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DeSantis Launches Florida Redistricting Push 

On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launched a redistricting effort to potentially secure additional Republican congressional seats in the state.

DeSantis announced the move, saying he will be convening a special session for the state legislature to adjust current maps. The move comes as red and blue states across the country have pursued redistricting to secure an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections.

“Today, I announced that I will be convening a Special Session of the Legislature focused on redistricting to ensure that Florida’s congressional maps accurately reflect the population of our state. Every Florida resident deserves to be represented fairly and constitutionally,” DeSantis wrote.

“This Special Session will take place after the regular legislative session, which will allow the Legislature to first focus on the pressing issues facing Floridians before devoting its full attention to congressional redistricting in April,” he added.

Currently, Republicans hold 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional districts. Florida Republicans may also face challenges because of language in the state’s constitution that puts tight restrictions on gerrymandering.

Texas and California have also pursued major redistricting efforts, with Texas overcoming some initial pushback from the courts.

In early December, the Supreme Court delivered a significant victory to Texas Republicans, clearing the way for a new congressional map that could add up to five GOP-leaning seats in 2026. In a 6-3 ruling, the justices halted a lower court order and said Texas can use the map while the legal fight plays out.

Florida is another key battleground where redistricting could bolster Republican prospects. Governor Ron DeSantis has already demonstrated a willingness to redraw maps, most notably by dismantling a North Florida district long viewed as favorable to Democrats. Further tweaks ahead of 2026 could reinforce Republican dominance in the state by locking in gains made over the last two cycles and reducing the number of truly competitive districts. (RELATED: Supreme Court Clears Texas To Use GOP-Friendly Map In 2026)

Similarly, in states like Ohio and Tennessee, GOP legislators continue to test the limits of court rulings and constitutional constraints, seeking maps that better reflect — in their view — statewide partisan preferences, which currently favor Republicans.

While these redistricting efforts are unlikely to produce a dramatic wave of new GOP seats on their own, they could prove decisive in a narrowly divided House. With margins expected to be razor-thin, even two or three additional Republican-leaning districts may be enough to offset losses from retirements or difficult midterm headwinds.

Newsmax Host Delivers Blunt Assessment To Former VP Contender

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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is in hot water over her recent book and it could cause a major dent in her career.

Noem’s new memoir No Going Back has sparked several controversies over its content, including an anecdote about Noem killing her 14-month-old dog and a story about the governor meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un which the Republican has yet to corroborate.

Interrogating Noem over the book on Newsmax’s Wake Up America, Rob Finnerty assessed that Donald Trump likely won’t invite the Republican to be his running mate due to the recent scandal.

Finnerty then said, “Governor, if you asked me a month ago who’s at the top of the list to run with Donald Trump, I would have said your name. If you asked me that same question this morning, I don’t even think you’re on the list.”

The host went on to say that the content within Noem’s book, specifically her allegedly fabricated meeting with Kim Jong-un, is likely what spoiled her chances of becoming Trump’s running mate.

“I should not have put that anecdote in the book,” conceded Noem, to which Finnerty shot back, “But an anecdote indicates that it happened, right?”

“I’m not going to talk about my conversations with world leaders,” Noem bluntly declared – a statement she has made repeatedly when pressed about the alleged meeting with Kim Jong-un.

Finnerty snapped, “Governor, I’m not asking you about the details of this alleged meeting. I’m asking if the meeting actually happened. I don’t think it did and I think if it did, you’d be able to confirm for me that, ‘Yes, it did, and here’s when it happened.’ It happened, say, at such and such a date or a month or you don’t have to be specific.”

After Noem refused yet again to say whether the alleged meeting actually took place, Finnerty continued, “Again, I think at one point you were at the top of that list, but you’re going to get questions a lot more difficult than that.”

Despite endorsing Noem’s book, Trump allegedly told several people he was “disgusted” by the governor’s anecdote about killing her 14-month-old dog Cricket in a gravel pit.

According to unnamed sources, Trump was baffled by Noem’s confession that she shot her dog after it proved “less than worthless” as a hunting dog and questioned, “Why would she do that?” and “What is wrong with her?”

Report: Youngkin’s Trump White House Hopes Dim After Virginia Setback

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President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

The political fallout from Virginia’s redistricting referendum is reaching beyond the state, cutting into Glenn Youngkin’s standing at a moment that matters for his future.

In recent weeks, the former governor had been floated as a possible pick for a Trump administration role, with secretary of labor among the positions mentioned. He was seen as a Republican who could point to a win in a blue-leaning state and bring a different profile into a national cabinet.

That window now looks narrower.

Timing Undercuts Momentum

The criticism from inside GOP circles is landing at a particularly inconvenient time for Youngkin.

According to Politico’s Dasha Burns, administration officials are blaming him for not doing enough to stop the redistricting measure, which passed by a slim margin and could shift up to four House seats toward Democrats. It’s the kind of loss that gets noticed in Washington, especially when control of the House is on the line.

And it’s not just about the outcome. It’s about perception.

A senior official, speaking anonymously, put it bluntly: “He doesn’t have enough friends here.” That comment points to a problem that goes beyond one referendum. It suggests Youngkin lacks the internal support that often decides who gets a seat at the table.

Burns continues:

Becca Glover, executive director of Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC, defended the former governor’s efforts, noting he raised and contributed nearly $500,000 to Virginians for Fair Maps and supported the Congressional Leadership Fund and Fair Maps’ fundraising efforts.

“The governor hit the campaign trail making many stops across the Commonwealth from Wise to Virginia Beach to Leesburg to motivate the grassroots to vote no,” Glover said. “He was proud to be part of a team including Speaker [Mike] Johnson and other former governors to get out the vote.”

Glover also pointed to the dozens of interviews Youngkin did and his efforts at retail campaigning.

“He continues to ask that the Supreme Court of Virginia to strike down this unconstitutional power grab,” Glover said.

A source briefed on White House discussions pushed back, saying Youngkin’s actions helped set the stage for the current difficulties facing him and his party in Virginia.

“Look, there’s plenty of blame to go around. But if Youngkin hadn’t left the special session open, Louise Lucas would never have had the chance to ram through those maps,” the person said, referring to the Democratic state senator who played a key role in advancing the redistricting effort. “So he has some responsibility for losing these seats.”

From Rising Star to Question Mark

Youngkin’s appeal to national Republicans has always been tied to his 2021 victory and his ability to win in a competitive state without fully leaning into Trump-style politics.

But that brand cuts both ways.

Inside a Trump-aligned orbit, relationships and loyalty still carry more weight than résumé lines. Another loss in Virginia, even one tied to a ballot measure, gives skeptics more reason to question how much influence Youngkin really has, both at home and in the broader party.

That matters when administration roles are being discussed behind closed doors.

Fewer Openings, More Competition

Even under the best conditions, cabinet-level positions are limited and highly competitive. Candidates need more than a strong narrative. They need advocates inside the administration willing to push their case.

Right now, the signals suggest Youngkin doesn’t have that backing.

The criticism tied to the referendum may not be decisive on its own. But combined with lingering doubts about his connections in Washington, it adds friction at the worst possible time.

READ NEXT: Indicted Democrat Who Resigned From Congress Plans Reelection Bid

Heckler Tased at Marjorie Taylor Greene Town Hall as Audience Cheers

Arrest image via Pixabay

Things are heating up…

A heckler at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) town hall on Tuesday was tased by police as supporters of the congresswoman cheered.

At least three people were removed from the town hall after interrupting the event, including a man who had to be tased by police after he became violent.

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

In footage of the incident, posted by several reporters, multiple police officers could be seen struggling to restrain the man while escorting him out of the venue.

Watch:

After the man became violent and lashed out against the officers, shouting, “Get the fuck off me!” two officers could be seen deploying their tasers against him as Greene’s audience cheered and applauded.

“Don’t move! Stop!” an officer could be heard shouting at the man as he continued to resist arrest.

Greene then declared, “This is a peaceful town hall. Now, this is a peaceful town hall, ladies and gentlemen. This should not have to happen. This is a town hall.”

“Like I said before, this isn’t a political rally or a protest. I held a town hall tonight. You know who was out of line? The protesters,” Greene told reporters after the event. “There was a place designated outside for the protesters because we support their First Amendment right. So you know who was out of line? The protesters. The police did a great job, I am very thankful.”

Two other protesters were also removed from the town hall by police, including a man who could be seen resisting officers and asking, “Are you really doing this?” After the man continued to resist, officers could be seen pushing the man to the floor and handcuffing him.

Early on, a young woman went off on Greene as the congresswoman spoke about immigration. In particular, Greene said that “illegal alien criminals, cartels, and terrorists” are living at the U.S. southern border with Mexico and are “all inside the interior of the United States.”

Immediately after delivering the line, the protestor stood up and said “How about the KKK?”

“All inside the interior of the United States,” Greene repeated, as an officer approached the woman in the audience.

“The protest is outside,” Greene said. “Thank you very much. Protest is outside.”

“You butch-bodied bigot!” the woman yelled as she was being escorted out. Many in the crowd stood and applauded after the woman left the room.

Report: Herschel Walker is Leading Among These Key Voters

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Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite a series of scandals, Herschel Walker is still a favorite among voters.

A new poll reports that while Latino voters are undecided on their choice for governor, they overwhelmingly support Republican candidate Herschel Walker over incumbent Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock.

According to The Washington Examiner:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Georgia News Collaborative poll puts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams at 49% and incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp at 48% among likely Hispanic voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 5.6 percentage points. Walker’s lead over Warnock is greater, 47% to 41%, with Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver pulling in 11% of the vote.

Georgia shattered early voting records on Monday, with nearly 123,000 in-person voters casting their ballots, according to state election officials.

“This blows away the previous midterm first-day record of approximately 72,000, and we have lots of voting to go today,” Gabriel Sterling, the chief operating officer at the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, tweeted Monday.

Republicans and Democrats have been making inroads with Hispanic voters over the years.

Florida Republican Moves to Expel Adam Schiff from Congress

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Photo via Gage Skidmoer Flickr

A Florida freshman representative is taking drastic measures since the release of the Durham report.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fl.) has filed a motion to have Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) expelled from Congress.

“He used his position on House Intelligence to push a lie that cost American taxpayers millions of dollars and abused the trust placed in him as Chairman,” Luna said in a statement Wednesday. “The Durham Report makes clear that the Russian Collusion was a lie from day one and Schiff knowingly used his position in an attempt to divide our country.”

Schiff, who was the top lawmaker on the House Intelligence Committee when Democrats the House majority, has repeatedly claimed that Trump and his campaign colluded with the Russian government to influence the 2016 election. 

While the Durham report did not recommend any new charges it did offer a blistering review of how the FBI launched and carried out the investigation. It caps a four-year investigation by Durham.

“I’m convinced when this dark chapter of our history is written, it will reflect that those Republican members who lacked the courage to stand up to the most unethical president in U.S. history, Donald Trump, consoled themselves by attacking those who did,” Schiff said in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday.

The California Democrat also knocked the conclusions of the Durham report, fighting back against the idea that it proved that his claims of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia were a lie.

“Durham spends four years trying to prove this deep state conspiracy theory that Trump kept telling his base was going to be proven,” Schiff said. “The whole thing, of course, was a big bust.”

Democrat Governor Sparks Backlash After Labeling Trump Voters ‘Un-American’ and ‘Anti-Women’

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Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber make a subway safety announcement at the NYCT Rail Control Center (RCC) on Wednesday, Mar 6, 2024. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

Gov. Kathy Hochul called New Yorkers who vote for Republican House candidates “anti-American” and “anti-women” over the weekend, triggering immediate rage from people across both sides of the political aisle.

“If you’re voting for these Republicans in New York, you are voting for someone who supports Donald Trump and you’re anti-women, you’re anti-abortion, and basically, you’re anti-American,” Hochul said on MSNBC.

Watch:

“You just trashed American values and what our country is all about — over and over.”

Republicans immediately blasted the governor over her latest insults and even Democrat strategists said demonizing a large segment of voters as anti-American was not helpful to their candidates. 

The New York Post has more:

“This is about as helpful as a severe migraine. It’s never a good thing to identify a large segment of voters as un-American,” said New York ex-Democratic Rep. Max Rose, who is aiding Democrats in House races.

“Kathy Hochul doesn’t represent a majority of Democrats — anywhere,” said Rose, who served one-term representing Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn.

State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox fumed, “She’s smearing at least one half of American voters and all Trump voters.”

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Hudson Valley) told The Post, “Governor Hochul has once again disgraced herself and the state of New York by calling supporters of some of the most bipartisan members of Congress ‘anti-American.’

“It’s shameful and wrong and shows exactly how much of a partisan hack Kathy Hochul really is. She must be voted out in November of 2026, but only after Republicans hold the House thanks to our New York GOP delegation.”

Republicans said the statement is so offensive and outrageous that it appears as if Hochul is angling for a future job in a Kamala Harris Administration because it is sure to hurt a re-election bid in 2026.

A Siena College poll released last month showed that only 36% of New Yorkers gave Hochul a favorable rating, while 51% viewed her unfavorably.

Trump Impeachment Star Witness Makes Longshot Run For Senate

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a former National Security Council official best known for his role in President Donald Trump’s first impeachment, announced Tuesday that he is entering Florida’s 2026 U.S. Senate race as a Democrat, challenging Republican Sen. Ashley Moody.

Vindman rose to national prominence in 2019 after testifying against President Trump over a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—testimony that became central to Democrats’ first impeachment effort. That impeachment ultimately failed, with the Senate acquitting Trump in a 52–48 vote largely along party lines.

In his campaign launch video, Vindman leaned heavily on footage from the impeachment proceedings, framing his candidacy as an extension of his opposition to Trump. “The last time you saw me was here,” Vindman said, referring to the impeachment hearing. “Swearing an oath to tell the truth about a president who broke his.”

Vindman went on to describe Trump as a “wannabe tyrant” and claimed the former president unleashed a “reign of terror and retribution” against him and his family—language that underscores how central anti-Trump activism is likely to be to his campaign pitch.

A political newcomer with no prior electoral experience, Vindman faces steep odds in Florida, a state that has moved decisively to the right in recent election cycles. Trump carried the Sunshine State by 13 points in November 2024, and Republicans currently hold every statewide elected office. Florida has not elected a Democratic senator since Bill Nelson’s narrow reelection victory in 2012.

Vindman, an Iraq War veteran, retired from the Army in 2020 after a decades-long military career. He later filed a lawsuit against Trump and several former aides, alleging “intimidation and retaliation,” but the suit was unsuccessful. His wife, Rachel Vindman, publicly criticized former President Joe Biden for declining to issue pardons to the couple at the end of his term.

“Whatever happens to my family, know this: No pardons were offered or discussed,” Rachel Vindman wrote in a post on Bluesky. She added that she “cannot begin to describe the level of betrayal and hurt” she felt toward the Biden administration.

Sen. Ashley Moody, a Republican and former Florida attorney general, was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the seat vacated by Marco Rubio after Rubio became secretary of state. Moody is running for reelection with the backing of President Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, giving her a significant institutional and fundraising advantage.

The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as “solid Republican,” its strongest rating for GOP-held seats—reflecting Florida’s recent political realignment and Democrats’ continued struggles to remain competitive statewide.

The 2026 contest is a special election to serve the final two years of Rubio’s term. The winner will need to run again in 2028 to secure a full six-year term.

Vindman has lived in Broward County since 2023, a Democratic stronghold in South Florida. His twin brother, Eugene Vindman, represents a safely Democratic House district in northern Virginia, further highlighting the family’s close ties to Democratic politics.

Nationally, Democrats face a difficult map in 2026 as they attempt a longshot effort to retake control of the Senate. To do so, they would need to defend vulnerable seats in states like Michigan and Georgia while flipping at least four Republican-held seats—an outcome most analysts consider unlikely.

Senator Menendez Faces 12 New Federal Charges

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Senate Democrats, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

United States Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is facing one dozen new criminal charges in his alleged yearslong scheme with the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

Menendez and his wife, Nadine, face charges of obstruction of justice, among others.

As CNN reports:

The new charges come days after one of the New Jersey businessmen who was previously indicted alongside Menendez, his wife Nadine Menendez, and two others agreed to plead guilty and cooperate with the investigation.

Among the new charges in the superseding indictment are conspiracy, obstruction of justice, public official acting as a foreign agent, bribery, extortion and honest services wire fraud.

Menendez had faced four counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, and conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent.

The new charges add the underlying so-called substantive crimes to the conspiracy charges.

Menendez persists in his innocence and pledges to do whatever it takes to retain his Senate seat.

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