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Centrist Republicans Float Re-electing McCarthy as House Speaker In Wake of Israel Attacks

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

The old saying goes “the more things change the more they stay the same…”

Some Republicans are mulling a move to reinstate Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House Speaker in the wake of the deadly attacks in Israel.

On Saturday morning, Palestine militant group Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war on the organization and order retaliatory action.

“Israel attacks have moderates holding out for the one person who can truly unite us: Kevin McCarthy,” a House GOP lawmaker said.

Last week, McCarthy was ousted by the votes of eight Republicans and all House Democrats thanks to a rule change McCarthy agreed to when he was elected speaker.

However, handing McCarthy back the Speaker’s gavel is an uphill battle due to the support Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) have already garnered. Last week, former President Donald Trump threw his support behind Jordan for Speaker.

McCarthy, for his part, is “aware and grateful” for the efforts to reinstate him, but he’s not engaging at this point, the House GOP lawmaker said.

However, some Republicans are optimistic that it could be done, given the severity of the attack in Israel. They believe the urgency surrounding the attacks could pressure the eight House Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy to switch their stance. Many Republicans are still upset with those who voted against McCarthy, who is a vocal supporter of Israel, and are “using this moment to show how wrong they were,” per the House GOP lawmaker.

“A short window is all we need in the House to reinstate Kevin McCarthy and change the rule,” Rep. John Duarte (R-CA) said.

House Republicans plan on meeting behind closed doors on Monday to hash out details and differences of opinion. On Tuesday, there will be a candidate forum to hear the pros and cons of each speaker candidate.

The conference plans to hold a secret vote on Wednesday to see who it wants to nominate for speaker on the floor. The nomination will go to whichever candidate secures a majority of the GOP conference. That figure could be as low as 113, including the three nonvoting GOP delegates to the House. If all 435 House members participate, a successful candidate will need 217 votes to become speaker.

Report: Trump Considering Firing FBI Director Kash Patel

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Gage Skidmore Flickr

President Donald Trump is weighing whether or not to fire Kash Patel as the FBI director in the “coming months.”

The MS Now report cited “three people with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity in order to speak freely.”

White House Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson released a statement to MS NOW in response to their report, saying, “President Trump has assembled the most talented and impressive Administration in history and they are doing an excellent job carrying out the President’s agenda. FBI Director Patel is a critical member of the President’s team and he is working tirelessly to restore integrity to the FBI.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted the report on X.

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

Loomer Ally Files Police Report After Intense Run-In With Crockett

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Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett is under growing fire after allegedly assaulting a conservative commentator in the halls of Congress.

The confrontation took place Tuesday when Charles Downs, an activist affiliated with Laura Loomer’s media outlet, questioned Crockett over her escalating rhetoric against Tesla and Elon Musk. Video footage shows Crockett grabbing Downs’ phone, an act that has sparked allegations of assault and renewed criticism of her behavior under pressure.

Downs reportedly tried to ask the congresswoman if she condemns violence ahead of the planned 500 “Tesla Takedown” protests on Saturday.

The clash came just days after Crockett expressed support for the “Tesla Takedown” movement, a left-wing protest effort targeting Tesla dealerships nationwide. Her rhetoric has raised eyebrows on the right—especially as tensions surrounding Musk have escalated into real-world violence.

Newsweek has more details on Tuesday’s confrontation, which led to a police report being filed against an individual some Republicans now call the Democratic Party’s “unquestioned leader.”

Crockett’s garnered plenty of her party’s spotlight since President Donald Trump took office in January, speaking publicly and openly about Trump, Elon Musk and other Republican lawmakers and their policies.

She’s been a staunch defender of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and was critical of her Republican counterparts who were either downplaying the impact of DOGE-inspired budget cuts or skipping town halls with constituents.

Crockett originally ignores the questions while having a walking back-and-forth with Republican Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee. Audio is muffled but some of the conversation includes mentions of “horse manure.”

Near the end of the 30-second recording, Downs asks once more and Crockett moves toward him and grab his phone, distorting the video. The video has been viewed on X over 1.7 million times.

Previous video that went viral showed Crockett telling supporters that March 29 is her birthday, and “all she wants” on her birthday is for Musk “to be taken down.” Her remarks were rebuked by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who warned Crockett on Sunday to “tread carefully.”

On Monday, the Austin Police Department Bomb Squad responded to a Tesla dealership where multiple incendiary devices were discovered. Authorities say the incident is part of a broader campaign of politically motivated vandalism targeting Tesla facilities across the country.

The FBI and ATF have since launched a joint task force to investigate what federal officials are now calling acts of domestic terrorism. President Donald Trump has condemned the attacks, warning that those responsible could face the full weight of federal prosecution.

Meanwhile, Crockett is also catching heat for another remark—this time mocking Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is paralyzed from the waist down, by calling him “Governor Hot Wheels.” Abbott has used a wheelchair since a tragic accident in his 20s.

As criticism mounts, Crockett’s conduct is reigniting national debate over political discourse, decorum and how public officials respond to dissent—especially when the cameras are rolling.

Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

DeSantis Commits to First GOP Presidential Primary Debate

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Florida Governor and presidential contender Ron DeSantis is refusing to stand in the shadow of Donald Trump.

DeSantis plans to participate in the first Republican presidential nomination debate “regardless” of whether former President Donald Trump takes the stage at the August showdown. 

“I’ll be there regardless. I hope everybody who’s eligible comes. I think it’s an important part of the process and I look forward to being able to be on the stage and introducing our candidacy and our vision and our leadership to a wide audience,” DeSantis said Thursday on “Fox News Tonight.”

Trump, who’s the commanding front-runner in the latest GOP presidential primary polls, has indicated that he may skip the debate. However, Trump campaign officials say the former president has yet to make a final decision on his participation. Trump’s aides have also been looking into options for an alternative event should the former president skip the debate, according to Fox News.

The debate is scheduled for August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and will be hosted by Fox News.

The Republican National Committee (RNC), which is organizing all the GOP presidential nominating debates, is requiring a high donor threshold as well as polling thresholds for candidates to make the stage. 

The RNC is also mandating that candidates that meet the thresholds sign a loyalty pledge to back the eventual 2024 GOP nominee, in order to participate in the debate.

The state of Florida is adding a similar loyalty requirement for candidates to be included on the state’s ballot, according to POLITICO.

The new oath, which includes a promise to “endorse” the GOP nominee and requires a candidate to pledge not to run as an independent or third-party candidate, mirrors language adopted by the Republican National Committee for its first debate.

“We were trying to be consistent with what the debate was requiring,” said Evan Power, vice chair of the Republican Party of Florida, who said that campaigns were notified about the changes. “I don’t think this will come as a surprise.”

Trump Names Two People When Asked About Potential VP Picks

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Trump is narrowing down his search for his next running mate…

During a weekend interview, former President Donald Trump said he has two potential candidates in mind.

Trump mentioned Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem when asked during a Sunday interview with Maria Bartiromo

“Well, I have a lot of good people. We have a lot of really good people,” Trump said. “I have a lot of good ideas, but I haven’t — and there’s no reason to do that quickly.”

“I speak to everybody,” he said. “I called Tim Scott … and I said, ‘you’re a much better candidate for me than you are for yourself.’ When I watched Tim, he was fine, he was good, but he was very low-key, et cetera, et cetera.”

However, Trump admitted he’s still a ways off from making any final decisions on a running mate. The GOP frontrunner told Bartiromo that his priority in choosing a running mate will be choosing “someone who would be a good president.”

“I watched him in the last week defending me and sticking up for me and fighting for me,” he continued. “I said, man, I said, ‘you’re a much better person for me than you are for yourself’, because, for himself, he was low-key. For me, he’s been a real tiger. He’s been incredible. And others have too.”

“Kristi Noem has been incredible fighting for me,” Trump added. “She said, I’d never run against him because I can’t beat him. That was a very nice thing to say.”

On Monday, former Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway advised the President to consider choosing a person of color for VP during an op-ed published in The New York Times.

“With a crisis on the border, economic dissatisfaction, fears about crime, a parents’ rights renaissance and multiple wars and threats across the globe, Mr. Trump’s deputy must be able to navigate chaos and challenges at home and abroad,” Conway wrote.

“Taking all of this into consideration, if I were advising Mr. Trump, I would suggest he choose a person of color as his running mate, depending on vetting of all possibilities and satisfaction of procedural issues like dual residency in Florida,” Conway wrote. “Not for identity politics a la the Democrats, but as an equal helping to lead an America First movement that includes more union workers, independents, first-time voters, veterans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and African Americans.”

Conway listed Sen. Tim Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) among the potential options.

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

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

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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.

Trump And Vince Vaughn Recreate Iconic Movie Moment In Oval Office Spoof Photo

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In a lighthearted nod to the raunchy 2005 comedy “Wedding Crashers,” President Donald Trump and actor Vince Vaughn recently posed together in the Oval Office. The White House shared the moment on social media as a mock movie poster titled “White House Crashers,” featuring Vaughn standing beside a seated Trump — both smiling in front of the American flag and presidential seal.

Vaughn, well-known for his libertarian views, has long emphasized his commitment to individual freedoms. He has maintained cordial interactions with politicians across the spectrum — including a handshake with Trump at a college football game in 2020 amid the president’s first impeachment proceedings.

People Magazine has more details on the creative photo op:

“White House Crashers,” the poster reads in a font similar to one used on the artwork for the 2005 buddy comedy flick, with Trump taking the place of Vaughn’s costar Owen Wilson.

“President Donald J. Trump & Vince Vaughn in the Oval Office 🇺🇸,” the White House wrote in the post’s caption.

Wedding Crashers follows Wilson, 55, and Vaughn as divorce mediators who spend their free time crashing wedding receptions in order to meet women. It also stars Isla FisherRachel McAdamsChristopher Walken and Bradley Cooper.

Aside from the post, the White House and the president both did not release any further information about Vaughn’s visit to Washington, D.C., nor did the actor.

Representatives for Vaughn did not immediately respond to People’s request for comment.

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Trump Sues CBS News For $10B

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

Former President Trump is suing CBS News for $10 billion in damages.

Trump’s attorneys said the complaint comes due to “CBS’ partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference through malicious, deceptive, and substantial news distortion calculated to confuse, deceive, and mislead the public.” 

Trump’s legal team also argued the edits were done in an effort to “attempt to tip the scales in favor of the Democratic Party as the heated 2024 Presidential Election — which President Trump is leading — approaches its conclusion.” 

“President Trump brings this action to redress the immense harm caused to him, to his campaign, and to tens of millions of citizens in Texas and across America by CBS’s deceptive broadcasting conduct,” the lawsuit states.

Read:

The lawsuit comes after Trump’s attorneys wrote letters to CBS News demanding the network release the full transcript of the “60 Minutes” interview with Harris after it aired two different answers to the same question. Trump attorneys asked CBS to preserve all documents and communications related to the interview pending a potential legal battle. 

The lawsuit filed Thursday specifically references the exchange Harris had with “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker. In a preview clip that aired on “Face the Nation,” Harris was asked why it seemed like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn’t listening to the U.S. 

“Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of, many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region,” Harris responded in the “Face the Nation” clip. 

“We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end,” Harris said in the primetime special. 

Critics have accused CBS News of editing Harris’ “word salad” answer to shield the vice president from further backlash.

Trump lawyers argue that news organizations “are responsible for accurately representing the truth of events, not distorting an interview to try and falsely make their preferred candidate appear coherent and decisive, which Kamala most certainly is not.”

“Due to CBS’ actions, the public could not distinguish which Kamala they saw in the Interview: the candidate or the actual puppet of a behind-the-scenes editor,” the lawsuit states, noting that Whitaker’s question “was of the utmost public significance — U.S. foreign policy on the matter of the Israel/Gaza war — at a time of immense importance, mere weeks before the most critical presidential election in American history.” 

Trump is demanding a jury trial and at least $10 billion in damages for CBS’ alleged “ongoing false, misleading, and deceptive acts; the attorneys’ fees and costs associated with this action; and such other relief as the court deems just and proper.” 

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

CNN’s Liberal Agenda Leads To Major Layoffs And Reorganization: Report

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The notoriously liberal CNN news network is reportedly planning to lay off a large number of employees as part of a significant reorganization of its news gathering process and the introduction of a digital subscription service later this year.

Sweeping Changes at CNN

In a move that many see as a desperate attempt to stay relevant, CNN is looking to “streamline” its story pitching process, lean more heavily on video content, and more effectively monetize its digital user base. This comes as no surprise to those who have long criticized the network for its biased and often misleading coverage.

Key Developments:

  • Massive Layoffs: Over 100 journalists are set to lose their jobs. This is part of a significant overhaul aimed at cutting costs and revamping the network’s strategy.
  • Digital Focus: CNN plans to launch a subscription-based digital news product, hoping to cash in on its dwindling audience.
  • Increased Streaming Investment: The network will also boost its investment in free, ad-supported streaming services in an effort to attract more viewers.

Leadership’s Statement

CNN’s leadership has been transparent about the impending changes. Thompson, a key figure in the network, informed employees about the upcoming layoffs and restructuring. He emphasized the network’s shift towards more video content and digital monetization.

Thompson’s Remarks:

  • “Wherever possible, we’ve closed open positions rather than target currently occupied roles. However, some of our colleagues will learn today that their jobs are being eliminated or are at risk,” Thompson wrote.
  • This message highlights the tough decisions CNN is making in an attempt to stay afloat amid financial struggles and a declining viewer base.

Historical Context

This isn’t the first time CNN has faced major layoffs. In late 2022, under former President Chris Licht, the network laid off scores of workers while reorganizing the newsroom and making significant changes to its programming. These past efforts to revamp the network did little to curb the continuing decline in viewership and trust.

The Future of CNN

With these drastic measures, CNN’s future remains uncertain. The network, which has long been a mouthpiece for liberal agendas, now finds itself at a crossroads. Can it reinvent itself and regain the trust of its audience, or will it continue to fade into irrelevance?

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New Jersey Governor Declares War On Trump Admin.

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Despite Donald Trump’s landslide victory, Democrat Governors are already planning ways to hinder the incoming administration.

In a Q&A following President-elect Trump’s victory, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy warned he will “fight to the death” against the administration if he detects behavior “contrary to our values.”

“[A]s we respect the peaceful transition of power, if there is any attack on the Garden State or any of its communities from Washington, I will fight back with every fiber of my being,” Murphy said.

“If there’s an opportunity for common ground, we will seize that as fast as anybody,” he conversely added. 

Watch:

State Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio (R-Hackettstown) told Fox News Digital that Murphy is “missing the message” voters sent Tuesday with the initial rhetoric.

“It’s time for the governor to recognize that his values may not reflect the values of New Jerseyans as widely as he assumes,” he said.

“While Murphy is prepared to spend resources on political battles with Trump, it’s hard to see how that aligns with the priorities of struggling families, working taxpayers and business owners who want more focus on their needs,” DiMaio said.