those it opposes editorially. It also highlights the power images have in shaping public perception.

    In an era when symbolism is parsed as carefully as language, even a magazine cover can carry profound consequences.

    Charles Barkley’s Threats To Punch Trump Supporters Forces CNN Into Damage Control Mode

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      CNN Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

      CNN anchor Gayle King was forced to initiate damage control mode after her co-host and NBA legend Charles Barkley made a faux pas.

      Mediaite’s Charlie Nash noted that the dust-up began on Saturday’s edition of “King Charles” when King played a clip of Donald Trump boasting about Black people wearing Trump mugshot t-shirts. “When you heard that, what did you think?,” she asked the hall of famer:

      Barkley let out a big sigh, before replying, “First of all, I’m just going to say this, if I see a Black person walking around with Trump mugshot I’m gonna punch him in the face.”

      “Charles. Charles, you really can’t say that ’cause, A. you don’t mean that,” King quickly interjected.

      “Oh, I mean that sincerely,” the Round Mound of Rebound fired back.

      “And then you will be arrested for assault, and then what?” King asked, reminiscent of a bewildered parent.

      “I’m gonna bail myself out and go celebrate,” Barkley replied.

      After the audience laughed, King told them not to encourage her co-host.

      Barkley later clarified that if he were present for Trump’s comments, he would have left.

      “That was an insult to all Black people,” he said. “To compare Black history, where we’ve been discriminated against, to his plight– Well, first of all, he’s a billionaire, and they are prosecuting him for stuff he did wrong.”

      King noted, “It’s still in the court system, Charles; we have to wait.”

      “Well, some of the stuff is true,” Barkley concluded. “They did storm the Capitol. They did say that the election was stolen.”

      This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. Republished with permission.

      Letitia James Sues Federal Government

      The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

      New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) sued the federal government Tuesday, arguing that a new Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy unlawfully ties major federal funding streams to compliance with the Trump administration’s new restrictions on gender-related medical care for minors.

      The lawsuit challenges an HHS policy that, according to the attorneys general, conditions billions of dollars in health, education and research funding on compliance with a presidential executive order addressing sex and gender-related treatments.

      Fox News reports:

      “The federal government is trying to force states to choose between their values and the vital funding their residents depend on,” James said in a statement. “This policy threatens healthcare for families, life-saving research, and education programs that help young people thrive in favor of denying the dignity and existence of transgender people.”

      The dispute stems from President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order directing HHS to take steps to curb what the administration calls “chemical and surgical mutilation” of children. President Trump has made limits on transgender-related medical care for minors a central part of his second-term domestic agenda.

      NYC Public Advocate Tish James via Wikimedia Commons

      Last month, HHS announced a sweeping package of proposed regulatory actions aimed at ending what it described as “sex-rejecting procedures” for minors. In guidance accompanying the announcement, the department warned that doctors and health systems could be excluded from federal health programs — including Medicare and Medicaid — if they provide treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender surgeries to minors.

      James’ lawsuit argues that the federal government is using funding leverage to pressure states, hospitals, universities, and other institutions to change policies on transgender care.

      The attorneys general also claim HHS lacks legal authority to impose the conditions and is attempting to rewrite federal law through executive action. They argue the policy is vague and fails to spell out what recipients must do to remain compliant, creating uncertainty for states and institutions that rely on federal dollars.

      Failure to comply with the policy could lead to termination of grants, repayment of funds already spent, or potential civil or criminal penalties, according to the complaint.

      The lawsuit asks a federal court to declare the policy unlawful and block HHS from enforcing it, allowing states and institutions to continue receiving federal funding without changing existing policies.

      The legal fight also adds to the long-running political and courtroom clash between Trump and James. James has positioned herself as one of the country’s most aggressive state-level opponents of Trump, repeatedly using New York’s legal powers to pursue high-profile cases involving his businesses and allies. Trump has frequently accused James of pursuing politically motivated investigations.

      Trump officials have defended the executive order as a child-protection measure and a pushback against what they say is ideological medicine being imposed through federal agencies and school systems.

      The case is expected to intensify a national debate already playing out in Congress and state legislatures, where Republican-led states have moved to restrict or ban gender-related treatments for minors, while Democrat-led states have expanded protections and access.

      READ NEXT: Sen. Marsha Blackburn Pushes To Make Fraud A Deportable Offense

      Trump Adviser Details ‘Utterly Surreal’ Escape From Middle East

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        Image via Pixabay

        Alex Bruesewitz, an adviser to President Trump, is recounting what he called an “utterly surreal” escape from the Middle East after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks across the region.

        Bruesewitz said he was in Doha, Qatar, “just as the Iranian attacks erupted, leaving me stranded amid the chaos,” according to a Monday post on X that included video footage he recorded of Iranian rockets streaking across the sky above Qatar. He said he, Qatari lobbyist Jay Footlik and TikToker Sarah Gaither were scrambling to find a way home.

        “The past 72 hours have been utterly surreal, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Iranian missiles were flying directly over my head,” Bruesewitz wrote.

        In an interview with Politico, Bruesewitz said he sought “refuge in Qatar” and reached out to Qatari, Saudi, U.S. and White House officials for assistance. Those he contacted included White House deputy chief of staff James Blair and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.).

        Luna wrote on X that she was “actively coordinating with the Trump administration” and with Gulf embassies to help evacuate U.S. citizens from the region, “including my close friend and a dear friend of President Trump, @alexbruesewitz.”

        Bruesewitz expressed gratitude to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and his government for their “unparalleled” care and “exceptional assistance and wavering commitment to my safety during my time in Doha.”

        “Second, a heartfelt thank you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for providing top-tier security during my time there, and for ensuring that the other Americans and I could safely board our flight and depart the Gulf without incident,” he wrote. “It was also remarkable to witness the Qataris and Saudies collaborating seamlessly to protect American lives, they are both incredible allies.”

        He also thanked U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle “and her great staff on the ground for ensuring that our flight was able to successfully land in Athens on such short notice.”

        Bruesewitz said he has since arrived in Europe “and will be home soon.”

        The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday, which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompted a wave of retaliatory Iranian attacks targeting several Gulf allies. In response, the U.S. government ordered American citizens across the Middle East to depart immediately, citing reports that Iran had struck U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

        The State Department has instructed Americans to leave Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen due to “serious safety risks.”

        Cook Political Report Shifts Ratings In Trump’s Favor In 6 States

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        Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

        The Cook Political Report, widely respected across the political spectrum for its precise election forecasts, recently adjusted its presidential race ratings in six key states, all favoring former President Donald Trump.

        The shift comes amidst a backdrop of national and state polls indicating a modest yet consistent increase in support for Trump over President Joe Biden.

        Key State Changes

        The Cook Political Report has reclassified:

        • Arizona, Georgia and Nevada from “toss-up” to “lean Republican.”
        • Minnesota and New Hampshire from “likely Democrat” to “lean Democrat.”
        • Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District from “likely Democrat” to “lean Democrat.”

        Nebraska and Maine are the only states that allocate their electoral votes by congressional district, making the competitive Omaha-based 2nd District a target for both campaigns.

        Electoral Vote Implications

        The changes significantly impact the electoral map, with Trump now leading in states totaling 268 electoral votes, just two votes short of the required 270 for victory. In contrast, Biden leads in states accounting for 226 electoral votes.

        Expert Analysis

        In a social media post, Dave Wasserman, a senior editor at Cook Political Report, argued that it was overly optimistic to label the presidential race as a toss-up even before the debates.

        “Today, Trump has a clear advantage over Biden and a much more plausible path to 270 Electoral votes,” Wasserman noted.

        Additionally, during an appearance on CNN, Amy Walter, Cook Report’s publisher and editor-in-chief, elaborated on the political shifts underpinning these changes.

        “What we’re seeing is the real erosion of support from Biden among voters of color,” Walter explained back in May. “This is the reason he [Biden] is doing worse in Arizona, Nevada and Georgia, where Hispanic and African Americans make up a significant share of the vote.” [emphasis added]

        Polling Data

        Supporting these insights, the latest RealClearPolitics national polling average shows Trump leading Biden by 3 percentage points. In crucial swing states, Trump’s lead is even more pronounced:

        • Arizona: +5.4 points
        • Georgia: +4 points
        • Michigan: +0.6 points
        • Nevada: +5.2 points
        • North Carolina: +5.8 points
        • Pennsylvania: +5.3 points
        • Wisconsin: +2.2 points

        Conclusion

        The latest adjustments by the Cook Political Report highlight a rapidly shifting landscape in the 2024 presidential race. With Trump’s increasing traction in key states and growing concerns about Biden’s ability to simply do the job, the GOP’s path to the presidency appears more wide open than ever.

        READ NEXT: Trump Family Member Steps Forward As Long-Shot VP Candidate

        Trump Calls Out 4 ‘Disloyal’ GOP Senators By Name Over Defiant Tariff Pushback

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          Mitch McConnell via Gage Skidmore Flickr

          Early Wednesday, President Donald Trump unloaded on multiple Republican Senators who are opposing his impending tariffs on Canada.

          Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced a resolution to terminate the emergency declaration, and while the vote is largely symbolic, several Republican defections would carry political weight.

          Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY) have expressed support for Kaine’s motion, with Collins calling the tariffs a “huge mistake.”

          In a fiery Truth Social post Wednesday, the same day his new tariff regime is set to come into play, the president lashed out at four ranking Republican senators — Mitch McConnell, Paul, Collins, and Lisa Murkowski — for wavering on his plan.

          Trump accused the lawmakers of “playing with the lives of the American people” and aligning with “Radical Left Democrats and Drug Cartels.”

          Trump didn’t hold back, accusing the dissenting Republicans of exposing “the weakness of certain Republicans” and imploring voters to “contact these Senators and get them to FINALLY adhere to Republican Values and Ideals.”

          He wrote:

          Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Rand Paul, also of Kentucky, will hopefully get on the Republican bandwagon, for a change, and fight the Democrats wild and flagrant push to not penalize Canada for the sale, into our Country, of large amounts of Fentanyl, by Tariffing the value of this horrible and deadly drug in order to make it more costly to distribute and buy. They are playing with the lives of the American people, and right into the hands of the Radical Left Democrats and Drug Cartels. The Senate Bill is just a ploy of the Dems to show and expose the weakness of certain Republicans, namely these four, in that it is not going anywhere because the House will never approve it and I, as your President, will never sign it. Why are they allowing Fentanyl to pour into our Country unchecked, and without penalty. What is wrong with them, other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly known as TDS? Who can want this to happen to our beautiful families, and why? To the people of the Great States of Kentucky, Alaska, and Maine, please contact these Senators and get them to FINALLY adhere to Republican Values and Ideals. They have been extremely difficult to deal with and unbelievably disloyal to hardworking Majority Leader John Thune, and the Republican Party itself. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

          The tariffs, set to take effect on April 2, which the president has branded “Liberation Day”, are justified by Trump under an emergency order citing fentanyl trafficking across the northern border — despite testimony from his own intelligence chief downplaying Canada’s role in the crisis.

          Fox News Weatherman Attacked on NYC Subway

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            Photo via Pixabay images

            Fox News meteorologist Adam Klotz was attacked by a group of teens in the early hours of Sunday while riding the New York subway.

            Klotz was on his way home after watching the Giants-Eagles NFL playoff game at a Manhattan bar shortly before he noticed a group of teens harassing an “older gentleman,” and had set his hair on fire with what was presumably a marijuana joint. 

            In an Instagram video, Klotz said he intervened to protect the older man and that’s when the group turned their focus on him and began the brutal attack before fleeing at the 18th Street station in the Chelsea neighborhood.

            “I was like, ‘Yo, guys, cut that out.’ And they decided, ‘All right, if he’s not going to get it, you’re going to get it.’ And, boy, did they give it to me,” Klotz said.

            During an interview with “Fox & Friends” Klotz noted that he attempted to separate himself from the situation but the group followed him to another train car.

            “I get off that train after taking a punch,” Klotz said. “The whole group, the doors open again at another stop, the whole group just comes and bum rushes me, and suddenly I’m like, on the ground. I’m getting kicked in the side. I’m getting wailed on.

            “They were trying to knock me out, and then once you’re unconscious, and you’re getting punched like there’s no defense, so I was just doing my absolute best to cover my head,” he continued. 

            “So I kind of get knocked out, and now my side is black and blue. My knee, I can hardly bend because I was getting kicked and punched.”

            “What I want is some sort of change,” Klotz said. “I don’t want this to happen to somebody else, and I don’t think necessarily just these kids getting in trouble, like, where’s the structural things? Like, put some cops down there.” 

            Klotz was treated at a local hospital for his injuries and the three members of the group were eventually apprehended by the cops. However, the group was released into parental custody and no charges were pressed due to their ages.

            Despite the shocking attack, Klotz has remained in good spirits and is expected to make a full recovery.

            This story is breaking. Click refresh for the latest updates.

            Fox News Publishes Scathing Op-Ed Targeting MTG

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              Marjorie Taylor Greene -Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, via Wikimedia Commons

              On Wednesday, Fox News published an op-ed eviscerating MAGA firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene (R).

              Columnist Liz Peek published “Marjorie Taylor Green is an idiot. She is trying to wreck the GOP” in response to Greene’s recent charge to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)

              Johnson has slammed the motion against him as “absurd.” On Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) became the first Congressional colleague to voice support for Greene’s push. (RELATED: Prominent Republican Joins Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Effort To Oust Johnson)

              Read more of the op-ed here:

              The ouster of the popular McCarthy also torched the public’s view of the GOP. In May 2023, registered voters were evenly split between approving and disapproving of the Republican Party. Today, there is a 25-point gap, with 61% disapproval and 36% approving. That will not help win elections. 

              The internal squabbles of the party need to stop. If Marjorie Taylor Greene and others want to oppose aid to Ukraine or the FISA bill, they can vote against it. That’s how democracy works. 

              Recently, Speaker Johnson attended a meeting with Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago to address election integrity.

              Standing next to Johnson at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said, “We’re getting along very well with the speaker, and I get along very well with Marjorie. We have a speaker who was voted in, and it was a complicated process. And I think very, it’s not, not an easy situation for any speaker.”

              On Friday, Trump said Johnson is “doing a very good job.”

              “And I’m sure that Marjorie understands that, she’s a very good friend of mine. And I know she has a lot of respect for the speaker,” Trump said.

              The future of the U.S. is on the line. Former President Donald Trump, who very much wants to kick Joe Biden out of office, knows how dangerous the tumult in the House can be. He recently met with Mike Johnson in Florida and gave him an important and well-deserved vote of confidence. “I stand with the speaker,” Trump declared; he also said he thinks Johnson is “doing a very good job – he’s doing about as good as you’re going to do.” 

              The Fox News contributor concluded her public plea to MTG with a short message.

              My message for MTG? Borrowing from Hillary Clinton: Get over yourself. The mission today is to elect Donald Trump. 

              Republished with permission from American Liberty News.