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    Trump Endorses Ex-McCarthy Aide To Fill Open Seat

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    This is a big boost…

    Former President Donald Trump has chosen to throw his support behind ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s chosen successor for his empty seat in Congress, Vince Fong.

    Fong, a California Assembly member who worked as McCarthy’s district director for almost a decade, is one of nine candidates running to replace him in Central Valley for his House seat.

    Fox News has more:

    “I am proud to join California’s Republican Congressional Delegation, and give Vince Fong my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Vince was one of only 6 Republicans in the State Assembly to stand with me, and reject the Second Impeachment Hoax. In Congress, Vince will work with me to Grow the Economy, Lower your Taxes, Cut Burdensome Regulations, Champion American Energy, and Protect and Defend the Second Amendment, which is under siege by the Radical Left.”

    Endorsing Boudreaux last month, Grenell and Patel described him as the anti-establishment, America First choice. “Sheriff Mike Boudreaux is an America First patriot who has proven he is a principled fighter for freedom,” Grenell said, The Porterville Recorder reported at the time. “California needs leaders with courage to stand up to Washington bureaucrats. His record proves he is the right choice for the Valley.”

    Patel said, “Sheriff Boudreaux is the kind of leader we need in Congress, one with the courage to stand up and fight, not back down, and put American first,” The Recorder reported.

    Trump’s endorsement of Fong is likely to give him a boost with voters who may have been wary over his years-long ties to the GOP establishment. Fong wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, soon after the former president’s announcement, “Thank you… for your endorsement! Let’s get to work to secure the border, improve our economy, and defend our water and energy resources!”

    Iranian Cleric Threatens Trump, Calls To Execute Protesters

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

    Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a hard-line Iranian cleric close to the regime, on Friday openly called for the execution of protesters in Tehran as the Islamic Republic intensifies its crackdown on demonstrations spreading through the capital.

    “Armed hypocrites should be put to death!” Khatami declared in a sermon broadcast on Iranian state radio, according to The Associated Press.

    Khatami’s remarks underscore what many conservatives have long argued: Iran’s leadership is not a conventional government but a revolutionary theocracy that rules through intimidation, mass arrests, and violence—especially when faced with internal dissent.

    Regime turns its fury toward Trump and Israel

    Khatami also aimed his threats at President Donald Trump, who has warned the Iranian regime that executions of demonstrators would cross a red line that could trigger a U.S. military response.

    Khatami described the demonstrators as “butlers” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “Trump’s soldiers,” accusing both men of “disintegrating the country.”

    “They should wait for hard revenge from the system,” Khatami said of Netanyahu and Trump, per the AP. “Americans and Zionists should not expect peace.”

    For Republican-leaning Americans who view Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, Khatami’s comments serve as another reminder that Tehran’s ruling clerics continue to treat the United States—and Trump in particular—as an enemy to be threatened, not a partner for diplomacy.

    Iranian state TV escalates rhetoric against Trump

    The comments come amid renewed concerns over inflammatory messaging carried by Iranian state media. Iran’s government-controlled television networks—which operate as propaganda arms of the regime—have repeatedly aired hostile messaging targeting the United States and Israel, including threatening rhetoric directed at President Trump.

    Iran’s state broadcasters have often been used to amplify the regime’s “Death to America” ideology, glorify attacks against U.S. interests, and signal the leadership’s intent to retaliate against Western pressure. That same infrastructure is now being used to justify domestic repression, painting protesters as foreign agents rather than Iranian citizens demanding freedom.

    Judiciary chief pushes for “fast” punishment

    Khatami’s call for executions followed remarks earlier this week from Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, who urged rapid action against protesters.

    “If we want to do a job, we should do it now. If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly,” Mohseni-Ejei said, according to The Associated Press, citing a video from Iranian state television.

    “If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect. If we want to do something, we have to do that fast,” he added.

    His statement reflects a familiar authoritarian playbook: move quickly and harshly to crush resistance before it spreads—through intimidation, public punishment, and fear.

    Trump says executions halted after U.S. warning

    Iranian shopkeeper Erfan Soltani was expected to be among the first to face the death penalty, but the Trump administration said hundreds of executions were halted following the president’s intervention. Trump on Wednesday said he’d been told by good sources that Iran would not proceed with executions.

    On Tuesday, Trump canceled talks with Iranian leaders and issued a blunt message of support to demonstrators.

    “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!!” he wrote in a Truth Social post.

    The president has said any acts of violence against protesters would draw a “strong” response from the U.S., while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters “all options remain on the table.”

    To Republicans who supported Trump’s maximum-pressure strategy, the moment is being viewed as a test of whether deterrence still works: the U.S. draws a clear line, and hostile regimes back down when they believe America is serious.

    Death toll rises as Iran tightens grip

    The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported 2,797 deaths in Iran amid the government crackdown as of Friday afternoon.

    California GOP Sues Over Democrat-Drawn Congressional Map

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3

    The Dhillon Law Group has filed a major lawsuit on behalf of the California Republican Party, state Rep. David Tangipa, and 18 California voters, arguing that Proposition 50 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit, led by attorneys from the prominent conservative firm, comes amid growing concerns that Democrats are manipulating redistricting nationwide to entrench their political power.

    Dhillon Law Group Takes Aim at Racially Driven Redistricting

    The legal challenge was filed shortly after voters approved Proposition 50 with 64% support on Tuesday. The measure, crafted and championed by California Democrats, was designed to redraw congressional districts under the claim of improving representation for Latino voters. But Republicans argue that the move is a blatant racial gerrymander that violates the 14th and 15th Amendments.

    “This violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law, and the right under the 15th Amendment to not have one’s vote abridged on account of race,” said Dhillon Law Group partner Mike Columbo at a press conference. “When drawing the Proposition 50 map, the chief consultant who drew the map has stated that the first thing that he did was to increase the power of Latino voters.”

    “Additionally, the state legislature has announced that the maps increase the power of Latino voters,” Columbo added.

    Expanding Democratic Power Through the Ballot Box

    The measure’s approval followed the Democratic-led legislature’s redistricting initiative that added five new congressional seats likely to favor Democrats — mirroring similar partisan efforts in states like New York, Illinois, and Maryland, where Democratic majorities have aggressively redrawn lines to lock in electoral advantages.

    California Democrats justified the move by pointing to redistricting in Texas, where Republicans are expected to gain five seats under their new map. But GOP leaders argue that Proposition 50 goes far beyond a political counterpunch — instead crossing into unconstitutional racial engineering.

    President Donald Trump weighed in on Tuesday, calling Prop 50 a “giant scam.” He added, “All ‘Mail-In’ Ballots, where the Republicans in that State are ‘Shut Out,’ is under very serious legal and criminal review.” While it’s unclear whether Trump’s remarks referred directly to the lawsuit filed the next day, they reflect widespread frustration among conservatives about what they view as systemic manipulation of elections by Democrats.

    Legal Challenge: Prop 50 Fails the Supreme Court’s “Gingles Test”

    According to the complaint, Proposition 50 expands the number of districts where Hispanic voters are likely to play a decisive role — from 14 to 16 out of California’s 52 congressional districts. The lawsuit points to the 1986 Supreme Court decision in Thornburg v. Gingles, which established a three-part test allowing states to draw minority opportunity districts under limited conditions.

    Dhillon Law Group attorney Mark Meuser, who ran as the GOP Senate candidate in 2022, said California’s new map fails that test.

    “We believe that the Supreme Court Gingles Test cannot be satisfied by the state, as such under the 14th and 15th Amendments, the maps drawn by Prop 50 will be considered unconstitutional,” Meuser said.

    The lawsuit argues that Hispanics, now the largest ethnic group in California, cannot be considered a racial minority in the sense contemplated by the Gingles ruling — making Proposition 50’s race-based districting unjustifiable under federal law.

    Rep. Tangipa: “Voices Are Being Diminished to Benefit Others”

    Republican state Rep. David Tangipa, one of the plaintiffs, blasted the measure as a cynical ploy by Democrats to reshape the electorate in their favor.

    “As the first Polynesian elected ever to the state legislature, I understand the diversity and the beauty that this state has,” Tangipa said. “And what we have seen with Prop 50, these maps, they are completely diminishing the voices of [some] groups to benefit other groups.”

    A National Pattern of Democratic Redistricting Power Plays

    The fight over California’s Proposition 50 is part of a broader national battle over redistricting, where Democrats have used state legislatures and ballot initiatives to secure long-term electoral advantages. In New York, Democrats are redrawing congressional lines to overturn a previous court-ordered map that favored Republicans. In Illinois, gerrymandering has been used to eliminate multiple GOP-leaning districts. And in Maryland, courts have repeatedly intervened to stop maps that heavily favored Democrats.

    Republicans argue that Proposition 50 is the latest example of Democrats weaponizing race and redistricting to tilt elections.

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    Report: Growing Coalition Of Republicans Quietly Turning Their Sights On Rubio For 2028

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd after delivering remarks at the House GOP Member Retreat, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Donald J. Trump- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

    A year ago, the path appeared clear for Vice President JD Vance to emerge as the heir apparent to President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement heading into the 2028 election.

    Vance, who was just 40 years old at the time of the 2024 election, entered office with a wave of support from Republicans and the strong backing of Trump’s family. Early in the administration, many within the party saw him as the natural successor to Trump.

    While the vice president remains well positioned for a likely 2028 run, quiet questions are beginning to emerge about whether his path to the nomination is as inevitable as it once seemed. Much of that speculation centers on the rising profile of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose influence within the administration has grown significantly during the first year of Trump’s second term — particularly following the U.S. strikes on Iran.

    The long-term political consequences of the conflict remain unclear. But Rubio’s growing visibility has caught the attention of many of Trump’s closest allies — including the president himself. According to multiple sources who spoke with ABC News, Trump has privately remarked on how “popular” and “loved” Rubio has become within the administration.

    People close to the president say Trump has repeatedly praised Rubio both publicly and privately. At times, the president has even started standing ovations for him during events and declared that Rubio will go down as “the greatest secretary of state in history.”

    Despite the growing speculation, Trump has so far declined to formally endorse either Vance or Rubio as his preferred successor. Instead, he has occasionally floated the idea of the two running together on a joint ticket — without specifying which would lead it.

    Behind closed doors, however, Trump has continued to raise the question with allies and donors. According to sources, the president has asked people directly: “Marco or JD?” — including during a discussion with donors at his Mar-a-Lago resort in late February, as first reported by Axios.

    ‘Draft Rubio’ movement begins to form

    As Rubio’s prominence grows, some Republican donors have quietly begun discussing ways to strengthen his political future ahead of the 2028 election.

    Multiple sources told ABC News that a group of donors and party figures has started exploring the possibility of organizing a “draft Rubio” effort after the 2026 midterm elections. Those discussions are being driven by supporters and political allies rather than Rubio himself, reflecting what some in Trump-aligned circles see as increasing enthusiasm for the secretary of state within the party.

    Still, Republican operatives note that donor enthusiasm does not necessarily determine the eventual nominee.

    “Donors don’t pick the nominee — the base picks,” one senior Republican operative told ABC News. “Donors tried to abandon President Trump and tried to pick [Florida Gov. Ron] DeSantis, and we all saw how that went.”

    When asked about donor interest in Rubio’s future, White House communications director Steven Cheung downplayed the speculation.

    “The President has assembled an all-star team that has achieved unprecedented success in just over one year,” Cheung said in a statement to ABC News. “No amount of crazed media speculation about Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio will deter this Administration’s mission of fighting for the American people.”

    The vice president’s office declined to comment.

    Rubio’s Expanding Role in the Administration

    Over the course of the administration’s first year, Rubio has steadily taken on a larger role in Trump’s government.

    In addition to serving as secretary of state, Rubio has at times taken on other major responsibilities, including acting national security adviser and acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development. His growing list of assignments has even become something of a running joke around Washington, with some observers wondering what position Rubio might take on next.

    His profile rose even further following the administration’s recent military strikes on Iran.

    Rubio emerged as one of the leading public voices explaining the operation alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. When Trump authorized the sweeping strikes — known as Operation Epic Fury — Rubio was already traveling to Mar-a-Lago, where he joined the president in a makeshift situation room to monitor the opening hours of the operation.

    Meanwhile, Vance remained in Washington during the strikes.

    The vice president monitored the operation from the White House Situation Room alongside Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. They were connected by conference line to Trump and the rest of the national security team at Mar-a-Lago.

    A spokesperson for Vance told ABC News that the vice president stayed in Washington “to maintain operational secrecy and in keeping with the administration’s security protocol to limit the President and Vice President co-locating away from the White House.”

    During the early days of the conflict, Rubio remained by Trump’s side at Mar-a-Lago, further fueling speculation about his rising influence inside the administration.

    At the same time, that higher profile could carry political risks. If Rubio ultimately pursues the presidency, his role in the Iran operation could become a central issue. Early polling suggests the military strikes are unpopular with many Americans. According to an Ipsos poll, just 29% approve of the strikes, while 43% disapprove and 26% remain unsure.

    Vance Keeps a Lower Public Profile

    In contrast, Vance — a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq — maintained a relatively low public profile in the early days of the conflict.

    More recently, however, the vice president has begun ramping up both his political and official appearances. On Friday he spoke in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where he briefly addressed the Iran conflict in remarks to supporters.

    Vance has also been noticeably less active on social media platforms like X than in the past.

    A senior White House official told ABC News that the administration intentionally limited public messaging during the early stages of the operation.

    “The national security team was deliberate on letting the President’s statements and addresses to the nation stand as the operation unfolded,” the official said.

    Vance was also scheduled to participate in a town hall with CBS News that was expected to air Saturday, but the broadcast was postponed following the Iran strikes.

    Despite the quieter public posture, the vice president remains deeply engaged politically. As finance chair of the Republican National Committee, Vance continues to maintain a busy fundraising schedule, with events planned in Dallas and Austin later this month, according to fundraiser invitations obtained by ABC News.

    During a press conference Monday, Trump acknowledged that he and Vance had differed somewhat on the Iran decision.

    “I don’t think so. No, no, we get along very well on this,” Trump said. “He was, I would say philosophically a little bit different than me. I think he was maybe less enthusiastic about going, but he was quite enthusiastic. But I felt it was something we had to do. I didn’t feel we had a choice. If we didn’t do it, they would have done it to us.”

    Betting Markets Reflect Uncertainty

    Prediction markets and betting sites are also reflecting the emerging uncertainty surrounding the 2028 race.

    On Kalshi, Rubio recently moved ahead of both Vance and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to become the market’s top choice to succeed Trump. Kalshi traders currently give Rubio a 19% chance of winning the 2028 election, with both Vance and Newsom at 18%.

    On Polymarket, however, Vance remains the favorite with a 21% chance, followed by Newsom at 18% and Rubio at 16%.

    Traditional betting markets still place Vance slightly ahead as well. DraftKings lists Vance at +376 to win the presidency, meaning a $100 bet would yield $376 if he wins. Newsom stands at +426, while Rubio is listed at +488.

    On BetMGM, Vance is seen as roughly twice as likely to win, with odds of +350 compared to Rubio’s +700.

    For now, the 2028 race remains wide open — but Rubio’s growing prominence inside the Trump administration has begun to complicate what once looked like a straightforward path for Vice President JD Vance.

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    Tucker Carlson Predicts JD Vance As GOP 2028 Nominee

    By
    Seijah Drake
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    0
    Tucker Carlson via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    In a prediction during a recent podcast, Tucker Carlson, co-founder of the Daily Caller News Foundation, forecasted that Vice President JD Vance will emerge as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee in 2028. Carlson’s statement, made on the “VINCE” podcast, sheds light on the increasing influence of Vance within the party and the likelihood of him becoming the successor to Donald Trump’s political legacy.

    Despite Donald Trump declining to endorse Vance during a February Fox News interview, where he stated there were “a lot of very capable people” in the Republican Party, Carlson is optimistic that the former president will ultimately support the vice president in 2028. Trump’s comment, which may have seemed like a rejection to some, was interpreted by Carlson as a temporary stance, not a definitive end to any future support.

    “I think people want to leave a legacy, all of us do, and great men especially do. And the only person in the entire Republican Party from my position who’s capable of carrying on the Trump legacy and expanding it, making it what it should fully be, is JD Vance,” Carlson explained. He also praised Vance’s loyalty to Trump and his profound service, indicating that Trump’s current withholding of endorsement may have been a strategic decision.

    Carlson’s own connection to Vance runs deep; his son, Buckley Carlson, serves as Vance’s deputy press secretary. This familial link only adds weight to Carlson’s belief in Vance’s potential as the future of the GOP.

    Vince Coglianese, host of the podcast, suggested that Trump may have declined to endorse Vance to protect him from premature political pressures. This sentiment was echoed by Carlson, who agreed that Trump’s reticence could be a tactical move, keeping the focus on the current administration rather than the 2028 race. “There’s a lot that will happen between now and then,” Carlson remarked. “And I think, already, I mean, it’s a tough gig for any vice president, this one included. But he has been a powerful partner for Trump.”

    The vice president’s solid performance and loyalty have positioned him as the frontrunner for 2028, at least in Carlson’s eyes. “I don’t see any other, at this point, as of today, any other conceivable option. I think JD Vance will be the nominee,” he concluded.

    Amid these discussions, speculation about Donald Trump Jr.’s potential 2028 run surfaced. However, Trump Jr. strongly denied any intentions of running, responding with an impassioned statement in which he lambasted the theory that he was helping JD Vance secure a vice presidential nomination as part of a personal presidential ambition.

    Political analyst Mark Halperin also weighed in on JD Vance’s prospects, highlighting the vice president’s strengths in media engagement and public appearances. According to Halperin, Vance has an advantage over other potential 2028 contenders due to his willingness to take on numerous interviews and public platforms without hesitation. Unlike Kamala Harris, who waited weeks into her 2024 candidacy to take an interview, Vance is positioned to perform strongly across a wide range of media settings.

    Trump’s reluctance to endorse JD Vance could also be influenced by the strained relationship he experienced with his first vice president, Mike Pence. The fallout between Trump and Pence, especially following the 2020 election, was widely publicized and has been a point of contention within the Republican Party ever since. January 6th, 2021, marked a significant turning point in their partnership. Given this history, Trump may be cautious about offering early or public endorsements to his current vice president, JD Vance, fearing the possibility of another strained relationship down the line. By withholding an endorsement, Trump might be taking a more measured approach, wanting to avoid prematurely putting his full support behind Vance in case any future disagreements arise.

    Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

    Billionaire Threatens To Primary Lawmakers Who Vote Against RFK Jr. Confirmation

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The fight is on…

    Billionaire Nicole Shanahan, who was the running mate of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., threatened to primary senators who vote against his nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

    With Kennedy’s confirmation hearing set to begin on Wednesday morning, Shanahan wrote on X on Tuesday, where she posted a video warning senators not to oppose his nomination.

    “He is more than qualified,” Shanahan said. “He’s proven, principled, and prepared to lead. I’ll list I’ll share a list below of key senators. If they represent your state, they need to hear from you. If they don’t, please call your own senator and ask them to vote yes.”

    She then addressed several senators whose votes she said she would monitor.

    “The two candidates I helped elect, Senator Raphael Warnock and Senator Jon Ossoff, please know I will be watching your votes very closely,” Shanahan added. “I will make it my personal mission that you lose your seats in the Senate if you vote against the future health of America’s children.”

    Shanahan listed more senators, including “Lisa Markovsky” a clear nod to Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski also voted “no” on Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon.

    “And more than that, I also want to say to Senators Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Lisa Markovsky, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Thom Tillis, James Lankford, Cory Booker, John Fetterman, Bernie Sanders, and Catherine Cortez Masto,” she said. “This is a bipartisan message and it comes directly from me. While Bobby may be willing to play nice. I won’t. If you vote against him, I will personally fund challengers to primary you in your next election, and I will enlist hundreds of thousands to join me.”

    Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has reservations and made it clear she’s hesitant about supporting RFK Jr. for the role/

    “Well I’m certainly concerned about it. I know others have other, other points of concerns that they want to drill down on and try to get some commitments, public commitments, from him on,” the senator said. “But vaccines are important.”

    Pro-Trump Candidate Topples Democrat In Key Race

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1

    Republicans are projected to sweep the Buckeye State…

    Republican challenger Bernie Moreno is projected to win the Ohio Senate seat, defeating incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D).

    Meet Bernie Moreno

    Bernie Moreno is a successful businessman who gained prominence as an auto dealership mogul, owning multiple dealerships across the U.S. before selling most of them to focus on new ventures. Moreno positioned himself as a political outsider, emphasizing his experience in business and entrepreneurship. His campaign centered on securing the U.S. border, advocating for conservative economic policies, and opposing what he calls “woke” political ideologies.

    Endorsements

    Donald Trump: The former president endorsed Moreno, praising his business acumen and commitment to conservative values.

    Mr. Moreno will “fight the corrupt Deep State that is destroying our Country,” Mr. Trump wrote in a social media post.

    “I could not be more grateful or humbled to have the complete and total endorsement of President Donald Trump at this vital moment in the campaign,” Mr. Moreno said in a statement, adding that a Republican takeover in the Senate and a victory from Mr. Trump in the presidential contest “will Make America Great Again!”

    J.D. Vance: The vice presidential candidate backed Moreno early in the race.

    “Thrilled to endorse Bernie Moreno for senate. He’s a good friend, a job creator, and will be a fantastic senator. We’d make a hell of a team!” Vance said in a tweet.

    Matt Gaetz: The Florida congressman voiced his support for Moreno’s Senate bid.

    Jim Jordan: Ohio’s influential congressman and conservative leader has supported Moreno.

    “Bernie is a true America First conservative, and will make us proud in the U.S. Senate,” Jordan said. “Our country needs common sense conservative fighters now more than ever. Bernie is a political outsider who has lived the American Dream. His perspective, his grit and his conservative values will serve Ohio well in the U.S. Senate.”

    Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: “To defeat Sherrod Brown in November, we need to nominate a proven conservative who can unite the party, and Bernie is the candidate who can do that,” Yost said.

    Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam gave $50,000 apiece to Moreno’s campaign in mid-August, and other members of their family kicked in an additional $45,000 in total, records show.

    “Bernie is grateful for the overwhelming support of Ohioans who are ready to fire Sherrod Brown after 50 years in political office,” said campaign spokeswoman Reagan McCarthy in a statem

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

    Pelosi Slams Trump’s Mental Fitness—Admits She Didn’t Watch the Speech

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    6
    Nancy Pelosi via Gage Skidmore flickr

    Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., accused President Donald Trump of “mental incapacity” during a recent interview with ABC News—despite admitting she did not actually watch his speech to the nation.

    “I didn’t even think about his speech, but I did see some of it in the news afterward, and I think it was a demonstration of his mental incapacity,” Pelosi told ABC’s Jonathan Karl in a clip that aired Sunday on This Week.

    Pelosi said she chose not to watch the address, explaining that she had “had enough” of the president. Still, she did not hesitate to publicly criticize Trump, continuing a pattern of weighing in on his presidency even when acknowledging she lacked firsthand exposure to the event in question.

    When pressed by Karl to explain her remarks, Pelosi added, “Well, that was a ridiculous speech. Of course, we were all offended because of what he said about Rob Reiner… and Michele just a few days before, after the tragedy. Something’s wrong there, and something’s wrong with the people around him that they don’t stop him from his ridiculousness.”

    During the speech, Trump said he had brought the nation back from “the brink of ruin” in less than a year back in office, sharply criticized Democrats, and touted that he had made America the “hottest country” in the world. As expected, reactions to the politically charged address largely fell along partisan lines, as Trump continues to face negative polling on the nation’s economic outlook.

    Pelosi’s attack on Trump’s mental capacity comes with notable irony, given her role in 2024 in pressuring President Joe Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee—a move that fractured their long-standing political relationship.

    Before Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Trump last June, Pelosi had been one of the most vocal defenders of Biden’s mental sharpness. She publicly dismissed concerns about his cognitive decline and criticized a Wall Street Journal report detailing issues behind the scenes.

    Earlier that year, Pelosi praised Biden as “very sharp” and “always on the ball.”

    However, according to a book by Chris Whipple, Pelosi privately told a friend that Biden had “lost a step” last year. After Biden’s debate struggles became impossible to ignore, Pelosi’s carefully worded comments on Morning Joe—which avoided endorsing his insistence on staying in the race—signaled that her confidence had waned.

    Biden ultimately dropped out of the race, but the fallout with Pelosi has lingered. The two longtime allies have not spoken since.

    Pelosi has consistently maintained that she did not push Biden to withdraw, claiming instead that she merely urged him to look honestly at polling data showing the steep odds he faced.

    Still, her latest remarks underscore a familiar dynamic: Pelosi distancing herself from accountability for her years of Democratic leadership failures while remaining eager to criticize President Trump—this time without even watching the speech she condemned.

    You stood above the rest. When others talked, YOU acted. When America First needed fighters, YOU showed up. That’s why you’ve been named 2025 PATRIOT OF THE YEAR — MAGA GOLD MEDAL. This honor is reserved for the strongest supporters of President Trump — and you earned it. CLAIM YOUR MAGA GOLD HONOR NOW.

    George Santos Deserves Prison, Not A Pardon

    By
    Alex Muse
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    2
    (Miami - Flórida, 09/03/2020) Presidente da República Jair Bolsonaro durante encontro com o Senador Marco Rubio..Foto: Alan Santos/PR

    George Santos did not stretch the truth. He did not fudge numbers. He did not run afoul of technicalities in campaign finance law. He stole, lied, and exploited vulnerable people for personal and political gain. These were not victimless crimes, nor were they victimless lies. They were part of an elaborate scheme to build a fraudulent political career on a foundation of stolen funds, fictitious wealth, and unearned trust. It is time conservatives stop equivocating. If George Santos were not a thief, he might have been a talented, even promising political figure. But he is a thief, and a spectacularly cynical one at that. He stole from the old and the sick, he stole from donors, he stole from the US taxpayer. He is not a misunderstood maverick or a casualty of overzealous prosecution. He is a con man, and a criminal.

    Let us begin, as the law did, with the false image he built. Santos, through deliberate lies to the Federal Election Commission and his own party, fabricated a story of fundraising success. In early 2022, he claimed to have raised over $250,000 in a single quarter from third-party donors, including a personal loan of $500,000 to his own campaign. These were lies. He did not have the money. He did not receive these donations. But this mirage of financial viability was just enough to secure his acceptance into the National Republican Congressional Committee’s “Young Guns” program, granting him financial, logistical, and strategic support. The GOP, believing they were backing a legitimate, self-sustaining candidate, diverted valuable resources to a fraud.

    But Santos did not merely fake donor support. He invented donors. Using the identities and financial information of real people, Santos charged their credit cards repeatedly, funneling the proceeds into his campaign, other political committees, and even his own bank account. Nearly a dozen people were victimized, including individuals least capable of defending themselves. One woman, suffering from brain damage, had thousands of dollars withdrawn without her consent. Two elderly men in their eighties, each suffering from dementia, had their identities stolen and their cards charged. These were not passive accounting errors or clerical mistakes. These were acts of intimate, cold exploitation. Santos knew these people, spoke with them, thanked them for their support, and then used their vulnerability against them.

    In one egregious instance, a donor who had already given the legal maximum found his credit card charged an additional $15,800 without authorization. Santos disguised this theft by attributing the funds to fabricated family members in his FEC reports, a maneuver that allowed him to continue the ruse while avoiding contribution limits. In another, he charged $12,000 to a donor’s account and deposited the majority into his personal bank. From there, it funded clothing, cosmetics, credit card bills, and gambling trips. The campaign, the candidacy, the public service, all were secondary to a lifestyle of luxury paid for by other people’s money.

    Perhaps the most hypocritical of Santos’s frauds involved the pandemic. In 2020, he applied for and received over $24,000 in unemployment benefits from the state of New York. At the time, he was gainfully employed as a regional director at a Florida-based investment firm, earning over $120,000 a year. He did not miss a paycheck. He was not laid off. He did not qualify. And yet, each week, he falsely certified his jobless status, drawing taxpayer-funded aid designed for those hit hardest by COVID-19, the unemployed, the underemployed, the financially desperate. In an act of gall that would be laughable if it were not so despicable, Santos later sponsored legislation in Congress to crack down on pandemic unemployment fraud. The man who stole from the system claimed he would reform it.

    Nor did the deception stop there. Santos lied on his congressional financial disclosures, the forms meant to ensure transparency for public officials. He claimed to have earned $750,000 in salary from a private company that paid him nothing. He reported receiving $1 to $5 million in dividends that never existed. He declared hundreds of thousands in bank holdings, when in fact his accounts were often in the low thousands, if not lower. In reality, his only actual income came from the investment firm and the unemployment checks he falsely obtained. The lies were not incidental. They were comprehensive, deliberate, and aimed at creating an illusion of wealth and competence.

    Even more brazenly, Santos fabricated an independent expenditure group, a supposed political action committee called RedStone Strategies. He solicited two donors for $25,000 each, promising that the funds would be used for media buys and campaign efforts. They were not. Santos transferred the money into accounts he controlled and spent it on Ferragamo, Hermes, Botox, and credit card bills. This was not merely unethical. It was embezzlement. It was theft. It was a fraud perpetrated with full knowledge and intent.

    In total, Santos stole or misappropriated approximately $578,750. The court ordered him to pay $373,749.97 in restitution and to forfeit an additional $205,002.97. These numbers were not speculative. They were calculated against real losses to real people, individuals whose credit was damaged, whose money was siphoned away, whose trust was obliterated. Santos’s 87-month sentence, or just over seven years, was not an outlier in the federal system. It was a typical penalty for this kind of sprawling, malicious financial fraud. Defendants with no political profile, who defrauded the government or private individuals out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, routinely receive similar sentences. That Santos was a congressman did not result in his being singled out. If anything, it spared him scrutiny longer than he deserved.

    There is no serious argument for clemency here. Clemency is for excess, for injustice, for punishment that outstrips wrongdoing. Clemency is not for grifters who fake their way into office by stealing from pensioners and pandemic relief funds. One does not defend George Santos by invoking freedom, fairness, or limited government. To the contrary, every dollar Santos stole weakened the legitimacy of our electoral system, diverted support from legitimate candidates, and degraded the moral clarity conservatives must offer in a dishonest age. The true conservative position is to say plainly: this man is a crook.

    Yes, Santos was charismatic. Yes, he had a knack for commanding attention. And yes, in another life, with honesty and principle, he might have served well. But we do not excuse embezzlement because the embezzler is clever. We do not overlook theft because the thief is funny. Our movement has spent decades insisting that character matters. If that is still true, then George Santos is not a man to be platformed or pitied. He is a cautionary tale.

    Some will argue that Santos’s sentence was harsh. Perhaps. But that is not a reason to pardon him. It is a reason to scrutinize sentencing guidelines for all non-violent financial offenders. Santos should be treated like any other fraudster, no worse, no better. And by that measure, he has been.

    Others say we should forgive him because the media was against him. But the media is against every Republican. What makes our side different, or should, is our insistence on personal responsibility. George Santos did what he did. He admitted it. He pled guilty. He is being punished in accordance with the law. He is not a martyr. He is a criminal.

    Those who now seek to rebrand Santos as a political prisoner or conservative folk hero are doing damage not only to the movement, but to the truth. And that matters. For if we cannot call theft what it is, if we cannot call fraud what it is, if we cannot reject the normalization of criminality in our own ranks, then we are not a movement of principle. We are just another racket.

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    Cook Political Report Shifts Multiple Races Toward Republicans

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    The Cook Political Report has adjusted its ratings in two key mid-Atlantic congressional races, shifting both in favor of the Republican Party.

    The nonpartisan election forecaster made its first change in the race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, shifting its classification from “Lean D” to “Toss Up.” The race is for an open seat, following the announced departure of Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who is leaving the House in January to run for governor. It now sees a competitive matchup between Eugene Vindman, brother of Alexander Vindman—who played a central role as a witness during Donald Trump’s first impeachment—and Derrick Anderson, a former Green Beret.

    Despite Vindman significantly outspending Anderson on campaign ads, the race appears to have tightened.

    The district covers a substantial portion of Central and Northern Virginia, including areas like Orange, Culpeper, Spotsylvania and Prince William counties, with Fredericksburg and Culpeper among its largest cities. It has a slight Democratic lean with a D+1 partisan voter index, which Cook’s Erin Covey notes may be Vindman’s saving grace in a presidential election year.

    In another update, New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, currently held by Republican Thomas Kean Jr., has shifted from “Toss Up” to “Lean R.” This change is significant as Kean’s seat is one of only 16 Republican-held districts that President Joe Biden carried in the 2020 election.

    Kean may benefit from the favorable reputation of his father, former Governor Tom Kean, among his Northern New Jersey constituents. Moreover, his opponent, Democrat Sue Altman, has struggled to gain visibility in the costly New York City media market.

    Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

    Jim Jordan here: Pelosi and Harris are pouring MILLIONS into taking back the House! Patriots must act NOW to protect our America First Majority!
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