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    Tucker Carlson’s Show Once Acted as ‘Effectively a Senior Adviser’ to Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    At one point during Donald Trump’s presidency, Tucker Carlson’s Fox News program functioned as more than just a primetime show. According to a former Fox News producer quoted in Jason Zengerle’s new book, Hated By All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind, the program was “effectively a senior adviser” to the president.

    Zengerle reports that Carlson’s influence extended deep into the Trump White House. Alyssa Farah Griffin — now a co-host of The View who served in the Trump administration from 2017 to 2020 — said the show was considered required viewing for administration officials.

    According to the book, Jared Kushner once rebuked her after she admitted missing part of an episode. “You can’t work in this White House and not watch Tucker Carlson,” Kushner told her.

    The Daily Mail highlighted those revelations this week, along with another detail from Zengerle’s account: Trump was reportedly frustrated when he could not reach Carlson directly.

    “Tucker was the hot girl that didn’t want to f*ck him,” a former White House official said in the book.

    The same official added that Carlson’s reluctance to be easily accessible “intrigued” Trump and made him more “alluring,” as The Daily Mail described it.

    Carlson’s prominence at the time was reflected in his ratings. Tucker Carlson Tonight set a cable news record in October 2020, averaging 5.36 million viewers. The program routinely drew more than 4 million viewers per month before Carlson’s departure from Fox News in April 2023.

    Fox News experienced a ratings decline immediately following Carlson’s exit, but the network later regained its footing and maintained its position as the top-rated cable news channel. Mediaite reported Wednesday that Fox News averaged 34% more primetime viewers in February than CNN and MSNBC combined, crediting much of that performance to Carlson’s replacement, Jesse Watters.

    The relationship between Trump and Carlson appears to have evolved since Trump returned to the White House last year. Carlson has been seen visiting the White House several times. However, tensions may remain. According to Free Press reporter Eli Lake, Trump “has privately urged the popular podcast host to end his battle with prominent pro-Israel MAGA influencers,” believing the dispute could harm Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections.

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    Former Georgia Republican Lawmaker Officially Ditches GOP For Dems

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    5

    A Republican lawmaker is jumping ship…

    Geoff Duncan, who previously served as Georgia’s Lt. Governor, revealed he has officially registered as a Democrat.

    Duncan, who served as lieutenant governor as a Republican from 2019 until 2023, wrote in an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that his path to becoming a Democrat began before President Donald Trump attempted to overturn his loss to former President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, which Duncan criticized at the time.

    “My journey to becoming a Democrat started well before Donald Trump tried to steal the 2020 election in Georgia,” Duncan wrote in the newspaper.

    “There’s no date on a calendar or line in the sand that points to the exact moment in time my political heart changed, but it has,” he continued. “My decision was centered around my daily struggle to love my neighbor, as a Republican.”

    Duncan pointed to several policy issues that played a part in his decision to change parties, criticizing Republicans for their handling of issues such as health care, Medicaid, gun safety, immigration and how to help poor people.

    The former Republican said GOP lawmakers have argued for decades that the solution to not having health insurance is to have a job, but noted that most uninsured people in the Peach State live in working households yet do not have insurance because of affordability or eligibility. 

    “So, the reality is they have a job, just the wrong job,” Duncan wrote. “One that doesn’t offer health insurance or generate enough spare money each month to afford their own health insurance plan.”

    Duncan’s party switch comes after the Georgia Republican Party expelled him from the party earlier this year over alleged disloyalty. The party’s resolution cited his endorsement of Biden in the 2024 presidential election and, once he dropped out, his endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as alleged efforts to undermine and sabotage some Republican candidates, including current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and failed 2022 Senate candidate Herschel Walker. 

    The former Republican also spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August in support of Harris.

    The clock is ticking! GOP victory is only possible because of YOU but Trump needs your help. Will you stand with Trump before his critical deadline?

    CNN Clashes With Trump Spokeswoman, Abruptly Ends Interview

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    admin
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    0
    CNN Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

    On Monday morning, CNN anchor Kasie Hunt abruptly ended her interview with Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. The interview aired during CNN’s “This Morning,” just three days before the network is set to host the first Trump-Biden debate on Thursday.

    Fighting Words From Team Trump

    The tension escalated when Leavitt accused the debate moderators, Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, of having a bias against President Trump.

    “That’s why President Trump is knowingly going into a hostile environment on this very network, on CNN, with debate moderators who have made their opinions about him very well known over the past eight years and their biased coverage of him,” Leavitt stated, previewing the upcoming debate.

    Visibly annoyed by Leavitt’s remarks, Hunt defended her colleagues. “I’ll just say my colleagues, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, have acquitted themselves as professionals as they have covered campaigns and interviewed candidates from all sides of the aisle. I’ll also say that if you talk to analysts of previous debates, that if you’re attacking the moderators, you’re usually losing.”

    Fox News reports:

    After Hunt tried to steer the conversation back to the debate, Leavitt told Hunt that it would take just five minutes to research Tapper and his commentary on the former president. 

    “Ma’am, I’m going to stop this interview if you’re going to continue to attack my colleagues,” Hunt said. 

    After Leavitt argued she was stating facts about Bash and Tapper, Hunt cut the interview off, her voice rising as she went back to the panel.

    “I would like to talk about Joe Biden and Donald Trump, whom you work for,” Hunt said. When Leavitt continued, Hunt signaled to cut her off.

    “I’m sorry, guys, we’re going to come back out to the panel,” Hunt said, clearly fuming. “Karoline, thank you very much for your time. You are welcome to come back at any point. She is welcome to come back and speak about Donald Trump, and Donald Trump will have equal time to Joe Biden when they both join us later this week in Atlanta for this debate.”

    Thursday’s Debate: What You Need to Know

    The first 2024 presidential debate featuring President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump is scheduled for Thursday, June 27, at 9 p.m. (ET).

    CNN will host the event at their Atlanta studios, without a live studio audience.

    The debate will have strict rules. When one candidate isn’t speaking, their microphone will be muted. Each candidate will have only a pen, paper and water at their podium. There will be two commercial breaks during the 90-minute event.

    Viewers can watch the debate live on multiple platforms, including CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max). The debate is the first of two agreed upon by both campaigns, with the second one scheduled for September 10, hosted by ABC News.

    Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

    Matt Gaetz To Launch Show On One America News Next Year

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    2
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz (R) is set to debut his own program, The Matt Gaetz Show, on One America News (OAN) starting January 2025 and airing weeknights at 9 p.m.

    The announcement follows Gaetz’s decision earlier this year to step away from Congress, a choice he explained during a recent appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show. Gaetz, who served in the House of Representatives since winning his first election in 2016, stated, “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” underscoring his desire to prioritize his family and his role in supporting President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

    Tuesday’s development marks a significant career shift for Gaetz, who had previously been considered for attorney general in the incoming Trump administration. That opportunity, however, did not materialize, prompting speculation about whether he might return to Capitol Hill. Gaetz put such rumors to rest last month when he reaffirmed his intention to focus on media opportunities and other ways to assist the Trump White House outside of Congress.

    Gaetz’s new show is expected to cover a range of conservative topics, including policy discussions and commentary on the Trump administration’s agenda.

    Politico has additional details:

    It is yet another high-profile, public platform for Gaetz, a firebrand Republican who made no shortage of enemies in the House before President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to nominate him to be attorney general. Gaetz immediately resigned from the House after Trump’s announcement, a move that also came just before the House Ethics Committee planned to meet regarding a probe into allegations against him regarding illegal drug use and sex with a 17-year-old.

    Gaetz has consistently denied the allegations and a Department of Justice investigation into him resulted in no charges. But the accusations quickly dogged his confirmation process, prompting him to drop out of consideration one week after Trump first announced plans to nominate him. The early withdrawal precluded what would have been a deeply personal and brutal confirmation hearing.

    At OAN, Gaetz will also co-host a video podcast with Dan Ball, host of “Real America with Dan Ball,” that the network said would feature “unfiltered conversations” for Gen Z, Millennials and early Gen Xers.

    Gaetz praised the network in a statement for embracing platforms like streaming, apps, podcasts and social media, which he called places “where Americans are going.” Trump during his 2024 run similarly embraced alternative media sources to reach voters.

    Known for its strong conservative viewpoints, OAN has been steadily expanding its roster of opinion-driven programming, and Gaetz’s high-profile presence is likely to attract loyal viewers from his political base and other cable news networks.

    READ NEXT: New Health Scare? Medics Rush To Treat Top Republican Senator

    Lincoln Project Co-Founder Files To Run For Manhattan Congressional Seat

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    George Conway, a prominent conservative attorney and longtime critic of President Donald Trump, filed paperwork Monday with the Federal Election Commission to explore a bid for Congress as a Democrat.

    Conway, a co-founder of The Lincoln Project — a group of self-described Republicans formed to oppose Trump’s presidency — is considering a run in New York’s 12th Congressional District. The Manhattan-based seat is currently held by Rep. Jerry Nadler, who is retiring at the end of this term. The district is one of the safest Democratic seats in the country, meaning the decisive contest is expected to take place in a crowded Democratic primary rather than the general election.

    The potential field is already large. Among the declared candidates are Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy; Cameron Kasky, a leading organizer with March for Our Lives; New York State Assembly Members Alex Bores and Micah Lasher; and New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher. (RELATED: Report: Caroline Kennedy Pleaded With Son Jack Schlossberg Not To Run For Congress)

    Conway was married for 22 years to Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s former campaign manager and later White House senior counselor. The couple, who share four children, divorced in 2023. Though George Conway was at one point considered for roles in the Trump administration, he ultimately declined to serve and instead became one of the president’s most outspoken detractors.

    Kellyanne Conway speaking with attendees at the 2018 Young Women’s Leadership Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel in Dallas, Texas. {Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons}

    Kellyanne Conway detailed the strain on their marriage in her 2022 memoir, Here’s the Deal, calling her husband once a “Trump-loving, MAGA-cap-wearing” supporter who, she wrote, “slowly turned his back” on her and their children during her time in the White House. She recounted a July 4 weekend argument in 2019 during which George told her, “You have ruined yourself and you have embarrassed this family.”

    “I’ve embarrassed this family?” she wrote in response. “You abandoned me for Twitter and she’s not even hot.”

    Months after that incident, George Conway helped launch The Lincoln Project, which aimed to block Trump’s reelection. In August 2020, he announced he would take a leave of absence from the organization to spend more time with his family; Kellyanne Conway announced the same day that she would leave her White House position.

    In early 2021, Conway publicly called for The Lincoln Project to shut down following allegations of serial sexual harassment against co-founder John Weaver, a longtime adviser to the late Sen. John McCain.

    Freedom Caucus Chairman Expected to Announce Challenge for House Speaker

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    5
    Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Trouble is brewing among House Republicans.

    House Freedom Caucus chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) is reportedly seriously considering mounting a bid to challenge Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to become the next Speaker of the House.

    The expected announcement comes on the heels of Biggs’ openly criticizing McCarthy last week after Republicans experienced fewer-than-anticipated wins on election night. Rep. Biggs told reporters he believes House Republicans should work to enact a more rightward agenda in the next term.

    “I think we need to have a real discussion about whether he should be the speaker or not,” Biggs told reporters on Thursday.

    “I think that his statement recently that we shouldn’t impeach Secretary Mayorkas indicates that maybe we’re not going to be as aggressive going forward as we should be. I think we need to have a very positive statement of what we’re going to accomplish and do, and I haven’t seen that yet,” he added. “That’s — those are things that I think we should have a very frank discussion internally about, where we’re going to be going forward.”

    However, nearly one week after Election Day and neither party has officially won control of the House – although Republicans are projected to win by most major outlets some lawmakers want to push the elections until a majority is declared.

    “I think we don’t even know if we’re in the majority, so I think it’s responsible to just look and see where the cards fall right now, and we don’t know,” Rep.-elect George Santos (R-NY) said on Sunday.

    Tuesday’s leadership election is slated to be conducted via closed ballot and will only require a plurality of the conference to secure the nomination. McCarthy would need to reach 218 votes during the floor vote in January to win the Speakership.

    Conservative Pundit Walks Off Washinton Post Live Show

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    3
    Daniel X. O'Neil from USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Tensions are running high…

    On Friday, Conservative radio host and political pundit Hugh Hewitt stormed off a Washington Post live event after an argument over former President Trump’s rhetoric on election integrity ahead of Election Day.

    “Is it me or does it seem like Donald Trump is laying the ground work for contesting the election,” Post host Jonathan Capehart asked Ruth Marcus, who was appearing with Hewitt as part of the live event. “By claiming that cheating was taking place, but suing Bucks County [Pennsylvania] for alleged irregularities … ”

    Marcus replied Trump has been “laying the ground work” to contest the election for months, setting Hewitt off.

    “Jonathan, I’ve gotta speak up,” he tried to interject.

    “Let Ruth finish, Hugh,” Capehart shot back.

    “Well, I’ve just got to say, we’re news people, even though it’s the opinion section,” Hewitt said after Marcus finished. “It’s got to be reported. Bucks County was reversed by the court and instructed to open up extra days because they violated the law and told people to go home. So, that lawsuit was brought by the Republican National Committee, and it was successful. The Supreme Court ruled that Glenn Youngkin was successful,” he added, referring to the GOP Virginia governor’s efforts to purge some 1,600 people from the voter rolls.

    “We are news people, even though we have opinions, and we have to report the whole story if we bring up part of the story. So, yes, he’s upset about Bucks County, but he was right and he won in court. That’s the story,” Hewitt said.

    After a brief pause, Capehart told Hewitt, “I don’t appreciate being lectured about reporting when, Hugh, many times you come here saying lots of things that aren’t based in fact.”

    “I won’t come back, Jonathan, I’m done,” Hewitt said, ripping his earpiece out and standing up.

    “I’m done. This is the most unfair election ad I’ve ever been a part of,” Hewitt continued, his face no longer visible on the screen. “You guys are working, that’s fine, I’m done.”

    Watch:

    The host was eventually forced to end the event early, saying, “Everybody if you’ve been watching … you know these conversations can be interesting, contentious.”

    “You just saw Hugh Hewitt leave which is lamentable, unfortunate. It is what it is. Thank you very much for joining us,” he continued and urged viewers to subscribe to the Post.

    After the incident, Hewitt announced his resignation from the Washington Post.

    “I have in fact quit the Post but I was only writing a column for them every six weeks or so,” Hewitt told Fox News Digital, adding he’d recently offered to write another pro-Trump column for the paper ahead of the election. He informed editorial page editor David Shipley on Friday morning.

    Tulsi Gabbard is SICK of the woke mob. Help Trump defeats Kamala Harris! Will you Donate?

    Democrat Senator Announces He Won’t Seek Re-election

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2

    Michigan Democrat Sen. Gary Peters announced he will not seek re-election when his term ends in Jan. 2027.

    Peters, a two-term senator and former congressman, told the Detroit News that he will start a “new chapter,” spending more time with family after nearly two decades of public service. 

    “I always thought there would be a time that I would step aside and pass the reins for the next generation. I also never saw service in Congress as something you do your whole life,” Peters told the outlet. 

    “And that goes back to 2008 when I first won that House seat. I thought it would be for a matter of a few terms that I would serve, and then I would go back to private life.” 

    His decision to retire leaves open a senate seat in a state President Donald Trump won in 2024.

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

    Another Democrat Joins Call Pushing to Replace Party Leadership

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Are Democrat leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer’s days in office numbered? Now even their own party hopes so.

    The two Democrats, 82 and 71 respectively, have been experiencing an increase in calls to retire over the past months, not just from Republican critics but from members of their own party as well.

    More and more Democrats have been calling for “new blood” in the party and for senior leaders to step down to make it happen. The calls come as the party continues to trend leftward and experiences a surge in success for more progressive candidates.

    Now, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) has joined the handful of outspoken Democrats calling for new candidates in both Congress and the White House, according to The Washington Examiner.

    “I have been very vocal, including with my own leadership in the House, that we need a new generation,” Slotkin told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. “We need new blood, period, across the Democratic Party — in the House, the Senate, and the White House. I think that the country has been saying that

    Rep. Slotkin’s comments follow similar remarks by Democrats yearning for new faces in the party.

    President Joe Biden’s age, 79, has been of increasing concern over the past months as his blunders continue to attract negative attention. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called on the president not to seek another term in the White House, but so far Biden has yet to officially make an announcement. However, the continued chatter surrounding Biden’s age has invited speculation about whether Democrats will support the President’s next campaign.

    Over the summer, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) said he wouldn’t back Biden for a reelection bid, making him one of the first sitting Democrat members of Congress to say directly that he wouldn’t back a second term for the president.

    “I have respect for Joe Biden. I think he has — despite some mistakes and missteps, despite his age — I think he’s a man of decency, of good principle, of compassion, of empathy, and of strength. But to answer your question directly, which I know is quite rare, no, I don’t,” Phillips told WCCO in July.

    North Carolina Democrat Resigns After Tampering Trump Election Materials

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0

    A local Democrat Party chair in North Carolina resigned after he was arrested for allegedly ripping out and stealing roadside signs supporting former President Donald Trump. 

    Lowell Simon, the now former chair of the Moore County Democrat Party, who is also running for North Carolina House in November, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor larceny of political signs. 

    The Moore County Democratic Party announced in a Facebook post on Monday that 68-year-old Simon had resigned as chair “following recent allegations and arrest related to the theft of political signs.” 

    The Moore County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy working in the West End area observed Simon removing campaign signs from the roadside along Seven Lakes Drive at approximately 5:25 p.m. Thursday. 

    Fox News reports:

    “The deputy, who was responding to an unrelated call at the time, later followed up at Simon’s residence, where the signs were found in his vehicle,” according to the office. “Simon admitted to removing the signs, which were then recovered and returned to their original owner.” 

    A warrant for Simon’s arrest was issued Saturday. He was released “under a written promise to appear in court,” according to the sheriff’s office, and his first court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 30. 

    “While we appreciate the hard work and dedication he has shown to the Democratic Party and the community, the Moore County Democratic Party cannot and will not condone the tampering of political signs or any other illegal activity,” the local party wrote on Facebook. “Mr. Simon has offered an apology for his actions, as well as his resignation, both of which have been accepted by the MCDP.”

    “My worse angels got the better of me and I removed the signs,” Simon said. “I shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t do it in the stealth of night or anything. I did it when it was five o’clock in the afternoon.”

    “We believe in the importance of freedom of expression and speech, and hope that local law enforcement will continue to enforce such laws that protect those freedoms fairly and without bias across party lines,” the local party added. “As we move forward, our focus will remain on electing Democrats up and down the ballot in this critical election. Together, we are committed to promoting the values of justice, fairness, and freedom that our Party holds dear, and we look forward to building a better future for all in Moore County.”

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